Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance in Maine
February 21, 2009
AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife continues to test white-tailed deer for Chronic Wasting Disease, an untreatable disease that causes irreversible brain damage that ultimately leads to death in affected animals.
IF&W wildlife biologists recently received test results from 791 white-tailed deer, mostly from the 2008 harvest, as well as one moose euthanized by the Maine Warden Service. All samples were negative.
“Keeping Chronic Wasting Disease out of Maine is critical to the health and productivity of our deer and moose herds,” said Wildlife Biologist Lee Kantar, whose specializes in deer and moose. “Chronic Wasting Disease has been found in many states and Canadian provinces, and is as close by as New York.”
If it emerges in Maine, CWD could reduce Maine’s deer population by lowering adult survival. Monitoring and control of CWD is extremely costly and would divert already scarce funding and staff resources away from other much-needed programs.
The threat of Chronic Wasting Disease entering Maine is real, and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has been vigilant about stopping that from happening by warning hunters about the risks and passing new regulations.
In 2008, two whole white-tailed deer carcasses, killed out-of-state, were brought into Maine illegally, according to Kantar. “Fortunately these deer tested negative for CWD,” Kantar said. “Since no state or province can claim to be free of CWD, it is critical to prevent this scenario. It also is why Maine has a tough law making it illegal for hunters who hunt or kill a deer, elk, moose or caribou in another state or province to transport any carcass parts that pose a risk of containing CWD prions into Maine.”
Hunters may return to Maine only with boned-out meet, hardened antlers (with or without skull caps), hides without the head portion, and finished taxidermy mounts. If still attached, skull caps must be cleaned and free of brain and other tissues. We ask that all sportsmen and women adhere to this and inform others about the importance of this rule.
It is legal for individuals to transport cervid carcasses or parts through the state of Maine if they are destined for other states, provinces, and countries. Transportation is to occur without undue delay and must use the most reasonably direct route through Maine to the final destination. Cervid carcasses or parts must be transported in a manner that is both leak-proof and that prevents their exposure to the environment.
If a hunter plans to hunt deer, moose, elk or caribou in a state or province known or suspected to harbor CWD, there are some commonsense precautions he/she should take to avoid handling, transporting or consuming potential CWD-infected specimens. For more information on these precautions or CWD, visit the IF&W website at www.mefishwildlife.com.
Chronic Wasting Disease is one of a group of diseases known as Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs). Other TSEs include Scrapie in sheep, Mad Cow in cattle, and Creuzfeldt Jacob Disease in humans.
Chronic Wasting Disease is known to occur in mule deer, elk, and white-tailed deer. Other cervids such as red deer, fallow deer and sika deer, as well as moose and caribou, also may be susceptible. CWD is thought to be caused by an infectious protein called a prion that upon entering the body causes the host’s normal proteins to take on a diseased form. These prions accumulate in the brain and spinal cords, as well as lymph nodes, spleen, eye tissues, bone marrow, saliva, feces and urine in diseased deer.
Posted by Tom Remington
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