National Wildlife Disease Program (NWDP)
Recent Activities: PENNSYLVANIA
| DISEASE SURVEILLANCE
SPECIAL INTEREST Assistance provided to Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture in depopulating a swine shooting preserve (July 2009) WDB Van Why was contacted by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to assist with the depopulation of a swine shooting preserve in the northwest portion of the state. The animals had tested positive for pseudorabies virus and animals were removed in an effort to protect domestic swine production in the state. WDB Van Why, assisted by New Jersey WDB Randall, removed and sampled animals from a small breeding pen as well as the 100 acre shooting pen. A total of 46 animals of various ages have been removed, and a portion of those have been tested for swine brucellosis, classic swine fever and pseudorabies.
WDB Van Why coordinated with PA Wildlife Services operational staff to collect blood samples from white-tailed deer removal projects across the state. Over 400 blood samples were submitted to the Northeast Infectious Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at East Stroudsburg University to determine the presence of tick borne diseases including; Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Tularemia. The samples will also be included in the labs DNA library of Pennsylvania wildlife.
WDB Van Why necropsied over 130 coyotes from 35 Pennsylvania counties looking for canine heartworm as part of a multi-state project for a researcher at the American Museum of Natural History. WDB Van Why collected coyotes from organized public coyote hunts, roadkill, and PA Wildlife Services operational activities for inclusion in the project. A total of 2 worms were collected for the study focusing on heartworm genetics. Additionally 100 stomachs were collected for Susquehanna University, 150 DNA samples for East Stroudsburg University, and 40 skulls and 150 DNA samples were collected for the State Museum of New York as part of a multistate project. While at the various coyote hunts sponsored by local sportsmen’s clubs or trapper organizations, there was a significant amount of interest by the public in the project, a total of 4 newspapers included stories on the project including the Pittsburg Post Gazette and Harrisburg Patriot News.
WDB Van Why was invited to John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge in Philadelphia as part of the Region 3 Wage Grade training being held there. Demonstrations on waterfowl capture methods were show to the participants, for use in future Avian Influenza sampling at refuges. Use of cannon nets, net guns, and other avian capture devices as well as waterfowl sampling and handling techniques were demonstrated. Collection of Canada goose samples for avian influenza and contaminates (June 2009) WDB Van Why collected blood samples from Canada geese captured as part
of the PA goose management program for inclusion in a multi-state project
on avian influenza being conducted by the Southwestern Cooperative Wildlife
Disease Study. A total of 298 blood samples were collected from sites
across eastern Pennsylvania. This is the second year that PA has participated
in this project, collecting over 250 samples the previous summer. Additionally,
120 blood samples were collected for a heavy metal contaminates project
being conducted by a veterinary student working through the Pennsylvania
Veterinary Laboratory at New Bolton. The contaminate samples will provide
a baseline for an ongoing study of sick birds obtained from rehabilitators.
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Last Modified: August 10, 2009