I found this to be interesting. This does not sound like shut down the deer business talk! Not sure how to take this one!
THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2013
atypical, BSE, CWD, Scrapie, Captive Farmed shooting pens (livestock), Wild Cervids, Rectal Mucosa Biopsy 2012 USAHA Proceedings, and CJD TSE prion Update
atypical, BSE, CWD, Scrapie, Captive Farmed shooting pens (livestock), Wild Cervids, Rectal Mucosa Biopsy 2012 USAHA Proceedings, and CJD TSE prion Update
PROCEEDINGS ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING of the UNITED STATES ANIMAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION Sheraton Greensboro Hotel Greensboro, North Carolina October 18 – 24, 2012
Evaluation and Interpretation of Rectal Mucosa Biopsy Testing for Chronic Wasting Disease within Four White-Tailed Deer Herds in North America
Bruce V. Thomsen
USDA-APHIS-VS, National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL)
An effective live animal test is needed to assist in the control of chronic wasting disease (CWD), which has spread through captive and wild herds of white-tailed deer in both Canada and the United States. Rectal biopsy sample testing for CWD has shown promising results in previous studies and rectal biopsy sample testing has also been utilized successfully as a live animal test to diagnose the closely related disease, scrapie in sheep. This study compared the test results of postmortem rectal mucosa biopsy samples to those from conventional postmortem samples of the brainstem at the obex; the medial retropharyngeal lymph node; and the palatine tonsil in four CWD-infected, captive white-tailed deer herds. Three of the herds were located in Canada and one of the herds was from the United States. The effects of age, ***, genotype at prion protein (PRNP) codon 96, and stage of disease progression were evaluated as possible factors that might influence test performance. Test sensitivity for CWD on rectal biopsy samples in whitetailed deer ranged from 63% to 100% in the four herds within this study. Test performance was influenced by genotype at PRNP codon 96 and by stage of disease progression. Test sensitivity was the highest for 96GG deer and lower for 96GS deer. Rectal biopsy test sensitivity was 100% for deer in the later stages of disease progression, as evidenced by abundant immunohistochemical staining for PrPCWD in sections of brainstem. Rectal biopsy test sensitivity was reduced for deer in the earlier stages of disease. Selective use of this test, in conjunction with conventional testing postmortem testing, could provide valuable information during disease investigations of CWD suspect deer herds.
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Review and Updates of the USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services (VS)
National Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Program
Patrice Klein
USDA-APHIS-VS
CWD Rule Update
CWD Interim Final Rule was published on June 8, 2012, establishing a national voluntary CWD herd certification program (HCP) and consistent minimum interstate movement requirements. The rule became effective on August 13, 2012. Enforcement of the interstate movement regulations is delayed until December 10, 2012 to give States time to apply to APHIS to become an Approved State CWD HCP.
After reviewing the public comments, the APHIS will issue a final rule, and if needed, incorporate any changes made in response to comments on preemption. Comments received on other topics will be held for future rulemaking.
The goal of the CWD Program is to assist States, Tribes, and the cervid industry to prevent and control spread of CWD in farmed and wild cervid populations through establishment of a national CWD HCP and interstate movement requirements.
APHIS provides federal oversight of the voluntary national CWD HCP with program activities conducted by the Approved State CWD HCPs. APHIS will serve in an advisory capacity to Approved States for epidemiological investigations on CWD positive findings, development of herd plans, and assist (where possible) with herd inspections and inventories.
APHIS will continue to fund confirmatory testing on any presumptive CWD-positive samples from farmed and wild cervids, conducted by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL).
Farmed/captive cervid surveillance testing
Through FY2012, CWD surveillance testing was conducted on approximately 22,585 farmed /captive cervids by the immunohistochemistry (IHC) standard protocol. This reflects testing that was funded by APHIS through December 2011 and the transition to these laboratory costs paid directly by the cervid owner beginning in January 2012 as a result of CWD program budget reductions in FY2012.
Farmed/captive cervid CWD status
To date, 60 farmed/captive cervid herds have been identified in 13 states: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Forty were elk herds, 19 were whitetail deer (WTD) herds, and one was the red deer herd. At this time, 15 CWD positive herds remain – seven elk herds in Colorado, three elk herds in Nebraska, three WTD herds in Iowa, one WTD herd in Pennsylvania, and one red deer herd in Minnesota.
On October 11, 2012, Pennsylvania reported a CWD positive three and one-half year old female white-tailed deer (WTD) in a farmed cervid herd in Adams County, Pennsylvania. NVSL conducted the confirmatory CWD testing and this represents the first report of CWD in PA. The index herd is
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
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under state quarantine, and an epidemiological investigation and trace outs are in progress to identify epidemiologically-linked premises in Pennsylvania and other states.
In July, 2012, Iowa reported a CWD positive six year old male WTD in a hunt facility in Davis County, Iowa that was sourced from a deer breeding farm under the same ownership in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. Trace outs identified several other premises that purchased deer from the index herd. CWD testing of the traced out animals has begun. To date, one CWD positive doe was identified in the source herd that had direct contact with the index animal, and four additional CWD positive deer (including two purchased deer) have been identified on separately owned premises.
In May 2012, Minnesota reported CWD in a two and one-half year old male red deer from a breeding farm in Ramsey County, Minnesota. This represents the first report of CWD in red deer (Cervus elaphus) in the United States. During the epidemiological investigation, 56 pen mates (cohorts) were tested and CWD was not detected in any of those animals. No point source of introduction yet has been determined. The herd remains under state imposed quarantine which is allowing for some animals to be transported directly to a slaughter facility. All slaughtered animals have been CWD tested and reported as ‘not detected’.
Wild Cervid surveillance
In FY2011, cooperative agreements were awarded to 46 State wildlife agencies (approximately $4.2 M) and 34 Native American Tribes (approximately $340,000). The Native American Fish and Wildlife Society received approximately $175,000 to support CWD outreach and education activities Cooperative agreement funds were eliminated in FY2012 due to federal budget reductions.
FY2010 funding supported surveillance in approximately 74,900 wild cervids in 46 cooperating States. Wild cervid CWD surveillance totals are pending for FY2011 due to seasonal surveillance activities and completion of final cooperative agreement reporting to APHIS. To date, approximately 60,890 wild cervids have been tested in fiscal year 2011.
Budget: Commodity Health Line Structure
In FY2011, APHIS received approximately $15.8 million in appropriated funding for the CWD Program. In the FY2012 budget, livestock commodities regulated by USDA were organized into ‘Commodity Health Line’ structures or groupings. APHIS’ Equine, Cervid and Small Ruminant (ECSR) Health line supports efforts to protect the health and thereby improve the quality and productivity of the equine, cervid and small ruminant industries. In FY2012 approximately $1.925 million of ECSR funding was allocated for CWD program activities to provide Federal oversight of the national CWD herd certification program (HCP). The President’s FY2013 budget proposes further funding reductions.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) rule: Clifford reported the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) wants an update and the rule will not preempt states.
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RESOLUTION NUMBER: 13 and 23 Combined – APPROVED
SOURCE: Committee on Wildlife Diseases Committee on Captive Wildlife and Alternative Livestock
SUBJECT MATTER: Funding for Indemnity of Chronic Wasting Disease- Positive or Exposed Animals BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Administrator is authorized to pay for the purchase and destruction of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) positive animals, CWD exposed animals, and CWD suspect animals (9 CFR 55.2). Subject to available funding, the amount of the Federal payment for any such animals will be 95 percent of the appraised value established in accordance with 55.3 of this part, but the Federal payment shall not exceed $3,000.00 per animal. In the past, the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services has provided funding to pay for the purchase of farmed cervids that tested positive for CWD, were exposed to CWD positive animals, or were suspect animals, in order to mitigate the risk of the spread of CWD to other captive and wild cervids. Federal funding for this purpose is no longer available and farmed cervidae producers are no longer indemnified for the destruction of their animals. Without federal funding for the purchase of destroyed animals, producers will suffer considerable financial damages.
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RESOLUTION:
The United States Animal Health Association urges the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services to provide funding for a federal program to pay indemnity for animals euthanized because of infection or exposure to Chronic Wasting Disease.
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RESOLUTION NUMBER: 20– APPROVED
SOURCE: Committee on Captive Wildlife and Alternative Livestock
SUBJECT MATTER: Chronic Wasting Disease Control
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
It has been stated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services that
(1) the goal of the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) program in the United States has now changed from eradication to controlling its spread,
(2) there is no longer federal funding available to pay for CWD testing or to pay indemnity for CWD infected or exposed animals, and
(3) depopulation of infected herds will no longer be required or expected.
With this major change in objectives, it is critical that we change the way we implement the CWD program in the United States. We now need a program that minimizes the risk of spreading CWD in farmed and wild cervidae without putting farmed cervidae producers out of business!
