Land use and soil characteristics are associated with increased risk of treponeme-associated hoof disease in elk

Steven N. Winter; Glen A. Sargeant; Margaret A. Wild; Erin Clancey; Kathryn P. Huyvaert; Kyle Garrison; Pilar Fernandez

doi:10.1002/ecs2.70470

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Land use and soil characteristics are associated with increased risk of treponeme-associated hoof disease in elk

Steven N. Winter·Glen A. Sargeant·Margaret A. Wild·Erin Clancey·Kathryn P. Huyvaert·Kyle Garrison·Pilar Fernandez

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Abstract

Environments can shape the occurrence and extent of disease outbreaks in wildlife. We studied the effects of environmental features on the occurrence of treponeme-associated hoof disease (TAHD), an emerging infectious disease of free-ranging elk ( Cervus canadensis ), in southwestern Washington, USA. During the 2016–2022 harvest seasons, successful elk hunters returned mandatory harvest reports and noted the presence or absence of hoof abnormalities indicative of TAHD. We used generalized linear models and an information-theoretic approach to model selection to relate (1) the spatial distribution of hoof abnormalities to features of landscapes (land cover, topography, and soil characteristics) and (2) the temporal distribution of hoof abnormalities to precipitation during the year preceding the harvest season. The probability of hoof disease increased with soil clay content and proportion of agricultural land (88% of model weight). We found no conclusive evidence for an effect of precipitation on the occurrence of TAHD, but this could relate to relatively high annual precipitation (>140 cm) in the study area. Nevertheless, disease cases may have been negatively associated with precipitation during February–June (55% of model weight). Soils and land management practices may increase the risk of hoof disease by promoting the survival of pathogens that cause TAHD, the susceptibility of elk to infection, or the intensity of pathogen transmission among elk when congregated. Focusing on areas where the risk of disease is greatest may facilitate the detection of TAHD during surveillance. Likewise, removing infected elk and dispersing uninfected elk from areas with the greatest risk of disease may enhance the effectiveness of efforts to reduce transmission. Basing this work on the knowledge that disease risk is modified by factors of hosts, pathogens, and environments, this study serves as an application of the epidemiological triad framework to better understand the ecology and epidemiology of an emerging infectious disease in wildlife.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 45.9° to 46.9° latitude; -123.5° to -121.9° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Steven N. Winter, Glen A. Sargeant, Margaret A. Wild, Erin Clancey, Kathryn P. Huyvaert, Kyle Garrison, Pilar Fernandez. 2025-12-04. Land use and soil characteristics are associated with increased risk of treponeme-associated hoof disease in elk. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70470

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