Are you sure it isn't Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease/Fever that you're referring to? (See below) I know Montana has had a lot of confirmed cases of blue tongue in domestic sheep and deer. If it is EHD you're referring to, is seems it is being confirmed in lots of midwestern/eastern states. I believe blue tongue and EHD have similar symptoms, but are not the same disease. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Cheers---
TTB :wink:
Archive Number 20070818.2701
Published Date 18-AUG-2007
Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, cervids - USA (KY)
EPIZOOTIC HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE, CERVIDS - USA (KENTUCKY)
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[1]
Date: 16 Aug 2007
Source: Kentucky.com [edited]
<http://www.kentucky.com/471/story/151343.html>
White-tail deer dying in 11 counties
---------------------------------------
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is
investigating disease deaths of white-tailed deer in western Kentucky.
The worst outbreak of what is suspected to be hemorrhagic disease is
in McLean County, but is also reported in 10 other counties. Wildlife
Biologist Danny Watson says the disease is carried through the bite
of gnats. He says more than 20 dead deer have been reported in McLean
County and he says weak and emaciated deer are being found in or near
water.
Watson says hemorrhagic disease is caused by a virus, and large
outbreaks occur in Kentucky about every 2 years. Other affected
counties are Breckinridge, Christian, Daviess, Hopkins, Logan,
Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson and Webster.
Archery season for deer opens statewide on 1 Sep 2007, and Fish and
Wildlife reports there's no reason to curtail the season. They say
Hemorrhagic disease is not infectious to humans.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Joseph P. Dudley
[2]
Date: 16 Aug 2007
Source: WHAS11.com [edited]
<http://www.whas11.com/news/local/stories/081607whasmjdLocalDeerDeaths.3e0370a9.html>
Wildlife officials say disease may be causing deer deaths
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kentucky state wildlife officials suspect that a disease is causing
the deaths of numerous white-tailed deer in a portion of western
Kentucky. Tests results are not complete, but officials suspect
hemorrhagic disease carried by biting gnats is responsible. The
disease is not infectious to humans, according to the Kentucky
Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
The worst outbreak is in McLean County, where more than 20 deer have
been reported dead. The dead or weak deer are often found in or near
water.
"Hemorrhagic disease is caused by a virus. We see large outbreaks
about every 2 years in Kentucky," said Danny Watson, a KDFWR wildlife
biologist.
Other affected counties are Breckinridge, Christian, Daviess,
Hopkins, Logan, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson and Webster. Archery season
for deer opens statewide on 1 Sep 2007.
Tracy Bell, a conservation officer in McLean County, said several
people contacted him in the last 2 weeks to report dead deer. He has
retrieved 2 carcasses, one out of the yard of a home in Daviess
County, the other out of a pond in McLean County. Some of the animals
were sent to a laboratory in Hopkinsville for testing.
Mike Henshaw, regional program coordinator for KDFWR, said the lab
has not isolated a cause for the deaths, but with the lack of rain
and plenty of stagnant water, conditions are ideal for the spread of
gnats.
The last significant outbreak of hemorrhagic disease was 2003,
Henshaw said. But that mainly affected another part of the state,
leaving the herd in his area with little or no immunity, he said.
Local deer populations can be hit hard. A survey of a farm in Webster
County along the Green River found 20 dead deer, Henshaw said. Last
Friday [10 Aug 2007], Bell saw 5 deer carcasses in the water along a
stretch of the river, he said. Bell counted 3 more dead deer in the
river near Central City on Sunday [12 Aug 2007].
[Information from: Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer
<http://www.messenger-inquirer.com>]
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Joseph P. Dudley
[Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) is not uncommon in many states.
EHD is an acute, infectious, often fatal viral disease of some wild
ruminants. This malady, characterized by extensive hemorrhages, has
been responsible for significant epizootics in deer in the northern
United States and southern Canada. A similar hemorrhagic disease
called bluetongue also occurs in wild ruminants. The 2 diseases are
antigenically different, although there are similar clinical signs.
The 1st occurrence and subsequent identification of EHD occurred in
1955, when several hundred white-tailed deer (_Odocoileus
virginianus_) succumbed in both New Jersey and in Michigan. It was
considered a new disease of deer, and the name "epizootic hemorrhagic
disease" was suggested to describe its main clinical and pathological
features.
Since the initial 1955 outbreak, this malady has occurred primarily
among white-tailed deer, although occasionally mule deer (_O.
hemionus_) and pronghorn antelope (_Antilocapra americana_) have also
succumbed.
The mode of transmission of EHD in nature is via a _Culicoides_
biting fly or gnat. _Culicoides variipennis_ is the most commonly
incriminated vector in North America. A common observation in
outbreaks involving large numbers of deer (as in Michigan, New
Jersey, and Alberta) is that they are single epizootics that do not
recur. Die-offs involving small numbers of deer (as experienced in
South Dakota and Nebraska) occur almost annually, and the disease
appears to be enzootic in these areas. All documented outbreaks of
EHD have occurred during late summer and early fall (August-October)
and have ceased abruptly with the onset of frost.
Clinical signs of EHD and bluetongue are similar. White-tailed deer
develop signs of illness about 7 days after exposure. A consistent
characteristic of the disease is its sudden onset. Deer initially
lose their appetite and fear of man, grow progressively weaker, often
salivate excessively, develop rapid pulse and respiration, and
finally become unconscious. Hemorrhage and lack of oxygen in the
blood result in a blue appearance of the oral mucosa, hence the name
"bluetongue." Between 8 and 36 hours following the onset of
observable signs, deer pass into a shock-like state, become
prostrate, and die.
The gross and histological lesions of EHD are characterized by
extensive hemorrhage, ranging from pinpoint to massive in size, and
involve different tissues and organs in individual animals. No organs
appear to be exempt from hemorrhage, with the most regularly involved
being the heart, liver, spleen, kidney, lung, and intestinal tract.
Extensive hemorrhaging is the result of interference with the
blood-clotting mechanism together with degeneration of blood vessel
walls.
Because of its very high mortality rate, EHD can have a significant
effect upon the deer population in a given area, reducing numbers
drastically. Hemorrhagic disease can be transmitted to other wild
ruminants. The EHD virus can infect domestic animals but rarely
causes disease. Presently there is no evidence that the virus crosses
into humans.
Portions extracted from Roselake Wildlife Disease Laboratory site:
<http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12150_12220-26647--,00.html>
A photo of whitetail deer may be seen at:
<http://www.fnal.gov/pub/today/images04/oleynik_whitetail_deer.jpg>
- Mod.TG]
[see also:
2006
--
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, cervids - USA (IN) 20061101.3132
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, cervids - USA (MI) 20061014.2949
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, cattle - Morocco (03): OIE 20061010.2906
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, cervids - USA (WY) 20060930.2803
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, cervids - USA (TX) (03) 20060930.2801
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease. cervids - USA (TX) (02) 20060918.2657
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, cervids - USA (TX): susp. 20060914.2600]
....................tg/ejp/lm
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EPIZOOTIC HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE, CERVIDS - USA (MULTISTATE) (08)
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[1] Pennsylvania
[2] West Virginia
******
[1] Pennsylvania
Date: 5 Oct 2007
Source: Herald Standard.com [edited]
<http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18885704&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=480247&rfi=6>
An official with the state Game Commission updated the Greene County
commissioners Thursday [4 Oct 2007] about a viral disease that has
caused the deaths of as many as 1500 deer in Greene and Washington counties.
During the commissioners' regular meeting Thursday [4 Oct 2007],
Harry Gillespie, deputy wildlife conservation officer with the Game
Commission, provided information regarding the recent outbreak of
epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) that has infected and killed a
large number of deer in Greene County and throughout the state.
Gillespie explained that EHD is the most common infectious disease of
white-tailed deer in the eastern United States and is contracted by
the bite of insects called "biting midges." EHD is caused by a virus
that is spread by midges that live in or near water and wet and muddy
areas, and the insects transmit the virus as they feed.
Gillespie said at least 1500 deer deaths caused by EHD have been
reported in Greene and Washington counties. Many areas in the
northwestern parts of Greene -- particularly Richhill, Gray, Morris,
Aleppo and Center townships -- have been severely impacted by the
outbreak, he said.
Deer deaths caused by EHD also have been reported in West Finley,
East Finley, South Franklin and Morris townships in Washington
County, according to the Game Commission.
Numerous other states are finding EHD-related mortalities this year
[2006]. Gillespie said he recently learned that EHD-related cases had
been confirmed in 20 counties throughout West Virginia. Reports also
have been confirmed recently in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana and Virginia.
However, the number of EHD-related deer deaths reported in Greene
County has appeared to have "slowed down" as of late, Gillespie said,
adding that the EHD outbreak should end with the onset of colder
weather, which will kill the insects that spread the disease.
"A good, hard frost should kill the insects and end the outbreak,"
Gillespie said. "But as long as we have hot and dry weather, the
outbreak will continue to be a problem here."
Gillespie added that the Game Commission is confident the outbreak
will be eliminated in time for the start of deer rifle season, which
begins 26 Nov 2007.
Gillespie also shared information regarding signs of EHD that can
found in infected deer. According to information provided by
Gillespie, deer in the early stages of EHD may appear lethargic,
disoriented, lame or unresponsive to humans.
As the disease progresses, the deer may drool or may have bloody
discharge from the nose, sores on the mouth and swollen, blue
tongues. The deer also may become skinny because they stop eating.
In a press release recently issued by the Game Commission, Dr. Walter
Cottrell, Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife veterinarian,
stressed that there is no evidence that humans can acquire the
disease by touching or field-dressing a deer.
However, as a routine precaution, all hunters are encouraged to wear
rubber or latex gloves when handling or field-dressing an animal and
wash hands and tools thoroughly after field dressing.
While EHD is not transmissible to humans, deer displaying severe
signs of EHD may not be suitable for consumption, Cottrell said.
Residents are encouraged to continue to report any unusual sightings
of infected deer to Matt Hough, the Game Commission's Southwest
Region director, by calling the regional office at 724-238-9523.
Game Commission officials agreed at a meeting held last month
[September 2007] in Harrisburg to take proactive steps to address the
recent EHD outbreak.
Last month [September 2007], Sen. Richard Kasunic called on the
commission to take action over the significant threat the outbreak
poses to the deer herd in southwestern Pennsylvania.
In a press release issued after the Harrisburg meeting, Kasunic said
he was confident the commission would take proactive steps to work
with local hunters and game officials to address the disease.
Kasunic said Carl Roe, the Game Commission's executive director and 4
commissioners agreed to take steps to combat the disease. The
commissioners agreed to hold informational meetings in areas that
could be impacted by EHD.
Kasunic said a meeting would be scheduled with sportsmen and wildlife
managers in the Greene and Washington wildlife management region to
discuss the disease, its potential impact on the local deer
population, preventative precautions and possible lasting solutions.
Gillespie said Game Commission officials held a meeting at the Greene
County Fairgrounds on 28 Sep 2007, which 550 concerned area residents
attended. The meeting included informational presentations by game
commission experts focusing on the EHD outbreak.
The last EHD outbreak confirmed in Greene and Washington counties was
reported in 2002, according to the Game Commission.
[Byline: Steve Barrett]
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail <
[email protected]>
******
[2] West Virginia
Date: 3 Oct 2007
Source: DelmarvaNow.com [edited]
<http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071003/NEWS01/71003056/1002>
An insect-borne disease isn't done with the state's deer population
yet, even though the coming cold weather means its days are numbered.
The malady -- epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD -- has so far
spread to at least 20 counties, wildlife officials said, and they
expect it will be etected in others as laboratory samples taken from
dead deer are studied.
Paul Johansen, assistant wildlife chief at the Division of Natural
Resources, can't remember seeing the disease quite so widespread,
either in West Virginia or regionally.
"It's been in Pennsylvania; Kentucky's had problems, Tennessee," he
said. The disease has also been confirmed in Ohio, Indiana and Virginia.
Although the disease has been found in West Virginia and other
mid-Atlantic states before, it's more common in warmer, Southern states.
The warm, dry summer may have contributed to the spread of the
ailment, Johansen said. The lack of water forces large numbers of
deer to congregate in the remaining areas that haven't dried up,
which is also where the biting midge, the insect that carries EHD, lives.
The disease is normally fatal to deer within 5-10 days. Cold weather
usually ends any outbreak by killing the insects that spread the virus.
Although the disease can't spread to humans, the state Department of
Agriculture is worried because it has made the jump to livestock.
Cattle on 3 farms in Mineral County, which borders Maryland, have
tested positive for the disease, said Gary Kinder, assistant state
veterinarian. The state has sent samples from farms in Jackson and
Roane counties and expect results in about a week.
Farmers in areas with infected deer should be especially vigilant in
checking livestock for symptoms of the disease, like listlessness and
a protruding tongue.
Davidson said 1993 was the last time EHD was detected in West Virginia cattle.
The 1st heavy frost should stop the problem in West Virginia, which
is why Johansen said there's no need to panic.
"This isn't a crisis. The sky's not falling. This is a pretty common
disease," he said.
[Byline: Tom Breen]
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail <
[email protected]>
[A county map of Pennsylvania may be found at:
<http://www.campingpa.com/campground/countymap.htm>.
A county map of West Virginia may be found at:
<http://www.censusfinder.com/mapwv.htm>.
With both states finding this disease, it is likely that neighboring
states such as Maryland have the disease. Surveillance is important
since the clinical signs of this disease are also on the rule out
list for such diseases as anthrax and foot and mouth disease,
especially when it spills over to cattle. - Mod.TG]
[see also:
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, cervids - USA (multistate)(07) 20071001.3248
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, bovine - USA (02): KY 20070928.3208
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, cervids - USA (multistate) (06) 20070927.3198
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, cervids - USA (multistate) (05) 20070923.3158
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, cervids - USA (multistate) (04) 20070916.3081
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, cervids - USA (multistate) (03) 20070911.3010
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, bovine - USA (OH): 1st rep 20070905.2922
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, cervids - USA (multistate) (02) 20070825.2796
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, cervids - USA (multistate) 20070821.2739
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease, cervids - USA (KY) 20070818.2701]
............................................tg/msp/mpp
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or archived material.
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