- Colorado Dept Of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife:
Hunter-Harvested Moose Tests Positive for CWD
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- The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) has confirmed
that a bull moose killed by an archer has tested positive for chronic wasting
disease (CWD). The moose was submitted for testing on 12 Sep 2005.
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- CWD was diagnosed in testing completed by the Colorado
State University (CSU) Veterinary Diagnostic lab. Because this is the 1st
time CWD has been found in a wild moose, testing will be repeated on this
sample.
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- Until now CWD had only been found in the wild in deer
and elk.
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- The DOW and CSU have worked together to develop the most
efficient and accurate CWD testing program in the country. CWD testing
for moose was made mandatory in Colorado in 2003. Since 2002, 288 moose
have been tested and the disease was not detected.
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- Nearly 13 000 deer and elk were submitted for CWD testing
between August 2004 and April 2005. Of those animals, 175 tested positive
for CWD.
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- "This is a single case of CWD in moose, but given
their social habits we believe that cases in moose are likely to be a rare
occurrence," said Mike Miller, wildlife veterinarian with the DOW.
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- Deer, elk and moose are all members of the deer family.
But unlike deer and elk, moose do not form herds or large social groups.
Moose are typically solitary animals and generally only stay with other
moose in cow-calf pairs.
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- The moose was harvested legally by a licensed archery
hunter in GMU 171, which is located in Jackson County, south of Cameron
Pass.
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- The hunter who submitted the moose for testing was contacted
and will have the choice of having his license fee refunded or receiving
a cow moose license for the same Game Management Unit this year. He will
also receive a refund from the DOW for the cost of processing the animal.
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- The hunter said that he is pleased that the DOW has the
testing system available, and he is glad to be able to contribute to the
ongoing scientific research on CWD.
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- CWD is a fatal neurological disease that has been diagnosed
in wild deer and elk in 10 states and 2 Canadian provinces. Animals show
no apparent signs of illness throughout much of disease course. In terminal
stages of CWD, animals typically are emaciated and display abnormal behavior.
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- Epidemiologists with the Colorado Department of Public
Health and Environment have found no link between CWD and any human neurological
disorders.
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- http://dnr.state.co.us/news/press.asp?pressid=3645
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- Patricia A. Doyle, PhD
Please visit my "Emerging
Diseases" message board.
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- Zhan le Devlesa tai sastimasa
Go with God and in Good Health
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- Comment
- Patricia Doyle, PhD
- dr_p_doyle@hotmail.com
- 10-3-5
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- Hello Jeff - I was glad to see you put the CWD moose
story up in the mad cow segment. If you remember when I first began writing
and doing interviews years ago, I would write or say CWD of deer, elk and
moose. I stopped saying moose because I got a few very nasty emails about
CWD not found in moose.
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- I was trying to make a point that CWD would show up in
any cervid, deer, elk and moose. A couple of people did not get it, so
I stopped adding moose. Well, I can now add moose and point to a specific
case. The writer of the email was a Fish and Wildlife guy and was very
nasty about my using moose in CWD articles without referring to a case.
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- Unfortunately, moose have been added. Someday, I am
sure we will have a case of atypical CJD in humans and find that case is
close to CWD. It will be CWD, humans. Same goes for goats and cows.
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- Too bad some don't want to open their eyes. For the
life of me, I don't understand why anyone would hunt and offer meat to
family and friends. Boggles the mind.
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- Patty
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