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Description/Specifications/Work Statement for Regulatory Scrapie
Slaughter Surveillance (RSSS) Collection Sites
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Veterinary Services (VS)
Option 4: Collection, Submission, and Shipment of Obex and/or Lymph
Node Samples
Background
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) is continuing national surveillance activities for
scrapie in sheep and goats, the Regulatory Scrapie Slaughter Surveillance (RSSS)
program. The intent is to collect and analyze samples from all sheep and goats meeting
targeted criteria.
Scope of Work
The scope of this project involves on-site collection, identification, packaging, storage,
shipping of samples, and data entry into an electronic submission system by the Vendor.
Samples should only be obtained from mature sheep or goats that meet targeted criteria
(detailed below) or as directed by your APHIS VS contact. Mature is defined as having
complete eruption of at least one permanent incisor (first permanent incisor is level with
or extends above the remaining deciduous teeth).
Vendor’s Performance Objectives
The Vendor shall provide all personnel, labor, supervision, supplies, equipment, and
materials required for collection and processing of whole heads on-site, with the
exception of RSSS sampling kits provided by APHIS VS. Steps involved in processing
include collection and preservation of samples as described below, identification of the
samples, data entry into the Veterinary Services Laboratory Submission (VSLS) web-
based program, and shipping of samples to a designated laboratory.
The Vendor, in accordance with 9 CFR 79, shall provide information and/or access to
consignment records in the event that a scrapie-positive animal is identified and an
epidemiological investigation is initiated as a result of the contracted surveillance
activities.
The Vendor is responsible for all transport, storage, and disposal of carcasses/carcass
parts or other waste remaining after sampling in accordance with all applicable federal,
state, local and contract requirements.
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Sample Selection
Samples should only be obtained from mature animals, as evidenced by complete
eruption of at least one permanent incisor (first permanent incisor is level with or
extends above the remaining deciduous teeth). The Vendor shall collect and submit
suitable whole heads from all mature sheep and/or goats that meet the following
criteria:
1. Any sheep (regardless of face color) or goat that is from 18 months of age up to
72 months of age (i.e. under 7 yrs.) as evidenced by examination of the teeth. A
sheep or goat will be considered 18 month or over if the second permanent
incisor is erupted and over 72 months of age if the 4th permanent incisor is fully
erupted and there are broken, missing, blunt, elongated, splayed teeth, or other
significant signs of dental wear present. (As a guide, of those heads determined
to be over 4 years of age, less than 30 percent should be 5 years of age.)
2. Any mature sheep or goat that exhibits any of the following clinical signs:
A. Dead prior to slaughter or condemned on ante-mortem inspection.
B. Nonambulatory
a. Down and unable to rise; or
b. Able to rise but only for brief periods of time.
i. Nonambulatory animals can include those with broken
appendages, severed tendons or ligaments, nerve paralysis,
fractured vertebral columns, or metabolic conditions.
C. Signs of central nervous system (CNS) disease including:
a. Weakness of any kind, including stumbling, falling down, or having
difficulty rising, not including those with visible traumatic injuries
which should be recorded as nonambulatory animals; or
b. Behavioral abnormalities; or
c. Increased sensitivity to noise and sudden movement; or
d. Tremors; or
e. Star gazing; or
f. Head pressing; or
g. Bilateral gait abnormalities, including incoordination, high stepping
gait of forelimbs, bunny-hop movement of rear legs, or swaying of
back end, but not including abnormalities involving only one leg or
one front and one back leg; or
h. Other CNS signs.
D. Intense rubbing, abrasions, or rough, thickened, and/or hyperpigmented skin:
a. Repeated intense rubbing with bare areas in similar locations on both
sides of the animal’s body or, if on the head, both sides of the poll; or
b. Abraded, rough, thickened, or hyperpigmented areas of skin in areas
of wool/hair loss in similar locations on both sides of the animal’s
body or, if on the head, both sides of the poll.
E. Condemned post-mortem for emaciation.
July 2021 Page 2
3. Any mature sheep or goats:
A. with an SFCP tag (up to 30 animals cumulative per flock or herd, i.e. not on
the “Do Not Collect” list); or
B. that are received on a VS 1-27 permit (e.g. scrapie-exposed animals that are
not in source or infected flocks, identified by yellow “exposed” eartag); or
4. Any sheep or goats when directed in writing by the APHIS contact.
Sheep and goats from herds on the current “Do Not Collect” list should only be sampled
if they are exhibiting clinical signs, they arrived on a VS 1-27 permit, or when directed in
writing by the APHIS contact.
VS may periodically revise the sampling criteria in agreements during their term by
giving the establishment at least 30 days written notice without having to revise and re-
sign the agreement.
Note: VS plans to implement a points-based sampling criteria in the future that may
affect the above selection criteria.
Refer to the attached RSSS Targeted Criteria Flowchart
Collection Method
The Vendor collects and submits tissues:
The Vendor collects and ships specific tissues from mature sheep and/or goats that
meet targeting criteria, including a small portion of the ear with the eartag attached.
The tissues collected include the obex, cerebellum, and retropharyngeal lymph node
(RLN). A quarter-sized portion of the ear must be attached to the eartag. If
necessary, this tissue will be used to confirm genotype of the animal. In addition to
sample collection and shipment, the Vendor will be required to enter submission
information into an electronic submission system (VSLS). VS personnel will provide
training to the Vendor on proper collection, preservation, packaging, shipping of
samples and data entry into VSLS. Tissue collection, storage and shipping
instructions are also detailed in “Procedure Manual: Regulatory Scrapie Slaughter
Surveillance (RSSS) Tissue Collection and Submission”.
Vendors are responsible for the quality of samples that are submitted to the
designated laboratory or processing site. In order to receive payment, the
submitted samples (1) must have been collected from sheep and/or goats that meet
the targeted criteria AND (2) arrive at the APHIS designated laboratory or processing
site in suitable condition for scrapie testing AND (3) be shipped to the designated
laboratory or processing site within one week from collection AND (4) be properly
packaged to prevent breakage or leakage. It is permissible to batch samples from
July 2021 Page 3
different slaughter dates into one shipment, but each sampling date requires
individual submission entries into VSLS
Carcasses should NOT be retained pending the results of scrapie testing conducted
through this program.
Fee Schedule
The Vendor will be paid $_____for the first suitable RLN sample in a shipment and
$_____ for each additional suitable RLN sample in the shipment. If both the RLN and
the obex are submitted, the Vendor will be paid $_____ for the first suitable sample in a
shipment and $_____ for each additional suitable sample in the shipment.
Total fiscal year costs under this agreement will not exceed ______. Cost overruns will be
the sole responsibility of the Vendor.
Estimated Volume
Expected number of days per week/ month/ year (circle the most appropriate) on
which mature sheep or goats will be slaughtered _____.
On average ________ targeted animals will be slaughtered per day at the facility
on those days when mature sheep or goats are slaughtered.
The minimum and maximum number of targeted samples that the facility expects
to collect during a 12 month period.
Min_____________ Max_____________
Documentation/Reporting Requirements
In addition to sample collection and shipment, the Vendor must enter information for all
RSSS submissions into VSLS. Information required includes: name of collection site,
name of collector/submitter, surveillance information (number of sheep/goats
slaughtered, number with official identification, number sampled), and individual animal
information (species, age, sex, face-color/type, designation, clinical signs if present, and
ALL identification devices). On-site it may be useful to record all relevant information on
hardcopies of the RSSS Collection Worksheet (available in VSLS under the “Blank
Worksheets” tab), with subsequent data entry of the worksheet into VSLS. If used, the
original completed worksheet(s) should be filed on-site. Training for data entry into the
VSLS application will be provided by VS personnel. Immediately communicate with the
provided point-of-contact any issues that would prevent timely submission or shipment
of collected tissues.
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