Changes to the Canada and Alberta BSE Surveillance Program

The Canada and Alberta BSE Surveillance Program (CABSESP) tests cattle from 30 to 107 months of age that meet the Program Conditions assessed by a certified veterinarian, based on a clinical examination, history and producer records. On July 1, 2008 the CABSESP implemented a number of changes to improve its efficiency and to align with the guidelines of the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) for BSE surveillance.

Certified Veterinarians

The new program conditions require that a clinical examination be performed in live animals and a postmortem be conducted on all dead animals. This task, therefore, requires veterinary involvement. As a result, after July 1, 2008 only veterinarians that are certified by the CABSESP can examine the animal and assess the animal/herd/producer for eligibility. In order to have consistent and clear standards within the veterinary community, the CABSESP conducted a certification program with licensed veterinarians who signed to participate in the program. The intent of the certification program is to train veterinarians in the current eligibility criteria for the CABSESP and to implement consistently the existing rules and regulations in different situations.

Eligible Cattle

Cattle are eligible under the CABSESP, if they are located in the province of Alberta. Animals with ages equal to, or greater than 30 months, are eligible if the age can be verified either by credible records or by dentition. For animals between 60 to 107 months (inclusive) the age may be determined either by farm records, ear tags, tattoos or by the degree of wear of the incisors, which should agree with the information provided by the owner/farmer. Cattle coming from herds/farms where starvation, mismanagement or animal welfare situations are occurring are not eligible for the program. Cattle dying in groups for different reasons are also not eligible. The following are clinical categories that may be associated with BSE and are accepted for the CABSESP:

Neurological: Cattle, of any body condition score (BCS), exhibiting abnormalities in at least two of the following categories: locomotion (weakness, ataxia, change in gait, abnormal head carriage, and circling), sensation (hypersensitivity, kicking, head shyness, and blindness), or mentation (apprehension, nervousness, aggressiveness, teeth grinding, and change in behavior) that a veterinarian could directly attribute to a central nervous system (CNS) abnormality, or

Diseased: Cattle that have progressively lost body condition, exhibit and/or have a history of a chronic and progressive disturbance in at least one of the following: locomotion, sensation, or mentation, has not, or is not likely to respond to treatment and the disease not been directly attributed to a CNS abnormality by a veterinarian, or

Distressed: Acutely ill or injured cattle presented for on farm emergency slaughter. Must be examined by a veterinarian, before euthanasia, or

Non-Ambulatory: The animal has been down or disabled for at least 24 hours and has not, or is not likely to respond to therapy and is unable to get up and/or walk without assistance, or

Dead: the animal is found dead from undetermined causes

Not Eligible Cattle

• Rabies suspects or BSE suspects (cattle showing three or more different neurological signs). These animals, independent of age, must be referred to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for testing.
• Cattle affected by starvation, malnutrition due to neglect or mismanagement. Also, not eligible are those cattle that are subject of an animal welfare investigation, or were euthanized directly by the owner without allowing a previous assessment by a certified veterinarian.
• Animals dying in groups as a result of an obvious or known cause.

An eligible sample is the brainstem; the sample may be moderately decomposed as long as its morphology allows for identification of the obex by laboratory personnel.

Eligible Applicant

An eligible applicant is an Alberta taxpayer having lawful possession of the animal for at least 30 days and has provided adequate food, water, shelter, and veterinary care (if required) to the animal. The applicant is not eligible if he/she is under investigation for animal welfare issues, or has used the carcass for human or animal food.

The following table lists some examples of common conditions presented to veterinarians and information about whether or not they qualify under the CABSESP.

Does it Qualify? Qualify or Not?

Condition	Criteria for Eligibility
Post-surgical death	The 7 day week rule applies: those animals dying within the first week post surgery are not eligible.
Obstetrical conditions and calving injuries leading to sick, downer or dead animals Prolapsed uterus Dystocia Retained placenta Vaginal or rectal prolapse Emphysematous fetus Uterine tear/rupture Hydropic fetus Non deliverable calf	The conditions mentioned do not qualify. However, for calving downers not having any of the listed injuries, the 4 day rule applies: a 4 day period is allowed to provide treatment to these animals. If after this period, they did not respond (or are not likely to respond) to therapy, then they become eligible.
General conditions Cancer eye Foot rot Lump jaw Emaciated cattle	Do not qualify, unless they have history and signs strongly suggesting BSE.
Downers	Downers (other than post calving downers) are eligible after 24 hours of being down, or they may be eligible immediately if in the opinion of the certified veterinarian, they are not responding, or not likely to respond to therapy.
Unexpected massive deaths Poisoning Disease outbreak Starvation Lightning Drowning Car/barn accidents, etc	Do not qualify. When a larger than usual number of, otherwise healthy animals, die in a short period of time by accidental, nutritional, toxic or infectious causes.
Herd conditions Johne’s disease Mastitis Lameness/arthritis Grass tetany Bloat	When the animal, or group of animals, come from a herd that has a recognized ongoing problem as main cause of its clinical condition, such as Johne's or continuous mastitis episodes due to management issues, then the animal/herd does not qualify. An exception to this rule occurs when an animal is not affected by the herd condition, but it has signs suggesting BSE, then it is eligible. Individual cases coming from herds that have not been previously recognized with this condition are eligible.

This list will be amended as other conditions are brought to our attention. If you would like to suggest a condition, please contact Dr. Hernan Ortegon, Program Veterinarian with the Office of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian.