02 NCAC 52L .0111          Reporting CWD Symptoms and Farmed Cervid Death

(a)  CWD Symptom Reporting:

(1)           Each licensee shall notify the Veterinary Division by telephone upon discovery if any farmed cervid exhibits clinical symptoms of CWD, including loss of body condition, behavioral changes, excessive salivation, increased drinking and urination, depression, and eventual death. The Veterinary Division's telephone number is (919) 707-3250.

(2)           Farmed cervids that exhibit clinical symptoms of CWD shall not be transported unless directed by the Veterinary Division.

(3)           Regardless of age, the carcass of all farmed cervids that exhibited clinical symptoms of CWD shall be submitted to the Diagnostic Laboratory for CWD testing unless instructed otherwise by the Veterinary Division due to the condition of the carcass.

(4)           In cases where animals escape or disappear and are not available for tissue sampling and testing, or when the samples are of such poor quality, as determined in accordance with the USDA Standards, including Part A (5.3) Sample Collection and Submission Procedures, (5.4) Consequences of Poor Quality and Missing Samples, (6.4) Test Results, and (6.5) Rejected Samples, that they cannot be tested for CWD, the Veterinary Division may investigate, in cases of repeated unavailability of tissue sampling and testing, whether the unavailability of animals or usable samples for testing constitutes a failure to comply with program requirements and may affect the herd's status in the Herd Certification Program.

(5)           The Veterinary Division may require CWD testing or quarantine, or both, at any facility if the following circumstances or conditions occur:

(A)          any herd or animal tested positive for CWD within the facility;

(B)          the facility received farmed cervid from a facility that tested positive for CWD within five years;

(C)          the facility may have been exposed to any CWD positive or suspect farmed cervid; or

(D)          the facility transferred any farmed cervid that tests positive for CWD within five years of transfer.

(b)  Reporting Death:

(1)           Licensees shall report to the Veterinary Division using a form provided by the Veterinary Division within 24 hours upon knowledge of the death of any susceptible species of farmed cervid, including any slaughtered susceptible species of farmed cervid, whether sent to a slaughterhouse or slaughtered at the farmed cervid facility for personal use. The report form can be obtained by contacting the Veterinary Division by telephone or email at farmedcervid@ncagr.gov. The report shall include the following information:

(A)          the licensee's name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address;

(B)          the licensee's facility name, address, and national premises identification number;

(C)          the farmed cervid license number;

(D)          the date of death;

(E)           the species and sex of each susceptible species of farmed cervid;

(F)           the animal identification for each susceptible species of farmed cervid;

(G)          the name and location of the Diagnostic Laboratory where the carcass of the susceptible specie of farmed cervid is to be submitted for CWD testing if testing is required; and

(H)          a statement from the licensee verifying the information provided is accurate.

(2)           The carcass of any known susceptible species of farmed cervid that was 12 months of age or older that died of any cause shall be submitted by the licensee or the licensee's designee to the Diagnostic Laboratory for CWD testing unless instructed otherwise by the Veterinary Division due to the condition of the carcass. Regardless of whether a farmed cervid is required to be tested or not, all deaths of susceptible species are required to be reported.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 106-549.97(a2);

Eff. June 1, 2018;

Amended Eff. May 1, 2022.