In the fields of Alpena County, Michigan, a pioneering effort is taking place as scientists from the Michigan DNR, Michigan State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service-Wildlife Services join forces to trial an oral vaccine against bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in wild deer, a venture that has been in the works since 2016, and now in its third and most critical phase, is capturing the attention of both wildlife experts and agricultural communities alike.
At the heart of this field study is the goal of eradicating bTB, which has stubbornly persisted among Michigan’s deer population for three decades, despite the disease's low prevalence, it has remained steady, indicating traditional methods are due for an upgrade, with the area of concern including Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, Oscoda, and Presque Isle counties, where the risk of transmission between deer and cattle is a particular concern. "We are very excited to explore a potential new tool that can facilitate efforts towards the long-term goal of bTB eradication in Michigan," Melinda Cosgrove, Laboratory Scientist Manager with the DNR, told Click on Detroit.
The current phase of the study, running from late February through April 2024, has involved the deployment of vaccine delivery units, strategically placed in crop fields known to be frequented by deer, the vaccine delivery units (VDUs) are made up of cubes of shredded alfalfa and molasses which conceal an edible sphere, encapsulating the liquid vaccine, in elements designed to be both attractive and consumable by the deer.
Following the deployment of the VDUs, scientists from the USDA-WS will harvest deer from the trial sites and collect samples to determine the effectiveness of the oral vaccination campaign, this hands-on approach marks a significant attempt to curb the spread of a disease that not only affects wildlife but has the potential to impact Michigan's cattle industry and public health. "The amount of partner work involved in this project is impressive, it is exciting to be in Part 3. We are hopeful this pilot can lead to an effective tool to further reduce the presence of bTB in Michigan," Mitch Marcus, DNR Wildlife Health Section supervisor, told the Department of Natural Resources.
This latest foray into wildlife management and disease prevention reflects a synergy of efforts among Michigan’s leading agencies, who are cautiously optimistic about the implications of their findings. State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland expressed her support for the research saying, "We are supportive of this research and look forward to learning more about how this vaccine can be used to address this disease and keep cattle and other animals, including deer, safe from bTB." As the study unfolds, all eyes will be on the results to determine whether this innovative method could be the key to safeguarding Michigan's wildlife and livestock for years to come.
