An Analysis of Dr. Susan Cork

1
An Analysis of Dr. Susan Cork Dr. David
Abrahams report entitled Review of tuberculosis
control measures used at the Performing Animal
Welfare Society (PAWS) Sanctuary, San Andreas,
California
2
Please feel free to follow along

• Links to Dr. Cork and Dr. Abraham Report
  (submitted to Toronto City Council by Councillor
  Michelle Berardinetti on November 27, 2012)
• Part 1 http//www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/cc
  /comm/communicationfile-33606.pdf
• Part 2 http//www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/cc
  /comm/communicationfile-33635.pdf

3
Letter From University of Calgary
This letter is dated November 27, 2012. The day
of the Council Meeting. No time for the
councillors to read the report
The report was commissioned by Zoocheck Canada
There should be a cover letter to Zoocheck
included. Where is it?
4
Executive Summary Page 3
Dr. Cork and Dr. Abraham were allowed to visit
the PAWS facility and EVEN view the quarantined
elephants. The staff from the Toronto Zoo were
denied access to 3 of the 5 barns and denied a
second visit.
The current vet keeps comprehensive records. Why
havent they been shared with the Toronto Zoo?
5
Toronto Zoo Staff visit report
6
California elephant sanctuary official says no
to second planned site visit by Toronto Zoo
officials
From a Toronto Star article by Donovan Vincent
(May 27, 2012)
7
Executive Summary Page 3
The report says that the PAWS vet has made every
effort to follow the guidelines.
The report states that some additional
biosecurity measures could be considered. It says
quite clearly that it is hard to quantify the
tuberculosis transmission risk or to predict the
consequences of exposure. This is exactly what
the report from the Toronto Zoo vet says.
8
From Attachment 3 of the Supplementary report
from the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Zoo on
the Elephant Transfer Due Diligence Review
Excerpt from the Letter Written by Michelle
Miller, DVM, PhD (AZA Elephant Taxon Advisory
Group Veterinarian Advisor) to Dr. Graham
Crawshaw from August 11, 2012.
9
Background Page 3-4
Goats are periodically brought onto the property
to clear vegetation. Do they have contact with
the elephants? Could they be exposed to the Asian
elephants, then the African elephants?
Goats are also carriers of tuberculosis. Studies
have been done which indicate TB can be
transmitted and contracted via shared Grazing
areas.
10
Background Page 4
This report says that elephants undergo a
quarantine period of 30 days. Emails show Toronto
Zoo elephants are to be put in the same barn as
the current elephants right away. NO
QUARANTINE. Ruby was only quarantined for ten
days during which time she was able to access the
other resident elephants.
Photographic evidence shows that the elephants at
PAWS are frequently handled with free contact and
that handlers walk freely in their enclosures.
11
Introduction Page 5
Tuberculosis can be potentially spread via
fomites such as bedding, food or water sources or
feces
12
Introduction Page 5
13
Section 4 - Page 6
It is a myth that AZA facilities do not adhere to
USDA standards
14
Section 4 Page 7
Four out of eight elephants (50) are currently
in quarantine for tuberculosis.
The closest point between the African and Asian
elephants is 40 ft.
The risk of transmission by fomites and the
oro-fecal route has not been considered
significant, even though it is a possibility.
One of the Asian females is trunk-wash TB
positive, one is Stat-Pak and MAPIA reactive and
one is NEGATIVE ON ALL TESTS and yet is housed
with the TB-positive one.
15
Table 1 Page 8
Wanda does not react to the Stat-Pak and yet she
is housed with the TB-positive Annie.
Annie has been at PAWS since 1995 and was found
to be TB-positive in 2012. Either she caught TB
there or it was allowed to flare up. Both cases
are negligent.
Annie currently has the same stand of TB that was
present in Rebecca at necropsy.
Rebecca and Sabu had tuberculosis, confirmed at
necropsy.
The report says that seven elephants were
necropsied even though eight elephants have died.
The list of dead elephants includes a mysterious
African Male...
Would Dr. Cork make the error of referring to
Ruby as an African Male?
16
Page 8
One of the two elephants who had evidence of TB
at necropsy was housed with the current female
Asian elephants.
The elephant AsFX1 (Rebecca) died in January
2011. Why was her necropsy performed in November
2011?
17
Page 9
Sabu was trunk wash negative in 2010 but reactive
to the Stat-Pak and MAPIA tests in 2011.
The NVSL report suggests that further infection
may have also occurred during contact at the
facility
18
Page 10
The Toronto Zoo elephants are not reactive to
either the Stat-Pak or the MAPIA.
Positive blood test presumptive positive TB
case.
19
Page 11
NOTE Group 1 means NO EXPOSURE TO POSITIVE
ELEPHANT IN PAST 12 MONTHS
20
Page 12
21
Table 2 Page 12
How can this elephant be considered group 1?! She
is housed with a TB-positive elephant....
22
Page 13
The attending vet at PAWS is present only two
days a week.
Elephants are brought into the barn during the
evening and inclement weather. It is a myth that
elephants at PAWS are in their pasture 24/7.
23
Page 13
Annie is undergoing training to facilitate
treatment and the best option WILL be selected
by the PAWS veterinarian. This implies that
although Annie has been trunk-wash TB positive
for approximately eight months, PAWS is not
treating her.
24
Page 14
Although it is possible for TB to be spread by
fomites such as food dishes and clothing, PAWS is
not using designated coveralls for quarantine
areas of the facility. WHY?
25
Page 15
The flooring in the Asian barns is difficult to
disinfect.
26
Page 16
The hazard of tuberculosis is present in at least
one of the quarantined group of female elephants
and this could serve as a source of infection for
OTHER ELEPHANTS, HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
27
Page 16-17
There is potential for exposure of other
elephants to the TB hazard
Every effort should be made to mitigate any risks
such as NOT SENDING HEALTHY ELEPHANTS THERE
28
Page 17
Additional biosecurity measures are recommended
by Cork and Abraham that are not currently used
by PAWS
If wildlife that dies on PAWS property is
necropsied, why was is so unreasonable for the
Toronto Zoo to request this information?
29
Article from Toronto Star by Linda Diebel (May 3,
2012)
PAWS does necropsy reports on all animals that
die on their property.
Why does Councillor Berardinetti claim is it
something they CANT do?
Sounds like something they WONT do.
30
Page 18
The risk of current and new elephants being
exposed to tuberculosis is NOT NEGLIGIBLE.
The residual risk remaining after mitigation
measures have been put in place depends on what
will happen in the future. Who can predict that?
Why take the risk at all?
The likelihood of exposure to TB is not
negligible at PAWS and the consequences are hard
to predict.
This is the same conclusion made by the Toronto
Zoo vet
31
Page 18
The last inspection of PAWS by the USDA was in
April 2012. This implies that an inspection of
the facility has not be completed since one of
the elephants had a positive trunk-wash. Maybe
another inspection is in order?
32
Appendix 2A
Annie was trunk wash positive in APRIL 2012
Why are some trunk-wash results from April 2012
still pending?
Large areas of this table are blacked out.
Where is this information? Why is the table cut
off at the side? Information is missing.
33
Appendix 2A, 2B, 3A
Large areas of this table are blacked out.
Where is this information? Why is the table cut
off at the side? Information is missing.
Why were tests not done on Annie in May 2010?
Gyspy was not reactive to the MAPIA test in May
2010 but was reactive in June 2011
34
Appendix 3B 4
Both elephants who were reactive to the Stat-Pak
and MAPIA were tuberculosis positive at necropsy
Why is the table cut off at the side? Information
is missing.
35
Please do your own research!!

• Link to Dr Cork Report and Info from Zoo CEO and
  zoo vet
• http//app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.
  do?item2012.EX24.30
• Link to Toronto Star article May 27, 2012
• http//www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1201433--c
  alifornia-elephant-sanctuary-official-nixes-second
  -planned-site-visit-by-toronto-zoo-officials
• Link to Toronto Star article May 3, 2012
• http//www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1172136--z
  oo-s-demand-to-sanctuary-could-be-an-elephant-size
  d-deal-breaker