Swine Brucellosis

Control/Eradication

State–Federal–Industry

Uniform Methods and Rules

United States

Department of

Agriculture

Animal and

Plant Health

Inspection

Service

APHIS 91–55–042
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs

and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited

bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means

for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should

contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights,

Room 326–W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,

DC 20250–9410 or call (202) 720–5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity provider and employer.

Issued April 1998

This publication supersedes APHIS 91–55–023, under the same title, issued originally

in March 1990 and last revised in February 1995.
Contents

Introduction 5

Part I Definitions 6

Part II Administrative Procedures 10

Part III Epidemiology 12

Part IV Herd-Cleanup Plans 14

Part V Validated Swine Brucellosis-Free Herds 16

Part VI Laboratory Procedures and Test Interpretation 18

Part VII Program Stages 21

Part VIII Quarterly Reports 25

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5

Introduction

These Uniform Methods and Rules (UM&R) were adopted for the eradication of swine

brucellosis from all domestic swine in the United States. These are minimum methods and rules developed by the Veterinary Services division of the Animal and Plant

Health Inspection Service (APHIS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

(USDA), and endorsed by swine health practitioners at the annual United States

Aninmal Health Association meeting in October 1997.

The following list highlights changes adopted in this version of the swine brucellosis

UM&R. Numbers in parentheses represent page numbers in this typescript.

Part I—Definitions. A definition for breeding swine was added, and the definitions of

domestic swine and feral swine were changed. (6)

Part III—Epidemiology. At Section H., Surveillance, requirements for Stage I and

Stage II States or areas were added. (13)

Part VII—Program Stages—Stage I.

At Sec. A.1.j., the requirement for first-point testing was added and subsequent

subsections were relettered. (21)

At Sec. A.6, the title of the section was expanded, the phrase “feral swine” was

changed to read “wild or feral swine,” certain specifics were adjusted in subsection c.,

and the requirement for exposed swine was added in new subsection d. (22)

The minimum uniform methods and rules described in this publication do not preclude

the adoption of more stringent methods and rules by any geographic or political

subdivision of the United States.
6

Part I—Definitions

A veterinarian approved by the Deputy Administrator of Veterinary Services (VS),

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture

(USDA), to perform functions required by cooperative State–Federal animal disease

control and eradication programs.

A market approved by the APHIS Administrator and listed in Title 9 of the Code of

Federal Regulations (CFR) at which breeding, feeding, or slaughter swine may be

sold in accordance with Federal interstate regulations.

A swine-only market approved by the APHIS Administrator and listed in Title 9 CFR

at which interstate shipments of slaughter swine only are permitted in accordance

with applicable State and Federal regulations. No swine may be released from an

approved slaughter market unless consigned directly to another approved slaughter

market, or to a recognized slaughtering establishment for immediate slaughter.

The veterinary official of VS, APHIS, USDA, who is assigned by the Deputy Administrator to supervise and perform official APHIS animal health work.

An uncastrated male swine 6 months of age or over that is, or has been, capable of

being used for breeding purposes.

Swine that are 6 months of age or older and that are used or intended to be used for

breeding.

An official document issued for and prior to interstate movement of swine not known

to be infected with or exposed to swine brucellosis (SB) by a VS representative, a

State representative, or an accredited veterinarian, which states: (1) the number,

individual identification, and description of the swine to be moved; (2) that the swine

to be moved are not known to be infected with or exposed to SB; (3) the purpose for

which the swine are to be moved; (4) the points of origin and destination; (5) the

consignor and consignee; and (6) additional information as required by applicable

State and Federal laws and regulations.

An official SB test of all breeding swine 6 months of age and older in a herd. Swine

being fed for slaughter that are not in contact with breeding swine may be exempted

from CHT requirements.

The Deputy Administrator, VS, APHIS, USDA, or any other VS official to whom

authority has been delegated to act in his or her stead.

An epidemiologist selected by the State animal health official and the AVIC. The

regional brucellosis and swine disease epidemiologists and the VS Regional Director

should concur in the selection of the designated brucellosis epidemiologist.

Swine that are owned, managed, and have never been exposed to wild or feral swine.

Movement without unloading en route and without contact with swine of lesser SB status.

Accredited veterinarian

Approved all-class

market

Approved slaughter

market

Area Veterinarian-inCharge (AVIC)

Boar

Breeding swine

Complete herd test (CHT)

Deputy Administrator

Designated brucellosis

epidemiologist

Domestic Swine

Direct shipment

Certificate
7

Feral or wild swine

Herd

Herd of origin

Herd plan

A farm where the swine were born, or on which they have resided for at least

60 consecutive days immediately prior to movement.

Swine that have lived all (wild) or any part (feral) of their lives as free-roaming

animals.

All swine under common ownership or supervision on a premises or all swine under

common ownership or supervision on two or more premises among which swine have

been interchanged.

(See Farm of origin.)

A written management and testing agreement designed by the producer and

designated brucellosis epidemiologist to control and eradicate SB from an infected

herd.

From any State into or through any other State.

Within a State.

A herd in which one or more swine have been classified an SB reactor and which has

been determined by a designated brucellosis epidemiologist to be infected. (See

Part VI, Lab Procedures and Test Interpretation.)

The designated brucellosis epidemiologist may classify feral swine originating

from areas that have been geographically defined and under continuous surveillance

yielding no evidence of infection as a monitored negative feral swine population.

A swine that is negative to one or more official SB presumptive tests. (See Part III,

Epidemiology.)

The identification of sows and boars to their farm of origin by official identification

device and collection of blood samples from these swine at markets or slaughter

establishments for official SB testing at a designated laboratory.

A swine that is positive to an SB confirmatory test or positive to the card test alone

and not subjected to a confirmatory test.

A swine that is positive to a presumptive test but is negative to a confirmatory test.

(See Part III, Epidemiology.)

A VS-approved paper or plastic tag applied to the head or poll region of slaughter

sows and boars that provides farm of origin identification of blood samples collected

at markets and slaughter establishments.

A VS-approved identification eartag for the identification of sows and boars in

slaughter channels.

Interstate

Intrastate

Known infected herd

Official backtag

MST suspect

MST reactor

MST program

MST negative

Monitored negative feral

swine population

Official slaughter sow/boar

identification eartag

Farm of origin
8

Permit

Any serologic test approved by the Deputy Administrator for diagnosis of brucellosis

in swine.

An official document required to accompany all intrastate and interstate shipments of

SB-infected or -exposed swine. It may be issued by a VS representative, State

representative, or an accredited veterinarian and states: (1) the number of swine and

individual identification of swine to be moved, (2) the purpose for which the swine are to

be moved, (3) the points of origin and destination, (4) the consignor and consignee, and

(5) additional information required by applicable State and Federal regulations.

For definition, refer to Pseudorabies Eradication—State–Federal–Industry Program

Standards, Effective January 1, 1995, (USDA–APHIS publication APHIS–91–55–

022), Part IV—Participation in Herd Plans and Release of Quarantines, Subpart I—

The Qualified Pseudorabies-Negative (QN) Herd.

For definition, refer to Pseudorabies Eradication—State–Federal–Industry Program

Standards, Effective January 1, 1995, (USDA–APHIS publication APHIS–91–55–

022), Part IV—Participation in Herd Plans and Release of Quarantines, Subpart II—

The Qualified-Negative Gene-Altered, Vaccinated (QNV) Herd.

A herd in which SB-infected or -exposed swine are bred, reared, or fed under the

supervision and control of the State animal health official and from which swine

must be moved under permit directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment

or directly through no more than one slaughter market and then directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment.

A slaughtering establishment operated under the provisions of the Federal Meat

Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) or a State-inspected slaughtering establishment that meets the minimal requirements of Title 9 CFR.

A female swine that is parturient or postparturient.

Any State or Territory of the United States, including the District of Columbia, Puerto

Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

The State official who is responsible for the livestock and poultry disease control and

eradication programs in a State.

The contagious, infectious, and communicable disease of swine caused by Brucella

suis (B. suis) biovars 1 or 3.

Swine that are not known to be SB infected but are part of a known SB-infected herd

or that have been in contact with reactor or feral swine.

All swine except those that are part of a known infected herd or are known to have

been exposed to brucellosis-infected swine and/or feral swine.

Quarantined herd

Qualified PseudorabiesNegative (QN) herd

Qualified-Negative GeneAltered Vaccinated (QNV)

herd

Recognized slaughtering

establishment

Sow

State

State animal health official

Swine brucellosis (SB)

Swine brucellosisexposed

Swine not known to be

infected with or exposed

to swine brucellosis

Official swine brucellosis

test
9

Any swine herd not known to be infected with SB that is located in an SB-free State or

a swine herd in a nonvalidated SB-free State which meets the specific provisions of a

validated SB-free herd. (See Part V, Validated Swine Brucellosis-Free Herds.)

The Veterinary Services branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

A person employed by VS, APHIS, USDA, who is authorized to perform official

SB eradication activities.

Veterinary Services (VS)

Veterinary Services

representative

Validated swine brucellosis-free herd
10

Part II—Administrative Procedures

The Cooperative State–Federal Swine Brucellosis Eradication Program must be

supervised by full-time animal health veterinarians employed by the State or Federal

Government.

State and Federal representatives participating in the National Swine Brucellosis

Eradication Program must be authorized by the State to enter premises to carry out

program procedures. While on such premises, these representatives must use

commonly accepted sanitary procedures to minimize the risk of physically transmitting

diseases among groups of swine on the farm being investigated, as well as to other

premises.

Owners are responsible for handling their animals. Program administrators may

contract with accredited veterinarians, paraprofessionals, other State and Federal

agencies, or with the management of privately owned firms as needed, to assist State

and Federal representatives in collecting blood or tissue samples, identifying animals,

and performing other Program activities.

State or Federal program officials shall notify swine owners within a 1.5-mile (2.4-km)

radius of the infected herd within 15 days after a swine herd has been quarantined for

SB. When the herd quarantine is released, the same herd owners shall be notified

within 30 days by an informational letter.

The following dealers (individuals or other legal entities) of swine

should be registered or licensed with the appropriate State agency:

• Dealers who purchase, trade, or sell swine;

• Dealers who act as commission representatives or brokers;

• Dealers who operate and conduct an auction where swine are sold.

Registered or licensed dealers must maintain records required by the

licensing agency to make it possible for State authorities to trace swine to

their herds of origin and destination.

1. Registering dealers—After giving due notice and opportunity for a hearing to the

dealer involved, the State agency must have the authority to deny an application

for registration or to suspend or cancel the registration when the agency is

satisfied of either or both of the following:

a. There is adequate evidence to establish that the dealer had intent to violate or

circumvent the recordkeeping requirements of this section and/or other animal

health regulations;

b. The dealer has repeatedly demonstrated failure to keep records adequate to

permit tracing his or her swine sales and purchases.

A. Supervision of the

Cooperative State–

Federal Swine

Brucellosis Eradication

Program

B. Entering premises

D. Notifying the

community of swine

brucellosis-infected

herds

E. Dealers—Registration and recordkeeping

C. Providing services

to livestock owners
11

2. Keeping records—Each registered or licensed swine dealer must keep sufficient

records of all swine purchased to enable the State agency to trace such swine

satisfactorily to their farms of origin and destination. The records should be kept

for a minimum of 1 year.

3. Dealing with violations—Provisions should exist so that State animal health

officials may institute any action at law or in equity that appears necessary to

enforce compliance with dealer registration and recordkeeping requirements. This

includes the authority to subpoena appropriate records and/or persons that

allegedly violate these minimum standards. The appropriate State officials should

also have authority to petition the local court that has venue for an order to

enforce these subpoenas.

Appropriate VS and swine industry personnel will review State SB control/eradication

program progress periodically to ensure compliance with the Uniform Methods and

Rules as outlined in this publication.

Application for program entry and advancement in status will be jointly signed by the

State animal health official and AVIC and be submitted to the Chief Staff Veterinarian

of the Swine Health Staff.

F. Administrative

review of Program

activities

G. Application for

Program status
12

Part III—Epidemiology

The requirements of Part III apply to establishing and maintaining Program

status for all States in Program Stages I, II, and III.

All tracebacks of MST reactors require a thorough epidemiologic

investigation, including completion of VS Form 4–106 or a similar document.

1. A successful traceback occurs when or if:

a. The farm of origin of the MST reactor is identified; and

(1) A complete herd test (CHT) is conducted; or

(2) Upon review of the herd’s health status and all other epidemiologic

information, a designated epidemiologist determines that a CHT is not

necessary. The designated epidemiologist will provide an alternative

testing plan if needed and a detailed explanation of measures taken to

ensure that the herd does not have SB.

b. All swine on the farm of origin are verified to have been sold for slaughter.

2. An unsuccessful traceback occurs when the MST reactor cannot be traced to its

herd of origin or is only traceable to a dealer, commission firm, etc.

An electronic and/or written record will be maintained for all MST reactors including at

least the following information:

1. Identification of the MST reactor. (Include sex, breed, and ID numbers.)

2. Consignor’s name and address.

3. Date and location bled.

4. Presumptive test and confirmatory test results.

5. Epidemiologic data, including results of farm-of-origin CHT.

Traceback investigations are generally recommended but may be waived when, in

the professional judgment of the designated brucellosis epidemiologist, one is not

required.

A. General

considerations

B. Traceback of

market swine test

(MST) reactors

C. Records

D. Traceback of MST

suspects
13

Tracing sales from infected herds and testing swine exposed to SB by “boar borrowing,” broken fences, across-fence contact, etc., are basic to the efficient eradication of

SB. MST alone cannot be expected to identify all infected swine herds rapidly and

efficiently.

A VS Form 4–108 (Epidemiologic Investigation), VS 4–108A (Origin of Reactor/Herd

Addition), VS 4–108B (Animals Removed From Infected Herd), VS 4–108C (Epidemiology Report—Suspect Herd), or similar document is required for all herds determined

to be infected and should be completed within 30 days of a positive diagnosis. All

exposed herds should be located as rapidly as possible. A CHT of the exposed herds

should be conducted within 30 days of locating the index herd.

A successful epidemiologic investigation of a traceback of an MST reactor to a “sold

out” herd requires further work even when all swine are determined to have been

slaughtered. Potential sources of infection must be investigated as well as

potentially infected exposed herds.

Prior to the slaughter of SB reactors, arrangements should be made for tissue collection. The tissues will be frozen and submitted to a State-approved diagnostic laboratory or the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) for bacteriologic culture

per applicable VS memoranda. Preferred tissues in order of priority include mandibular, gastrohepatic, internal iliac, suprapharyngeal, and superficial inguinal lymph

nodes. In addition, any tissues showing inflammatory lesions such as abscesses

should be cultured. These are most likely to be seen in the reproductive organs—

testes, epididymis, and seminal vesicles in males and uterus and ovaries in females—

and in the bones and joints of either sex.

Swine classified as SB reactors or suspects may be reclassified by the designated

brucellosis epidemiologist when there is sufficient bacteriologic, serologic, and/or

epidemiologic justification.

Swine herds with a brucellosis reactor must be maintained under quarantine

until the designated brucellosis epidemiologist makes a final decision and classification.

All Stage I and Stage II States must require change of ownership testing for all

breeding swine. All livestock markets in Stage I and Stage II States must require firstpoint testing on all breeding swine.

E. Other epidemiology

F. Bacteriology

G. Reclassification of

reactors and suspects

H. Surveillance
14

Part IV–Herd-Cleanup Plans

1. Identification—All swine from which a blood sample is collected for official SB

testing must be identified, when bled on the farm, with externally visible, permanent, individual identification. Acceptable identification includes official eartags,

visible tattoos, or ear notches when the ear notch has been recorded in the book

of record of a purebred registry association.

Reactor swine must be identified with an approved reactor tag in the left ear.

2. Retesting reactors—The herd owner or designated brucellosis epidemiologist may

request a retest of SB reactors within 3 days following notification of test results.

3. Cleaning and disinfection—The premises of a known infected herd must be

cleaned and disinfected under State or Federal supervision within 15 days after

reactors have been removed for slaughter. The time may be extended another

15 days for reasons mutually acceptable to the cooperating State and Federal

officials in charge. The requirements of 9 CFR Part 51.8 must be met to qualify

for Federal indemnity.

4. Quarantines—All swine in infected herds must be confined to the premises under

State quarantine until the herd has been sold for slaughter under permit, or the herd

has been freed of SB by the test-and-slaughter procedures of Plan 2 or Plan 3.

Three negative CHT’s are required for quarantine release, with the first conducted

at least 30 days following removal of all SB reactors for slaughter. The second

CHT must be conducted 60–90 days after the first one. A third CHT is required

60–90 days following the second CHT.

5. Movement of reactor and exposed swine—SB reactors must be identified with an

official reactor tag in their left ear and be removed from the infected herd under

State or Federal permit within 15 days of owner notification of reactor classification.

Reactor and exposed swine must receive permits only for immediate slaughter

directly to a recognized slaughtering establishment or to an approved slaughter

market for resale to a recognized slaughtering establishment. During shipment,

reactor and exposed swine must be transported separate and apart from all swine

that will subsequently be used as breeding animals.

This plan is recommended for commercial herds and seed stock producers who

wish to eliminate SB from their herd rapidly:

1. Sell the entire herd for slaughter as soon as practicable.

2. Clean and disinfect buildings and equipment.

3. Restock premises with animals from validated SB-free herds, placing them on

ground that has been free of swine for at least 30 days.

A. General

considerations

B. Herd-Cleanup

Plan 1. Depopulation/

repopulation
15

This plan is recommended only when the owner wants to preserve genetic

qualities in the herd:

1. Separate gilt pigs from their dams at 28 days of age or less and isolate the gilts

from other swine. These gilts form the nucleus for establishing the free herd.

2. Completely isolate infected breeding animals. Infected sows and boars should be

slaughtered as soon as possible.

3. Test the isolated gilts about 30 days before breeding. Save only the gilts that are

negative. Breed them only to negative boars.

4. Retest gilts after farrowing and before removing them from individual farrowing

pens or crates. If reactors are found, they should be segregated from the remainder of the herd and slaughtered as soon as possible. Select only pigs from

negative sows for breeding gilts.

5. If reactors are found in step 4, repeat the process, beginning with step 1.

6. After three consecutive negative CHT’s, the herd is eligible for release from

quarantine. The first CHT must be administered at least 30 days after all reactors

have been removed and slaughtered, and the second CHT must take place 60–90

days after the first test. A third CHT is required 60–90 days following the second

CHT.

This plan is not generally recommended but may be useful in herds with only a few

reactors and no observed clinical signs of SB:

1. Sell reactors for slaughter.

2. Retest the breeding herd at 30-day intervals, removing reactors for slaughter, until

the entire herd is negative.

3. If the herd is not readily freed of infection, abandon this plan in favor of Plan 1 or

Plan 2.

4. After four consecutive negative CHT’s, the herd is eligible for release from quarantine. The first CHT must be administered at least 30 days after all reactors have

been removed and slaughtered, and the second CHT must take place 60–90 days

after the first test. A third CHT is required 60–90 days following the second CHT.

A fourth CHT is required 6 months after the third CHT.

C. Herd-Cleanup

Plan 2. Offspring

segregation

D. Herd-Cleanup

Plan 3. Test and

removal of reactors
16

Part V—Validated Swine Brucellosis-Free Herds

1. Swine herds may be validated or revalidated as SB free by conducting a CHT that

has negative results, or

2. By subjecting all breeding swine over 6 months of age to an incremental CHT

through testing 25 percent of the swine over 6 months of age every 80–105 days

and finding all swine so tested negative, or by testing 10 percent of the swine

over 6 months of age each 25–35 days and finding all swine so tested negative.

No swine may be tested twice in 1 year to comply with the 25-percent requirement nor twice in 10 months to comply with the 10-percent requirement. A herd

may be validated as SB free when all its breeding swine have been tested and

found negative, or

3. Swine herds may be validated or revalidated as SB free if all samples are tested

SB negative when establishing a Qualified Pseudorabies-Negative (QN) or

Qualified-Negative Gene-Altered Vaccinated (QNV) breeding herd.

1. Validation is good for a maximum of 12 months without further testing. At the end

of this time, the herd must be revalidated. There is no grace period.

2. Validation may be continuously maintained by testing 25 percent of the swine

over 6 months of age every 80–105 days and finding all swine so tested negative,

or by testing 10 percent of the swine over 6 months of age each 25–35 days and

finding all swine so tested negative. No swine may be tested twice in 1 year to

comply with the 25-percent requirement nor twice in 10 months to comply with the

10-percent requirement, or

3. Validation may be maintained by testing SB negative all samples submitted to

maintain QN or QNV herds.

1. Duration of validated swine brucellosis-free status—A herd may maintain its SBfree status for a maximum of 12 months. There is no grace period.

2. Clinical signs—There must be no evidence of infection at the time of initial

validation or revalidation.

3. Suspects—Swine that are positive to an official SB presumptive test and negative

to a confirmatory test should be evaluated by a designated brucellosis epidemiologist.

A. Initial validation or

revalidation

B. Maintaining

validation

C. General

considerations
17

4. Reactors—When an animal that reacts positively to the card test is found in a

validated herd, the infection status of that animal, and ultimately the herd, must be

determined by a designated brucellosis epidemiologist. Once a herd is determined to be infected, the herd will be held under quarantine until it meets the

quarantine release requirements of Part IV. Card-positive reactors that are

considered not infected should be retested every 30–60 days or slaughtered and

tissue-cultured in accordance with Part III, F. Bacteriology.

5. Movement of swine into a validated swine brucellosis-free herd

a. Movements between validated SB-free herds do not require an official SB test.

b. Movement of breeding swine from a nonvalidated SB-free herd requires one

negative presumptive test within 30 days prior to movement. These animals

must be isolated and retested 30–60 days after arrival.

c. Breeding swine are not permitted to enter SB-free herds from feedlots or

slaughter consignments.

6. Use of swine semen in swine brucellosis-free herds—All semen used must come

from boars in validated SB-free herds.
18

Part VI—Laboratory Procedures and Test Interpretation

All official SB tests must be conducted in State–Federal laboratories that have been

specifically approved for conducting SB serology.

All blood samples that have been tested for SB at a market or other site as part of an

official State program must be submitted to a laboratory designated by local program

animal health officials within 24 hours of testing at the market or other site.

Approved laboratories and personnel will be monitored annually to ensure quality of

laboratory procedures. A cooperative system among the States and NVSL will be

utilized to assist approved laboratories in ensuring quality control through employee

training and performance evaluation, including an annual series of check tests.

Antigens used for conducting SB serology will be distributed to approved laboratories,

approved State and Federal personnel, and accredited veterinarians designated to

conduct SB serology at markets.

All serums that are positive to a standard card test must be confirmed by one or more

confirmatory tests.

1. Presumptive tests

a. Buffered acidified plate antigen (BAPA) test—The BAPA test is used to

identify sera to be tested with the standard card test. A test will be interpreted

as positive whenever any agglutination is observed. All sera positive to a

BAPA test should be subjected to a standard card test.

b. Standard card test (SCT)—The SCT is used to classify swine as positive or

negative. All swine positive to an SCT should be subjected to a confirmatory

test.

A. Laboratories

B. Diagnostic

reagents

C. Tests
19

2. Confirmatory tests

a. Standard tube test (STT)—If all of the following apply: (1) The swine are part

of a herd not known to be infected, (2) no swine tested, individually or as part

of a group, has a complete agglutination reaction at a dilution of ≥ 1:100, and

(3) the swine are tested as part of a herd blood test or are part of a validated

brucellosis-free herd, then the swine are classified according to the following

agglutination reactions:

1:25 1:50 1:100

I − − Negative

+ − − Negative

+ I − Negative

+ + − Negative

+ + I Negative

− = No agglutination

 I = Incomplete agglutination

 + = Agglutination

If any of the following apply: (1) The swine are part of a herd known to be

infected, (2) any swine tested, individually or as part of a group, has a complete agglutination reaction at a dilution of ≥ 1:100, or (3) the swine are not part

of a validated brucellosis-free herd and are not being tested as part of a herd

blood test, then the swine are classified according to the following agglutination

reactions:

1:25 1:50 1:100

I − − Negative

+ − − Reactor

+ I − Reactor

+ + − Reactor

+ + I Reactor

+ + + Reactor

b. Particle concentration fluorescence immunoassay (PCFIA) test—The results of

the PCFIA test are interpreted as follows:

< 5 = reactor

5–7 = suspect

> 7 = negative
20

3. Confirmatory tests not standardized nor official (to be used and have their results

evaluated by the designated brucellosis epidemiologist)

a. Rivanol test

Interpretation of the Rivanol test

Negative I @ 1:25 or less

Positive + @ 1:25 or greater

b. Complement fixation (CF) test (manual)

Interpretation of manual CF test results

Negative 1+ @ 1:10 or less

Suspect 2+ @ 1:10 through 1+ @ 1:20

Positive 2+ @ 1:20 or greater

Degree of fixation of complement:

1+ = 25 percent 3+ = 75 percent

2+ = 50 percent 4+ = 100 percent

c. Semen plasma test—The semen plasma test is approved as an official test in

boars used for artificial insemination when used in conjunction with the card

test and/or the standard tube test. The classification of such animals shall be

based on the maximum agglutination titer of either test.

d. Standard plate test—Interpretation of results of the standard plate test in an

infected herd is made in accordance with the following chart:

1:50 1:00 1:200

−− − Negative

I − − Suspect

+ − − Suspect

+ I − Suspect

+ + − Reactor

+ + I Reactor

+ + + Reactor
21

Part VII–Program Stages

Stage I

The application for Stage I status shall certify and include documentation that the

following standards are met:

1. The State has legal and regulatory authority to:

a. Place and maintain a quarantine on any premises on which swine are infected

with or exposed to SB;

b. Regulate intrastate movement of swine that are infected with or exposed to SB;

c. Perform the necessary tests and epidemiologic investigations to determine the

presence or absence of brucellosis in swine;

d. Require proper identification and disposal of brucellosis-infected and exposed

swine;

e. Require cleaning and disinfection of premises, vehicles, and equipment that

may have been contaminated by SB-infected swine;

f. Control procedures for conducting and reporting results of all SB tests;

g. Require herd-of-origin identification of slaughter sows and boars moving

intrastate. The identification should be compatible with the farm-of-origin

externally visible identification methods approved for swine moving interstate;

h. Require records that facilitate tracing slaughter sows and boars to their farms

of origin;

i. Require that all breeding swine sold or transferred originate from validated SBfree herds or are negative to an official SB test within 30 days prior to change

of ownership;

j. First-point testing shall be required on all breeding swine passing through

markets;

k. Control the intrastate movement and importation of feral swine;

l. Require that all herds that market swine semen be validated SB free and be

subjected to an annual CHT;

2. A State SB eradication committee or swine disease committee is established, and

its membership includes swine producers and representatives of other swine

industry groups.

3. A validated SB-free herd program is in effect.

A. Establishment of

status
22

4. States in Stage I must carry out the following additional procedures:

a. Quarantine and promptly test all MST reactor herds. When the designated

brucellosis epidemiologist determines that a herd is infected, the herd should

be depopulated within 30 days, or a herd-cleanup plan should be implemented.

b. Tag and slaughter reactors within 30 days of confirming a herd as infected

with SB.

c. Distribute available SB-eradication literature to the swine industry.

d. A designated brucellosis epidemiologist should determine whether or not to

investigate MST suspects and the extent of testing required on a case-bycase basis.

5. Swine importation is controlled as follows:

a. Breeding swine: Must have a negative 30-day presumptive test or originate in

a validated SB-free herd or State.

b. Feeding and slaughter swine: All movements are permitted as long as there

is no contact with breeding swine.

6. Transmission of disease from wild or feral swine shall be contgrolled as follows:

a. Wild or feral swine may be moved to immediate slaughter. Movement to

hunting preserves or game farms is not classified as shipment to slaughter.

b. Wild or feral swine moved to hunting preserves, game farms, exhibitions, or

feeding areas, etc., are from monitored free populations or are found negative

to an official SB screening test conducted 30 days or less prior to interstate

shipment, and these wild or feral swine are imported by permit of the State

animal health official.

c. Wild or feral swine moved for breeding purposes must be held separate and

apart from all domestic swine and be found negative to two official SB tests

conducted at least 60 days apart.

d. Any swine that have had known exposure to wild or feral swine must be

separated from wild or feral swine and quarantined until release according to

subsection c. immediately above.

7. All hunting preserves and game farms that include any swine, feral or domestic,

must be under surveillance by State animal health officials.

Thirty-six to 40 months following assignment of Stage I status by VS, a State may

indicate that it continues to meet Stage I requirements utilizing the Stage I certification procedure or certify that it meets the requirements of a subsequent Program

stage. States failing to recertify as required will automatically lose their Stage I status.

B. Maintenance of

status
23

Stage II

States may apply for Stage II status whenever they feel the requirements are met.

The application for Stage II status shall certify that the following standards are met:

1. Stage I standards are implemented;

2. An active program to locate and eliminate SB has been instituted. Current

statistics on breeding swine population provided by the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, will be used to calculate surveillance data unless a farmby-farm survey of all swine producers that provides more accurate data is conducted. The surveillance program must be random and must be representative of all herds in the State. One of the following surveillance programs has

been implemented:

a. Complete herd (area) testing. An official SB test of all breeding swine

6 months of age and older in the State was conducted within the 2-year period

prior to the Stage II status request; or

b. During the 2-year period prior to the request for Stage II status, the State’s

breeding swine population, at a rate of 10 percent annually, was subjected to

an official SB test with successful annual traceback of at least 80 percent of

MST reactors to their farm of origin. Blood samples may be collected at

markets and/or slaughter establishments from breeding swine identified to

their farms of origin by official backtags or other specifically approved slaughter sow/boar identification devices or when farm-of-origin identity is otherwise

available. All MST reactor herds must be subjected to a CHT within 30 days

following the laboratory report date; or

c. An analysis of the results of all SB testing conducted during the 2-year period

(MST, diagnostic, change of ownership, herd validation, etc.) demonstrates a

surveillance level equivalent or superior to the above two surveillance programs.

Thirty-six to 40 months following assignment of Stage II status by VS, a State may

indicate that it continues to meet Stage II requirements utilizing the Stage II certification requirements or certify that it meets the requirements of a subsequent Program

stage. States failing to recertify as required will automatically lose their Stage II status.

A. Establishment of

status

B. Maintenance of

status
24

Stage III (Free)

States may apply for Stage III status whenever they feel the requirements are met.

The application for Stage III (free) status shall certify and document that the following

standards are met:

1. Stage II standards are implemented, and its requirements are fulfilled.

2. Herd infection rate

During the 2-year qualification period, no more than one SB-infected herd was

identified; and any SB-infected herd found during the 2-year qualification period

was depopulated or tested and determined free of SB by a designated brucellosis

epidemiologist. If more than one SB-infected herd was disclosed during the

2-year qualification period, a new qualification period must be established.

3. Epidemiology—See part III.

Thirty-six to 40 months following assignment of Stage III status by VS, a State may

indicate that it continues to meet Stage III requirements. States failing to recertify as

required will automatically lose their Stage III status. During the revalidation period,

State and Federal officials are responsible for continuously monitoring Program

activity. To maintain Stage III status, a State must survey on a random basis at least

5 percent of its breeding swine annually and demonstrate traceback of 80 percent or

more of all MST reactors to their herds of origin.

Stage III status may be terminated at any time during the validation period with

10 days’ notice if:

1. The State does not maintain adequate surveillance; or

2. The State fails to comply with quarantine requirements and testing schedules; or

3. The State permits improper disposal of reactors; or

4. Infection is disclosed with evidence of spread.

When Stage III status is lost due to deficiencies in surveillance or in procedures

necessary for locating infected herds, in controlling infected and exposed swine, or in

eliminating infected swine, as prescribed under the various plans and procedures,

Stage III status shall be reinstated when State and Federal officials present sufficient

evidence that the procedural deficiencies have been corrected.

A. Establishment of

status

B. Maintenance of

status

C. Termination of

status

D. Reinstatement of

terminated status
25

Part VIII—Quarterly Reports

All SB program States will submit a quarterly report to the APHIS, VS, Swine Health

Staff. The report must provide basic Program data, including infected herd information.

The national SB quarterly and annual reports will be compiled from data provided by

the State quarterly reports. These reports will be used by State–Federal–Industry SB

Program managers in conducting the national SB eradication program.