Zombie' deer disease spreads in US but wolves may offer solution https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-...olves-may-offer-solution-20201230-p56qt7.html Washington: Wolves could play a crucial role in combating a "zombie" disease which is threatening America's deer populations and could one day spread to humans, research suggests. Chronic wasting disease is a fatal illness similar to mad cow disease and cases have been reported in deer and elk in at least 24 American states. The disease has already infected deer herds south of the park in Wyoming and to its north in Montana. It has been nicknamed the "zombie disease" because it makes deer drastically lose weight, struggle to walk and become more aggressive and less afraid of human contact. An outbreak of the infectious disease is extremely difficult to contain and there is no treatment. But a research project in Yellowstone National Park suggests that wolf packs may hold the key to keeping the disease out of the area by identifying and killing off sick animals. The disease has already infected deer herds south of the park in Wyoming and to its north in Montana, posing a threat to the park's vast herds of elk and deer. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has raised concerns that the disease may also pose a risk to humans who hunt and eat infected deer or elk. A deer can be infected for 18 months without displaying symptoms. An outbreak of chronic wasting disease in a herd could be deadly to the entire group, as prions are shed in urine and faeces, and can remain in soil for years, infecting other animals. But despite Yellowstone's abundant elk and deer populations, no cases of the disease have been detected in the park so far. Yellowstone is home to 10 wolf packs.CREDIT:AP Researchers from Penn State University, the US Geological Survey and the National Park Service believe the park's 10 wolf packs may hold the key. They hope to support the idea that predators can be used to manage the disease. "Yellowstone in the US is the only place we can see if this is working,'' said Dr Ellen Brandell, who is leading the project, because of the overlap between high elk and wolf populations and chronic wasting disease cases nearby. The park is home to 10 wolf packs and Dr Brandell believes the predators may be able to target and kill sick deer before the illness is detected by humans. "They are quite unsuccessful at hunting so they'll take the weakest ones - that's exactly the type of cue you want a predator to pick up on," she said. Dr Brandell said researchers were sampling the carcasses of deer and elk which had been killed by wolves. The preliminary research suggests that the absence of chronic wasting disease cases in the park may be evidence that their theory is correct. Telegraph, London
That's the scary thing that haunts my dreams, turns them into nightmares. K, evil mouse, I pick on your country at times for having all lifeforms trying to kill you. Funny, haha. But this is what we get to deal with in the Northern Hemisphere. Prions are beyond scary Aussie buggahs, because at least you can see what is coming up to try to kill you. It's something you can SEE. Prions are just...they are just...no. Think I'ma move down to Aussieland before prions become airborne. They scare the fuck out of me. Evilmouse, any room in your flat for me to hide in?
Maybe some wolves will become infected and not others, also immunity must begin somewhere. If wolves caught it, then it could spread to carrion which ate the wolves, then to other animals or insects which ate the carrion, and so on but certain animals carry immunity. Take rabies for example, it can spread to some animals but not others, or if it does it's rare, eg rabies in rats is rare but not impossible. https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/people-predators/wolves-and-disease-8-006/
This is a scary thing that I didn’t see coming. I am sure that COVID-19 has made us learn so much that we can take precautions before something goes out of our hands. I am hoping that this year will heal the world.