Surveys for Disease Agents in Introduced Elk in Arkansas and Kentucky

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Surveys for disease agents were conducted in introduced free-ranging elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) in Arkansas and Kentucky. Elk had been captured in Colorado and Nebraska and released in Arkansas during [1981][1982][1983][1984][1985]. From 1997 through 2002 elk were captured in Arizona, Kansas, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah and released in southeastern Kentucky. Specimens were collected from 170 hunter-killed elk in Arkansas during 1998 , and 44 elk in Kentucky during 2001. Significant findings included isolation of Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis from one elk in Kentucky and evidence of previous or current infections by Parelaphostrongylus tenuis in several animals in Arkansas. Serological tests provided evidence of previous infection by epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus, bluetongue virus, bovine viral diarrhea virus, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, parainfluenza-3 virus, and multiple serovars of Leptospira interrogans. Mycobacterium bovis, Brucella abortus, chronic wasting disease (CWD), and hemoparasites such as Anaplasma spp. were not detected. Results from elk obtained through these surveys were consistent with exposure to disease agents endemic in livestock and wildlife in Arkansas and Kentucky.

Cerebrospinal fluid eosinophilia is a sensitive and specific test for the diagnosis ofParelaphostrongylus tenuisin camelids in the northeastern United States

“…Experimental and natural infection with P. tenuis also occurs in sheep, 1,21,35 goats, 16,23,27 cattle, 11,28 reindeer, 30 caribou, 2 antelope, 31 fallow deer, 22,36 sika deer, 14 moose, 15 bison, 45 wapiti, 32 and elk. 6,8 Aberrant migration of P. tenuis in horses causes verminous encephalitis, scoliosis, and intraocular infection. 37,40,41,43 The lifecycle of P. tenuis within definitive and aberrant hosts has been described.…”

Mortality, Survival, and Serologic Results for Elk (Cervus Canadensis) in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee, Usa

“…Other health surveillance indicated that NCWMA elk may have co-infections. The detection of antibodies to MAP, the causative agent of Johne's disease, in four elk using the Zoetis SERELISA, and in six elk including the further two suspects using the EVELISA (Eda et al 2006) is important because there is limited evidence of MAP establishment within an eastern elk population (Corn et al 2010). Interestingly, clinical signs of Johne's disease and P. tenuis infections are similar, requiring additional testing during necropsy.…”

An assessment of Zoonotic and Production Limiting Pathogens in Rusa Deer (Cervus timorensis rusa) from Mauritius

“…BTB is a major disease of deer species in the wild (Gortazar et al., ; Corn et al., ) and in captivity (De Lisle et al., ; Mackintosh et al., ; O'Brien et al., ). In Mauritius, the circulation of BTB was described 30 years ago in bovine herds (Jaumally and Sibartie, ).…”

“…paratuberculosis (MAP), is not common in free‐ranging deer and is only found occasionally in areas with significant numbers of domestic ruminants (Balseiro et al., ; Nebbia et al., ;.). Nevertheless, the disease is considered the most economically important infectious disease in deer species reared for venison worldwide (Woodbury et al., ; Corn et al., ; Carta et al., ) and is a serious problem in New Zealand (Mackintosh et al., ; Stringer et al., ; O'Brien et al., ).…”