Infection with Theileria lestoquardi, T. luwenshuni and T. uilenbergi

Article 14.10.1.

General provisions

Theileriosis is a disease of bovines (Bos indicus, B. taurus, B. grunniens, Bubalus bubalis and Syncerus caffer), sheep (Ovis aries), goats (Capra hircus), camels (Camellus dromedarius and C. bactrianus) and some wild ruminants.

Theileriosis can give rise to disease of variable severity and the pathogenic agent may persist in ruminants for their lifetime. Such animals are considered carriers.

Only sheep and goats play a significant epidemiological role in the infection with Theileria lestoquardi, T. luwenshuni and T. uilenbergi.

For the purposes of the Terrestrial Code, infection with Theileria lestoquardi, T. luwenshuni and T. uilenbergi are defined as a tickborne infection of sheep and goats with T. lestoquardi, T. luwenshuni and T. uilenbergi.

For the purposes of this chapter, Theileria means T. lestoquardi, T. luwenshuni and T. uilenbergi.

The following defines the occurrence of infection with Theileria:

1. Theileria has been observed and identified as such in a sample from a sheep or goat; or

2. nucleic acid specific to Theileria has been detected in a sample from a sheep or goat showing clinical signs consistent with infection with Theileria, or epidemiologically linked to a confirmed or suspected case, or giving cause for suspicion of previous association with Theileria; or

3. antibodies specific to Theileria have been detected in a sample from a sheep or goat showing clinical signs consistent with Theileria, or epidemiologically linked to a confirmed or suspected case, or giving cause for suspicion of previous association with Theileria.

For the purposes of the Terrestrial Code, the incubation period for infection with Theileria shall be 35 days.

Standards for diagnostic tests are described in the Terrestrial Manual.

Article 14.10.2.

Safe commodities

When authorising the importation or transit of the following commodities, Veterinary Authorities should not require any Theileria-related conditions regardless of the animal health status of the exporting country or zone:

1. meat and meat products;

2. casings;

3. milk and milk products;

4. gelatine and collagen;

5. tallow;

6. semen and embryos collected in accordance with the relevant chapters of the Terrestrial Code;

7. hooves and horns;

8. bones.

Article 14.10.3.

Country or zone free from infection with Theileria in sheep and goats

1. A country or a zone may be considered free from infection with Theileria when the disease is notifiable in the entire country, importation of sheep and goats and their commodities is carried out in accordance with this chapter, and:

   1. the country or zone is historically free as described in Article 1.4.6.; or

   2. a surveillance programme in accordance with Chapter 1.4. has demonstrated no evidence of infection with Theileria in the country or zone for at least two years; or

   3. an ongoing surveillance programme in accordance with Chapter 1.5. has found no competent tick vectors for at least two years in the country or zone.

2. A country or zone free from infection with Theileria will not lose its status as a result of introduction of seropositive sheep and goats or their commodities, provided they were introduced in accordance with this chapter.

Article 14.10.4.

Recommendations for importation of sheep and goats from countries or zones free from infection with Theileria

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the animals:

1. showed no clinical sign of infection with Theileria on the day of shipment;

2. come from a country or zone free from infection with Theileria.

Article 14.10.5.

Recommendations for importation of sheep and goats from countries or zones not free from infection with Theileria

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the animals:

1. showed no clinical sign of infection with Theileria and no infestation with tick vectors on the day of shipment;

2. were kept isolated for at least 35 days prior to shipment in an establishment where no case of infection with Theileria has occurred during the preceding two years;

3. were treated with a registered acaricide, the efficacy of which has been confirmed in relation to the area of origin of the animals, at the time of entry into the isolation establishment and then at regular intervals, according to manufacturer's instructions, allowing continuous protection against ticks until their shipment;

4. were subjected to agent detection tests with negative results on samples taken immediately prior to entry and at least 25 days after entry into the isolation establishment.

Article 14.10.6.

Recommendations for importation of hides and skins from countries or zones not free from infection with Theileria

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the products have been:

1. dry-salted or wet-salted for a period of at least 14 days prior to dispatch; or

2. treated for a period of at least seven days in salt (NaCl) with the addition of 2% sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃); or

3. dried for a period of at least 42 days at a temperature of at least 20°C; or

4. frozen to at least -20°C for at least 48 hours.

Article 14.10.7.

Recommendations for importation of wool and fibre of sheep and goats from countries or zones not free from infection with Theileria

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the products were subjected to:

1. industrial washing, which consists of the immersion of the wool in a series of baths of water, soap and sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide; or

2. industrial scouring, which consists of the immersion of wool in a water-soluble detergent held at 60–70°C.

Article 14.10.8.

Recommendations for importation of trophies derived from susceptible ruminants from countries or zones not free from infection with Theileria

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the products have been processed to ensure the destruction of tick vectors.

nb: first adopted in 2023.