Vol. 488 No. 7
114 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason an animal suspected and tested for brucellosis is not removed from a farm in view of the fact that this is prolonging the disease eradication process. [6909/98]
116 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the testing process for brucellosis when animals are slaughtered. [6911/98]
118 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the way in which an in-calf heifer can only be deemed as suspect for brucellosis when a blood sample should give a definite testing. [6913/98]
121 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the way in which an animal that tested as inconclusive for brucellosis could be deemed clear in a second test two weeks later. [6919/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 116, 118 and 121 together.
Under current arrangements, all eligible animals are tested for brucellosis at least once a year by way of a blood test. The results of these blood tests are interpreted by my Department's veterinary inspectors as follows: (i) positive; (ii) negative and (iii) inconclusive. All positive cases are slaughtered.
In general, any animal that gives an inconclusive result will be listed for further testing although the herdowner has the option of having an inconclusive animal slaughtered immediately. It should be noted that inconclusive brucellosis tests interpretations can be due to a number of factors, for example, mastitis or when an animal is drying off, and it is possible that, when retested, some animals will have a negative result. When advising a herdowner of the best course of action to be taken in relation to brucellosis, factors such as herd history, and the level of brucellosis in a particular herd and the brucellosis situation in the locality would be taken into account.
Brucellosis reactors are subjected to ante mortem and post mortem examination by departmental veterinary inspectors at the slaughter plant. Brucellosis reactors do not present visual post mortem evidence of the disease. Thus, in some instances further laboratory tests on lymph glands will be carried out to secure a definitive status of inconclusives or to eliminate brucellosis as being present in a particular animal.
