Cattle tuberculosis has been confirmed in a west Texas dairy that has been quarantined since April when some cattle in the herd responded to a TB test being conducted prior to a sale. (The sale was canceled.)

The cattle TB diagnosis was confirmed at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, where M. bovis, or cattle TB bacteria, was grown or "cultured" from tissues that had been collected during the necropsy of the test-positive cattle.

"The infected herd remains quarantined while the final disposition of the herd is determined ­either slaughtering the herd, or repeatedly testing and removing infected animals until the herd is free of cattle TB," said Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas' state veterinarian and head of the Texas Animal Health Commission, the state's livestock and poultry health regulatory agency. "Dairy, calf-raising and dairy animal replacement operations with epidemiological links to the infected herd are being tested to determine both the origin and potential spread of the disease."

"I encourage ranchers or accredited veterinarians to call the state of destination prior to shipping bison, beef or dairy cattle out of Texas," said Dr. Hillman. "Some states may impose enhanced TB entry requirements on Texas cattle and bison. Keep in mind, too, that many states, like Texas, have implemented cattle trichomoniasis testing requirements, so call before you haul."

Dr. Hillman said Texas' cattle TB-free status with the U.S. Department of Agriculture could be in jeopardy, if the infected dairy cannot be depopulated, or if a second infected herd is detected within 48 months.

To read the entire article, link to the High Plains Journal.