Okla. Admin. Code § 35:15-18-4

Current through Vol. 42, No. 4, November 1, 2024

Section 35:15-18-4 - [Effective 8/11/2024] Management and disposition of Positive Equidae

(a) Any Equidae confirmed positive for Equine Piroplasmosis shall be officially identified by the Department or regulatory personnel acting under the authority of the State Veterinarian, unless already electronically identified.

(b) Options for managing Positive Equidae include quarantine, quarantine with treatment, export, and euthanasia. Conditions for quarantine shall be outlined in an established herd plan between the owner and the State Veterinarian. Standards for quarantine shall differ for high risk and low risk premises.

(c) Management of Positive Equidae shall be conducted under the direct supervision of the State Veterinarian.

(1) Quarantine on high risk premises:

(A) Positive Equidae shall be housed in a tick free facility on any premises approved by the State Veterinarian.

(B) If no tick free facility is available, the Positive Equidae shall be housed at a predetermined safe distance from other Equidae. The State Veterinarian shall determine the predetermined distance with the goal of reducing the risk of tick borne transmission and shall consider tick species in the area, natural geographical barriers, seasonal variation, the potential role of wildlife in tick movement, and other factors.

(C) A tick free facility may be of any size but shall be surrounded by two (2) fences a minimum of thirty (30) feet apart, with the zone between the fences free of vegetation and animals.

(D) Prior to moving Positive Equidae into a facility, the Equidae, the facility, and the thirty (30) foot barrier zone shall be treated to eliminate ticks using an approved acaricide.

(i) Positive Equidae shall be maintained on an acaricide treatment interval pursuant to label directions of an approved product to minimize tick infestations.

(ii) Acaricides used shall be labeled as effective against and approved for use on Equidae or on the environment (i.e., pasture, stall, soil, etc.).

(E) Unless approved by the State Veterinarian, only positive Equidae are allowed in the tick-free facility. Dogs, other domestic animals, or livestock shall not be allowed to enter the facility unless maintained on acaricide treatment and remain tick free at all times.

(F) Facility inspections shall be conducted pursuant to the following schedule:

(i) The State Veterinarian shall make at least two (2) unannounced inspections of the facility within the first sixty (60) calendar days of quarantine to ensure no unauthorized animals are moving to or from the facility, the thirty (30) foot zone is free of vegetation and animals, and the Positive Equidae are not tick infested.

(ii) During the first year of quarantine, premises shall be inspected at least quarterly, or more frequently as determined by the State Veterinarian, to assess compliance. At least one of these inspections shall be unannounced.

(iii) After the first year of quarantine, there shall be a minimum of two (2) intensive premises inspections per year for premises that repeatedly demonstrate complete compliance. These inspections may be scheduled or unannounced at the discretion of the State Veterinarian.

(iv) Frequency of inspections shall be increased in cases where the State Veterinarian has identified the potential for noncompliance.

(G) Working, exercising, or allowing other contact between Positive and Negative Equidae shall not be allowed except in the following circumstances:

(i) Any contact with other animals shall only occur on the quarantined premises.

(ii) Both Positive and Negative Equidae shall be treated with an approved acaricide not less than twenty four (24) hours and not more than fourteen (14) days prior to any contact.

(iii) Equidae shall not be left unattended in pastures. When acaricide treated Positive Equidae are not being ridden, they shall be placed in a trailer or kept a minimum of ten (10) feet from acaricide treated Negative Equidae.

(iv) Trailers used to transport Positive Equidae within the quarantined premises shall be treated with acaricide after each use.

(v) Premises where Positive and Negative Equidae have any contact shall be subject to more frequent inspections by the State Veterinarian.

(2) Quarantine on low risk premises:

(A) Positive Equidae shall be housed in separate pens or pastures away from Negative Equidae.

(i) There shall be a minimum ten (10) foot separation maintained between Positive Equidae and Negative Equidae on the same or adjacent low risk premises, with vegetation kept no higher than four (4) inches tall in the intervening space.

(ii) If the ten (10) foot separation is not possible due to facility size or other limiting factors, the State Veterinarian shall evaluate the facilities on a case-by-case basis to determine if sufficient space and barriers are available to establish and maintain the necessary isolation of Positive Equidae.

(B) Inspections shall occur on the same schedule as for Positive Equidae quarantined on high risk premises.

(3) Quarantine and enrollment in an approved Equine Piroplasmosis treatment program shall be available upon the approval of the State Veterinarian.

(A) Any associated costs for an approved Equine Piroplasmosis treatment program shall be the owner's responsibility.

(B) Management of Positive Equidae enrolled in an approved Equine Piroplasmosis treatment program shall be in accordance with the standards specified in this section.

(C) If an Equidae completes an approved treatment program, effectively demonstrates freedom from the organism, and no longer meets the confirmed positive case definition for Equine Piroplasmosis, the Equidae may be eligible for quarantine release at the discretion of the State Veterinarian.

(4) It shall be the owner's responsibility to coordinate with authorities in the destination country for the export of an Equine Piroplasmosis Positive Equidae and to arrange for transportation. The Positive Equidae shall be transported to the export facility under an APHIS movement permit and official seal.

(5) Euthanasia and disposal:

(A) Both euthanasia and disposal shall be documented and conducted pursuant to the supervision of the State Veterinarian.

(B) Federal and State indemnity shall not be available.

Okla. Admin. Code § 35:15-18-4

Adopted by Oklahoma Register, Volume 41, Issue 22, August 1, 2024, eff. 8/11/2024