CHAPTER 70
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS GOVERNING THE CONTROL OF EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANEMIA IN VIRGINIA

2VAC5-70-10. Definitions.

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Accredited veterinarian" means a licensed veterinarian approved by the United States Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (hereinafter referred to as USDA-APHIS) and State Veterinarian.

"Approved laboratory" means a laboratory approved by USDA-APHIS or the State Veterinarian to conduct the official test for equine infectious anemia.

"Approved veterinarian" means a state-federal regulatory veterinarian, an accredited veterinarian, or other veterinarian approved by the State Veterinarian for special testing.

"Department" means the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

"Equine Infectious Anemia" (EIA or Swamp Fever) means a contagious and infectious disease of horses, characterized by a variety of symptoms related to anemia. It may be acute, subacute, or chronic in nature and may terminate in death. The virus remains in the blood of infected animals throughout their lifetime. The virus may be spread from horse to horse via biting flies, mosquitoes, hypodermic needles, or blood-letting procedures.

"Horse" includes all horselike animals embracing all members of the equine species including horses, ponies, the asinine species, and burros. It also includes hybrid offspring of the equine and asinine species by whatever name they may be known, such as mules, hinnies, and donkeys.

"Interstate health certificate" means a legible record covering the health requirements for importing of horses into Virginia, executed on an approved form of the state of origin, and bearing the endorsement of the livestock health official of that state.

"Licensed veterinarian" means a veterinarian who has graduated from a recognized college of veterinary medicine and has been examined and found proficient by the Virginia State Board of Veterinary Medicine.

"Official test" means the agar gel immunodiffusion test (Coggins AGID).

"Reactor" means a horse over eight months of age that reacts positively to an official test performed by an approved laboratory.

"State-Federal Regulatory Veterinarian" means a veterinarian employed by the State Veterinarian or USDA-APHIS.

"State Veterinarian" means a Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services veterinarian employed by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services who is responsible for the animal health programs in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"Veterinary services" means services of USDA-APHIS.

Statutory Authority

§§ 3.1-724 through 3.1-730 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR115-02-05 § 1, eff. November 27, 1985.

2VAC5-70-20. Testing requirements for horses exhibited at shows, fairs, or other exhibitions in Virginia.

All horses assembled at a show, fair, race meet, or other such function in Virginia, must be accompanied by a report of an official negative test for equine infectious anemia conducted within 12 months prior to such event. The person in charge will ensure that a copy of the official negative test results accompanies each horse in the event, and shall make such reports available for inspection by a representative of the State Veterinarian upon request. The person in charge shall exclude any horse which is not accompanied by a negative test report.

Statutory Authority

§§ 3.1-724 through 3.1-730 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR115-02-05 § 2, eff. November 27, 1985.

2VAC5-70-30. Alternate testing requirements for horses assembled for sale or auction in Virginia.

Horses may be assembled at a sale or auction without a negative test for equine infectious anemia, provided that the State Veterinarian so approves, and that the following requirements are met:

1. All horses, while assembled at the sale or auction, shall have blood samples drawn for equine infectious anemia testing.

2. Horses consigned or sold for immediate slaughter to an official slaughtering establishment are exempt from equine infectious anemia testing. Such horses shall be identified in a manner approved by the State Veterinarian, and a written permit shall be issued for their transfer to the slaughtering establishment.

3. The owner or manager of the sale or auction shall employ a licensed accredited veterinarian, who shall draw blood samples from all horses required to be tested, and shall record all visible markings or other permanent identification for each horse bled.

4. The owner or manager shall announce, prior to the sale or auction, that all nonslaughter horses will be tested. Each buyer of a nonslaughter horse or horses at the sale or auction shall sign a release form, signifying his agreement to maintain such horse or horses at a specified location until notified of the results of the test. Horses that prove negative to the test may move in normal trade channels. Owners of horses that react to the test must comply with 2VAC5-70-40 of this chapter.

5. The State Veterinarian may grant such exceptions to these requirements as he feels the circumstances warrant and that are not in variance with other rules and regulations of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Statutory Authority

§§ 3.1-724 through 3.1-730 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR115-02-05 § 3, eff. November 27, 1985.

2VAC5-70-40. Reactors to the official test.

A. Horses which have reacted positive to the official test shall be quarantined to the premises where tested by a State-Federal Regional Veterinarian.

B. When a reactor is disclosed on a premises, and such testing does not constitute a complete herd test, then all horses on such premises shall be tested, including the test-positive animal. The required testing will be for the purpose of detecting additional infection and to confirm the identity of the reactors. Such testing will be performed under the supervision of a representative of the State Veterinarian. Additional testing may be required by the State Veterinarian to clarify the equine infectious anemia status of horses on the premises.

C. Reactor animals shall be permanently identified by a freeze brand, using the official Commonwealth of Virginia code identification (52A) placed under the mane. The branding of such reactors will be performed by or under the supervision of a representative of the State Veterinarian.

D. Negative horses on the premises where a reactor animal is disclosed may not be removed from such premises without the approval of the State Veterinarian.

E. Virginia horses under eight months of age which have reacted to the official test shall be placed under written quarantine and retested when they become eight months of age. If such animals are reactors when they are eight months of age, they shall be subject to the same regulation as the adult infected animal.

F. When a reactor is disclosed, a thorough investigation shall be made to determine the source of the disease and to determine whether spread has occurred. Depending upon these findings, additional testing may be required by the State Veterinarian.

Statutory Authority

§§ 3.1-724 through 3.1-730 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR115-02-05 § 4, eff. November 27, 1985.

2VAC5-70-50. Disposition of reactor animals.

A. Reactor horses may be humanely destroyed. The destruction of such horses shall be the owner's responsibility and at his or her expense, but will be done under the supervision of a representative of the State Veterinarian.

B. Reactor horses may be further identified as required by the State Veterinarian and sold:

1. Under permit to an approved slaughter establishment,

2. To a market for sale to an approved slaughter establishment, or

3. For rendering or research purposes.

C. At the owner's option, reactor horses may be retained under quarantine and held in isolation from all other horses on the premises. Provisions may be made under terms specified by the State Veterinarian for the use of such reactor animals by the owner or his agent in such a manner that there is no risk of spreading equine infectious anemia. The terms and conditions shall be made part of the quarantine document. The restrictions placed on the movement and maintenance of reactor animals shall be permanent or until such animals die, are destroyed, or are cleansed of the carrier state.

D. When reactor animals are quarantined as provided herein, all other horses on the premises may be required to be tested every six months if deemed necessary by the State Veterinarian. All testing shall be at the owner's expense unless otherwise authorized by the State Veterinarian.

E. Whenever it has been determined that the provisions of the quarantine and isolation are not being maintained, the State Veterinarian may require that all horses on the premises be placed under quarantine. This quarantine shall remain in effect until the State Veterinarian has determined that the threat to the health of other horses no longer exists.

Statutory Authority

§§ 3.1-724 through 3.1-730 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR115-02-05 § 5, eff. November 27, 1985.

FORMS (2VAC5-70)

Equine Sale Release Requirement and Quarantine, Form VDACS-03038.

Permit For Movement of Animals, Form VS 1-27, eff. 1/73.

Equine Infectious Anemia Report, Form VDACS-03172, eff. 4/85.

Horse Show Report Form.

Livestock For Slaughter Purposes Only, Form VDACS-03019, eff. 8/82.

Certificate of Equine Examination, Form VDACS-03034, eff. 5/81.

Notice of Quarantine, Form VDACS-03021, eff. 9/85.