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Gail Keirn (970) 266-6007

Daniel Parry (301) 734-3255

**USDA RESEARCHERS INVESTIGATE THE USE OF INFRARED CAMERAS**

**TO DETECT WILDLIFE DISEASES**

FORT COLLINS, Colo., Sept. 30, 2005--Researchers at the U.S. Department
of Agriculture's National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) recently
completed laboratory trials using infrared thermography to successfully
detect signs of rabies in experimentally infected raccoons and signs of
foot-and-mouth disease in experimentally infected domestic cattle and
pronghorn antelope. NWRC's studies were conducted in conjunction with
existing disease research at Colorado State University and with USDA's
veterinary services program.

"The use of infrared thermography in the initial screening, surveillance
and monitoring of foreign and domestic animal diseases could potentially
save millions of dollars for animal industries, public health and
wildlife management agencies," said NWRC Director Richard Bruggers.

Thermography is a technique that detects and measures variations in the
heat emitted by various regions of the body and transforms them into
visible signals that can be recorded photographically. Coupled with what
we know about certain diseases and their clinical signs, this technique
could potentially be used to detect and measure increases in an animal's
surface temperature as a result of infections. These changes in
temperature often occur at specific locations on the animal's body and
form thermal patterns that may be unique to particular diseases. For
instance, in the case of rabies, heat associated with viral activity is
most prevalent in the nose and rostrum area and shows up as white (hot)
or bright red (very warm) on thermal images. With foot-and-mouth
disease, heat associated with viral activity is visible in and around
the feet and in oral lesions. In rabies, the pattern of infection using
infrared thermography appears to be unique. More research is needed to
determine if the thermal pattern is unique for foot-and-mouth disease.

To use infrared thermography, one simply needs an infrared camera and
its associated computer software; thus, the technique has the potential
to be easily adaptable to field situations. Using newer models of
infrared cameras, thermal images of rabies-infected raccoons may be
detected from as far away as 100--150 feet. More sophisticated models
used in aerial applications may detect infected animals at much greater
distances.

NWRC scientists plan to field test the use of infrared thermography to
detect signs of rabies in wild raccoons later this year. Foot-and-mouth
disease has not been found in the United

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States since 1929, but is endemic in other regions of the world.
Eventually, scientists want to

expand the use of infrared thermography to other animal diseases
including vesicular stomatitis, rinderpest, African swine fever,
classical swine fever, bovine tuberculosis and others. NWRC scientists
are seeking interest and working to coordinate with foreign governments
to field-test the technique on foot-and-mouth and other exotic diseases.

WS' NWRC is the federal institution devoted to resolving problems caused
by the interaction of wild animals and society. The center applies
scientific expertise to the development of practical methods to resolve
these problems and to maintain the quality of the environments shared
with wildlife. To learn more about NWRC, visit its Web site at
<http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/nwrc>.

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