Friday's Internet Edition, July 30, 2010. Deer Talk By Ashley Wandell - EHD (Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease) is a virus that is a common killer to white-tailed deer during the summer months. This virus is spread by Culicoides midges, also known as biting flies, which is a perfect description for that is exactly how the virus is spread. The midge that has contracted the virus will also contaminate every deer it bites and will spread the virus successfully and rapidly. Culicoides midges need moisture to hatch and the virus is more likely to be contracted after a rain storm. Thankfully for Texas, Northern White-tailed deer are more commonly affected by EHD. They lack the antibodies to resist the disease. EHD is therefore a larger problem in northern states instead of southern unless of course northern genetics are brought in, which does happen. Texas deer can contract EHD, but they do have the antibodies to overcome the virus. Once a deer has been bitten by a contaminated midge though, a deer will display distinct signs of having contracted EHD. From personal experiences, the behavior noted of white-tailed deer that have developed EHD consisted of distinguishable characteristics. The deer walked in a similar state to drunkenness. Their movements were real slow, they would not walk in a straight “line” and their equilibrium appeared to be almost non-existant. EHD causes severe internal hemorrhaging in organs and capillaries in feet will burst making them very sensitive and painful to walk on. Eventually, when the virus had spread thoroughly, the deer had great difficulty standing up or even holding its head up. When discovered deceased upon the ground there were also observations pertaining to EHD. The deer were laying on their sides with all four legs extended from their body. There was also a circle around them in the dirt where they “paddled” in a circular pattern trying to move before death, or a buzzard, claimed them. EHD is a 21 day virus. It will always enter and leave the body within 21 days. The internal damages produced by hemorrhaging are irreversible. The virus destroys the villi in the omasum (one of the four stomachs) and the small intestine. The villi help absorb nutrients into the body. The autopsy will show clots and quantities of blood in the internal cavity where there should be none. Usually, the blood clots will be in the kidneys, liver and spleen. Most commonly, once a deer with northern genetics has developed EHD it has less than twenty-four hours before the virus finalizes in fatality. Antibiotics can be administered, but survival is unlikely. Although antibiotics are given mainly for reducing fever instated by EHD, they can help a deer persevere through the virus hopefully with minimal internal damage. Antibiotics can also aid with Blue Tongue as well. Blue Tongue is quite similar to EHD, however there is a greater chance of survival. Blue Tongue does not disperse through the body as rapidly as EHD, therefore, the hemorrhaging is slower and can be dragged out for days, possibly weeks, with a larger chance of survival.

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