Infection with Theileria annulata, T. orientalis and T. parva

Article 11.10.1.

General provisions

Theileriosis is a disease of bovines (Bos indicus, B. taurus and B. grunniens), water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), African buffaloes (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 bovines and water buffaloes play a significant epidemiological role in the infection with Theileria annulata, T. orientalis and T. parva.

For the purposes of the Terrestrial Code, infection with Theileria annulata, T. orientalis and T. parva is defined as a tickborne infection of bovines and water buffaloes with T. annulata, T. orientalis Ikeda, T. orientalis Chitose or T. parva.

For the purposes of this chapter, Theileria means T. annulata, T. orientalis Ikeda, T. orientalis Chitose and T. parva.

The following defines the occurrence of infection with Theileria:

1. Theileria has been identified in a sample from a bovine or water buffalo; or

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

3. antibodies specific to Theileria, that are not the consequence of vaccination, have been detected in a sample from a bovine or water buffalo showing clinical signs consistent with infection with Theileria, or epidemiologically linked to a suspected or confirmed 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 and vaccines are described in the Terrestrial Manual.

Article 11.10.2.

Safe commodities

When authorising the importation or transit of the following commodities, Veterinary Authorities should not require any Theileria-related conditions regardless of the health status of the animalpopulation 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;

7. hooves and horns;

8. bones.

Article 11.10.3.

Country or zone free from infection with Theileria

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 bovines and water buffaloes 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 in which ongoing vectorsurveillance, performed in accordance with Chapter 1.5., has found no competent tick vectors will not lose its free status through the introduction of vaccinated, test-positive or infected bovines or water buffaloes from infected countries or zones.

3. A country or zone free from infection with Theileria will not lose its status as a result of introduction of seropositive or vaccinated bovines, water buffaloes or their commodities, provided they were introduced in accordance with this chapter.

Article 11.10.4.

Recommendations for importation of bovines and water buffaloes 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 11.10.5.

Recommendations for importation of bovines and water buffaloes 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 to the isolation establishment and then at regular intervals, according to the manufacturer's instructions, allowing continuous protection against ticks until their shipment;

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

Article 11.10.6.

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 11.10.7.

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 1992; most recent update adopted in 2022.