Wednesday, November 28, 2007

CWD spreading to new hunt areas in Wyoming

Disease found in new hunt area

Associated Press - November 27, 2007 5:15 PM ET

CODY, Wyo. (AP) - Chronic wasting disease has been discovered in another Big Horn Basin deer hunt area.

The disease was found in mature male deer taken from deer hunt area 125 southwest of Worland in northern Wyoming.

Chronic wasting disease is a fatal wildlife brain disease that can affect all members of Wyoming's deer family.

Cody Region wildlife management coordinator Kevin Hurley noted that deer hunt area 122 near Lovell also saw its first case of the disease this fall.

Information from: Wendy Jo Corr/KODI-AM, http://www.bighornradio.com/

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=7416743&nav=menu227_2


TWO NEW HUNT AREAS TEST POSITIVE FOR CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE

11/9/2007

LARAMIE – A cow elk near Encampment and two mule deer near Kaycee havetested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD) marking the first timeeither area has had positive tests for elk or deer in those hunt areas. CWDis a brain disease known to affect some moose, deer and elk.

“Although CWD has been found in southeastern Wyoming for a number of years,this is the first time we have found CWD in elk in hunt area 110,” says BobLanka, Wyoming Game and Fish regional information specialist in Laramie.Likewise, the positive tests for deer in hunt area 163 southwest of Kayceeis the first time deer have tested positive from that hunt unit. Accordingto the Game and Fish, finding CWD in both locations is not that surprisingsince the disease has been documented in animals in neighboring hunt areas.CWD was found in deer in the same hunt area near Encampment in 2002 and inelk in areas located east and west of unit 110. It has also been found southof the state line in Colorado for a number of years. While deer area 163 hasnever had a positive test, in 2004 the Game and Fish found two deer thattested positive in nearby hunt areas 30 and 31. Since that time hundreds ofdeer have been tested near Kaycee with no positive tests until this year.

Department personnel collected the lymph nodes from the hunter harvesteddeer and elk in October. Personnel in the Wyoming Game and Fish Departmentlaboratory analyzed the samples and discovered the positive results. Bothhunt areas will be added to the Department’s list of areas known to haveCWD. The Game and Fish recommends that hunters in those areas transport onlycut and wrapped meat, boned meat, animal quarters or other pieces with noportion of the spinal column or head attached, hides without the head,cleaned skull plates, and antlers with no meat or other tissue attached. Thehead, spine and other nervous tissue, areas where the abnormal protein orprion causing the disease is found in affected animals, should be left atthe site of the kill or disposed of in an approved landfill.

There is no evidence that CWD is a human health risk. After a review ofscientific data, the World Health Organization in December 1999 stated,“There is currently no evidence that CWD in cervidae (deer and elk) istransmitted to humans.” In 2004, Dr. Ermias Belay of the Center for DiseaseControl said, “The lack of evidence of a link between CWD transmission andunusual cases of CJD (Cruetzfeldt-Jacob disease, a human prion disease)despite several epidemiological investigations, suggest the risk, if any, oftransmission of CWD to humans is low.” Nonetheless to avoid risk, bothorganizations say parts or products from any animal that looks sick or testspositive for CWD or other TSEs should not be eaten.

Contact: Bob Lanka, (307) 745-5180 ex. 229

-WGFD-

http://gf.state.wy.us/services/news/pressreleases/07/11/09/071109_2.asp

Chronic wasting turns up in Lovell-area deerBy The Associated Press

LOVELL - A white-tailed deer killed by a hunter west of Lovell has testedpositive for chronic wasting disease.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department says it's the first occurrence ofchronic wasting disease in that area.

snip...

http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/11/12/news/wyoming/36-deer.txt

Species barriers for chronic wasting disease by in vitro conversion of prionprotein

Li Li a, Michael B. Coulthart b, Aru Balachandran c, Avi Chakrabartty d,Neil R. Cashman a,* a Brain Research Centre, Division of Neurology,Department of Medicine,University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health,UBC Hospital, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 2B5b Prion Diseases Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public HealthAgency of Canada, Winnipeg, Man., Canada R3E 3R2 Q1c National Reference Laboratory for Scrapie and CWD, Animal DiseasesResearch Institute, Canadian Food Inspection Agency,3851 Fallowfield Road, Nepean, Ont., Canada K2H 8P9d University Health Network, Department of Medical Biophysics, University ofToronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada M5G 1L7Received 6 October 2007

Abstract

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathythat can affect North American cervids (deer, elk, andmoose). Using a novel in vitro conversion system based on incubation ofprions with normal brain homogenates, we now report thatPrPCWD of elk can readily induce the conversion of normal cervid PrP (PrPC)molecules to a protease-resistant form, but is less efficientin converting the PrPC of other species, such as human, bovine, hamster, andmouse. However, when substrate brain homogenates arepartially denatured by acidic conditions (pH 3.5), PrPCWD-induced conversioncan be greatly enhanced in all species. Our results dem-onstrate that PrPC from cervids (including moose) can be efficientlyconverted to a protease-resistant form by incubation with elk CWDprions, presumably due to sequence and structural similarities between thesespecies. Moreover, partial denaturation of substrate PrPCcan apparently overcome the structural barriers between more distantspecies.

snip...

Although Syrian hamsters were initially deemed resistant to CWD [19], arecent publication demonstrates that CWD can be transmittedand adapted to hamster [20].

snip...

Substrate denaturation and human health

We confirm with multiple species that acid/GdnHCl-treated brain PrPC is a superior substrate for in vitro con-version than untreated PrPC, possibly by overcoming con-formational barriers in partial denaturation of substratePrPC. PrP conversion in scrapie-infected neuroblastomacells is believed to occur in endosomes, a low-pH andreducing environment [26]. The non-ruminant stomachpossesses a low pH lumen, and PrPC is expressed in thisorgan [27]. Such acidic (denaturing) organ or cellularorganellar environments might also promote CWD trans-mission to non-cervid species, including humans.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes ofHealth Research (Institute of Infection and Immunity, SafeFood and Water program) and PrioNet Canada.

[20] G.J. Raymond, L.D. Raymond, K.D. Meade-White, A.G. Hughson,C. Favara, D. Gardner, E.S. Williams, M.W. Miller, R.E. Race, B.Caughey, Transmission and adaptation of chronic wasting disease tohamsters and transgenic mice: evidence for strains, J. Virol. 81 (2007)4305–4314.

http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/81/8/4305

2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Please cite this article in press as: L. Li et al., Species barriers forchronic wasting disease by in vitro...,Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (2007), doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.10.087

http://www.sciencedirect.com/



>>>In 2004, Dr. Ermias Belay of the Center for Disease Control said, “Thelack of evidence of a link between CWD transmission and unusual cases of CJD(Cruetzfeldt-Jacob disease, a human prion disease) despite severalepidemiological investigations, suggest the risk, if any, of transmission ofCWD to humans is low.” <<<> > -----Original Message-----> > From:> > Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2002 10:15 AM> > To: rr26k@nih.gov; rrace@niaid.nih.gov; ebb8@CDC.GOV> > Subject: TO CDC AND NIH - PUB MED- 3 MORE DEATHS - CWD - YOUNG> > HUNTERS

Sunday, November 10, 2002 6:26 PM ......snip........end..............TSS

snip...end

http://lists.ifas.ufl.edu/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0704&L=sanet-mg&T=0&P=1165



From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr."Subject: CWD UPDATE 88 AUGUST 31, 2007

http://lists.ifas.ufl.edu/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0709&L=sanet-mg&T=0&P=450

Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:13:08 -0500From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr."Subject: CWD NEW MEXICO RECORDS IT'S 19 CASE (near Texas border again)

http://lists.ifas.ufl.edu/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0708&L=sanet-mg&T=0&P=26079

Subject: Monitoring the Potential Transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease toHumans Using a Hunter Registry Database in WyomingDate: August 30, 2007 at 6:46 pm PST

http://lists.ifas.ufl.edu/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0708&L=sanet-mg&T=0&P=27654



PLEASE NOTE IN USA CJD UPDATE AS AT JUNE 2007, please note steady increasein ''TYPE UNKNOWN''. ...TSS

1 Acquired in the United Kingdom; 2 Acquired in Saudi Arabia; 3 Includes 17inconclusive and 9 pending (1 from 2006, 8from 2007); 4 Includes 17 non-vCJD type unknown (2 from 1996, 2 from 1997, 1from 2001, 1 from 2003, 4 from 2004, 3from 2005, 4 from 2006) and 36 type pending (2 from 2005, 8 from 2006,

*** 26 from 2007)

http://www.cjdsurveillance.com/pdf/case-table.pdf

http://pro-med.blogspot.com/2007/11/proahedr-prion-disease-update-2007-07.html


http://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/


USA NOR-98 SCRAPIE UPDATE AUGUST 31, 2007 RISES TO 5 DOCUMENTED CASES

http://nor-98.blogspot.com/


BSE BASE MAD COW TESTING TEXAS, USA, AND CANADA, A REVIEW OF SORTS

http://madcowtesting.blogspot.com/


MADCOW USDA the untold story

http://madcowusda.blogspot.com/


ABSTRACTS SPORADIC CJD AND H BASE MAD COW ALABAMA AND TEXAS SEPTEMBER 2007Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:31:55 -0500I suggest that you all read the data out about h-BASE and sporadic CJD, GSS,blood, and some of the other abstracts from the PRION2007. ...

http://lists.ifas.ufl.edu/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0709&L=sanet-mg&T=0&F=&S=&P=19744


*** PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS !!! THE PRICE OF POKER INDEED GOES UP. ...TSS


USA BASE CASE, (ATYPICAL BSE), AND OR TSE (whatever they are calling ittoday), please note that both the ALABAMA COW, AND THE TEXAS COW, both were ''H-TYPE'', personal communication Detwiler et al Wednesday, August 22, 200711:52 PM. ...TSS

http://lists.ifas.ufl.edu/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0708&L=sanet-mg&T=0&P=19779


TSS

Monday, November 12, 2007

Species barriers for chronic wasting disease by in vitro conversion of prion protein

Subject: Species barriers for chronic wasting disease by in vitro conversion of prion protein
Date: November 3, 2007 at 10:57 am PST

Species barriers for chronic wasting disease by in vitro conversion of prion protein

Li Li a, Michael B. Coulthart b, Aru Balachandran c, Avi Chakrabartty d, Neil R. Cashman a,* a Brain Research Centre, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health, UBC Hospital, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 2B5 b Prion Diseases Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Man., Canada R3E 3R2 Q1 c National Reference Laboratory for Scrapie and CWD, Animal Diseases Research Institute, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 3851 Fallowfield Road, Nepean, Ont., Canada K2H 8P9 d University Health Network, Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada M5G 1L7 Received 6 October 2007

Abstract

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy that can affect North American cervids (deer, elk, and moose). Using a novel in vitro conversion system based on incubation of prions with normal brain homogenates, we now report that PrPCWD of elk can readily induce the conversion of normal cervid PrP (PrPC) molecules to a protease-resistant form, but is less efficient in converting the PrPC of other species, such as human, bovine, hamster, and mouse. However, when substrate brain homogenates are partially denatured by acidic conditions (pH 3.5), PrPCWD-induced conversion can be greatly enhanced in all species. Our results dem- onstrate that PrPC from cervids (including moose) can be efficiently converted to a protease-resistant form by incubation with elk CWD prions, presumably due to sequence and structural similarities between these species. Moreover, partial denaturation of substrate PrPC can apparently overcome the structural barriers between more distant species.

snip...

Although Syrian hamsters were initially deemed resistant to CWD [19], a recent publication demonstrates that CWD can be transmitted and adapted to hamster [20].

snip...



Substrate denaturation and human health


We confirm with multiple species that acid/GdnHCl-
treated brain PrPC is a superior substrate for in vitro con-
version than untreated PrPC, possibly by overcoming con-
formational barriers in partial denaturation of substrate
PrPC. PrP conversion in scrapie-infected neuroblastoma
cells is believed to occur in endosomes, a low-pH and
reducing environment [26]. The non-ruminant stomach
possesses a low pH lumen, and PrPC is expressed in this
organ [27]. Such acidic (denaturing) organ or cellular
organellar environments might also promote CWD trans-
mission to non-cervid species, including humans.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of
Health Research (Institute of Infection and Immunity, Safe
Food and Water program) and PrioNet Canada.


[20] G.J. Raymond, L.D. Raymond, K.D. Meade-White, A.G. Hughson,
C. Favara, D. Gardner, E.S. Williams, M.W. Miller, R.E. Race, B.
Caughey, Transmission and adaptation of chronic wasting disease to
hamsters and transgenic mice: evidence for strains, J. Virol. 81 (2007)
4305–4314.


http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/81/8/4305


2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Please cite this article in press as: L. Li et al., Species barriers for
chronic wasting disease by in vitro...,
Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (2007), doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.10.087

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WBK-4R04PFW-3&_user=10&_coverDate=10%2F25%2F2007&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=d2eb8cb35fa637a9a1245df2ecc170d1#bcor1


TSS