Chronic Wasting Disease

Question 1

What are Prion Diseases?

Answer 1

-transmissible spongiform encephalopathy
-caused by prion proteins that fold into an abnormal three-dimensional shape->main area of damage in brain tissue-sponge-like holes

Question 2

Function

Answer 2

little is known about the normal function of proteins or what causes misshapen changes

Question 3

Other prion diseases

Answer 3

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, Scrapie, Transmissible mink encephalopathy, Feline spongiform encephalopathy, Ungulate spongiform encephalopathy

Question 4

Where is it found?

Answer 4

only prion disease found in free-ranging animals

Question 5

Host species

Answer 5

Mule deer, Black-tailed and white-tailed deer, rocky mountain elk, moose, +/- reindeer

Question 6

History

Answer 6

1967 in captive mule deer in colorado and wyoming
wild deer 1981
established disease 10-25% and captive animals 79% prevalence

Question 7

Transmission methods

Answer 7

oral inoculation, horizontal transmission

Question 8

Oral inoculation

Answer 8

fawns infected- prions become established in alimentary lymphoid issues

Question 9

Horizontal transmission

Answer 9

prions present in skeletal muscle, urine, feces, saliva, and blood when infectious, presymptomatic sees it in feces, blood, and saliva
environment contamination and direct contact with body fluids suspected methods

Question 10

Pathogenesis

Answer 10

ingestion of prion-> ends up in gut-associated lymphoid tissue-> nerves-> retrograde up vagus nerve-> dorsal motor nucleus of vagus at obex region of medulla oblongata

Question 11

Environment Contamination

Answer 11

persist in contaminated environments for >2 years
spread follows migration patterns and waterways
forageing and coil consumption

Question 12

Clinical Signs

Answer 12

1-3 yrs to appear
drastic weight loss (wasting), stumbling, lack of coordination, listlessness, drooling, excessive thirst or urination, drooping ears, lack of fear of people

Question 13

Pathologic Lesions

Answer 13

Bilaterally symmetrical
-spongiform appearance, vacuolization in neuronal processes, neuronal degeneration, astrocytic hyperplasia, hypertrophy may appear

Question 14

Diagnosis

Answer 14

ELISA, western blot, confirmation with immunohistological detection of PrP^CWD in obex region of brain or lymphoid tissue

Question 15

Surveillance

Answer 15

dependent on region, year-round sample collection of elk and deer of at least 1 yr of age, voluntary hunter tag samples

Question 16

Management

Answer 16

REPORTABLE DISEASE
cull of captive and free-ranging cervids, inhibition of moving deer carcasses, outreach and education, reduction of wild land farmers can use for livestock