CWD-1 - Chronic Wasting Disease Biosecurity and Testing Requirements

This protocol supports Texas's wildlife disease surveillance efforts while ensuring research activities comply with disease prevention standards.

Current Version: 1.0 - Effective: November 21, 2025
Previous Versions: none

Version 1.0

Condition CWD-1.1
The permit holder shall submit samples for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) testing from all deer mortalities that occur during any permitted research activities, regardless of the cause of death, age of animal or geographic location within Texas.
Condition CWD-1.2
All CWD testing samples shall be submitted exclusively to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) or Immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Condition CWD-1.3
The following tissue samples shall be collected from each deer mortality: obex and retropharyngeal lymph nodes. If the permit holder lacks expertise to collect the required tissues, the entire deer head may be submitted to TVMDL for sample collection.
Condition CWD-1.4
Sample collection shall occur within 24 hours after death is confirmed. Samples shall not be frozen and must be maintained at refrigeration temperatures (2-8°C) until submission.
Condition CWD-1.5
Samples shall be submitted to TVMDL within 48 hours of collection with the appropriate TVMDL submission form and proper labeling.

Condition CWD-1.6
The permit holder shall disinfect all equipment that contacts deer when conducting research activities in any area where CWD has been detected in free-ranging cervids (see current CWD detections using TPWD’s CWD Map Viewers and Occurrence Metrics). Equipment shall be disinfected following USDA-APHIS guidelines for CWD decontamination. Disinfection shall occur before leaving each research site and before equipment is used at subsequent locations.