Since 1997, research on tuberculosis in white-tailed deer has been conducted in Ames, IA at the National Animal Disease Center (NADC), a USDA research laboratory. The discovery of tuberculosis in wild deer in Michigan prompted the establishment of this research program. The NADC is involved only in research and does not dictate or enforce regulatory matters of the USDA. During the course of this research effort several studies have been conducted and published in scientific peer-reviewed journals. The following is a brief summary of that information. A number of studies have yet to appear in the scientific literature, but will be forthcoming.

Initially scientists developed a model of infection, allowing experimental infection that results in disease identical to that seen in wild deer.

MV Palmer, DL Whipple, SC Olsen. Development of a model of natural infection with Mycobacterium bovis in white-tailed deer. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 1999;35: 450-457.

Using this model of infection a number of studies have been done to examine transmission of Mycobacterium bovis, the bacterial agent responsible for TB, between deer and between deer and cattle. A number of conclusions have been drawn from these studies.

1. Deer in close contact can transmit M. bovis to one another.
2. Infected deer can shed M. bovis in their nasal secretions, saliva and less commonly in their urine and feces.
3. Indirect contact - through feed exposure only - results in the transmission of M. bovis to other deer or to cattle.

MV Palmer, DL Whipple, W Ray Waters. Experimental deer to deer transmission of Mycobacterium bovis. American Journal of Veterinary Research 2001;62:692-696.

Other research areas involving deer that have yet to be completed include:

1. Doe to fawn transmission of tuberculosis; does it happen and how.
2. How low of a dose is required to establish infection in a deer. We currently have demonstrated that as few as 40 organisms can establish infection in white-tailed deer. Compared to other species in which tuberculosis has been studed, white-tailed deer appear to be very susceptible to infection with Mycobacterium bovis.
3. Improved diagnostic tests to detect tuberculosis in living animals (these would be of more use to deer farmers and would probably not have much of a role in wild deer tuberculosis)
4. Survivability of Mycobacterium bovis on feedstuffs under different environmental conditions.
5. How does this disease develop in white-tailed deer and what are the characteristic findings at different stages of disease.

Other articles of interest published or due out shortly in scientific journals:
MV Palmer, DL Whipple, RW Waters. Tuberculin skin testing in white-tailed deer. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 2001;13:530-533.

MV Palmer, WR Waters, DL Whipple. Lesion development in white-tailed deer experimentally infected with Mycobacterium bovis. Due out in the next issue of Veterinary Pathology

MV Palmer, DL Whipple, KL Butler, SD Fitzgerald, CS Bruning-Fann, SM Schmitt. Tonsillar lesions in white-tailed deer naturally infected with Mycobacterium bovis. Due out this year in the journal Veterinary Record.