Doug Duren & Bryan Richards

Date: 2018-08-08 | Duration: 2h 20m

Episode Overview

Doug Duren and Bryan Richards dive deep into chronic wasting disease (CWD), exploring its origins, transmission, and the challenges it poses to wildlife management. They explain how CWD, a prion disease related to mad cow disease, affects deer and other cervids by causing progressive neurological degeneration. The conversation highlights the disease’s alarming ability to persist in the environment for years, shedding infectious agents long before symptoms appear, which complicates containment efforts. They discuss geographic spread, noting that CWD has expanded to 25 states, with particular concern over captive and wild populations and the role of human activity in accelerating transmission. The guests also examine the ecological and social impacts of CWD, including its effect on deer populations and hunting culture. Doug and Bryan share insights on management strategies such as targeted culling, hunting regulations, and the difficulties in developing effective vaccines. They emphasize the importance of public awareness and accurate information to combat misinformation surrounding the disease. The episode closes with reflections on the broader implications of CWD for conservation, agriculture, and potential risks to human health, underscoring the urgency of coordinated efforts to slow its spread and protect both wildlife and people.

About Bryan Richards

Bryan Richards is a prominent wildlife health scientist and the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) project leader at the U.S. Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center. With a robust academic background in wildlife ecology and management, he has dedicated over two decades to researching the impacts of CWD on deer populations, helping to shape conservation strategies across North America. Known for his expertise in infectious wildlife diseases, Bryan's insights contribute significantly to understanding and combating this serious threat to wildlife and ecosystems. His appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience showcased his passion for wildlife conservation and the importance of public awareness regarding CWD, making him a compelling voice in the intersection of science and environmental stewardship.

About Doug Duren

Doug Duren is a dedicated hunter, farmer, and land manager with a deep commitment to conservation. Known for his innovative approaches to sustainable farming and wildlife management, Doug has become a prominent voice in the conservation community. He is recognized for his efforts to bridge the gap between hunting and land stewardship, promoting responsible practices that benefit both ecosystems and local communities. Through his work, Doug has inspired many to embrace the principles of conservation, making him a compelling guest on the Joe Rogan Experience. His passion for the outdoors and advocacy for sustainable land use resonate with audiences, highlighting the importance of balancing agricultural needs with environmental health.

Key Moments

– Chronic Wasting Disease
– Prion Diseases
– Wildlife Epidemiology
– Deer Population Management
– Disease Transmission Mechanisms
– Environmental Persistence of Pathogens
– Wildlife Conservation Policy
– Hunter Education
– Zoonotic Disease Risks
– Vaccine Development for Prion Diseases
– Captive Cervid Facilities
– Genetics and Disease Resistance
– Human Impact on Wildlife Disease
– Disease Surveillance
– Ecological Impact of Disease
– Wildlife Movement and Migration
– Public Health Precautions
– Agricultural Disease Risks
– Wildlife Behavioral Ecology
0:00:17 – Introduction to discussion topics
0:02:53 – Geographic spread of Chronic Wasting Disease
0:03:25 – Overview of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies
0:05:17 – Prion presence in plants consumed by animals
0:06:33 – Traditional practices involving prion diseases
0:08:07 – Origin of prion diseases in cattle
0:10:36 – Environmental persistence of disease-associated prions
0:11:12 – Incubation period and infectious shedding
0:13:18 – CWD detection in multiple US states
0:14:14 – Social behavior of reindeer and disease implications
0:16:24 – Norwegian reindeer herd culling efforts
0:17:32 – Concerns about hunters consuming CWD-infected meat
0:23:46 – Supplementing wildlife food sources and disease risk
0:25:27 – Challenges in stopping CWD transmission cycle
0:28:16 – Limitations of current disease models
0:30:19 – Structural characteristics of prions in deer
0:34:26 – Efforts to cull deer in infected areas
0:37:14 – Possible transmission through contaminated plants
0:40:49 – Difficulties in obtaining absolute scientific proof
0:44:27 – Potential for CWD to cause a pandemic
0:46:30 – Tracking deer migration with telemetry collars
0:49:13 – Probability of CWD transmission to humans
0:52:11 – Precautionary measures for BSE and CWD
0:56:26 – Slow diffusion of disease through deer populations
1:00:06 – Role of genetics in disease susceptibility
1:04:51 – Issues with high-fenced deer operations
1:07:10 – Regulations for deer breeders in Texas
1:11:15 – Evaluating safety of disease management strategies
1:15:46 – Hunter involvement in disease surveillance
1:17:35 – Prioritizing wildlife, human, and livestock disease prevention
1:19:53 – Challenges in developing prion disease vaccines
1:22:02 – Distinction between disease prevention and slowing spread
1:26:46 – Clinical signs of CWD in infected deer
1:30:29 – Healthy appearance of infected deer complicates detection
1:34:29 – Limitations of controlling bodily fluid transmission
1:38:36 – Unnatural deer gatherings and disease spread
1:41:56 – Focus on adult male deer in management efforts
1:49:07 – Hunter engagement and disease management
2:03:07 – Increasing public awareness of CWD dangers
2:07:52 – Importance of consuming safe venison
2:10:30 – High CWD prevalence in tested bucks
2:13:13 – Disease penetrance increases with deer age
2:16:16 – Educational efforts on disease management mistakes

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 Five, four, three, two, one. Starting point is 00:00:17 And, well, we're going to talk about a bunch of things, but one of the things that I wanted Starting point is 00:01:06 a domesticated animal and have them all feeding off of the same pile of food and they share Starting point is 00:01:34 I wouldn't say that makes me necessarily an expert, Starting point is 00:02:04 out at this point in time science Science is unable to rule it out. Starting point is 00:02:53 The first we look at would be geographic spread. So CWD 20 years ago was thought to be this really Starting point is 00:03:25 All right, so this is a member of a family of diseases called transmissible spongiform Starting point is 00:04:15 Right. Starting point is 00:04:31 That's an interesting, you know, there's a, it goes back and forth on whether it's prion or prion. Starting point is 00:05:17 And correct me if I'm wrong, but it also is making its way into the actual plants that these animals eat. Starting point is 00:05:51 And as is the practice, was the practice in the Foray tribe in Papua New Guinea, Starting point is 00:06:33 And so when they got sick and died, fed it again. Starting point is 00:07:15 Not exactly the same thing, but in essence. Starting point is 00:08:07 So at some point in time, a cow developed a TSE, a prion disease. Starting point is 00:08:40 They can persist. Starting point is 00:09:11 So the whole concept that you have a protein, Starting point is 00:09:57 down into its component parts and recycles it. Turns out that normal cellular preamp protein Starting point is 00:10:36 The disease-associated ones can persist in the environment for years and potentially up to decades, okay? Starting point is 00:11:12 That incubation period, it's probably shedding infectious agent for the vast majority of that time period. Starting point is 00:11:51 And these are the first ones that you tested that tested positive? When we tested in excess of 35 deer over the last, ...

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Frequently asked about this episode

Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #1154?

Doug Duren & Bryan Richards was the guest on JRE #1154. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #1154?

On Joe Rogan Experience #1154 with Doug Duren & Bryan Richards, topics include Chronic Wasting Disease, Prion Diseases, Wildlife Epidemiology, and Deer Population Management.

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The full searchable transcript for Joe Rogan Experience #1154 with Doug Duren & Bryan Richards is available on this page, along with key topics and timestamps.