Nepal Elephant TB Control and Mgt Action Plan.pdf - Elephant Care ...

Nepal Elephant Tuberculosis Control andManagement Action Plan (2011-2015)impact of TB on human as well as animalhealth, importance of prevenng TBtransmission to the wild and effecvemeasures to manage TB will be developed,presented orally, and printed in the locallanguage to educate persons directly orindirectly associated with the capveelephants.4. Postmortem wildlife surveillanceThorough postmortem examinaons of allungulates that are found dead in the park,buffer zone community forests and nearbyareas will be conducted by experiencedveterinarians. For this, ssues will becollected and deposited in 10% bufferedformalin even if carcasses are decomposedand will be submi!ed for histopathology orssue bank. Any lesions suspicious for TBshould be placed in a secure container (noformalin), and submi!ed fresh (preferable)or frozen for TB culture. Efforts, whereverpossible, will be made to collect postmortemblood, separate and bank serum in the TBPlan lab freezer.Full postmortem reports (or copies) will befiled in the TB Plan Office, respecve Parkheadquarters and DNPWC. A MOU will besigned among DNPWC, NTNC, IAAS, CVL,ECI, WWF, and Tu$s to effecvely facilitateimplementaon of a comprehensive TBmanagement program and minimize the riskof transmission from capve elephants tofree ranging elephants and other ungulates.5. Opportunis!c TB tes!ng in wild elephantsBlood samples from any elephant that isimmobilized will be collected and ElephantTB Stat-Pak® test (and DPP if indicated) willbe performed. Serum will also be banked forfuture use.6. Opportunis!c TB tes!ng in other speciesOpportunisc TB test will also be performedamong other wild ungulates or carnivoresthat are captured and trapped for otherpurposes. While the Elephant TB Stat-Pak®test is licensed for elephants, it has beenused successfully in a number of otherspecies, including rhinos and wild felidsIssue III: Risk of transmission of TB fromhuman to elephant and from elephantto humanStrategy: Minimize the risk of transmission fromelephant to human and human to elephantthrough an integrated TB management program.Program Ac!vi!es1. Develop an ac!on plan from the One Healthworking group and implement, to dealwith the root cause of TB infec!on in theenvironment, animals and people.Research will be necessary and surveillanceacross the environment to establish themain causes and drivers of TB and theseneeds to be followed up by a controland management plan involving all keyauthories in public and animal health.2. Enforcing elephant tes!ng, segrega!on andtreatment planAs described in Program Acvies underIssue I and Issue II.3. Human TB screeningAll elephant handlers (Phanits, Pachhuwasand Mahouts), and other staff workingin close proximity to elephants will be TBtested prior to employment and retested21