INT13/4494

Cysticercus bovis risk management in cattle NUMBER TI-O-144 VERSION 1.0

AUTHORISED BY Executive Director Biosecurity AUTHORISED DATE 23/08/2013

ISSUED BY Animal Biosecurity EFFECTIVE DATE 23/08/2013

Policy Statement The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) allows a risk based approach to improve the effectiveness of detecting Cysticercus bovis (CB) through post mortem inspection at abattoirs. The key actions are: identification of land exposed to ineffectively treated sewage; investigation of cases where Cysticercus bovis lesions are detected at slaughter; application of a Cysticercus bovis ’CB‘ status to a high risk property’s Property Identification Code (PIC); and development of a Cysticercus bovis Management Plan (CBMP) for high risk properties.

Scope This policy applies to staff of the NSW Department of Primary Industries. When signed as a Written Instrument it applies to staff of the Livestock Health and Pest Authorities (LHPA) in their role as Stock Inspectors enforcing the Stock Diseases Act 1923. When signed as a Guideline it applies to Livestock Health and Pest Authorities including their boards and staff.

Requirements 1. Cysticercus bovis detection at an abattoir

a. Suspect Cysticercus bovis lesions in cattle carcasses at an abattoir will be sent for histopathological examination.

b. If the histopathological examination is inconclusive, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing will be done. Both preserved and non-fixed chilled samples are required.

c. Cysticercus bovis is a notifiable disease under the Stock Diseases Act 1923. DPI will be notified when a positive case of Cysticercus bovis is detected at an abattoir.

d. The DPI will respond to a positive case of Cysticercus bovis according to the Cysticercus bovis risk management procedure. A Cysticercus bovis investigation will be commenced.

e. The DPI will notify the cattle owner and District Veterinarian (DV) of the Cysticercus bovis detection.

f. The DPI will apply a Cysticercus bovis “CB” status to the source property’s Property Identification Code (PIC) until an investigation has been completed.

g. The DV will conduct a Cysticercus bovis Field Investigation of the source property.

h. A Cysticercus bovis Management Plan will be developed and signed off by the DV and the cattle owner.

i. If another property is identified as the source of the Cysticercus bovis during the field investigation, the new source property owners will be notified by the DPI. ’CB‘ status will be applied by the DPI to that property’s PIC. A new Cysticercus bovis Investigation will be commenced and a Cysticercus bovis Field Investigation will be conducted by the DV.

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j. The Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) will approve any changes to CB status. CB status may be applied to the entire PIC or individual National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) devices.

k. Lifetime CB status will be applied to high risk cattle.

l. In some circumstances, cattle owners can apply to have CB status removed from their PIC after a minimum of 2 years.

2. Identification of high risk cattle exposed to land contaminated with ineffectively treated sewage water.

a. The DPI will conduct an initial desk audit to determine the adequacy of treatment of sewage at each sewage treatment works in NSW.

b. The DPI will determine if cattle have been or are exposed to land contaminated with inadequately treated sewage water.

c. Based on the results of the desk audit, the DPI will determine if cattle have been exposed to risk associated with these premises. CB status will be applied to cattle considered by the DPI to be a Cysticercus bovis risk.

d. The DPI will undertake a bi-annual audit process for land associated with sewage works that is identified as being medium or high risk for Cysticercus bovis.

e. The DPI will subsequently audit each sewage treatment works in NSW annually to determine if there have been changes to treatment of sewage or use of treated effluent. If this results in a change to risk, subsequent actions on the works will be according to the revised risk assessment.

f. A DV must randomly audit land with CB status on its PIC to ensure all cattle grazing that land have CB status.

Procedures Procedure - Cysticercus bovis risk management in cattle1 Roles and responsibilities CVO: Approve changes to CB status to PIC or individual cattle in the NLIS. Approve the Cysticercus bovis Management Plan. DPI: Apply changes to CB status. Initiate an investigation of Cysticercus bovis following detection at abattoirs. Manage the Livestock Health Management System (LHMS) database to document Cysticercus

bovis status of properties. Assess the risk of Cysticercus bovis associated with sewage works and apply CB status to high risk

cattle and the affected PIC. Notify cattle owners of the current CB status of their property. LHPA: Investigate cases of Cysticercus bovis detected at abattoirs. Assist cattle owners to identify the source of Cysticercus bovis following abattoir detection by

conducting a field investigation of the Cysticercus bovis source property. Develop a Cysticercus bovis Management Plan (CBMP). Apply to the CVO to have the CB status removed under specified conditions. Randomly audit properties associated with sewage discharge that poses a risk for Cysticercus

bovis.

Safety considerations The risk of Cysticercus bovis entering the human food chain and causing carcass wastage is reduced by the Cysticercus bovis risk management in cattle policy.

Delegations Nil

1 http://www.trade.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/475169/PRO-2012-16-Cysticercus-bovis-risk-management-in-cattle.pdf POLICY TI-O-144 CYSTICERCUS BOVIS RISK MANAGEMENT IN CATTLE PAGE 2 OF 4

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Definitions CB Cysticercus bovis is the intermediate stage in the life cycle of a human

tapeworm. It is a notifiable disease and causes small cysts in the muscles of cattle which results in all or part of the carcass being condemned.

CBMP Cysticercus bovis Management Plan. CB status NLIS and PIC device status code for Cysticercus bovis. Confirmed case Definitive diagnosis of Cysticercus bovis by histopathology or positive PCR

testing. CVO Chief Veterinary Officer. DPI NSW Department of Primary Industries Cysticercus bovis registrar. DV District Veterinarian. LHMS Livestock Health Management System. LHPA Livestock Health and Pest Authority. NLIS National Livestock Identification System. PCR Polymerase Chain Reaction. PIC Property Identification Code. Why is this necessary when we have already specified what the abbreviations stand for in the text?

Legislation Stock Diseases Act 1923

Related policies and procedures Procedure 2012/16 – Cysticercus bovis management in cattle2

Other related documents Minutes of AHC20 Agenda Item 13.4 Face to Face Meeting, Townsville QLD, 19-20 October 2011. AHC20 OOS27 Cysticercus bovis and meat exports to the European Union. TRIM INT11/80764 AQIS proposal for an alternative system to manage the risk of Cysticercus

bovis infected meat entering the human food chain.

Superseded documents Nil.

Revision history

Version Date issued Notes By 1.0 23/08/2013 New policy developed Animal Biosecurity

Review date 14/01/2015

Contact Animal Biosecurity Cysticercus bovis Registrar (02) 6391 3412 TRIM REF INT13/4494

2 http://www.trade.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/475169/PRO-2012-16-Cysticercus-bovis-risk-management-in-cattle.pdf POLICY TI-O-144 CYSTICERCUS BOVIS RISK MANAGEMENT IN CATTLE PAGE 3 OF 4

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