300 Wyoming Elk Dead After Baffling Paralysis

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the mysterious paralysis affecting a population of elk in Wyoming, leading to the euthanization of 300 animals. Participants explore potential causes, including prion diseases, plant toxins, and other environmental factors, while examining the ongoing investigation by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD).

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the WGFD's definition of prion diseases may be too narrow, arguing that prions can cause rapid death without physical wasting symptoms.
  • There is mention of ongoing investigations, with CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) being ruled out based on brain tissue tests, but other potential causes, such as plant toxins, remain under consideration.
  • One participant notes that the elk have started migrating out of the affected area, which may help determine if the paralysis is localized.
  • Concerns are raised about whether spinal cord examinations have been conducted, given that the paralysis seems to affect the legs while the animals can still lift their heads.
  • A later post humorously claims that lichen is the cause of the elk deaths, referencing an external article.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the potential causes of the paralysis, with no consensus reached on the underlying issue. Some hypotheses are supported by evidence, while others remain speculative.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in the investigation, including the lack of clarity on specific tests conducted on nervous tissue and the need for further examination of spinal cord involvement.

Ivan Seeking
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Fifteen miles south of Rawlins, Wyoming, in a 50-square-mile area
owned and managed by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD)
300 elk have been disabled by baffling paralysis and subsequently euthanized by the WGFD. [continued]

http://www.earthfiles.com/news/news.cfm?ID=679&category=Environment

Note: This website can get real whacky but Howe usually does a decent job of reporting on credible stories.
 
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Sounds to me, based on their answers to the prion question, that their definition of a prion disease is too narrow. I didn't see any reference to testing brain tissue, they just looked for physical wasting, a symptom of CWD, and didn't find it. But nervous tissue disorder doesn't have to result in wasting. If a prion got into some part of the brain that was vital - respiration control, say - it could kill fast and not leave time for physical deterioration.
 
The investigation is still ongoing, and although the posted article didn't do a good job of explaining much of the details, CWD was eliminated based on tests of brain tissue. The Wyoming Game and Fish website has more detail, including some of the culprits not yet eliminated from the list, such as some likely plant toxins. They are awaiting results from other state labs on the stomach contents of the downed elk. In good news, the elk have begun migrating out of the affected area, and the WGFD is tracking them with radio collars. Hopefully if the problem is localized to that region, the occurrence of the paralysis will cease once the herd moves. If it doesn't resolve, then they can eliminate a few more things from their list of potential culprits. The one thing I'm not clear on from the reports posted so far is whether any of the examinations of nervous tissue has specifically tested spinal cord rather than just brain. Since it seems only their legs are affected and these animals are still able to lift their head and neck, I would think spinal cord should be considered as a target site of infection...or at least the first site of infection.
 
Mysterious Wyoming elk deaths solved

Lichen got 'em.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/03/22/elkdeaths.ap/index.html
 
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