Rule 40-13-4-.14 - Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM)(1) Owners of equine determined to be affected with or at-risk of Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) must comply with an action plan approved by the State Veterinarian.(2) Mares and stallions from countries where CEM is known to exist (hereinafter "CEM country") shall be allowed entry into Georgia only by special permit issued by the State Veterinarian. All equine granted a special permit will be quarantined upon entry into the state.(3) Application (a) Application for approval by the owner or agent shall be on a form provided by the State Veterinarian and shall contain: 1. Name of owner and any authorized agent and mailing address of each;3. Name and location of USDA quarantine station where equine were received from a CEM country;4. Name, breed, age, sex, color, markings, and any additional identification of equine to be quarantined; and5. Name and address of the Georgia licensed and USDA accredited veterinarian (hereinafter "approved veterinarian") employed to perform testing.(b) The applicant shall comply with all provisions as listed in the Code of Federal Regulations in 9 C.F.R. §§ 93.300- 93.326 (Sub-Part C of Part 93, "Importation of Certain Animals, Birds, and Poultry, and Certain Animal, Bird and Poultry Products; Requirements for Means of Conveyance and Shipping Containers," Revised January 1, 1999), hereinafter referred to as "CFR provisions", which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.(4) Premises (a) All CEM permitted equine entering Georgia shall be quarantined to a facility approved by the State Veterinarian. Entrance to the facility shall be granted to personnel authorized by the State Veterinarian or USDA at any time necessary to inspect the premises or to conduct required testing.(b) The facility owner and operator shall each certify that he/she and his/her personnel have read the CFR provisions.(c) The facility shall include a separate enclosed building or separate area of building capable of being effectively cleaned, washed, disinfected, and of being secured by a lock or padlock.(d) A disinfectant approved by the State Veterinarian shall be applied to all fixed and movable surfaces and equipment prior to use.(e) Facilities shall provide for the following: 1. disposal of manure, bedding, waste, and any related shipping materials in a manner that will prevent the dissemination of disease and approved by the State Veterinarian;3. adequate food, water, and shelter to all equine; and4. protective clothing for facility personnel.(f) Bio-security measures must be followed for equipment and refuse.(g) Equine in quarantine shall have no direct contact with other equine during the quarantine period except as specified in this Rule or upon approval by the State Veterinarian.(h) Facilities shall comply with additional requirements as determined to be necessary by the State Veterinarian to control infectious diseases.(i) Facilities shall comply with all local, state, and federal requirements for animal welfare and humane care.(5) Testing and treatment of stallions and mares(a) All specimens tested for CEM must be conducted in a laboratory approved by USDA.(b) Stallions 1. One specimen each shall be taken by an accredited and licensed veterinarian from the prepuce, the urethral sinus, and the fossa glandis, including the diverticulum of the fossa glandis of the stallion and be cultured for CEM.2. After negative results have been obtained, the stallion must be test bred to two test mares that meet the requirements as listed in this paragraph.3. Upon completion of the test breeding: (i) The stallion must be treated for five consecutive days by thoroughly cleaning (scrubbing) the prepuce, penis, including the fossa glandis, and urethral sinus with a solution of not less than two percent (2%) chlorhexidine in a detergent base and then coating the cleansed areas with an ointment approved by the State Veterinarian. The treatment shall be performed by an approved veterinarian and monitored by state or federal personnel.(ii) Each mare to which the stallion has been test bred shall be cultured negative for CEM from sets of specimens that are collected from the mucosal surfaces of the clitoral fossa and clitoral sinuses on the 3rd, 6th, and 9th days after the breeding. Each mare must test negative for a complement fixation test for CEM on the 15th day after the breeding.4. If any culture or test required in this Rule is positive for CEM the stallion must be treated as described in sub-paragraph (i) of the immediately preceding sub-paragraph and retested by being test bred to two mares no less than 21 days after the last day of treatment.5. A stallion may be released from quarantine only when approved by the State Veterinarian and if all tests of specimens from the test mares and from the stallion are negative for CEM.(c) Test Mares 1. Mares used to test stallions for CEM shall be permanently identified before the mares are used for such testing with the letter "T." The marking shall be permanently applied by state or federal personnel, or an approved veterinarian. The marking shall be applied by hot iron, freezemarking, or lip tattoo. If a hot iron or freezemarking is used, the marking shall not be less than two inches high and shall be applied to the left shoulder or left side of the neck. If a lip tattoo is used, the marking shall not be less than 1 inch high and 0.75 inch wide and shall be applied to the inside of the upper lip.2. Each mare shall be tested with negative results by a complement fixation test for CEM, and specimens taken from each mare shall be cultured negative for CEM in order to qualify as a test mare. For culture, sets of specimens shall be collected by an approved veterinarian on the 1st, 4th, and 7th days of a 7-day period from the mucosal surfaces of the clitoral fossa and clitoral sinuses.3. A test mare that has been used to test stallions for CEM may be released from quarantine only if approved by the State Veterinarian and:(i) found negative for CEM on all cultures and tests required; or(ii) subjected to an ovariectomy by an approved veterinarian under the direct supervision of a state or federal veterinarian; or(iii) treated as described in sub-paragraphs 2 and 3 of the paragraph (d) below; or(iv) moved in a sealed conveyance directly to a state or federally approved slaughter establishment and accompanied by a VS 1-27 permit; or(v) euthanized under the direct supervision of state or federal personnel.(d) Mares 1. Sets of specimens shall be collected on the 1st, 4th, and 7th days by an approved veterinarian from the mucosal surfaces of the clitoral fossa and clitoral sinuses.2. After the three sets of specimens have been collected, an approved veterinarian shall manually remove organic debris from the sinuses of each mare and then flush the sinuses with a cerumalytic agent approved by the State Veterinarian.3. For five consecutive days after the sinuses have been cleaned, an approved veterinarian shall aseptically clean and wash (scrub) the external genitalia and vaginal vestibules, including the clitoral fossa, with a solution of not less than two percent (2%) chlorhexidine in a detergent base and then fill the clitoral fossa and sinuses, and coat the external genitalia and vaginal vestibule with an agent effective against CEM approved by the State Veterinarian.4. If any culture required by this paragraph is positive for CEM, the mare shall be treated as described in sub-paragraphs 2 and 3 of this paragraph. No less than 21 days after the last treatment, the mare shall be tested again in accordance with sub-paragraph 1 of this paragraph. If all specimens are negative for CEM, the mare may qualify for quarantine release.(6) At-Risk Equine: Equine disclosed by an epidemiological investigation to be at-risk of CEM will be quarantined. The quarantine will be released after the at-risk equine meet the requirements outlined in 40-13-4-.13(5) "Testing and treatment of stallions and mares".(7) Owner's Responsibility: It shall be the responsibility of the equine owner to provide the necessary facilities, resources and labor to determine the CEM status of all eligible equine. If an equine owner fails to implement or comply with an approved action plan, the State Veterinarian may require the humane destruction of all affected and at-risk equine.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 40-13-4-.14
Authority O.C.G.A. Secs. 4-4-64, 4-4-67, 4-4-70, 4-4-120, 4-4-121.
Original Rule entitled "Scrapie" adopted. F. Jan. 17, 2003; eff. Feb. 6, 2003.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM)" adopted. F. Sept. 2, 2011; eff. Sept. 22, 2011.