Cherrie
A. Nolden
Department of Wildlife
Ecology
University of
Wisconsin-Madison
Research
Project: Interspecies
transmission of CWD (link)
Background
Recent studies indicate that
chronic wasting disease (CWD)
may be transmitted to deer by direct contact, from fecal or urine
contamination, or through environmental contamination associated with carcasses
of infected deer. The potential for environmental contamination with CWD
provides a potential source for transmission to wildlife that share habitat
with white-tailed deer. Carcasses of deer will also be consumed by wildlife,
but little is known about the frequency and range of species that eat deer
carrion and could be exposed to CWD from an infected carcass. In Wisconsin, the
primary carrion consumers will likely include Eastern coyote (Canis latrans),
red fox (Vulpes vulpes),
common raccoon (Procyon lotor),
striped skunk (Mephitis
mephitis) and Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana).
Although these species may consume infected deer tissue, it is unknown whether
CWD can successfully cross the species barrier to infect these animals.
Objectives & Methods
This research is intended to
investigate the decomposition of deer carcasses, determine the types and number
of animals that consume deer carcasses, and evaluate the possibility of
interspecies transmission of CWD from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
carcasses to carrion consumers. We will identify the species that consume deer
carrion, as they are the most likely to encounter PrPCWD
from a deer that died of the disease, by using remotely triggered cameras
on deer carcasses (fawns or adults testing negative by immunohistochemistry
[IHC]) throughout the
CWD-affected region of Wisconsin.
Publications
Anderson,
J.L., J.K. Meece, J.J. Koziczkowski,
J. L. Clark, Jr, R.D. Radcliff, C.A. Nolden, M.D. Samuel, and J.L.E. Ellingson. 2007. Mycobacterium avium
subsp. paratuberculosis in
scavenging mammals in
Docherty,
D.E., M.D.
Presentations
Nolden, C.A., and M.D. Samuel. 2005. Potential for
interspecies transmission of chronic wasting disease. The Wildlife Society 12th
Annual Conference, Madison, Wisconsin, September.
Nolden, C.A., M.D. Samuel, and J. Aiken. 2005. Potential for exposure of
Wisconsin scavenging mammals to chronic wasting disease.
Poster. Second International Chronic Wasting Disease Symposium, Madison,
Wisconsin, July.
Nolden, C.A., M.D. Samuel, and J. M. Aiken. 2004. Interspecies transmission
of chronic wasting disease: Identification and testing of potentially affected
species. Wisconsin DNR CWD Research Meeting. Madison WI, March 24.