Expanding National-Scale Wildlife Disease Surveillance Systems With Research Networks

Area of Science:

• Wildlife disease ecology
• Epidemiology
• Conservation biology

Background:

• Standardized active surveillance in wildlife is vital for understanding disease dynamics.
• Landscape-scale targeted surveillance is challenging but essential for predicting disease emergence.
• Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses risks to wildlife and humans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and deployment of a landscape-scale targeted surveillance system for SARS-CoV-2 in free-ranging deer.
• To provide a framework for understanding disease transmission, evolution, and persistence across multiple scales.
• To enhance readiness for future disease emergence events.

Main Methods:

• Established a landscape-scale targeted surveillance network through public service and academic partnerships.
• Designed a sampling strategy across individual, population, and landscape levels.
• Adapted the sampling design to overcome implementation challenges.

Main Results:

• Successfully deployed a SARS-CoV-2 surveillance system in two free-ranging deer species across the United States.
• Documented challenges and adaptations in implementing the sampling design.
• Established a research network for ongoing data collection and analysis.

Conclusions:

• Landscape-scale targeted surveillance is feasible and improves preparedness for wildlife disease outbreaks.
• Partnerships are key to developing and operating effective surveillance networks.
• The developed system provides a foundation for analyzing SARS-CoV-2 dynamics in wildlife.