LANSING, Mich. — A trace investigation from a bovine tuberculosis (TB) infected herd in Ottawa County, Michigan, has led to the identification of a bovine TB positive roping cattle herd in Kalamazoo County, Michigan.
The Ottawa County cattle, which originated from a bovine TB infected herd in Indiana, had spent time at a Kalamazoo County farm, in southcentral Michigan. All the cattle on the Kalamazoo County farm were removed and two were found infected with bovine TB.
Ottawa County is located just west of Grand Rapids, along Lake Michigan.
“The thorough investigation done by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and U.S. Department of Agriculture staff allowed us to find this herd quickly,” said Jarold Goodrich, DVM, acting assistant state veterinarian. “We were able to remove the exposed animals for testing in a rapid manner and will be working to identify any other farms that may be involved.”
Confirmation
Whole genome sequencing, which is a specific test that can identify the DNA of the TB bacteria, was used to confirm that the bovine TB found in the Ottawa County infected animals was similar that of an infected Indiana herd.
The type of bovine TB that has been found in both cattle and white-tailed deer in the northeastern Lower Peninsula of Michigan is not related to the herds in Ottawa and Kalamazoo counties.
Indiana problems
In 2016, Indiana identified two beef herds and one white-tailed deer as bovine TB positive, all within Franklin County. Currently, Indiana is one of six states — Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Texas and Michigan — with infected herds.
As a part of Michigan Department of Agriculture’s response, a three-mile surveillance area has been established around the affected farm in Kalamazoo County. Farms within this special surveillance area will have six months to complete bovine TB testing. These farms will be identified by state agency and notified through individual letters.
An informational meeting to discuss this finding of bovine TB and the surveillance area is scheduled for March 7, at 7 p.m., at the Kellogg Biological Station Academic Building Auditorium, 3700 E. Gull Lake Drive, Hickory Corners, Michigan.
