The foundation of SCWDS research is rooted in cervid health, as the cooperative was originally developed in 1957 to study emerging diseases and relevant health issues in cervids and to address the concerns of management agencies. Early research focused on deer mortality investigations, determining normal baseline health parameters for wild cervids, and examining the deer-domestic livestock pathogen interface. Today, chronic wasting disease and hemorrhagic disease constitute the majority of SCWDS cervid research.

Chronic Wasting Disease

SCWDS provides diagnostic and consultative services to state and federal wildlife management and animal health agencies as they develop policies, programs, and regulations to prevent or manage CWD and associated risks. SCWDS assistance involves providing technical expertise regarding the status of CWD in the U.S. to policy makers, wildlife managers, and regulatory agency authorities as they consider approaches to preventing, responding to detection, or managing CWD. This includes assisting agencies as they consider proposed regulations, program standards, and other guidelines designed to reduce the risk of the further spread of CWD and with development and refinement of CWD surveillance and management strategies. SCWDS also provides technical assistance to non-governmental organizations engaged in efforts to educate the public and policy makers about the risks that CWD poses to free-ranging cervid populations. If you notice a wild cervid with signs consistent with CWD, please notify your state wildlife agency.

For more information about CWD, view the CWD alliance website

Hemorrhagic Disease

Hemorrhagic disease (HD) is a major disease complex of wild ruminants in North America. It consists of the Orbiviruses  epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) and Bluetongue virus (BTV) which are transmitted by the insect genus Culicoides, commonly known as biting midges. There are two main forms of HD: acute and chronic disease. The acute form rapidly progresses and lethargy, lameness, hemorrhaging of oral, thoracic, and gastrointestinal systems can lead to heavy mortalities. The chronic form typically presents as lameness, sloughing of hoof walls that can lead to secondary infections, and emaciation due to rumen ulcers and loss of rumen papillae which impedes digestion and absorption of nutrients. There is a seasonality of HD outbreaks corresponding with the emergence of Culicodes midges in early spring through fall, but regional patterns can vary tremendously: infrequent but severe mortality can occur in more northern latitudes while frequent, mild to asymptomatic infections are common in more southern regions. In areas where mortality is severe, HD can drastically affect population levels, but in areas where the chronic form is more prevalent, population-level impacts are likely minimal. SCWDS conducts testing for HD in cervid samples submitted from members agencies throughout the southeastern United States. Historically, two serovars of EHDV (EHDV-1 , 2) and five serovars of BTV (2, 10, 11, 13, 17) were predominant in North America; however, recent diagnostic serology testing has determined that multiple EHDV and BTV serovars are associated with HD outbreaks in wild cervids, particularly EHDV-6.

Since 1982, SCWDS has coordinated a national survey of reported and confirmed HD cases in wild ruminants. All state wildlife management agencies in the U.S. participate. The questionnaire is based on the following four diagnostic criteria for reporting HD in a deer population and has remained unchanged since 1980: sudden, unexplained, high deer mortality during late summer/early fall;  necropsy diagnosis of HD by a trained wildlife biologist or diagnostician; isolation or molecular-based detection of EHDV or BTV from an affected animal; and observation of hunter-killed deer that showed sloughing hooves, oral ulcers, or scars on the rumen lining. The questionnaire is completed annually by personnel in each state wildlife management agency, and these criteria are used to document the presence of suspected or confirmed HD at the county level. If you notice a wild cervid with signs consistent with HD, please notify your state wildlife agency.

More information about HD in wild cervids

Herd Health Evaluations

SCWDS has provided deer herd health evaluation services to wildlife management agencies on a case-by-case basis within the cooperative since the 1960’s. Evaluations include endo- and ectoparasite identification and quantification, chronic wasting disease testing, histological examination of tissues, serologic testing for antibodies to domestic ruminant pathogens, and hemoparasites identification using molecular and other laboratory diagnostic techniques.