Surveillance for an Emergent Hoof Disease in Elk (Cervus Elaphus) in the Us Pacific West Supplemented by 16s Rrna Gene Amplicon Sequencing

Wild, Margaret A.; Taylor, Kyle R.; Shah, Devendra H.; Garrison, Kyle; Mansfield, Kristin; Burco, Julia D.; Winter, Steven N.; Drew, Mark L.; Han, Sushan; Bildfell, Robert J.; Munk, Brandon

doi:10.7589/jwd-d-21-00119

Cited by 9 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Hooves were collected postmortem from Roosevelt (C. c. roosevelti) and Rocky Mountain (C. c. nelsoni) elk as part of surveillance efforts for TAHD using techniques similar to those previously described [12]. Hooves from free-ranging elk harvested or collected by state, tribal, and federal wildlife managers in 2017-2021 were submitted to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (Pullman, Washington).…”

Section: Sample Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We merged results from hair analysis with additional surveillance metadata at the individual elk level. Considering limited environmental availability of some minerals in parts of the region (e.g., Se or Cu [16,17,44]) and focal areas of increased cases/surveillance [12], defining the regions from where elk samples originated was necessary. However, several variables (e.g., precise latitude/longitude, game management unit of harvest) had missing entries that could not be imputed using other information available and could not be included in analyses.…”

Section: Data Pre-processing and Descriptive Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Treponeme-associated hoof disease (TAHD) is an emerging disease of free-ranging elk (Cervus canadensis) in the U.S. Pacific Northwest [12]. Elk with TAHD exhibit interdigital and sole ulcers, overgrown and deformed hooves, and sloughed hoof capsules [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Associations between hair trace mineral concentrations and the occurrence of treponeme-associated hoof disease in elk (Cervus canadensis)

et al. 2022

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Background Trace minerals are important for animal health. Mineral deficiency or excess can negatively affect immune function, wound healing, and hoof health in domestic livestock, but normal concentrations and health impairment associated with mineral imbalances in wild animals are poorly understood. Treponeme-associated hoof disease (TAHD) is an emerging disease of free-ranging elk (Cervus canadensis) in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Selenium and copper levels identified in a small number of elk from areas where TAHD is established (i.e., southwestern Washington) suggested a mineral deficiency may have increased susceptibility to TAHD. Our objectives were to determine trace mineral concentrations using hair from elk originating in TAHD affected areas of Washington, California, Idaho, and Oregon and assess their associations with the occurrence of the disease. Results We identified limited associations between TAHD occurrence and severity with hair mineral concentrations in 72 free-ranging elk, using Firth’s logistic regression and multinomial regression models. We found consistent support for a priori hypotheses that selenium concentration, an important mineral for hoof health, is inversely associated with the occurrence of TAHD. Less consistent support was observed for effects of other minerals previously associated with hoof health (e.g., copper or zinc) or increased disease risk from potential toxicants. Conclusion Trace mineral analysis of hair is a non-invasive sampling technique that offers feasibility in storage and collection from live animals and carcasses. For some minerals, levels in hair correlate with visceral organs that are challenging to obtain. Our study using hair collected opportunistically from elk feet submitted for diagnostic investigations provides a modest reference of hair mineral levels in elk from the U.S. Pacific Northwest that may be useful in future determination of reference ranges. Although our results revealed high variability in mineral concentrations between elk, consistent relationship of possibly low selenium levels and TAHD suggest that further investigations are warranted.

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Section: Sample Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Data Pre-processing and Descriptive Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Associations between hair trace mineral concentrations and the occurrence of treponeme-associated hoof disease in elk (Cervus canadensis)

et al. 2022

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“…The cause of TAHD is uncertain, but treponemes ( Treponema spp. ), and potentially other bacteria, are thought to be important components (Wild et al 2022). Host and environmental factors that increase susceptibility to disease may also promote the occurrence of TAHD and require further investigation (Han et al 2019, Wild et al 2022).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Clinical signs consistent with TAHD were initially described in elk in southwestern Washington, USA, in winter 2008–2009 during investigation of a marked increase in reports of limping elk (Han and Mansfield 2014). At present, the geographic distribution of TAHD includes ≥17 counties, primarily in the western half of the state, and portions of Oregon, Idaho, and California (Wild et al 2022). Lesions observed with TAHD range from mild skin ulceration in the interdigital space to severe sole ulceration; deformed, asymmetric, or overgrown hooves; and in some cases sloughed hoof capsules, which can be observed in elk by 9 months of age.…”

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confidence: 99%

Association of antler asymmetry with hoof disease in elk

et al. 2022

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Treponeme-associated hoof disease (TAHD) is an emergent disease of elk (Cervus canadensis) in the Pacific West of the United States. Although lesions are usually restricted to the feet, anecdotal reports suggested increased prevalence of abnormal antlers in affected elk. We used hunter harvest reports for 1,688 adult male elk harvested in southwestern Washington, USA, during 2016-2018, to evaluate anecdotal reports. We used Akaike's Information Criterion to compare 18 logistic regression models describing the prevalence of asymmetrical antlers, indicated by unequal antler point counts.Our leading model (84% of model weight) described additive effects of TAHD (odds ratio = 1.91; 95% CI = [1.49, 2.44]) and maximum number of antler points. Confidence intervals overlapped zero for all other parameters, which described ecotypic, geographic, and age-related effects. Effects of physical injury on antler development have been described elsewhere; however, injuries leading to instances of antler deformity do not have population-level management implications. In contrast, we describe effects of a transmissible disease that was reported by hunters in >35% of adult male elk and was associated with an increase of ≥16 percentage points in the prevalence of gross asymmetry. Unequal point counts are quite

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An infectious disease outbreak and increased mortality in wild alpine reindeer

et al. 2023

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Climate changes may lead to tipping points where the epidemiological characteristics of infectious wildlife diseases suddenly change, leading to outbreaks. However, empirically documented cases of the extent to which emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) affect populations of large vertebrates are few, partly because of the limited surveillance of remote wildlife populations. EIDs may potentially lead to higher mortality than mean mortality levels. Here, we quantified the likely impact of digital necrobacillosis on the survival and population dynamics of wild alpine reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in Hardangervidda National Park (NP), Norway. The outbreak of digital necrobacillosis in 2019 contributed to a decrease in the summer survival rate of juveniles to 51% compared to an average of 88% in 2005-2018 and 77% in 2020.However, since the outbreak mainly reduced juvenile survival, the impact on short-term population dynamics was moderate, lowering the population growth rate (λ) before harvest from an average value of 1.18 (2005-2018) to 1.08 (2019) before harvest. In 2019, anomalous climate conditions with a high daily mean temperature combined with the highest recorded daily precipitation in late summer were observed. Further studies are required to document the pathological development of digital necrobacillosis across demographic groups and proximate and ultimate causes of mortality.

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Surveillance for an Emergent Hoof Disease in Elk (Cervus Elaphus) in the Us Pacific West Supplemented by 16s Rrna Gene Amplicon Sequencing

Cited by 9 publications

References 28 publications

Associations between hair trace mineral concentrations and the occurrence of treponeme-associated hoof disease in elk (Cervus canadensis)

Associations between hair trace mineral concentrations and the occurrence of treponeme-associated hoof disease in elk (Cervus canadensis)

Association of antler asymmetry with hoof disease in elk

An infectious disease outbreak and increased mortality in wild alpine reindeer

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