New deer disease confirmed on Minnesota farm

A single male remaining on the farm seems healthy and shows no clinical signs of the disease.

Although epizootic haemorrhagic disease is prevalent in North America, it is the first case of this type in Minnesota deer. It had already been detected in two cattle in Minnesota Brown County in 2012 and Murray County in 2013.

The disease is transmitted by tiny gnats, or gnats, which may mean that other animals in the vicinity of the farm could be infected because the deer in captivity has not been moved, said Mackenzie Reberg, senior veterinarian of the Board of Animal Health. "These bugs can not travel far alone and we are concerned about this detection," she said.

The possibility that the disease is spreading to the wild population of white-tailed deer is still unknown, but it has killed wild deer in other areas. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the disease "can cause a significant number of deaths during epidemics".

"The haemorrhagic disease can cause very high mortality rates and is considered the most important viral disease of white-tailed deer in the United States," the agency notes on its website. "Wild and captive deer and elk are at risk of contracting (haemorrhagic disease) and this disease can spread by carrying infected animals to areas where the disease is not yet present."

Montana wildlife biologists have reported that an outbreak of epizootic haemorrhagic disease in 2007 swept up 80% of the wild deer herd in the Milk River area. A major outbreak of the disease was reported in 2012 in Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska in herds of bison, deer and cattle in captivity, causing many deaths, but its impact on wild deer at this time is unknown.

Tom Rusch, head of wildlife management at the Minnesota DNR in the Tower area, said the disease could "devastate the herd in the same way as our harsh winters." Other DNR experts did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Epidemics of diseases similar to epizootic haemorrhagic disease have been described since 1890 in the United States. However, the virus that causes epizootic haemorrhagic disease was not isolated until after a New Jersey white-tailed outbreak in 1955.

The rapid and suspicious death of the Minnesota farm deer earlier this month alarmed the owner, who collaborated with a veterinarian to subject the carcass tissues to the Iowa State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. to determine the cause of death.

According to Minnesota officials, the haemorrhagic epizootic affects all members of the cervid family, deer, although there is no known risk to people's health. Many deer species can be infected with hemorrhagic disease and white-tailed deer are very susceptible. Many infected deer die within 36 hours of clinical signs such as fever, anorexia, lethargy, stiffness, respiratory distress, oral ulcers, and significant swelling of the head and neck. Sporadic cases occur in other species of deer and hooves. There is no specific treatment or vaccine available in the United States.

The council informed the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Minnesota deer have been battling another disease, chronic wasting disease, for more than a decade. Epidemics occur regularly in captive deer farms and in some wildlife.