This draft voluntary Code of Practice is issued by the National Cavy Club of Great Britain (NCC).

This draft Code of Practice seeks to reduce the risks of the spread of any infectious diseases or infections between cavies exhibited at shows run under NCC Show Regulations. This has come about in part because of the recent incident concerning Chlamydia and related organisms being presented in the cavy population including but not limited to cavies being exhibited at shows. Although Chlamydia organisms have been identified in cavies their complete elimination from the environment is unlikely to be achieved. Chlamydia and other infections such as salmonella are classified as a zoonoses (transmissible to humans) therefore strict hygiene control to reduce the spread within the cavy population is essential.

This Code sets out suitable voluntary guidelines to safeguard disease security which we hope that show managers and committees will follow closely as an extension of the NCC Show Regulations especially related to Section 12 (Custody of Exhibits) and Section 19 (Stewarding).

The Draft Code of Practice is in two parts,

and

Cavies for sale must be inspected by a member of the local club committee, or designated person responsible, prior to being placed in a for sale pen. The decision to remove a cavy resides with the For Sale Stock Responsible and / or the Show Committee and removal from the show hall must be undertaken immediately.

When judging show exhibits any showing signs of illness should be identified to the book steward or Show Secretary immediately (and disqualified?). The responsibility to remove the exhibit from the show hall lies with the Show Secretary or Show Committee and must be undertaken immediately.

Cavies identified as at the judging table must be placed in an appropriate box and removed from the show hall immediately. The Show Secretary is responsible for finding and informing the exhibitor but this must not delay the removal of the exhibit from the show hall environs.

The judge must ensure that all stewards present at the judging table when the cavy was identified cavy must thoroughly clean their hands with antibacterial wipes before handling any other cavies.

The judge in conjunction with the show committee must determine what cleaning of the judging table equipment (judging stall, table, judging cloth), is required, after such an incident.

Known ill cavies (exhibits, for sale stock, those brought to the venue whilst undergoing treatment) must not enter the Show Hall this is the responsibility of the owner/transporter.

Cavies identified as ill on being penned, on the judging table or anytime after judging must be reported to the Show Officer or Secretary and placed in an appropriate disposable box and removed from the show hall immediately. The Show Secretary is responsible for finding and informing the exhibitor but this must not delay the removal of the exhibit from the show hall environs.

All persons involved in the handling of an ill, dying or dead cavy must thoroughly clean their hands with antibacterial wipes before handling any other cavies.

The Show Committee must be provided antibacterial wipes or appropriate hand cleansers and disposable boxes in case of encountering this situation.

Any pens, judging tables where an ill cavy has been present must be cleaned immediately to prevent the risk of transmission of a possible infection.

Depending on the risk the show committee and Show Secretary should determine if any other exhibits shown at the venue by the same exhibitor should be examined. Based on the risk the Show Committee is immediately empowered to remove all exhibits by the exhibitor with prize monies and entry fees forfeited.

 

In this instance the cause of the death may not be identified but as a precaution the steps outlined in ‘Ill cavies at Shows’ should be followed to minimise risk.

Show Halls and areas used for the storage of storage of show pens, judging stalls and other equipment should be reassessed for suitability based on the higher level requirement especially in terms of cleanliness and risk of the spread of an infection or disease.

Storage and transportation of show equipment owned by the club, loaned by another club or provided by penning contractors should be risk assessed against the higher infection risk by the club responsible for the overall show organisation.

Show Halls and premises should clean and tidy prior to the show pens being assembled and show pens and judging stalls should be sprayed with a suitable disinfectant after pen and judging table assembly and again prior to return to the storage area. In addition the show hall or venue should be thoroughly cleaned at then end of the show.

At shows the proximity to other livestock species must be considered. Is the potential situation with cavies a risk to other species or is a situation with them a risk to cavies (seek external expert advice).

Hands should be washed using an antibacterial wipe or cleanser by judges, stewards and ‘for sale stock’ assistants prior to handling each individual cavy, or as a minimum between each class.

Special consideration should be given to any persons handling ill or dead cavies and thorough cleaning by all persons and equipment involved is required in this situation.

The situation of allowing ‘cavies for sale’ should be considered concerning possible risk and future situations. In this instance ‘for sale stock’ includes any cavies entering the show hall as part of a formal ‘for sale area’ managed by the local club or independent direct sales or collection. In all cases for sale cavies must be inspected by a member of the local club committee, or designated person responsible, prior to entering the main show hall. The decision to remove a cavy, or any sale of cavies resides with the For Sale Stock Responsible and / or the Show Committee and removal from the show hall must be undertaken immediately.

Handling of show stock by the For Sale Stock assistants or potential buyers must be in conjunction with the use of antibacterial wipes or a cleanser before and after handling each cavy.

The judge’s responsibilities are identical to the Code of Practice Part A with additional vigilance being required. In these situations special consideration should be given concerning the removal from the show hall of all cavies exhibited by the same household to prevent the spread of a potential infection or disease.

Ill cavies at shows (within the Show Hall environs)

The responsibilities in this section are identical to the Code of Practice Part A with additional vigilance being required. Thorough cleaning of the areas with a suitable disinfectant where the cavy has been penned, the judging table and those persons who have come in contact with this cavy is essential.

Depending on the risk the show committee and Show Secretary should determine if any other exhibits shown at the venue by the same exhibitor should be examined. Based on the risk the Show Committee is immediately empowered to remove all exhibits by the exhibitor with prize monies and entry fees forfeited.

In this instance the cause of the death may not be identified but as a precaution the steps outlined in ‘Ill cavies at Shows’ should be followed to minimise risk.

Caroline Smith (author)