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DISEASE SURVEILLANCE
- avian influenza
- classical swine fever
- swine brucellosis
- pseudorabies
- chronic wasting disease
SPECIAL INTEREST
The Ohio Wildlife Disease Program is responsible for conducting
routine surveillance for a number of diseases throughout the State.
The three major projects under this program are Avian Influenza, Tularemia,
and feral swine disease surveillance. In addition to these key projects,
the Ohio Wildlife Disease Program responds to calls of sick or dying
animals and collects samples when deemed necessary to determine cause
of death and monitor the overall health of wildlife in the State.
Feral Swine Diseases
Feral swine populations continue to grow throughout the southern half
of the State with isolated reports in the North. As a result, the Ohio
Wildlife Disease Program has been tasked with conducting disease surveillance
in these wild populations for Classical Swine Fever, Swine Brucellosis,
and Pseudorabies Virus. Additionally, several other samples are being
collected from trapped feral swine to assist with research being conducted
by the Ohio State University, and the school’s affiliate, the
Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.
.JPG)
Feral swine captured in a live trap during disease surveillance
efforts in Wayne National Forest
Avian Influenza
The Ohio Wildlife Disease Program conducts surveillance for the early
detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 (HPAI H5N1). This
includes: collecting oral and cloacal samples from hunter and Agency
harvested birds, live-captured birds, and morbidity/mortality events.
In Biological Year 2009 (April 1, 2009- March 31, 2010), samples will
be collected from 1,000 free-ranging wild birds throughout the State.
To date, no HPAI H5N1 has been found in Ohio or the rest of the United
States.
Tularemia
In early 2007, the Ohio Wildlife Disease Program began collecting blood
samples from Agency harvested coyotes and fox using Nobuto strips for
Tularemia testing. Later in 2007, recreational fur trappers joined the
effort by collecting samples from aquatic rodents such as beavers and
muskrats. Wildlife Services is continuing to recruit new trappers to
assist with this project.
Other Projects
Since September of 2007, the Ohio Wildlife Disease Program has responded
or provided assistance with several isolated incidents involving diseases
and ailments such as bovine tuberculosis, leporipoxvirus, avian reovirus,
toxicosis, and cutaneous fibromas. Currently, no long term efforts are
in place as a result of these morbidity/mortality events.
.JPG)
WDB Hicks collects blood from the ear of a white-tailed
deer while assisting the Michigan Wildlife Services Program with bovine
tuberculosis monitoring
Contact:
Wildlife Disease Biologist Craig Hicks (OH)
(614)861-6087
Craig.R.Hicks@aphis.usda.gov
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