Under IC 4-22-2-24, notice is hereby given that on April 14, 2011, at 9:45 a.m., at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Normandy Barn, 1202 E. 38th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health will hold a public hearing on a proposed rule that will require testing for equine piroplasmosis of any equine animal that is entering the premises where a quarter horse or thoroughbred horse race meet is being held, and horses that test positive for equine piroplasmosis will be prohibited from entering or staying on the track grounds.

The proposed rule is a surveillance rule that seeks to prevent piroplasmosis positive animals from entering Indiana race tracks where they may infect other animals. Keeping piroplasmosis positive animals off of the tracks will protect animals from the disease and prevent disruptions to the housing, training, and racing of horses at the tracks. The Indiana rule will aid in the national effort to find and treat piroplasmosis animals so that the United States may maintain a status of being equine piroplasmosis negative in its horse population. Maintaining a national status of piroplasmosis negative protects animals from the disease and animal owners from the costs associated with treating animals that come down with the disease. A negative equine piroplasmosis status also facilitates interstate and international trade in horses from the United States.

Copies of these rules are now on file at the Indiana State Board of Animal Health, 4154 North Keystone Avenue and Legislative Services Agency, Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N201, Indianapolis, Indiana and are open for public inspection.