When scrapie was detected among wild reindeer in Nordfjella in Vestland in 2016, it came as a shock. Slope disease is a contagious disease that can affect deer. It is always lethal and is extremely challenging to eradicate and control. The disease affects the brain and there is no treatment or vaccine that can slow down the development of infected animals. But is it possible to use breeding to increase reindeer without losing genetic diversity? Chronic wasting disease (CWD) The brain disease chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been given the Norwegian name skrantesjuke. Scrapie is a contagious prion disease that can affect deer. The disease was first detected in Norway in the spring of 2016, then in a wild reindeer herd in the Nordfjella mountains. This was the first documented case of the disease in deer in Europe. The infection was later found in moose in Selbu. Before the disease was discovered in Norway, the disease was only known from the USA and Canada. Signs of the disease include emaciation and abnormal behaviour, but deer can also have scrapie without showing signs of the disease. Distemper is fatal for the animal. Source: Hjortevilt.no TAMED REINDEER: There are both wild and domesticated reindeer in Norway. They live quite similarly, but the difference is that the domestic reindeer are controlled by humans. Photo: Alexander Nordby / news A new research project gives hope. The veterinary school collaborates with domestic reindeer herders. They select breeding bucks that they know are not susceptible to the disease and invest in them. Thus, they choose away the most sensitive animals. The project is funded by the Research Council, and is led by Professor Michael Andreas Tranulis, at NMBU Veterinary College. – This is a project that will last four years, and we hope it will provide a significant increase in resistance to the disease in domestic reindeer herds in southern Norway, says Tranulis. RESEARCH PROJECT: The project will last 4 years and has a total budget of around NOK 14 million, says Professor Michael Andreas Tranulis. Photo: Alexander Nordby / news – A disease we are very afraid of He says that they already know a good deal about the genetics that control susceptibility to rickets. The outbreak in Nordfjella gave many answers to which animals are the most sensitive. – The aim of the project is to remove them from breeding in domestic reindeer farms, so that they gradually gain increased resilience in their herds. This will in turn reduce the chance of the disease spreading in Norway. It is a disease we are very afraid of. FOUR TAMED REMINDER FACILITIES: Reindeer farming is carried out through four domestic reindeer farms in southern Norway. There are Lom, Vågå, Fram and Filefjell reindeer herders. All of these are involved in the research project. Photo: Alexander Nordby / news Welcomes the research In the domestic reindeer herders, they are positive about the research project. They hope it will secure their industry in the future. – Skrantes disease is of course a disease that no one wants to have. We have gained some hope that it is possible to help protect ourselves to a large extent through genetic research. It is something we welcome, and which we want to be part of. That’s what Dag Inge Bakke, chairman of Vågå Tamreinlag, says. In January, the domestic reindeer team has existed for 82 years, but if scrapie occurs in the herd, the future looks grim. – It is a terrible disease, a really terrible disease. There is simply 100 percent mortality in the animals that have developed it. It is an insidious disease, so it is difficult to detect it, perhaps until it is present in a number of animals. – If it occurs, then in the worst case it will be a shutdown and a complete disaster. So it is something we would prefer to get rid of quickly, says Bakke. – It is a creeping disease, so it is difficult to detect it. You may not discover it until it is in a number of animals, says chairman of the Vågå Reindeer Association, Dag Inge Bakke. Photo: Alexander Nordby / news Can mean the hook on the door They are also worried in Lom Tamreinlag. If scrapie spreads in the herd, it could mean that the almost 100-year-old domestic reindeer herd cannot continue operations. – Stubble is the big fear for us. If we get scurvy, we don’t know what will happen, but there is a good chance that it will be the hook on the door for us. Being able to find out more about scrapie in reindeer is important, says head herder Kristian Kjæstad. – What do you think that scrapie has come to Norway and to reindeer? – It is terribly scary. It is a terrible disease, he says. SCARY DISEASE: – It is very scary that it has been detected in Norway. It will probably be the downfall of the wild reindeer if it is allowed to develop, says head herder in the Lom Reindeer Association, Kristian Kjæstad. Here he is with Professor Michael Andreas Tranulis. Photo: Alexander Nordby / news High priority Anthrax does not only threaten the domestic reindeer. The wild reindeer are also at risk if the disease spreads. – Getting this disease into domestic reindeer herds is terrible and it is also terrible to have it spread further in our wild reindeer populations, which are very vulnerable and to which Norway has specific management requirements, says Tranulis. – So fighting this disease and reducing the chance of its spread is something that must be given high priority. And that is what this project is about, he adds. The researchers know that they are on to something in the research that can help. But how big is the effect? – We dare not say that. We don’t have enough data to say that. But we know that there is an effect, and then it is right to use the knowledge you have to counteract the spread of such a terrible disease as this one, says the professor. TESTING: The samples taken from the slaughtered reindeer are tested. Then the researchers will get more answers, which can hopefully prevent the spread of scrapie. Photo: Alexander Nordby / news
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Will breed on reindeer that are less susceptible to the disease – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
