The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

1. (1) Exposed animal--Any animal which has been in the same flock at the same time within the previous 60 months as a scrapie positive animal, excluding limited contacts as defined in USDA Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program.
2. (2) Flock/herd--All animals maintained on a single premise which are commingled; and all animals under common ownership of supervision on two or more premises with animal interchange between the premises.

3. (3) High risk animal--An animal which is:

   1. (A) the progeny of a scrapie-positive dam;
   2. (B) born in the same flock during the same lambing season as progeny of a scrapie-positive dam;
   3. (C) born in the same flock during the same lambing season as a scrapie-positive ewe or ram.
4. (4) Infected flock--Any flock in which an APHIS representative or state animal health official has determined an animal to be scrapie-positive.

5. (5) Official identification--A unique individual identification which meets the following criteria listed in subparagraphs (A)-(D) of this paragraph. The approved identification is the tamper-resistant ear tag provided through USDA, APHIS:

   1. (A) permanent;
   2. (B) secure;
   3. (C) unique numbers from a central repository;
   4. (D) traceable.
6. (6) Official laboratory--A laboratory designated by a state and approved by the USDA Deputy Administrator to perform the Program-required scrapie diagnostic procedures. The National Veterinary Services Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, is the reference laboratory for diagnostic procedures.
7. (7) Owner--An individual, partnership, company, corporation, or other legal entity which has legal or rightful title to a flock of animals, regardless of any liens held on the animals or flock.
8. (8) Scrapie--A nonfebrile, transmissible, insidious, degenerative spongiform encephalopathy which affects the central nervous system of sheep and goats.
9. (9) Source flock--A flock in which an APHIS representative or State animal health official has determined at least one animal, that was diagnosed as Scrapie-positive at an age of 54 months or less, was born.
10. (10) Scrapie-positive animal--An animal which has had a diagnosis of scrapie confirmed through tests by an official laboratory.
11. (11) Scrapie suspect--An animal which displays clinical signs suggestive of scrapie.
12. (12) Designated scrapie epidemiologist--A veterinarian who is trained in epidemiology and is employed by the commission or USDA, APHIS, VS.

Source Note:The provisions of this §60.1 adopted to be effective April 4, 1999, 24 TexReg 2300.