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A beef cow from a farm in Alabama has tested positive for
bovine spongiform encephalopathy, USDA Chief Veterinary
Officer John Clifford said today in a news conference.
The disclosure follows an announcement last weekend that
Rapid tests on an animal March 9 had yielded inconclusive
results for BSE.
The animal, believed to be about 10 years old, was non-ambulatory
when examined by a local veterinarian; two Rapid tests indicated
BSE and a Western blot test by the USDA's veterinary laboratory
in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the disease.
The animal had only lived on the farm for a year, and APHIS
will work with Alabama officials to trace its herd of origin
and its offspring. Clifford said this afternoon that it
was too early to know if the animal was of U.S. or Canadian
origin.
The agency is estimating the animal's age based on dentition
examinations. Results from an immunohistochemistry (IHC)
test will not be ready until the end of the week, but Clifford
said the Western blot results "are sufficient to assume
a positive" result.
"We will be working to locate animals from this cow's birth
cohort…and any offspring," Clifford said. "We will also
work with Food and Drug Administration officials to determine
any feed history that might be relevant to the investigation.
Experience worldwide has shown us that it is highly unlikely
to find BSE in more than one animal in a herd or in an affected
animal's offspring. Nevertheless, all animals of interest
will be tested for BSE."
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