Background Related StoriesCWD is a fatal transmissible spongiform encephalopathy or prion disease of cervids and can cause long-term population declines. It affects several members of the Cervidae family, such as elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, and moose. Modeling studies have suggested that early detection at less than 1% prevalence is required to control, mitigate, and potentially eradicate the disease.
About the study In the present study, researchers assessed whether trained dogs could distinguish between CWD-positive and -negative fecal samples in the laboratory and search for CWD-positive feces in the field. Three dogs were trained and tested. Dogs could search an eight-port scent wheel in the laboratory, change their behavior when alerting to training odor , or leave the wheel without the target odor.
Findings Dogs participated in three double-blind tests of three trials, each with five CWD-positive test samples and 24 CWD-negative test samples. Dogs alerted on four positive samples collected at a later point of disease progression. They alerted on three positive samples collected at early disease progression.