Agrodefense updates legislation on glanders control in horses

Normative instruction published by the Agricultural Defense Agency of Goiás follows national premise and revokes the requirement for laboratory examination of the disease for animals to enter livestock events in the State

The Government of Goiás, through the Goiás Agricultural Defense Agency (Agrodefesa), revoked the requirement for a glanders serological laboratory test for the entry of equidae into livestock events in Goiás and for the issuance of an Animal Transit Guide (GTA) for equidae to the interstate transit (outside the State), observing the requirements of each Federation Unit (UF) of destination. The measure was published in the Official Gazette of the State of Goiás (DOE) this Tuesday (02/04), through Normative Instruction No. 1/2024 of Agrodefesa, and follows guidance from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa), which recently changed the legislation on the subject.

According to the document, for interstate transit (to other states), the requirements of each Federation Unit (UF) of destination must be observed. The responsibility for presenting negative exams and prior information on the requirements of the State of transit destination is the responsibility of the animal owner.

Furthermore, the Normative Instruction determines that private sector entities that wish to require the presentation of negative glanders tests, in addition to the requirements of the Official Veterinary Service (SVO), for participation in events or for housing animals in their facilities, are authorized to do it. In these foreseen cases, the collection and sending of material for laboratory examination of glanders, in an accredited laboratory, will continue to be carried out by veterinarians qualified by Mapa.

“This update to the legislation follows the national premise determined by the Ministry and should improve animal movement within the states. It is yet another way that the Government of Goiás, through Agrodefesa, found to make life easier for producers, reducing bureaucracy, whilst still complying with legal requirements for animal health”, highlights the president of Agrodefesa, José Ricardo Caixeta Ramos .

Positive cases
The Normative Instruction also determines that properties that present animals with a positive result for a glanders serological diagnostic test must be closed and subjected to clinical evaluation by the Official Veterinary Service (SVO). After this assessment, if negative, the investigation will be closed and discontinued.

On properties with confirmed cases, animals with compatible clinical signs and positive results in the requested tests must be euthanized. After euthanasia of the confirmed case, the remaining animals in the Epidemiological Unit must undergo clinical evaluation. The end of the epidemiological investigation must occur after euthanasia and destruction of all cases confirmed by laboratory diagnostic tests, with the epidemiological unit being closed.

Equine Infectious Anemia
The Normative Instruction also updates the procedures regarding the validity of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) tests within the Equestrian Passport. The tests will be valid for 180 days, counting from the date of collection of the blood sample, for horses whose owners use the Equestrian Passport, established by State Law No. 20,947/2020, which deals with the transit and movement of animals within the state of Goiás. In the absence of an Equestrian Passport, and movement is carried out only through the issuance of a GTA, the AIE exam is valid for 60 days.

The participation of equids in agricultural events will only be permitted when the negative AIE tests are valid to cover the entire period of the event and the arrival of the animals at their next destination.

Equine Influenza
Agrodefesa also reminds that when moving equids to agricultural events, vaccination against Equine Influenza must also be carried out at least 15 days before the animal enters the event, valid for up to one year. The veterinarian who will perform and certify the vaccination must respect the certificate model required by the Government of Goiás, described in Normative Instruction nº 06/2015.

Sector Communication of the Goiana Agricultural Defense Agency (Agrodefesa) – Government of Goiás