Pilot Study: Canine Detection of Little Cherry Disease
Author: Heath Smith, Jennifer Hartman, Scott Harper, Rob Curtiss
Published: 2020
Summary: In order to determine if dogs can discern LCD-infected plants from clean plants, Rogue Detection Teams (RDT) based in Rice, Washington will provide one Research Scientist and detection dog team for a little cherry disease (LCD) pilot detection training project. Pilot study training will initially be 5 days with the option to extend up to an additional 10 days if needed. This preliminary work will occur prior to RDT fully developing methods and a training regimen to assess the feasibility of deploying detection dogs in the field to locate LCD. Preliminary investigations will not replace a full-scale 25-day training period but will provide some preliminary data on the ability of canines to detect virus-infected materials.
