UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Hunters should take the threat of chronic wasting disease (CWD) showing up in Pennsylvania deer seriously, according to an expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, but he says they shouldn't panic.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission recently banned the importation of deer and elk into the state, and hunters shouldn't have to worry much about the disease this year, according to Gary San Julian, a wildlife resources professor. He believes there is "almost no chance" of chronic wasting disease showing up in Pennsylvania deer in the near future.

"We don't want to panic people," he says. "We are just trying to protect our herds of animals and be sure that this disease doesn't get into the state. I think that hunters need to be aware of CWD because it is in the United States, and if it does come here, it is 100 percent fatal to deer that are infected."

CWD has been detected in wild and captive herds of deer, elk and mule deer in several western states, Wisconsin and Canada. First identified in 1967, CWD is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy that affects cervids, including all species of deer, elk and moose. It is a progressive and always fatal disease of the nervous system afflicting wild and captive cervids. Scientists theorize that CWD is caused by an unknown agent capable of transforming normal brain proteins into an abnormal form.

Currently, there is no practical way to test live animals for CWD, nor is there a vaccine. A reliable live animal test for mule deer that involves testing the toncilles does exist, but it is not practical. That test has not proven effective for elk and white-tailed deer. Clinical signs include poor posture, lowered head and ears, uncoordinated movement, rough-hair coat, weight loss, increased thirst, excessive drooling and, ultimately, death. There is no evidence so far of CWD having any effect on humans or other non-cervid livestock.

In Wisconsin, the first state east of the Mississippi River to have detected CWD in wild deer, hunters and wildlife managers are taking steps to kill thousands of deer in an attempt to head off the spread of CWD. Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum, in early May, called a special session of the legislature to address the CWD outbreak. One of the results of the special session was a measure to spend $4 million to test Wisconsin deer.

"All elk taken by hunters last year in Pennsylvania were tested for CWD," notes San Julian. "None had it. This year, Pennsylvania Game Commission personnel will be collecting deer brain tissue samples at processors and they will be sent to laboratories for testing. But there is no reason to believe the disease is here."

San Julian admits there are more questions than answers among scientists about CWD. "We don't believe that it poses a threat to humans, but I recommend hunters take precautions when cleaning animals anyway," he says. "They should wear rubber gloves when cleaning animals, then wash hands and forearms thoroughly when finished.

"Even in states where CWD is common, such as Colorado, there still is hunting," he adds. "It is only prudent not to use an animal that is acting sick or is emaciated. Call the game commission and report it."

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation this year took a step toward discouraging the congregation of deer by banning wildlife feeding, and a Pennsylvania Game Commission spokesman confirms that agency is considering similar action. San Julian believes it should. "When wildlife populations are artificially concentrated, the chance of disease transmission is increased. In wild populations, the animals are dispersed," he says.

"It's like when you send your child to school, there is a good chance that he or she will come home with a cold and perhaps spread it to other family members."

With an eye on the worsening situation in Wisconsin, the Pennsylvania Game Commission decided recently to take the precautions against CWD. "Although the threat of CWD is growing, we currently have no confirmed or suspected cases of CWD in Pennsylvania's wild or captive cervid herds, and we want to see it stay that way," says Vernon Ross, executive director. "The game commission is committed to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of CWD into Pennsylvania."

Penn State's deer pens, which were closed to the public more than a year ago to protect the animals from foot and mouth disease, will remain off-limits indefinitely. Manager Don Wagner is concerned about CWD, but wants to know more about it.

"We have a closed herd -- meaning we import no animals -- so CWD doesn't really affect the way we do things," he says. "We are practicing the same biosecurity procedures as we have been because of foot and mouth disease. We view CWD as a threat, but in the scientific community there are currently more questions than answers about it."

Wagner noted that Penn State is enrolling its deer herd in the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's CWD Monitored Herd Program, a CWD surveillance program for captive deer owners.

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EDITORS: Contact Gary San Julian at 814-863-0401 or e-mail gsjulian@psu.edu.

Contact: Jeff Mulhollem jjm29@psu.edu 814-863-2719 814-865-1068 fax #237