MissouriWhitetails.com

Chronic Wasting Disease

This following article was submitted to us by Jeff Beringer, Wildlife Research Biologist for the State of Missouri Department of Conservation. This article in an effort to educate people of a new disease found in the western states that is effecting deer and elk herds. Although this disease has not been found within the state boundaries of Missouri, it is a disease that everyone should be aware of. This disease poses no known threats  to humans or livestock, however, as with any disease, precautions should be taken with any animal that is acting out of character.

If you observe deer that you believe may be effected by this disease contact your local Conservation Agent or use this link.

http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/

"Chronic Wasting Disease - Creeping Closer?"

By Jeff Beringer

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy or TSE infecting elk, white-tailed, and mule deer. It is related to other TSE’s including "mad cow" in cattle and the human variant termed Creutzfeldt-Jakob’s disease. TSE’s cause damage to portions of the victims brain and are always fatal. Recently chronic wasting disease has received quite a lot of media attention. Probably, it is the perfect story for most media types because there are so many unknowns associated with the disease - it would make a good "X Files" episode. Here’s what we know so far:

CWD affects elk, white-tailed and mule deer. Positive animals lose body condition, undergo behavioral changes, and tend to show excessive salivation and increased drinking and urination. Eventually all affected animals die. We don’t know how the disease is transmitted between animals but experimental and circumstantial evidence suggests infected animals spread the disease through animal-to-animal contact and through contamination of food and water sources with saliva, urine, or feces. Crowded, high densities of deer and elk likely exacerbate the spread as does artificial feeding and interstate shipment of cervids.

Prions, or infectious proteinaceous particles, seem to be the infectious agent. Prions are basically rogue proteins that can manifest change in other normal proteins around them. The disease isn’t a virus or bacteria, actually its debatable whether prions can be considered a life form - they have no DNA. The primitive nature of prions makes them extremely resistant to heat and disinfectants. CWD has recurred in captive settings where infected herds were depopulated, incinerated, and their facilities were disinfected. It’s definitely not something we want in Missouri.

The distribution of CWD is primarily limited to western states and a few Canadian provinces. The disease is more wide spread in captive populations and is known to occur in wild populations in Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska. In the wild CWD, affects primarily deer. Surveillance tests suggest the disease is rare, occurring in less than 5% of deer and less than 1% of elk. The number of confirmed cases has increased in recent years.

Public health officials say there is no evidence that CWD can be transmitted to humans or animals other than deer or elk. As always it is a good idea to avoid contact with any deer that appear sick. Hunters (especially those hunting in CWD endemic areas) should consider using rubber gloves to dress or process deer and should not eat or handle brain or spinal cord tissues of harvested deer or elk.

MDC will be collecting brain samples from some hunter-harvested deer this fall, samples will be tested for CWD. These collections are strictly a surveillance procedure but will aid in our disease monitoring efforts. Persons receiving reports of sick or emaciated deer should relay this information to local conservation agents for further investigation.

More Information on CWD here updated 7-5-02