Lymph Nodes - Parotid, Submandibular, Retropharyngeal, Mediastinal (if available), Tracheobronchial, Hepatic
Organs - Lungs, Liver

These examinations may be conducted during necropsy of entire carcasses, or from tissues identified and saved by the owner in advance. If the owner is collecting tissues for examination at a later date, the following carcass parts need to be saved in order to allow the complete examination:

1. Head (the head part remaining following removal of the antlers and cape by a taxidermist is still appropriate for examination)
2. Heart and attached Lung field
3. Liver with attached Hepatic lymph node

Identification of tissues
Each animal examined needs to be issued an official identification ear tag. This official identification is to be listed on the test chart. If the producer will be collecting and saving tissues on site, an identification system needs to be used which allows the veterinarian to determine all tissues which belong to an individual animal. Some examples of these types of identification systems may be:

1. Each separate part identified with a similarly numbered tag.
2. All parts from an individual animal stored in the same bag or container.
3. Individual parts stored in bags which are identified with a similarly numbered tag.

Animals to be sampled
The number of animals that needs to be examined is based upon the average adult herd size (animals twelve months of age or older) at the time surveillance is initiated, and can be determined from the attached Tuberculosis Surveillance Requirements for Captive White Tailed Deer and Elk Hunting Ranches. The total number of animals needs to be sampled over three consecutive calendar years, with at least 25% of the total number examined yearly. Animals from the same herd which receive negative single cervical tests can be used toward the total number tested, provided at least 50% of the animals used to fulfill the surveillance requirement undergo slaughter surveillance testing (Ex. If the number to be tested is 101, then up to 50 animals tested by the single cervical method can be used toward the total number). Each animal may only be tested once for surveillance purposes.

Completion of Test Chart
A Tuberculosis Slaughter Surveillance Record for Captive Cervidae must be completed for each animal or groups of animals examined. The form should be completely filled out with official identification number and results of the examination for each animal listed on the form. Any animals examined which do not have official identification present will not be considered as examined for tuberculosis. All owner information and herd location information needs to be present on the form. If the examination took place at a separate location, such as a veterinary clinic, that information is to be placed on the form. Copies of the surveillance record must be submitted to the Michigan Department of Agriculture within 10 days of examination. In addition, the examining veterinarian and owner should be provided copies of the record. The veterinarian needs to fill out, and send in, a slaughter surveillance record form each time they conduct an examination for a farm.

Reporting of Tuberculosis Suspect Animals
In the event that any animals or tissues examined contain lesions compatible with tuberculosis, the Michigan Department of Agriculture Animal Industry Division must be notified at (517) 373-1077 (similarly to when a veterinarian conducts a single cervical tuberculosis test and determines an animal to be a suspect). Any lesioned tissues need to be placed on ice in a sterile container and sent to:
Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory
B629 West Fee Hall
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1316
(517) 353-1683

The clinic name on the submission form should be listed as the Michigan Department of Agriculture - TB surveillance, followed by the name and address of the submitting veterinarian, and request examination for evidence of bovine tuberculosis. The cost for initial tuberculosis examination on farm by the private veterinarian and shipping of suspect tissues to the lab is the responsibility of the owner. The laboratory cost for examination of tissues at the Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory will be paid by the Michigan Department of Agriculture.

For any questions contact Dr. Mike VanderKlok at (517) 373-8205 or e-mail vanderklokm@state.mi.us.