Resources

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): A Threat to Illinois’ Deer | By Drs. Nelda A. Rivera and Nohra Mateus-Pinilla

For more details bout CWD in Illinois, please download our brochure [PDF]

List of tick-borne diseases that affect canines and felines in the United States, and what to do to protect your pet.

Credit: Nelda A. Rivera, Wildlife Veterinary Epidemiology Laboratory, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “Canine and Feline Tick-Borne Diseases in the U.S.” [JPEG]

What ticks are found in Illinois, and what diseases can they transmit?

Distribution of five ticks of human and veterinary importance in the U.S. and the infectious diseases that they may transmit to humans. An * indicates the species of ticks that are considered the main vectors of tick-borne diseases in Illinois.

Sources of information, maps and tick pictures from the CDC; Illustration courtesy of Dr. Nelda A. Rivera, Wildlife Veterinary Epidemiology Laboratory, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. [JPEG]

TULAREMIA

In general, humans can become infected accidentally through the skin while handling infected animals, if bitten by infected vectors, consuming contaminated food or water, or by inhaling dust or aerosols contaminated with F. tularensis bacteria. Rodents and lagomorphs are particularly susceptible and can become common reservoirs among wildlife. Transmission from animal to animal may occur through cutaneous, respiratory, or gastrointestinal routes.

Credit: Nelda A. Rivera, Wildlife Veterinary Epidemiology Laboratory, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “Tularemia: Potential Routes of Exposure” [JPEG]. Deer fly photo by xpda; Lone star tick and American dog tick photos from CDC. Cycle adapted from Sharma et al., 2023.

COVID-19 and White-tailed deer

[PDF available here]

TICKS

How to avoid becoming a meal while hunting for yours | By Dr. Heather Kopsco

Six tips you need to know to protect yourself and your family from ticks and tick-borne diseases. These tips are for anyone who spends time recreating outdoors, whether hunting, hiking, gardening, etc.

[PDF available here]

TICKS – Instructional Videos

Preventing Tick Bites | By JM Mui

Wildlife Veterinary Epidemiology Laboratory, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “Preventing Tick Bites.” YouTube, uploaded by Jen Mui, 20 December 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANCxFDcIoNo&t=7s 

How to remove a tick | By Jen Mui

Wildlife Veterinary Epidemiology Laboratory, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “Removing a Tick.” YouTube, uploaded by Jen Mui, 3 April 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ViAHKwTzjs

For more information on ticks, please visit the Education and Outreach page, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

General overview of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for  CWD diagnosis | By Dr. Nelda A. Rivera

ELISA image adapted from wikicommons: Schematic flowchart: ELISA and COVID-19. Dhamad and Abdal Rhida, 2020. Available online: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fig._E._COV.jpg

 

General overview of the Immunohistochemical (IHC) diagnostic process for CWD | By Dr. Nelda A. Rivera

IHC image reference: CWD positive and negative results. Sigurdson, C.J. and Aguzzi, A., 2007. Chronic wasting disease. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Molecular Basis of Disease, 1772(6), pp.610-618; Schematic flowchart: ELISA and COVID-19. Image adapted from wikicommons. Dhamad and Abdal Rhida, 2020. Available online: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fig._E._COV.jpg;  Microscope (Free image). Available online: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1608301; Unlabeled diagram showing the structure and function of lymph nodes. By Andrewmeyerson. Available online: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lymph_Node_Diagram_Unlabeled.jpg; https://www.2bscientific.com/Resources/Troubleshooting-Guides/Immunohistochemistry

 

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) | By Drs. Nelda A. Rivera and Nohra Mateus-Pinilla

For more details bout EHD in Illinois, please download our brochure [PDF]

Table: Prion diseases names and mammal species affected.

Credit: Nelda A. Rivera, Wildlife Veterinary Epidemiology Laboratory, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. [JPEG]

Cycle of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Infection for Wild White-tailed Deer.

Credit: Nelda A. Rivera, Wildlife Veterinary Epidemiology Laboratory, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. [JPEG]

Concentration of CWD pathogen (PrPSC) in different tissues.

Credit: Nelda A. Rivera, Wildlife Veterinary Epidemiology Laboratory, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. [JPEG]
Can cooking inactivate CWD prions? (Credit: Nelda A. Rivera, Wildlife Veterinary Epidemiology Laboratory, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) [JPEG]

Credit: Nelda A. Rivera, Wildlife Veterinary Epidemiology Laboratory, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. [JPEG]

Credit: Nelda A. Rivera, Wildlife Veterinary Epidemiology Laboratory, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign [JPEG]