The primary objectives of the collaborative research effort between aphis, WS and the cooperator are to 1) determine the predictive relationship between (a) human values, attitudes, and beliefs and…

The Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University will conduct research to improve understanding and prediction of spillover and spillback of scrapie virus 2 between humans and white-tailed deer populations under a $183,937 cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Through workshops and a nationwide survey, the research aims to determine relationships between human values and behaviors relating to white-tailed deer, and identify human behaviors and land uses that may lead to transmission of the virus in either direction. Findings seek to enable more effective management interventions under the Wildlife Services program, which aims to reduce wildlife-caused damage through control and research activities involving mammals and birds that transmit zoonotic diseases. The period of performance is July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026. No subawards are intended under the cooperative agreement.

Activities

The collaborative effort will involve conducting workshops and administering a nationwide survey to understand human-WTD interactions and the mechanisms that lead to SCV2 spillover into WTD populations.

Expected outcomes

The findings from this research will maximize our ability to predict SCV2 spillover and spillback and to design more effective managementinterventions.

Intended beneficiaries

The american public, animals, and the environment.

Subrecipient activities

The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.