No Evidence of CWD, but TB in Deer Herd May be On Rise
mlive.com
3 Feb 2007
B Gwizdz
After extensive testing, wildlife health officials have not found any evidence of chronic wasting disease in Michigan's hoofed animal populations. Nor has high-pathogenic Asian avian influenza been found. However, prevalence of tuberculosis Researchers Debate Potential Path of Bird Fluin the deer herd may be on the increase. Chronic wasting disease, an always fatal neurological disorder of deer and elk that has been found as near as Wisconsin and Illinois, does not appear to have established itself in Michigan.
Department of Natural Resources veterinarian Steve Schmitt said the agency tested about 1,500 deer, 110 elk and seven moose (mostly road kill) without turning up a case of the disease. Deer were sampled in every county and included 71 animals that were targeted specifically for testing because they were exhibiting symptoms. "Those are basically the skinny deer you can walk up to," Schmitt said. Schmitt said he was especially pleased that the agency was able to test a number of animals killed on the road.
Groups Seek Ban on Poisons Used to Control Wildlife
Billingsgazette.com
3 Feb 2007
B French
Citing concerns about risks to people, endangered species and pets, a coalition of public health and conservation groups have petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to ban two poisons for use as wildlife control agents. "EPA takes very seriously its responsibilities to ensure that pesticides registered in the United States can be used safely without harming people, wildlife or the environment," said the EPA's Enesta Jones. "We will review the petition."
The EPA has no time limit to review the document and respond. The poisons targeted for prohibition are sodium cyanide capsules and sodium fluoroacetate. In Montana and Wyoming, sodium cyanide is commonly used to kill coyotes using baited M-44 ejectors. In Montana, three people, 22 government agents and two commercial applicators are licensed to use sodium cyanide. The poison is most commonly used by Wildlife Services, an agency under the U.S. Department of Agriculture responsible for predator control across the nation.
The News Journal
4 Feb 2007
M McDonough
Photo Courtesy of D Quigley
1, 2, 3, 4 ... 274,694. Over the course of four days last February, Delawareans sighted 274,694 birds -- representing 136 different species -- in their backyards, neighborhood parks, state wildlife areas and on the beach. They were gathering data for the Great Backyard Bird Count, an annual nationwide event sponsored by Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. This year's count takes place Feb. 16-19.
Since its inception 10 years ago, the Great Backyard Count has been an effective way to get more Americans involved and engaged in the natural world, says Dr. Chris Williams, University of Delaware assistant professor of wildlife ecology. Beyond that, this real-time snapshot of where the birds are provides scientists with useful data, says Williams.
Pandemic Flu May be Only Two Mutations Away
NewScientist
01 Feb 2007
D MacKenzie
The difference between a flu virus that kills millions, and one that kills only a few comes down to just two amino acid changes, researchers say. The finding could allow scientists to stay one step ahead of an H5N1 flu pandemic by screening for the specific mutations that would enable it to spread. A new study investigating the difference between the 1918 pandemic flu virus – which killed at least 50 million people – and a virus which kills but does not spread turned out to be two small mutations on the virus’s surface.
Just two amino acids – the building blocks of protein – need to change on the virus’s surface in order to allow it to spread easily between people, the researchers found. The discovery comes as H5N1 continues to kill. Indonesia this week declared a state of emergency, as it counted its 63rd death. Sub-Saharan Africa confirmed its first death, a 22 year old woman in Lagos, Nigeria.
Journal Article(s) of Interest
Wild Deer as a Source of Infection for Livestock and Humans in the UK (online abstract only)
Vet J. 2007 Jan 24; [Epub ahead of print]
M Bohm and et al.
Continuing Organochlorine Insecticide Mortality in Wild Birds in New York, 2000–2004 (no online abstract available)
Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2006 Nov;77(5):726-31.
JC Okoniewski and et al
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