Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 64 views

    Elk Hoof Disease Fact Sheet Final

    Uploaded by

    Sinclair Broadcast Group - Eugene
    Elk hoof disease, now referred to as Treponeme associated hoof disease (TAHD), is a bacterial infection causing lameness in elk. It first appeared in Washington elk herds in the late 1990s and has since spread to Oregon and Idaho. Elk with the disease can have deformed, overgrown, broken or sloughed hooves. Scientists believe the disease is caused by bacteria in the genus Treponema damaging the hooves. The disease affects elk of all ages and sexes and spreads through contact with infected soil on elk hooves. Reports of limping elk have increased in Oregon and Washington in recent years. There is no evidence the disease poses a risk

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Elk Hoof Disease Fact Sheet Final

    Uploaded by

    Sinclair Broadcast Group - Eugene
    64 views3 pages
    Elk hoof disease, now referred to as Treponeme associated hoof disease (TAHD), is a bacterial infection causing lameness in elk. It first appeared in Washington elk herds in the late 1990s and has since spread to Oregon and Idaho. Elk with the disease can have deformed, overgrown, broken or sloughed hooves. Scientists believe the disease is caused by bacteria in the genus Treponema damaging the hooves. The disease affects elk of all ages and sexes and spreads through contact with infected soil on elk hooves. Reports of limping elk have increased in Oregon and Washington in recent years. There is no evidence the disease poses a risk

    Original Description:

    ODFW

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Elk hoof disease, now referred to as Treponeme associated hoof disease (TAHD), is a bacterial infection causing lameness in elk. It first appeared in Washington elk herds in the late 1990s and has since spread to Oregon and Idaho. Elk with the disease can have deformed, overgrown, broken or sloughed hooves. Scientists believe the disease is caused by bacteria in the genus Treponema damaging the hooves. The disease affects elk of all ages and sexes and spreads through contact with infected soil on elk hooves. Reports of limping elk have increased in Oregon and Washington in recent years. There is no evidence the disease poses a risk

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    64 views3 pages

    Elk Hoof Disease Fact Sheet Final

    Uploaded by

    Sinclair Broadcast Group - Eugene
    Elk hoof disease, now referred to as Treponeme associated hoof disease (TAHD), is a bacterial infection causing lameness in elk. It first appeared in Washington elk herds in the late 1990s and has since spread to Oregon and Idaho. Elk with the disease can have deformed, overgrown, broken or sloughed hooves. Scientists believe the disease is caused by bacteria in the genus Treponema damaging the hooves. The disease affects elk of all ages and sexes and spreads through contact with infected soil on elk hooves. Reports of limping elk have increased in Oregon and Washington in recent years. There is no evidence the disease poses a risk

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    Elk Hoof Disease Fact Sheet-March 2020

     
     

    What is elk hoof disease?


    Elk hoof disease, now referred to as Treponeme associated hoof disease (TAHD), is a bacterial-associated syndrome
    causing severe lameness in elk. The condition initially appeared in southwestern Washington elk herds between the
    late 1990’s and early 2000s. A dramatic rise in reports of limping elk in 2007-2008 prompted a scientific
    investigation into the underlying cause. Now TAHD has been identified in Washington, Oregon and Idaho (see
    Washington State University research). Elk with the disease can have deformed, overgrown, broken or sloughed
    hooves. These lesions can be painful and cause limping or lameness when walking. Elk that show these signs do not
    necessarily have elk hoof disease, as there are many other potential diseases or injuries that could cause similar
    abnormalities to elk hooves. Some bull elk also have deformities of the opposite antler depending on the timing of
    the hoof infection with antler growth.

    What causes the disease?


    Scientists are still working to understand this disease better. The emergence of the disease is likely due to multiple factors
    related to the environment, overall health of the elk, and the presence of an infectious organism. Independent laboratories
    from the US and abroad that have detected bacteria in the genus Treponema causing damage in the affected hooves.

    How does it spread?


    This is still unknown but it is believed that this type of bacteria can be maintained and/ or transferred in moist soil via
    the hooves of elk and/ or other animals such as sheep and cows.

    Is this disease affecting a specific age class or sex?


    No. Elk hoof disease appears to be affecting all ages and both sexes of elk.

    Where are we seeing hoof disease?


    The disease is currently most predominant in southwest Washington, north of the Columbia River and has become
    more prevalent and widespread since the winter of 2007-2008. In Oregon, several hunter-harvested elk with
    suspicious hoof abnormalities and reports of limping elk have been reported from around the state. The first
    confirmed case came from Washington County in January of 2014 and initially clustered in northwest Oregon. Since
    then, confirmed cased of TAHD have been identified in Roosevelt elk in multiple counties as far south as Lane and
    Douglas counties. Cases are a bit more scattered east of the Cascades with lower prevalence of limping elk within
    herds in rocky mountain elk. ODFW is requesting the public to report observations of lame or hunter-harvested elk
    with hoof deformities on the ODFW elk hoof disease reporting form,
    http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/health_program/elk_hoof_disease/, which can be found at www.odfw.com under
    Hunting.

    Reports of limping elk using our on‐line reporting tool between 2013 and October of 2020. 

    How common is this disease?


    In Washington, herds have been observed with 20-90% of the animals showing lameness. In Oregon, there has now
    been nearly 50 confirmed cases, and over 220 separate reports of limping elk or elk with deformed hooves since
    2013. A majority of the reports have been from the northwestern corner of the state an increasing number of cases
    are also showing up in northeast Oregon and now has been moving down south into Lane and Douglass counties.
    Active and passive surveillance is ongoing to determine the extent of infection in potentially affected herds.

    Are other animals susceptible? Will my livestock be affected?


    Cattle and sheep have been diagnosed with hoof diseases associated with Treponeme bacteria as well. These
    diseases are known as bovine digital dermatitis (DD) and contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD). However, it is
    unknown if cattle and sheep are susceptible to the same disease seen in elk. Other than elk, other ungulates do not
    appear to be developing similar hoof lesions in areas where TAHD is common. Transmission of the disease between
    elk, sheep and cattle is not apparent and there have been no reports of an increase in hoof disease in domestic
    livestock.

    Will hoof disease affect the meat of the elk I harvest?


    No. There is also no evidence to suggest this disease poses a risk to human health. Examination of muscle tissue
    shows that the disease in the hooves does not extend to the meat or organs of the animal. However, chronically lame
    elk may be in poor body condition and appear thin due to reduced feeding or ability to access quality foraging areas
    from the painful condition.

    Is the disease treatable?


    Treatment of any disease in free-living wildlife is very difficult. In livestock, hoof diseases are often treated with
    repeated antibiotics and foot baths and managed by keeping their pens clean. Similar actions to treat wild elk are not
    practical.

    How can I report an elk I’ve seen or harvested that looks like it has hoof disease?
    ODFW is requesting the public to report observations of lame or hunter-harvested elk with hoof deformities on the
    ODFW elk hoof disease reporting form, http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/health_program/elk_hoof_disease/,
    which can be found at www.odfw.com under Hunting (or call our free number at 1-866-968-2600)

    If you harvest an elk with diseased or overgrown hooves, please remove and remove the lower limbs for analysis. If
    possible, place each hoof in a separate plastic bag and label (i.e. front left). Place the hooves in a cool area, take
    digital photos of the affected hooves, and contact the Wildlife Health Lab by phone or email to arrange collection of
    the diseased hoof (or hooves).

    What if I have additional questions?


    You can contact our wildlife health team via e-mail at [email protected] or you can call our wildlife health
    toll free number (1-866-968-2600).

    You might also like