If you see sick or dead fish or wildlife, report them to the Ministry of Environment at 1-800-567-4224 (toll-free).
Attention Taxidermists and Processors
About Bovine Tuberculosis
Bovine TB is a contagious chronic bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis. This is a different strain of bacteria than the one that causes TB in humans (Mycobacterium tuberculosis). The disease causes chronic debilitation and weight loss and typically affects the respiratory system of affected animals.
Bovine TB primarily affects domestic cattle. Domestic species such as goats, pigs, cats and dogs, as well as species of wildlife such as bison, elk, moose and deer may also be susceptible. The disease can infect most warm-blooded animals, including humans, although cases in species other than cattle, elk and bison are rare.
Bovine TB Infographic
Safe Field Dressing Practices
While it is possible for bovine TB to spread from animals to people, the likelihood is extremely rare. Humans may acquire bovine tuberculosis through unpasteurized milk and dairy products. The risk of humans contracting bovine TB from animals while field dressing is very remote. There has only been a single documented case of bovine TB transmission from a white-tailed deer to a human through exposure during the field dressing process. Regardless, hunters are encouraged to practice routine hygiene precautions while handling wildlife, including regular hand washing, cleaning knives and equipment, and ensuring meat is well cooked. Cooking meat to an internal temperature of 74°C (164°F) destroys the bacteria.
As a general precaution, it is recommended that hunters:
- Avoid direct contact with blood, feces and respiratory secretions of all wild game. Do not rub your eyes, eat, drink or smoke while cleaning game.
- Wear dish gloves or latex/plastic gloves when handling and processing game.
- Wash tools, work surfaces, and other equipment with soap and warm water, then with a 10 per cent solution of household bleach.
- Work in a well-ventilated environment. If working indoors or in a poorly ventilated environment, wear a mask to reduce your exposure to aerosols.
- Cook meat thoroughly.
What to Look For
An animal infected with bovine TB may have lesions in their lungs, rib cage or chest cavity that hunters will notice when field dressing the animal. The lesions can vary in size and texture and will be white, tan or yellow. An infected animal may also have enlarged lymph nodes.
If you find bovine TB-like lesions, take a photo if possible and contact the Ministry of Environment at 1-800-567-4224 or the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at 306-966-5815.
Submitting Your Animal for Bovine TB Testing
In response a new detection bovine TB detected in a Saskatchewan cattle farm, hunters harvesting elk in WMZ 39 and the RM of Stanley (215) as part of the elk extended hunt season taking place March 10 to 31 required to submit game heads for bovine TB testing by March 31.
Submitting a head for bovine TB testing is the same as for chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing.
Hunters must first acquire a unique tracking number by entering their harvest information online on the CWDSK webpage. Heads should be double-bagged with the tracking number either securely attached to the outside of the bag or placed in a resealable plastic bag inside the bag. Heads can be dropped off at select drop-off locations (see list above). The whole head must be submitted for bovine TB testing. Additional lymph nodes from the head are required for bovine TB testing, as compared to CWD testing, so hunter collected samples are not suitable for bovine TB testing.
As bovine TB has not been detected in wildlife in the province, hunters will only be notified of their bovine TB result if the animal tests positive for the disease.
