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Article << Previous     |     Next >>   Contents Vol 39(2)

Live-trapping and bovine tuberculosis testing of free-ranging white-tailed deer for targeted removal

Melinda K. Cosgrove A E, Henry Campa B, Stephen M. Schmitt A, David R. Marks C, Anthony S. Wilson D and Daniel J. O’Brien A

A Wildlife Disease Laboratory, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, 4125 Beaumont Road, Room 250, Lansing, Michigan 48910-8106, USA.
B Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI 48824-1222, USA.
C United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant and Health Inspection Services, Wildlife Services, 2803 Jolly Road, Suite. 100, Okemos, MI 48864, USA.
D United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant and Health Inspection Services, Wildlife Services, 1865 O’Rourke Blvd, Suite. C, Gaylord, MI 49735, USA.
E Corresponding author. Email: cosgrovem1@michigan.gov

Wildlife Research 39(2) 104-111 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WR11147
Submitted: 18 August 2011  Accepted: 13 December 2011   Published: 26 March 2012
 
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Abstract

Context: Significant efforts have been made in Michigan, USA, to reduce the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) over the past 15 years. Since 2002, however, prevalence has changed little, prompting the need for new control strategies.

Aims: In January–March of 2007 and 2008, a trap–test–cull project was conducted on an 11 000-ha property in the north-eastern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The objectives were to assess the feasibility of live-trapping and testing white-tailed deer for TB as a means for targeted removal and estimate the cost of this effort.

Methods: Live-trapped deer were ear-tagged and a blood sample was drawn for use with the CervidTB STAT-PAK (commonly called Rapid Test) for TB diagnosis in the field. Deer testing negative were released, whereas deer testing positive were euthanised to confirm blood-test results via bacterial culture.

Key results: In all, 762 (741 with known sex and age) individual deer were captured and tested for TB. Adults comprised 59% (437 of 741) of the captures. Eight (1.8%) adults were positive on the blood test; six of eight (1.4% of adults) were confirmed TB positive via bacterial culture. Estimated TB prevalence in the present study was 2.5% (adjusted for Rapid Test sensitivity of 56%), being lower than what would be expected on the basis of routine hunter-harvest surveillance for this site which has yielded prevalence rates from 3.4% to 4.8%. Results demonstrated the ability to trap and test a substantial number of deer given high deer densities (16–20 deer per km2), availability of traps and abundant workers. The 2-year project cost a total of ~US$228 000, or US$38 000 per culture-positive animal.

Conclusions: Because of the cost and effort involved, a project such as the present one applied to Michigan’s larger TB-management area (148 018 ha) is not feasible.

Implications: If the efficiency and effectiveness of a trap–test–cull project could be improved by vaccinating test-negative animals, should a vaccine be approved for use in free-ranging white-tailed deer, a trap–test–cull project applied on a scale similar to the present study may prove beneficial by possibly reducing disease transmission, in addition to removing TB-positive animals.

Additional keywords: Mycobacterium bovis, Odocoileus virginianus, selective culling, trapping.


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