Challenges in managing the risks of chronic wasting disease

Abstract

This article summarises efforts at disease surveillance and risk management of chronic wasting disease (CWD). CWD is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of cervids and is considered to be one of the most contagious of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Evidence has demonstrated a strong species barrier to CWD for both human and farm animals other than cervids. CWD is now endemic in many US states and two Canadian provinces. Past management strategies of selective culling, herd reduction, and hunter surveillance have shown limited effectiveness. The initial strategy of disease eradication has been abandoned in favour of disease control. CWD continues to spread geographically in North American and risk management is complicated by the presence of the disease in both wild (free-ranging) and captive (farmed) cervid populations. The article concludes that further evaluation by risk managers is required for optimal, cost-effective strategies for aggressive disease control.

Population genomics of free‐ranging Great Plains white‐tailed and mule deer reflects a long history of interspecific hybridization

“…SNP genetic variability was lower in Kansas MD in comparison with a recent genetic assessment of MD in Wyoming (Lacava et al, 2021); however, this comparison should be used cautiously, given differences in sequencing methods. There that were an issue, but could also introduce pathogens, or minimally changes in susceptibility to existing pathogens (Leiss et al, 2017;Robinson et al, 2012). As such, a more thorough landscape genomics assessment is warranted (Blanchong et al, 2008(Blanchong et al, , 2016.…”

A behavioral economic assessment of the role of stakeholder preferences in managing an infectious wildlife disease

“…While several strategies and policies have exhibited some degree of efficacy over time to contain CWD in established epizootics, overall, they have generally failed to garner widespread support or participation (Heberlein 2004, Leiss et al 2017, Mysterud et al 2019, Christensen et al 2020). Examples include the low uptake of hunter‐dependent policies in Wisconsin following the 2002 discovery of CWD and the substantial proportion of New York hunters who act contrary to agency recommendations on CWD best management practices (Heberlein 2004, Siemer et al 2020).…”

“…Current evidence indicates that CWD is not a biological threat to humans and traditional livestock species, though the species barrier in some animals has been shown to be vulnerable (Belay et al 2004, Pritzkow et al 2022). Public knowledge of CWD is low, with one survey finding less than a quarter of U.S. respondents indicating awareness of the disease in 2010 and a recent Canadian survey finding public awareness and knowledge of CWD has declined over time (Leiss et al 2017, Muringai and Goddard 2018, Adamowicz et al 2021). Among those familiar with CWD and its documented risks, more than a third of Wisconsin deer hunters had concerns about contracting an illness from CWD in 2003 (Petchenik 2003).…”

Spatial population genetics in heavily managed species: Separating patterns of historical translocation from contemporary gene flow in white‐tailed deer

“…Currently (as of January 2021), the distribution of the disease in Arkansas is limited to a block of counties in the northwest section of the state (Figure 1). Thus, efforts to contain and mitigate its spread are paramount for wildlife management, not only in North America, but also globally (Leiss et al, 2017).…”