Thursday, September 24, 2009

Validation of Use of Rectoanal Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue for Immunohistochemical Diagnosis of Chronic Wasting Disease in White-Tailed Deer

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 2009, p. 1412-1417, Vol. 47, No. 5 0095-1137/09/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/JCM.02209-08 Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Validation of Use of Rectoanal Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue for Immunohistochemical Diagnosis of Chronic Wasting Disease in White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)


Delwyn Keane,1* Daniel Barr,1 Rebecca Osborn,2 Julie Langenberg,2 Katherine O'Rourke,3 David Schneider,3 and Philip Bochsler1 University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin,1 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin,2 U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Disease Research Unit, 3003 ADBF, Pullman, Washington3

Received 18 November 2008/ Returned for modification 3 January 2009/ Accepted 20 February 2009

The examination of rectoanal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (RAMALT) biopsy specimens for the diagnosis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies has been described in sheep, elk, and small numbers of mule and white-tailed deer. Previous sample numbers have been too small to validate examination of this type of tissue as a viable antemortem diagnostic test. In this study, we examined RAMALT collected postmortem from 76 white-tailed deer removed from a farm in Wisconsin known to be affected by chronic wasting disease (CWD) and from 210 free-ranging white-tailed deer harvested from an area in Wisconsin where the overall prevalence of CWD among the deer was approximately 4 to 6%. The results of immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of the RAMALT sections were compared to the results of IHC staining of sections from the brain stem at the convergence of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve, sections of the medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RLNs), and sections of tonsil (sections of tonsil only from captive animals were tested). The sensitivities of the IHC staining test with RAMALT sections were 81% for the captive animals and 91% for the free-ranging animals. False-negative results were usually associated with early infection, indicated by a low intensity of immunostaining in the obex and/or a polymorphism at PRNP codon 96. While the RLN remains the tissue of choice for use for the diagnosis of CWD in white-tailed deer, the results of the present study further support the use of RAMALTs collected antemortem as an adjunct to testing of tonsil biopsy specimens and surveillance by necropsy for the screening of farmed deer which have been put at risk through environmental exposure or exposure to deer with CWD.

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* Corresponding author. Mailing address: University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, 445 Easterday Lane, Madison, WI 53706. Phone: (608) 262-5432. Fax: (847) 574-8085. E-mail: Delwyn.Keane@wvdl.wisc.edu

Published ahead of print on 4 March 2009.

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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 2009, p. 1412-1417, Vol. 47, No. 5 0095-1137/09/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/JCM.02209-08 Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.


http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/47/5/1412






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Based on the results of our study, the IHC detection of 1 PrPCWD in RAMALT should be considered as a useful tool for the preclinical diagnosis of CWD infection in white tailed deer. It had been previously shown that in white tailed deer, accumulation of PrPCWD 3 occurs in RLN or tonsil prior to accumulation in the obex (11) and the presence of PrPCWD 4 in RLN and tonsil is a reliable marker for the antemortem and preclinical postmortem diagnosis of CWD (26, 29, 30) . Obtaining lymphatic tissues of the head and neck of live animals is not an easy task; tonsil biopsy procedures require general anesthesia, the tonsil is difficult to visualize, biopsy collection requires experienced personnel and the samples tend to be small (4 or 6 mm). As a tool for screening free ranging or captive populations, this technique is not as efficient or as economical as rectal biopsy. The latter procedure can be performed without general anesthesia, visualization of the rectal mucosa is much easier than that of tonsil, and larger samples can be obtained without the need for specialized equipment. However, the diagnosis of CWD using RAMALT, as with tonsillar tissues, is dependent on obtaining adequate samples.


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FULL TEXT ;


http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/reprint/JCM.02209-08v1.pdf






Research Project: Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies: the Role of Genetics, Strain Variation, and Environmental Contamination in Disease Control Location: Animal Diseases Research

Title: Validation of Use of Rectoanal Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue for Immunohistochemical Diagnosis of Chronic Wasting Disease in White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Authors

Keane, D - UNIV OF WISCONSIN Barr, D - UNIV OF WISCONSIN Osborn, R - WISC DEPT OF NAT RESOURCE Langenberg, J - WISC DEPT OF NAT RESOURCE Orourke, Katherine Schneider, David Bochsler, P - UNIV OF WISCONSIN

Submitted to: Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: February 20, 2009 Publication Date: May 1, 2009 Publisher's URL: http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/search?volume=47&firstpage=1412&sendit=Search&DOI=&author1=&author2=&titleabstract=&fulltext=&tocsectionid=all&fmonth=Jan&fyear=1975&tmonth=May&tyear=2009&hits=10&fdatedef=1+January+1975&tdatedef=1+May+2009 Reprint URL: http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/content/full/47/5/1412?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&volume=47&firstpage=1412&resourcetype=HWCIT Citation: Keane, D., Barr, D., Osborn, R., Langenberg, J., Orourke, K.I., Schneider, D.A., Bochsler, P. 2009. Validation of Use of Rectoanal Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue for Immunohistochemical Diagnosis of Chronic Wasting Disease in White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. 47(5):1412-1417.


Interpretive Summary: The prion diseases are a group of fatal brain disorders of sheep, goats, cattle, deer and elk. An abnormally folded protein accumulates in some lymphoid tissues of sheep early in disease. Biopsy sampling of lymphoid tissue, including tissue in the rectum, is a suitable live animal test in sheep. Adaptation of that test for use in deer exposed to the cervid prion disease Chronic Wasting Disease has been proposed. In this paper, the investigators compared the results of testing rectal tissue with test results on brain and the lymphoid tissues currently used for early diagnosis of the disease. Deer from a captive farm with a high prevalence of disease and wild deer with a low prevalence of disease were included in the study. Nearly eighty percent of the deer with abnormal prions in lymphoid tissue or brain had detectable abnormal prion proteins in the rectal lymphoid tissues. Although lymphoid tissues of the head remain the tissue of choice for early diagnosis of the disease in deer, the use of rectal lymphoid tissue is a suitable adjunct, particularly for live-screening farmed deer at risk for chronic wasting disease. Technical Abstract: The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are a family of fatal neurodegenerative diseases characterized by accumulation of abnormal prion proteins in the brain. The abnormal prion protein is the major constituent of the infectious agent and is a reliable marker for disease. The occurrence of a zoonotic prion disease in cattle has resulted in efforts to eradicate or control all prion diseases in domestic livestock, including scrapie of sheep and chronic wasting disease CWD of deer and elk. Antemortem testing of sheep, deer and elk is based on the finding that abnormal prion proteins accumulate in some lymphoid tissues months or years before being detectable in brain. Biopsy of tonsil is a suitable test for live deer but requires general anesthesia. Biopsy sampling of the recto-anal mucosal associated lymphoid tissue (RAMALT) has been suggested as an alternative site for antemortem testing in sheep. In this study, postmortem sampling of RAMALT tissue from deer was performed to estimate the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the test. Samples were assayed by monoclonal antibody based immunohistochemistry and the results of RAMALT testing were compared with testing of brain, tonsil and retropharyngeal lymph node, the currently preferred tissue for early diagnosis. Sensitivity of the test was 80% in a sample of 76 white tailed deer from a captive facility and 77% in a sample of 210 free ranging white tailed deer. While the retropharyngeal lymph node remains the tissue of choice for early diagnostic testing, RAMALT biopsy may provide a suitable adjunct, particularly for antemortem testing of herds of farmed deer with potential exposure to the disease.


http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/Publications.htm?seq_no_115=233205





Monday, August 24, 2009 Third International CWD Symposium July 22-24, 2009 – Park City, Utah ABSTRACTS


http://www.cwd-info.org/pdf/presentations.pdf





http://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2009/08/third-international-cwd-symposium-july.html






Antemortem detection of PrPCWD in preclinical, ranch-raised Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) by biopsy of the rectal mucosa T

erry R. Spraker, Kurt C. VerCauteren, Thomas Gidlewski, David A. Schneider, Randy Munger, Aru Balachandran, Katherine I. O’Rourke1

Abstract.

Antemortem biopsy of the rectal mucosa was evaluated as a method for the preclinical diagnosis of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a herd of ranch-raised Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) quarantined because of exposure to CWD. Biopsy samples were obtained from 41 elk during the winter of 2005–2006 and from 26 elk from that herd still alive and available for testing during the winter of 2006–2007. Samples were examined for PrPCWD, the protein marker for CWD infection, by immunohistochemistry. PrPCWD was detected in follicles of the rectoanal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue in biopsy samples from 1 elk with clinical signs of chronic wasting disease and 5 clinically normal elk. The diagnosis was confirmed in all 6 animals by postmortem analysis of brain and peripheral lymph nodes. PrPCWD was also observed in the submucosal plexus and myenteric plexus of the enteric nervous system, and in close association with nonmyelinated mucosal and submucosal nerve fibers. In antemortem rectal biopsy samples from positive animals, immunostaining was consistently observed in approximately 60% of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue follicles if 10 or more total follicles per biopsy were present for evaluation. Most antemortem biopsy samples obtained from elk younger than 6.5 years contained at least 10 follicles per rectal mucosal biopsy. These findings support the analysis of antemortem biopsy of the rectal mucosa samples as part of an integrated strategy to manage chronic wasting disease in Rocky Mountain elk. Key words: Antemortem diagnosis; chronic wasting disease; elk; transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. Introduction Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, has been reported in captive and free-ranging mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni), and moose (Alces alces shirasi).3,22,26,27 Chronic wasting disease has been a devastating disease in the captive elk industry. An estimated 12,000–14,000 captive elk have been killed in the last 8 years in attempts to control CWD. Several thousand free-ranging mule deer, white-tailed deer, and elk also have been killed through liberalized hunting and targeted sharpshooting in attempts to reduce the disease prevalence in the wild. Since captive cervids cannot be ruled out as a source of CWD infection for free-ranging cervids, eradication of CWD in captive herds is likely to be critical in controlling the spread of this disease. An accurate antemortem diagnostic test to identify preclinical CWD-infected elk is essential to the success of management strategies aiming to control and eradicate CWD. An abnormal isoform (PrPCWD) of the host prion protein is a reliable marker for CWD in white-tailed deer,22 mule deer,23 and Rocky Mountain elk.20 PrPCWD and the corresponding abnormal prion protein PrPSc in sheep accumulate in lymphoid tissues during the prolonged preclinical stage of disease, providing the basis for antemortem testing in these species.21,25,28 Preclinical tests for scrapie in domestic sheep include biopsy of lymphoid tissues from the palatine tonsil,24 third eyelid,14 and rectal mucosa.5,6 Similar preclinical tests have been described for mule deer using biopsy of the palatine tonsil and rectal mucosa.25,28 An immunohistochemical study21 of rectoanal mucosa–associated lymphoid tissue (RAMALT) collected postmortem from elk suggested that antemortem diagnosis may be possible in cases with preclinical disease. The present study assessed the feasibility of obtaining suitable antemortem rectal biopsies of RAMALT from a mixed-age herd of Rocky Mountain elk with known exposure to CWD. From the Colorado State University Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO (Spraker); the National Wildlife Research Center, Wildlife Services (VerCauteren) and Veterinary Services (Gidlewski, Munger), U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Fort Collins, CO; Agricultural Research Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Pullman, WA (Schneider, O’Rourke); and the OIE and National Reference Laboratory for Scrapie and CWD, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Nepean, ON, Canada (Balachandran). 1 Corresponding Author: Katherine O’Rourke, USDA, ARS ADRU, 3003 ADBF, Pullman, WA 99164. katherine.o’rourke@ ars.usda.gov J Vet Diagn Invest 21:15–24 (2009) 15


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http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc/publications/09pubs/vercauteren091.pdf






SESSION II: session leader: Edward Hoover

11:50-12:10 P7. Detection of CWD by RAMALT biopsy in two white-tailed deer farms. Aru Balachandran

12:10-12:30 P8. Infectious prions in pre-clinical deer and transmission of CWD solely by environmental exposure. Candace Mathiason

12:30-12:50 P9. Detection of low level CWD infection in deer after oral exposure to urine and feces. Nicholas Haley

12:50-13:10 P10. CWD transmission via aerosol and oral lesions. Nathanial Denkers

13:10-13:30 P11. Environmental prion contamination: Prion protein adsorption in a soil matrix. Jason Bartz

13:30-13:50 P12. Trafficking of CWD prions via the enteric autonomic nervous system. Davis Seelig

13:50-14:10 P13. NeuroPrion cervid group update and the state of play in relation to the European CWD survey. Mick Stack



http://www.prion2009.com/workshops






Workshop 1 : New developments in TSEs of domestic and wild animals (22 September 2009). Organized by EU funded projects NeuroPrion and goatBSE.

Download Workshop 1 Agenda here

It is a pleasure to again announce a workshop on natural TSEs in animals. The occurrence of TSEs in the field and farms carries potential risks of the agents in the environment and food. The ease of CWD spread and the shedding of CWD prions among cervids as well as the examples of prion infections in goat herds, and the transmission of scrapie through milk all argue for better containment and eventual eradication of these diseases.

As a follow-up to previous workshops, participants of NeuroPrion, BSEgoat and CWD research TSE projects again are organizing a workshop to bring researchers together to discuss these veterinary and public health issues. Presentations will be actively sought by the organizers and further selections will be made from interesting abstracts sent to the Prion2009 conference.

Therefore, we invite you to join this meeting and participate in the discussions. Lectures will be 20 minutes duration including the possibility for questions. Further details of the programme will be announced before August 24.

¦Mick Stack, Veterinary Laboratories Agencies, Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom ¦Jan Langeveld, Central Veterinary Institute of WageningenUR, Lelystad, The Netherlands ¦Edward Hoover, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA



http://www.prion2009.com/sites/default/files/Prion_2009_New_Developments_Workshop_Agenda.doc






http://www.prion2009.com/workshops







J Vet Diagn Invest 20:698-703 (2008)

Chronic wasting disease in a Wisconsin white-tailed deer farm

Delwyn P. Keane,' Daniel J. Barr, Philip N. Bochsler, S. Mark Hall, Thomas Gidlewski.Katherine I. O'Rourke, Terry R. Spraker, Michael D. Samuel


http://ddr.nal.usda.gov/bitstream/10113/21380/1/IND44108272.pdf







APPENDIX D SAES-422 Format for Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report Note: This report is submitted each year of an activity’s duration and is due 60 calendar days following the annual meeting. The SAES-422 is submitted electronically by AAs into NIMSS. Annual Reports for MRF projects are available to CRIS and CSREES through NIMSS. Project/Activity Number: NC1024 Project/Activity Title: Domestic Surveillance, Diagnosis, and Therapy of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Period Covered: June 2007-June 2008 Annual Meeting Date(s): June 2008


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In a USDA validation study, the IDEXX RAMALT rectal biopsy assay showed good results, with the provision that the difficulty lies in accurate and repeatable biopsy of sufficient lymphoid follicles for analysis. Lastly, a small study demonstrated no evidence for fence line transmission of scrapie between uninfected and infected animals, indicating a general lack of casual horizontal transmission. At the conclusion of the meeting, the group determined that maintenance of the Idaho flock is a high priority for providing access to affected tissues for continued study.

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http://www.lgu.umd.edu/lgu_v2/pages/reportMeet/16002_min.pdf







Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Antemortem detection of PrPCWD in preclinical, ranch-raised Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) by biopsy of the rectal mucosa Full Scientific Reports


http://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2009/01/antemortem-detection-of-prpcwd-in.html






Sunday, September 07, 2008

CWD LIVE TEST, and the political aspects or fallout of live testing for BSE in cattle in the USA

http://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2008/09/cwd-live-test-and-political-aspects-or.html





PROCEEDINGS ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING of the UNITED STATES
ANIMAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 8805 SAINT JOSEPH, MO 64508 TEL: (816) 671-1144 FAX: (816) 671-1201 www.usaha.org usaha@usaha.org John Ascuaga’s Nugget Hotel Reno, Nevada



Copyright 2008 United States Animal Health Association Library of Congress Catalogue Control Number 2008903861 Meghan Richey and Rapid Solutions Group Kansas City, Missouri



Report of the comite CANADIAN FOOD INSPECTION AGENCY SCRAPIE ERADICATION PROGRAM UPDATE Penny Greenwood Canadian Food Inspection Agency


Report of the Comite on Scrapie

Chair: Jim R. Logan, Cheyenne, WY Vice Chair: Charles Palmer, Redding, CA



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Katherine O’Rourke, Agricultural Research Services (ARS), USDA, presented an ARS research update. The report from ARS, Animal Disease Research Unit (ADRU) Pullman is summarized as follows: ADRU reported on their research on the minor scrapie forms, in particular Nor98 in sheep and classical scrapie in goats. Nor98 affects sheep of all genotypes; the etiology and transmissibility of Nor98 is unknown. Experimental infection of sheep highly resistant to classical scrapie (RR171) with a brain homogenate from an RR171 sheep with Nor98 is underway; blood, peripheral lymphoid tissues, and placenta will 641 be monitored to determine whether an infectious agent is present outside the central nervous system. Sheep with the 141FL genotype appear to be especially predisposed to Nor98. ADRU would like to acquire aged 141FL sheep from flocks without classical scrapie but that work will depend on clarification of the regulatory status of Nor98 sheep. Experimental and natural scrapie in goats is being addressed through assay of blood, placenta, and peripheral nodes to gather data on incubation time, optimal age for diagnosis, and role of prion genotype. The 2 goat genotypes reported to be associated with low susceptibility in European studies are of particular interest. The scrapie-free goat herd maintained at Washington State University will be diversified to include dairy and meat goats of those genotypes to produce kids for experimental studies. ADRU will request live goats exposed to sheep or goat scrapie for DNA analysis, live animal testing, and incubation time determination. In addition, ADRU will request tissues from goats collected in regulatory and slaughter surveillance and DNA from goats sampled in the upcoming goat NAHMS study. Requests for DNA from healthy herds will be made to the various dairy and meat goat industry groups. Linda Detwiler, presented information on new scrapie research, titled Scrapie: An Update on the Science. Information regarding scrapie has increased significantly over the years. While additional knowledge is always helpful, many of the new findings have actually increased the number of questions about the disease. It is well...



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Dr. Steven Sundlof, Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), addressed the group on a number of topics. First was bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The CVM is committed to publishing a final rule on BSE but is still wading through some 850 comments received on the rule. Many comments accused FDA of underestimating the economic and environmental impacts of the rule, including the major issue of carcass disposal and disposal of additional banned materials. There is concern especially if rendering disappears as an option for disposal and other disposal options have not been identified. The final rule will include provision for time to come into compliance prior to the implementation of the rule and for the development of alternative disposal methods. ...


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Dr. Heidi Schleicher, NAHLN, provided more information regarding the NAHLN, and some of its initiatives with improving its information technology resources. Schleicher also provided an update on surveillance activities, such as with BSE...



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Unfortunately, there have been recent setbacks in market integration due to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). It is anticipated that this hurdle will be overcome and markets will continue to be further integrated, amplifying the need for improved surveillance for animal diseases and real time diagnostics for that surveillance.



SNIP...FULL TEXT ;




http://www.usaha.org/meetings/2007/2007_USAHA_Proceedings.pdf







Wednesday, July 1, 2009


Nor98 scrapie identified in the United States J Vet Diagn Invest 21:454-463 (2009)


http://nor-98.blogspot.com/2009/07/nor98-scrapie-identified-in-united.html







SINCE THE TOPIC OF BSE/TSE (out of sight, out of mind) APPEARED TO BE OF NO CONCERN, EXCEPT FOR (i might have missed it),



PLEASE LET ME ADD ;



2009 UPDATE ON TEXAS AND ALABAMA MAD COWS FOUND IN 2004 (finally documented after an act of Congress in 2005) AND 2006



http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2006/08/bse-atypical-texas-and-alabama-update.html







Wednesday, September 23, 2009


Scientific Opinion on BSE Risk in Bovine Intestines Question number: EFSA-Q-2009-00226


http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2009/09/scientific-opinion-on-bse-risk-in.html







TSS

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Thursday, September 10, 2009

Experimental oral transmission of CWD to red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus): early detection and late stage distribution of protease-resistant protein

Title: Experimental oral transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) to red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus): early detection and late stage distribution of protease-resistant protein (PrP-res)

Authors

Balachandran, A - CANADIAN FOOD INSPCTN AG Harrington, Noel - CANADIAN FOOD INSPCTN AG Algire, James - CANADIAN FOOD INSPCTN AG Souyrine, Andre - CANADIAN FOOD INSPCTN AG Orourke, Katherine Spraker, Terry - COLORADO ST UNIV

Submitted to: Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: December 1, 2008 Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Farmed cervids may be exposed to the prion disorder chronic wasting disease through contact with free ranging or farmed infected Rocky Mountain elk, white tailed deer, mule deer, or moose. This is the first report of experimental transmission of chronic wasting disease to red deer, an economically important agricultural commodity in parts of North America. Brain tissue from infected Rocky Mountain elk was administered by the oral route of red deer. Deer were examined at 18 months after infection for evidence of abnormal prion protein, the marker for the disease. The abnormal protein was found throughout the brain, spinal cord and lymphoid tissues, with variable distribution in other organ systems. This finding confirms the potential susceptibility of this species to disease under natural conditions and the reliability of the current testing format for identifying the abnormal protein in the tissues routinely collected in surveillance programs. The widespread distribution of the abnormal protein in red deer indicates the potential for shedding of the agent into the environment. Technical Abstract: Chronic wasting disease CWD is the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy or prion disease of wild and farmed cervid ruminants, including Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni), white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), or moose (Alces alces). Reliable data on the susceptibility of other farmed cervid species, the distribution of the abnormal prion protein marker in brain and lymphoid tissues collected in surveillance programs, and the role of prion genotype are necessary for design of control programs for CWD in farmed cervids. In this study, red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus) were exposed to the prion agent by oral administration of brain homogenates from infected Rocky Mountain elk. Antemortem testing was performed at 7 months post infection and the deer were euthanized when clinical disease was observed at approximately 18 months after infection. The abnormal prion protein was assayed by immunohistochemistry, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and western blot. Abnormal prion protein was found in the spinal cord, brainstem, cerebellum, midbrain, thalamus, and cerebrum in all 4 infected red deer. Most of the lymph nodes throughout the body were positive for abnormal prion proteins. Abnromal prion protein was observed in some additional peripheral tissues in some but not all of the deer. In particular, most areas of the gastrointestinal tract were positive for abnormal prions, although the salivary glands were rarely positive. This study demonstrates the potential for oral transmission of chronic wasting disease to red deer and confirms the usefulness of the current testing methods for post mortem diagnosis of the disease in this species.

Project Team

Orourke, Katherine Knowles, Donald - Don White, Stephen Schneider, David Harrington, Robert - Bob

Publications

Publications

Related National Programs

Animal Health (103)

Related Projects

Development of Sensitive in Vitro Techniques for Prion Detection Transgenic Analysis of Chronic Wasting Disease Strains Strain Typing of Chronic Wasting Disease (Cwd) and Scrapie by Intracerebral Inoculation into Transgenic and Inbred Mouse Lines Dissemination of Abnormal Prion Protein in the Neural and Extraneural Tissues of Wild Rocky Mountain Elk



http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?SEQ_NO_115=228787




Oral transmission and early lymphoid tropism of chronic wasting disease PrPres in mule deer fawns (Odocoileus hemionus ) Christina J. Sigurdson1, Elizabeth S. Williams2, Michael W. Miller3, Terry R. Spraker1,4, Katherine I. O'Rourke5 and Edward A. Hoover1

Mule deer fawns (Odocoileus hemionus) were inoculated orally with a brain homogenate prepared from mule deer with naturally occurring chronic wasting disease (CWD), a prion-induced transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. Fawns were necropsied and examined for PrP res, the abnormal prion protein isoform, at 10, 42, 53, 77, 78 and 80 days post-inoculation (p.i.) using an immunohistochemistry assay modified to enhance sensitivity. PrPres was detected in alimentary-tract-associated lymphoid tissues (one or more of the following: retropharyngeal lymph node, tonsil, Peyer's patch and ileocaecal lymph node) as early as 42 days p.i. and in all fawns examined thereafter (53 to 80 days p.i.). No PrPres staining was detected in lymphoid tissue of three control fawns receiving a control brain inoculum, nor was PrPres detectable in neural tissue of any fawn. PrPres-specific staining was markedly enhanced by sequential tissue treatment with formic acid, proteinase K and hydrated autoclaving prior to immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibody F89/160.1.5. These results indicate that CWD PrP res can be detected in lymphoid tissues draining the alimentary tract within a few weeks after oral exposure to infectious prions and may reflect the initial pathway of CWD infection in deer. The rapid infection of deer fawns following exposure by the most plausible natural route is consistent with the efficient horizontal transmission of CWD in nature and enables accelerated studies of transmission and pathogenesis in the native species.

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These results indicate that mule deer fawns develop detectable PrP res after oral exposure to an inoculum containing CWD prions. In the earliest post-exposure period, CWD PrPres was traced to the lymphoid tissues draining the oral and intestinal mucosa (i.e. the retropharyngeal lymph nodes, tonsil, ileal Peyer's patches and ileocaecal lymph nodes), which probably received the highest initial exposure to the inoculum. Hadlow et al. (1982) demonstrated scrapie agent in the tonsil, retropharyngeal and mesenteric lymph nodes, ileum and spleen in a 10-month-old naturally infected lamb by mouse bioassay. Eight of nine sheep had infectivity in the retropharyngeal lymph node. He concluded that the tissue distribution suggested primary infection via the gastrointestinal tract. The tissue distribution of PrPres in the early stages of infection in the fawns is strikingly similar to that seen in naturally infected sheep with scrapie. These findings support oral exposure as a natural route of CWD infection in deer and support oral inoculation as a reasonable exposure route for experimental studies of CWD.

snip...

http://vir.sgmjournals.org/cgi/content/full/80/10/2757



Subject: MAD DEER/ELK DISEASE AND POTENTIAL SOURCES Date: Sat, 25 May 2002 18:41:46 -0700 From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr." Reply-To: BSE-L To: BSE-L

8420-20.5% Antler Developer For Deer and Game in the wild Guaranteed Analysis Ingredients / Products Feeding Directions

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_animal protein_

http://www.surefed.com/deer.htm


BODE'S GAME FEED SUPPLEMENT #400 A RATION FOR DEER NET WEIGHT 50 POUNDS 22.6 KG.

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http://www.bodefeed.com/prod7.htm


Ingredients

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Bode's #1 Game Pellets A RATION FOR DEER F3153

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS Crude Protein (Min) 16% Crude Fat (Min) 2.0% Crude Fiber (Max) 19% Calcium (Ca) (Min) 1.25% Calcium (Ca) (Max) 1.75% Phosphorus (P) (Min) 1.0% Salt (Min) .30% Salt (Max) .70%

Ingredients

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INGREDIENTS

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http://www.profilenutrition.com/Products/Specialty/deer_builder_pellets.html



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

April 9, 2001 WARNING LETTER

01-PHI-12 CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

Brian J. Raymond, Owner Sandy Lake Mills 26 Mill Street P.O. Box 117 Sandy Lake, PA 16145 PHILADELPHIA DISTRICT

Tel: 215-597-4390

Dear Mr. Raymond:

Food and Drug Administration Investigator Gregory E. Beichner conducted an inspection of your animal feed manufacturing operation, located in Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania, on March 23, 2001, and determined that your firm manufactures animal feeds including feeds containing prohibited materials. The inspection found significant deviations from the requirements set forth in Title 21, code of Federal Regulations, part 589.2000 - Animal Proteins Prohibited in Ruminant Feed. The regulation is intended to prevent the establishment and amplification of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) . Such deviations cause products being manufactured at this facility to be misbranded within the meaning of Section 403(f), of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act).

Our investigation found failure to label your swine feed with the required cautionary statement "Do Not Feed to cattle or other Ruminants" The FDA suggests that the statement be distinguished by different type-size or color or other means of highlighting the statement so that it is easily noticed by a purchaser.

In addition, we note that you are using approximately 140 pounds of cracked corn to flush your mixer used in the manufacture of animal feeds containing prohibited material. This flushed material is fed to wild game including deer, a ruminant animal. Feed material which may potentially contain prohibited material should not be fed to ruminant animals which may become part of the food chain.

The above is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of deviations from the regulations. As a manufacturer of materials intended for animal feed use, you are responsible for assuring that your overall operation and the products you manufacture and distribute are in compliance with the law. We have enclosed a copy of FDA's Small Entity Compliance Guide to assist you with complying with the regulation... blah, blah, blah...


http://www.fda.gov/foi/warning_letters/g1115d.pdf



above urls dead, go here ;


http://madcowfeed.blogspot.com/2008/07/docket-03d-0186-fda-issues-draft.html




Friday, September 4, 2009

FOIA REQUEST ON FEED RECALL PRODUCT 429,128 lbs. feed for ruminant animals may have been contaminated with prohibited material Recall # V-258-2009


http://madcowfeed.blogspot.com/2009/09/foia-request-on-feed-recall-product.html



Saturday, August 29, 2009


FOIA REQUEST FEED RECALL 2009 Product may have contained prohibited materials Bulk Whole Barley, Recall # V-256-2009


http://madcowfeed.blogspot.com/2009/08/foia-request-feed-recall-2009-product.html





nation and world

Deer mystery solved Experts say a fatal brain disease is passed in feces before illness appears. By Sandra Blakeslee The New York Times Posted: 09/10/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT

Researchers are reporting that they have solved a long- standing mystery about the rapid spread of a fatal brain infection in deer, elk and moose in the Midwest and West.

The infectious agent, which leads to chronic wasting disease, is spread in the feces of infected animals long before they become ill, according to a study published online Wednesday by the journal Nature. The agent is retained in the soil, where it, along with plants, is eaten by other animals, which become infected.

The finding explains the extremely high rates of transmission among deer, said the study's lead author, Dr. Stanley B. Prusiner, director of the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases at the University of California, San Francisco.

First identified in deer in Colorado in 1967, the disease is found throughout 14 states and two Canadian provinces. It leads to emaciation, staggering and death.

Unlike other animals, Prusiner said, deer give off the infectious agent, a form of protein called a prion, from lymph tissue in their intestinal linings up to a year before they develop the disease. By contrast, cattle that develop the related mad cow disease do not easily shed prions into the environment but accumulate them in their brains and spinal tissues.

There is no evidence to date that humans who hunt, kill and eat deer have developed chronic wasting disease. Nor does the prion that causes it pass naturally to other animal species.

The prion diseases include Creutzfeldt-Jakob, which leads to dementia and death in humans. Each prion disease is caused by a different strain, and all strains behave somewhat differently.

In the case of chronic wasting disease, "it turns out prions exploit the oldest trick in the book used by pathogens and parasites," said Dr. Mike Miller, a veterinarian at the Colorado Division of Wildlife who is an expert on chronic wasting disease. "Fecal-oral transmission is very effective."

snip...end


http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_13302683




> Deer mystery solved

i doubt this problem is solved yet. maybe one part of the puzzle, but these cervids have also been fed high protein feed for years. and the oral route is highly sufficient. and what about cwd passing from mother to baby ??? these questions have not been answered yet, and to claim ''DEER MYSTERY SOLVED'', is by far from the truth, yet, in my opinion. ...




Monday, January 05, 2009

CWD, GAME FARMS, BAITING, AND POLITICS


http://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2009/01/cwd-game-farms-baiting-and-politics.html




nation and world

Deer mystery solved

Experts say a fatal brain disease is passed in feces before illness appears.

By Sandra BlakesleeThe New York Times


http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_13302683




> Deer mystery solved


i doubt this problem is solved yet. maybe one part of the puzzle, but these cervids have also been fed high protein feed for years. and the oral route is highly sufficient. and what about cwd passing from mother to baby ??? these questions have not been answered yet, and to claim ''DEER MYSTERY SOLVED'', is by far from the truth, yet, in my opinion. ...Title: Experimental oral transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) to red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus): early detection and late stage distribution of protease-resistant protein (PrP-res)


snip... see TSS full comments here ;


http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_13302683




Asymptomatic deer excrete infectious prions in faeces Gültekin Tamgüney1,2, Michael W. Miller3, Lisa L. Wolfe3, Tracey M. Sirochman3, David V. Glidden4, Christina Palmer1, Azucena Lemus5, Stephen J. DeArmond1,5 & Stanley B. Prusiner1,21.Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, 2.Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California, 94143 USA 3.Colorado Division of Wildlife, Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80526 USA 4.Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 5.Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, California, 94143 USA Correspondence to: Stanley B. Prusiner1,2 Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to S.B.P. (E-mail: Email: mhtml:%7B33B38F65-8D2E-434D-8F9B-8BDCD77D3066%7Dmid://00000130/!x-usc:mailto:stanley@ind.ucsf.edu.)Top of pageAbstractInfectious prion diseases1-scrapie of sheep2 and chronic wasting disease (CWD) of several species in the deer family3, 4-are transmitted naturally within affected host populations. Although several possible sources of contagion have been identified in excretions and secretions from symptomatic animals5, 6, 7, 8, the biological importance of these sources in sustaining epidemics remains unclear. Here we show that asymptomatic CWD-infected mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) excrete CWD prions in their faeces long before they develop clinical signs of prion disease. Intracerebral inoculation of irradiated deer faeces into transgenic mice overexpressing cervid prion protein (PrP) revealed infectivity in 14 of 15 faecal samples collected from five deer at 7-11 months before the onset of neurological disease. Although prion concentrations in deer faeces were considerably lower than in brain tissue from the same deer collected at the end of the disease, the estimated total infectious dose excreted in faeces by an infected deer over the disease course may approximate the total contained in a brain. Prolonged faecal prion excretion by infected deer provides a plausible natural mechanism that might explain the high incidence and efficient horizontal transmission of CWD within deer herds3, 4, 9, as well as prion transmission among other susceptible cervids.


http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature08289.html



Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Transmission and Detection of Prions in Feces

The Journal of Infectious Diseases 2008;198:81-89 © 2008 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. 0022-1899/2008/19801-0015$15.00 DOI: 10.1086/588193


http://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2008/06/transmission-and-detection-of-prions-in.html



http://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2009/09/asymptomatic-deer-excrete-infectious.html





Terry S. Singeltary Sr.

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Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Asymptomatic deer excrete infectious prions in faeces

Asymptomatic deer excrete infectious prions in faeces


Gültekin Tamgüney1,2, Michael W. Miller3, Lisa L. Wolfe3, Tracey M. Sirochman3, David V. Glidden4, Christina Palmer1, Azucena Lemus5, Stephen J. DeArmond1,5 & Stanley B. Prusiner1,2

1.Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, 2.Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California, 94143 USA 3.Colorado Division of Wildlife, Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80526 USA 4.Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 5.Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, California, 94143 USA Correspondence to: Stanley B. Prusiner1,2 Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to S.B.P. (E-mail: Email: stanley@ind.ucsf.edu.)

Top of page

Abstract

Infectious prion diseases1—scrapie of sheep2 and chronic wasting disease (CWD) of several species in the deer family3, 4—are transmitted naturally within affected host populations. Although several possible sources of contagion have been identified in excretions and secretions from symptomatic animals5, 6, 7, 8, the biological importance of these sources in sustaining epidemics remains unclear. Here we show that asymptomatic CWD-infected mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) excrete CWD prions in their faeces long before they develop clinical signs of prion disease. Intracerebral inoculation of irradiated deer faeces into transgenic mice overexpressing cervid prion protein (PrP) revealed infectivity in 14 of 15 faecal samples collected from five deer at 7–11 months before the onset of neurological disease. Although prion concentrations in deer faeces were considerably lower than in brain tissue from the same deer collected at the end of the disease, the estimated total infectious dose excreted in faeces by an infected deer over the disease course may approximate the total contained in a brain. Prolonged faecal prion excretion by infected deer provides a plausible natural mechanism that might explain the high incidence and efficient horizontal transmission of CWD within deer herds3, 4, 9, as well as prion transmission among other susceptible cervids.



http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature08289.html




Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Transmission and Detection of Prions in Feces
The Journal of Infectious Diseases 2008;198:81–89 © 2008 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. 0022-1899/2008/19801-0015$15.00 DOI: 10.1086/588193


http://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2008/06/transmission-and-detection-of-prions-in.html



TSS

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Colorado State Awarded $2.5 Million NSF Grant to Study Prevalence and Spread of Chronic Wasting Disease

For Immediate Release Wednesday, September 09, 2009 Contact for Reporters: Kimberly Sorensen 970.491.0757 mhtml:%7B33B38F65-8D2E-434D-8F9B-8BDCD77D3066%7Dmid://00000327/!x-usc:mailto:Kimberly.Sorensen@ColoState.EDU


Colorado State Awarded $2.5 Million NSF Grant to Study Prevalence and Spread of Chronic Wasting Disease FORT COLLINS - A Colorado State University research team has been awarded a $2.5 million National Science Foundation grant to study transmission of chronic wasting disease.

Chronic wasting disease, or CWD, affects members of the deer family and is similar to diseases like scrapie in sheep and mad cow disease – or bovine spongiform encephalopathy – in cattle. CWD is caused by misfolded proteins that resist breakdown by enzymes within cells. These proteins cause fatal, neurological damage.

The disease was first discovered in deer in northeastern Colorado and southeastern Wyoming by Colorado State scientists in the 1960s.

Understanding and managing CWD depends on developing predictive models that track how the disease spreads. CWD remains an important challenge for managing wildlife resources in Colorado.

“An important goal for disease ecologists is to predict how diseases change in populations. This study will enhance our ability to predict the dynamics of CWD but also will improve models of all types of diseases,” said Tom Hobbs, CSU professor and project leader. “Predicting the spread of disease is similar to forecasting the weather. It is crucial to understand all of the sources of uncertainty in model predictions. If you don’t do that, you will probably make forecasts that are falsely optimistic. Our contribution will be to increase the reliability of disease models using sophisticated methods for bring together mathematics, statistics and data.”

In this NSF-funded project, CSU scientists will model the impact of CWD on deer populations in an effort to better understand dynamics of transmission.

Investigators will conduct field studies on wild mule deer populations in northern Colorado and will focus on studying the mechanism of transmission. Additionally, they will take a look at how many susceptible individuals are infected by a single infected deer. Lastly, research will study how an individual’s genetic make-up makes it more or less susceptible to being infected with CWD.

The research team will investigate free-ranging populations where CWD is prevalent. The study will not cause any animal to become infected and will not change their risk of infection. Instead, the project scientists will learn about the disease by observing ongoing processes of disease transmission.

“We will be taking a close look at why some deer get sick with CWD and why some don’t. Is their susceptibility to the disease controlled by the environment where they live? By their genetics? By the other deer they contact? We want to understand the things that determine individual variation in disease transmission,” Hobbs said.

Beyond the primary field research aims of this project, some broad impacts include innovative training of graduate students; curriculum development and research experience for local K-12 teachers; outreach to Rocky Mountain National Park visitors; collaboration on disease management with wildlife agencies in western North America; and training for researchers in the modeling methods used in this project.

The interdisciplinary CSU team of researchers awarded the grant will be led by Hobbs and Mike Miller from the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Team members include, Randy Boone, research scientist from the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory; Mike Antolin, biology professor; Jennifer Hoeting, associate professor of statistics ; and Simon Tavener, professor of math.

-30-


http://www.news.colostate.edu/Release/4781







CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE


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





TSS

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