TAHC Proposes Modifications to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) repeal and replace Section 40.5
TAHC Proposes Modifications to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) repeal and replace Section 40.5
PRESS RELEASE
February 20, 2013
For Immediate Release Contact: Leisa Fletcher Communications and Public
Relations Assistant (512) 719-0710 Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC)
TAHC Proposes Modifications to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), Fever Tick
and Swine Pseudorabies Rules
AUSTIN - The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) is accepting comments on
rules proposed at the January 15, 2013, Commission meeting. The proposals are to
amend Chapter 40, entitled "Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)", Chapter 41, entitled
"Fever Ticks", and Chapter 55, entitled "Swine". These rules are published in
the Texas Register with a comment period of 30 days. The comment period for
these proposals ends on Monday, March 4, 2013, at 5:00 p.m.
The proposed amendment to Chapter 40 "Chronic Wasting Disease" is to repeal
and replace Section 40.5 "Elk Testing Requirements" with a new Section 40.5
"Movement Requirements for CWD Susceptible Species". The purpose of this rule is
to revise the current surveillance requirements for intrastate movement of elk
to include red deer and Sika deer. The rule as proposed will require that these
susceptible species participate in the program and test 20% of all mortalities.
For this program, the test age is set at 16 months and resembles the program
administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's white-tail deer
breeder program.
snip...
The Texas Animal Health Commission (commission) proposes new §40.5,
concerning Movement Requirements for CWD Susceptible Species, in Chapter 40,
which is entitled “Chronic Wasting Disease”. The commission is also proposing
the repeal of the existing §40.5, concerning Testing Requirements for Elk. The
new section is for the purpose of revising the current surveillance requirements
for the state’s intrastate movement of elk to include exotic livestock, which
are susceptible to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
The commission has recently been addressing a number of different CWD
regulations and agency actions in response to a number of recent developments
involving CWD. The commission has adopted changes to the commission’s CWD
voluntary program in response to the federal program as discussed below. The
commission has also recently authorized the Executive Director to designate
areas of the state as being at a high risk for CWD based on disclosure of any
positive animals. This measure is in order to try and protect these animal
resources within the state.
The commission proposes to modify the current CWD program to include red
deer and Sika deer, and their hybrids, because of recent actions which have
classified them as being a susceptible species for CWD. The purpose of the
program was to establish testing surveillance for elk and now includes these
added species. Based on the inclusion of red deer and Sika deer and other
members of the cervid family as susceptible species, the commission is proposing
this new section to be applicable to all cervid species known to be susceptible
to CWD, excluding all mule deer, white-tailed deer, and native species under the
jurisdiction of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).
As background, all breeders of white-tailed deer, through the direction of
TPWD, participate in a CWD Monitoring program through either TPWD or the
Commission. Because of this participation the state of Texas has done a
significant amount of CWD surveillance testing of white-tailed deer without
disclosing any positive deer. Surveillance testing is a key, critical competent
to determine that if there is any disease present as well as helping to
establish a prevalence number for how many animal maybe affected. This also
helps to support our animal industries in having confidence in the health of
their animals and makes them more marketable. Failure to perform adequate
surveillance allows any disease to circulate unnoticed among animal host and
spread the disease creating a greater disease problem and a far more difficult
response task. In today’s current environment the mobility and transportation of
agricultural animals throughout the state and country has greatly increased
exposure to diseases and for the commission to not perform adequate disease
surveillance for a disease that has national concerns would be inappropriate.
Though the white-tailed deer population in Texas has had significant
surveillance, very few elk herds participated in a CWD monitoring program
providing very little elk CWD testing surveillance. This had been a noted
concern for a number of exotic livestock and deer associations because of the
inequity of this situation. In implementing the first elk identification
requirement in 2006 this was an issue of concern at that time but the commission
believed, that for now the most appropriate initial approach to CWD surveillance
in elk was through voluntary participation by owners of elk. The commission then
required elk to participate in surveillance for CWD and was in put in place in
2010.
However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) interim final rule
which modified the national CWD Herd Certification Program (HCP) to include red
deer and Sika has caused the agency to revisit this program. The USDA action
came after the first diagnosis of CWD in red deer. The commission announced in
June that red deer and Sika deer must meet the same entry requirements as other
cervid species such as elk and moose because they are considered “susceptible
species” for CWD. The new entry rules for red deer and Sika deer require they
originate from herds with at least five years of participation.
The commission has historically used a CWD task force of individuals that
have provided guidance, counsel and recommendations to the commission regarding
our CWD program. These members include members of Texas Deer Association (TDA),
Exotic Wildlife Association (EWA), Texas Wildlife Association (TWA), members of
the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL), USDA and TPWD along
with noted private veterinary practitioners and wildlife biologists. Both groups
have jointly convened three times in 2012 to discuss the various issues of
concern for the CWD with the positive animals disclosed in West Texas, the
changes to the CWD federal program and the need to modify the intrastate program
for the exotic susceptible species to make it a more successful and involved
surveillance program. Clearly all the changes denoted above have invoked serious
concern on protecting our cervid industries and all those that could be
affected. However, based on some of the concern raised by industries members,
the commission felt that there was a need to modify the testing requirements to
better encompass the various susceptible species but also to make sure that it
is more equitable in application. A criticism of the present version is the
belief that an animal must be sacrificed to comply. Unfortunately, with this
test being mortality based there is a hardship for producers particularly for
those who ranch a species that does not have a lot of test eligible mortalities,
such as red deer or Sika deer. As such, the commission is proposing this program
based on a percentage of mortalities. This mirrors what is being used as a
surveillance scale similar to what is being used by white-tailed breeders who
follow a CWD program through TPWD.
However, the critical part of such a program is some type of verifiable
inventory in which to base mortalities. This also means that we need to
establish some type of .verification system for establishing mortalities and the
commission would like to get the industry’s comments on how to make such a
system work. It is understood that the nature of some of the ranches is to
release these animals to large enclosed pastures and they are not handled in the
typical manner of livestock, but in order for the commission to develop an
effective surveillance program to protect this state and their industry, it is
necessary that these producers help partner with the agency to develop a
verifiable inventory.
Subsection (a) is made up of definitions specifically for this section
only. They include Captive CWD Susceptible Species, CWD Susceptible Species (FYI
- all mule deer, white-tailed deer, and native species under the jurisdiction of
the TPWD are excluded from this definition and application of this section),
Free Ranging CWD Susceptible Species, Premises, and Transport.
Subsection (b) provides the surveillance requirements. In order to
transport or move a CWD susceptible species live within the state the person
controlling the CWD susceptible species shall meet one of the following
requirements: they can test 20% percent of mortalities of all CWD susceptible
species, maintained on a premise or have status with the commission in a herd
certification program in accordance with the requirements of §40.3 of this
chapter (relating to Herd Status Plans for Cervidae) or be moved directly from
the premises where they were trapped or held to a recognized slaughter facility.
A recognized slaughter facility is a slaughter facility operated under the state
or federal meat inspection laws and regulations.
Subsection (c) describes premise identification and states that in order to
move a CWD Susceptible Species from or to a premise the location must obtain a
premises identification number (PIN).
Subsection (d) concerns inventory and provides that some type of annual
inventory shall be verified/accounted/certified by commission personnel along
with herd records that include a complete inventory of animals with documents
showing all test results for those animals that died and were tested. This is a
particular point of difficulty for the exotic species to manage because they do
not inventory and manage these animals in that manner. Generally, they are
released in a pasture situation but in order to have any type of successful
surveillance program based of mortalities there needs to be some way to account
or verify numbers which then authorizes movements. This is a particular area
where the commission is requesting comments from affected groups or individuals
that will help to create an adequate surveillance program based on how they
maintain their inventory.
Subsection (e) outlines identification requirements and provides that these
susceptible species moved or transported within the state shall be identified
with an official identification device.
Subsection (f) concerns testing requirements and provides an alternative to
the federal standard by being for animals that are 16 months of age or older.
This also would allow the samples to be collected by a state or federal animal
health official, an accredited veterinarian, or a Certified CWD Sample
Collector. Tissue samples maybe either the obex or a retropharyngeal lymph node
from each animal being tested.
Subsection (g) describes test reporting and subsection (h) describes
movement reporting requirements. A movement request for all CWD susceptible
species that are moved onto or off of premises shall be submitted to the
commission, either in hard copy on forms provided or authorized by the
commission, or an electronic copy.
Subsection (i) concerns record keeping which requires the buyer and seller
to maintain records for all CWD susceptible species transported within the state
or where there is a transfer of ownership, and provide those when requested by
the commission.
Subsection (j), inspection, states that in order to authorize movement, a
premise where CWD susceptible species are located may be inspected by the
commission or authorized agents of the commission.
Subsection (k) provides dealer requirements to address issues related to
brokers of the animals throughout the state and may maintain them at their
premise before relocating them to a designation premise.
FISCAL NOTE
Mr. Sami Chadli, Director for Administration and Finance, Texas Animal
Health Commission, has determined for the first five-year period the rules are
in effect, there will be no significant additional fiscal implications for state
or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the rules as we
will use already appropriated resources to service these programs and with the
fees that we assess for participation.in our herd certification program or for
inspection of their inventory verification. An Economic Impact Statement (EIS)
is required if the proposed rule has an adverse economic effect on micro
businesses. The agency has evaluated the requirements and determined that there
is an economic impact because the program establishes participation standards
that do create a cost to comply, but also provide a benefit to those that
participate. The purpose of the program is to provide standards and quality
assurance that animals moving intrastate have been monitored and can be deemed
low risk for having and potentially transporting a disease. Movement of animals
creates a higher risk of exposure and transmission of a disease and therefore,
merits required participation in a surveillance program because of the serious
negative impact to the affected industries in the state as well as to any area
where CWD is disclosed. The participation of CWD susceptible species, under the
commission, is to provide surveillance and reduce the risk of animals being
positive and exposing other animals. This program also equitably mirrors a
surveillance program for white-tailed deer as all white-tailed breeder
facilities within the state, at the direction of the TPWD, participate in a CWD
monitoring program through either TPWD or the Commission. The purpose of the
rules is to protect a very valuable resource in the wildlife cervids as well as
those that are under private ownership. The impact of CWD exposure in herds in
the state can greatly reduce the value of the animals causing a much greater
adverse economic impact to these industries and resources.
PUBLIC BENEFIT NOTE
Mr. Chadli, has also determined that for each year of the first five years
the rules are in effect, the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing
the rules will be that exotic livestock are included as susceptible species are
required to participate in a stronger surveillance system in order to create a
surveillance safety net with safeguards to prevent spread of CWD to another part
of the state or to a variety of herds.
LOCAL EMPLOYMENT IMPACT STATEMENT
In accordance with Texas Government Code §2001.022, this agency has
determined that the proposed rule will not impact local economies and,
therefore, did not file a request for a local employment impact statement with
the Texas Workforce Commission.
TAKINGS ASSESSMENT
The agency has determined that the proposed governmental action will not
affect private real property. The proposed rule is an activity related to the
handling of animals, including requirements for testing, movement, inspection,
identification, reporting of disease, and treatment, in accordance with 4 TAC
§59.7, and is, therefore, compliant with the Private Real Property Preservation
Act in Government Code, Chapter 2007.
REQUEST FOR COMMENT
Comments regarding the proposal may be submitted to Carol Pivonka, Texas
Animal Health Commission, 2105 Kramer Lane, Austin, Texas 78758, by fax at (512)
719-0721 or by e-mail at “comments@tahc.state.tx.us”.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY
The new section is proposed under the following statutory authority as
found in Texas Agriculture Code §161.0541. The section provides that the
commission by rule may establish a disease surveillance program for elk. Rules
adopted under this section must: (1) require each person who moves elk in this
state to have elk tested for chronic wasting disease or other diseases as
determined by the commission; (2) be designed to protect the health of the elk
population in this state; and (3) include provisions for testing,
identification, transportation, and inspection under the disease surveillance
program. The section also provides that a person commits an offense if the
person knowingly violates a rule adopted by the commission under this section.
Also, an offense under subsection (c) is a Class C misdemeanor unless it is
shown on the trial of the offense that the defendant has previously been
convicted of an offense under that subsection, in which event the offense is a
Class B misdemeanor.
The commission is also vested by statute, §161.041(a), with the requirement
to protect all livestock, domestic animals, and domestic fowl from disease. The
commission is authorized, by §161.041(b), to act to eradicate or control any
disease or agent of transmission for any disease that affects livestock. If the
commission determines that a disease listed in §161.041 of this code or an agent
of transmission of one of those diseases exists in a place in this state among
livestock, or that livestock are exposed to one of those diseases or an agent of
transmission of one of those diseases, the commission shall establish a
quarantine on the affected animals or on the affected place. That is found in
§161.061. As a control measure, the commission by rule may regulate the movement
of animals. The commission may restrict the intrastate movement of animals even
though the movement of the animals is unrestricted in interstate or
international commerce. The commission may require testing, vaccination, or
another epidemiologically sound procedure before or after animals are moved.
That is found in §161.054. An agent of the commission is entitled to stop and
inspect a shipment of animals or animal products being transported in this state
in order to determine if the shipment originated from a quarantined area or
herd; or determine if the shipment presents a danger to the public health or
livestock industry through insect infestation or through a communicable or
noncommunicable disease. That authority is found in §161.048. A person is
presumed to control the animal if the person is the owner or lessee of the pen,
pasture, or other place in which the animal is located and has control of that
place; or exercises care or control over the animal. That is under §161.002.
Section 161.007 provides that if a veterinarian employed by the commission
determines that a communicable disease exists among livestock, domestic animals,
or domestic fowl or on certain premises or that livestock, domestic animals, or
domestic fowl have been exposed to the agency of transmission of a communicable
disease, the exposure or infection is considered to continue until the
commission determines that the exposure or infection has been eradicated through
methods prescribed by rule of the commission. Section 161.005 provides that the
commission may authorize the executive director or another employee to sign
written instruments on behalf of the commission. A written instrument, including
a quarantine or written notice, signed under that authority has the same force
and effect as if signed by the entire commission.
No other statutes, articles or codes are affected by the proposal.
40.5. Movement Requirements for CWD Susceptible Species.
(a) Definitions:
(1) Captive CWD Susceptible Species--A CWD susceptible species captured or
privately or publicly maintained or held within a perimeter fence or confined
area that is designed to retain the CWD susceptible species under normal
conditions at all times with a height of eight feet or greater.
(2) CWD Susceptible Species--A cervid species determined to be susceptible
to CWD, which means a species that has had a diagnosis of CWD confirmed by means
of an official test conducted by a laboratory approved by USDA/APHIS). This
includes North American elk or wapiti (Cervus Canadensis), red deer (Cervus
elaphus), Sika deer (Cervus Nippon), moose (Alces alces), and any associated
subspecies and hybrids. All mule deer and white-tailed deer and native species
under the jurisdiction of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are excluded
from this definition and application of this section.
(3) Free Ranging CWD Susceptible Species--Any CWD susceptible species that
is not captured or contained within a fence intended to retain CWD susceptible
species under normal conditions at all times with a height of eight feet or
greater.
(4) Premises--A physical location(s) which is contiguous, that is under
common ownership or management, and represent a unique and describable
geographic location.
(5) Transport--Movement of an animal from one non-contiguous property or
premises to another.
(b) Surveillance Requirements. In order to transport or move a CWD
susceptible species live within the state the person controlling the CWD
susceptible species shall meet one of the following:
(1) test 20% percent of mortalities of all CWD susceptible species,
maintained on a premise; or
(2) have status with the Commission in a herd certification program in
accordance with the requirements of §40.3 of this chapter (relating to Herd
Status Plans for Cervidae); or
(3) be moved directly from the premises where they were trapped or held to
a recognized slaughter facility. A recognized slaughter facility is a slaughter
facility operated under the state or federal meat inspection laws and
regulations.
(c) Premise Identification. In order to move a CWD Susceptible Species from
or to a premise which has surveillance, as required under subsection (b) of this
section, the location must obtain a “Premises identification number (PIN)”. A
PIN means a unique official seven character alpha numeric identification code
issued under this chapter to identify a specific and unique premises. Separate
geographic physical locations that are under common ownership and management and
on which co-mingling of animals occurs may be registered as one premises.
(d) Inventory. An annual inventory shall be verified/accounted/certified by
TAHC personnel. The herd owner shall maintain herd records that include a
complete inventory of animals with documents showing all test results for those
animals that died and were tested.
(e) Identification Requirements. CWD susceptible species moved or
transported within the state shall be identified with an official identification
device, which may include an eartag that conforms to the USDA alphanumeric
national uniform ear tagging system, which is a visible and legible animal
identification number (AIN) or other identification methods approved by the
Commission, including a RFID Device.
(f) Testing Requirements. CWD test samples shall be collected and submitted
to an official laboratory for CWD diagnosis using a United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) validated test for animals that are 16 months of age or older
and from the same population as the CWD susceptible species being moved. Test
reporting shall be directed to the appropriate TAHC Regional Office. The samples
may be collected by a state or federal animal health official, an accredited
veterinarian, or a Certified CWD Sample Collector. Tissue samples maybe either
the obex or a retropharyngeal lymph node from each animal being tested.
(g) Test reporting. Test results shall be directed to the Commission by
either writing to Texas Animal Health Commission, c/o CWD Susceptible Species
Reporting, P.O. Box 12966, Austin, Texas 78711-2966; or by fax to (512)
719-0729; or by e-mail to CWD_movement@tahc.texas.gov.
(h) Movement Reporting Requirements. A movement request for all CWD
susceptible species that are moved onto or off of premises shall be submitted to
the Commission, either in hard copy on forms provided or authorized by the
Commission, or an electronic copy. The person moving the CWD susceptible species
must have documentation with the CWD susceptible species being moved to show
compliance with the requirements of this subsection. A copy of this
documentation must be provided to any market selling these species. Such report
shall be submitted within 48 hours of the movement. Movement reporting shall be
directed to the Commission by either writing to Texas Animal Health Commission,
c/o CWD Susceptible Species Reporting, P.O. Box 12966, Austin, Texas 78711-2966;
or by fax to (512) 719-0729; or by e-mail to CWD_movement@tahc.texas.gov. The
movement report shall include the following information:
(1) PIN for premises of origin;
(2) PIN for premises of the destination;
(3) Number of CWD susceptible species being moved;
(4) Official individual identification device number;
(5) Other official or unofficial identification numbers;
(6) Age/Gender; and
(7) Test results from the testing laboratory.
(i) Record Keeping. The buyer and seller must maintain records for all CWD
susceptible species transported within the state or where there is a transfer of
ownership, and provide those to Commission personnel upon request. Records
required to be kept under the provisions of this section shall be maintained for
not less than five years. The records shall include the following information:
(1) Owner's name;
(2) Location where the animal was sold or purchased;
(3) Official ID and/or Ranch tag (additional field for retag);
(4) Gender/age of animal;
(5) Source of animal (if purchased addition);
(6) Movement to other premises; and
(7) Disposition.
(j) Inspection. In order to authorize movement, a premise where CWD
susceptible species are located may be inspected by the Commission or authorized
agents of the Commission.
(k) Dealer Requirements. A dealer is a person engaged in the business of
buying or selling CWD susceptible species in commerce on the person’s own
account, as an employee or agent of a vendor, purchaser, or both, or on a
commission basis. To maintain separate herd status for the animals a dealer
sells, a dealer shall maintain separate herd facilities; separate water sources;
there shall be at least 30 feet between the perimeter fencing around separate
herds; and no commingling of animals may occur. Movement of animals between
herds must be recorded as if they were separately owned herds. A dealer shall
maintain records in accordance with this section.
Monday, February 11, 2013
TEXAS CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CWD Four New Positives Found in Trans
Pecos
can’t say I did not try and warn them. ...
2001 – 2004
*** IF you look at the area around the NM WSMR where the CWD cluster was
and where it borders TEXAS, that ecoregion is called Trans Pecos region. Seems
if my Geography and my Ciphering is correct ;-) that region only tested 55% of
it's goal. THE most important area on the MAP and they only test some 96
samples, this in an area that has found some 7 positive animals? NOW if we look
at the only other border where these deer from NM could cross the border into
TEXAS, this area is called the High Plains ecoregion, and again, we find that
the sampling for CWD was pathetic. HERE we find that only 9% of it's goal of CWD
sampling was met, only 16 samples were tested from some 175 that were suppose to
be sampled.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: CWD SURVEILLANCE SAMPLE SUBMISSIONS TEXAS ?
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2004 15:09:58 –0500
From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr." To: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Greetings List members,
as i stated in my previous email;
>> CWD has not been detected in Texas, >
> > SADLY, they have not tested enough from the total population to
> know if CWD is in Texas or not. time will tell though. IF they get
> serious about finding and documenting CWD in sufficient numbers
> here in TEXAS, sadly, i am afraid they will find it. ITs already
> at NM, Texas border, TSEs knows no borders. HOWEVER,
> with the recent finding of a CNS cow with high potential for BSE/TSE
> in TEXAS, with one high official over ruling another official that
wanted
> it tested, with the high official winning out and the damn thing going
> to render without being tested, head spinal cord and all. THIS weighs
> heavy on the credibility of any surveillance for any TSE in TEXAS,
> and speaks a great deal for the over all surveillance of TSE in the
> USA...TSS
SO, i thought i would just see where these Ecoregions were, and just how
the CWD testing was distributed. YOU would think that with the cluster of CWD
bordering TEXAS at the WPMR in NM, you would have thought this would be where
the major CWD testing samples were to have been taken? wrong! let's have a look
at the sample testing. here is map of CWD in NM WPMR bordering TEXAS;
NEW MEXICO 7 POSITIVE CWD WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE MAP
NEXT, let's have a look at the overall distribution of CWD in Free-Ranging
Cervids and see where the CWD cluster in NM WSMR borders TEXAS;
Current Distribution of Chronic Wasting Disease in Free-Ranging Cervids
NOW, the MAP of the Exoregion where the samples were taken to test for CWD;
CWD SURVEILLANCE SAMPLE SUBMISSIONS TEXAS
Ecoregions of TEXAS
***
*** IF you look at the area around the NM WSMR where the CWD cluster was
and where it borders TEXAS, that ecoregion is called Trans Pecos region. Seems
if my Geography and my Ciphering is correct ;-) that region only tested 55% of
it's goal. THE most important area on the MAP and they only test some 96
samples, this in an area that has found some 7 positive animals? NOW if we look
at the only other border where these deer from NM could cross the border into
TEXAS, this area is called the High Plains ecoregion, and again, we find that
the sampling for CWD was pathetic. HERE we find that only 9% of it's goal of CWD
sampling was met, only 16 samples were tested from some 175 that were suppose to
be sampled.
AS i said before;
> SADLY, they have not tested enough from the total population to
> know if CWD is in Texas or not.
BUT now, I will go one step further and state categorically that they are
not trying to find it. just the opposite it seems, they are waiting for CWD to
find them, as with BSE/TSE in cattle, and it will eventually...
TSS
snip...
2001 - 2002
Subject: Texas Borders Reopened for Importing Black-Tailed Deer & Elk
New Entry Regulations in Effect $ CWD TESTING STATISTICS ?
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2002 17:18:16 –0700
From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr."
Reply-To: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
To: BSE-L@uni-karlsruhe.de
######## Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy #########
NEWS RELEASE
Texas Animal Health Commission
Box l2966 * Austin, Texas 78711 * (800) 550-8242 * FAX (512) 719-0719
Linda Logan, DVM, PhD * Executive Director
For info, contact Carla Everett, information officer, at 1-800-550-8242,
ext. 710, or ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us
snip...
TEXAS OLD STATISTICS BELOW FOR PAST CWD TESTING;
Subject: CWD testing in Texas
Date: Sun, 25 Aug 2002 19:45:14 –0500
From: Kenneth Waldrup
To: flounder@wt.net
CC: mcoats@tahc.state.tx.us
Dear Dr. Singletary,
In Fiscal Year 2001, seven deer from Texas were tested by the National
Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) for CWD (5 fallow deer and 2 white-tailed
deer). In Fiscal Year 2002, seven elk from Texas were tested at NVSL (no deer).
During these two years, an additional six elk and one white-tailed deer were
tested at the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL). In Fiscal
Year 2002, four white-tailed deer (free-ranging clinical suspects) and at least
eight other white-tailed deer have been tested at TVMDL. One elk has been tested
at NVSL. All of these animals have been found negative for CWD. Dr. Jerry Cooke
of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department also has records of 601 clinically
ill white-tailed deer which were necropsied at Texas A&M during the late
1960's and early 1970's, and no spongiform encepalopathies were noted.
Thank you for your consideration.
Ken Waldrup, DVM, PhD Texas Animal Health Commission
========================
TEXAS CWD STATUS
Captive Cervids
There have been no reported CWD infections of captive elk or deer in Texas.
There is currently no mandatory surveillance program for susceptible cervids
kept on game farms, although, there has been voluntary surveillance since 1999,
which requires owners of participating herds to maintain an annual herd
inventory and submit samples for all mortalities of animals over 16 months of
age.
snip...
SO, i thought i would just see where these Ecoregions were, and just how
the CWD testing was distributed. YOU would think that with the cluster of CWD
bordering TEXAS at the WPMR in NM, you would have thought this would be where
the major CWD testing samples were to have been taken? wrong! let's have a look
at the sample testing. here is map of CWD in NM WPMR bordering TEXAS;
NEW MEXICO 7 POSITIVE CWD WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE MAP
snip...
can't say i did not try and warn them. ...TSS
Monday, February 11, 2013
TEXAS CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CWD Four New Positives Found in Trans
Pecos
Thursday, December 27, 2012
CWD TSE PRION, dr. deer, shooting pen type game farms and ranchers, Texas,
TAHC, Houston Chronicle, all silent about disease ?
Thursday, December 13, 2012
HUNTERS FEELING THE HEAT Houston Chronicle December 13, 2012 OUTDOORS not
talking about CWD in Texas
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
Chronic Wasting Disease CWD, Texas, Houston Chronicle Shannon Thomkins 1998
- 2012 what happened ???
Thursday, July 12, 2012
CWD aka MAD DEER, ELK DISEASE TEXAS HOUSTON CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 11,
2012
Friday, August 31, 2012
COMMITTEE ON CAPTIVE WILDLIFE AND ALTERNATIVE LIVESTOCK and CWD 2009-2012 a
review
Tuesday, June 05, 2012
Captive Deer Breeding Legislation Overwhelmingly Defeated During 2012
Legislative Session
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
*** A Growing Threat How deer breeding could put public trust wildlife at
risk
Friday, February 08, 2013
*** Behavior of Prions in the Environment: Implications for Prion
Biology
Friday, November 09, 2012
*** Chronic Wasting Disease CWD in cervidae and transmission to other
species
Sunday, November 11, 2012
*** Susceptibilities of Nonhuman Primates to Chronic Wasting Disease
November 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
Susceptibility Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in wild cervids to Humans 2005
- December 14, 2012
Friday, February 15, 2013
PENNSYLVANIA CWD UPDATE 9 FARMS ARE STILL UNDER QUARANTINE
Thursday, May 31, 2012
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CWD PRION2012 Aerosol, Inhalation transmission,
Scrapie, cats, species barrier, burial, and more
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Chronic Wasting Disease Detected in Far West Texas
Saturday, July 07, 2012
TEXAS Animal Health Commission Accepting Comments on Chronic Wasting
Disease Rule Proposal
Considering the seemingly high CWD prevalence rate in the Sacramento and
Hueco Mountains of New Mexico, CWD may be well established in the population and
in the environment in Texas at this time.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Dr. James C. Kroll Texas deer czar final report on Wisconsin
Friday, June 01, 2012
*** TEXAS DEER CZAR TO WISCONSIN ASK TO EXPLAIN COMMENTS
Thursday, March 29, 2012
TEXAS DEER CZAR SAYS WISCONSIN DNR NOT DOING ENOUGH ABOUT CWD LIKE POT
CALLING KETTLE BLACK
2011 – 2012
Friday, October 28, 2011
CWD Herd Monitoring Program to be Enforced Jan. 2012 TEXAS
Greetings TAHC et al,
A kind greetings from Bacliff, Texas.
In reply to ;
Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) Announcement October 27, 2011
I kindly submit the following ;
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
TAHC Modifies Entry Requirements Effective Immediately for Cervids DUE TO
CWD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 26, 2012
Texas Prepares for Chronic Wasting Disease CWD Possibility in Far West
Texas
Monday, March 26, 2012
3 CASES OF CWD FOUND NEW MEXICO MULE DEER SEVERAL MILS FROM TEXAS BORDER
Saturday, June 09, 2012
USDA Establishes a Herd Certification Program for Chronic Wasting Disease
in the United States
LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOURNAL
Volume 3, Number 8 01 August 2003
Previous
Next
Newsdesk
Tracking spongiform encephalopathies in North America
Xavier Bosch
My name is Terry S Singeltary Sr, and I live in Bacliff, Texas. I lost my
mom to hvCJD (Heidenhain variant CJD) and have been searching for answers ever
since. What I have found is that we have not been told the truth. CWD in deer
and elk is a small portion of a much bigger problem.
49-year-old Singeltary is one of a number of people who have remained
largely unsatisfied after being told that a close relative died from a rapidly
progressive dementia compatible with spontaneous Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
(CJD). So he decided to gather hundreds of documents on transmissible spongiform
encephalopathies (TSE) and realised that if Britons could get variant CJD from
bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), Americans might get a similar disorder
from chronic wasting disease (CWD)the relative of mad cow disease seen among
deer and elk in the USA. Although his feverish search did not lead him to the
smoking gun linking CWD to a similar disease in North American people, it did
uncover a largely disappointing situation.
Singeltary was greatly demoralised at the few attempts to monitor the
occurrence of CJD and CWD in the USA. Only a few states have made CJD
reportable. Human and animal TSEs should be reportable nationwide and
internationally, he complained in a letter to the Journal of the American
Medical Association (JAMA 2003; 285: 733). I hope that the CDC does not continue
to expect us to still believe that the 85% plus of all CJD cases which are
sporadic are all spontaneous, without route or source.
Until recently, CWD was thought to be confined to the wild in a small
region in Colorado. But since early 2002, it has been reported in other areas,
including Wisconsin, South Dakota, and the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.
Indeed, the occurrence of CWD in states that were not endemic previously
increased concern about a widespread outbreak and possible transmission to
people and cattle.
To date, experimental studies have proven that the CWD agent can be
transmitted to cattle by intracerebral inoculation and that it can cross the
mucous membranes of the digestive tract to initiate infection in lymphoid tissue
before invasion of the central nervous system. Yet the plausibility of CWD
spreading to people has remained elusive.
Getting data on TSEs in the USA from the government is like pulling teeth,
Singeltary argues. You get it when they want you to have it, and only what they
want you to have.
SNIP...FULL TEXT ;
now, a few things to ponder about those said double fences that will
supposedly stop those deer from escaping.
what about water that drains from any of these game farms. surrounding
water tables etc., are the double fences going to stop the water from becoming
contaminated? where does it drain? who's drinking it?
Detection of Protease-Resistant Prion Protein in Water from a CWD-Endemic
Area
65
Tracy A. Nichols*1,2, Bruce Pulford1, Christy Wyckoff1,2, Crystal
Meyerett1, Brady Michel1, Kevin Gertig3, Jean E. Jewell4, Glenn C. Telling5 and
M.D. Zabel1 1Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of
Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort
Collins, CO 80523, USA 2National Wildlife Research Center, Wildlife Services,
United States Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521, USA
3Fort Collins Water and Treatment Operations, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521, USA
4 Department of Veterinary Sciences, Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory,
University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, 82070, USA 5Department of Microbiology,
Immunology, Molecular Genetics and Neurology, Sanders Brown Center on Aging,
University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, 40536, USA * Corresponding author-
tracy.a.nichols@aphis.usda.gov
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is the only known transmissible spongiform
encephalopathy affecting free-ranging wildlife. Experimental and epidemiological
data indicate that CWD can be transmitted horizontally and via blood and saliva,
although the exact mode of natural transmission remains unknown. Substantial
evidence suggests that prions can persist in the environment, implicating it as
a potential prion reservoir and transmission vehicle. CWD- positive animals can
contribute to environmental prion load via biological materials including
saliva, blood, urine and feces, shedding several times their body weight in
possibly infectious excreta in their lifetime, as well as through decomposing
carcasses. Sensitivity limitations of conventional assays hamper evaluation of
environmental prion loads in water. Here we show the ability of serial protein
misfolding cyclic amplification (sPMCA) to amplify minute amounts of CWD prions
in spiked water samples at a 1:1 x106 , and protease-resistant prions in
environmental and municipal-processing water samples from a CWD endemic area.
Detection of CWD prions correlated with increased total organic carbon in water
runoff from melting winter snowpack. These data suggest prolonged persistence
and accumulation of prions in the environment that may promote CWD transmission.
snip...
The data presented here demonstrate that sPMCA can detect low levels of
PrPCWD in the environment, corroborate previous biological and experimental data
suggesting long term persistence of prions in the environment2,3 and imply that
PrPCWD accumulation over time may contribute to transmission of CWD in areas
where it has been endemic for decades. This work demonstrates the utility of
sPMCA to evaluate other environmental water sources for PrPCWD, including
smaller bodies of water such as vernal pools and wallows, where large numbers of
cervids congregate and into which prions from infected animals may be shed and
concentrated to infectious levels. snip...end...full text at ;
what about rodents there from? 4 American rodents are susceptible to CWD to
date. are those double fences going to stop these rodents from escaping these
game farms once becoming exposed to CWD?
Chronic Wasting Disease Susceptibility of Four North American Rodents
Chad J. Johnson1*, Jay R. Schneider2, Christopher J. Johnson2, Natalie A.
Mickelsen2, Julia A. Langenberg3, Philip N. Bochsler4, Delwyn P. Keane4, Daniel
J. Barr4, and Dennis M. Heisey2 1University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary
Medicine, Department of Comparative Biosciences, 1656 Linden Drive, Madison WI
53706, USA 2US Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, 6006
Schroeder Road, Madison WI 53711, USA 3Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources, 101 South Webster Street, Madison WI 53703, USA 4Wisconsin Veterinary
Diagnostic Lab, 445 Easterday Lane, Madison WI 53706, USA *Corresponding author
email: cjohnson@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu
We intracerebrally challenged four species of native North American rodents
that inhabit locations undergoing cervid chronic wasting disease (CWD)
epidemics. The species were: deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), white-footed
mice (P. leucopus), meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus), and red-backed voles
(Myodes gapperi). The inocula were prepared from the brains of hunter-harvested
white-tailed deer from Wisconsin that tested positive for CWD. Meadow voles
proved to be most susceptible, with a median incubation period of 272 days.
Immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of PrPd in the
brains of all challenged meadow voles. Subsequent passages in meadow voles lead
to a significant reduction in incubation period. The disease progression in
red-backed voles, which are very closely related to the European bank vole (M.
glareolus) which have been demonstrated to be sensitive to a number of TSEs, was
slower than in meadow voles with a median incubation period of 351 days. We
sequenced the meadow vole and red-backed vole Prnp genes and found three amino
acid (AA) differences outside of the signal and GPI anchor sequences. Of these
differences (T56-, G90S, S170N; read-backed vole:meadow vole), S170N is
particularly intriguing due its postulated involvement in "rigid loop" structure
and CWD susceptibility. Deer mice did not exhibit disease signs until nearly 1.5
years post-inoculation, but appear to be exhibiting a high degree of disease
penetrance. White-footed mice have an even longer incubation period but are also
showing high penetrance. Second passage experiments show significant shortening
of incubation periods. Meadow voles in particular appear to be interesting lab
models for CWD. These rodents scavenge carrion, and are an important food source
for many predator species. Furthermore, these rodents enter human and domestic
livestock food chains by accidental inclusion in grain and forage. Further
investigation of these species as potential hosts, bridge species, and
reservoirs of CWD is required.
please see ;
Oral.29: Susceptibility of Domestic Cats to CWD Infection
Amy Nalls, Nicholas J. Haley, Jeanette Hayes-Klug, Kelly Anderson, Davis M.
Seelig, Dan S. Bucy, Susan L. Kraft, Edward A. Hoover and Candace K. Mathiason†
Colorado State University; Fort Collins, CO USA†Presenting author; Email:
ckm@lamar.colostate.edu
Domestic and non-domestic cats have been shown to be susceptible to one
prion disease, feline spongiform encephalopathy (FSE), thought to be transmitted
through consumption of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) contaminated meat.
Because domestic and free ranging felids scavenge cervid carcasses, including
those in CWD affected areas, we evaluated the susceptibility of domestic cats to
CWD infection experimentally. Groups of n = 5 cats each were inoculated either
intracerebrally (IC) or orally (PO) with CWD deer brain homogenate. Between
40–43 months following IC inoculation, two cats developed mild but progressive
symptoms including weight loss, anorexia, polydipsia, patterned motor behaviors
and ataxia—ultimately mandating euthanasia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on
the brain of one of these animals (vs. two age-matched controls) performed just
before euthanasia revealed increased ventricular system volume, more prominent
sulci, and T2 hyperintensity deep in the white matter of the frontal hemisphere
and in cortical grey distributed through the brain, likely representing
inflammation or gliosis. PrPRES and widely distributed peri-neuronal vacuoles
were demonstrated in the brains of both animals by immunodetection assays. No
clinical signs of TSE have been detected in the remaining primary passage cats
after 80 months pi. Feline-adapted CWD was sub-passaged into groups (n=4 or 5)
of cats by IC, PO, and IP/SQ routes. Currently, at 22 months pi, all five IC
inoculated cats are demonstrating abnormal behavior including increasing
aggressiveness, pacing, and hyper responsiveness. Two of these cats have
developed rear limb ataxia. Although the limited data from this ongoing study
must be considered preliminary, they raise the potential for cervid-to-feline
transmission in nature. www.landesbioscience.com Prion
UPDATED CORRESPONDENCE FROM AUTHORS OF THIS STUDY I.E. COLBY, PRUSINER ET
AL, ABOUT MY CONCERNS OF THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THEIR FIGURES AND MY FIGURES OF
THE STUDIES ON CWD TRANSMISSION TO CATTLE ;
----- Original Message -----
From: David Colby
To: flounder9@verizon.net
Cc: stanley@XXXXXXXX
Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 8:25 AM
Subject: Re: FW: re-Prions David W. Colby1,* and Stanley B. Prusiner1,2 +
Author Affiliations
Dear Terry Singeltary,
Thank you for your correspondence regarding the review article Stanley
Prusiner and I recently wrote for Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives. Dr. Prusiner
asked that I reply to your message due to his busy schedule. We agree that the
transmission of CWD prions to beef livestock would be a troubling development
and assessing that risk is important. In our article, we cite a peer-reviewed
publication reporting confirmed cases of laboratory transmission based on
stringent criteria. The less stringent criteria for transmission described in
the abstract you refer to lead to the discrepancy between your numbers and ours
and thus the interpretation of the transmission rate. We stand by our assessment
of the literature--namely that the transmission rate of CWD to bovines appears
relatively low, but we recognize that even a low transmission rate could have
important implications for public health and we thank you for bringing attention
to this matter.
Warm Regards, David Colby
--
David Colby, PhDAssistant ProfessorDepartment of Chemical
EngineeringUniversity of Delaware
====================END...TSS==============
SNIP...SEE FULL TEXT ;
UPDATED DATA ON 2ND CWD STRAIN
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
CWD PRION CONGRESS SEPTEMBER 8-11 2010
Friday, December 14, 2012
Susceptibility of domestic cats to chronic wasting disease
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Experimental oral transmission of CWD to red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus):
early detection and late stage distribution of protease-resistant protein
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Experimental Oral Transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease to Reindeer
(Rangifer tarandus tarandus)
Monday, June 18, 2012
natural cases of CWD in eight Sika deer (Cervus nippon) and five Sika/red
deer crossbreeds captive Korea and Experimental oral transmission to red deer
(Cervus elaphus elaphus)
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Alberta’s first documented case of CWD in a moose was confirmed in January
2013
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
PENNSYLVANIA 2012 THE GREAT ESCAPE OF CWD INVESTIGATION MOVES INTO
LOUISIANA and INDIANA
Monday, February 04, 2013
CWD UPDATE DEER FARMS CAPTIVE SHOOTING PEN OWNERS Iowa SENATE FILE 59 BY
Senator Dick L. Dearden
just saying...
kind regards,
terry
posted by Terry S. Singeltary Sr. at
12:51 PM
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