INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — After a full necropsy and pending test results, the Indiana Board of Animal Health (BOAH) fully expects to receive a negative report on seven beef calves exposed to bovine tuberculosis (TB) shipped to Indiana last fall.

“As far as I know, there have been no positive results shown outside of the original animal,” said Jim Hollis, district veterinarian for BOAH, during a Board meeting on Jan. 19. 

The original South Dakota trace began when an adult beef cow was slaughtered on Oct. 8 and samples were found to be positive for Mycobacterium bovis (bovine tuberculosis). Testing conducted at the source herd for this positive animal resulted in finding two additional infected animals.

Three cow/calf pairs from this herd, including one of the TB-infected cows, participated in a “pasture sale” along with pairs from six other South Dakota producers from Aug. 8, 2011 until Oct. 25, 2011.

The calves traced to Indiana participated in this sale and thus were considered exposed to TB, according to Hollis.

Once animals were traced to Indiana, BOAH was contacted and immediately took action to identify and quarantine each of the five infected herds and seven calves. 

“All of the exposed animals have undergone full necropsy and no leisures have been found,” he added. “The cultures were then sent to Purdue and we are still waiting on full test results, which usually takes six to eight weeks. Once negative results are shown, we will release the quarantine on the exposed farms.”

However, until final test results are available, these animals are considered still “exposed” to TB and the farms will remain under quarantine. According to Denise Derrer, public information director, Indiana is not at-risk of losing its TB-free status due to a stipulation in the federal guidelines that if tests are conducted properly and rapid action is taken then there is no threat of losing TB-free status.

Indiana has held a bovine tuberculosis-free status since 1984. In 2009, a cervid (mammal of the deer family) herd tested positive for TB, and was ultimately de-populated. Prior to the 2009 incident, the last time a Hoosier cattle herd tested positive for the disease was in the 1970s. 

Bovine tuberculosis is a chronic bacterial disease that affects primarily cattle, but can be transmitted to any warm-blooded animal. According to Derrer, TB is difficult to diagnose through clinical signs in early stages of the disease.

Later, signs may include: emaciation, lethargy, weakness, anorexia, low-grade fever and pneumonia with a chronic, moist cough. Lymph node enlargement may also be present. Cattle owners who notice these signs in their livestock should contact their veterinarian immediately.