Bison producers are waiting for an improved test to detect anaplasmosis after more than 18 bison were destroyed after testing positive for the disease, says the executive director of the Canadian Bison Association.
“We’ve asked that imported animals be tested with a more accurate test,” said Gavin Conacher.
A positive anaplasmosis test does not necessarily mean the bison have the disease.
“Having an animal test positive, and an infected animal, are two different things,” said George Luterbach, chief veterinarian with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
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“I don’t have any indication that anaplasmosis is either widespread or confirmed in bison,” he said.
All bison imported into Canada must have a CF test, a blood test recognized worldwide as the standard anaplasmosis test.
The test has limitations, said Luterbach, including that it shows positive even if the animal is only exposed to anaplasmosis.
Between one-third and one-half of the 126,000 head of bison in Canada have been imported from the United States where anaplasmosis, a blood disease, is found.
It is usually transmitted by biting insects, but can also be transmitted by vaccination needles and common dehorning equipment.
Canada is anaplasmosis free.
Bison producers are hoping a new test, a cELISA enzyme test, which shows promise in testing anaplasmosis in cattle, will soon become the standard test in bison.
“We’re asking CFIA to change the test for import requirements,” said Conacher. That should show accurately if the bison have anaplasmosis or have only been exposed.
Anaplasmosis does not induce visible symptoms in bison.
“Bison can carry and not show any sign. That is a concern for cattlemen as well,” said Conacher, who has kept the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association updated.
Since the bison tested positive, many producers have voluntarily had their animals tested with an accurate but expensive anaplasmosis test. The cELISA test is thought to be as accurate, but less expensive than the other test.
“We have to know if the animals are clean. It’s very important to us,” said Conacher.
Luterbach said the inspection agency is waiting for scientific results of the new cELISA test and will implement it if it’s found to be useful.
