Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was diagnosed in a 3 year old captive white-tailed deer in Michigan in 2008 and in a free-ranging hunter harvested mule deer in North Dakota in 2009. Those events resulted in heightened surveillance activities for CWD in captive and free-living cervids in Michigan and in North Dakota. Samples from approximately 1,800 hunter harvested free-ranging deer and elk from Michigan and North Dakota were tested for CWD using ELISA during calendar year 2010, and over 13,000 samples have been tested from 2008 through 2010. The ELISA testing method was used to allow short turn around time from receipt of samples to final report of results to hunters. Prompt dissemination of results facilitated collection of data by State Departments charged with oversight of fisheries and wildlife in both Michigan and North Dakota, and expedited final processing of meat for hunters. Instruction in the ELISA testing processes for CWD, sample preparation, and hazardous waste disposal was provide to seven students enrolled in the Veterinary Technology program at Michigan State University. PARTICIPANTS: Participant in this project since inception at Michigan State University - Steven R. Bolin (PD) Partner Organizations - Michigan Department of Natural Resources, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health at Michigan State University, College of Veterinary Medicine and Michigan State University Collaborators and Contacts - Michigan Department of Natural Resources personnel including Steven Schmitt, Dan O'Brien, Tom Cooley; and Dan Grove of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The continued diagnostic work with Chronic Wasting disease (CWD) has allowed further development of diagnostic skills and wildlife disease awareness for six laboratory technicians at the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health. Thus, the knowledge and skill sets of valuable human resources have been improved and augmented. In addition, the activities associated with surveillance for CWD in two states has forged new collaborations that likely will benefit the management of wildlife ecosystems and the people of both States.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Diagnostic assays for chronic wasting disease of deer were performed on over 1,700 samples submitted from hunter harvested deer in 2009. In 2009, a modified assay that became available in September was compared with an existing assay. The modified assay proved equivalent in specificity and an improvement of the existing assay in terms of labor required. The results from all assays conducted were disseminated to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and to individual hunters by Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The testing process was demonstrated to administrative members of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. PARTICIPANTS: Steven R. Bolin, PI Lisa Niemiec, technical support for diagnostic assays Steve Schmitt, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, collaborator TARGET AUDIENCES: State of Michigan government regulatory and tourism agencies Deer Hunters USDA PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
All diagnostic assays performed were negative, which allowed the State of Michigan to retain its chronic wasting disease free status. This status is important for the State, as deer hunting is a major recreational activity and is economically important for generation of revenue through sale of hunting licenses and sale of accommodations for hunters.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was diagnosed in a 3 year old captive white-tailed deer in Michigan in 2008. That event resulted in heightened surveillance activities for CWD in both captive and free-living cervids in Michigan. Approximately 8,000 hunter harvested free-living deer and elk from Michigan were tested for CWD using ELISA during 2008. An additional 6 hunter harvested illegally transported deer from Wyoming and Illinois also were tested. All tests to date for hunter harvested deer and elk have been negative. Over 3,200 captive cervids were tested for CWD during 2008 and all but 1 animal tested negative. Immunohistochemistry was the test used on all captive cervids; however, the ELISA for CWD was performed in parallel on over 100 high risk captive cervids. This duplicate testing was done to provide same day diagnostic results (ELISA) to better utilize limited numbers of field personnel for 24 hour observation of quarantined facilities. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Testing high risk captive cervids by both immunohistochemistry and ELISA satisfied the need for compliance with USDA regulations for testing captive cervids for CWD and allowed, through use of the more rapid ELISA, efficient use of limit field personnel to enforce quarantines.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Surveillance for chronic wasting disease in hunter harvested wild cervids (deer, elk and moose) and in high risk targeted wild cervids showing signs of wasting or neurological disease continued through 2007. Samples of retropharyngeal lymph node from approximately 1,600 wild cervids were tested for chronic wasting disease prion protein using ELISA approved by the USDA. All counties in Michigan were represented by the cervids tested and the prion protein associated with chronic wasting disease was not detected in any sample. The laboratory also participated in post mortem testing of captive cervids and sheep, using the immunohistochemical staining procedure to detect the prion proteins associated that induce transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in the various species. The captive cervids were from Michigan and all were negative for chronic wasting disease. The sheep were from various states and a small number of positive samples were identified and reported to USDA.
PARTICIPANTS: Participants - Steven R. Bolin. Partner organizations - Michigan Department of Agriculture, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health at Michigan State University.
TARGET AUDIENCES: Hunters (in-state and out-of-state) that harvest deer in Michigan. Cervid producers that raise animals for agricultural purposes. Regulatory agencies within Michigan. Federal regulatory agencies and regulatory agenices of other states that border Michigan or trade captive cervids with Michigan.
PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No modifications were made in the project.
Impacts
The surveillance program for chronic wasting disease has been in place for over 5 years and has failed to identify that disease in wild or captive cervids in Michigan. This negative finding has had a positive effect on the confidence of hunters that the cervid population in the state is free from chronic wasting disease. The surveillance program is cooperative and includes personnel from state agencies as well as personnel from Michigan State University. The success of this cooperative effort has benefited several other cooperative projects involving disease in wildlife that could have an impact on public health or the health of domestic animals.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Surveillance for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) in wild cervids (elk, moose, and white-tailed deer) in Michigan was continued in 2006. Over 1,900 hunter harvested animals, or public reported diseased animals, were tested for the abnormal prion protein associated with TSE in cervids. The testing method was Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The assays were done using processed lymph node tissue harvested from heads of cervids submitted by hunters. Evidence of TSE in the three species of wild cervids in Michigan was not detected by ELISA. Survey of captive cervids, using immunohistochemistry to detect abnormal prion protein, also failed to detect TSE in Michigan. Efforts continued on adapting for use in tissue from wild cervids other diagnostic methods that have proven of value for detection of TSE in other species.
Impacts
The continued surveillance for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in Michigan has provided some measure of assurance to hunters in the state that native popultions of wild cervids are free of this disease. The impact of this effort has been the continued sale of large numbers of in-state and out-of-state hunting licenses, as well as continued hunter assisted control of wild cervid populations.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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