Where do veterinarians fit in?

The wildlife health monitoring system relies on the detec­tion, submission, investigation and reporting of sick and/ or dead free-ranging (both native and feral species) and wildlife in managed care.

In many situations a veterinarian is likely to be the first point of contact and will need to make an assessment on the outcome and need for reporting of a wildlife case pre­sented. Priorities for investigation are situations where there are signs of disease that are unusual or clusters of deaths. Other triggers for investigation could include a single free-ranging animal presenting with clinical signs suggestive of an exotic, emergency or notifable disease (e.g. a microbat with clinical signs suggestive of white­nose syndrome) or signs indicative of an infectious disease in a threatened, vulnerable or endangered species.

Obtaining a full history will be important to making an assessment of the significance of the case. Useful infor­mation to gather from wildlife disease events includes:

• What species are affected and are multiple or single species involved?

• Is the species vulnerable, threatened or endangered?

• Where were the animals found? Were the animals found over a dispersed area or clustered together in the same location?

• How many animals are affected? How many are dead?

• What clinical signs are present?

• When did this happen? Is it ongoing or has the incident stopped?

• Are there factors that may account for the clinical signs or deaths (e.g. extreme weather conditions; chemicals [e.g. poisoning]; water sources [e.g. botulism]; or insect levels [high or low; e.g.

It is important to determine if free-ranging animals have a disease that could endanger the health and welfare of other free-ranging animals or populations, the poten­tial to harm humans or that may lead to health and wel­fare issues for domestic animals.

A standard wildlife incident submission form endorsed by the AHC is available on the WHA website. AHC’s role is to develop science-based and nationally consistent policy on animal health issues, including wildlife.

It is useful to remember that the single animal present­ing to a veterinarian may be an early indicator of some­thing larger occurring. Several factors, such as weather, habitat and the presence of scavengers or predators, will determine persistence of carcasses in the environment and the number, density, size, colouration and visibility of sick and dead free-ranging animals will all influence the likelihood of detection, but may also lead to an underesti­mate of the number of animals affected and the extent of the event. These factors may influence not only the initial decision of the observer to report or bring an animal in for assessment, but may also make it challenging to determine the true significance of the wildlife case in hand (Wobeser and Wobeser 1992; Ward et al. 2006; Stallknecht 2007).

Following the initial detection, the collection and sub­mission of suitable fresh carcasses or samples suitable for diagnostic investigation can also be very challenging. A diagnostic investigation can help to determine the poten­tial cause of sickness or death as well as rule out diseases of potential concern (e.g. exotic, notifiable or zoonotic). Clinical examination, in-house tests, gross necropsy and histopathology may determine the cause of illness or death. In some circumstances the initial step may be sub­mission of specific samples to rule out specific diseases of concern, many of which are discussed elsewhere in this volume or in Vogelnest and Woods (2008).

Biosecurity protocols should always be implemented regardless of the clinical presentation so as to ensure people and other animals are not put at risk.

2.5.1 Support for veterinarians to undertake investigations AHA manages the NSDIP to provide subsidies for non­government veterinarians who investigate and report on significant disease incidents in livestock or wildlife. Funded from livestock industry and government subscriptions, the program helps boost Australia’s capacity for the early detection of EIDs or EADs in livestock and wildlife by recruiting greater participation of non-government veteri­narians in disease investigations.

Subsidies are available to registered, non-government veterinarians engaged in clinical veterinary medicine, including all veterinary practitioners in university clin­ics, zoos and wildlife parks. WHA administers the NSDIP funds for wildlife investigations.

Under the NSDIP, significant animal disease events are broadly defined as those clinically consistent with national notifiable animal diseases or diseases showing an increasing incidence and/or an expanding geographic or host range.

Funding made available through the NSDIP can sup­port elements of field and diagnostic investigation to assist achieving a diagnosis and thereby allowing an informed assessment of the risk of the wildlife health event to humans, domestic animals and biodiversity. Examples of wildlife health events in which NSDIP funds have assisted elements of the investigation include: unusual skin lesions in southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus Iatifrons) in SA (Grillo and Post 2011; Woolford et al. 2014), macro­pods presenting with neurological signs and blindness in Qld, skin lesions in eastern broad-nosed bats (Scotorepens orion) in Vic. in which white-nose syndrome was excluded (Grillo et al. 2012), and a black flying-fox (Pteropus alecto) with neurological signs where ABLV was excluded (Grillo and Post 2012; Grillo et al. 2013).

In addition, WHA supports investigations into cur­rent or ongoing wildlife disease events that might other­wise not proceed, utilising the WHA Wildlife Disease Investigation Fund.

2.5.2 Further assistance, reporting and obligations

If you see any suspicious signs of disease or deaths in wildlife, or the significance or need for further investiga­tion is unclear, you should report it to your local state or territory WHA Coordinator, the 24 hr EAD Hotline free call 1800 675 888 or the department of primary indus­tries or agriculture corresponding to the jurisdiction in which the event has occurred. Where there is a genuine suspicion of a notifiable animal disease, it is everyone’s legal responsibility to notify their state or territory animal health authority. Access to the list of national, state or ter­ritory notifiable animal diseases is via the DAFF website. However, recognition and assessment of the significance of wildlife diseases can be challenging and therefore if there is doubt, the state or territory animal health author­ity or WHA Coordinator should be contacted for advice. A list of the WHA Coordinators and their contact details is available on the WHA website. Seeking advice and reporting early will ensure an appropriate response is implemented where warranted. The earlier a response is implemented the better the potential outcome for Aus­tralia (Fig. 1.1). A decision support tool, WILDDeST, assists jurisdictions in identifying when wildlife health incidents should be investigated and who might be involved through a structured, standardised and trans­parent decision-making process.

3.