Post by Terry S. Singeltary Sr. on Jun 27, 2023 10:48:31 GMT -6
USAHA Report of the Subcommittee on Farmed Cervidae CWD TSE Prion Herds 2015 to 2023
Reports
Report of the Subcommittee on Farmed Cervidae
Charly Seale, Co-chair
Additional co-chairs: Brett Marsh and Paul Anderson
The Subcommittee on Farmed Cervidae met on October 26, 2015.
The following committee members were present: Charly Seale (TX), Bret Marsh (IN), Paul Anderson (MN), Shawn Schafer (ND), Eric Mohlman (NE), John Fischer (GA), David Hunter (MT), Collin Gillin (OR), and Glen Zebarth (MN). Warren Bluntzer (TX) and Robert Meyer (WY) were not able to attend. There were a total of 80 people in attendance at the meeting.
Dr. Tracy A Nichols, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center Fort Collins, Colorado, presented on new information on Ante Mortem Testing for CWD.
Dr. Nathan Shotts, Veterinary Reproduction and Genetics PLLC, and Tom Van Kleef, Principal Advisor at VERGE, presented on the Verge surgical procedure for Ante Mortem CWD-Testing-Options and Implementation.
Dr. Walt Cook, Texas A&M University, presented the results of his research on drug residues in white tailed deer.
Dr. Alecia Naugle and Dr. Randy Pritchard, USDA-APHIS-Veterinary Services, presented on recent cases of CWD in the United States, issues surrounding the CWD Program Standards, protocols for dealing with CWD positive herds including trace forward and trace back, current status of developing an approved live test for CWD, and issues surrounding the use of the DPP tuberculosis test in cervidae.
Four resolutions were drafted, discussed, voted upon and passed out of the Subcommittee on Farmed Cervidae for subsequent consideration and possible action by the full USAHA Committee on Captive Wildlife and Alternative Livestock. These resolutions are as follows:
(1) Live Animal Testing For Chronic Wasting Disease,
(2) Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards - Guidance on Responding to CWD positive Herds,
(3) Chronic Wasting Disease Testing Protocol for Wild Cervidae,
(4) Tuberculosis testing protocol for farmed cervidae.
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ANNUAL UPDATE FOR THE CERVID HEALTH TEAM , Fiscal Year (FY) 2015
Dr. Randy Pritchard, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services
Voluntary Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Herd Certification Program
The APHIS National CWD Herd Certification Program (HCP) was implemented in 2014. It is a voluntary Federal-State-industry cooperative program administered by APHIS and implemented by participating States. The program provides uniform national herd certification standards that minimize the risk of spreading CWD in farmed cervid populations. Participating States and herd owners must comply with requirements for animal identification, fencing, recordkeeping, inspections/inventories, as well as animal mortality testing and response to any CWD-exposed, suspect, and positive herds. APHIS monitors the Approved State HCPs to ensure consistency with Federal standards through annual reporting by the States. With each year of successful surveillance, participating herds will advance in status until reaching five years with no evidence of CWD, at which time herds are certified as being low-risk for CWD. Only captive cervids from enrolled herds certified as low risk for CWD may move interstate. Currently, 30 States participate in the voluntary CWD Herd Certification Program; 29 have Approved HCPs and one has Provisional Approved status. VS is working with the remaining State to transition it to Approved status. FY2015 marks the second year that Approved States have submitted their CWD HCP annual reports to APHIS. APHIS is currently reviewing these reports.
Review of CWD Program Standards
The CWD Program Standards provide clarification and guidance on how to meet CWD Herd Certification Program and interstate movement requirements. VS committed to an annual review of the Program Standards by representatives of the cervid industry and appropriate State and Federal agencies. VS planned to perform a review in FY2015; however, this did not occur due to the response to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). VS expects to conduct a review in FY2016.
CWD in Farmed and Wild Cervids
Retrospective Epidemiology of CWD in Farmed Cervids: In response to a 2014 USAHA Resolution, VS asked States to include a retrospective summary of the epidemiology of all positive herds with their annual HCP reports for FY2015. Unfortunately, the response to HPAI delayed completion of this summary. Five States reported information to date. A few States indicated that they did not have the resources to devote to this request. VS will continue to gather this data and to collect more comprehensive data in the future.
Summary of CWD detections.
As of September 30, 2015, CWD has been confirmed in wild deer and elk in 21 U.S. States, and in farmed cervids in 16 States. In total, 23 States have identified CWD in wild and/or farmed cervids. CWD has been reported in 70 farmed cervid herds in the United States. Confirmation of the disease in 3 free-ranging, wild white-tailed deer in Michigan in 2015 marked the first report of CWD in the wild cervid population in this State.
FY2015 CWD Detections in Farmed Cervids: In FY2015, CWD was identified in eight farmed cervid herds: one white-tailed deer breeding herd in Pennsylvania, one elk breeding herd in Utah (traced back from a hunting facility in Utah), one white-tailed deer (WTD) breeding herd and one WTD hunting preserve in Ohio (owned by the same producer), two WTD breeding herds in Wisconsin, one WTD and elk herd in Texas, and a second WTD herd in Texas (traced from the first positive herd in Texas). The positive animals in Utah, Ohio, and Texas represented the first reported cases of CWD in captive cervids in all three of these States.
White-Tailed Deer Breeding Herd, Pennsylvania: On October 6, 2014, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed CWD in a 6-year-old doe from a captive WTD breeding facility in Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania. The doe was euthanized and tested because she was classified as a CWDexposed animal that had previously resided in two trace back exposed herds. This herd was assembled in 2013 through the purchase of 16 animals from other HCP-certified herds in Pennsylvania, and had been under quarantine for receiving exposed animals from a trace back exposed herd. The remaining herd of eight WTD was depopulated with Federal indemnity on February 18, 2015, and no additional positive animals were detected. USDA collected samples for research purposes.
Elk Breeding Herd, Utah: On December 23, 2014, NVSL confirmed CWD in 3-year-old captive elk. The elk had been at a hunting park located in northern Utah, where he had resided for approximately 3 weeks prior to being hunter killed. All hunter-killed animals at the hunt park are required to be tested for CWD, and this animal was sampled through routine surveillance. The elk was traced back to its herd of origin, and that facility was quarantined. The herd was assembled in 1999 with bulls, and later elk cows, that originated from Colorado. Historical testing records for the herd were unavailable. The remaining 70 elk were depopulated using Federal indemnity funds on March 3, 2015, and an additional 25 elk were confirmed as CWD-positive. USDA collected samples for research purposes.
White-Tailed Deer Hunting Preserve, Ohio: On October 22, 2014, NVSL confirmed CWD in a buck taken from a captive WTD deer hunting preserve in Ohio. This was the first time that CWD had been detected in Ohio. The preserve was tested as part of Ohio’s CWD monitoring program. The herd had been under quarantine since April 2014 because it was a trace-forward herd associated with a CWDexposed herd in Pennsylvania. The positive animal was traced to its herd of origin, a captive WTD breeding herd in Pennsylvania, through DNA identity testing. On November 26, 2014, the Ohio State Veterinarian issued an Order of Destruction for animals on the hunting preserve. The State executed this Order on April 27-30, 2015. The herd of 224 WTD was depopulated and no other positives were detected.
USDA did not provide Federal indemnity.
White-Tailed Deer Breeding Herd, Ohio: On March 31, 2015, NVSL confirmed CWD infection in a 5- year-old WTD doe from a captive breeding herd in Holmesville, Ohio. The index animal was received from a Wisconsin WTD farm in January 2013. The CWD-positive herd was owned by the same individual as the Ohio hunt preserve that was found to be CWD positive in October 2014. On May 22, 2015, NVSL confirmed a second positive case in the same herd -- a yearling WTD doe that was a natural addition in the same breeding herd. The herd had been under quarantine since April 1, 2014 due to epidemiological linkages with two WTD herds in Pennsylvania – one a positive herd and the other a traceback exposed herd. USDA provided Federal indemnity and depopulated this herd on June 15 and 16, 2015. USDA collected samples for research purposes. NVSL confirmed CWD in 16 additional animals in the herd. Of the 16 positives, one was natural addition and the rest were purchased additions. The positive animals were purchased from February 26, 2013 through September 24, 2013, except for one purchased in 2012. Eleven purchased additions traced-back to 3 herds in Pennsylvania and four purchased additions traced to three other herds in Ohio.
White-Tailed Deer Breeding Herd, Wisconsin: On October 6, 2014, NVSL confirmed CWD in a 2-yearold doe born in June of 2012 that died on a Richland County farm. The facility is within the CWD management zone in Wisconsin. The remaining 51 deer were euthanized on November 20, 2014, and seven additional positives (all males born in 2012) were found. Two of these 7 were purchased additions with the last added to the herd in January 2013. All sales from this herd were to shooting preserves. This premises was double fenced and had been compliant in a herd certification program for over 10 years. White-Tailed Deer Breeding Herd, Wisconsin: On June 19, 2015, NVSL confirmed CWD in a 7-yearold female WTD from a breeding facility in Eau Claire County. The doe was a natural addition to this breeding herd. This is the first positive CWD case, captive or wild, in this county. The doe was found dead and was showing no clinical signs of CWD at the time of death. Since 2003, this herd has tested 391 animals for CWD and all had “not detected” results. In addition, 317 animals have tested “not detected” from the associated hunting preserve over the same time period. A second positive natural addition doe from this herd was confirmed positive by NVSL on September 10, 2015. Several escape episodes have occurred from this herd. The herd is currently under quarantine and plans are underway for depopulation with State indemnity.
White-Tailed Deer and Elk Breeding Herd, Texas: On June 30, 2015, NVSL confirmed CWD in a 2- year-old WTD buck from a captive WTD and elk breeding herd in Medina County, Texas, approximately 500 miles from previously reported positive free-ranging mule deer in far West Texas. This was the first time that the disease had been detected in farmed cervids in the State. The index buck was born on the premises and found dead on June 18, 2015. Over 40 high-risk deer (i.e., pen mates, dam, others) were euthanized and tested after the index case was found. The NVSL confirmed CWD infection in two of those deer. Interestingly, all three of the positive deer identified to date on this premises have the same AI sire. However, the significance of this finding is unclear. In the past 5 years, records indicate that 130 WTD from 33 facilities moved into the positive herd and 838 WTD moved out of the positive herd to 147 different herds. One positive WTD was found in one of these trace-out herds (see herd description below). Additionally, 23 elk were also moved from this herd to another herd in TX in 2014. All trace-outs have been intrastate except for movements to two premises in Mexico. Premises that have received deer from the index herd are under movement restrictions. VS is collaborating with animal health authorities in Mexico. VS paid indemnity and depopulated this herd on September 30, 2015, and no additional positive animals were detected. USDA collected samples for research purposes.
White-Tailed Deer Herd, Texas: On September 14, 2015 NVSL confirmed CWD from tissues from a WTD in Lavaca County, Texas. This animal was a traceout from the first CWD positive herd from June 30, 2015. Additional epidemiology is ongoing.
snip...see full report;
www.usaha.org/upload/Committee/captive/report-cwal-2015.pdf
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CAPTIVE WILDLIFE AND ALTERNATIVE LIVESTOCK CWD 2016
Chair: Peregrine Wolff, NV
Vice Chair: Julie Napier, NE
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Annual Update from the Cervid Health Team, Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Voluntary Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Herd Certification Program Alecia Naugel and Randy Pritchard, USDA-APHIS-VS
The APHIS National CWD Herd Certification Program (HCP) was implemented in 2014. It is a voluntary Federal-State-industry cooperative program administered by APHIS and implemented by participating States. The program provides uniform national herd certification standards that minimize the risk of spreading CWD in farmed cervid populations. Participating States and herd owners must comply with requirements for animal identification, fencing, recordkeeping, inspections/inventories, as well as animal mortality testing and response to any CWD-exposed, suspect, and positive herds. APHIS monitors the Approved State HCPs to ensure consistency with Federal standards through annual reporting by the States.
With each year of successful surveillance, herds participating in the HCP will advance in status until reaching five years with no evidence of CWD, at which time herds are certified as being low risk for CWD. Only captive cervids from enrolled herds certified as low risk for CWD may move interstate. Currently, 29 States participate in the voluntary CWD Herd Certification Program and have Approved HCPs. FY 2016 marks the fourth year that Approved States have submitted their CWD HCP annual reports to APHIS. In FY 2016 there were 2,704 enrolled cervidae herds: 2,129 deer, 447 elk and 128 mixed species herds. Of those, there were 2,331 certified cervidae herds: 1789 deer, 421 elk and 121 mixed species herds.
VS PCEP Evaluation
Veterinary Services (VS) conducted an internal evaluation of its Cervid Health Program in 2016 at the request of VS leaders. The evaluation used VS’ Program Continuous Evaluation Process (PCEP), a standardized process designed to help VS leaders improve programs and services by examining (1) the program goals with respect to alignment with VS goals, stakeholder needs, program status and allocated resources; (2) the program strategies with respect to suitability for achieving program goals effectively and efficiently; and (3) the program value to stakeholders. A total of 49 stakeholders, including 40 stakeholders external to VS, were asked to provide input to the PCEP evaluation. Seven VS veterinary medical officers and one Wildlife Services veterinary medical officer met from May through June 2016 to complete the evaluation and to provide recommendations for the program. Recommendations and stakeholder input regarding the CWD Herd Certification Program (HCP) from the review were provided to the CWD Program Standards Working Group.
CWD in Farmed and Wild Cervids
Summary of CWD detections. As of September 30, 2016, CWD has been confirmed in wild deer and elk in 22 U.S. States, and in farmed cervids in 16 States. In total, 24 States have identified CWD in wild and/or farmed cervids. CWD has been reported in 77 farmed cervid herds in the United States. Confirmation of the disease in free-ranging elk and white-tailed deer in Arkansas in 2016 marked the first reports of CWD in the wild cervid population in this State.
FY 2016 CWD Detections in Farmed Cervids. Seven new positive captive cervid herds were identified in FY 2016 (5 white-tailed deer and 2 elk). None of the seven positive herds were certified herds in the Herd Certification Program.
Texas: Two new herds
In February 2016, NVSL confirmed CWD in a 3½-year-old, natural addition whitetail buck that was hunter-harvested from a release site on a ranch in Medina and Uvalde counties. The deer originated from a breeding facility on the ranch. Based on the possible exposures, both the breeder pen and the release site were considered positive premises. The buck was genotype GG at codon 96 and tested positive on both lymph node and obex. Two more positive deer have been identified out of 349 animals in the herd that have been tested since February using post-mortem and/or ante-mortem samples. The breeding facility and the associated hunting facility tested at least 130 white-tailed deer for CWD as part of routine post-mortem surveillance within the five years prior to the first positive case. The positive herd was within 50 miles of another known positive farmed cervid herd at the time of diagnosis. The herd currently has approximately 780 whitetail deer under State quarantine.
In April 2016, NVSL confirmed CWD in a 3 ½-year-old, natural addition white-tailed doe in Medina County. The doe was genotype GG at codon 96 and tested positive on both lymph node and obex. Subsequently, an additional 13 positive deer were identified by postmortem and ante-mortem testing, including five 96GG, six 96GS, and two 96SS genotypes.
The herd tested a total of 181 deer for CWD as part of routine post-mortem surveillance in the five years prior to the positive diagnosis. This positive herd is within ten miles of the positive herd identified in Medina/Uvalde Counties in February 2016. Approximately 1,000 white-tailed deer currently reside on the premises that remains under State quarantine. Federal indemnity was used to remove and test select animals to inform the epidemiological investigation and evaluate the performance of ante-mortem tests.
Wisconsin: Three new herds
NVSL confirmed CWD in a 3-year-old, natural addition buck on a white-tailed deer breeding/hunting facility in Three Lakes, Wisconsin in November 2015. The facility is located in Oneida County. The buck was positive on both obex and lymph node, but was not tested for genotype. One additional positive hunter-harvested 5-year-old buck was positive on both lymph node and obex (untested genotype). No CWD positive cervids have been found in wild or farmed cervids within 50 miles of the positive premises. The herd tested at least 129 deer for CWD as part of routine post-mortem surveillance were reported within the five years prior to the positive diagnosis. The herd consists of approximately 450 white-tailed deer and is under State quarantine. Federal indemnity was not provided for this herd.
In January 2016, NVSL confirmed CWD in a 2½-year-old, natural addition white-tailed buck in Iowa County, Wisconsin. The farm had been under quarantine since 2002 because it is located within five miles of CWD-detection in wildlife. Only a few deer are kept on the farm for exhibition. The buck was positive on both obex and lymph node, with an untested genotype. The herd was enrolled in an HCP program in 2002, but was not compliant at the time of diagnosis. Twelve valid CWD test results had been reported in the five years prior to the positive animal diagnosis. The herd currently has an inventory of less than ten CWD-susceptible species. Federal indemnity was not provided for this herd.
NVSL confirmed CWD in a white-tailed deer in Oconto County, Wisconsin in September 2016. The deer was a female, one-year-old natural addition that was found dead. The lymph node was CWD-positive but prion was not detected in the obex sample tested. The facility includes a separate breeding farm at the same location, with approximately 850 deer in the breeding farm and an estimated 1500 deer in the hunting preserve. This preserve is not on a Herd Certification Program. There have been 1,078 deer tested from this preserve since 2010. A quarantine was issued. It will require 100% testing of all deer that die or are killed and are 12 months of age, in both operations. There are no plans to depopulate this farm at this time.
Iowa: One new herd
NVSL confirmed CWD in an elk from a hunting preserve in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, in January 2016. An adjacent breeding facility owned by the same producer was depopulated for CWD in 2012. The breeding facility received exposed deer from another positive herd in Iowa. The hunting preserve tested seven animals for CWD in 2012 (no other testing known). The hunt facility currently consists of white-tailed deer and elk and the plan is to hunt out the remaining animals. Federal indemnity was not provided for this herd.
Colorado: One new herd
In June 2016, NVSL confirmed CWD in an elk from a facility in Eagle County, Colorado. The 9-year-old cow elk was born on another premises in Colorado, but had been at this Eagle County facility for the past eight years. This facility consisted of a small herd used for personal meat production. Communication with state animal health officials indicated that only one other elk resided on the premises at the time of CWD detection. That animal was euthanized and tested “not detected” for CWD. The herd owner has no plans to raise elk in the future.
Retrospective Epidemiology of CWD in Farmed and Wild Cervids
VS initiated a retrospective CWD epidemiology assessment in partnership with State animal health and wildlife agencies in 2015, but the evaluation was postponed due to VS’ highly pathogenic avian influenza response. As part of the Herd Certification Program annual reporting process, VS asked States to complete an epidemiology summary for all previously identified CWD-infected herds. Nine States responded to the request for data and completed positive herd summaries for a total of 25 herds.
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REPORT OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FARMED CERVIDAE
Co-chairs: Charly Seale, Exotic Wildlife Association
Bret Marsh, Indiana Board of Animal Health
Paul Anderson, Minnesota Board of Animal Health
The Subcommittee on Farmed Cervidae met on October 17, 2016 at the Sheraton Greensboro Hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina. The following committee members were present: Charly Seale (TX), Bret Marsh (IN), Shawn Schafer (ND), Eric Mohlman (NE), Patrick Carlton (TX), David Hunter (MT), Collin Gillin (OR) and Robert Meyer (WY). Paul Anderson, (MN), John Fischer (GA) and Glen Zebarth (MN) were not able to attend. There were a total of 98 people in attendance at the meeting.
Reports
Dr. Nicholas Haley presented on the epidemiology and management of endemic CWD in farmed elk. He presented on his research projects regarding ante-mortem testing for CWD, live animal CWD testing effectiveness, vaccine development and nontraditional methods for management of CWD infected herds. He also discussed genetic resistance characteristics in elk. His research supports that live animal testing in CWD infected herds can be an effective tool in the management of infected herds.
Dr. Davin Henderson presented on recent work with sensitivity and specificity studies using the RTQuick and protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) CWD assays as compared to testing using conventional immunohistochemistry (IHC). He said that these tests perform far better than IHC and that testing of fecal samples for CWD using these tests shows promise.
Dr. Tracy A Nichols, Animal Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center, presented on her research on ante-mortem CWD testing options and implementation of live animal tests.
Dr. Randy Pritchard, USDA-APHIS-Veterinary Services, presented on recent cases of CWD in the United States and the current status of the CWD Herd Certification Program in the United States.
Dr. Nancy Hannaway, USDA-APHIS-Veterinary Services, presented on pilot projects on use of live animal tests in CWD Herd Certification approved states. She reported that there are currently 29 CWD Herd Certification Program (HCP) approved states. She also reported on the DPP tuberculosis test in cervidae. There were 1,750 cervidae tested by DPP in 2016. Five animals were classified as reactors, euthanized and necropsied. None of these five reactor animals were found to be infected with tuberculosis.
Dr. Alecia Naugle, USDA-APHIS-Veterinary Services (VS), discussed revision of the CWD Program Standards, movement of wild cervidae and ante-mortem CWD testing. She handed out a document summarizing USDA recommendations for changes to the CWD Program Standards. Comments on these recommendations will be considered.
Three resolutions were drafted, discussed, voted upon and passed out of the Subcommittee on Farmed Cervidae for subsequent consideration and possible action by the full USAHA Committee on Captive Wildlife and Alternative Livestock. These resolutions are as follows:
1) National Cervid TB Herd Accreditation Program
2) Live animal testing for CWD.
3) CWD testing protocol for wild cervidae
www.usaha.org/upload/Committee/2016Reports/Captive_Wildlife_Report_2016.pdf
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CAPTIVE WILDLIFE AND ALTERNATIVE LIVESTOCK CWD 2017
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Update on CWD Ante-mortem Testing-Texas and Wisconsin
Scott Bugai, Private Practitioner
Dr. Bugai’s presentation explained there are four ante-mortem diagnostic tests for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) prion diseases: 1) Nictitating membrane, or “third eyelid,” biopsy; 2) Palatine tonsillar lymphoid tissue biopsy (tonsil biopsy); 3) Rectoanal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (RAMALT) biopsy (rectal biopsy) and 4) Medial Retropharyngeal Lymph Node Biopsy.
IHC in tonsillar lymphoid tissue. Sensitivity = 97.3% and Specificity = 100%
Total CWD Testing in Texas Since Finding CWD in 2012:
• TPWD Tests: 36,215 and Other/Private Tests: 82,222= Total Tests: 118,437 (This includes postmortem and live testing).
• Total Live Testing in Texas Since Rule Implementation: TPWD Live Tests: 178 and Other/Private Tests: 24,255= Total Tests: 24,433
Total CWD Positives in Texas: Free Range: 18 and Captive Cervid: 33= Total Positives: 51
• Total CWD Tests Since Finding Disease: Total Tests: 118,437
• Estimated CWD Prevalence: .04%
Cervid Health Update-Status of Updated CWD Standards, TB/Brucellosis Rule
Presentation of Pilot Project-Ante-Mortem Testing-Ohio
Alecia Naugle and Dr. Randy Pritchard, USDA-APHIS
Dr. Pritchard provided an overview of the voluntary Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program. A summary of CWD detections was provided for FY 2017 that noted the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas. Revisions to the CWD Program Standards are under clearance within USDA. A guidance document has been released for oversight on interstate movement of wild caught cervids. Updates were provided on live animal testing for Chronic Wasting Disease and Cervid TB testing. In FY 2017, 12,588 cervids were tested serologically for bovine TB using the DPP VET TB Assay. A total of 55,205 cervids have been tested since the introduction of the serological tests in 2013.
Advances in Identification of Mycoplasma Bovis in Cervids-Vaccine Advancement
Douglas Wagner, Newport Laboratories
Dr. Wagner stated Mycoplasma bovis is a growing concern for the cervid industry. The presentation covered disease transmission, lifespan in the environment, diagnostics and gene targets. Results were presented on a vaccination study. Veterinarians should consider this disease when dealing with cervid death and sickness.
Management of CWD in Ranched Elk and the Future of Cervid Farming in CWD-endemic Areas
Nicholas Haley, Midwestern University Department of Basic Sciences
Objectives of the study includes Antemortem testing possible/useful via e.g. rectal biopsy, antemortem/postmortem testing improved using e.g. RT-QuIC and genetic resistance should be considered as a management tool. For Deer and elk, there is lower prevalence in “resistant” animals (96SS, 132LL), prolonged incubation times.
www.usaha.org/upload/Committee/2017Reports/Farmed_Cervidae_Report_2017_FINA.docx
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CAPTIVE WILDLIFE AND ALTERNATIVE LIVESTOCK CWD 2018
The Committee met on October 23, 2018 at the Town and Country Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. There were 50 members and 33 guests present.
Update on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Ante-mortem Testing Research and the Fecal, Urine and Saliva Test Davin Henderson, Colorado State University
Dr. Henderson discussed the benefits and latest research relating to the RT-QuIC Assay for elk and whitetail deer.
Cervid Health Update-Status of Updated Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Standards, Tuberculosis (TB)/Brucellosis Rule, Overview of CWD Nationwide Tracy Nichols, USDA-APHIS-VS
Dr. Nichols provided an overview of the voluntary Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program.
There are 28 states participating in the program, which includes 2,393 enrolled cervid herds.
Dr. Nichols illustrated the distribution of CWD that has been discovered in farmed and wild cervid populations.
CWD has been discovered in 25 states.
Of the 25 states, 15 states have CWD in both wild and farmed cervid populations, two states in farmed cervids only and eight states in wild cervid populations only.
FY2018 case summaries include discovery in farmed cervid herds in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Minnesota.
The release of the revised CWD Program Standards is imminent, but there is not a firm release date.
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Committee Business:
Resolution 1
Laurie Seale, American Cervid Alliance proposed a resolution titled “Chronic Wasting Disease Strain Evaluation”. A motion was made from the floor by Shawn Schafer, second by Kyle Wilson, to approve the resolution. After discussion, the motion was approved by voice vote.
Resolution 2
Shawn Schafer, North American Deer Farmers Association proposed a resolution titled “Investigate the role of the prion protein (PRNP) Gene in Chronic Wasting Disease Resistance (CWD), and Transmission of the Disease”. A motion was made from the floor by Skip West, second by Terry Klick, to approve the resolution. After discussion, the motion was approved by voice vote.
Resolution 3
Shawn Schafer, North American Deer Farmers Association proposed a resolution titled “Investigate the Dual Path Platform (DPP) as an Individual Animal Test for Interstate Commerce of Farmed Cervidae”. A motion was made from the floor by Skip West, second by Tim Condict, to approve the resolution. After discussion, the motion was approved by voice vote.
www.usaha.org/upload/Committee/2018Reports/2018_Farmed_Cervidae_KLJbdr.docx
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CAPTIVE WILDLIFE AND ALTERNATIVE LIVESTOCK CWD 2019
Cervid Health Update- Status of Updated CWD Standards, TB/Brucellosis Rule, Overview of CWD Nationwide
Dr. Tracy Nichols, USDA-APHIS VS
Dr. Nichols provided an overview of the voluntary Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program. The revised CWD Standards was published in May 2019 and now in effect. There are 28 states participating in the Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program, which includes 2,100 enrolled cervid herds with over 1,700 currently certified. 17 new cervid herds were identified with CWD in FY 2019.
Dr. Nichols illustrated the distribution of CWD that has been discovered in farmed and wild cervid populations. Dr. Nichols said APHIS is working with Dr. Chris Seabury of Texas A&M University in genome research as it relates to CWD susceptibility and genetics. She noted they have been able to acquire more funding to take this research to the next level.
Dr. Nichols provided an update on DPP and SCT TB testing data by cervid species for FY 2019. Novel Prion Strain in Chronic Wasting Disease-Affected Elk With LL132 Prion Protein
Dr. Justin Greenlee, USDA-ARS
Dr. Greenlee discussed genotype differences in elk. He said research suggests there are at least two CWD strains. MM and LM elk have similar disease phenotype. LL elk have a different phenotype to MM and LM elk. Research is still attempting to answer the question is this because of the animal genotype or because of the prion agent.
Assessment of CWD Biosecurity on Minnesota Deer Farms
Dr. Scott Wells, University of Minnesota
Dr. Wells provided a detailed description assessing CWD risk levels to Minnesota deer ranches. Dr. Wells listed several factors in categories of three different risk levels: higher risk, lower or unknown and negligible. He cited 56% of CWD-positive farms experienced one or more known higher risk CWD exposures, 44% of CWD-positive farms did not have known higher-risk CWD exposures. The University sent a survey to Minnesota’s cervid producers. 40% of the owners responded and Dr. Well shared the results.
Update on Genetic Research
Dr. Nicholas Haley, Midwestern University Department of Basic Sciences
Dr. Haley provided an overview on CWD susceptibility and disease progression in whitetail deer, a USDA/CFIA study involving 2,200 farmed deer and the distribution of PRNP genotypes in farmed deer. His presentation includes attempts in predicting susceptibility in the lab using RT-QuIC. Several projects are planned to obtain more information on impacts and resistance.
Committee Business:
The Committee reviewed previous resolutions passed at the 2018 USAHA meeting in Kansas City, Missouri:
2018 Resolution 24: Chronic Wasting Disease strain evaluation.
2018 Resolution 25: Investigation of the role of the prion protein gene in Chronic Wasting Disease resistance and transmission of disease.
2018 Resolution 26: Investigate the Dual Path Platform as an individual test for interstate commerce of farmed cervidae.
2018 Resolution 24, 25 and 26 have not had an official response from USDA APHIS and/or ARS at the time of this meeting. Due to the lack of response, a motion was made by Dick Winters, second by Shawn Schafer, to make a recommendation for the committee chairman to reemphasize the request for agencies to act on 2018 Resolution 24, 25 and 26. Discussion. Motion carries.
There were no resolutions presented by the membership for consideration.
www.usaha.org/upload/Committee/Farmed%20Cervidae/Farmed_Cervidae_Report_2019.pdf
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CAPTIVE WILDLIFE AND ALTERNATIVE LIVESTOCK CWD 2020
Presentations and Reports
USDA-APHIS-VS Annual Update from the Cervid Health Team
Tracy Nichols, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS)
Fiscal Year (FY) 2020
Voluntary Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program (HCP)
The APHIS HCP was implemented in 2014. It is a voluntary Federal-State-industry cooperative program administered by APHIS and implemented by participating States. The program provides uniform national herd certification standards that minimize the risk of spreading chronic wasting disease (CWD) in farmed cervid populations. Participating States and herd owners must comply with requirements for animal identification, fencing, recordkeeping, inspections/inventories, as well as animal mortality testing and response to any CWD-exposed, suspect, and positive herds. APHIS monitors the Approved State HCPs to ensure consistency with Federal standards through annual reporting by the States.
The current Cervid Health Program staff officers are as follows: Mark Lyons, Jennifer Siembieda, and Tracy Nichols
Voluntary Herd Certification Participation Summary
Currently, 28 States participate in the voluntary CWD Herd Certification Program, encompassing 2,145 enrolled herds, of which, 1,723 had the certified status in the program.
1,616 enrolled deer herds, of which, 1,297 were certified
371 enrolled elk herds, of which, 328 were certified
147 enrolled mixed species herds, of which, 98 were certified
CWD in Farmed Cervids
There were 22 newly identified CWD positive herds in FY20
13 of these herds were not participants in the Federal HCP
2 herds were considered enrolled in the HCP
7 herds were certified in the HCP
Half of the herds were located within 20 miles of identified CWD in the wild, half were not
CWD Herds by State
Pennsylvania: Eight new CWD positive herds
Breeding herd of 33 WTD, HCP certified, depopulated with Federal indemnity
Breeding herd of 6 WTD, not in HCP, depopulated with Federal indemnity
Breeding herd of 15 WTD, not in HCP, depopulated by owner
Hunt preserve of 58 WTD, not in HCP, populated and under quarantine
Breeding herd of 75 WTD, not in HCP, populated and under quarantine
Breeding herd of WTD, not in HCP, populated and under quarantine
Breeding herd of 90 WTD, not in HCP, populated and under quarantine
Breeding herd of 4 WTD, not in HCP, populated and under quarantine
Iowa: Two new CWD positive herds
Breeding herd of 23 WTD, HCP certified, depopulated with Federal indemnity
Breeding herd of 13 WTD, HCP certified, depopulated with Federal indemnity
Minnesota: Two new CWD positive herds
Breeding herd of 3 WTD, enrolled in HCP, not certified, depopulated by owner
Breeding herd of 6 WTD, enrolled in HCP, not certified, depopulated with Federal indemnity
Colorado: Two new CWD positive herds
Breeding herd/hunt preserve of 9 elk, HCP certified, depopulated by owner
Breeding herd of 8 elk, HCP certified, populated and under quarantine
Utah: Two new CWD positive herds
Breeding herd of 465 elk, not in HCP, partial depopulation with Federal indemnity removed purchased animals, populated-quarantine
Breeding herd of 103 elk, not in HCP, partial depopulation with Federal indemnity removed purchased animals, populated-quarantine
Michigan: One new CWD positive herd
Hunt preserve of >600 WTD, not in HCP, populated and under quarantine
Montana: One new CWD positive herd
Breeding herd of 3 elk, not in HCP, populated and under quarantine
Texas: one new CWD positive herd
Breeding herd of 59 WTD, not in HCP, depopulated with Federal indemnity
Kansas: One new CWD positive herd
Breeding herd of 20 elk, HCP certified, depopulated with Federal indemnity
Ohio: Eight new CWD positive herd
Breeding herd of 138 WTD, HCP certified, depopulated with Federal indemnity
Research
Whole genome study investigating the association of genetics with CWD susceptibility has been published.
Blinded validation of the genetic predicative model is almost complete.
A standardized protocol has been developed, in partnership with Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Geological Survey (USGS), University of Wisconsin, and National Institutes of Health (NIH) for tissue sample testing using real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC).
A study is starting shortly to determine the sensitivity and specify of RT-QuIC utilizing the standardized protocol.
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www.usaha.org/upload/Committee/2020Reports/Farmed_Cervidae_Report_2020.pdf
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CAPTIVE WILDLIFE AND ALTERNATIVE LIVESTOCK CWD 2021
Presentations and Reports
2021 USAHA Cervid Section Summary USDA-APHIS-VS Cervid Health Program
Tracy Nichols, USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
FY2021 CWD Detections in Farmed Cervids: There were 35 new chronic wasting disease (CWD) positive farmed cervid herds in FY21 (31 white-tailed deer, 1 elk, 3 mixed species herds). Twenty-three of the herds were not participants in the Federal Herd Certification Program (HCP), four were enrolled, but not certified, in the HCP, and eight were certified in the HCP. Twenty-one of the 35 newly identified herds were in areas where CWD has been found within 20 miles in wild cervid populations.
CWD Research: APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) continues to partner with a variety of CWD researchers such as Dr. Chris Seabury from Texas A&M to investigate and expand CWD predictive genetics in white-tailed deer, and with USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Pullman and Ames, United States Geological Survey (USGS), University of Wisconsin, Madison, and University of Minnesota to determine the sensitivity and specificity of RT-QuIC in tonsil biopsy and postmortem medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes. RT-QuIC data has been completed for rectal biopsy in white-tailed deer and the APHIS Cervid Health Program is in the process of evaluating the data.
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Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Program Standards
Dustin Oedekoven, South Dakota Animal Industry Brd
Dr. Oedekoven presented a summary and discussion of the CWD Program Standards and USDA Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) as it pertains to Chronic Wasting Disease. He outlined the purpose, requirements, and restrictions with each and suggested how states can operate their CWD programs consistently while following the guidelines offered by the Program Standards and meeting CFR requirements.
NEED TITLE
Nicholas Haley-Cornell, Colorado State University
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) of cervids caused by a misfolded variant of the normal cellular prion protein, and it is closely related to sheep scrapie. Variations in a host’s prion gene, PRNP, and its primary protein structure dramatically affects susceptibility to specific prion disorders, and breeding for PRNP variants that prevent scrapie infection has led to steep declines in the disease in North American and European sheep.
While resistant alleles have been identified in cervids, a PRNP variant that completely prevents CWD has not yet been identified.
Thus, control of the disease in farmed herds traditionally relies on quarantine and depopulation.
In CWD-endemic areas, depopulation of private herds becomes challenging to justify, leading to opportunities to manage the disease in situ. We developed a selective breeding program for farmed white-tailed deer in a high-prevalence CWD-endemic area which focused on reducing frequencies of highly susceptible PRNP variants and introducing animals with less susceptible variants. With the use of newly developed primers, we found that breeding followed predictable Mendelian inheritance, and early data support our project’s utility in reducing CWD prevalence. This project represents a novel approach to CWD management, with future efforts building on these findings.
RT-QuIC seed amplification assays in Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) diagnostics
Byron Caughey, Rocky Mountain Laboratories
Ultrasensitive RT-QuIC (real-time quaking-induced conversion) assays are being developed to address the need for early, sensitive, and accurate detection of CWD infections in live cervids. These and related assays exploit the inherent self-replicating activity of prions. Our recently determined high-resolution structure of a hamster prion has revealed that at least this prion strain is a highly ordered fibrillar amyloid aggregate. Such prion aggregates act as seeds or templates that can grow by binding and refolding, and adding on, the host’s PrP molecules, resulting in massive amplification in infected hosts. Similarly, in RT-QuIC reactions prion seeding activity can be amplified, albeit in a non-infectious form, by a billion-fold or more. RT-QuIC assays can be even more analytically sensitive than animal bioassays, and have been adapted by numerous laboratories to many prion strains and biospecimens. Applications to human prion diseases have allowed >99% accuracy in the intra vitam diagnosis sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease using cerebrospinal fluid and/or brushings of the olfactory mucosa. Applications to cervids for antemortem diagnosis of CWD requires the use of accessible biospecimens. Multiple studies already have demonstrated detection of CWD prions in lymphoid biopsies (RAMALT, tonsil), blood components, saliva, feces, urine, skin, third eyelid, and nasal brushings, often even in samples collected in preclinical stages of disease. Extensive RAMALT biopsy testing has given 65-83% sensitivity and 94-100% specificity in antemortem detection of CWD in deer and elk, which can be twice as sensitive diagnostically as immunohistochemistry. Analysis of ear pinna punches has been 81% sensitive and 91% specific in antemortem detection of CWD, which is comparable to, or better than, RAMALT-based RT-QuIC. However, although RT-QuIC testing of these various types of accessible specimens is promising, further work is needed to better interpret, optimize, and validate the CWD diagnostic applications of RT-QuIC assays to live cervids and their environments.
www.usaha.org/upload/Committee/2021Reports/2021_Farmed_Cervidae.docx
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CAPTIVE WILDLIFE AND ALTERNATIVE LIVESTOCK CWD 2022
Three presentations were given during the October 10, 2022 meeting. The following presentation summaries were given starting in order at number one:
1. Dr. Tracy Nichols, PhD, USDA /APHIS Fort Collins, CO
2022 USAHA Cervid Section Summary USDA APHIS VS Cervid Health Program
FY2022 CWD Detections in Farmed Cervids: There were 23 new CWD positive farmed cervid herds in FY 22 (18 white-tailed deer, 3 elk, 2 mixed species herds). Fifteen of the herds were not participants in the Federal Herd Certification Program (HCP), two were enrolled, but not certified, in the HCP, and six were certified in the HCP. Nineteen of the 23 newly identified herds were in areas where CWD has been found within 20 miles in wild cervid populations.
CWD Research: APHIS VS continues to partner with a variety of CWD researchers such as Dr. Chris Seabury from Texas A&M to investigate and expand CWD predictive genetics in white-tailed deer. The data from this study continues to provide useful information. In FY 2022 three states were funded with CWD Cooperative agreements to utilize a predictive genetics approach to assist producers in establishing their breeding values. VS has also funded Dr. Seabury, via a cooperative agreement with Texas Animal Health Commission, to develop a predictive genetics approach in elk. Collaboration with USDA ARS Pullman and Ames, USGS, U. WI Madison, and UMN has determined the sensitivity and specificity of RT-QuIC in tonsil biopsy and postmortem medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes. A cross laboratory reproducibility study has been conducted and a data package is being prepared to submit to the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories for review. A blinded postmortem RT-QuIC sensitivity and specificity study has been completed on medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes and the bioassay portion will be starting soon.
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2. Dr. Scott Leibsle- State Veterinarian/Administrator Animal Industry Division- Idaho State Department of Agriculture The variability of import requirements for domestic cervids relative to chronic wasting disease spans a wide regulatory spectrum. The genesis of these regulations are typically unique to each state and are a product of rules negotiation of policy and politics, absent of scientific evidence. The wide variability of these regulations are both difficult for state animal health officials to enforce and an onerous burden upon the industries that are subject to them. The CWD import regulatory spectrum spans from HCP compliance (minimum), endemic area restrictions, proximities to CWD positive wild cervids, restriction from affected states or provinces or a total import moratorium (maximum). Efforts to harmonize import requirements for CWD as well as other entry criteria that are based upon appropriate scientific evidence should be maximized to ease both regulatory burdens and impacts upon commerce and trade.
3. Dr. Paul Anderson- Former Assistant State Veterinarian- Minnesota Board of Animal Health
CWD Program Standards – Time for a New Look and Need for a Rewrite
Dr. Anderson spoke about the need to change how we control CWD in the United States and the need to rewrite the CWD Program Standards. He provided content for how our understanding of the disease and its distribution has changed. He discussed, from a producer perspective, why the CWD Program Standards should be rewritten. Dr. Anderson presented a draft rewrite of the CWD Program Standards that supports the requirements specified in 9 CFR 55 and 81 and outlines a program to control CWD in farmed cervid herds without causing unnecessary harm to cervid producers.
Business Meeting
Charly Seale introduced his Vice Chair, Dr. Shelly Chavis, Indiana State Board of Animal Health, who was participating virtually, between the first and second presenter.
Proposed Resolution Travis Lowe, Executive Director for the North American Elk Breeders Association, read his resolution requesting USAHA to urge state animal health officials and/or state wildlife officials that govern state import requirements of farmed cervidae to use proximity restrictions based off known peer reviewed science that specifically caters to applicable species.
Mark Luedtke made a motion to approve the resolution and Gary Olson seconded the motion. Discussion on the resolution ensued.
A motion was made by Hunter Reed, seconded by Paul Anderson, to amend the resolution to change the last sentence to say “based off known best available science that can be made publicly available.” After discussion, Charly Seale called for a show of hands for and then against the amendment. The motion to amend the resolution passed.
Back to the motion to approve, Charly Seale called for a vote on the resolution and by a show of hands the resolution was approved.
Proposed Recommendation
Charly Seale reviewed the recommendation, drafted by Dr. Paul Anderson, stating the USAHA Farmed Cervidae Committee recommends to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) that the document entitled, Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards be completely rewritten and replaced with the attached document entitled, Chronic Wasting Disease Industry/State/Federal Program Standards.
A motion was made by Mark Luedtke to approve the recommendation. The motion was seconded by Jacques DeMoss.
A motion was made by Scott Leibsle, second by Paul Anderson, to amend the recommendation so that the revised CWD Program Standards serve as a template or reference/starting point for USDA to re-write the Program Standards. There was discussion that suggested the program needs to be modified to reflect current understandings of Chronic Wasting Disease but too many people were left out of the revision process. The overwhelming HPAI response was discussed as a reason why USDA did not have time to work on the 2021 Resolution #3, requesting a revision of the Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards. Charly Seale called for a show of hands to vote on the amendment. The motion to amend failed.
Next, Charly Seale called for a vote on approving the recommendation to replace the current CWD Program Standards with the industry revision. The vote to approve the recommendation failed.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:10 pm.
www.usaha.org/upload/Committee/2022Reports/2022_Farmed_Cervidae.docx
www.usaha.org/farmed-cervidae
''Dr. Anderson presented a draft rewrite of the CWD Program Standards that supports the requirements specified in 9 CFR 55 and 81 and outlines a program to control CWD in farmed cervid herds without causing unnecessary harm to cervid producers.''
A CAPTIVE QUARANTEENED CWD HERD IS A TIME BOMB WAITING TO GO OFF!
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CASESCWD STATUS OF CAPTIVE HERDS
www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/cwd/downloads/status-of-captive-herds.pdf
APHIS Indemnity Regulations [Docket No. APHIS-2021-0010] RIN 0579-AE65 Singeltary Comment Submission Singeltary Sr., Terry
Sep 8, 2022
www.regulations.gov/comment/APHIS-2021-0010-0003
downloads.regulations.gov/APHIS-2021-0010-0003/attachment_1.pdf
Comment from Terry Singeltary Sr.
Posted by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on Mar 29, 2018
Docket No. APHIS-2018-0011 Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program Standards Singeltary Submission March 30, 2018
Greetings APHIS, USDA, Dr. Tracy Nichols, et al,
www.regulations.gov/document/APHIS-2018-0011-0003
downloads.regulations.gov/APHIS-2018-0011-0003/attachment_1.pdf
TAHC Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease Terry Singeltary Comment Submission
***> 1st and foremost your biggest problem is 'VOLUNTARY'! AS with the BSE 589.2001 FEEDREGULATIONS, especially since it is still voluntary with cervid, knowing full well that cwd and scrapie will transmit to pigs by oral route. VOLUNTARY DOES NOT WORK! all animal products should be banned and be made mandatory, and the herd certification program should be mandatory, or you don't move cervid. IF THE CWD HERD CERTIFICATION IS NOT MANDATORY, it will be another colossal tse prion failure from the start.
***> 2nd USA should declare a Declaration of Extraordinary Emergency due to CWD, and all exports of cervid and cervid products must be stopped internationally, and there should be a ban of interstate movement of cervid, until a live cwd test is available.
***> 3rd Captive Farmed cervid ESCAPEES should be made mandatory to report immediately, and strict regulations for those suspect cwd deer that just happen to disappear. IF a cervid escapes and is not found, that farm should be indefinitely shut down, all movement, until aid MIA cervid is found, and if not ever found, that farm shut down permanently.
***> 4th Captive Farmed Cervid, INDEMNITY, NO MORE Federal indemnity program, or what i call, ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM for game farm industry. NO MORE BAIL OUTS FROM TAX PAYERS. if the captive industry can't buy insurance to protect not only themselves, but also their customers, and especially the STATE, from Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion or what some call mad deer disease and harm therefrom, IF they can't afford to buy that insurance that will cover all of it, then they DO NOT GET A PERMIT to have a game farm for anything. This CWD TSE Prion can/could/has caused property values to fall from some reports in some places. roll the dice, how much is a state willing to lose?
***> 5th QUARANTINE OF ALL FARMED CAPTIVE, BREEDERS, URINE, ANTLER, VELVET, SPERM, OR ANY FACILITY, AND THEIR PRODUCTS, that has been confirmed to have Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion, the QUARANTINE should be for 21 years due to science showing what scrapie can do. 5 years is NOT near long enough. see; Infectious agent of sheep scrapie may persist in the environment for at least 16 to 21 years.
***> 6th America BSE 589.2001 FEED REGULATIONS CWD TSE Prion
***> 7TH TRUCKING TRANSPORTING CERVID CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE TSE PRION VIOLATING THE LACEY ACT
***> 8TH ALL CAPTIVE FARMING CERVID OPERATIONS MUST BE INSURED TO PAY FOR ANY CLEAN UP OF CWD AND QUARANTINE THERE FROM FOR THE STATE, NO MORE ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM FOR CERVID GAME FARMING PAY TO PLAY FOR CWD TSE PRION OFF THE TAXPAYERS BACK.
***> 9TH ANY STATE WITH DOCUMENTED CWD, INTERSTATE, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT OF ALL CERVID, AND ALL CERVID PRODUCTS MUST BE HALTED!
***> 10TH BAN THE SALE OF STRAW BRED BUCKS AND ALL CERVID SEMEN AND URINE PRODUCTS
***> 11th ALL CAPTIVE FARMED CERVID AND THEIR PRODUCTS MUST BE CWD TSE PRION TESTED ANNUALLY AND BEFORE SALE FOR CWD TSE PRION
SEE FULL SCIENCE REFERENCES AND REASONINGS ;
Control of Chronic Wasting Disease OMB Control Number: 0579-0189 APHIS-2021-0004
Singeltary Submission
www.regulations.gov/comment/APHIS-2021-0004-0002
downloads.regulations.gov/APHIS-2021-0004-0002/attachment_1.pdf
Docket No. APHIS-2018-0011 Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification
www.regulations.gov/document/APHIS-2018-0011-0003
downloads.regulations.gov/APHIS-2018-0011-0003/attachment_1.pdf
Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Specified Risk Materials DOCKET NUMBER Docket No. FSIS-2022-0027 Singeltary Submission
Greetings FSIS, USDA, et al,
Thank you kindly for allowing the public to comment on ;
(a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS’ functions, including whether the information will have practical utility;
(b) the accuracy of FSIS’ estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the method and assumptions used;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques, or other forms of information technology.
I will be commenting mostly on a, b, and c, because d, is wanting to minimize the burden of collection, and i do not think that is possible if ''These statutes mandate that FSIS protect the public by verifying that meat, poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, and properly labeled and packaged.'', is truly the intent of these statutes, and i would kindly like to explain why, and why it is so critical that these Specified Risk Materials SRM TSE Prion Statues are so important for public health, and WHY there is an urgent need to enhance them, considering the risk factors of Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion in Cervid.
THIS collection of SRM materials information should be done all the time, year after year, and ending it EVER would be foolish, imo, not scientific, and will lead to future risk to public health, if you consider just how bad USDA/FSIS/APHIS/FDA failed so badly with the FDA PART 589 TSE PRION FEED BAN, the SRM REMOVAL, THE BSE SURVEILLANCE AND TESTING PROGRAMS, THEY FAILED ALL OF THEM TERRIBLY IMO, AND BY CONTINUING TO INSIST ON TESTING 25K CATTLE FOR BSE IS A DISASTER WATING TO HAPPEND IMO!
SPECIFIED RISK MATERS
Specified Risk Materials SRMs, are the most high risk infectious materials, organs, of a cow that is infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy, BSE TSE Prion. the atypical BSE strains are, like atypical L-type BSE are more infectious that the typical C-type BSE. Also, Science of the BSE TSE has evolved to show that there are more infectious tissues and organs than previously thought. I wish to kindly post all this evidence, as to show you why this information collection of SRMs are so vital to public safety, and why they should be enhanced for cattle, cervid, sheep, and goats, oh, and not to forget the new livestock prion disease in camel, the Camel Prion Disease CPD.
ONE other thing, you must remember, SCIENCE AND TRANSMISSION STUDIES have now shown that CWD and Scrapie can transmit to PIGS by Oral route. This should be included in any enhancement of the SRM or FDA PART 589 TSE PRION FEED ban.
NOT to forget Zoonosis of all of the above, i will post the latest science to date at the bottom of the attached files.
Thank You, terry
www.regulations.gov/comment/FSIS-2022-0027-0002
downloads.regulations.gov/FSIS-2022-0027-0002/attachment_1.pdf
continued in file attachment...terry
Reports
Report of the Subcommittee on Farmed Cervidae
Charly Seale, Co-chair
Additional co-chairs: Brett Marsh and Paul Anderson
The Subcommittee on Farmed Cervidae met on October 26, 2015.
The following committee members were present: Charly Seale (TX), Bret Marsh (IN), Paul Anderson (MN), Shawn Schafer (ND), Eric Mohlman (NE), John Fischer (GA), David Hunter (MT), Collin Gillin (OR), and Glen Zebarth (MN). Warren Bluntzer (TX) and Robert Meyer (WY) were not able to attend. There were a total of 80 people in attendance at the meeting.
Dr. Tracy A Nichols, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center Fort Collins, Colorado, presented on new information on Ante Mortem Testing for CWD.
Dr. Nathan Shotts, Veterinary Reproduction and Genetics PLLC, and Tom Van Kleef, Principal Advisor at VERGE, presented on the Verge surgical procedure for Ante Mortem CWD-Testing-Options and Implementation.
Dr. Walt Cook, Texas A&M University, presented the results of his research on drug residues in white tailed deer.
Dr. Alecia Naugle and Dr. Randy Pritchard, USDA-APHIS-Veterinary Services, presented on recent cases of CWD in the United States, issues surrounding the CWD Program Standards, protocols for dealing with CWD positive herds including trace forward and trace back, current status of developing an approved live test for CWD, and issues surrounding the use of the DPP tuberculosis test in cervidae.
Four resolutions were drafted, discussed, voted upon and passed out of the Subcommittee on Farmed Cervidae for subsequent consideration and possible action by the full USAHA Committee on Captive Wildlife and Alternative Livestock. These resolutions are as follows:
(1) Live Animal Testing For Chronic Wasting Disease,
(2) Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards - Guidance on Responding to CWD positive Herds,
(3) Chronic Wasting Disease Testing Protocol for Wild Cervidae,
(4) Tuberculosis testing protocol for farmed cervidae.
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ANNUAL UPDATE FOR THE CERVID HEALTH TEAM , Fiscal Year (FY) 2015
Dr. Randy Pritchard, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services
Voluntary Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Herd Certification Program
The APHIS National CWD Herd Certification Program (HCP) was implemented in 2014. It is a voluntary Federal-State-industry cooperative program administered by APHIS and implemented by participating States. The program provides uniform national herd certification standards that minimize the risk of spreading CWD in farmed cervid populations. Participating States and herd owners must comply with requirements for animal identification, fencing, recordkeeping, inspections/inventories, as well as animal mortality testing and response to any CWD-exposed, suspect, and positive herds. APHIS monitors the Approved State HCPs to ensure consistency with Federal standards through annual reporting by the States. With each year of successful surveillance, participating herds will advance in status until reaching five years with no evidence of CWD, at which time herds are certified as being low-risk for CWD. Only captive cervids from enrolled herds certified as low risk for CWD may move interstate. Currently, 30 States participate in the voluntary CWD Herd Certification Program; 29 have Approved HCPs and one has Provisional Approved status. VS is working with the remaining State to transition it to Approved status. FY2015 marks the second year that Approved States have submitted their CWD HCP annual reports to APHIS. APHIS is currently reviewing these reports.
Review of CWD Program Standards
The CWD Program Standards provide clarification and guidance on how to meet CWD Herd Certification Program and interstate movement requirements. VS committed to an annual review of the Program Standards by representatives of the cervid industry and appropriate State and Federal agencies. VS planned to perform a review in FY2015; however, this did not occur due to the response to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). VS expects to conduct a review in FY2016.
CWD in Farmed and Wild Cervids
Retrospective Epidemiology of CWD in Farmed Cervids: In response to a 2014 USAHA Resolution, VS asked States to include a retrospective summary of the epidemiology of all positive herds with their annual HCP reports for FY2015. Unfortunately, the response to HPAI delayed completion of this summary. Five States reported information to date. A few States indicated that they did not have the resources to devote to this request. VS will continue to gather this data and to collect more comprehensive data in the future.
Summary of CWD detections.
As of September 30, 2015, CWD has been confirmed in wild deer and elk in 21 U.S. States, and in farmed cervids in 16 States. In total, 23 States have identified CWD in wild and/or farmed cervids. CWD has been reported in 70 farmed cervid herds in the United States. Confirmation of the disease in 3 free-ranging, wild white-tailed deer in Michigan in 2015 marked the first report of CWD in the wild cervid population in this State.
FY2015 CWD Detections in Farmed Cervids: In FY2015, CWD was identified in eight farmed cervid herds: one white-tailed deer breeding herd in Pennsylvania, one elk breeding herd in Utah (traced back from a hunting facility in Utah), one white-tailed deer (WTD) breeding herd and one WTD hunting preserve in Ohio (owned by the same producer), two WTD breeding herds in Wisconsin, one WTD and elk herd in Texas, and a second WTD herd in Texas (traced from the first positive herd in Texas). The positive animals in Utah, Ohio, and Texas represented the first reported cases of CWD in captive cervids in all three of these States.
White-Tailed Deer Breeding Herd, Pennsylvania: On October 6, 2014, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed CWD in a 6-year-old doe from a captive WTD breeding facility in Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania. The doe was euthanized and tested because she was classified as a CWDexposed animal that had previously resided in two trace back exposed herds. This herd was assembled in 2013 through the purchase of 16 animals from other HCP-certified herds in Pennsylvania, and had been under quarantine for receiving exposed animals from a trace back exposed herd. The remaining herd of eight WTD was depopulated with Federal indemnity on February 18, 2015, and no additional positive animals were detected. USDA collected samples for research purposes.
Elk Breeding Herd, Utah: On December 23, 2014, NVSL confirmed CWD in 3-year-old captive elk. The elk had been at a hunting park located in northern Utah, where he had resided for approximately 3 weeks prior to being hunter killed. All hunter-killed animals at the hunt park are required to be tested for CWD, and this animal was sampled through routine surveillance. The elk was traced back to its herd of origin, and that facility was quarantined. The herd was assembled in 1999 with bulls, and later elk cows, that originated from Colorado. Historical testing records for the herd were unavailable. The remaining 70 elk were depopulated using Federal indemnity funds on March 3, 2015, and an additional 25 elk were confirmed as CWD-positive. USDA collected samples for research purposes.
White-Tailed Deer Hunting Preserve, Ohio: On October 22, 2014, NVSL confirmed CWD in a buck taken from a captive WTD deer hunting preserve in Ohio. This was the first time that CWD had been detected in Ohio. The preserve was tested as part of Ohio’s CWD monitoring program. The herd had been under quarantine since April 2014 because it was a trace-forward herd associated with a CWDexposed herd in Pennsylvania. The positive animal was traced to its herd of origin, a captive WTD breeding herd in Pennsylvania, through DNA identity testing. On November 26, 2014, the Ohio State Veterinarian issued an Order of Destruction for animals on the hunting preserve. The State executed this Order on April 27-30, 2015. The herd of 224 WTD was depopulated and no other positives were detected.
USDA did not provide Federal indemnity.
White-Tailed Deer Breeding Herd, Ohio: On March 31, 2015, NVSL confirmed CWD infection in a 5- year-old WTD doe from a captive breeding herd in Holmesville, Ohio. The index animal was received from a Wisconsin WTD farm in January 2013. The CWD-positive herd was owned by the same individual as the Ohio hunt preserve that was found to be CWD positive in October 2014. On May 22, 2015, NVSL confirmed a second positive case in the same herd -- a yearling WTD doe that was a natural addition in the same breeding herd. The herd had been under quarantine since April 1, 2014 due to epidemiological linkages with two WTD herds in Pennsylvania – one a positive herd and the other a traceback exposed herd. USDA provided Federal indemnity and depopulated this herd on June 15 and 16, 2015. USDA collected samples for research purposes. NVSL confirmed CWD in 16 additional animals in the herd. Of the 16 positives, one was natural addition and the rest were purchased additions. The positive animals were purchased from February 26, 2013 through September 24, 2013, except for one purchased in 2012. Eleven purchased additions traced-back to 3 herds in Pennsylvania and four purchased additions traced to three other herds in Ohio.
White-Tailed Deer Breeding Herd, Wisconsin: On October 6, 2014, NVSL confirmed CWD in a 2-yearold doe born in June of 2012 that died on a Richland County farm. The facility is within the CWD management zone in Wisconsin. The remaining 51 deer were euthanized on November 20, 2014, and seven additional positives (all males born in 2012) were found. Two of these 7 were purchased additions with the last added to the herd in January 2013. All sales from this herd were to shooting preserves. This premises was double fenced and had been compliant in a herd certification program for over 10 years. White-Tailed Deer Breeding Herd, Wisconsin: On June 19, 2015, NVSL confirmed CWD in a 7-yearold female WTD from a breeding facility in Eau Claire County. The doe was a natural addition to this breeding herd. This is the first positive CWD case, captive or wild, in this county. The doe was found dead and was showing no clinical signs of CWD at the time of death. Since 2003, this herd has tested 391 animals for CWD and all had “not detected” results. In addition, 317 animals have tested “not detected” from the associated hunting preserve over the same time period. A second positive natural addition doe from this herd was confirmed positive by NVSL on September 10, 2015. Several escape episodes have occurred from this herd. The herd is currently under quarantine and plans are underway for depopulation with State indemnity.
White-Tailed Deer and Elk Breeding Herd, Texas: On June 30, 2015, NVSL confirmed CWD in a 2- year-old WTD buck from a captive WTD and elk breeding herd in Medina County, Texas, approximately 500 miles from previously reported positive free-ranging mule deer in far West Texas. This was the first time that the disease had been detected in farmed cervids in the State. The index buck was born on the premises and found dead on June 18, 2015. Over 40 high-risk deer (i.e., pen mates, dam, others) were euthanized and tested after the index case was found. The NVSL confirmed CWD infection in two of those deer. Interestingly, all three of the positive deer identified to date on this premises have the same AI sire. However, the significance of this finding is unclear. In the past 5 years, records indicate that 130 WTD from 33 facilities moved into the positive herd and 838 WTD moved out of the positive herd to 147 different herds. One positive WTD was found in one of these trace-out herds (see herd description below). Additionally, 23 elk were also moved from this herd to another herd in TX in 2014. All trace-outs have been intrastate except for movements to two premises in Mexico. Premises that have received deer from the index herd are under movement restrictions. VS is collaborating with animal health authorities in Mexico. VS paid indemnity and depopulated this herd on September 30, 2015, and no additional positive animals were detected. USDA collected samples for research purposes.
White-Tailed Deer Herd, Texas: On September 14, 2015 NVSL confirmed CWD from tissues from a WTD in Lavaca County, Texas. This animal was a traceout from the first CWD positive herd from June 30, 2015. Additional epidemiology is ongoing.
snip...see full report;
www.usaha.org/upload/Committee/captive/report-cwal-2015.pdf
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CAPTIVE WILDLIFE AND ALTERNATIVE LIVESTOCK CWD 2016
Chair: Peregrine Wolff, NV
Vice Chair: Julie Napier, NE
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Annual Update from the Cervid Health Team, Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Voluntary Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Herd Certification Program Alecia Naugel and Randy Pritchard, USDA-APHIS-VS
The APHIS National CWD Herd Certification Program (HCP) was implemented in 2014. It is a voluntary Federal-State-industry cooperative program administered by APHIS and implemented by participating States. The program provides uniform national herd certification standards that minimize the risk of spreading CWD in farmed cervid populations. Participating States and herd owners must comply with requirements for animal identification, fencing, recordkeeping, inspections/inventories, as well as animal mortality testing and response to any CWD-exposed, suspect, and positive herds. APHIS monitors the Approved State HCPs to ensure consistency with Federal standards through annual reporting by the States.
With each year of successful surveillance, herds participating in the HCP will advance in status until reaching five years with no evidence of CWD, at which time herds are certified as being low risk for CWD. Only captive cervids from enrolled herds certified as low risk for CWD may move interstate. Currently, 29 States participate in the voluntary CWD Herd Certification Program and have Approved HCPs. FY 2016 marks the fourth year that Approved States have submitted their CWD HCP annual reports to APHIS. In FY 2016 there were 2,704 enrolled cervidae herds: 2,129 deer, 447 elk and 128 mixed species herds. Of those, there were 2,331 certified cervidae herds: 1789 deer, 421 elk and 121 mixed species herds.
VS PCEP Evaluation
Veterinary Services (VS) conducted an internal evaluation of its Cervid Health Program in 2016 at the request of VS leaders. The evaluation used VS’ Program Continuous Evaluation Process (PCEP), a standardized process designed to help VS leaders improve programs and services by examining (1) the program goals with respect to alignment with VS goals, stakeholder needs, program status and allocated resources; (2) the program strategies with respect to suitability for achieving program goals effectively and efficiently; and (3) the program value to stakeholders. A total of 49 stakeholders, including 40 stakeholders external to VS, were asked to provide input to the PCEP evaluation. Seven VS veterinary medical officers and one Wildlife Services veterinary medical officer met from May through June 2016 to complete the evaluation and to provide recommendations for the program. Recommendations and stakeholder input regarding the CWD Herd Certification Program (HCP) from the review were provided to the CWD Program Standards Working Group.
CWD in Farmed and Wild Cervids
Summary of CWD detections. As of September 30, 2016, CWD has been confirmed in wild deer and elk in 22 U.S. States, and in farmed cervids in 16 States. In total, 24 States have identified CWD in wild and/or farmed cervids. CWD has been reported in 77 farmed cervid herds in the United States. Confirmation of the disease in free-ranging elk and white-tailed deer in Arkansas in 2016 marked the first reports of CWD in the wild cervid population in this State.
FY 2016 CWD Detections in Farmed Cervids. Seven new positive captive cervid herds were identified in FY 2016 (5 white-tailed deer and 2 elk). None of the seven positive herds were certified herds in the Herd Certification Program.
Texas: Two new herds
In February 2016, NVSL confirmed CWD in a 3½-year-old, natural addition whitetail buck that was hunter-harvested from a release site on a ranch in Medina and Uvalde counties. The deer originated from a breeding facility on the ranch. Based on the possible exposures, both the breeder pen and the release site were considered positive premises. The buck was genotype GG at codon 96 and tested positive on both lymph node and obex. Two more positive deer have been identified out of 349 animals in the herd that have been tested since February using post-mortem and/or ante-mortem samples. The breeding facility and the associated hunting facility tested at least 130 white-tailed deer for CWD as part of routine post-mortem surveillance within the five years prior to the first positive case. The positive herd was within 50 miles of another known positive farmed cervid herd at the time of diagnosis. The herd currently has approximately 780 whitetail deer under State quarantine.
In April 2016, NVSL confirmed CWD in a 3 ½-year-old, natural addition white-tailed doe in Medina County. The doe was genotype GG at codon 96 and tested positive on both lymph node and obex. Subsequently, an additional 13 positive deer were identified by postmortem and ante-mortem testing, including five 96GG, six 96GS, and two 96SS genotypes.
The herd tested a total of 181 deer for CWD as part of routine post-mortem surveillance in the five years prior to the positive diagnosis. This positive herd is within ten miles of the positive herd identified in Medina/Uvalde Counties in February 2016. Approximately 1,000 white-tailed deer currently reside on the premises that remains under State quarantine. Federal indemnity was used to remove and test select animals to inform the epidemiological investigation and evaluate the performance of ante-mortem tests.
Wisconsin: Three new herds
NVSL confirmed CWD in a 3-year-old, natural addition buck on a white-tailed deer breeding/hunting facility in Three Lakes, Wisconsin in November 2015. The facility is located in Oneida County. The buck was positive on both obex and lymph node, but was not tested for genotype. One additional positive hunter-harvested 5-year-old buck was positive on both lymph node and obex (untested genotype). No CWD positive cervids have been found in wild or farmed cervids within 50 miles of the positive premises. The herd tested at least 129 deer for CWD as part of routine post-mortem surveillance were reported within the five years prior to the positive diagnosis. The herd consists of approximately 450 white-tailed deer and is under State quarantine. Federal indemnity was not provided for this herd.
In January 2016, NVSL confirmed CWD in a 2½-year-old, natural addition white-tailed buck in Iowa County, Wisconsin. The farm had been under quarantine since 2002 because it is located within five miles of CWD-detection in wildlife. Only a few deer are kept on the farm for exhibition. The buck was positive on both obex and lymph node, with an untested genotype. The herd was enrolled in an HCP program in 2002, but was not compliant at the time of diagnosis. Twelve valid CWD test results had been reported in the five years prior to the positive animal diagnosis. The herd currently has an inventory of less than ten CWD-susceptible species. Federal indemnity was not provided for this herd.
NVSL confirmed CWD in a white-tailed deer in Oconto County, Wisconsin in September 2016. The deer was a female, one-year-old natural addition that was found dead. The lymph node was CWD-positive but prion was not detected in the obex sample tested. The facility includes a separate breeding farm at the same location, with approximately 850 deer in the breeding farm and an estimated 1500 deer in the hunting preserve. This preserve is not on a Herd Certification Program. There have been 1,078 deer tested from this preserve since 2010. A quarantine was issued. It will require 100% testing of all deer that die or are killed and are 12 months of age, in both operations. There are no plans to depopulate this farm at this time.
Iowa: One new herd
NVSL confirmed CWD in an elk from a hunting preserve in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, in January 2016. An adjacent breeding facility owned by the same producer was depopulated for CWD in 2012. The breeding facility received exposed deer from another positive herd in Iowa. The hunting preserve tested seven animals for CWD in 2012 (no other testing known). The hunt facility currently consists of white-tailed deer and elk and the plan is to hunt out the remaining animals. Federal indemnity was not provided for this herd.
Colorado: One new herd
In June 2016, NVSL confirmed CWD in an elk from a facility in Eagle County, Colorado. The 9-year-old cow elk was born on another premises in Colorado, but had been at this Eagle County facility for the past eight years. This facility consisted of a small herd used for personal meat production. Communication with state animal health officials indicated that only one other elk resided on the premises at the time of CWD detection. That animal was euthanized and tested “not detected” for CWD. The herd owner has no plans to raise elk in the future.
Retrospective Epidemiology of CWD in Farmed and Wild Cervids
VS initiated a retrospective CWD epidemiology assessment in partnership with State animal health and wildlife agencies in 2015, but the evaluation was postponed due to VS’ highly pathogenic avian influenza response. As part of the Herd Certification Program annual reporting process, VS asked States to complete an epidemiology summary for all previously identified CWD-infected herds. Nine States responded to the request for data and completed positive herd summaries for a total of 25 herds.
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REPORT OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FARMED CERVIDAE
Co-chairs: Charly Seale, Exotic Wildlife Association
Bret Marsh, Indiana Board of Animal Health
Paul Anderson, Minnesota Board of Animal Health
The Subcommittee on Farmed Cervidae met on October 17, 2016 at the Sheraton Greensboro Hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina. The following committee members were present: Charly Seale (TX), Bret Marsh (IN), Shawn Schafer (ND), Eric Mohlman (NE), Patrick Carlton (TX), David Hunter (MT), Collin Gillin (OR) and Robert Meyer (WY). Paul Anderson, (MN), John Fischer (GA) and Glen Zebarth (MN) were not able to attend. There were a total of 98 people in attendance at the meeting.
Reports
Dr. Nicholas Haley presented on the epidemiology and management of endemic CWD in farmed elk. He presented on his research projects regarding ante-mortem testing for CWD, live animal CWD testing effectiveness, vaccine development and nontraditional methods for management of CWD infected herds. He also discussed genetic resistance characteristics in elk. His research supports that live animal testing in CWD infected herds can be an effective tool in the management of infected herds.
Dr. Davin Henderson presented on recent work with sensitivity and specificity studies using the RTQuick and protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) CWD assays as compared to testing using conventional immunohistochemistry (IHC). He said that these tests perform far better than IHC and that testing of fecal samples for CWD using these tests shows promise.
Dr. Tracy A Nichols, Animal Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center, presented on her research on ante-mortem CWD testing options and implementation of live animal tests.
Dr. Randy Pritchard, USDA-APHIS-Veterinary Services, presented on recent cases of CWD in the United States and the current status of the CWD Herd Certification Program in the United States.
Dr. Nancy Hannaway, USDA-APHIS-Veterinary Services, presented on pilot projects on use of live animal tests in CWD Herd Certification approved states. She reported that there are currently 29 CWD Herd Certification Program (HCP) approved states. She also reported on the DPP tuberculosis test in cervidae. There were 1,750 cervidae tested by DPP in 2016. Five animals were classified as reactors, euthanized and necropsied. None of these five reactor animals were found to be infected with tuberculosis.
Dr. Alecia Naugle, USDA-APHIS-Veterinary Services (VS), discussed revision of the CWD Program Standards, movement of wild cervidae and ante-mortem CWD testing. She handed out a document summarizing USDA recommendations for changes to the CWD Program Standards. Comments on these recommendations will be considered.
Three resolutions were drafted, discussed, voted upon and passed out of the Subcommittee on Farmed Cervidae for subsequent consideration and possible action by the full USAHA Committee on Captive Wildlife and Alternative Livestock. These resolutions are as follows:
1) National Cervid TB Herd Accreditation Program
2) Live animal testing for CWD.
3) CWD testing protocol for wild cervidae
www.usaha.org/upload/Committee/2016Reports/Captive_Wildlife_Report_2016.pdf
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CAPTIVE WILDLIFE AND ALTERNATIVE LIVESTOCK CWD 2017
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Update on CWD Ante-mortem Testing-Texas and Wisconsin
Scott Bugai, Private Practitioner
Dr. Bugai’s presentation explained there are four ante-mortem diagnostic tests for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) prion diseases: 1) Nictitating membrane, or “third eyelid,” biopsy; 2) Palatine tonsillar lymphoid tissue biopsy (tonsil biopsy); 3) Rectoanal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (RAMALT) biopsy (rectal biopsy) and 4) Medial Retropharyngeal Lymph Node Biopsy.
IHC in tonsillar lymphoid tissue. Sensitivity = 97.3% and Specificity = 100%
Total CWD Testing in Texas Since Finding CWD in 2012:
• TPWD Tests: 36,215 and Other/Private Tests: 82,222= Total Tests: 118,437 (This includes postmortem and live testing).
• Total Live Testing in Texas Since Rule Implementation: TPWD Live Tests: 178 and Other/Private Tests: 24,255= Total Tests: 24,433
Total CWD Positives in Texas: Free Range: 18 and Captive Cervid: 33= Total Positives: 51
• Total CWD Tests Since Finding Disease: Total Tests: 118,437
• Estimated CWD Prevalence: .04%
Cervid Health Update-Status of Updated CWD Standards, TB/Brucellosis Rule
Presentation of Pilot Project-Ante-Mortem Testing-Ohio
Alecia Naugle and Dr. Randy Pritchard, USDA-APHIS
Dr. Pritchard provided an overview of the voluntary Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program. A summary of CWD detections was provided for FY 2017 that noted the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas. Revisions to the CWD Program Standards are under clearance within USDA. A guidance document has been released for oversight on interstate movement of wild caught cervids. Updates were provided on live animal testing for Chronic Wasting Disease and Cervid TB testing. In FY 2017, 12,588 cervids were tested serologically for bovine TB using the DPP VET TB Assay. A total of 55,205 cervids have been tested since the introduction of the serological tests in 2013.
Advances in Identification of Mycoplasma Bovis in Cervids-Vaccine Advancement
Douglas Wagner, Newport Laboratories
Dr. Wagner stated Mycoplasma bovis is a growing concern for the cervid industry. The presentation covered disease transmission, lifespan in the environment, diagnostics and gene targets. Results were presented on a vaccination study. Veterinarians should consider this disease when dealing with cervid death and sickness.
Management of CWD in Ranched Elk and the Future of Cervid Farming in CWD-endemic Areas
Nicholas Haley, Midwestern University Department of Basic Sciences
Objectives of the study includes Antemortem testing possible/useful via e.g. rectal biopsy, antemortem/postmortem testing improved using e.g. RT-QuIC and genetic resistance should be considered as a management tool. For Deer and elk, there is lower prevalence in “resistant” animals (96SS, 132LL), prolonged incubation times.
www.usaha.org/upload/Committee/2017Reports/Farmed_Cervidae_Report_2017_FINA.docx
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CAPTIVE WILDLIFE AND ALTERNATIVE LIVESTOCK CWD 2018
The Committee met on October 23, 2018 at the Town and Country Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. There were 50 members and 33 guests present.
Update on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Ante-mortem Testing Research and the Fecal, Urine and Saliva Test Davin Henderson, Colorado State University
Dr. Henderson discussed the benefits and latest research relating to the RT-QuIC Assay for elk and whitetail deer.
Cervid Health Update-Status of Updated Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Standards, Tuberculosis (TB)/Brucellosis Rule, Overview of CWD Nationwide Tracy Nichols, USDA-APHIS-VS
Dr. Nichols provided an overview of the voluntary Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program.
There are 28 states participating in the program, which includes 2,393 enrolled cervid herds.
Dr. Nichols illustrated the distribution of CWD that has been discovered in farmed and wild cervid populations.
CWD has been discovered in 25 states.
Of the 25 states, 15 states have CWD in both wild and farmed cervid populations, two states in farmed cervids only and eight states in wild cervid populations only.
FY2018 case summaries include discovery in farmed cervid herds in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Minnesota.
The release of the revised CWD Program Standards is imminent, but there is not a firm release date.
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Committee Business:
Resolution 1
Laurie Seale, American Cervid Alliance proposed a resolution titled “Chronic Wasting Disease Strain Evaluation”. A motion was made from the floor by Shawn Schafer, second by Kyle Wilson, to approve the resolution. After discussion, the motion was approved by voice vote.
Resolution 2
Shawn Schafer, North American Deer Farmers Association proposed a resolution titled “Investigate the role of the prion protein (PRNP) Gene in Chronic Wasting Disease Resistance (CWD), and Transmission of the Disease”. A motion was made from the floor by Skip West, second by Terry Klick, to approve the resolution. After discussion, the motion was approved by voice vote.
Resolution 3
Shawn Schafer, North American Deer Farmers Association proposed a resolution titled “Investigate the Dual Path Platform (DPP) as an Individual Animal Test for Interstate Commerce of Farmed Cervidae”. A motion was made from the floor by Skip West, second by Tim Condict, to approve the resolution. After discussion, the motion was approved by voice vote.
www.usaha.org/upload/Committee/2018Reports/2018_Farmed_Cervidae_KLJbdr.docx
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CAPTIVE WILDLIFE AND ALTERNATIVE LIVESTOCK CWD 2019
Cervid Health Update- Status of Updated CWD Standards, TB/Brucellosis Rule, Overview of CWD Nationwide
Dr. Tracy Nichols, USDA-APHIS VS
Dr. Nichols provided an overview of the voluntary Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program. The revised CWD Standards was published in May 2019 and now in effect. There are 28 states participating in the Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program, which includes 2,100 enrolled cervid herds with over 1,700 currently certified. 17 new cervid herds were identified with CWD in FY 2019.
Dr. Nichols illustrated the distribution of CWD that has been discovered in farmed and wild cervid populations. Dr. Nichols said APHIS is working with Dr. Chris Seabury of Texas A&M University in genome research as it relates to CWD susceptibility and genetics. She noted they have been able to acquire more funding to take this research to the next level.
Dr. Nichols provided an update on DPP and SCT TB testing data by cervid species for FY 2019. Novel Prion Strain in Chronic Wasting Disease-Affected Elk With LL132 Prion Protein
Dr. Justin Greenlee, USDA-ARS
Dr. Greenlee discussed genotype differences in elk. He said research suggests there are at least two CWD strains. MM and LM elk have similar disease phenotype. LL elk have a different phenotype to MM and LM elk. Research is still attempting to answer the question is this because of the animal genotype or because of the prion agent.
Assessment of CWD Biosecurity on Minnesota Deer Farms
Dr. Scott Wells, University of Minnesota
Dr. Wells provided a detailed description assessing CWD risk levels to Minnesota deer ranches. Dr. Wells listed several factors in categories of three different risk levels: higher risk, lower or unknown and negligible. He cited 56% of CWD-positive farms experienced one or more known higher risk CWD exposures, 44% of CWD-positive farms did not have known higher-risk CWD exposures. The University sent a survey to Minnesota’s cervid producers. 40% of the owners responded and Dr. Well shared the results.
Update on Genetic Research
Dr. Nicholas Haley, Midwestern University Department of Basic Sciences
Dr. Haley provided an overview on CWD susceptibility and disease progression in whitetail deer, a USDA/CFIA study involving 2,200 farmed deer and the distribution of PRNP genotypes in farmed deer. His presentation includes attempts in predicting susceptibility in the lab using RT-QuIC. Several projects are planned to obtain more information on impacts and resistance.
Committee Business:
The Committee reviewed previous resolutions passed at the 2018 USAHA meeting in Kansas City, Missouri:
2018 Resolution 24: Chronic Wasting Disease strain evaluation.
2018 Resolution 25: Investigation of the role of the prion protein gene in Chronic Wasting Disease resistance and transmission of disease.
2018 Resolution 26: Investigate the Dual Path Platform as an individual test for interstate commerce of farmed cervidae.
2018 Resolution 24, 25 and 26 have not had an official response from USDA APHIS and/or ARS at the time of this meeting. Due to the lack of response, a motion was made by Dick Winters, second by Shawn Schafer, to make a recommendation for the committee chairman to reemphasize the request for agencies to act on 2018 Resolution 24, 25 and 26. Discussion. Motion carries.
There were no resolutions presented by the membership for consideration.
www.usaha.org/upload/Committee/Farmed%20Cervidae/Farmed_Cervidae_Report_2019.pdf
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CAPTIVE WILDLIFE AND ALTERNATIVE LIVESTOCK CWD 2020
Presentations and Reports
USDA-APHIS-VS Annual Update from the Cervid Health Team
Tracy Nichols, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS)
Fiscal Year (FY) 2020
Voluntary Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program (HCP)
The APHIS HCP was implemented in 2014. It is a voluntary Federal-State-industry cooperative program administered by APHIS and implemented by participating States. The program provides uniform national herd certification standards that minimize the risk of spreading chronic wasting disease (CWD) in farmed cervid populations. Participating States and herd owners must comply with requirements for animal identification, fencing, recordkeeping, inspections/inventories, as well as animal mortality testing and response to any CWD-exposed, suspect, and positive herds. APHIS monitors the Approved State HCPs to ensure consistency with Federal standards through annual reporting by the States.
The current Cervid Health Program staff officers are as follows: Mark Lyons, Jennifer Siembieda, and Tracy Nichols
Voluntary Herd Certification Participation Summary
Currently, 28 States participate in the voluntary CWD Herd Certification Program, encompassing 2,145 enrolled herds, of which, 1,723 had the certified status in the program.
1,616 enrolled deer herds, of which, 1,297 were certified
371 enrolled elk herds, of which, 328 were certified
147 enrolled mixed species herds, of which, 98 were certified
CWD in Farmed Cervids
There were 22 newly identified CWD positive herds in FY20
13 of these herds were not participants in the Federal HCP
2 herds were considered enrolled in the HCP
7 herds were certified in the HCP
Half of the herds were located within 20 miles of identified CWD in the wild, half were not
CWD Herds by State
Pennsylvania: Eight new CWD positive herds
Breeding herd of 33 WTD, HCP certified, depopulated with Federal indemnity
Breeding herd of 6 WTD, not in HCP, depopulated with Federal indemnity
Breeding herd of 15 WTD, not in HCP, depopulated by owner
Hunt preserve of 58 WTD, not in HCP, populated and under quarantine
Breeding herd of 75 WTD, not in HCP, populated and under quarantine
Breeding herd of WTD, not in HCP, populated and under quarantine
Breeding herd of 90 WTD, not in HCP, populated and under quarantine
Breeding herd of 4 WTD, not in HCP, populated and under quarantine
Iowa: Two new CWD positive herds
Breeding herd of 23 WTD, HCP certified, depopulated with Federal indemnity
Breeding herd of 13 WTD, HCP certified, depopulated with Federal indemnity
Minnesota: Two new CWD positive herds
Breeding herd of 3 WTD, enrolled in HCP, not certified, depopulated by owner
Breeding herd of 6 WTD, enrolled in HCP, not certified, depopulated with Federal indemnity
Colorado: Two new CWD positive herds
Breeding herd/hunt preserve of 9 elk, HCP certified, depopulated by owner
Breeding herd of 8 elk, HCP certified, populated and under quarantine
Utah: Two new CWD positive herds
Breeding herd of 465 elk, not in HCP, partial depopulation with Federal indemnity removed purchased animals, populated-quarantine
Breeding herd of 103 elk, not in HCP, partial depopulation with Federal indemnity removed purchased animals, populated-quarantine
Michigan: One new CWD positive herd
Hunt preserve of >600 WTD, not in HCP, populated and under quarantine
Montana: One new CWD positive herd
Breeding herd of 3 elk, not in HCP, populated and under quarantine
Texas: one new CWD positive herd
Breeding herd of 59 WTD, not in HCP, depopulated with Federal indemnity
Kansas: One new CWD positive herd
Breeding herd of 20 elk, HCP certified, depopulated with Federal indemnity
Ohio: Eight new CWD positive herd
Breeding herd of 138 WTD, HCP certified, depopulated with Federal indemnity
Research
Whole genome study investigating the association of genetics with CWD susceptibility has been published.
Blinded validation of the genetic predicative model is almost complete.
A standardized protocol has been developed, in partnership with Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Geological Survey (USGS), University of Wisconsin, and National Institutes of Health (NIH) for tissue sample testing using real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC).
A study is starting shortly to determine the sensitivity and specify of RT-QuIC utilizing the standardized protocol.
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www.usaha.org/upload/Committee/2020Reports/Farmed_Cervidae_Report_2020.pdf
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CAPTIVE WILDLIFE AND ALTERNATIVE LIVESTOCK CWD 2021
Presentations and Reports
2021 USAHA Cervid Section Summary USDA-APHIS-VS Cervid Health Program
Tracy Nichols, USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
FY2021 CWD Detections in Farmed Cervids: There were 35 new chronic wasting disease (CWD) positive farmed cervid herds in FY21 (31 white-tailed deer, 1 elk, 3 mixed species herds). Twenty-three of the herds were not participants in the Federal Herd Certification Program (HCP), four were enrolled, but not certified, in the HCP, and eight were certified in the HCP. Twenty-one of the 35 newly identified herds were in areas where CWD has been found within 20 miles in wild cervid populations.
CWD Research: APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) continues to partner with a variety of CWD researchers such as Dr. Chris Seabury from Texas A&M to investigate and expand CWD predictive genetics in white-tailed deer, and with USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Pullman and Ames, United States Geological Survey (USGS), University of Wisconsin, Madison, and University of Minnesota to determine the sensitivity and specificity of RT-QuIC in tonsil biopsy and postmortem medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes. RT-QuIC data has been completed for rectal biopsy in white-tailed deer and the APHIS Cervid Health Program is in the process of evaluating the data.
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Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Program Standards
Dustin Oedekoven, South Dakota Animal Industry Brd
Dr. Oedekoven presented a summary and discussion of the CWD Program Standards and USDA Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) as it pertains to Chronic Wasting Disease. He outlined the purpose, requirements, and restrictions with each and suggested how states can operate their CWD programs consistently while following the guidelines offered by the Program Standards and meeting CFR requirements.
NEED TITLE
Nicholas Haley-Cornell, Colorado State University
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) of cervids caused by a misfolded variant of the normal cellular prion protein, and it is closely related to sheep scrapie. Variations in a host’s prion gene, PRNP, and its primary protein structure dramatically affects susceptibility to specific prion disorders, and breeding for PRNP variants that prevent scrapie infection has led to steep declines in the disease in North American and European sheep.
While resistant alleles have been identified in cervids, a PRNP variant that completely prevents CWD has not yet been identified.
Thus, control of the disease in farmed herds traditionally relies on quarantine and depopulation.
In CWD-endemic areas, depopulation of private herds becomes challenging to justify, leading to opportunities to manage the disease in situ. We developed a selective breeding program for farmed white-tailed deer in a high-prevalence CWD-endemic area which focused on reducing frequencies of highly susceptible PRNP variants and introducing animals with less susceptible variants. With the use of newly developed primers, we found that breeding followed predictable Mendelian inheritance, and early data support our project’s utility in reducing CWD prevalence. This project represents a novel approach to CWD management, with future efforts building on these findings.
RT-QuIC seed amplification assays in Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) diagnostics
Byron Caughey, Rocky Mountain Laboratories
Ultrasensitive RT-QuIC (real-time quaking-induced conversion) assays are being developed to address the need for early, sensitive, and accurate detection of CWD infections in live cervids. These and related assays exploit the inherent self-replicating activity of prions. Our recently determined high-resolution structure of a hamster prion has revealed that at least this prion strain is a highly ordered fibrillar amyloid aggregate. Such prion aggregates act as seeds or templates that can grow by binding and refolding, and adding on, the host’s PrP molecules, resulting in massive amplification in infected hosts. Similarly, in RT-QuIC reactions prion seeding activity can be amplified, albeit in a non-infectious form, by a billion-fold or more. RT-QuIC assays can be even more analytically sensitive than animal bioassays, and have been adapted by numerous laboratories to many prion strains and biospecimens. Applications to human prion diseases have allowed >99% accuracy in the intra vitam diagnosis sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease using cerebrospinal fluid and/or brushings of the olfactory mucosa. Applications to cervids for antemortem diagnosis of CWD requires the use of accessible biospecimens. Multiple studies already have demonstrated detection of CWD prions in lymphoid biopsies (RAMALT, tonsil), blood components, saliva, feces, urine, skin, third eyelid, and nasal brushings, often even in samples collected in preclinical stages of disease. Extensive RAMALT biopsy testing has given 65-83% sensitivity and 94-100% specificity in antemortem detection of CWD in deer and elk, which can be twice as sensitive diagnostically as immunohistochemistry. Analysis of ear pinna punches has been 81% sensitive and 91% specific in antemortem detection of CWD, which is comparable to, or better than, RAMALT-based RT-QuIC. However, although RT-QuIC testing of these various types of accessible specimens is promising, further work is needed to better interpret, optimize, and validate the CWD diagnostic applications of RT-QuIC assays to live cervids and their environments.
www.usaha.org/upload/Committee/2021Reports/2021_Farmed_Cervidae.docx
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CAPTIVE WILDLIFE AND ALTERNATIVE LIVESTOCK CWD 2022
Three presentations were given during the October 10, 2022 meeting. The following presentation summaries were given starting in order at number one:
1. Dr. Tracy Nichols, PhD, USDA /APHIS Fort Collins, CO
2022 USAHA Cervid Section Summary USDA APHIS VS Cervid Health Program
FY2022 CWD Detections in Farmed Cervids: There were 23 new CWD positive farmed cervid herds in FY 22 (18 white-tailed deer, 3 elk, 2 mixed species herds). Fifteen of the herds were not participants in the Federal Herd Certification Program (HCP), two were enrolled, but not certified, in the HCP, and six were certified in the HCP. Nineteen of the 23 newly identified herds were in areas where CWD has been found within 20 miles in wild cervid populations.
CWD Research: APHIS VS continues to partner with a variety of CWD researchers such as Dr. Chris Seabury from Texas A&M to investigate and expand CWD predictive genetics in white-tailed deer. The data from this study continues to provide useful information. In FY 2022 three states were funded with CWD Cooperative agreements to utilize a predictive genetics approach to assist producers in establishing their breeding values. VS has also funded Dr. Seabury, via a cooperative agreement with Texas Animal Health Commission, to develop a predictive genetics approach in elk. Collaboration with USDA ARS Pullman and Ames, USGS, U. WI Madison, and UMN has determined the sensitivity and specificity of RT-QuIC in tonsil biopsy and postmortem medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes. A cross laboratory reproducibility study has been conducted and a data package is being prepared to submit to the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories for review. A blinded postmortem RT-QuIC sensitivity and specificity study has been completed on medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes and the bioassay portion will be starting soon.
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2. Dr. Scott Leibsle- State Veterinarian/Administrator Animal Industry Division- Idaho State Department of Agriculture The variability of import requirements for domestic cervids relative to chronic wasting disease spans a wide regulatory spectrum. The genesis of these regulations are typically unique to each state and are a product of rules negotiation of policy and politics, absent of scientific evidence. The wide variability of these regulations are both difficult for state animal health officials to enforce and an onerous burden upon the industries that are subject to them. The CWD import regulatory spectrum spans from HCP compliance (minimum), endemic area restrictions, proximities to CWD positive wild cervids, restriction from affected states or provinces or a total import moratorium (maximum). Efforts to harmonize import requirements for CWD as well as other entry criteria that are based upon appropriate scientific evidence should be maximized to ease both regulatory burdens and impacts upon commerce and trade.
3. Dr. Paul Anderson- Former Assistant State Veterinarian- Minnesota Board of Animal Health
CWD Program Standards – Time for a New Look and Need for a Rewrite
Dr. Anderson spoke about the need to change how we control CWD in the United States and the need to rewrite the CWD Program Standards. He provided content for how our understanding of the disease and its distribution has changed. He discussed, from a producer perspective, why the CWD Program Standards should be rewritten. Dr. Anderson presented a draft rewrite of the CWD Program Standards that supports the requirements specified in 9 CFR 55 and 81 and outlines a program to control CWD in farmed cervid herds without causing unnecessary harm to cervid producers.
Business Meeting
Charly Seale introduced his Vice Chair, Dr. Shelly Chavis, Indiana State Board of Animal Health, who was participating virtually, between the first and second presenter.
Proposed Resolution Travis Lowe, Executive Director for the North American Elk Breeders Association, read his resolution requesting USAHA to urge state animal health officials and/or state wildlife officials that govern state import requirements of farmed cervidae to use proximity restrictions based off known peer reviewed science that specifically caters to applicable species.
Mark Luedtke made a motion to approve the resolution and Gary Olson seconded the motion. Discussion on the resolution ensued.
A motion was made by Hunter Reed, seconded by Paul Anderson, to amend the resolution to change the last sentence to say “based off known best available science that can be made publicly available.” After discussion, Charly Seale called for a show of hands for and then against the amendment. The motion to amend the resolution passed.
Back to the motion to approve, Charly Seale called for a vote on the resolution and by a show of hands the resolution was approved.
Proposed Recommendation
Charly Seale reviewed the recommendation, drafted by Dr. Paul Anderson, stating the USAHA Farmed Cervidae Committee recommends to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) that the document entitled, Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards be completely rewritten and replaced with the attached document entitled, Chronic Wasting Disease Industry/State/Federal Program Standards.
A motion was made by Mark Luedtke to approve the recommendation. The motion was seconded by Jacques DeMoss.
A motion was made by Scott Leibsle, second by Paul Anderson, to amend the recommendation so that the revised CWD Program Standards serve as a template or reference/starting point for USDA to re-write the Program Standards. There was discussion that suggested the program needs to be modified to reflect current understandings of Chronic Wasting Disease but too many people were left out of the revision process. The overwhelming HPAI response was discussed as a reason why USDA did not have time to work on the 2021 Resolution #3, requesting a revision of the Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards. Charly Seale called for a show of hands to vote on the amendment. The motion to amend failed.
Next, Charly Seale called for a vote on approving the recommendation to replace the current CWD Program Standards with the industry revision. The vote to approve the recommendation failed.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:10 pm.
www.usaha.org/upload/Committee/2022Reports/2022_Farmed_Cervidae.docx
www.usaha.org/farmed-cervidae
''Dr. Anderson presented a draft rewrite of the CWD Program Standards that supports the requirements specified in 9 CFR 55 and 81 and outlines a program to control CWD in farmed cervid herds without causing unnecessary harm to cervid producers.''
A CAPTIVE QUARANTEENED CWD HERD IS A TIME BOMB WAITING TO GO OFF!
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CASESCWD STATUS OF CAPTIVE HERDS
www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/cwd/downloads/status-of-captive-herds.pdf
APHIS Indemnity Regulations [Docket No. APHIS-2021-0010] RIN 0579-AE65 Singeltary Comment Submission Singeltary Sr., Terry
Sep 8, 2022
www.regulations.gov/comment/APHIS-2021-0010-0003
downloads.regulations.gov/APHIS-2021-0010-0003/attachment_1.pdf
Comment from Terry Singeltary Sr.
Posted by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on Mar 29, 2018
Docket No. APHIS-2018-0011 Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program Standards Singeltary Submission March 30, 2018
Greetings APHIS, USDA, Dr. Tracy Nichols, et al,
www.regulations.gov/document/APHIS-2018-0011-0003
downloads.regulations.gov/APHIS-2018-0011-0003/attachment_1.pdf
TAHC Chapter 40, Chronic Wasting Disease Terry Singeltary Comment Submission
***> 1st and foremost your biggest problem is 'VOLUNTARY'! AS with the BSE 589.2001 FEEDREGULATIONS, especially since it is still voluntary with cervid, knowing full well that cwd and scrapie will transmit to pigs by oral route. VOLUNTARY DOES NOT WORK! all animal products should be banned and be made mandatory, and the herd certification program should be mandatory, or you don't move cervid. IF THE CWD HERD CERTIFICATION IS NOT MANDATORY, it will be another colossal tse prion failure from the start.
***> 2nd USA should declare a Declaration of Extraordinary Emergency due to CWD, and all exports of cervid and cervid products must be stopped internationally, and there should be a ban of interstate movement of cervid, until a live cwd test is available.
***> 3rd Captive Farmed cervid ESCAPEES should be made mandatory to report immediately, and strict regulations for those suspect cwd deer that just happen to disappear. IF a cervid escapes and is not found, that farm should be indefinitely shut down, all movement, until aid MIA cervid is found, and if not ever found, that farm shut down permanently.
***> 4th Captive Farmed Cervid, INDEMNITY, NO MORE Federal indemnity program, or what i call, ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM for game farm industry. NO MORE BAIL OUTS FROM TAX PAYERS. if the captive industry can't buy insurance to protect not only themselves, but also their customers, and especially the STATE, from Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion or what some call mad deer disease and harm therefrom, IF they can't afford to buy that insurance that will cover all of it, then they DO NOT GET A PERMIT to have a game farm for anything. This CWD TSE Prion can/could/has caused property values to fall from some reports in some places. roll the dice, how much is a state willing to lose?
***> 5th QUARANTINE OF ALL FARMED CAPTIVE, BREEDERS, URINE, ANTLER, VELVET, SPERM, OR ANY FACILITY, AND THEIR PRODUCTS, that has been confirmed to have Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion, the QUARANTINE should be for 21 years due to science showing what scrapie can do. 5 years is NOT near long enough. see; Infectious agent of sheep scrapie may persist in the environment for at least 16 to 21 years.
***> 6th America BSE 589.2001 FEED REGULATIONS CWD TSE Prion
***> 7TH TRUCKING TRANSPORTING CERVID CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE TSE PRION VIOLATING THE LACEY ACT
***> 8TH ALL CAPTIVE FARMING CERVID OPERATIONS MUST BE INSURED TO PAY FOR ANY CLEAN UP OF CWD AND QUARANTINE THERE FROM FOR THE STATE, NO MORE ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM FOR CERVID GAME FARMING PAY TO PLAY FOR CWD TSE PRION OFF THE TAXPAYERS BACK.
***> 9TH ANY STATE WITH DOCUMENTED CWD, INTERSTATE, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT OF ALL CERVID, AND ALL CERVID PRODUCTS MUST BE HALTED!
***> 10TH BAN THE SALE OF STRAW BRED BUCKS AND ALL CERVID SEMEN AND URINE PRODUCTS
***> 11th ALL CAPTIVE FARMED CERVID AND THEIR PRODUCTS MUST BE CWD TSE PRION TESTED ANNUALLY AND BEFORE SALE FOR CWD TSE PRION
SEE FULL SCIENCE REFERENCES AND REASONINGS ;
Control of Chronic Wasting Disease OMB Control Number: 0579-0189 APHIS-2021-0004
Singeltary Submission
www.regulations.gov/comment/APHIS-2021-0004-0002
downloads.regulations.gov/APHIS-2021-0004-0002/attachment_1.pdf
Docket No. APHIS-2018-0011 Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification
www.regulations.gov/document/APHIS-2018-0011-0003
downloads.regulations.gov/APHIS-2018-0011-0003/attachment_1.pdf
Notice of Request To Renew an Approved Information Collection: Specified Risk Materials DOCKET NUMBER Docket No. FSIS-2022-0027 Singeltary Submission
Greetings FSIS, USDA, et al,
Thank you kindly for allowing the public to comment on ;
(a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of FSIS’ functions, including whether the information will have practical utility;
(b) the accuracy of FSIS’ estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the method and assumptions used;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques, or other forms of information technology.
I will be commenting mostly on a, b, and c, because d, is wanting to minimize the burden of collection, and i do not think that is possible if ''These statutes mandate that FSIS protect the public by verifying that meat, poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, and properly labeled and packaged.'', is truly the intent of these statutes, and i would kindly like to explain why, and why it is so critical that these Specified Risk Materials SRM TSE Prion Statues are so important for public health, and WHY there is an urgent need to enhance them, considering the risk factors of Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion in Cervid.
THIS collection of SRM materials information should be done all the time, year after year, and ending it EVER would be foolish, imo, not scientific, and will lead to future risk to public health, if you consider just how bad USDA/FSIS/APHIS/FDA failed so badly with the FDA PART 589 TSE PRION FEED BAN, the SRM REMOVAL, THE BSE SURVEILLANCE AND TESTING PROGRAMS, THEY FAILED ALL OF THEM TERRIBLY IMO, AND BY CONTINUING TO INSIST ON TESTING 25K CATTLE FOR BSE IS A DISASTER WATING TO HAPPEND IMO!
SPECIFIED RISK MATERS
Specified Risk Materials SRMs, are the most high risk infectious materials, organs, of a cow that is infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy, BSE TSE Prion. the atypical BSE strains are, like atypical L-type BSE are more infectious that the typical C-type BSE. Also, Science of the BSE TSE has evolved to show that there are more infectious tissues and organs than previously thought. I wish to kindly post all this evidence, as to show you why this information collection of SRMs are so vital to public safety, and why they should be enhanced for cattle, cervid, sheep, and goats, oh, and not to forget the new livestock prion disease in camel, the Camel Prion Disease CPD.
ONE other thing, you must remember, SCIENCE AND TRANSMISSION STUDIES have now shown that CWD and Scrapie can transmit to PIGS by Oral route. This should be included in any enhancement of the SRM or FDA PART 589 TSE PRION FEED ban.
NOT to forget Zoonosis of all of the above, i will post the latest science to date at the bottom of the attached files.
Thank You, terry
www.regulations.gov/comment/FSIS-2022-0027-0002
downloads.regulations.gov/FSIS-2022-0027-0002/attachment_1.pdf
continued in file attachment...terry