Publications by authors named "Michael J Tonkovich"
Article Synopsis
- Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is spreading in wild cervids, harming wildlife conservation, draining resources, and complicating management strategies.
- Researchers developed a regional model to predict CWD incidence using surveillance data from 16 states and found that the Light Boosting Gradient model was the most accurate.
- The new predictive model can help improve surveillance efforts by identifying areas for targeted monitoring, but discrepancies with actual surveillance data highlight the need for a multi-faceted approach by wildlife professionals.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) can spread among cervids by direct and indirect transmission, the former being more likely in emerging areas. Identifying subpopulations allows the delineation of focal areas to target for intervention. We aimed to assess the population structure of white-tailed deer () in the northeastern United States at a regional scale to inform managers regarding gene flow throughout the region.
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- * Researchers found that the virus evolves three times faster in white-tailed deer than in humans, influenced by different mutation patterns and selection pressures.
- * Although no significant changes in the virus's traits were detected in deer models, ongoing transmission in deer raises concerns about potential future mutations that could impact human health and livestock.