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Assessing Different Chronic Wasting Disease Training Aids for Use with Detection Dogs.
Amritha Mallikarjun1, Ila Charendoff1, Madison B Moore1
1Penn Vet Working Dog Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19146, USA.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|January 23, 2024
Summary
Researchers identified the optimal non-infectious training aid for canine detection of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Cotton incubated with deer feces at 21°C for 24 hours proved most effective for training CWD detection dogs safely.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Science
- Wildlife Disease Ecology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal prion disease impacting cervid populations.
- Detection dogs offer a promising surveillance method, but using infectious CWD samples poses biohazard risks.
- Developing safe, non-infectious training aids is crucial for effective CWD detection dog training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of different training aid materials and conditions for canine CWD detection.
- To identify the optimal training aid for replicating the olfactory signature of CWD-positive deer feces.
- To ensure safe and practical training protocols for CWD detection dog-handler teams.
Main Methods:
- Assessed canine sensitivity and specificity using training aids made from cotton, GetXent tubes, and PDMS.
- Incubated fecal matter from CWD-positive and CWD-negative deer with training aids.
- Varied incubation temperatures (21°C, 37°C) and durations (6h, 24h, 48h) to determine optimal conditions.
Main Results:
- Cotton incubated at 21°C for 24 hours demonstrated the highest performance based on dog detection accuracy.
- This specific condition balanced canine performance with practical considerations for training aid preparation.
- Other materials and incubation parameters showed varied, generally lower, efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Cotton incubated at 21°C for 24 hours is recommended as the optimal training aid for CWD detection dogs.
- This finding facilitates the development of safer, more effective training programs for CWD surveillance.
- The study provides valuable insights into training aid selection for olfactory detection in wildlife disease management.
