New CWD case found in live-tested deer
Officials have confirmed a new case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a captive white-tailed deer at another breeding facility in Medina County. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) are conducting an investigation into this new case. The case comes from a 3½-year-old buck that underwent a live test rectal biopsy for CWD conducted in March by the deer breeder. Tissue samples revealed the presence of CWD during testing at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station. The lab notified TAHC and TPWD of a suspected positive on May 1. Officials submitted the samples to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, which validated the suspect findings on May 9. TAHC and TPWD are working with the breeder to develop a CWD herd plan. The facility is in the immediate vicinity of two positive deer breeding facilities/release sites and one low fence ranch where CWD was detected in a free-ranging deer. The latest discovery marks the 50th confirmed positive case of CWD in Texas since 2012.—courtesy TPWD
