Cattle Test Negative for Botulism After Suspected Deaths
Cattle bound for Indonesia have tested negative for exotic diseases after the country temporarily banned exports from one station due to 100 animals dying from suspected botulism.
The Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness confirmed that precautionary testing returned negative results for Lumpy Skin Disease and Foot and Mouth Disease.
This confirmation indicated that there is no evidence of an exotic disease, and Australia’s Animal Health Status remains unchanged, as stated by the centre.
These results come after Indonesia confirmed its temporary suspension of live cattle exports from one Northern Territory station following the cattle deaths.
The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry announced on March 28 that Indonesian authorities had confirmed the ban.
“The export of live cattle from a particular registered establishment in the Northern Territory (NT) has been temporarily suspended, pending further investigations to determine the cause of the incident,” according to a statement.
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“The department continues to investigate the cause of the livestock mortalities. Clinical signs present in the cattle are consistent with botulism.”
The suspension follows the confirmed mortalities on board the Brahman Express earlier this month.
On March 26, the department confirmed several cattle had died on the carrier over the weekend but would not confirm the exact number.
The cattle were inspected as required under the Export Control Act before leaving Darwin on March 14.
The ship arrived in Indonesia on March 20.
Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the livestock deaths but early signs point to botulism, a rare poisoning that attacks the nervous system.
“It is not a contagious or exotic disease and is not a risk to the Australian herd or to human health,” the department said.
Botulism in cattle is often caused by the animals eating a toxin produced by bacteria in contaminated feed.
The department said botulism was difficult to test for and would be a process of elimination which could take some time.
Testing undertaken at the NT government’s Berrimah Veterinary Laboratory has excluded Bovine Ephemeral Fever and tick fever as possible causes of mortality.
