NR AXNY
AU Hamir,A.
TI Preliminary Observations on the Experimental Transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) from Elk and White-tailed Deer to Fallow Deer
QU International Conference - Prion 2007 (26.-28.9.2007) Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK - Book of Abstracts: Natural and Experimental Strains P02.43
IA http://www.prion2007.com/pdf/Prion Book of Abstracts.pdf
PT Konferenz-Poster
AB
Background: Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a prion disease causing transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), was first identified in captive cervids in Colorado in 1967. CWD has been experimentally transmitted by intracerebral inoculation of infected brain material into a variety of domestic, wild and laboratory animal species. Among domestic animals, goat, sheep and cattle have been reported to develop experimental prion disease after intracerebral inoculation of brain material from affected mule deer and white-tailed deer.
Objectives: The primary objectives of this study were to determine if the CWD agent could be transmitted to fallow deer (Dama dama).
Methods: Thirteen fawns were inoculated intracerebrally with CWD brain suspension from elk (n = 6) or white-tailed deer (n = 7). Three other fawns were kept as uninfected controls. This communication documents 4 years into the experiment.
Results: At 24 and 26 MPI one sick deer died and one non-clinical deer was euthanized, respectively. Both animals had a small focal accumulation of PrPd in their midbrains. Between 29 and 37 MPI, three other deer became sick and were euthanized. All had shown gradual decrease in appetite and some loss of body weight. Microscopic lesions of spongiform encephalopathy were not observed but PrPd was detected in tissues of the central nervous system by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and by two commercial rapid tests.
Discussion: This study demonstrates that intracerebrally inoculated fallow deer amplified CWD PrPd from white tailed-deer and elk in absence of SE lesions. Similar observations have also been shown to occur in cattle inoculated with the scrapie and CWD agents; however, PrPd amplification in fallow deer was minimal in comparison to scrapie- and CWD-affected cattle.
Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that it is possible to transmit CWD to fallow deer by intracerebral inoculation. However, oral transmission may not be possible in the species' normal life span.
AD A. Hamir, ARS, USDA, National Animal Disease Center, USA
SP englisch
PO Schottland
EA pdf-Datei und Poster (Autorenliste ergänzt um R.A. Kunkle, E.M. Nicholson, J.M. Miller, S.M. Hall, H. Schonenbucher, W.B. Brunelle und J.A. Richt)