Hunting Deer and Chronic Wrecking Disease
When hunting deer, the first step is to make sure the animal is free of chronic wasting disease (CWD). It is transmitted through contact with body fluids that are contaminated with prion disease, and the animal may have the disease if it eats infected meat. This disease is named for the dramatic loss of body weight, which may also be accompanied by lack of fear and listlessness.
Can humans get CWD from eating deer?
Although there are no confirmed cases of CWD in humans, it is important to avoid any contact with any part of a deer that may be infected with the disease. The brain, tonsils, spleen, spinal cord, and lymph glands of infected animals can all harbor CWD-causing prions. CDC guidelines advise hunters to avoid contact with these areas. Also, hunters should not handle infected animals and should avoid consuming the meat of sick animals.
In one reported case, a woman had a positive family history of chronic wasting disease, a condition known as Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS). The patient was part of a cluster of three case-patients, and the genetic mutation in her family was confirmed in her brain tissue. She was raised in an area that was highly endemic for CWD and ate venison. She may have harvested two deer in that area since 1996. Luckily, both of the deer were negative for CWD.
What are the symptoms of chronic wasting disease?
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects deer and elk. It is caused by a misfolded protein that damages nerve cells in the brain. It causes animals to lose weight and become emaciated. The disease can also cause deer to exhibit symptoms of drooling and loss of fear of humans. Although there are no treatments for CWD, early diagnosis is important to prevent further damage to the animal.
Although clinical chronic wasting disease is difficult to diagnose by observation, the disease can be spotted through lymph node tests and blood tests. The first common symptom is a poor body condition, which makes the animal less alert. The deer may also be lactating or suffer from another illness.
What causes chronic wasting disease?
Chronic wasting disease, or CWD, is a neurological disease of deer, elk, and moose. It is caused by abnormal proteins in the brain. They are not destroyed by the body and instead cause damage to the surrounding cells. This gives the brain a spongy appearance. It is classified as a type of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). The other types of TSEs include mad cow disease and scrapie.
CWD is caused by an abnormal protein called a prion. These prions can infect other animals and transmit the disease. Infected animals transmit the disease through direct animal-to-animal contact, feces, saliva, and blood. While the disease is not contagious to humans, hunters should avoid handling diseased animals.
Should you shoot a deer with CWD?
Unless the deer is obviously infected with CWD, there is no need to shoot it. Most CWD-positive deer will appear healthy and have no symptoms. Still, hunters in CWD-prone areas should submit every deer they harvest for testing. They should then wait at least two weeks before consuming any venison that may contain CWD. Since the disease can remain undetected in a deer for up to two years, it is important to test the animal before eating it. Moreover, hunters should follow the state regulations regarding the disposal of deer carcasses. Usually, states have designated disposal sites where hunters can dispose of deer carcasses.
Hunters should sign up for communications from state wildlife agencies, such as e-mail alerts, texts, e-newsletters, and social media updates. Also, it is crucial to report any sick deer immediately to the state wildlife agency. This will prevent the spread of the disease to other animals.
Is CWD transmissible to humans?
While it is not known whether CWD is transmissible to humans, it has been shown that it can infect squirrel monkeys and laboratory mice. Recent research suggests that the disease is also transmitted to macaques, an animal species that is genetically more similar to humans than any other species. However, these studies are preliminary, and further research is needed to confirm whether CWD is transmissible to humans.
Although CWD is most often associated with elk, the disease can affect any animal. It is currently endemic in mule deer and elk populations in the United States. It has also been detected in other regions of the world. It was first identified in 1967 in captive mule deer in Colorado, and now occurs in 24 states and two Canadian provinces. According to the Alliance for Public Wildlife, as many as seven to 15 percent of deer in the United States are prone to chronic wasting disease.
