Chronic debilitating disease detected in a moose in Sweden

The Statens Veterinarmedicinska Anstalt, or Swedish National Veterinary Institute (SVA), reported this week (computer-translated) the first case of chronic debilitating disease (CMD) in a 16-year-old moose in Norrbotten County.

The animal was euthanized while he walked in circles, emaciated and seemed blind.

The brainstem samples were positive in the screening test and confirmed positive for Western Blot-mediated spongiform encephalopathy (BioRad TeSeE) by the SVA.

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According to Maria Nöremark, epidemiologist at the National Veterinary Institute (SVA), this was not surprising. Similar cases of older moose have been found in Norway and Finland. Many suggest that it could be spontaneous changes and not the infectious variant of the disease. It took a while before we found a case in Sweden.

CWD infects members of the deer family, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and moose.

MDC is a progressive and deadly disease of cervids that usually results in a change in behavior resulting from microscopic changes in the brain of affected animals. An animal may carry the disease for years without external indication, but in later stages signs may include apathy, lowering of the head, weight loss, repetitive walking in groups, and lack of responsiveness.