Post by Bobcat on Feb 15, 2004 4:41:25 GMT -5
One New Case of CWD Confirmed
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
2/13/04
One more deer has tested positive for chronic wasting disease, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in New Mexico to seven deer.
Colorado Veterinary Services sent confirmation of the disease to the Department of Game and Fish Feb. 2 after testing a sample from a dead female deer found at White Sands Missile Range.
"I noticed the deer was very emaciated with obvious protruding ribs and vertebrae," said Doug Burkett of BAE Systems, the environmental contractor for the missile range.
Tissue samples from the doe were collected Nov. 14, 2003 and sent to the Department of Game and Fish. The samples were forwarded mid-January to Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab for testing.
"This case was not earth-shattering, we were expecting it," said Kerry Mower, wildlife disease specialist for the Department. "Of our seven total positive samples, two came from hunters in the Organ Mountains and the rest from the post area of White Sands Missile Range."
All positive samples have been found in deer, but elk, oryx and bighorn sheep are being tested as well. The Department of Game and Fish continues to monitor the status of chronic wasting disease in the state, focusing on the Organ Mountains, San Andres and White Sands Missile Range post, where the disease first was documented in 2001. A new cooperative research project began December 2003 in the Organ /San Andres mountain complex to determine movement patterns and the prevalence of chronic wasting disease, or CWD, in mule deer in that area.
"We darted 34 deer from helicopters and fit them with radio collars, took blood samples, tonsil biopsies and measured fat content," said Mower. "All samples from those animals have returned negative for CWD."
New Mexico Game and Fish is the only state agency currently using non-lethal tonsil biopsy as a CWD surveillance method.
The research cooperators include the Department of Game and Fish, White Sands Missile Range, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management. The research will attempt to determine limiting factors and risks posed by chronic wasting disease to the recovery of mule deer populations in that area.
Mower expressed concern about hunter participation in the sampling effort.
"Hunters have not participated this year like last year, we're not going to get anywhere near 700 samples from hunters like we did last year," he said.
Biologists collected 700 samples for testing in fiscal year 2003 - mostly deer and elk but some bighorn and oryx as well - but have collected only about 200 samples so far in fiscal year 2004.
"The decrease in hunter participation is bad for our surveillance efforts," said Mower, "But great for guys going into the incentive drawing because it helps their odds."
Hunters who provide heads from freshly-harvested deer or elk for CWD testing are automatically entered in an incentive draw for one Valle Vidal or one oryx license authorization. Detailed information about the incentive draw for the 2004-05 season is provided on page 14 of the 2004-05 Big Game Rules and Information Booklet, available at Game and Fish offices, 230 license vendors statewide and at www.state.nm.us.
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
2/13/04
One more deer has tested positive for chronic wasting disease, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in New Mexico to seven deer.
Colorado Veterinary Services sent confirmation of the disease to the Department of Game and Fish Feb. 2 after testing a sample from a dead female deer found at White Sands Missile Range.
"I noticed the deer was very emaciated with obvious protruding ribs and vertebrae," said Doug Burkett of BAE Systems, the environmental contractor for the missile range.
Tissue samples from the doe were collected Nov. 14, 2003 and sent to the Department of Game and Fish. The samples were forwarded mid-January to Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab for testing.
"This case was not earth-shattering, we were expecting it," said Kerry Mower, wildlife disease specialist for the Department. "Of our seven total positive samples, two came from hunters in the Organ Mountains and the rest from the post area of White Sands Missile Range."
All positive samples have been found in deer, but elk, oryx and bighorn sheep are being tested as well. The Department of Game and Fish continues to monitor the status of chronic wasting disease in the state, focusing on the Organ Mountains, San Andres and White Sands Missile Range post, where the disease first was documented in 2001. A new cooperative research project began December 2003 in the Organ /San Andres mountain complex to determine movement patterns and the prevalence of chronic wasting disease, or CWD, in mule deer in that area.
"We darted 34 deer from helicopters and fit them with radio collars, took blood samples, tonsil biopsies and measured fat content," said Mower. "All samples from those animals have returned negative for CWD."
New Mexico Game and Fish is the only state agency currently using non-lethal tonsil biopsy as a CWD surveillance method.
The research cooperators include the Department of Game and Fish, White Sands Missile Range, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management. The research will attempt to determine limiting factors and risks posed by chronic wasting disease to the recovery of mule deer populations in that area.
Mower expressed concern about hunter participation in the sampling effort.
"Hunters have not participated this year like last year, we're not going to get anywhere near 700 samples from hunters like we did last year," he said.
Biologists collected 700 samples for testing in fiscal year 2003 - mostly deer and elk but some bighorn and oryx as well - but have collected only about 200 samples so far in fiscal year 2004.
"The decrease in hunter participation is bad for our surveillance efforts," said Mower, "But great for guys going into the incentive drawing because it helps their odds."
Hunters who provide heads from freshly-harvested deer or elk for CWD testing are automatically entered in an incentive draw for one Valle Vidal or one oryx license authorization. Detailed information about the incentive draw for the 2004-05 season is provided on page 14 of the 2004-05 Big Game Rules and Information Booklet, available at Game and Fish offices, 230 license vendors statewide and at www.state.nm.us.
