U.S. Department of Agriculture Issues Declaration of Emergency for Chronic Wasting Disease –
…Therefore, in accordance with the provisions of the Act of September 25, 1981, as amended (7 U.S.C. 147b), I declare that there is an emergency that threatens the livestock industry of this country and hereby authorize the transfer and use of such funds as may be necessary from appropriations or other funds available to the agencies or corporations of the United States Department of Agriculture to establish a chronic wasting disease eradication program in the United States.
Effective Date: This declaration of emergency shall become effective September 21,2001.
Ann M. Veneman, Secretary of Agriculture.
http://www.healthresearchbooks.com/articles/mad_cow31.htm
http://www.aasrp.org/hot_topics/declaration_of_emergency_because.htm

RESEARCH:

Immunohistochemical diagnosis of chronic wasting disease in preclinically affected elk from a captive herd - Peters J, Miller JM, et.al. J Vet Diagn Invest 12{6}:579-82 2000 Nov
An immunohistochemical (IHC) method was used to test brain tissues from 17 elk in a captive herd in which chronic wasting disease (CWD) had previously occurred. The IHC technique detects the protease-resistant prion protein (PrP-res), which is considered a disease-specific marker for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE), regardless of the species affected. Of the 17 elk tested, 10 were positive by IHC. Only 2 of these 10 animals had shown clinical signs and histologic lesions of CWD, and an additional animal had histologic lesions only. The most consistently IHC-positive tissue was medulla oblongata, especially the obex. These results show that the PrP-res IHC test on brain tissue, specifically medulla oblongata at the obex, should be considered an essential component of any surveillance study intended to determine the incidence of CWD in captive or free-ranging cervids.
http://ae.inno-vet.com/articles/2001/1001/28.htm

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in unusually young patients who consumed venison - Belay ED, Gambetti P, Schonberger LB, Parchi P, Lyon DR, Capellari S, McQuiston JH, Bradley K, Dowdle G, Crutcher JM, Nichols CR. Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. Arch Neurol 2001 Oct;58(10):1673-8.
BACKGROUND: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans and chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer and elk occur in the United States. Recent reports of 3 unusually young patients with CJD who regularly consumed deer or elk meat created concern about the possible zoonotic transmission of CWD. OBJECTIVE: To examine the possible transmission of CWD to humans. PATIENTS: Three unusually young patients (aged 28, 28, and 30 years) with CJD in the United States during 1997-2000. METHODS: We reviewed medical records and interviewed family members and state wildlife and agriculture officials. Brain tissue samples were tested using histopathologic, immunohistochemical, immunoblot, or prion protein gene analyses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence or absence of established CJD risk factors, deer and elk hunting in CWD-endemic areas, and comparison of the evidence for the 3 patients with that of a zoonotic link between new variant CJD and bovine spongiform encephalopathy. RESULTS: None of the patients had established CJD risk factors or a history of travel to Europe. Two patients hunted game animals and 1 was a daughter of a hunter. Unlike patients with new variant CJD, the 3 patients did not have a unique neuropathologic manifestation, clinicopathologic homogeneity, uniformity in the codon 129 of the prion protein gene, or prion characteristics different from those of classic variants. CONCLUSIONS: Although the occurrence of 3 unusually young patients with CJD who consumed venison suggested a possible relationship with CWD, our follow-up investigation found no strong evidence for a causal link. Ongoing CJD surveillance remains important for continuing to assess the risk, if any, of CWD transmission to humans.


Health protocol for translocation of free-ranging elk – JL Corn , and VF Nettles. Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, J Wildl Dis 2001 Jul;37(3):413-26.
When considering an elk (Cervus elaphus) restoration program, wildlife managers must evaluate the positive and negative elements of translocation. We prepared this protocol to give an overview of health considerations associated with translocation of elk, with an emphasis on movement of free-ranging elk from western North America to the southeastern USA. We evaluated infectious agents and ectoparasites reported in elk from two perspectives. First, we made a qualitative estimate of the ability of the agent to be introduced and to become established. This was done using a selected set of epidemiologic factors. Second, if there was a good possibility that the organism could become established in the release area, the potential pathological consequences for elk and other wildlife, domestic animals, and humans were assessed via examination of the literature and consultation with other animal health specialists. The results of these evaluations were used to classify infectious agents and ectoparasites as low risk (n = 174), unknown risk (n = 10), and high risk (n = 9). We classified Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma ovis, Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, Pasteurella multocida serotype 3, Elaphostrongylus cervi, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Fascioloides magna, Echinococcus granulosus, Dermacentor albipictus, and Otobius megnini as unknown risks. High risk infectious agents and ectoparasites were the agent of chronic wasting disease, Brucella abortus, Mycobacterium bovis, Dermacentor andersoni, Ixodes pacificus, and Psoroptes sp. Parelaphostrongylus tennis, Elaeophora schneideri, and a Babesia sp. are parasites endemic in the southeastern USA that may present a "reverse risk" and adversely affect elk if released in some parts of the region. We developed a five-component protocol to reduce the risk of introduction of high risk infectious agents and ectoparasites that included: (1) evaluation of the health status of source populations, (2) quarantines, (3) physical examination and diagnostic testing, (4) restrictions on translocation of animals from certain geographic areas or populations, and (5) prophylactic treatment.

Prion diseases. U.S. gets tough against chronic wasting disease – M. Enserink. Science 2001 Nov 2;294(5544):978-9.


Affected States:

Coloradans Fear the Spread of a Kind of Mad Elk Disease - MINDY SINK, Oct 22
State officials here fear that some elk that may be infected with a fatal illness were sold to private ranches in as many as 15 states and could spread the disease to the wild elk and deer throughout the nation.
The state has confirmed six cases of chronic wasting disease, the elk and deer equivalent of mad cow disease.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/23/national/23ELK.html

Texas "Fences Out" Colorado Deer and Elk –
Texas animal health officials have shut the door on the importation of live elk and several species of deer from Colorado after cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal, degenerative brain disease of elk and deer, were confirmed earlier this fall in farmed elk herds in that state. CWD belongs to the family of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies or TSEs. Other similar, but unique diseases, include BSE, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, which affects cattle; and scrapie, a disease that can
affect sheep and goats.
"The TAHC issued the quarantine on the entire state of Colorado, prohibiting the entry into Texas of live elk, mule deer, white-tailed and black-tailed deer. The quarantine is to prevent exposure to CWD and will remain in effect until it is modified or rescinded by the 12-member TAHC commission. The restrictions do not include hunter-killed animals," said Dr. Linda Logan, Texas state veterinarian and head of the TAHC. Texas has not had a case of CWD, and we want to provide as much protection against this disease as possible, while maintaining safe marketing and movement opportunities."
http://www.fass.org/dasees/colorado.txt

Kansas Officials Discover Chronic Wasting Disease in Elk Herd –
Dec. 7--State officials have discovered the first Kansas case of chronic wasting disease in a captive elk herd near Anthony. Kansas Livestock Commissioner George Teagarden said the infected animal had been purchased from an elk ranch in Colorado.
"There is no evidence that this disease has crossed from one specie to another," he said. "This disease affects elk and deer. But it doesn't spread to cattle, sheep or goats from infected elk or deer."
The disease does spread from elk to deer and vice versa, however, creating concern that infection in captive elk herds could lead to infection in free-roaming deer, which often mingle with domestic elk herds.
http://hoovnews.hoovers.com/fp.asp?layout=query_displaynews&q=beef+or+cattle&so=&dc=&ro=&ed=&sd=&s=1&boldtext=beef+or+cattle&sym=&doc_id=NR200112071180.3_0ea30010beff51f5

Relative of Mad-Cow Disease Found in Kansas Elk - December 12
A pen-raised elk has tested positive for chronic wasting disease in Kansas, prompting a quarantine and concern that the mysterious ailment similar to mad-cow disease might spread to wild deer.
In addition, Nebraska officials said last week that four whitetail deer had tested positive for the disease in the northwest part of the state. They were confined on a commercial hunting ranch near a domestic elk herd with cases of chronic wasting.
http://hoovnews.hoovers.com/fp.asp?layout=query_displaynews&q=beef+or+cattl&so=&dc=&ro=&ed=&sd=&s=1&boldtext=beef+or+cattle&sym=&doc_id=NR200112121180.3_336f001c8db0998f

FACTS ABOUT CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE:

Chronic Wasting Disease - Veterinary Services, October 2001
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) of deer and elk. To date, this disease has been found only in cervids (members of the deer family) in North America. First recognized as a clinical "wasting" syndrome in 1967 in mule deer in a wildlife research facility in northern Colorado, it was identified as a TSE in 1978. CWD is typified by chronic weight loss leading to death. There is no known relationship between CWD and any other TSE of animals or people.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/pubs/fscwd.html


FACTS ABOUT CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE -
What is "chronic wasting disease?"
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) causes damage to portions of the brain of deer and elk. Animals affected with CWD show progressive loss of body condition, behavioral changes, excessive salivation, increased drinking and urination, depression and eventual death. Chronic wasting disease is always fatal for the afflicted animal.
http://www.state.sd.us/gfp/hunting/BigGame/CWD.htm

A Question and Answer Regarding CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE, CERVIDS - USA (COLORADO), SafetyAlerts -
http://www.safetyalerts.com/t/g/cwd.htm

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Colorado and Saskatchewan, Canada – 2001, Linda Moulton Howe.
Another infectious agent made headlines in North America in April 2001. That is the fatal prion brain destroyer known as "Chronic Wasting Disease," or CWD. The first case of chronic wasting disease confirmed in a wild mule deer was shot by a hunter last fall in Saskatchewan near the border of Alberta, Canada. Over the past four years, dozens of CWD cases have been confirmed in Saskatchewan's 19 captive game farms. About 3000 animals have been slaughtered there in an attempt to keep the dreaded disease from spreading. Elk are raised on the game farms for their meat and their antler velvet which is used in homeopathic remedies and to provide aphrodisiacs for Asia. But now even Korea has banned imports of elk antlers from Canada because of concerns about spreading chronic wasting disease.
http://www.earthfiles.com/earth231.htm

TECHNOLOGIES for TESTING:

Researchers Create Live Animal CWD Test – Darcy Maulsby
The first live animal test has been developed to detect chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer.
Developed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW), the CWD test has been used to sample tonsil tissue from live mule deer, reports the Environmental News Network (ENN). The test is also providing a new tool to help prevent the spread and reduce the prevalence of the disease in wild and captive deer herds.
http://www.agweb.com/news_show_news_article.asp?articleID=82502&newscat=GN