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Gail Keirn (970) 266-6007

Daniel Parry (301) 734-3255

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**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

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.