Conservation Corner: August 5, 2002

Chronic Wasting Disease In Whitetail Deer
by James L. Cummins

If you don't think this is serious, just ask a deer hunter in Southwest Wisconsin where the state is weeks into an effort to kill every deer (25,000) in that part of the state to halt a fatal outbreak of the Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD as it is sometimes called. CWD is one of a group of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). It is a relative of mad cow disease. It is caused by a little-understood protein known as "prion," which sets off a chain reaction in brain tissue, causing some of the brain's own proteins to change into an aberrant form. TSEs cause degeneration of the brain and is ultimately fatal to infected animals. Diseased animals will show changes in their normal behavior, exhibit excessive weight loss, salivation, stumbling and tremors. Cervids, which are members of the deer family and consist of whitetail deer, elk and red deer, are susceptible.

Experts say there is no scientific evidence that CWD can infect humans, but the World Health Organization advises people not to eat any part of a deer with the infection. Officials with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, the Mississippi Board of Animal Health and the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation are continuing efforts to monitor and begin proactive steps to prevent the occurrence of the disease. Currently, CWD has not been diagnosed in Mississippi but the primary potential for the disease being introduced into the Magnolia State is from infected cervids being brought into Mississippi.

According to Dr. Jim Watson, state veterinarian with the Mississippi Board of Animal Health, "It is crucial that Mississippi implement a plan that will monitor the state's free-ranging and captive cervid populations."

"Preparations are being made to develop a CWD surveillance and monitoring plan for these cervids in Mississippi," State Whitetail Deer Coordinator Larry Castle said. Castle said that recently the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources banned all supplemental feeding and baiting of deer as a preventive measure to control the further spread of CWD in Wisconsin.

As a result of the CWD issue, the Mississippi Board of Animal Health has enacted an emergency ruling that imposes a moratorium on the importation and intra-state movement of all deer and elk. This emergency rule will be in effect for 120 days after which agriculture and wildlife officials will prepare to enact a joint state CWD monitoring and response plan.

CWD has also been found in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, New Mexico and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.