Washington Hunter
Well-known member
Chronic Wasting Disease: An Emerging Threat to America's Deer and Elk
An emerging disease, chronic wasting disease (CWD), is threatening captive and wild populations of deer and elk in certain areas within the United States. There is concern that this disease may spread further and affect more deer and/or elk herds. As a result, CWD has important scientific and political implications.
What is chronic wasting disease?
CWD is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) of mule deer, white-tailed deer, and Rocky Mountain elk. A prion attacks the nervous system and brain of the infected animal.
CWD is related to scrapie in domestic sheep and bovine spongiform encephalothapy (commonly known as BSE or "mad cow disease") in domestic cattle.
As the CWD progresses, symptoms include reduced eating, repetitive walking, possible blindness, excessive drinking, fine head tremors, incoordination, and increased salivating.
Death is inevitable. There is currently no vaccine or treatment.
Where did CWD originate and how is it transmitted?
Evidence of CWD was found in Colorado 30 years ago, but the origin and cause of the disease have never been definitively defined nor pinpointed.
The disease is transmissible and infectious, but scientists have been unable to exactly define the mode of transmission. Plausible routes of transmission include contact with feces and urine from an infected animal. Environmental contamination may also result in indirect transmission.
CWD is highly unpredictable due to its long incubation period.
Whom does CWD affect?
CWD has been found in captive populations of elk and deer on game farms in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Montana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Canada, and South Korea.
Wild populations of these cervids have also tested positive for this disease in Colorado, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
To date, there is no proof of human infection, and scientists still do not understand the potential risk to humans. Yet, due to the link between BSE and its human counterpart CJD (Crutzfeld Jacob Disease) scientists are warning the public about possible exposure to CWD.
What can be done?
Most importantly, to possibly end the continuing spread of the disease, all states must cease the importation and exportation of cervids. States such as Texas, New York, North Carolina, and Indiana have already taken this proactive step, while other states are considering full or partial bans. Banning the transport of cervids will contain the disease and cease further dissemination. Canada has already prohibited the importation of cervids from the United States.
On a larger scale, in order to reduce the potential of future biological threats from this and other zoonotic diseases, states must ban game farms and canned hunts. The largely unregulated canned hunting industry artificially contains animals in concentrated areas, possibly increasing the likelihood of disease transmission. In an effort to protect animals and the public, Wyoming, Montana, and California have outlawed game farms.
On September 25, 2001, the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared a state of emergency due to the threat of CWD. Congress is considering a $30 million study to eradicate this disease. Thus far, testing and "depopulating" are the chosen methods of eradication. But, eradication methods in "farmed" elk are costing the taxpayer and the government $3,000 per animal. Therefore, certain states such as Colorado have rightly concluded that eradicating entire populations of wild animals is neither feasible nor efficient in stopping the disease.
To find out the current status of CWD in your state, please contact your state wildlife department. Encourage it to stop eradication procedures as well as suggest bans on canned hunts and game farming as long-term solutions.
An emerging disease, chronic wasting disease (CWD), is threatening captive and wild populations of deer and elk in certain areas within the United States. There is concern that this disease may spread further and affect more deer and/or elk herds. As a result, CWD has important scientific and political implications.
What is chronic wasting disease?
CWD is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) of mule deer, white-tailed deer, and Rocky Mountain elk. A prion attacks the nervous system and brain of the infected animal.
CWD is related to scrapie in domestic sheep and bovine spongiform encephalothapy (commonly known as BSE or "mad cow disease") in domestic cattle.
As the CWD progresses, symptoms include reduced eating, repetitive walking, possible blindness, excessive drinking, fine head tremors, incoordination, and increased salivating.
Death is inevitable. There is currently no vaccine or treatment.
Where did CWD originate and how is it transmitted?
Evidence of CWD was found in Colorado 30 years ago, but the origin and cause of the disease have never been definitively defined nor pinpointed.
The disease is transmissible and infectious, but scientists have been unable to exactly define the mode of transmission. Plausible routes of transmission include contact with feces and urine from an infected animal. Environmental contamination may also result in indirect transmission.
CWD is highly unpredictable due to its long incubation period.
Whom does CWD affect?
CWD has been found in captive populations of elk and deer on game farms in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Montana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Canada, and South Korea.
Wild populations of these cervids have also tested positive for this disease in Colorado, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
To date, there is no proof of human infection, and scientists still do not understand the potential risk to humans. Yet, due to the link between BSE and its human counterpart CJD (Crutzfeld Jacob Disease) scientists are warning the public about possible exposure to CWD.
What can be done?
Most importantly, to possibly end the continuing spread of the disease, all states must cease the importation and exportation of cervids. States such as Texas, New York, North Carolina, and Indiana have already taken this proactive step, while other states are considering full or partial bans. Banning the transport of cervids will contain the disease and cease further dissemination. Canada has already prohibited the importation of cervids from the United States.
On a larger scale, in order to reduce the potential of future biological threats from this and other zoonotic diseases, states must ban game farms and canned hunts. The largely unregulated canned hunting industry artificially contains animals in concentrated areas, possibly increasing the likelihood of disease transmission. In an effort to protect animals and the public, Wyoming, Montana, and California have outlawed game farms.
On September 25, 2001, the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared a state of emergency due to the threat of CWD. Congress is considering a $30 million study to eradicate this disease. Thus far, testing and "depopulating" are the chosen methods of eradication. But, eradication methods in "farmed" elk are costing the taxpayer and the government $3,000 per animal. Therefore, certain states such as Colorado have rightly concluded that eradicating entire populations of wild animals is neither feasible nor efficient in stopping the disease.
To find out the current status of CWD in your state, please contact your state wildlife department. Encourage it to stop eradication procedures as well as suggest bans on canned hunts and game farming as long-term solutions.
