Russell
Site Founder
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2009
- Messages
- 283
- Location
- Edmonton, Alberta CANADA
No Cases of Bovine TB, CWD Found in Wild Deer
INDIANAPOLIS (20 April 2012)—Recent testing of Indiana’s wild white-tailed deer population has found no cases of bovine tuberculosis. Testing for chronic wasting disease (CWD) also proves negative.
For the third consecutive year, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducted targeted surveillance for bovine tuberculosis (commonly called “TB,” or more formally known as Mycobacterium bovis) in specific areas of Southeastern Indiana. TB had previously been diagnosed in domestic cattle and elk in Franklin and Dearborn counties.
DNR and BOAH, as well as members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services and Veterinary Services, collected tissue samples from hunter-harvested deer during the opening weeks of last fall’s hunting season. All 366 samples collected yielded negative test results. This effort pushes the total number of free-ranging deer that have been tested over the last three years to more than 900. No positives have been found.
“This is good news for cattle producers and hunters in Southeastern Indiana. These test results provide more peace of mind that we have found no signs of a reservoir for disease in our wild population,” said Indiana State Veterinarian Bret D. Marsh, DVM. “We continue to stay vigilant in monitoring the cattle population for signs of disease and possible sources of infection.”
In an unrelated, but similar effort, tissue samples were collected statewide, as road kill or hunter-harvested submissions, to test for the presence of chronic wasting disease. No CWD was detected in the 869 animals tested this year.
The monitoring program, run by DNR and BOAH, began in 2002. Since then, more than 12,200 Indiana white-tailed deer have been tested, with no signs of the disease. While other states in the Midwest have had cases of CWD in wild and domestic cervids, Indiana has had no cases to date.
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About Bovine TB
Bovine tuberculosis is a chronic bacterial disease that affects primarily cattle, but can be transmitted to any warm-blooded animal. TB is difficult to diagnose through clinical signs alone. In the early stages of the disease, clinical signs are not visible. Later, signs may include: emaciation, lethargy, weakness, anorexia, low-grade fever and pneumonia with a chronic, moist cough. Lymph node enlargement may also be present. Cattle owners who notice these signs in their livestock should contact their private veterinarian.
Indiana has held a bovine tuberculosis-free status since 1984 with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, after a major disease eradication effort in the 1970s. Under federal guidelines, that status remains. In 2009, a Franklin County cervid herd tested positive for TB, and was ultimately depopulated. The disease was identified again in late 2010 on a Dearborn County beef operation, which was also depopulated.
More information about animal health and disease control programs is available on the BOAH website at: http://www.boah.in.gov.
INDIANAPOLIS (20 April 2012)—Recent testing of Indiana’s wild white-tailed deer population has found no cases of bovine tuberculosis. Testing for chronic wasting disease (CWD) also proves negative.
For the third consecutive year, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducted targeted surveillance for bovine tuberculosis (commonly called “TB,” or more formally known as Mycobacterium bovis) in specific areas of Southeastern Indiana. TB had previously been diagnosed in domestic cattle and elk in Franklin and Dearborn counties.
DNR and BOAH, as well as members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services and Veterinary Services, collected tissue samples from hunter-harvested deer during the opening weeks of last fall’s hunting season. All 366 samples collected yielded negative test results. This effort pushes the total number of free-ranging deer that have been tested over the last three years to more than 900. No positives have been found.
“This is good news for cattle producers and hunters in Southeastern Indiana. These test results provide more peace of mind that we have found no signs of a reservoir for disease in our wild population,” said Indiana State Veterinarian Bret D. Marsh, DVM. “We continue to stay vigilant in monitoring the cattle population for signs of disease and possible sources of infection.”
In an unrelated, but similar effort, tissue samples were collected statewide, as road kill or hunter-harvested submissions, to test for the presence of chronic wasting disease. No CWD was detected in the 869 animals tested this year.
The monitoring program, run by DNR and BOAH, began in 2002. Since then, more than 12,200 Indiana white-tailed deer have been tested, with no signs of the disease. While other states in the Midwest have had cases of CWD in wild and domestic cervids, Indiana has had no cases to date.
-30-
About Bovine TB
Bovine tuberculosis is a chronic bacterial disease that affects primarily cattle, but can be transmitted to any warm-blooded animal. TB is difficult to diagnose through clinical signs alone. In the early stages of the disease, clinical signs are not visible. Later, signs may include: emaciation, lethargy, weakness, anorexia, low-grade fever and pneumonia with a chronic, moist cough. Lymph node enlargement may also be present. Cattle owners who notice these signs in their livestock should contact their private veterinarian.
Indiana has held a bovine tuberculosis-free status since 1984 with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, after a major disease eradication effort in the 1970s. Under federal guidelines, that status remains. In 2009, a Franklin County cervid herd tested positive for TB, and was ultimately depopulated. The disease was identified again in late 2010 on a Dearborn County beef operation, which was also depopulated.
More information about animal health and disease control programs is available on the BOAH website at: http://www.boah.in.gov.
