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22-415a. Equine infectious anemia: Definitions
As used in sections 22-415a to 22-415j, inclusive:
(1) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of agriculture;
(2) "Equine" means any member of the equine family which includes horses, ponies, mules, asses, donkeys and zebras;
(3) "Equine infectious anemia" means a disease of equines caused by an infectious virus which may be spread by blood-sucking insects, unsterile surgical instruments and community use of equipment that may produce cuts or abrasions and which may cause an equine to test positive to an official test;
(4) "Licensed veterinarian" means a veterinarian who is licensed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 384;
(5) "Official test" means a serological test for equine infectious anemia that is (A) approved by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, (B) conducted in a laboratory approved by the commissioner of agriculture, and (C) administered by a licensed veterinarian, state veterinarian, or full-time employee with the livestock division of the state department of agriculture;
(6) "Reactor" means an equine whose blood serum reacts positively to an official test for equine infectious anemia;
(7) "Freeze-brand" means a metal brand which produces a permanent mark with a configuration of 16A that is three inches in height and is applied to the left neck or shoulder area of any equine that is positive to the equine infectious anemia test in such a manner that the brand is obvious and not obscured by a mane;
(8) "Isolation" means no biological contact with another equine.
22-415b. Required testing for equine infections anemia for equines exposed to the disease The commissioner may require an equine to be tested for equine infectious anemia at the expense of the owner if he reasonably determines that such equine has been exposed to equine infectious anemia and poses a threat to other equines.
22-415c. Requirements for the importation of equines into Connecticut. Penalties
(a) Any equine imported into the state, except as provided in subsection (c) of this
section, shall have an official interstate health certificate and an official equine
infectious anemia test certificate which states that such equine has been officially
tested in the state of export and found to be negative to equine infectious anemia within
a period not exceeding twelve months prior to the date of entry. Such certificates shall
include the name and address of the owner, trainer or person responsible for the equine;
the name and registration number of the equine, if any; and the age, breed, sex, color and
positive identifying marks or scars of the equine, including a complete description of
such marks or scars.
(b) If an equine does not have the equine infectious anemia certificate required by subsection (a) of this section or if the state veterinarian or his agent determines that such a certificate does not properly or accurately describe an equine, the state veterinarian or his agent may require the equine to be held at an area approved by him and retested at the expense of the owner or be removed from the state.
(c) Any equine which does not have an official equine anemia test certificate may be shipped into the state for immediate slaughter in accordance with section 22-272a. Any equine which tested positive to equine infectious anemia on an official test may be shipped into the state for research purposes or immediate slaughter in accordance with said section after first obtaining a special permit from the state veterinarian.
(d) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars for each violation. Any equine which does not have a valid interstate health certificate shall be immediately quarantined and the state veterinarian shall order whatever tests necessary to determine the health of such equine. All costs associated with any such quarantine as well as any tests conducted shall be paid by the owner of such equine.
22-415d. Written permission for transfer of ownership of an equine that tested positive
No person shall sell, lease, exchange, barter, or give away any equine that tested
positive to an official test for equine infectious anemia except upon written permission
from the commissioner.
22-415e. Isolation; retesting. Freeze-brand
Any equine which reacts positively to the official test shall be isolated on the premises
where such equine was tested. Any reactor shall be retested, within fourteen days, by the
state veterinarian or his representative to reaffirm the identity and reaction of such
equine. All other equines on such premises shall be quarantined. A quarantine shall be in
effect until the reactor is disposed of or quarantined to another area approved by the
commissioner and any remaining equine are tested, at a time determined by the state
veterinarian, and have reacted negatively. Any reactor shall be permanently identified by
the state veterinarian using a freeze-brand.
22-415f. Disposal. Proposal for isolation area
(a) The owner of an equine which tested positive on the second official test shall dispose
of such equine, in accordance with subsection (b) of this section, within seven days of
receipt of the second positive equine infectious anemia test result or shall retain such
equine under quarantine and in isolation in an area approved by the state veterinarian or
his representative. The owner of a reactor intending to retain such reactor shall submit a
proposal for an isolation area to the commissioner within seven days of receipt of the
second positive equine infectious anemia test result.
(b) Disposal of an equine which reacted positively to the official test shall be by one of the following methods: (1) Humane destruction by a licensed veterinarian. The euthanizing of such equine shall be witnessed by the state veterinarian or his agent, or the licensed veterinarian euthanizing said equine shall submit a signed statement to the commissioner attesting to the destruction of the equine; (2) sale or donation to a research facility with the approval of the state veterinarian; or (3) identification and sale for slaughter, accompanied by a permit issued by the commissioner for slaughter at an establishment approved by the state veterinarian, provided such equine meets state and federal regulations.
22-415g. Isolation area requirements
An equine in isolation pursuant to sections 22-415e and 22-415f shall be confined to an
enclosure or pasture whose boundaries are not less than two hundred yards from an
enclosure or pasture harboring an equine which has not had an official equine infectious
anemia test or is found to be negative to such test, provided the commissioner may approve
confinement to an enclosure or pasture whose boundaries are less than two hundred yards
upon determination that such enclosure or pasture is sufficiently screened to preclude
entry of biting insects. No reactor may be moved from an isolation area except upon
written authorization by the state veterinarian.
22-415h. Equine semen imported into Connecticut
All equine semen imported into the state shall be from stallions that tested negative for
equine infectious anemia during the calendar year in which the semen was collected.
22-415i. Inspection
(a) The commissioner of agriculture or his designated agents may inspect the premises
where an equine is in isolation to confirm compliance with the provisions of section
22-415g and any relevant regulations adopted under section 22-415j.
(b) The commissioner of agriculture or his designated agents shall have access at reasonable times to any paddock, stable, or building used for equine purposes if the commissioner has reason to believe there is a violation of the provisions of sections 22-415a to 22-415j, inclusive, or the regulations adopted under section 22-415j.
22-415j. Regulations
The commissioner of agriculture shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provision
of chapter 54, to carry out the purposes of sections 22-415a to 22-415j, inclusive.
Reviewed by AAHS in October 2001.
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