Tortoise Tick Update

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Posted by Jeff Barringer on July 13, 2000 at 23:07:14:

After attending the USDA Symposium on Ticks and Reptiles
Jeff would like to report the following:

USDA has submitted an amendment to the emergency rule
that will allow the interstate transport of captive bred
African Tortoises that have been certified by a vet to be
tick free. This ammendment is curently passing through
the USDA heirarchy for approval and the exact requirements
will be available for public comment hopefully within a
few weeks. Hopefully the tortoises can be moving again soon,
but there is no way to put any specific time frame on the
process.

Representatives of USDA, CDC, EPA, Customs, and USFWS
as well as other agencies from Texas, Florida, South Carolina and
several other states received breifings on the various segments
of the herpetoculture industry. Representing and speaking for the
industry were the following:

Tyrone Dillon - CalZoo
Marc Cantos - Burgundy Reptile Traders
Marshall Meyers - PIJAC (Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council)
Jeff Barringer - kingsnake.com, NRAAC
Richard Fife
Bill Brandt
Eugene Bessette

Also in attendance were Bill Love, Wayne Hill, Robroy McInnes, Mark Bell,
Bob Pound and a number of other hobbyists and commercial entities.

Of particular interest was the presentation by Dr. Mike Burrdige
who is probably the worlds leading authority on Heartwater Disease
and the Ambystoma ticks that carry and spread the disease. The
information he presented cleared up many of the myths surrounding
the disease and the ticks that carry them. Please note that this was
a very close call for the industry. These Ambystoma ticks have
been known to use other hosts such as ball pythons and savannah
monitors. Had they been found in this instance on these animals
instead of tortoises, it would have made for a very very bad year
for a much larger number of hobbyists and businesses. Imagine
Daytona or kingsnake.com without Ball Pythons....

Over the next few weeks we will be doing a number of "special"
web radio interviews with participants of this conference to talk
about tortoise ticks and other topics covered at the symposium.
Additionally kingsnake.com will be working with USDA to present
as much information from the syposium online as possible.

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: Tortoise Tick Update : After attending the USDA Symposium on Ticks and Reptiles : Jeff would like to report the following: : USDA has submitted an amendment to the emergency rule : that will allow the interstate transport of captive bred : African Tortoises that have been certified by a vet to be : tick free. This ammendment is curently passing through : the USDA heirarchy for approval and the exact requirements : will be available for public comment hopefully within a : few weeks. Hopefully the tortoises can be moving again soon, : but there is no way to put any specific time frame on the : process. : Representatives of USDA, CDC, EPA, Customs, and USFWS : as well as other agencies from Texas, Florida, South Carolina and : several other states received breifings on the various segments : of the herpetoculture industry. Representing and speaking for the : industry were the following: : Tyrone Dillon - CalZoo : Marc Cantos - Burgundy Reptile Traders : Marshall Meyers - PIJAC (Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council) : Jeff Barringer - kingsnake.com, NRAAC : Richard Fife : Bill Brandt : Eugene Bessette : Also in attendance were Bill Love, Wayne Hill, Robroy McInnes, Mark Bell, : Bob Pound and a number of other hobbyists and commercial entities. : Of particular interest was the presentation by Dr. Mike Burrdige : who is probably the worlds leading authority on Heartwater Disease : and the Ambystoma ticks that carry and spread the disease. The : information he presented cleared up many of the myths surrounding : the disease and the ticks that carry them. Please note that this was : a very close call for the industry. These Ambystoma ticks have : been known to use other hosts such as ball pythons and savannah : monitors. Had they been found in this instance on these animals : instead of tortoises, it would have made for a very very bad year : for a much larger number of hobbyists and businesses. Imagine : Daytona or kingsnake.com without Ball Pythons.... : Over the next few weeks we will be doing a number of "special" : web radio interviews with participants of this conference to talk : about tortoise ticks and other topics covered at the symposium. : Additionally kingsnake.com will be working with USDA to present : as much information from the syposium online as possible.

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