A. Cattle seldom exhibit clinical signs and usually any signs are very mild. Sheep are not affected. It is not infectious to humans, dogs, or cats. Deer initially lose their appetite and fear of man, grow progressively weaker, often salivate excessively, exhibit shortness of breath, and finally become comatose. Hemorrhaging or lesions on the mucosa of the mouth and tongue can be seen.
Severe emaciation is seen in animals recovering from severe disease.
Any deer found dead with no visible injuries during the late summer and early fall should be considered a potential Hemorrhagic Disease case. These cases should be reported to your local Wildlife and Heritage Division office. A. A confirmed diagnosis requires isolation of the virus from sick or freshly dead deer with clinical signs or lesions typical of hemorrhagic disease. Preferred specimens for virus isolation are unclotted whole blood in EDTA or heparin and refrigerated samples of spleen and lymph node. The Wildlife and Heritage Division of Maryland DNR monitors the occurrence of Hemorrhagic Disease in all twenty-three counties and at deer check stations.