Brucellosis in Sublette County
Routine annual surveillance testing identified a brucellosis affected herd in Sublette County. Laboratory testing was conducted at the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory, Laramie, and results were confirmed at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, Ames, Iowa. The herd is located within Wyoming’s Brucellosis Designated Surveillance Area (DSA). With the addition of this herd, the Wyoming Livestock Board (WLSB) has two herds under quarantine for brucellosis, one each in Park and Sublette Counties.
Brucellosis is a bacterial disease which causes abortion in cattle, elk, and bison, and can cause serious illness in humans in the form of undulant fever. The affected herd is participating in serial testing to meet the requirements for quarantine release. Testing of affected herds is a cooperative effort between herd owners, private veterinary practitioners, WLSB personnel, and United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services personnel.
Identification of brucellosis positive cattle is not uncommon within Wyoming’s DSA, where a brucellosis reservoir in wildlife occasionally spills over into cattle. Required brucellosis surveillance for specified cattle in the DSA includes testing prior to leaving the DSA, and within 30 days prior to change of ownership. “Annual herd testing for brucellosis prevents spread of the disease and is an essential mitigation tool,” explains Dr. Teckla Webb, WLSB Assistant State Veterinarian-Field Operations. “Brucellosis herd mitigation plans offered by the WLSB may cover the costs of annual testing and provide further suggestions to prevent your herd from becoming infected.”
Wyoming’s comprehensive brucellosis mitigation program includes testing and vaccination for brucellosis. In the state of Wyoming, sexually intact heifers must be vaccinated for brucellosis by one year of age. In addition, heifers residing in Wyoming’s DSA that are brucellosis vaccine eligible (4 months of age or older) must be brucellosis vaccinated by February 1 each year.
For further information, please contact the Wyoming Livestock Board, 307.777.7515, email lsbbrucellosis-mitigation@wyo.gov, or call the Wyoming State Veterinarian, Dr. Hallie Hasel, 307.840.1389.
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