Table 1_Cross-sectional surveillance of bluetongue virus, epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus, and chronic wasting disease in wild cervids in Nebraska.xlsx

For BTV, fawns (aOR = 1.64; p = 0.042) and yearlings (aOR = 1.63; p = 0.032) had greater odds of detection than adults, whereas mule deer had lower odds than white-tailed deer (aOR = 0.34; p < 0.001). Mule deer also had lower odds of EHDV detection (aOR = 0.43; p = 0.013). Co-detection of two or more pathogens was identified in 9.9% (77/780) of animals, most commonly BTV and EHDV (4.2%; 33/780), whereas 1.4% (11/780) were positive for all three pathogens.

Spatially, pathogen detection and co-detection rates varied across counties, with hotspots identified in southern Nebraska, particularly in Adams and Harlan counties. These findings demonstrate concurrent circulation and spatial clustering of prion and vector-borne viral pathogens, highlighting the need for integrated surveillance to better understand disease transmission dynamics in cervid populations.</p>