OTTAWA – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recently launched an investigation into a case of bovine tuberculosis in a beef cow in British Columbia.

A post-mortem examination of the animal, which was slaughtered in October, revealed granulomatous lesions in the mediastinal lymph nodes, lungs and liver which are signs of infection. The animal was condemned.

Samples from the animal were sent to a CFIA laboratory in Ottawa. Testing confirmed the presence of bovine TB on Nov. 9. CFIA traced the animal to a farm in the southern interior of British Columbia. CFIA said the agency has begun tracing the movements of the animal to identify the source and any potential spread of the disease.

“This involves identifying all herds that have come in contact with the infected animal during its life,” the agency said. “The CFIA has also begun testing to identify the strain of the bacterium as this may inform if there are connections to previous cases. As the investigation proceeds, the CFIA will trace the movement of animals to and from the infected herd during the past five years to identify and eliminate the source and any potential spread of the disease.

Because the investigation is in the early stages, the exact number of herds involved and the time to complete the investigation are not yet known.”

CFIA added that the finding should not impact Canada’s international status in which all provinces are considered bovine TB-free.