Fierkej
04-25-2002, 09:53 AM
Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance and Prevention
Chronic wasting disease is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) first diagnosed in a research facility in Colorado in 1967. In 1981, the first free-ranging cervid, an elk from northeast Colorado, was diagnosed with the disease. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) affects members of the Cervidae family, which includes mule deer, white-tailed deer and elk. CWD has been discovered in free ranging cervids in Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The disease has also been diagnosed in captive cervids in Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, Montana, Oklahoma, Kansas and Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada. Currently, there is no reliable live animal testing available for diagnosing CWD, nor is there a treatment available.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and Department of Agriculture (MDA) have conducted surveillance and taken preventative measures to reduce the risk of the disease occurring in this state. MDNR is responsible for disease testing in wild cervids and MDA has jurisdiction over captive cervid facilities. Many other states have conducted similar CWD surveillance and have taken precautions to prevent the occurrence of CWD.
MI CWD Surveillance
Michigan has conducted surveillance for CWD on free-ranging white-tailed deer and on captive cervids. In 1998, MDNR tested 452 free-ranging white-tailed deer for CWD from a 5 county area in the northeast lower peninsula which included Presque Isle, Montmorency, Alpena, Alcona and Oscoda counties. In addition, targeted surveillance has been conducted on cervids displaying symptoms of CWD. MDNR obtains the majority of samples through hunter harvested animals. MDA performs surveillance on captive cervid farms through voluntary submission of samples. All samples thus far have tested negative for the disease.
In light of CWD in Wisconsin, Michigan will be increasing CWD testing for both free-ranging and captive cervids. The MDNR has proposed a plan for wildlife surveillance that would target 35 counties each year for 3 years, testing 2000 elk and deer annually.
This proposed CWD surveillance plan for wildlife is based on locations of past and present deer research facilities, locations of privately owned cervid facilities, and the appropriate samples sizes for statistical analysis. Four of the proposed counties border Wisconsin (Gogebic, Iron, Dickinson and Menominee) and the remaining counties currently contain 10 or more captive cervid herds or deer research facilities. The proposed surveillance will be coordinated with the surveillance of privately owned cervids and must be practical in terms of man power, money and laboratory capacities. MDA will also increase the surveillance of captive cervids, including trace-backs on cervids imported during the last 36 months. MDA will identify and trace all cervids imported over the last 36 months from Wisconsin and will conduct CWD surveillance on all death losses from those herds.
MI CWD Prevention
Michigan has taken several steps to prevent the occurrence of CWD in the state. The importation of captive cervids has been banned from all counties and contiguous counties in which CWD has been diagnosed in free-ranging and/or captive cervids. Through MDNR’s chronic wasting disease report on the Internet, and at public meetings and appearances, the state has worked to educate hunters and the public. Finally, state officials have participated in national discussions with other states and scientists regarding this disease.
Michigan will be taking additional steps to prevent CWD, which include a ban on the importation of all captive cervids from Wisconsin, effective March 6, 2002. A contingency plan to deal with CWD is currently being developed for the state. Efforts will also be made to increase the level of public education and awareness of the disease.
US Surveillance
Currently, seventeen states perform testing on captive cervids for CWD. Two additional states are in the process of developing surveillance. Thirty-four have free-ranging cervid surveillance in place, mainly through hunter harvested animals, and one additional state is in the process of developing such surveillance.
US Prevention
The jurisdiction over captive cervid facilities varies from state to state. In Michigan, MDA is responsible for captive cervid farms. In other states, this responsibility varies; it may fall on the Department of Natural Resources or that state’s equivalent, the Department of Agriculture or it may be jointly managed by both agencies.
All states have a set of standard regulations for cervid importation which include 1) Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) or health certificate, 2) an import permit, 3) a negative brucellosis test within 30-60 days of import and 4) a negative tuberculosis test within 30-90 days of import.
Thirty states, including Michigan, have regulations in addition to the standard regulations. In Michigan these include: 1) USDA alphanumeric ear tag, 2) cervid must originate from a bovine tuberculosis accredited, qualified or monitored herd and must undergo more extensive tuberculosis testing than listed above, 3) a pre-entry permit, and 4) the CVI must certify that every animal imported has not been exposed to CWD. Thirteen states prohibit the importation of cervids from any county, region and/or state endemic for CWD and two states have the authority to do so if necessary. Fifteen states require that the state exporting the cervid be enrolled in a CWD monitoring and certification program. Fourteen states have bans on importing cervids from certain states or provinces. Texas, New York and Indiana are the only states thus far to have banned all captive cervid imports.
Chronic wasting disease is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) first diagnosed in a research facility in Colorado in 1967. In 1981, the first free-ranging cervid, an elk from northeast Colorado, was diagnosed with the disease. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) affects members of the Cervidae family, which includes mule deer, white-tailed deer and elk. CWD has been discovered in free ranging cervids in Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The disease has also been diagnosed in captive cervids in Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, Montana, Oklahoma, Kansas and Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada. Currently, there is no reliable live animal testing available for diagnosing CWD, nor is there a treatment available.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and Department of Agriculture (MDA) have conducted surveillance and taken preventative measures to reduce the risk of the disease occurring in this state. MDNR is responsible for disease testing in wild cervids and MDA has jurisdiction over captive cervid facilities. Many other states have conducted similar CWD surveillance and have taken precautions to prevent the occurrence of CWD.
MI CWD Surveillance
Michigan has conducted surveillance for CWD on free-ranging white-tailed deer and on captive cervids. In 1998, MDNR tested 452 free-ranging white-tailed deer for CWD from a 5 county area in the northeast lower peninsula which included Presque Isle, Montmorency, Alpena, Alcona and Oscoda counties. In addition, targeted surveillance has been conducted on cervids displaying symptoms of CWD. MDNR obtains the majority of samples through hunter harvested animals. MDA performs surveillance on captive cervid farms through voluntary submission of samples. All samples thus far have tested negative for the disease.
In light of CWD in Wisconsin, Michigan will be increasing CWD testing for both free-ranging and captive cervids. The MDNR has proposed a plan for wildlife surveillance that would target 35 counties each year for 3 years, testing 2000 elk and deer annually.
This proposed CWD surveillance plan for wildlife is based on locations of past and present deer research facilities, locations of privately owned cervid facilities, and the appropriate samples sizes for statistical analysis. Four of the proposed counties border Wisconsin (Gogebic, Iron, Dickinson and Menominee) and the remaining counties currently contain 10 or more captive cervid herds or deer research facilities. The proposed surveillance will be coordinated with the surveillance of privately owned cervids and must be practical in terms of man power, money and laboratory capacities. MDA will also increase the surveillance of captive cervids, including trace-backs on cervids imported during the last 36 months. MDA will identify and trace all cervids imported over the last 36 months from Wisconsin and will conduct CWD surveillance on all death losses from those herds.
MI CWD Prevention
Michigan has taken several steps to prevent the occurrence of CWD in the state. The importation of captive cervids has been banned from all counties and contiguous counties in which CWD has been diagnosed in free-ranging and/or captive cervids. Through MDNR’s chronic wasting disease report on the Internet, and at public meetings and appearances, the state has worked to educate hunters and the public. Finally, state officials have participated in national discussions with other states and scientists regarding this disease.
Michigan will be taking additional steps to prevent CWD, which include a ban on the importation of all captive cervids from Wisconsin, effective March 6, 2002. A contingency plan to deal with CWD is currently being developed for the state. Efforts will also be made to increase the level of public education and awareness of the disease.
US Surveillance
Currently, seventeen states perform testing on captive cervids for CWD. Two additional states are in the process of developing surveillance. Thirty-four have free-ranging cervid surveillance in place, mainly through hunter harvested animals, and one additional state is in the process of developing such surveillance.
US Prevention
The jurisdiction over captive cervid facilities varies from state to state. In Michigan, MDA is responsible for captive cervid farms. In other states, this responsibility varies; it may fall on the Department of Natural Resources or that state’s equivalent, the Department of Agriculture or it may be jointly managed by both agencies.
All states have a set of standard regulations for cervid importation which include 1) Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) or health certificate, 2) an import permit, 3) a negative brucellosis test within 30-60 days of import and 4) a negative tuberculosis test within 30-90 days of import.
Thirty states, including Michigan, have regulations in addition to the standard regulations. In Michigan these include: 1) USDA alphanumeric ear tag, 2) cervid must originate from a bovine tuberculosis accredited, qualified or monitored herd and must undergo more extensive tuberculosis testing than listed above, 3) a pre-entry permit, and 4) the CVI must certify that every animal imported has not been exposed to CWD. Thirteen states prohibit the importation of cervids from any county, region and/or state endemic for CWD and two states have the authority to do so if necessary. Fifteen states require that the state exporting the cervid be enrolled in a CWD monitoring and certification program. Fourteen states have bans on importing cervids from certain states or provinces. Texas, New York and Indiana are the only states thus far to have banned all captive cervid imports.