From: TSS (216-119-128-77.ipset8.wt.net)
Subject: TB AND CWD HIGHLIGHT CAPTIVE WILDLIFE COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS
Date: November 20, 2003 at 10:07 am PST
USAHA News
United States Animal Health Association Contact - Larry Mark
(703) 451-3954
webmaster@usaha.org
For immediate release:
TB AND CWD HIGHLIGHT CAPTIVE WILDLIFE COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS
SAN DIEGO, Calif., Oct. 14, 2003 -- The need to develop better TB tests for reindeer
was discussed at the meeting of the USAHA committee on captive wildlife and alternative
livestock here this week. Information was also presented on chronic wasting disease (CWD).
It was noted that even though bovine TB infection in reindeer is rare, captive reindeer are
still subject to USDA regulations requiring TB testing for interstate shipment and accredited herd
status. Preliminary studies in Alaska indicate that current testing methods do not detect
"sensitized" reindeer and that false positive test results occur.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, occurs in
multiple species of deer and elk, both captive and free-ranging. CWD has been detected in 29
herds in eight states in farmed cervids and in wild cervids in eight states. The disease has been
found in both wild and farmed cervids in Colorado, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and
Wyoming. Farmed herd infection has occurred in addition in Kansas, while infection in wild
cervids also has occurred in Illinois, Nebraska and New Mexico.
Most infected herds of farmed cervids have been depopulated. However, there continue
to be gaps in knowledge regarding incubation time, route of shedding, time from infection to
shedding, techniques to detect the agent in the environment, minimum infectious dose, and other
matters. There are also jurisdictional challenges -- most wildlife is managed by state fish and
game agencies while farmed deer and elk are regulated by animal health agencies.
Committee members heard the goals of a proposed CWD eradication program, which
include eliminating the disease from captive cervid populations, safeguarding the domestic
alternative livestock industry, and ensuring safety with international partners. A federal program
would be voluntary, but animals would not be allowed to move interstate if they came from a
herd not in the program. States would be allowed to establish more stringent programs.
A report from Wisconsin indicated that 207 CWD-positive wild white-tailed deer had
been found in an 800-square-mile area. An intensive management zone was established to
decrease deer density and determine the number of infected animals.
The committee also heard a report on guidelines for CWD in zoos. The susceptibility of
many cervid species to CWD is unknown. The report indicated that although natural CWD
infection has only occured in three cervid species, all cervids should be considered susceptible,
including rare and endangered species from other continents.
A report on West Nile virus surveillance in zoos was also presented to the committee.
With a program that started in 2001, by 2003, 170 institutions were in the surveillance program
with greater than 15,000 tests performed.
Finally, committee members heard a report on measures that were taken by the San Diego
Wild Animal Park to prevent infection from the exotic Newcastle outbreak in southern California
in the fall of 2002 and winter and spring of 2003. In early 2003, the zoo was surrounded by
infection in various types of poultry operations. However, measures taken were successful in
preventing introduction of this foreign disease into the zoo's bird populations.
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http://www.usaha.org/news/news03/p03cwal.txt
TSS
