Applying PZP Vaccines in the Field:

Transcription

1 Applying PZP Vaccines in the Field: An overview of considerations, methods & tools Kali Pereira Senior Wildlife Field Manager The Humane Society of the United States May 2, 2018

2 Field Application Options Utilizing immunocontraception in research and management models

3 Considerations for pursuing fertility control Identify specific conflicts, impacts, and stakeholders Assess the need: Intervention vs. Tolerance Does fertility control address the core set of community issues? Are there other actions that better fit the problem/solution map? Community Infrastructure & Political Support Local, state, and federal support and permissions required Resident & Land owner support required for access to animals Landscape- does the topography lend itself to safe working environments and safe access to animals Funding Program/Project Staffing Who will design and implement the work? Committed and trained personnel required

4 Pursuing a workable program VS Participating in field studies to better refine the tool Management Research Choosing a suitable pathway Purpose: to implement a program that directly addresses population dynamics Requires clear and measurable goals to assess progress on a total population vs. effects on individual animals Carried out by wildlife managers, contractors, or other trained personnel Permit process through federal and state agencies Purpose: to further explore and address unanswered research questions involving immuncontraception Are research needs in line with the community desires? Is the host community a good fit for the research needs? Outcomes not necessarily specific to population level effects Carried out by academic/scientific personnel and adheres to a research design vs. management plan Permit process through federal and state agencies, in addition to internal review board (i.e. IACUC)

5 Insuring Access to Animals Regardless of the project type or method, accessibility is a huge factor in the ability to carry out field plans effectively. Varies based on deer behavior & biology Are the majority of deer approachable enough to safely and accurately dart? Bait leverage required? Consider plans that work with biological timelines and behavior Local landscapes and topography Safe terrain to capture or dart animals Post dart flight concerns knowing the potential hazards is key High traffic roadway concerns Conversely, is there enough vehicle access in deer dense areas to get into appropriate darting ranges Political landscapes and private property support Private property access in deer dense areas a must Residential/Community support

6 Implementing a project Planning and Methodology Considerations

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8 CAPTURE: How will the animals receive treatment? Capture vs. Remote Darting - Required for ear tagging, collaring, obtaining biological samples - Requires veterinary oversight and anesthetic expertise of the field team - Increases cost with anesthetic drugs, anesthetic delivery darts (radio telemetry transmitter required) - Increased logistical efforts and time spent on each animal - Specific, involved animal handling protocols - Stringent safety protocols for field team and advanced training and experience required - Requires increased access to animals since they ll need to be tracked and processed (private property permissions vs. surrounding hazards for the anesthetized animal) Cost varies based on medications used, vaccine type, dart type, etc REMOTE DARTING: - Less costly as the only injection is vaccine - Does not require as heavy veterinary oversight - Require trained personnel - Requires standard darting safety protocols - Less time spent on each animal - Requires permissions and access to animals in safe darting scenarios Cost varies based on vaccine and dart type

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10 Cost variability is based on several factors, the most impactful include: Cost Considerations Total number of deer to be vaccinated and the frequency of booster doses desired Duration of the work Type of vaccine being utilized ~$30/ deer vs. PZP ~$ / deer) Whether or not chemical capture is required (adds atleast $100 supply cost per deer) Access to animals and safe darting opportunities *costs above exclude labor / time

11 ESTIMATED COST IN USD Cost Considerations From Previous PZP Projects Fire Island National Seashore, NY $ I N I T I A L T R E A T M E N T C O S T S TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF TREATMENT PER DEER FIRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE, NY Treatment Average Labor Hours per deer: 1 Labor cost per deer (@$15/hr) $79 B O O S T E R T R E A T M E N T C O S T S TYPE OF TREATMENT PROVIDED Average Labor Hours per deer: 1 1. FACT SHEET: PZP Immuncontraception for Deer, Dr. Allen Rutberg, Center for Animals and Public Policy, Rutberg & Naugle, 2009

12 ESTIMATED COST IN USD Cost Considerations From Previous PZP Projects NIST TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF CAPTURE AND TREATMENT VS. TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF RE -TREATING NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY GAITHERSBURG, MD $ Treatment Average Labor Hours per deer: 6.7 Includes capture & tagging Labor cost per deer $ Average Labor Hours per deer: 2.0 I N I T I A L T R E A T M E N T C O S T S B O O S T E R T R E A T M E N T C O S T S TYPE OF TREATMENT PROVIDED 1. FACT SHEET: PZP Immuncontraception for Deer, Dr. Allen Rutberg, Center for Animals and Public Policy, Rutberg & Naugle, 2009

13 ESTIMATED COST IN USD Cost Considerations From Previous PZP Projects Fripp Island, SC TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF CAPTURE AND TREATMENT VS. TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF RE- TREATING FRIPP ISLAND, SC $ I N I T I A L T R E A T M E N T C O S T S U S I N G P Z P - 22 Treatment Average Labor Hours per deer: 8.2 Includes capture & tagging Labor cost per deer (@$15/hr) $ B O O S T E R T R E A T M E N T C O S T S U S I N G P Z P E M U L S I O N TYPE OF TREATMENT PROVIDED Average Labor Hours per deer: FACT SHEET: PZP Immuncontraception for Deer, Dr. Allen Rutberg, Center for Animals and Public Policy, Rutberg et al J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 44(4S):75-83

14 Additional Costs to Consider Field staff personnel salaries Field staff lodging, travel, etc (if not local) Field vehicle use and maintenance Permit and Licensing fees Medications & Medical Supplies (variable based on need to capture) Darting Equipment & Supplies Observation & Monitoring Equipment (cameras, population surveys, etc)

15 Safety First (humans, target animals, non-target animals) Buddy system- when darting or handling animals it is never best to work alone Field Protocols & Procedures Darting Parameters & Protocols Clearly identifies who, where, when, and how darting should be carried out Specific to field conditions and terrain Describes what constitutes both safe and unsafe scenarios Chemical Capture & Animal Handling Veterinary oversight & record keeping Sound and thorough anesthetic protocols Authorized and practiced safe animal handling procedures Involves human safety protocols as well as animal safety protocols Shared with PD/ EMS/ Municipal Officials Reviewed and approved by permitting authorities, etc

16 PZP darting requirements PZP certification course (Science and Conservation Center, Zoo Montana) Supplemental darting classes a plus Frequent practice a must Regulatory considerations (applicator authorization, state regulations, etc) Chemical capture darting requires additional coursework, training, and veterinary medical/field experience

17 An Overview of the Basics Examples of vaccines, darts, projectors, and other applicable field tasks

18 ZonaStat & PZP 22 ZonaStat 0.5 ml porcine zona pellucida emulsified in 0.5 ml adjuvant 1 cc Self injecting dart is selected and filled with emulsion. PZP 22 PZP emulsified in adjuvant 3 time release pellets Implant dart is filled with emulsion, and needle houses the pellet set for dart delivery For hand injection, the emulsion is given IM in the hop musculature, flowed by the pellets via trocar syringe in the same or proximal muscle Photo credits: Meredith Lee/HSUS

19 Darts & Delivery Systems Currently utilized Telemetry darts, implant darts, self injecting vaccine darts Rifles, pistols, blowpipes, hand injection (trocar) Currently being explored Drone darting Fixed collaring / treatment stations

20 Animal Identification & Tracking Methods Currently utilized in deer fertility control projects Cattle / Livestock ear tags Collaring (GPS) Radio telemetry darts Marker darts Currently being explored for use in deer RFID Visual recognition software GPS ear tags

21 Additional Helpful Fieldwork Tools

22 Questions & Answers Equipment Display