CWD found in farm-raised white-tailed deer in Jefferson Davis Parish

On November 7, LSU Diagnostics (Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory), in coordination with the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL), confirmed to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s Office of the State Veterinarian a positive Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) test from a deceased deer at a deer farm in Jefferson Davis Parish as announced by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF): Press release – Chronic Wasting Disease found in farm-raised white-tailed deer in Jefferson Davis Parish | Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (la.gov)

According to the release, the farm, which is a participant in the USDA CWD Voluntary Herd Certification Program administered by LDAF, has been issued a quarantine restricting movement into or out of the facility, including live deer or deer products, and a 25-mile radius surveillance zone has been activated.

The Office of the State Veterinarian has established a surveillance zone for herds near the affected deer farm and is diligently reviewing recent movement records.  All deer farms in the surveillance zone are under restricted movement until further notice.

Louisiana deer hunters in Jefferson Davis Parish are encouraged to assist in surveillance by submitting samples. A deer head with 4 to 5 inches of neck is needed for diagnostic testing. The LDWF Field Office located at 1025 Tom Watson Road, Lake Charles, LA 70615 is the closest option for submitting samples at this time. CWD surveillance of harvested deer from the area will be critical in understanding whether or not the native herd has been exposed. Early detection is crucial to slowing the spread of the disease. LDWF has conducted statewide surveillance of free-ranging deer since 2002. To date, the only CWD detections in the wild have been collected in Tensas Parish.

CWD is a neurodegenerative disease of white-tailed deer and other members of the family Cervidae. It is caused by a prion, an infectious, misfolded protein particle, and is 100% fatal in affected deer after an indeterminate incubation period. There is no treatment or preventative vaccine for CWD.

CWD-infected deer may exhibit signs of weight loss and emaciation, excessive salivation, frequent drinking and urination, incoordination, circling and lack of fear of people and always results in death of the animal.

Although CWD has not been shown to be contagious to humans, the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend against the human consumption of deer known to be infected with CWD. Also, it is recommended that people hunting in areas known to harbor CWD-infected deer have their deer tested for the disease prior to consuming the animals.

For more information on CWD, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/cwd.