Preventive Measures and Existing Regulations for Chronic Wasting Disease in the U.S.

Transcription

1 Preventive Measures and Existing Regulations for Chronic Wasting Disease in the U.S. Dr. Lynn Creekmore USDA, APHIS, VS National Center for Animal Health Programs Eradication and Surveillance Team

2 Objectives: Describe background and challenges posed by CWD that relate to management and regulatory approach. Describe APHIS role in response to CWD in farmed cervids including current and proposed programs and regulations Describe APHIS role in response to CWD in wild animals Photo by Elizabeth Williams

3 Background Disease occurs in multiple species, captive and free-ranging ranging Multiple regulatory authorities and fragmented jurisdictional frameworks Farmed cervids are a relatively new livestock industry Critical gaps in disease knowledge/epidem epidem. (transmission, incubation, C&D, host range) Limited diagnostic tools Impacts of public/media perceptions!

4 CWD Host Range and Distribution Natural host range includes mule deer, white- tailed deer and elk, both farmed and wild CWD has been detected in farmed cervids in 29 herds in eight states (CO, KS, MN, MT, NE, OK, SD, WI) CWD also has been detected in wild cervids in eight States (CO, IL, NE, NM, SD, UT, WI, WY) Susceptibility of other cervid species (farmed and wild) is unknown Other livestock species studies underway

5 CWD Positive and Exposed Animals and Herds: Cumulative through September 2003 Blue Captive Elk Purple Captive Deer Orange Free-Ranging Deer and Elk

6 CWD Regulatory Challenge APHIS role is to protect the health of animal agriculture including alternative livestock species. Management of wildlife is the responsibility of the States and Federal land management agencies.

7 CWD Regulatory Challenge (cont.) When native species are farmed as alternative livestock, the jurisdictions and concerns become more complicated. The jurisdictional framework for alternative livestock such as deer and elk is fragmented.

8 Farmed Cervid Industry Relatively new Divided by species North American Elk Breeder s Association (NAEBA) North American Deer Farmer s Association (NADeFA( NADeFA) Exotic Wildlife Association Others. Each group has different concerns and even management philosophies

9 Critical Knowledge Gaps Impacting Approach Maximum incubation period unknown Time from infection to shedding is unknown Route of shedding is unknown Most efficient route of transmission is unknown No techniques to measure levels of agent in the environment Minimum infectious dose unknown Adequate cleaning and decontamination approaches for premises unknown

10 Diagnostics Gold standard for diagnostics is IHC on the obex IHC high in sensitivity and specificity Allows visualization of staining in association with specific tissue architecture - confidence Two ELISA-based test kits currently licensed for CWD testing: Bio-Rad and VMRD Licensed for specific tissues and species More on the way

11 Diagnostics (cont d) For captive cervids IHC still the standard Why no test kit use? Captive test results can be highly contentious and may result in regulatory action Individual status is critical Adequate laboratory capacity to meet the need May consider use of alternative tests in the future For free-ranging ranging cervids Test kits used because allow for faster testing of large numbers of samples Population status is critical Tonsillar biopsy used by some states

12 The Three P s: politics, public perception and popular culture

13 APHIS Approach- Farmed Cervids Response to requests by the States and Industry through USAHA to establish a National program Utilized an inclusive process involving industry, State Ag Agency and State Wildlife Agency, University and ARS representatives to develop the program Implementation of CWD program as funding and authorities allow. Goal is to complete development and begin implementation of a herd certification program with interstate movement requirements Requires funding and specific regulation

14 Current Program Authorities and Funding in Farmed Cervids General Authorities 9CFR subchapter B - Establish cooperative programs to control and eradicate communicable diseases of livestock Animal Health Protection Act of 2002: - Promulgate regulations and take measures to prevent introduction and interstate dissemination of communicable diseases of livestock within the U.S. and pay claims growing out of destruction of animals 9 CFR Part 53 - Allows response to certain FADs and other communicable diseases of livestock or poultry

15 Current CWD Program Authorities and Funding (cont.) Declaration of Emergency Declaration made by the Secretary of Agriculture - effective September 21, 2001 Made CCC funds available for purchase of positive and exposed elk, to conduct enhanced surveillance and testing and to support CWD developmental projects. Photo courtesy of USDA-APHIS-VS-NVSL

16 Current CWD Program Authorities (cont.) Interim Indemnity Rule Published in the Federal Register February 8, 2002 Adds Part 55 Control of Chronic Wasting Disease to 9 CFR, Chapter 1, Subchapter B. Only document currently governing the CWD program for farmed cervids. Provides for the payment of indemnity and other costs associated with the voluntary depopulation of captive cervid herds known to be infected with CWD as well as CWD exposed trace animals and CWD suspect animals.

17 Regulation to Support the CWD Herd Certification Program Will establish the CWD Herd Certification Program Will establish mandatory requirements for interstate movement of captive cervids Because the regulation is not yet final, we can only discuss general framework and intent Regulation is in final Departmental review Next it will go to OMB After OMB approval Published for public comment Have received line item funding for FY2003 to support current activities and implementation of the proposed program.

18 Current Program Activities- Surveillance Farmed Depopulation of positive or exposed animals/herds

19 Surveillance in Captive Deer and Elk Number of Samples ,592 FY 1998 FY 1999 FY 2000 FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003 (through 8/03)

20 Depopulations of CWD Positive and Exposed Captive Cervids Prior to 2001 no funds were available for indemnity for CWD-positive or exposed animals 9 herds depopulated (642 animals) credit to industry, States, ARS CCC funds were released to assist with CWD efforts in September 2001 and in FY 2003 received a line item appropriation 14 more positive herds depopulated (2,184 animals). KS and WI contributed all or part of the indemnity for two herds. In addition, a total of 32 exposed herds (2475 animals) were depopulated. 31 of these herds were located in the CO and NE endemic areas. Three positive herds were identified in this effort; 2 in CO and 1 in NE.

21 Other CWD Herds One herd had quarantine lifted after five years of surveillance with no additional positives Two positive herds remain one in CO and one in WI Three exposed herds remain 1 in CO, 1 in WI and 1 in MN (currently being depopulated)

22 CWD Positive and Exposed Captive Cervids: Existing herds (As of August 15, 2003) Red - Positive Pink - Exposed

23 Proposed USDA, APHIS CWD Herd Certification Program Goal: To eliminate CWD from the U.S. captive cervid population Safeguarding the alternative livestock industry Assurance for international trading partners

24 Proposed USDA, APHIS CWD Herd Certification Program Provides minimum standards Voluntary Captive/farmed elk and deer Fencing requirements Animal ID and herd inventory Surveillance of deaths over 16 months Herd status years of surveillance Herd additions same or greater status Positive positive with approved test and tissue by NVSL approved laboratory

25 Proposed USDA, APHIS CWD Herd Certification Program Response to positive herds: Depopulation Quarantine w/ selective depopulation Response to trace herds Trace-forward Removal and testing or quarantine Trace-back Depopulation or quarantine

26 Proposed USDA, APHIS CWD Program: Interstate Movement Requirements Movement allowed only if participating in herd certification program and measures for response to positive and trace herds are being followed in the State of origin

27 Implementation State programs Status of supporting regulation Funding Status of UM&R Field force, epidemiology support, staff

28 APHIS Approach - Wildlife Response to requests for surveillance assistance by the States Plan for Assisting States, Federal Agencies, and Tribes in Managing Chronic Wasting Disease in Wild Communications, Dissemination of Information, Diagnostics, Disease Management, Research, and Surveillance Working with States, Federal Agencies, and Tribes to implement the plan Cooperative agreements with State Wildlife agencies Funds for surveillance and management distributed according to formula developed with International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA)

29 Surveillance in Wild Deer and Elk CO and WY have been conducting surveillance since the 1980 s Since 1997, APHIS has provided assistance to States for wildlife surveillance Number of Samples / / / / /2002 This past hunting season (2002/2003) more than 90,000 samples were collected from cervids in 37 States and tested with APHIS assistance. A number of States also conducted surveillance without APHIS assistance so the total exceeds 115,000.

30 CWD Surveillance and Management in Wildlife Cooperative Agreements Tier 1= States with CWD present in free-ranging ranging cervids Eligible for $218,750 in management and surveillance funding Tier 2 = States adjacent to Tier 1 or with CWD detected in its captive cervid population Eligible for $71,248 in surveillance funding Tier 3 = All other States Eligible for $44,648 in surveillance funding

31 CWD Surveillance and Management in Wildlife Cooperative Agreements Conditions of agreements: work plans, budgets, surveillance and management objectives and strategies, testing protocols, sampling numbers, etc. Variety of approaches All 50 States have applied for this funding Only a handful that are pending approval

32 CWD Surveillance and Management in Wildlife FY 2003 Assistance to Tribes $350,000 cooperative agreement with Native American Fish and Wildlife Society to hire 5 tribal biologists to assist with surveillance $30,000 for cooperative agreements for up to 5 tribes to assist with CWD surveillance

33 CWD Surveillance and Management in Wildlife Future???? Similar programs anticipated for FY 2004 depending on appropriations Continue to work with States, Tribes and other Federal agencies to implement the National Plan

34 Questions???

35 Contact Information Lynn Creekmore Senior Staff Veterinarian/Wildlife Disease Liaison USDA, APHIS, VS National Center for Animal Health Programs, Eradication and Surveillance Team 2150 Centre Avenue, Mail Stop 3E13 Fort Collins, CO Phone FAX Web page