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Riding Mountain TB Eradication Area
Update & Work Plans for 2005/06

Summary of New Information

During fall/winter/spring 2004-05 testing, approximately 34,400 head were tested in 411 herds, 991 reactors were tested by the Bovigam blood test; 36 cattle suspect cattle were slaughtered; microscopic evidence of TB was seen in 4 animals; and bovine TB confirmed by culture in none.

The RMEA remains classified as TB-accredited-advanced and the rest of Manitoba as TB-free. Provided no further cases are confirmed in the RMEA, it is eligible for TB-free status in April/06.

The current boundaries of the RMEA will remain as encompassing provincial game hunting areas 23 and 23A. These boundaries will be reviewed at the end of the 2005-06 testing season.

Cattle, farmed bison & farmed cervid herds inside the RMEA to be tested in the 2005/06 test season are those located in the RMs of Rossburn, Rosedale, McCreary, Ste. Rose, Grandview, Shellmouth/Boulton & Shell River, except those herds tested in the 2004/05 test season that are not follow-up herds. This is estimated at approximately 23,500 head in approximately 250 herds.

Cattle, farmed bison & farmed cervid herds outside the RMEA to be tested in the 2005/06 test season are those located in parts of the RMs of Hillsburg, Grandview, McCreary & Rosedale outside the RMEA, except herds tested in the 2004/05 test season that are not follow-up herds.

Follow-up herds to be tested in the 2005/06 test season are 11 cattle herds that had suspicious findings during the 2004/05 test season, and 11 herds (cattle/bison/cervid) that are quarantined pending the completion of previously scheduled testing.

Producers who require a herd test are reminded that suspect reactions may be detected during testing, necessitating further investigation and resulting in the producer being unable to market certain classes of animals for a few days or a number of weeks. Producers are urged to plan their herd test date to minimize the effect of any temporary restriction on their herd that may occur.

TB testing & investigation protocol remains essentially unchanged from the 2004/05 test season. The policies and procedures pertaining to movement permit controls remain unchanged.

CFIA review of maximum amounts of compensation will not impact 2005/06 test season. While proposed changes to the maximums may be put out for public comment during 2005/06 testing season, they do not come into effect until final publication in Canada Gazette Part II. This is not expected to occur before April 2006. Any changes to the maximums will not be retroactive.

Since 1997, bovine TB has been confirmed in a total 37 wild elk & deer in the Riding Mountain ecosystem among more than 5,000 animals examined. Eight of these cases were found in the 2004/05 test season.

Introduction

On January 1, 2003, the Riding Mountain TB Eradication Area (RMEA) was established around Riding Mountain National Park. From that date, movement permits for cattle and farmed bison, and enhanced disease surveillance in the form of periodic herd tests have been required. As agreed to by livestock industry and government agencies, the RMEA consists of Manitoba Conservation game hunting areas (GHA) 23 & 23A. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) may modify the boundaries of the RMEA at any time as appropriate.

RMEA Livestock Surveillance Testing Update

The first phase of the area surveillance testing involved the testing of all cattle & farmed bison herds in the RMEA between July 1, 2000 and July 1, 2003. This testing resulted in the finding of three infected cattle herds (two in the rural municipality [RM] of Grandview and one in the RM of Rosedale) in January & April of 2003. These herds were depopulated. A portion of a fourth herd, located in the RM of Grandview, was found to have been exposed to one of the infected herds and was subjected to a partial depopulation involving only the exposed animals.

In the fall of 2003, the surveillance testing moved into the next phase, involving the periodic re-testing herds within the RMEA and the selective testing of herds adjacent to, but outside, the RMEA, as part of the ongoing disease surveillance program. The appropriate re-testing interval for any given herd is determined by the infection findings in livestock & wildlife in previous years and an assessment of the risk that TB may be introduced into the herd. The re-test interval for any herd in the RMEA will generally not be less than 12 months and will not exceed 36 months.

During the most recent round of testing in the fall/winter/spring of 2004-05, approximately 34,400 cattle & farmed bison were TB tested in 411 herds, including herds located in parts of RMs located outside the RMEA surrounding Duck Mountain Provincial Park and Forest.

Of these 34,400 head, 991 animals reacted to the caudal fold (CF) tail test for TB and were subjected to the Bovigam blood test, resulting in 41 cattle with a non-negative Bovigam result:

• 16 classified as positive & ordered destroyed
• 24 classified as suspect:
  • 18 suspects slaughtered (with compensation) at the owner’s request
  • 5 suspects retested at owner’s request, with negative results and restrictions removed
  • 1 suspect retested at owner’s request with suspicious results on retest and was ordered destroyed (with compensation)
• 1 classified as an unfit sample & owner elected to slaughter instead of re-test

Of the 36 cattle with a non-negative Bovigam result that were destroyed:

• 17 were required to be destroyed by the CFIA (16 positive and 1 double suspect)
• 19 were elected to be destroyed by owner’s decision (18 suspects and 1 unfit)

Although bovine TB was not confirmed in any of the 36 animals that were destroyed in order to collect tissue samples for confirmatory laboratory testing, microscopic evidence of tuberculosis consistent with the presence of a very early or very low level of infection was seen in four (4) cattle from herds located in the RMs of Dauphin, Ochre River, Shell River & Ethelbert. Because the infection could not be definitively confirmed by culture, these herds have been released from quarantine and will be re-tested during the coming test season.

Bovine TB Found in Southeast Manitoba in March 2004

In March 2004, as a result of routine slaughter house inspection by the CFIA, bovine TB was confirmed in a dairy herd in the La Broquerie area in south eastern Manitoba. This was the first case of the disease reported in Manitoba outside the RMEA since 1996. Eradication measures were instituted, including the destruction of approximately 160 cattle, and compensation was paid to the owner. The CFIA’s investigation found that the source of the infection was the purchase of an infected cow from a herd located in the RMEA in the RM of McCreary near the eastern boundary of the park, prior to the implementation of movement controls for cattle leaving the RMEA. Analysis of the DNA of the organism cultured from this cow indicated it had the same "fingerprint" as the organisms isolated from cattle and wild elk & deer in the Riding Mountain area.

The measures (periodic herd testing & movement permits) which have been in place in the RMEA since January 2003 are designed to prevent future similar cases of spread of TB from the RMEA into the rest of Manitoba or other provinces in Canada.

Bovine TB Status of Manitoba

Since January 1, 2003, Manitoba has a split status for TB: the RMEA is classified as TB-accredited-advanced (very low prevalence); and the rest of Manitoba, like all other provinces, is classified as TB-free (rare or not present). Under the Health of Animals Regulations, a TB-free area may experience one infected herd during a 48-month period without losing its TB-free status.

Because the previous infected herd in the TB-free part of Manitoba occurred in 1996, the case in the La Broquerie area in 2004 constitutes the one allowed infected herd and did not affect this status. Nor did it affect the classification of the RMEA as TB-accredited-advanced.

Provided that no further cases of bovine TB are confirmed in the RMEA, this area will be eligible for TB-free status as early as April 2006 (3 years following eradication of the last confirmed infection). Restoration of TB-free status would allow CFIA to remove the permit system of movement controls. However, some level of periodic herd testing in the RMEA will continue to be required for as long as the risk of disease remains..

Proposed TB Surveillance in Livestock for 2005/06 Season

1. Boundaries of RMEA

The current boundaries of the RMEA will remain as they are, encompassing provincial game hunting areas 23 and 23A. These boundaries will be reviewed at the end of the 2005-06 testing season.

2. Herds To Be Tested in 2005/06 Test Season

2.1 The following cattle, farmed bison and farmed cervid herds located inside the RMEA, estimated to comprise approximately 23,500 head in approximately 250 herds, are required to be tested prior to May 1, 2006, as a result of being located in a RM that is scheduled for periodic testing this season:

• cattle, farmed bison & farmed cervid herds located in the parts of the RMs of Rossburn, Rosedale, McCreary, Ste. Rose, Grandview, Shellmouth/Boulton & Shell River located inside the RMEA,

except any herd that was tested in the 2004/05 test season and is not listed in 2.3 below will not be tested. (These herds may be tested in the 2006/07 test season.)

The CFIA will send a letter confirming this requirement to individual affected producers by the end of September 2005.

2.2 Information regarding the movement of wild elk in & out of the northwest part of the RMEA and the wild elk & deer surveillance data gathered thus far from GHAs 18A-C, support the continued testing of certain cattle, farmed bison & farmed cervid herds located outside the RMEA. Approximately 110 herds with approximately 9,500 animals in the following RMs are required to be tested prior to May 1, 2006.

• cattle, farmed bison & farmed cervid herds located in:
  • the parts of the RMs of Hillsburg & Grandview located outside the RMEA;
  • the part of the RM of Rosedale that located outside the RMEA that is North of a line extending East from Highway #357; and
  • the part of the RM of McCreary located outside the RMEA that is West of Road 84W as it would continue on a North/South axis.

except any herd that was tested in the 2004/05 test season and is not listed in 2.3 below will not be tested.

The CFIA will contact the individual affected producers located in the above areas and inform them of this requirement

2.3 As a result of the findings observed during 2004/05 testing season:

• herds with a microscopic diagnosis of mycobacteriosis (4 herds);
• herds with a Bovigam positive result that was higher than 0.75 (2 herds); and
• herds with a Bovigam suspect animal that was retested with negative results (5 herds).

2.4 All herds of cattle, farmed bison or farmed cervids that were scheduled for testing in previous years and are currently quarantined pending completion of the required herd test. The CFIA expects the owners of these herds to make their animals available for testing by the end of 2005. Any owner who has, as of Nov.01/05, not arranged a herd test date, will be served with a legal notice:

• untested herds of mixed species (1 with cattle/bison/cervids and 1 with bison/cervids);
• untested herds of cattle (4);
• untested herds of farmed bison (3); and
• untested herds of farmed cervids (2).

Under the RMEA surveillance testing program, test eligible animals include all sexually intact cattle, farmed bison & farmed cervids 12 months of age and older, except that calves born in 2005 are not required to be tested. This testing is carried out by CFIA inspectors at no charge to producers.

3. Scheduling of Herd Test Date

Producers who require a herd test this year are reminded that suspect reactions may be detected during testing, which will necessitate further investigation. This may result in a producer being unable to market certain classes of animals for a few days, or in some cases, for a number of weeks. Producers are urged to plan their herd test date to minimize the impact of any temporary movement restrictions that may be imposed on their herd. Testing should be scheduled to occur at a time when there are no pending sales/movements anticipated for the following few weeks.

4. TB Testing & Investigation Protocol

4.1 Identification

For the purpose of tuberculin testing, all animals that are tuberculin tested are identified by an official CCIA ear tag (RFID or bar code) or a Health of Animals metal ear tag or, in the case of farmed elk, an official provincially-approved dangle ear tag. In any event, the CFIA inspector conducting the tuberculin test must be able to positively identify the animal at both the time of injection and the reading of the test.

4.2 Screening Test

All cattle & farmed bison herds identified for testing will be tested by CFIA inspectors using the caudal fold (CF) tuberculin test. All farmed cervid herds identified for testing will be tested by CFIA inspectors using the mid-cervical (MC) tuberculin test

A positive result on either test is any visible or palpable change in the skin at the tuberculin injection site.

Injections are conducted using a single dose of tuberculin (0.1ml) drawn into a 1ml tuberculin syringe with a new needle for each animal. Syringes may be pre-loaded up to 3 hours prior to injection.

4.3 Ancillary Tests

Any cattle or farmed bison reacting to the CF test will be re-tested using a gamma interferon assay (Bovigam blood test), with the blood sample collected by a CFIA inspector trained in the proper collection, handling & preservation techniques required to maintain the sample at room temperature from the time of collection until its arrival at the laboratory.

This blood sample is collected not less than 3 days and not more than 10 days following the CF tuberculin test injection. Blood sample collection days will be Mondays & Tuesdays unless specific alternate arrangements are made. The age of the animal is to be recorded on the blood sample submission form.

The Manitoba Agriculture, Food & Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) laboratory in Winnipeg will receive blood samples on Tuesdays & Wednesdays and conduct the first phase of the Bovigam test (incubate whole blood with antigens & harvest plasma). The CFIA will immediately notify the MAFRI laboratory (by e-mail) regarding blood samples that have been shipped to the laboratory.

MAFRI laboratory will ship harvested plasma to the CFIA Ottawa Lab on Thursdays, where the second phase of the test will be performed on Fridays and reported back to the CFIA District Office by 5:00 p.m. on the same day as much as possible.

Any farmed cervids reacting to the MC tuberculin test will be re-tested using the comparative cervical tuberculin (CCT) test.

The CCT test will not be routinely used as an ancillary test for farmed bovines.

4.4 Interpretation of Ancillary Test in Bovines (Bovigam)

The interpretation of the Bovigam test is unchanged from the 2004/05 test season.

If the Bovigam result (B minus A) is less than 0.10:

• animal is classified as negative and no further action is taken.

If the Bovigam result (B minus A) is bigger than or of equal value of 0.10 but smaller than 0.20:

• animal is classified as a suspect and the owner may elect to slaughter animal (with compensation) OR hold animal under quarantine for a Bovigam re-test.

If owner elects to hold the animal for a Bovigam re-test:

• the suspect animal is quarantined;
• suspect animal is re-bled for Bovigam not less than 17 days and not more than 28 days after CF tuberculin test injection date;
• if re-test result is smaller than 0.10, classify animal as negative, release quarantine & schedule herd for caudal fold re-test in 2006/07 season, except that the herd is not scheduled for retest in 06/07 if the reason for the herd test in 05/06 is that the herd had a Bovigam suspect during a herd test in the 04/05 test season that retested negative;
• if re-test result bigger than or of equal value than 0.10, classify the animal as reactor & order destroyed with compensation.

If owner elects to slaughter the suspect animal, quarantine the animal, classify it as reactor, and order destroyed with compensation. (Herd will only be scheduled for caudal fold herd test in 2006/07 if the lab reports a diagnosis of mycobacteriosis for the suspect animal.)

If the Bovigam result (B minus A) is bigger than or of equal value of   0.20:

• animal is classified as a positive/reactor;
• herd is quarantined for movement control purposes;
• reactor is ordered destroyed with compensation.

4.5 Interpretation of Ancillary Test in Cervids (CCT)

The CCT in cervids is interpreted using the standard criteria as set out in Section 8 - Captive Ungulates of the Disease Control Manual of Procedures.

4.6 Confirmatory Testing of Positive/Reactor Animals

Animals classified as positive/reactors as per 4.4 and 4.5 above are:

• ordered destroyed with compensation paid;
• subjected to post mortem examination, with any visible lesions suggestive of bovine TB and a profile of apparently normal lymph nodes submitted to the CFIA Ottawa Laboratory for microscopic (histopathology) & microbiologic (culture) analyses;

4.7 Herd Quarantines

If no visible lesions (NVL) suggestive of bovine TB are observed at post mortem exam:

• and microscopic examination reports no evidence of acid-fast bacilli (AFB), any quarantine that may be in place is released and a qualified herd permit is issued;
• and microscopic examination reports evidence of AFB, the herd is quarantined, if not already done, until culture results are reported.

If gross visible lesions (GVL) suggestive of bovine TB are observed at post mortem exam:

• and microscopic examination reports no evidence of AFB and evidence of another etiological agent/cause of the lesion, any quarantine that may be in place is released and a qualified herd permit is issued;
• and microscopic examination reports no evidence of AFB and no evidence of another etiological agent/cause of the lesion, but there is evidence of a granuloma or tubercle, the herd is quarantined, if not already done, until culture results are reported;
• and microscopic examination reports evidence of AFB, the herd is quarantine, if not already done, until culture results are reported.

Compensation

Compensation will be paid to the owners of all animals that are ordered destroyed for confirmatory testing. The amount of compensation shall be the CFIA veterinarian’s opinion of the market value of the animal up to the prescribed maximum of $2,500 for cattle, $4,000 for farmed bison, and $4,000 for farmed cervids, minus any carcass salvage value. Compensation will also be paid for reasonable disposal costs (trucking & kill fees). The CFIA veterinarian will generally consider a reactor that is being ordered destroyed to be breeding animals (not a cull animal).

The CFIA is currently reviewing the maximum amounts of compensation for all species, including cattle, bison & cervids. While proposed changes to the maximum amounts may be published for public comment during the 2005/06 testing season, they will not come into effect until final publication in Canada Gazette Part II, which is not expected to occur prior to April 2006. Any final changes to the maximum amounts will not be retroactive.

Movement Control & Permits

Since January 1, 2003, all movements of cattle & farmed bison out of the RMEA have required a permit from CFIA. The CFIA may only issue a permit when it is satisfied that moving the animal(s) will not spread bovine TB. These permits are provided by CFIA at no charge to the producer.

Everyone to whom a permit is issued and everyone who receives an animal that has moved under a permit must keep a copy of the permit and all documentation relevant to the permit (i.e. test records, inventory records, purchase & sale records) for 2 years from the date of movement.

1. Qualified Herd Permit

Cattle and farmed bison producers located in the RMEA will require a new Qualified Herd Permit prior to the expiry date shown on their current permit in order to continue to be able to remove animals from the RMEA. All current Qualified Herd Permits will expire between December 31, 2005 and May 31, 2006, depending on the date the herd was last tested. The process for issuance of a new Qualified Herd Permit depends on whether the herd is scheduled for testing in the fall/winter/spring of 2005/06.

A producer inside the RMEA whose herd is not included among the herds identified for testing this year (Page 3), will be issued a new Qualified Herd Permit based on a review of their file and, if necessary, a telephone or on-site interview conducted within three months prior to the expiry date of the current permit. The purpose of this review is to ensure that the producer has complied with the requirements to complete a permit for all animals removed from the RMEA and to provide a copy of each movement record to their CFIA District Office. If the review finds that the producer has complied with the conditions of the permit, a new Qualified Herd Permit will be issued with an expiry date that is 12 months from expiry date shown on the current permit, but not more than 36 months from date of the last herd test.

A producer inside the RMEA whose herd is included among the herds identified for testing this year, will be issued a new Qualified Herd Permit following completion of the TB test of their herd, and a review of their file to ensure that the producer has complied with the requirements to complete a permit for all animals removed from the RMEA and to provide a copy of each movement record to their CFIA District Office. If the herd test is negative and the review finds that the producer has complied with the conditions of the permit, a new Qualified Herd Permit will be issued with an expiry date that is 12 months from expiry date shown on the current permit or 12 months from the date of the herd test, whichever is later, but with no permit having an expiry date later than April 30, 2007.

Cattle and farmed bison producers located inside the RMEA who currently hold a Qualified Herd Permit should ensure that they have completed a movement permit for all animals removed from the RMEA since January 1, 2003, and that they have submitted a copy of each such permit to their CFIA District Office. Failure to do so may result in revocation of their current permit, no new permit being issued, and/or quarantine of their herd pending further investigation.

Every time a bovine (cattle or farmed bison) is removed from the RMEA, the producer must complete 3 copies of his/her Qualified Herd Permit showing:

• the name & address of the destination of the animal(s);
• the number of animals being moved;
• description of animal(s) being moved including breed, age, sex (male, female, neuter), and class/purpose of animal(s) being moved (i.e. breeding, feeding, slaughter);
• date animal(s) are being moved; and
• that each animal being removed from the RMEA under this permit is identified by an official ear tag approved by the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA).

A completed copy of the permit must accompany the animals to the destination outside the RMEA, with a copy provided to the local CFIA District Office within 10 days of the animal(s) being removed from the RMEA, and a copy retained by the producer.

2. Individual Animal Permit

Individual Animal Movement Permits are only available for:

• a) newly established cattle or farmed bison herds located in the RMEA and only until CFIA is able to complete a whole herd test and issue a Qualified Herd Permit;
• b) an animal from a quarantined herd that is being removed from the RMEA for immediate slaughter or veterinary treatment, where the permit accompanies a licence issued by a CFIA inspector; or
• c) at the discretion of the CFIA District Veterinarian in exceptional emergency situations.

Any TB testing required for an Individual Animal Movement Permit is performed by an accredited private veterinarian at the producer’s expense. Details pertaining to Individual Animal Permits are available from local CFIA District Offices (Ref: Management of the RMEA - Dec.06/02).

3. Summer Pasture Permits

For cattle or farmed bison that were transported into the RMEA for summer grazing on or after May 1, 2005, and are removed from the RMEA on or before October 31, 2005, the owner may obtain a Summer Pasture Permit for the removal of the animals from the RMEA, without additional TB testing being required. This request must be accompanied by:

• proof that the entry of the animals into the RMEA was registered with the CFIA prior to entry (location of pasture, number of animals, list of identification numbers);
• proof that each animal was identified with a CCIA tag prior to entry into the RMEA;
• name & address of the destination of the animal(s);
• official CCIA identification number of every animal being removed from the RMEA, except for natural additions born at pasture;
• a description of the animal(s) being moved including breed, age, sex, and class/purpose.

A completed copy of every Summer Pasture Permit must accompany the animal(s) to the destination outside the RMEA, with a copy retained by the producer.

Cattle or farmed bison that were transported into the RMEA for summer grazing before May 1, 2005, or that are removed from the RMEA after October 31, 2005, are required to be tuberculin tested, with negative results, in order to obtain a permit.

4. Feedlot Permits

Feedlots located in the RMEA will be visited by a CFIA veterinary inspector to ensure that the conditions of their Feedlot Movement Permit have been fully complied with prior to issuing a new permit for these premises.

For animals being reared in a feedlot, the owner may request a Feedlot Permit for the removal of animals from the RMEA, without additional TB testing being required. This request must be accompanied by:

• on-going proof that all animals on the premises originated from outside the RMEA or from a qualified herd located in the RMEA;
• on-going proof that no animal has resided in the feedlot for a period longer than 4 months, except animals that are less than 24 months of age; and
• on-going proof, including the maintenance of records showing that all animals on the premises are identified with an official CCIA ear tag at all time while on the premises;

Every time an animal is removed from a feedlot in the RMEA, the owner must complete 3 copies of his/her Feedlot Permit showing:

• the name & address of the destination of the animal(s);
• the description of each animal(s) being moved including breed, age, sex (male, female, neuter), and class/purpose of the animal(s) being moved (i.e. breeding, feeding, slaughter);
• date the animal(s) are being moved; and
• that each animal being removed from the RMEA under this permit is identified by an official ear tag approved by the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA).

A completed copy of every Feedlot Permit must accompany the animal(s) to the destination outside the RMEA, with a copy provided to the local CFIA office, and a copy retained by the feedlot owner.

5. Auction/Assembly, Special Event, and Veterinary Care Permits

Auction/assembly premises located in the RMEA will be visited by a CFIA veterinary inspector to ensure that the conditions of their Auction-Assembly Movement Permit have been fully complied with prior to issuing a new permit for these premises.

The management of special events held in the RMEA, such as an exhibition, show, or production sale, may request a Special Event Permit in order to remove from the RMEA, with out additional TB testing, any cattle or farmed bison that attended the event, including both animals temporarily transported into the RMEA for the event, as well as animals attending the event that originate from within the RMEA.

Veterinary clinics located in the RMEA, may request a Veterinary Care Permit for the removal from the RMEA, without additional TB testing, of cattle and farmed bison that are temporarily transported into the RMEA for medical treatment, surgery, breeding evaluation, etc., at the clinic.

Details pertaining to Auction/Assembly, Special Event, and Veterinary Care Permits are available from local CFIA District Offices (Reference: Management of the RMEA - Dec.06/02).

Notes:

A permit is not required to remove cattle or farmed bison from a herd located inside the RMEA if its destination is another location inside the RMEA.

Those cattle & farmed bison herds which have been identified for herd testing that are located outside the RMEA do not require a permit to move their animals.

Establishment of the RMEA had no impact on the movement permit requirements already in place for the movement of farmed cervids (elk and deer) from any place in Canada to any other place in Canada.

Bovine TB in Wild Elk and Deer

Diseased wildlife in and around Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP) are believed to be the source of bovine TB for the infected cattle herds found in 2001 and 2003 in the RMEA, as well as the herd in south-eastern Manitoba in March 2004. The source of the infection in wildlife was almost certainly contact with infected cattle at some time in the past.

Since 1997, bovine TB has been confirmed (culture or histopathology + PCR) in 37 wild elk and deer in the Riding Mountain ecosystem:

• 13 cervids (9 elk & 4 white-tailed deer) out of a total of approximately 5,000 animals harvested by hunters around RMNP;
• 2 white-tailed deer out of 226 harvested in a special hunt conducted by the government of Manitoba around RMNP in March 2004;
• 2 elk found dead inside RMNP;
• 19 cervids (18 elk & 1 white-tailed deer) destroyed inside RMNP under Parks Canada’s capture, test & removal program initiated in March 2003; and
• 1 radio-collared elk destroyed outside RMNP (RM of Grandview just south of Duck Mountain Provincial Forest) which had been tracked to the area from RMNP.

Eight (8) of these 37 wildlife cases were detected through surveillance & control activities carried out by the government of Manitoba & Parks Canada during the fall/winter of 2004/05:

• 2 white-tailed deer in the RM of Grandview harvested by hunters around RMNP;
• 1 white-tailed deer just inside the west part of RMNP, out of 3 blood test positive deer destroyed in Mar/05 under Parks Canada’s capture, test & removal program, in which 35 deer had been captured & blood tested; and
• 5 elk from RMNP (4 elk in the west part of RMNP and 1 radio-collared elk just south of Duck Moutain Provincial Forest in the RM of Grandview which had been tracked to this area from RMNP) out of 36 blood test-positive elk destroyed inside RMNP in Mar/05 under Parks Canada’s capture, test & removal program, in which 174 elk were captured & blood tested in RMNP and the Duck Mountain area.

The results of the wildlife surveillance & control activities to date suggest that:

• a) if bovine TB is present in wild elk & deer in the eastern part of the RMEA, it appears to exist at a lower level than in the western part of the RMEA; and
• b) the CFIA’s blood test for TB (lymphocyte stimulation test [LST]), which has been used in the Parks Canada capture, test & removal program, appears to be a usefulness tool in on-going and future capture, test & removal strategies.

The CFIA has no mandate to eradicate TB from wildlife.

The CFIA will continue to provide diagnostic & research laboratory testing services and veterinary science expertise to support the efforts of the Parks Canada Agency and the government of Manitoba in their efforts to detect and eliminate bovine TB from wildlife in the Riding Mountain area.

Prepared By: Dr. Maria A. Koller-Jones
Senior Staff Veterinarian
Animal Health Programs
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
September 27, 2005