Chronic wasting disease in cervids

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system that affects cervids such as white-tailed deer and moose. It belongs to the same family as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) in cattle and scrapie in sheep. These diseases are not caused by a virus or bacteria, but rather by the presence of an abnormally formed protein, a prion, in the animal’s body. Abnormal prions accumulate in nerve cells until they burst. As the animal’s nerve cells are destroyed, signs of the disease appear and worsen to the point of causing the animal's death in 100% of cases.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) only affects cervids such as white-tailed deer, red deer, elk, mule deer, moose and caribou.

According to current data, moose only seem to contract CWD when they share their territory with another species (e.g., white-tailed deer) in which the disease is well established.

In Québec, CWD cases were detected in 2018 on a red deer farm in the Laurentides region. Following this discovery, intensive culling efforts were conducted to reduce the deer population and thus avoid the establishment of the disease among wild cervids. An enhanced surveillance area was also put into place to quickly detect any outbreak of the disease among wild cervids in the targeted area. Facilities that has come into contact with the infected Laurentides farm are maintained under sanitary measures.

We do not know precisely every mode of transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD). The most significant transmission routes would trace back to an environment that is contaminated by urine, feces, saliva or blood from infected animals and direct contact between cervids. The prion is highly resistant and can remain in an environment for several years.

The disease can spread geographically by the movement of live infected cervids, the transportation of carcasses or parts of carcasses of infected cervids and the use of products from infected animals (e.g., urine).

The disease can be transmitted from wild to captive cervids and vice versa. It appears to spread more rapidly in areas where high concentrations of cervids are found, such as on captive facilities and in feeding and baiting areas.

CWD is spreading across North America. It is now found in 29 U.S. states as well as in the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Physical manifestations of CWD typically occur 16 to 36 months after the animal has contracted the disease. During this time, cervids show no signs of the disease, but they can transmit it.

There are no treatments or vaccines for prion diseases. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is always lethal for infected cervids. Death generally occurs within weeks or months following the onset of symptoms.

Once CWD is introduced into a wild population, it is extremely difficult to eliminate.

There is currently no scientific evidence to suggest that chronic wasting disease (CWD) can be transmitted to humans. However, Health Canada recommends not to consume the meat or products of an infected animal.

It is important to always comply with the best practices for handling and preserving game meat, as well as safety standards for cutting the meat. For more information, you may refer to this document on wild game meat (in French only) . At all times, it is recommended not to consume cervid’s brain, spinal cord or lymph nodes. Please note that cooking does not destroy the prion.

All cervids over 12 months old slaughtered in federally and provincially inspected establishments are tested for CWD. No diseased animals are introduced into the food chain.

To prevent the introduction of the disease in Québec, the import of farmed cervids is legally regulated by the Protocol respecting the importation of cervids into Québec from other provinces or countries and the Regulation respecting animals in captivity.

For operators who want to export products or animals outside of Québec, the Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program (CWD HCP) ensures to potential buyers that two herds with the same rating present identical risks regarding CWD.

The chronic wasting disease (CWD) invariably kills infected animals and, once established in an area, can significantly impact deer herds, their health, and eventually the viability of local populations. For example, in Wyoming, a 10% per year decrease in the white-tailed deer population has been observed since the disease became established in wildlife.

In Québec, regulations, as well as surveillance and control operations, help reduce the disease's risk of establishment in wildlife.

Hunters in affected areas in Outaouais, Laurentides and Montérégie are invited to learn more about the wildlife surveillance program to find out the details on white-tailed deer analysis. In other regions of Québec, some butcher shops also take part in the surveillance network.

CWD is a notifiable disease for the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec, the ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Avoid hunting in or near areas where CWD was detected. Whole carcasses, as well as some anatomical parts (e.g., brain, spine, eyes, internal organs), cannot be brought back to Québec.

If you are notified by authorities in the province or state where you harvested a cervid that your game has CWD, please inform a wildlife protection agent by contacting SOS Poaching – Wildlife Emergency.

To know which states and provinces are affected by CWD, refer to the Distribution of Chronic Wasting Disease in North America map .

Mandatory surveillance

It is mandatory that all cervids kept in captivity over 12 months of age that are slaughtered or found dead be screened for chronic wasting disease (CWD). This requirement applies both to farmed cervids and to cervids kept for other purposes, for example in a recreational setting or in an educational and entertainment setting (e.g., zoological gardens).

When animals are slaughtered in a federally or provincially inspected slaughterhouse, sampling and shipping for testing is done directly on site (without necessary intervention from the owner). No sick animals are introduced into the food chain.

For cervids that are slaughtered or found dead on the premises, samples must be sent to the Laboratoire de santé animale of the ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec.

Regulations and certification program for livestock

The Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Herd Certification Program allows cervid owners to have their herd recognized as an elite herd regarding CWD. For animal buyers, this program ensures that two herds with the same rating present identical infection risks for the disease. The level of assurance with which the herd is deemed exempt from CWD depends on the length of time since it was enrolled in the program.

The program standards  set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) were tightened in 2017. Operators whose herd enrollment anniversary date is beyond March 31, 2018, must comply with the new standards.

To enroll in the program or for more information, please contact the Canadian Sheep Federation, the regional administrator and status assessor for Québec.

Contact person: Julia Patterson

Toll-free phone number: 1-888-684-7739

Local phone number: 1-613-652-1824 or CWD@Cansheep.ca

The list of enrolled producers and documents needed to enroll in the program are available here: https://www.cansheep.ca/cwd.html .

Importation of live cervids from other provinces or countries

In order to be eligible for introduction into Québec, cervids from other provinces or countries must meet the requirements of the Protocol respecting the importation of cervids into Québec from other provinces or countries (PDF 168 Kb).

The importation of cervids must be reported at least 10 business days before the animals are expected to arrive. You must complete the animal import notification form (in French) (PDF 120 Kb) and provide documentation to assess the risk of animals carrying tuberculosis or brucellosis (e.g., test results).

You must also provide, with the import notification, a certificate from the responsible government authority of the province or country of origin, confirming that the origin site meets the following conditions:

• no cervids kept in the last 20 years have been tested positive for CWD;
• no cervid currently held is suspected of carrying CWD;
• all cervids that have been culled or found dead for at least 6 years have been tested for CWD;
• at least one of the following two conditions is met:
  • in the past 6 years, CWD has not been detected in a cervid held in captivity within 45 km of the origin site, or in a cervid living in a natural environment within 100 km;
  • the perimeter of the guard facilities at the origin site prevents any contact with live cervids in the natural environment (e.g., enclosures surrounded by double fencing);
• if cervids were introduced to the origin site within the last 6 years, the sites from which they were introduced met the same criteria as above.
   

Transportation of captive cervids in Québec

Anyone wishing to move cervids held in captivity on a temporary or permanent basis must obtain a transportation permit from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

The regulations in force in Québec provide for certain conditions that must be met in order to move a cervid within its territory. It is prohibited to move a captive cervid from a location within 45 km of a location where CWD has been detected in live deer in captivity, or less than 100 km from a site where CWD has been found in deer living in the wild. Exceptions may be possible if the original captivity location prevents contact between captive cervids and wild cervids (e.g., enclosures surrounded by double fencing). Cervids from the origin site that have been slaughtered or found dead since July 14, 2022, must have been tested for CWD and cervids that were introduced to this site within the last 6 years should come from sites that met the same criteria.

However, out-of-province movement or slaughter remains permitted.