What are the Signs of CWD in the Deer Family?
Chronic wasting disease is a slowly progressive disease; signs of sickness are usually not seen for 5 to 36 months after the disease agent enters the animal. Individuals showing symptoms of CWD tend to be 18 months of age or older. CWD damages the brain of infected animals, causing them to display unusual behavior, lose bodily functions, become very thin, and die within 1 to 12 months after symptoms of the illness first appear. Clinical signs identified in captive/farmed deer and elk include excessive drooling, excessive thirst, frequent urination, sluggish behavior, isolation from herd, teeth grinding, holding the head in a lowered position, and drooping ears. It should be noted that some of these symptoms can be seen after a very severe winter in Maine, when deer may appear very thin and weak. Although rare in cervids, rabies may produce some symptoms in common with CWD, such as erratic behavior, and drooling. How is CWD Diagnosed? Chronic Wasting Disease is usually diagnosed from de
