Wyoming Wildlife Health Lab tests more than 5,200 CWD samples in 2024, CWD was detected in 726 of those samples
Wildlife Health Lab tests more than 5,200 CWD samples in 2024
POSTED: MAY 19, 2025 | CHEYENNE REGION NEWS
NEWS LARAMIE — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Wildlife Health Laboratory tested 5,276 samples from big game animals for chronic wasting disease in 2024. Testing was completed earlier this year and samples were submitted from throughout the state. CWD was detected in 726 of those samples submitted. Jessica Jennings, Game and Fish wildlife disease specialist, said samples were submitted from hunter-harvest, road-killed animals and animals found dead or that were euthanized. CWD is a chronic, fatal disease of the central nervous system in mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk and moose. It belongs to the group of rare diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. These disorders are caused by abnormally folded proteins called prions. Early in the disease animals don’t show any clinical signs. Later on, affected animals show progressive weight loss, reluctance to move, excessive salivation, droopy ears, increased drinking and urination, lethargy and eventually death. The number of samples submitted and tested in 2024 increased slightly from previous years. In 2023, 5,100 samples were submitted, a decline compared to 2022, when 5,875 samples were submitted. The percentage of samples that tested positive in 2024 was 13.8%, which remained similar to 2023, when 13.9% of samples tested positive. The proportion of positive samples in 2024 was slightly higher than in 2022, in which 12.3% of samples tested were positive. However, Jennings said comparing the number of positive tests each year can be misleading because Game and Fish’s CWD surveillance program focuses on different deer and elk herd units each year. Additionally, the number of positives is proportional to the prevalence of CWD in the particular herd unit surveyed. “We can say that the prevalence of CWD is slowly increasing in many deer and elk herd units in the state,” Jennings said. “In 2024, CWD was detected in three new deer hunt areas, three new elk hunt areas and for the first time on an elk feedground.” Jennings said the lab, which consists of four permanent employees and three contract employees, spent the majority of the hunting season conducting CWD testing with peak testing occurring in October and November. That doesn’t include surveillance preparation, data entry and writing reports once the testing season is over. The majority of the test samples this year were collected by Game and Fish field personnel at hunter check stations or through regional offices. “Chronic wasting disease is a major concern for Game and Fish and we thank hunters who contributed samples from their deer, elk and moose,” Jennings said. “These samples are instrumental in helping us better understand the prevalence and distribution of this disease in our state.” For more info on CWD, please visit the Game and Fish website.
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/wyoming-wildlife/wildlife-disease-and-health/chronic-wasting-disease
— WGFD —
Amanda Fry Public Information Officer amanda.fry@wyo.gov
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/news-events/wildlife-health-lab-tests-more-5200-cwd-samples-2024
February 14, 2025
CWD found in new Wyoming hunt area
PINEDALE — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has confirmed the presence of chronic wasting disease in two adult female elk from Elk Hunt Area 87. The first elk was found dead in January, followed by the second in early February. Both elk were discovered at the Dell Creek feedground. Department personnel have investigated the sites, collected samples and removed the carcasses.
Elk Hunt Area 87 is located in the Pinedale Region. It is bordered by two CWD-positive elk hunt areas: 84 and 92. This marks the first recorded cases of CWD in Hunt Area 87 and is the first detection of the disease within the Upper Green River Elk Herd. This is the second confirmed instance of elk testing positive at a feedground, following a previous detection of CWD at the Scab Creek feedground in December.
”It is unfortunate and concerning to find CWD on an elk feedground;” said Wildlife Division Deputy Chief Justin Binfet. “However, it was not unexpected given this disease continues to spread throughout the West. In anticipation of the spread of CWD to elk feedgrounds, the department created its Elk Feedground Management Plan, which will guide wildlife managers to work to minimize and mitigate CWD risks and look for long-term solutions to disease transmission on feedgrounds.”
CWD is 100 percent fatal to infected deer, elk and moose. Continued monitoring of CWD over time is important to help Game and Fish understand the potential impacts of the disease, as well as evaluate future management actions. Department personnel will continue to closely monitor feedgrounds for elk showing signs of CWD.
Game and Fish personnel from the Jackson and Pinedale regions are currently developing the first Feedground Management Action Plans (FMAPs) for the Jackson and Pinedale herds. This process aims to identify both long and short-term strategies to reduce the elk's reliance on feedgrounds and mitigate the risks of disease transmission. After completing the initial FMAP process for the Pinedale Herd, the Region will determine which herd to prioritize next.
Please visit the Game and Fish website for more information on CWD testing, transmission and regulations on transportation and disposal of carcasses.
– WGFD –
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/news-events/cwd-found-new-wyoming-hunt-area-1
MONDAY, JUNE 05, 2023
Wyoming CWD Detected Positive in 826 Samples From 6701 Samples Taken For 2022
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2023/06/wyoming-cwd-detected-positive-in-826.html
Wyoming CWD Detected Positive in 826 Samples From 6701 Samples Taken For 2022
Wildlife health lab tests more than 6,000 CWD samples in 2022
6/5/2023 5:12:17 PM
LARAMIE - The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Wildlife Health Laboratory tested 6,701 samples from big game animals for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in 2022. Testing was completed earlier this year and samples were submitted from throughout the state. CWD was not detected in 5,875 samples and 826 samples were positive. Some samples submitted were not testable.
Jessica Jennings-Gaines, Game and Fish wildlife disease specialist, said those numbers are based on submissions from hunters, road-killed animals and animals found dead or in poor condition.
CWD is a chronic, fatal disease of the central nervous system in mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk and moose. It belongs to the group of rare diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. These disorders are caused by abnormally folded proteins called prions. Early in the disease animals don’t show any clinical signs. Later on, affected animals show progressive weight loss, reluctance to move, excessive salivation, droopy ears, increased drinking and urination, lethargy and eventually death.
The number of tested samples and positive tests have remained steady for the past three years. In 2021, 6,884 samples were tested with 839 positives and in 2020, 6,496 samples were tested with 829 positives.
However, Jennings-Gaines noted that comparing the number of positive tests each year can be misleading because Game and Fish’s CWD surveillance program focuses on different deer and elk herd units each year. Additionally, the number of positives is proportional to the prevalence of CWD in the particular herd unit surveyed.
“We can say that the prevalence of CWD is slowly increasing in many deer and elk herd units in the state,” Jennings-Gaines said. “The western half of Wyoming has several deer hunt areas where CWD has not been detected, however the disease continues to spread west and was detected in two new deer and five new elk hunt areas last year.”
Jennings-Gaines said the lab, which consists of four employees and three contract employees, spent the majority of the 2022 hunting season conducting CWD testing with peak testing occurring between October and November. That doesn’t include surveillance preparation, data entry and writing reports once the testing season is over.
The majority of the test samples this year were collected by Game and Fish field personnel at hunter check stations or through regional offices.
“Chronic wasting disease is a major concern for Game and Fish and we thank hunters who contributed samples from their deer, elk and moose,” Jennings-Gaines said. “These samples are instrumental in helping us better understand the prevalence and distribution of this disease in our state.”
For more info on CWD, please visit the Game and Fish website.
(Breanna Ball, Public Information Officer - (breanna.ball1@wyo.gov))
- WGFD -
see CWD;
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/CWD
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/News/Wildlife-health-lab-tests-more-than-6,000-CWD-samp
see also;
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Wildlife-in-Wyoming/More-Wildlife/Wildlife-Disease/CWD-in-Wyoming-Wildlife/CWD-Testing
THE last 3 years just seem high to me, from the sample surveys they have done. seems much more testing would be prudent to get a true picture of CWD in Wyoming, imo...terry
TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022
Wyoming Game and Fish lab tests nearly 7,000 CWD samples in 2021 and 831 samples were positive Wyoming Game and Fish lab tests nearly 7,000 CWD samples in 2021 and 831 samples were positive
Game and Fish lab tests nearly 7,000 CWD samples in 2021
CWD submission raffle winners announced
4/25/2022 7:10:00 PM
CHEYENNE - The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Wildlife Health Laboratory tested 6,884 samples from big game animals for chronic wasting disease in 2021.
Testing was completed in early January, and samples were submitted from throughout the state. CWD was not detected in 6,045 samples and 831 samples were positive. Hank Edwards, Game and Fish Wildlife Health Laboratory supervisor, said those numbers are based on submissions from hunters, road-killed animals and animals found dead or in poor condition.
CWD is a chronic, fatal disease of the central nervous system in mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk and moose. It belongs to the group of rare diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. These disorders are caused by abnormally folded proteins called prions. Early in the disease animals don’t show any clinical signs. Later on, affected animals show progressive weight loss, reluctance to move, excessive salivation, droopy ears, increased drinking and urinating, lethargy and eventually death.
The number of tested samples and positive tests increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, 6,496 samples were tested with 829 positives compared to 5,067 samples tested and 568 positives in 2019. Edwards said comparing the number of positive tests each year can be misleading because the Game and Fish’s CWD surveillance program focuses on different deer and elk herd units each year, and the number of positive cases is proportional to the prevalence of CWD in the particular herd unit surveyed that year.
“That said, we can say the prevalence of CWD is slowly increasing in most deer and elk herd units in the state,” said Edwards, who added CWD was detected in four new deer hunt areas and five new elk hunt areas in 2021.
Edwards said the lab, which consists of five employees and two part-time workers, spent 1,788 hours — the equivalent of 74.5 days — conducting CWD testing. That doesn’t include surveillance preparation, data entry and writing reports once the testing season is over. Additionally, the lab continues to conduct brucellosis surveillance in hunter-killed elk, respiratory disease in bighorn sheep, as well as many other diseases of wildlife across the state.
The majority of the samples this year were collected by Game and Fish field personnel at hunter check stations or through regional offices. Edwards said the number of samples collected and submitted by hunters continues to increase each year.
“Chronic wasting disease is a major concern for Game and Fish and we sincerely thank all those who contributed samples from their deer, elk and moose,” Edward said. “These samples help us better understand the prevalence and distribution of this disease in our state.”
New for 2021, Game and Fish implemented mandatory sampling in deer Hunt Areas 96 and 97, as well as hosted a raffle for hunters who submitted CWD samples from targeted (Tier I) and non-targeted (Tier II) species and Hunt Areas. Both efforts increased interest in sampling and returns.
Winners from the 2021 hunting season are:
Tier I — Ryan Marti, Morgantown, West Virginia: Nosler 48 Special Ed. (28 Nosler) rifle with Leupold VX-5HD 3-15X44MM scope. — Shane Rogers, Ojai, California: Weatherby Vanguard High Country rifle (6.5 CMR) with Maven RS.1 2.5-15X44 FFP scope. — Philip Bunker, Gillette, Wyoming: Maven S.1S 25-50X80 spotting scope. — Christopher Emanuele, Waterford, Pennsylvania: First Lite Clothing Package (Catalyst softshell jacket, Obsidian merino pants, Kiln 250 aerowool hoody).
Tier II — Andrew Miller, Horseheads, New York: Weatherby Vanguard Weatherguard (.270 win). — Tanner Verplancke, Buffalo, Wyoming: Maven B.1 10X42 binoculars. — Peter Alexander, Wilson, Wyoming: KUIU Valo Camo Pro 3600 Full Kit backpack.
(Sara DiRienzo, Public Information Officer - (sara.dirienzo@wyo.gov))
- WGFD -
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/News/Game-and-Fish-lab-tests-nearly-7,000-CWD-samples-i
CWD found in new Wyoming deer hunt area
Game and Fish continues to notify public of new areas where CWD is found
2/7/2022 5:01:50 PM
CHEYENNE - The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has confirmed the presence of chronic wasting disease in Wyoming’s Deer Hunt Area 143. The disease was detected in a buck mule deer found dead in emaciated condition in late January.
Deer Hunt Area 143 is the Pinedale Region. The area is bordered by three CWD-positive areas, 144 and 138; both of which were new areas for CWD in 2021, and Deer Hunt Area 142 confirmed positive for CWD in 2020.
To ensure hunters are informed, Game and Fish announces when CWD is found in a new hunt area. The Centers for Disease Control recommends hunters do not consume any animal that is obviously ill or tests positive for CWD.
Continued monitoring of CWD over time is important to help Game and Fish understand the potential impacts of the disease as well as evaluate future management actions for deer and elk. A map of CWD endemic areas is available on the Game and Fish website. The disease is 100% fatal to deer, elk and moose that have been infected. In 2021, Game and Fish personnel tested 6,947 CWD lymph node samples from deer and elk— primarily submitted by hunters — and continue to evaluate new recommendations for trying to manage the disease.
Please visit the Game and Fish website for more information on chronic wasting disease testing, transmission and regulations on transportation and disposal of carcasses.
(Sara DiRienzo, Public Information Officer - (sara.dirienzo@wyo.gov))
- WGFD -
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/News/CWD-found-in-new-Wyoming-deer-hunt-area-(2)
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Wildlife-in-Wyoming/More-Wildlife/Wildlife-Disease/CWD-in-Wyoming-Wildlife/CWD-Testing
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Wildlife-in-Wyoming/More-Wildlife/Wildlife-Disease/CWD-in-Wyoming-Wildlife/CWD-News
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/search?searchtext=cwd&searchmode=anyword
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2022
Captive Cervids and their Contribution to CWD
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2022/02/captive-cervids-and-their-contribution.html
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2022
WYOMING CWD TSE PRION FOUND IN ANOTHER NEW HUNT AREA
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2022/02/wyoming-cwd-tse-prion-found-in-another.html
***> 2020 Results and Discussion A total of 6,496 deer, elk, and moose samples were analyzed for CWD by the WHL, with 829 being CWD positive
Wyoming Game and Fish Department 2020 Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Report
May 2021
Overview
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal disease of the central nervous system of cervids caused by abnormally folded infectious proteins called prions. This disease was first identified in Wyoming in 1985 in a free-ranging deer from the southeastern corner of the state, and has since slowly spread north and west; now covering the majority of the state (Fig. 1). In consideration of the wide distribution of CWD across Wyoming, the surveillance program was shifted from detection based, to a monitoring based program in those hunt areas where CWD has been detected. Continued monitoring of this disease over time is necessary to understand the potential population impacts as well as evaluate future management actions. To achieve adequate sample sizes, CWD surveillance is focused in only two to three herd units within each Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) region each year, allowing for coverage of the entire state every four to five years. This approach focuses on adequate sample sizes to monitor the disease without exceeding the WGFD’s Wildlife Health Laboratory (WHL) testing capacity. Monitoring efforts are concentrated on hunter-harvested adult male deer or adult elk (both sexes), with a sample target of 200 (collected within 1-3 years) in most deer and elk herd units. In areas where CWD has not been detected in deer, active surveillance continues and utilizes hunter-harvested, road-killed, and targeted animals (those showing signs of the disease).
In 2019, the CWD testing capacity of the WHL was increased from 8,000 to 15,000 samples per year by splitting the laboratory into two sections. From October 1st through December 31st, A processing laboratory within the WGFD Wildlife Forensics/Fish Health Laboratory is used for sample processing, data entry, and mapping. Sample analysis continues in the main laboratory housed within the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory complex.
2020 CWD Surveillance
Hunter harvested deer, elk, and moose samples were collected at points of concentration (i.e., meat processors, check stations, and regional offices). Samples were also collected from road-killed and targeted animals, and from any deer or elk taken with a WGFD issued lethal take permit. In addition, teeth were collected whenever possible to evaluate age structure, and age specific CWD prevalence within herd units. Predominantly retropharyngeal lymph nodes were sampled due to their ease of extraction and suitability as a diagnostic tissue. The WHL is an accredited laboratory for CWD diagnostics and utilized an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as the primary diagnostic tool. Immunohistochemistry is also used through an outside accredited laboratory when necessary. Results were reported to hunters in less than three weeks of sample submission, and hunters could obtain results through the WGFD’s website. Hunters having deer or elk test positive
2
for CWD were individually notified by a letter or email within 48 hours of confirmatory test results.
2020 Results and Discussion
A total of 6,496 deer, elk, and moose samples were analyzed for CWD by the WHL, with 829 being CWD positive. This total includes samples from all surveillance categories (hunter-harvest, targeted, and road-killed) and from all age classes and CWD positive results (Table 1). Total samples received and testing outcomes are further broken down in Table 2, which outlines samples received from hunter-harvest adult (>2 years old) male deer, and adult elk and moose (both sexes). Data in Table 2 are used to determine prevalence estimates used throughout this report.
The 2020 surveillance effort identified four new CWD positive deer hunt areas (HA): HA 25 in the northern Bighorn Mountains, HA 96 southeast of Lander, HA 117 west of Meeteetse, and HA 142 west of Pinedale (Fig. 2). Chronic wasting disease was also documented for the first time in five elk HAs: 45 north of Worland, 67, near Dubois, 75 in Grand Teton National Park, 114 near Laramie, and 123 near Wright (Fig. 3).
snip...
Table 3. Total CWD samples tested from hunter harvested adult mule deer bucks and adult elk. Percent of total surveillance goal in parenthesis. CWD prevalence in priority mule deer and elk herd units is shown in the far right column. Please see Figures 5 & 6 for herd unit locations.
Herd Unit Samples Collected 2018- 2020 (percent of 200 goal) CWD Prevalence (2018- 2020)
Mule Deer
Cheyenne River 267 (134%) 12%
North Natrona 157 (79%) 6%
Rattlesnake 105(53%) 14%
Clark’s Fork 76 (38%) 8%
Greybull River* 90 (45%) 40%
Shoshone River 216 (108%) 31%
Southwest Bighorns 187 (94%) 18%
Uinta 113 (57%) 0%
Project 126 (63%) 63%
Sweetwater* 76 (38%) 2%
Goshen Rim* 105 (53%) 38%
Sheep Mountain* 90 (45%) 9%
North Bighorn* 94 (47%) 8%
Pumpkin Buttes* 125 (63%) 15%
Upper Powder River* 131 (66%) 18%
Elk
Cody 182 (91%) 2%
West Green River* 82 (41%) 0%
Afton** 118 (59%) 0%
Fall Creek** 87 (44%) 0%
Jackson** 466 (233%) 0.1%
Pinedale* 125 (63%) 0%
North Bighorn 206 (103%) 3%
*Herd units where focused surveillance will continue in 2021. **Annually sampled herd units
Monitoring CWD Prevalence
The WGFD monitors CWD prevalence in all deer and elk herds where sufficient surveillance data exists for meaningful evaluations. Although statistically significant data is absent for many herds, several do have useful data from the 2014-2016 timeframe to allow for an equivalent comparison of prevalence to 2018-2020.
Trends in CWD prevalence varied greatly between several herd units when comparing prevalence between these two relatively short timeframes (Fig. 4). The Goshen Rim, Paintrock, Southwest Bighorns and the Upper Powder River mule deer herd units saw substantial increases in prevalence, whereas the Baggs, Bates Hole, and Upper Shoshone observed only moderate increases. Prevalence remained steady in the Laramie Mountains herd, but declined slightly in the North Bighorn, Sheep Mountain, and the South Wind River mule deer herds. Unfortunately, sample sizes were limited in 2014-17 for the Goshen Rim, Sheep Mountain, Southwest Bighorns, and the Upper Powder River herds, and trends should be interpreted with caution.
The overall five-year CWD prevalence estimates of Wyoming’s mule deer herds are in Fig. 4. It is important to note that hunter harvest of mule deer is primarily male and therefore prevalence estimates do not account for prevalence in females. Chronic wasting disease prevalence in female mule deer is incomplete in many herd units, but has been shown to be lower than that of males in several herd units where females are harvested, as well as in road-killed surveillance data.
The prevalence of CWD in white-tailed deer and mule deer within the same hunt area varies considerably. Prevalence in white-tailed deer can meet or exceed the prevalence in mule deer in some areas, whereas prevalence may remain much lower in white-tailed deer in other areas. Although this report is centered on prevalence in mule deer bucks and adult elk, the WGFD continues to monitor prevalence in all white-tailed deer populations for this disease.
Historic Endemic Area Elk
Trends in CWD prevalence in elk herds within the historic endemic area were also examined. Prevalence remained steady in the Laramie Peak/Muddy Mountain elk herd at 6% (2014-2016 n=300, 2018-2020 (n=419). The Iron Mountain elk herd doubled from 7% in 2014-16 (n=105) to 14% in 2018-20 (n=249). The overall five-year CWD prevalence in Wyoming elk herds shown in Fig. 6.
snip...
CWD in Northwestern Wyoming
Chronic wasting disease was found in two new deer HAs as well as two elk hunt areas in northwestern Wyoming. Deer HA 117 near Meeteetse was one of the last deer hunt areas in the Bighorn Basin to become endemic for this disease, while deer HA 142west of Pinedale, is one of just a few new HAs in the southern Bridger -Teton National Forest. Chronic wasting disease was also found for the first time in elk HA 67 near Dubois as well as elk HA 75 in Grand Teton National Park. Over the past five years, CWD has been detected in six deer and two elk that were collected in and around the elk feedground herd units. This raises considerable concern that this disease is becoming firmly established in northwestern Wyoming (Fig. 2 & 3), and how it may affect deer and elk populations in the future.
Sampling Effort in Non-Endemic Hunt Areas
Chronic wasting disease has not been detected in 30 deer hunt areas in Wyoming. Annual surveillance for the disease continues in these areas, utilizing hunter-harvested, road-killed and targeted animals. Surveillance totals animals collected from CWD non-endemic hunt areas are reported (Table 4). It is a WGFD priority to notify sportspersons when CWD is detected in a new area through press releases, emails, and social media.
Table 4. Non-Hunter harvested chronic wasting disease surveillance in non-endemic areas by species, age, and sex
Continuation of Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance and Monitoring
Surveillance efforts will continue for 2021 priority herds for the next one or two years until the three-year sampling goals are achieved. Four new mule deer herd units (Bates Hole, Black Hills, Paintrock, and Sublette), one white-tailed deer herd unit (Black Hills), and three elk herd units (Medicine Lodge, Sierra Madre, and Wiggins Fork) will be prioritized.
For complete information on CWD in Wyoming please go to:
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Wildlife-inWyoming/More-Wildlife/Wildlife-Disease/Chronic-Wasting-Disease
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/WGFD/media/content/PDF/Vet%20Services/2020-CWD-Surveillance-Report-final.pdf
Wyoming CWD 2021
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/WGFD/media/content/PDF/Wildlife/2021-CWD-Surveillance-and-Monitoring-brochure.pdf
Wyoming CWD TSE Prion has been confirmed in three new elk hunt areas
CWD found in new Wyoming elk hunt areas
Game and Fish continues to notify hunters of new areas where CWD is found
11/1/2021 5:17:51 PM
CHEYENNE - The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has confirmed the presence of chronic wasting disease in three new elk hunt areas in Wyoming. The disease was confirmed from lymph node samples from three hunter-harvested bull elk.
In the Pinedale Region, CWD was confirmed in Elk Hunt Area 98. This hunt area overlays Deer Hunt Area 138 where CWD was confirmed in January.
Additionally, in the Sheridan Region, Game and Fish has identified two new CWD-positive elk areas. CWD was also confirmed in Elk Hunt Area 36 and 129. Elk Hunt Area 36 is surrounded on three sides by Elk Hunt Areas 37, 46, and 35 which have been CWD-positive since 2019, 2020 and 2009, respectively. Elk Hunt Area 129 overlays nine CWD positive Deer Hunt Areas (8, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 26, 29) and one CWD negative Deer Hunt Area (31).
To ensure hunters are informed, Game and Fish announces when CWD is found in a new hunt area. The Centers for Disease Control recommends hunters do not consume any animal that is obviously ill or tests positive for CWD.
Continued monitoring of CWD over time is important to help Game and Fish understand the potential impacts of the disease as well as evaluate future management actions for deer and elk. A map of CWD endemic areas is available on the Game and Fish website. The disease is 100% fatal to deer, elk and moose that have been infected. Throughout the fall, Game and Fish has been asking hunters to collect lymph node samples from harvested deer and elk for CWD testing in focused monitoring hunt areas across Wyoming. Hunters are an important component in helping Game and Fish understand the disease and achieve CWD monitoring goals. When hunters submit samples, they are entered into a prize raffle.
“Each CWD sample we receive is valuable for monitoring and understanding the disease,” said Hank Edwards, Game and Fish Wildlife Health Laboratory supervisor. “Please make an effort to submit a CWD sample of your harvest.”
Game and Fish has conducted surveillance for CWD in Wyoming for more than two decades. Based on the past, wildlife managers believe CWD will be documented in new deer and elk hunt areas within Wyoming.
In 2020, Game and Fish personnel tested 6,496 CWD samples and continue to evaluate new recommendations for trying to manage the disease. So far, over 3,600 samples have been tested in 2021.
Please visit the Game and Fish website for more information on chronic wasting disease testing, transmission and regulations on transportation and disposal of carcasses.
(Sara DiRienzo (sara.dirienzo@wyo.gov))
- WGFD -
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/News/CWD-found-in-new-Wyoming-elk-hunt-areas
Mule deer study raises red flags
Elsa Freise Buffalo Bulletin Via Wyoming News Exchange Jul 3, 2021 Updated Jul 3, 2021
Elsa Freise Buffalo Bulletin Via Wyoming News Exchange
BUFFALO — There are still six months remaining in the three-year study to better understand why the population of the Upper Powder River mule deer herd is in decline, but already biologists have identified concerning trends.
Statewide, mule deer populations have been on the decline. Biologists have identified the Upper Powder River herd, which ranges in Hunt Areas 30, 32, 33, 163 and 169 south and west of Buffalo, as one of the high concerns.
“We just have way less deer than we used to,” said Cheyenne Stewart, the Sheridan Region wildlife coordinator for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. “We were trying to look at what we are missing that could explain why the population isn’t rebounding.”
The Upper Powder River Mule Deer Initiative is also looking at history and strategies. Stewart said the initiative is pursuing answers to such questions as, “Are there differences in population metrics like survival and fawn recruitment for deer that migrate versus don’t migrate?” and “What is the relation to agricultural areas versus native habitat?
Two years deep into the study, Stewart has identified some red flags.
“Overall poor body condition. When you compare these deer to the famous Wyoming-range deer that migrate record miles, our deer coming into winter (pre-winter) are comparable to their deer after they have been starving, at the end of winter (post-winter),” Stewart said.
The energy required to lactate can contribute to poor body condition, but Stewart said that not enough does are lactating in December to explain the number of deer who enter winter in poor body condition. Stewart said there is some concern that low lactation rates among the herd’s does could mean that fawns are at higher risk for winter mortality because of the lack of addition al nutrition.
Stewart has also identified high mortality rates primary causes of deaths including chronic wasting disease and mountain lion mortality and a high CWD prevalence.
“Even though it’s a small sample size to make that calculation, (CWD prevalence) is higher than we would expect. Based on the data we have now, we are sitting at the mid-teens (15% to 17%) for prevalence in harvested adult bucks. But this time next year, that can be changed a little bit,” Stewart said.
What’s interesting about this project is that the doe prevalence for CWD is around 20%, higher than the adult buck prevalence an unusual occurrence. Game and Fish is curious to see if the adult buck deer prevalence increases, will the doe prevalence decrease, Stewart said.
Game and Fish has implemented several strategies aimed at boosting herd population: generating liberal licenses for animals that prey on deer, reducing doe harvest, treating the habitat to become more resilient to climate change to ensure that important mule deer habitats persist long-term, monitoring for CWD and other diseases and monitoring fawn survival (which has not been alarmingly low). Yet the trends have been consistent.
“Nothing can really explain what was really going on,” Stewart said.
In phase one of the study, each deer selected for the three-year study was fitted with a GPS neck collar and various body measurements were taken. There are 70 running collars. If a deer dies over the course of the year, a new deer will be collared. The study has collared around 110 deer. Blood samples
were collected and will be analyzed for genetics. In addition, samples were collected to test for parasites, and a small sample of rectal tissue was collected to test for CWD. An ultrasound was also performed to assess body condition, Stewart said.
Every December, biologists catch the collared deer to take
the same body measurements. The Upper Powder River Mule Deer Initiative will end in December, with a final capture, the removal of all collars, recording measurements and additional CWD work, Stewart said.
This story is supported by a grant through Wyoming EPSCoR and the National Science Foundation.
https://trib.com/mule-deer-study-raises-red-flags/article_9e132d0a-94a6-55a9-a0dd-f8e5e3cda259.html
https://www.wyomingnews.com/rocketminer/news/state/mule-deer-study-raises-red-flags/article_403e08ee-52bc-54be-a8e0-0a6116918f30.html
''Stewart has also identified high mortality rates primary causes of deaths including chronic wasting disease and mountain lion mortality and a high CWD prevalence.''
“Even though it’s a small sample size to make that calculation, (CWD prevalence) is higher than we would expect. Based on the data we have now, we are sitting at the mid-teens (15% to 17%) for prevalence in harvested adult bucks. But this time next year, that can be changed a little bit,” Stewart said.''
''What’s interesting about this project is that the doe prevalence for CWD is around 20%, higher than the adult buck prevalence an unusual occurrence. Game and Fish is curious to see if the adult buck deer prevalence increases, will the doe prevalence decrease, Stewart said.''
SEE ALSO;
CWD prevalence in North Bighorns elk herd unit
April 07, 2021
SHERIDAN -
In 2019, the Game and Fish Department’s chronic wasting disease surveillance program shifted from monitoring distribution and spread of the disease to concentrated focus on selected deer and elk herds in each administrative region of the state each year. Efforts are made by regional personnel to collect a minimum of 200 tissue samples from harvested animals in each selected herd. This minimum sample size produces a reliable estimate of prevalence, rather than simply detecting presence of the disease in an area.
The North Bighorns Elk herd, consisting of elk hunt areas 35 through 40, was originally scheduled for priority CWD sampling in 2021. However, enough hunter-harvested samples were collected during the 2018 to 2020 hunting seasons to obtain an adequate sample size (n=206).
Test results identified seven positive elk in two of the hunt areas, Areas 35 and 37, for a prevalence rate estimate of 3.4 percent. Both elk hunt areas overlap deer hunt areas with documented CWD in mule deer and white-tailed deer. Distribution of sampling was not uniform between hunt areas, with Hunt Area 37 accounting for 52 percent of the sampling effort and only five samples collected from Hunt Area 39.
“We plan to prioritize this herd for sampling again in 2027,” said Sheridan Region Wildlife Biologist Tim Thomas. “At that time, we will implement protocols to improve equitable sampling across all hunt areas.”
No CWD management actions have been implemented for this herd. Click here to learn more about CWD and read the department’s CWD management plan. - WGFD -
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Regional-Offices/Sheridan-Region/Sheridan-Region-News/CWD-prevalence-in-North-Bighorns-elk-herd-unit
re-Wyoming Legislature Strips Science From WGFC Likely Dooming Elk To CWD Epidemic In The Future
April 27, 2021
Terry Singeltary flounder9@verizon.net
Dear Mr. Singeltary:
Governor Gordon received your April 1, 2021 email titled, “Wyoming Legislature Strips Science From WGFC Likely Dooming Elk to CWD Epidemic in the Future” and he asked that I update you on the actions the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (Department) is taking in regards to chronic wasting disease (CWD) and elk feedground management within Wyoming. First, thank you for your thoughts, input and CWD reference information.
In July 2020, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission approved the Department’s CWD Management Plan (Plan), which guides the surveillance/monitoring of CWD and a suite of potential strategies wildlife managers may implement in an attempt to manage the prevalence and distribution of the disease in Wyoming’s deer, elk and moose herds. The Plan includes specific details on how the Department will address CWD on elk feedgrounds. Many of the concerns you raise are covered within the Plan. The document is available at: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/WGFD/media/content/PDF/Vet%20Services/Approved-CWD-Mgmt-PlanJuly-16-2020.pdf
One of the critical Plan components of CWD management on elk feedgrounds is the initiation of a collaborative process that will direct the long-term management of elk feedgrounds, which will include CWD and other diseases. The Department completed Phase I in January 2021. Phase I provided the public and stakeholders with a comprehensive understanding of elk feedground operation and sought feedback to help shape the public process for Phase II. Phase II is in its initial steps and will begin public engagement during the summer of 2021. The feedground legislation you reference will not impact the Department in moving forward with developing and implementing a long-term feedground management plan. I encourage you to be actively engaged in the Phase II process and beyond. For more information on the public elk feedground collaborative process, please go to: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Get-Involved/elk-feedgrounds
The Department remains committed to utilizing the best available science in managing the state’s cherished ungulate populations. I appreciate your comments, thoughts and concern and look forward to your continued engagement in our collaborative process.
Sincerely, Brian R. Nesvik Director cc: Governor’s Office Rick King, Chief, Wildlife Division Scott Edberg, Deputy Chief, Wildlife Division
=====end=====
Wyoming WGFD CWD seven positive elk in two of the hunt areas, Areas 35 and 37, for a prevalence rate estimate of 3.4 percent
CWD prevalence in North Bighorns elk herd unit
April 07, 2021
SHERIDAN -
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Regional-Offices/Sheridan-Region/Sheridan-Region-News/CWD-prevalence-in-North-Bighorns-elk-herd-unit
Terry Singeltary <flounder9@verizon.net> To: Brian.Nesvik@wyo.gov , governor.elect@wyo.gov , Mark.Gordon@wyo.gov , Chad.Banks@wyoleg.gov , dan.zwonitzer@wyoleg.gov Cc: matthew@wyofile.com , angus@wyofile.com , editor@wyofile.com , sheridan.todd@wyo.gov , buck.mcveigh@wyo.gov and 10 more...
Thu, Apr 1, 2021 at 1:09 PM
Wyoming Legislature Strips Science From WGFC Likely Dooming Elk To CWD Epidemic In The Future
Greetings Honorable Director Nesvik, Governor, WGFC, Wyofiles, Legislatures, Hunters et al,
This is what happens when you let a bunch of legislatures that are oblivious to cwd tse prion science congregate together and remove sound science policy makers from the table, and then dictate junk science from legislators and Government to the people, and they love to do it with Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion, and that's why CWD continues to spread, industry running the show from the sidelines.
SCIENCE SHOWS THAT CONTINUED CONGREGATION OF CERVID IN A GIVEN AREA WILL LOAD THE ENVIRONMENT UP WITH CWD TSE PRIONS, AND SCIENCE SHOWS THAT ENVIRONMENT CAN BECOME CONTAMINATED WITH TSE PRIONS FROM 16 TO 21 YEARS!
same thing is happening in Texas with CWD TSE Prion. you let a bunch of deer farmers, breeders, dictate science, and we all lose, but that money keeps flowing, and it does not matter that what they did keeps the cwd tse prion flowing as well.
you keep letting these elk congregate year after year after year in the same areas, with CWD growing exponentially across Wyoming, your playing with fire.
just look at some of these game farms that had upward to 80% CWD infection rate. is that what you want these feed grounds to become?
let's review the science, shall we.
first, let's see what the sixty-sixth Wyoming legislatures did, then the science they refuse to acknowledge, and this could cost the great state of Wyoming dearly.
Furthermore, you cattle ranchers better start paying close attention to these cwd regulations and what these legeslators plan on doing with cwd, and how that might affect you as a cattle rancher, or a pig farmer. you don't want a deer farmer or breeder siding up close to your land, i can assure you.
wait, there's more, CWD has now transmitted to pigs by oral routes, and that's puts a big bulls eye on the feed industry, especially since the BSE 589.2001 FEED REGULATIONS for cervid is only VOLUNTARY. the price of TSE PRION POKER has gone up, are you all in $$$
i can only pray that the Governor of Wyoming will shoot this down, and let the scientist do their job.
TSE PRIONS HAVE NO PLACE IN A POLITICIANS HANDS, this has been proven time and time again.
with kindest regards,
i am sincerely,
Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
BILL NO. HB0101
ENROLLED ACT NO. 52, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SIXTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
Sponsor: Representative Sommers
Co-Sponsor: Representative(s) Flitner, Sweeney, Winter Senator(s) Baldwin, Driskill, Hicks
Bill Versions and Resources: IntroducedVersion initially introduced on the floor for debate.
EngrossedVersion that includes adopted amendments from first chamber.
EnrolledVersion passed in both chambers with all adopted amendments.
Fiscal noteEstimate of the fiscal and personnel impact to the state for the bill.
DigestA summary of proceedings for the bill as it moves through the process.
Last Action:
H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0052
Last Action Date: 03/31/2021
Scheduled Committee Meetings
No Meetings Currently Scheduled
Scheduled Floor Sessions
No Floor Sessions Currently Scheduled
2021 GENERAL SESSION
AN ACT relating to elk feedgrounds; authorizing the permanent closure of an elk feedground authorized or administered by the Wyoming game and fish commission only upon an order of the governor; requiring the recommendation of the commission and comment by the Wyoming livestock board for the closure of an elk feedground; requiring a public meeting; authorizing the governor to temporarily close elk feedgrounds under emergency circumstances; authorizing the Wyoming game and fish commission to contract or lease private and state lands for relocating elk feedground sites; requiring the Wyoming game and fish department to develop plans for alternative elk feedground sites as specified; requiring a report; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1. W.S. 23‑1‑305 is created to read:
23‑1‑305. Closure of elk feedgrounds; alternative feeding sites; reporting requirement.
(a) Except as authorized by subsection (b) of this section, any elk feedground authorized or administered by the commission as of July 1, 2021 and in accordance with W.S. 23‑1‑302(a)(ix), shall only permanently cease operations or be subject to closure by the department or commission upon a recommendation for a feedground closure by the commission and subsequent order of the governor. Any closure order issued by the governor shall only be valid and lawful upon satisfaction of the following conditions:
(i) The commission shall provide its recommendation to the governor for the closure of the elk feedground and concurrently to the Wyoming livestock board. Upon receipt of the commission's recommendation, the board shall provide its opinion to the governor on whether the board believes the closure of the elk feedground is appropriate;
(ii) The commission, in consultation with the Wyoming livestock board, shall conduct not less than one (1) public meeting in a location that is reasonably calculated to foster the most public participation by the people directly impacted by the proposed closure and by other vested stakeholders. The public meeting shall be held after the commission and the board have acted as required under paragraph (i) of this subsection. The commission shall compile the comments received as a result of the public meeting and provide those comments to the governor for the governor's consideration on whether to issue an elk feedground closure order.
(b) Any elk feedground authorized or administered by the commission may be temporarily closed by order of the governor due to emergency circumstances for a period not to exceed six (6) months after which the feedground shall only remain closed in accordance with subsection (a) of this section.
(c) The commission is authorized to contract or lease private lands or lands owned by the state for the purpose of relocating an elk feedground authorized or administered under W.S. 23‑1‑302(a)(ix), which would otherwise be subject to closure under this section.
(d) For any elk feedground authorized or administered under W.S. 23‑1‑302(a)(ix), which utilizes federal public lands, the department shall report to the joint travel, recreation, wildlife and cultural resources interim committee upon the department receiving notice that the federal authorization permitting the use of the federal public lands will not be reissued or will be revoked. The report required by this subsection shall include draft contingency plans, including associated costs with implementing the plans, identifying any appropriate private lands, lands owned by the commission or lands otherwise owned or under the authority of the state of Wyoming for the purpose of supplementing or relocating the feedground operation that is affected by the expiration of any federal public land authorization. The office of state lands and investments shall cooperate with the commission in identifying any alternative feedground sites consistent with this section.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the department from continuing to administer authorized elk feedground operations, including:
(i) Commencing and ending annual elk feedground operations on dates determined by the department; and
(ii) Conducting emergency elk feeding operations when deemed necessary by the department.
Section 2. W.S. 11‑18‑103(a) by creating a new paragraph (xi) and 23‑1‑302(a)(ix) are amended to read:
11‑18‑103. Livestock board; powers generally.
(a) In addition to powers and duties hereinafter provided, the Wyoming livestock board shall:
(xi) Convene when necessary for the purpose of considering the recommended closure of any elk feedground as provided under W.S. 23‑1‑305(a).
23‑1‑302. Powers and duties.
(a) The commission is directed and empowered:
(ix) To make suitable provisions for the feeding of the elk subject to the requirements imposed under W.S. 23‑1‑305, and other game animals, birds, and fish of Wyoming in such localities as may be deemed necessary;
Section 3. This act is effective July 1, 2021.
(END)
Speaker of the House
President of the Senate
Governor
TIME APPROVED: _________
DATE APPROVED: _________
I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.
Chief Clerk
1
https://wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2021/HB0101
FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2020
Wyoming Game & Fish Discovers CWD-Positive Mule Deer in Pinedale, Discourages Feeding of Wildlife ''As of September 2019, CWD has been identified in 31 of 37 (84%) Wyoming mule deer herds, nine of 36 (25%)elk herds, and generally wherever white-tailed deer occur.
Increasing prevalence and distribution of CWD has the potential to cause widespread and long-term negative impacts to Wyoming’s cervid populations.
Prevalence of this disease in chronically infected Wyoming deer herds has exceeded 40%, with one elk herd exhibiting nearly 15% prevalence.''
''for the first time, there is clear evidence that CWD is adversely affecting the overall health and viability of some herds.''
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/WGFD/media/content/PDF/Get%20Involved/CWD/WGFD_DRAFTCWDManagementPlan_113019.pdf
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/WGFD/media/content/PDF/Get%20Involved/CWD/Final-WGFD-CWD-Management-Plan-7-2020-with-appendices.pdf
THURSDAY, APRIL 01, 2021
Wyoming Legislature Strips Science From WGFC Likely Dooming Elk To CWD Epidemic In The Future
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2021/04/wyoming-legislature-strips-science-from.html
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2021
Wyoming CWD found in new Wyoming deer hunt area
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2021/02/wyoming-cwd-found-in-new-wyoming-deer.html
Wyoming CWD Dr. Mary Wood
''first step is admitting you have a problem''
''Wyoming was behind the curve''
wyoming has a problem...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1bsK4Igt1o&index=10&list=PL7ZG8MkruQh3wI96XQ8_EymytO828rGxj
Since identifying its first cases of CWD in captive deer in the 70s and finding the first wild infected deer in 1985, Wyoming has seen the disease slowly spread throughout the state. CWD has now been documented in members of the deer family in most of Wyoming’s deer hunting areas, with 20% to 40% percent of mule deer affected in some herds. A 2017 study estimated a 21% annual population decline as a result of the fatal disease.
https://freerangeamerican.us/chronic-wasting-disease-wyoming/#:~:text=CWD%20has%20now%20been%20documented,result%20of%20the%20fatal%20disease.
How does CWD impact deer, elk, and moose populations?
Recent research in Wyoming has demonstrated declines in both mule and white-tailed deer populations in deer hunt area 65 due to CWD (see below for citations). These declines are in the core endemic area where prevalence is highest. In areas with lower prevalence, effects of CWD are poorly understood but are considered additive along with other factors that can negatively affect deer populations in Wyoming (i.e. habitat loss, predation, other diseases). The distribution and prevalence of CWD in Wyoming elk is less than that of deer. Currently there are no documented direct population impacts in Wyoming elk from CWD; however, research from Rocky Mountain National Park suggests that CWD could impact elk populations at higher prevalence (13%). While CWD has been found in free ranging moose, there have been few detections, and there is no evidence that CWD is currently having an impact on moose populations.
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Wildlife-in-Wyoming/More-Wildlife/Wildlife-Disease/Chronic-Wasting-Disease
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020
Wyoming Game and Fish Department has confirmed a new hunt area where an elk has tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD)
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2020/11/wyoming-game-and-fish-department-has.html
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020
CWD found in new deer and elk hunt areas in northeast Wyoming
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2020/09/cwd-found-in-new-deer-and-elk-hunt.html
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 08, 2020
Wyoming Chronic wasting disease 2020 surveillance and monitoring
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2020/10/wyoming-chronic-wasting-disease-2020.html
Fri, Jan 24, 2020 2:29 pm
Wyoming Game & Fish Discovers CWD-Positive Mule Deer in Pinedale, Discourages Feeding of Wildlife
''As of September 2019, CWD has been identified in 31 of 37 (84%) Wyoming mule deer herds, nine of 36 (25%) elk herds, and generally wherever white-tailed deer occur. Increasing prevalence and distribution of CWD has the potential to cause widespread and long-term negative impacts to Wyoming’s cervid populations. Prevalence of this disease in chronically infected Wyoming deer herds has exceeded 40%, with one elk herd exhibiting nearly 15% prevalence.''
''for the first time, there is clear evidence that CWD is adversely affecting the overall health and viability of some herds.''
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2020/01/wyoming-game-fish-discovers-cwd.html
Friday, November 16, 2012
Yellowstone elk herds feeding grounds, or future killing grounds from CWD
http://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2012/11/yellowstone-elk-herds-feeding-grounds.html
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2023
Yellowstone National Park Confirms First Case of Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2023/11/yellowstone-national-park-confirms.html
The effectiveness of harvest for limiting wildlife disease: Insights from 20 years of chronic wasting disease in Wyoming
Wynne E. Moss, Justin Binfet, L. Embere Hall, Samantha E. Allen, William H. Edwards, Jessica E. Jennings-Gaines, Paul C. Cross
First published: 21 January 2025
https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.3089
https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/eap.3089
https://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/new-study-finds-deer-hunting-can-help-keep-chronic-wasting-disease-check
CWD article 9/21/17
Terry,
Attached is link to a CWD article that you might find interesting. I read about the Canadian research on your blog last spring and pushed the Wyoming Game and Fish to release information about it. They refused - until they couldn't refuse any more and finally they are beginning to warn hunters about the potential risks.
http://trib.com/lifestyles/recreation/early-results-from-new-study-increase-concern-about-spread-of/article_73cc6202-cfda-514b-a2ed-f7076dcc12b2.html
All of this started because of your work. Thank you. You could very well be saving lives.
best wishes,
Shane Moore
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE
Early results from new study increase concern about spread of CWD to humans
Christine Peterson 307-746-3121, Christine.Peterson@trib.com Sep 19, 2017 Updated Sep 20, 2017
Early results from a chronic wasting disease study raise the possibility that the lethal and incurable disease in elk, deer and moose could pose a risk to people who consume infected meat, the Centers for Disease Control recently announced.
Researchers with the Canadian Food and Inspection Agency fed CWD-infected deer meat to macaques, a monkey with some genetic similarities to humans. The macaques then contracted the disease.
The findings, which have not been peer reviewed, don’t change the standing recommendation from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department that people throw away any meat testing positive for the disease. But some say the department should do more to warn people.
“It is interesting. This shows maybe given the right circumstances, maybe it could be transmitted to humans and maybe not,” said Hank Edwards, wildlife disease specialist for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. “To date, CWD is still not a disease of human beings. To date, CWD is a disease of cervids (animals in the deer family). We don’t see any indication based on what we’ve seen that outside the laboratory this could happen.”
*** Chronic wasting disease sometimes takes years to show signs in elk, deer and moose but is always fatal. It causes sponge-like holes to form in the animals’ brains before they eventually become lethargic and emaciated and die. Unlike a bacteria or virus, CWD is a prion disease, which means a protein in the body mutates and becomes infectious. It is a cousin to mad cow disease in cattle and Creutzfeldt-Jakob in humans.
The disease was first discovered in the wild in 1985 in southeastern Wyoming and has been slowly spreading. Early fears were that the disease could transmit to humans through consumption, but over the past few decades, those fears were allayed -- until now.
The Canadian researchers presented initial results from their study to a CWD panel in July. The information differed from past studies that tried but failed to infect macaques with CWD.
“The reasons for the different experimental results are unknown. To date, there have been no cases of CWD in people and no direct proof that people can get CWD,” the CDC wrote in an August news release. “Nevertheless, these experimental studies raise the concern that CWD may pose a risk to people and suggest that it is important to prevent human exposures to CWD.”
Shane Moore, a Jackson filmmaker and hunter, has raised alarms about the study. The Game and Fish Department, he believes, has not done enough to tell hunters to have their animals tested for the disease and to discourage them from eating an infected animal.
“I’m not a sky-is-falling type, I don’t want people to panic, but I think the public deserves the information to make an informed decision,” Moore said.
The department’s director, Scott Talbott, told the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission on Tuesday at a meeting in Gillette that the department is working to update information for hunters on its website.
“None of the recent research findings are positive from our perspective, and CWD is something we need to keep a close eye on moving forward,” Talbott told commissioners.
A Game and Fish informational brochure on CWD reads: “… animal studies suggest CWD poses a risk to some types of non-human primates, like monkeys, that eat meat from CWD-infected animals… Therefore, the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend that CWD positive animals not be consumed.”
The Department of Health, for its part, is working on a page on its website to address prion diseases, said Dr. Karl Musgrave, the state public health veterinarian.
When asked if hunters should have their animals tested if killed in CWD-endemic areas, Musgrave said they should follow CDC guidelines.
*** While Game and Fish does want the public to test animals killed in areas with CWD, department officials don’t want people to stop hunting, said Justin Binfet, regional wildlife coordinator for Game and Fish in Casper. Some research shows that increasing hunting can decrease disease prevalence, he said.
Right now, the disease can be found in about 6 percent of the elk population in the Laramie Peak/Muddy Mountain herds. It is carried by about 40 to 45 percent of bucks in the northern Laramie Range mule deer herd.
Game and Fish is finishing a research study into a possible vaccine that was proved ineffective, and working on a study that helps explain the role of genetics in CWD and elk, said Dr. Mary Wood, the state wildlife veterinarian.
The department also recently received a $100,000 grant from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to comb through decades of CWD research from Wyoming and other states. They will be looking to see if different management strategies could control the disease.
“If we’re going to find a way to manage CWD and find strategies that work, we may rely on hunting to do that,” Wood said. “We do rely on our hunting community to help us manage wildlife population across the state.”
Both Binfet and Edwards stressed that while the new study is interesting, it should not cause alarm.
“Don’t eat meat if it’s infected with CWD, and don’t feed it to domestic animals,” Edwards said. “I would not eat a CWD positive deer, but I would not have before this study.”
http://web.archive.org/web/20170925193411/http://trib.com/lifestyles/recreation/early-results-from-new-study-increase-concern-about-spread-of/article_73cc6202-cfda-514b-a2ed-f7076dcc12b2.html
Prion 2017 Conference Abstracts
First evidence of intracranial and peroral transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) into Cynomolgus macaques: a work in progress
Stefanie Czub1, Walter Schulz-Schaeffer2, Christiane Stahl-Hennig3, Michael Beekes4, Hermann Schaetzl5 and Dirk Motzkus6
1 University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine/Canadian Food Inspection Agency; 2Universitatsklinikum des Saarlandes und Medizinische Fakultat der Universitat des Saarlandes; 3 Deutsches Primaten Zentrum/Goettingen; 4 Robert-Koch-Institut Berlin; 5 University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; 6 presently: Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Research Center; previously: Deutsches Primaten Zentrum/Goettingen
This is a progress report of a project which started in 2009.
21 cynomolgus macaques were challenged with characterized CWD material from white-tailed deer (WTD) or elk by intracerebral (ic), oral, and skin exposure routes. Additional blood transfusion experiments are supposed to assess the CWD contamination risk of human blood product. Challenge materials originated from symptomatic cervids for ic, skin scarification and partially per oral routes (WTD brain). Challenge material for feeding of muscle derived from preclinical WTD and from preclinical macaques for blood transfusion experiments. We have confirmed that the CWD challenge material contained at least two different CWD agents (brain material) as well as CWD prions in muscle-associated nerves. Here we present first data on a group of animals either challenged ic with steel wires or per orally and sacrificed with incubation times ranging from 4.5 to 6.9 years at postmortem. Three animals displayed signs of mild clinical disease, including anxiety, apathy, ataxia and/or tremor. In four animals wasting was observed, two of those had confirmed diabetes. All animals have variable signs of prion neuropathology in spinal cords and brains and by supersensitive IHC, reaction was detected in spinal cord segments of all animals. Protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA), real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuiC) and PET-blot assays to further substantiate these findings are on the way, as well as bioassays in bank voles and transgenic mice. At present, a total of 10 animals are sacrificed and read-outs are ongoing. Preclinical incubation of the remaining macaques covers a range from 6.4 to 7.10 years. Based on the species barrier and an incubation time of > 5 years for BSE in macaques and about 10 years for scrapie in macaques, we expected an onset of clinical disease beyond 6 years post inoculation.
PRION 2017 DECIPHERING NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS ABSTRACTS REFERENCE
Transmission of prion infectivity from CWD-infected macaque tissues to rodent models demonstrates the zoonotic potential of chronic wasting disease.
Samia Hannaoui1,2, Ginny Cheng1,2, Wiebke Wemheuer3, Walter Schulz-Schaeffer3, Sabine Gilch1,2, Hermann Schatzl1,2 1University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. 2Calgary Prion Research Unit, Calgary, Canada. 3Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
***> Further passage to cervidized mice revealed transmission with a 100% attack rate.
***> Our findings demonstrate that macaques, considered the best model for the zoonotic potential of prions, were infected upon CWD challenge, including the oral one.
****> The disease manifested as atypical in macaques and initial transgenic mouse transmissions, but with infectivity present at all times, as unveiled in the bank vole model with an unusual tissue tropism.
***> Epidemiologic surveillance of prion disease among cervid hunters and people likely to have consumed venison contaminated with chronic wasting disease
=====
https://intcwdsympo.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/final-agenda-with-abstracts.pdf?force_download=true
Transmission of Cervid Prions to Humanized Mice Demonstrates the Zoonotic Potential of CWD
Samia Hannaouia, Irina Zemlyankinaa, Sheng Chun Changa, Maria Immaculata Arifina, Vincent Béringueb, Debbie McKenziec, Hermann M. Schatzla, and Sabine Gilcha
Results: Here, we provide the strongest evidence supporting the zoonotic potential of CWD prions, and their possible phenotype in humans. Inoculation of mice expressing human PrPCwith deer CWD isolates (strains Wisc-1 and 116AG) resulted in atypical clinical manifestations in > 75% of the mice, with myoclonus as leading clinical sign. Most of tg650brain homogenates were positive for seeding activity in RT-QuIC. Clinical disease and presentation was transmissible to tg650 mice and bank voles. Intriguingly, protease-resistant PrP in the brain of tg650 mice resembled that found in a familial human prion disease and was transmissible upon passage. Abnormal PrP aggregates upon infection with Wisc-1 were detectable in thalamus, hypothalamus, and midbrain/pons regions.
Unprecedented in human prion disease, feces of CWD-inoculated tg650 mice harbored prion seeding activity and infectious prions, as shown by inoculation of bank voles and tg650 with fecal homogenates.
Conclusions: This is the first evidence that CWD can infect humans and cause disease with a distinctive clinical presentation, signature, and tropism, which might be transmissible between humans while current diagnostic assays might fail to detect it. These findings have major implications for public health and CWD-management.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19336896.2022.2091286
***> Further passage to cervidized mice revealed transmission with a 100% attack rate.
***> Our findings demonstrate that macaques, considered the best model for the zoonotic potential of prions, were infected upon CWD challenge, including the oral one.
****> The disease manifested as atypical in macaques and initial transgenic mouse transmissions, but with infectivity present at all times, as unveiled in the bank vole model with an unusual tissue tropism.
***> Epidemiologic surveillance of prion disease among cervid hunters and people likely to have consumed venison contaminated with chronic wasting disease
=====
https://intcwdsympo.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/final-agenda-with-abstracts.pdf?force_download=true
Transmission of Cervid Prions to Humanized Mice Demonstrates the Zoonotic Potential of CWD
Samia Hannaouia, Irina Zemlyankinaa, Sheng Chun Changa, Maria Immaculata Arifina, Vincent Béringueb, Debbie McKenziec, Hermann M. Schatzla, and Sabine Gilcha
Results: Here, we provide the strongest evidence supporting the zoonotic potential of CWD prions, and their possible phenotype in humans. Inoculation of mice expressing human PrPCwith deer CWD isolates (strains Wisc-1 and 116AG) resulted in atypical clinical manifestations in > 75% of the mice, with myoclonus as leading clinical sign. Most of tg650brain homogenates were positive for seeding activity in RT-QuIC. Clinical disease and presentation was transmissible to tg650 mice and bank voles. Intriguingly, protease-resistant PrP in the brain of tg650 mice resembled that found in a familial human prion disease and was transmissible upon passage. Abnormal PrP aggregates upon infection with Wisc-1 were detectable in thalamus, hypothalamus, and midbrain/pons regions.
Unprecedented in human prion disease, feces of CWD-inoculated tg650 mice harbored prion seeding activity and infectious prions, as shown by inoculation of bank voles and tg650 with fecal homogenates.
Conclusions: This is the first evidence that CWD can infect humans and cause disease with a distinctive clinical presentation, signature, and tropism, which might be transmissible between humans while current diagnostic assays might fail to detect it. These findings have major implications for public health and CWD-management.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19336896.2022.2091286
CWD TSE Prion Zoonosis ? First, let’s go way back, then to date, about Cwd and cjd risk factors (I don’t make this stuff up).
regular venison eating associated with a 9 FOLD INCREASE IN RISK OF CJD
Subject: Re: DEER SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY SURVEY & HOUND STUDY
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 23:12:22 +0100
From: Steve Dealler
Reply-To: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Organization: Netscape Online member
To: BSE-L@ …
######## Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy <BSE-L@UNI-KARLSRUHE.DE> #########
Dear Terry,
An excellent piece of review as this literature is desparately difficult to get back from Government sites.
What happened with the deer was that an association between deer meat eating and sporadic CJD was found in about 1993. The evidence was not great but did not disappear after several years of asking CJD cases what they had eaten. I think that the work into deer disease largely stopped because it was not helpful to the UK industry...and no specific cases were reported.
Well, if you dont look adequately like they are in USA currenly then you wont find any!
Steve Dealler
########### http://mailhost.rz.uni-karlsruhe.de/warc/bse-l.html ############
Subject: DEER SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY SURVEY & HOUND STUDY
From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr." <flounder@WT.NET>
Reply To: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy <BSE-L@UNI-KARLSRUHE.DE>
Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 17:04:51 -0700
snip...
''The association between venison eating and risk of CJD shows similar pattern, with regular venison eating associated with a 9 FOLD INCREASE IN RISK OF CJD (p = 0.04).''
CREUTZFELDT JAKOB DISEASE SURVEILLANCE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM THIRD ANNUAL REPORT AUGUST 1994
Consumption of venison and veal was much less widespread among both cases and controls. For both of these meats there was evidence of a trend with increasing frequency of consumption being associated with increasing risk of CJD. (not nvCJD, but sporadic CJD...tss) These associations were largely unchanged when attention was restricted to pairs with data obtained from relatives. ...
Table 9 presents the results of an analysis of these data.
There is STRONG evidence of an association between ‘’regular’’ veal eating and risk of CJD (p = .0.01).
Individuals reported to eat veal on average at least once a year appear to be at 13 TIMES THE RISK of individuals who have never eaten veal.
There is, however, a very wide confidence interval around this estimate. There is no strong evidence that eating veal less than once per year is associated with increased risk of CJD (p = 0.51).
The association between venison eating and risk of CJD shows similar pattern, with regular venison eating associated with a 9 FOLD INCREASE IN RISK OF CJD (p = 0.04).
There is some evidence that risk of CJD INCREASES WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY OF LAMB EATING (p = 0.02).
The evidence for such an association between beef eating and CJD is weaker (p = 0.14). When only controls for whom a relative was interviewed are included, this evidence becomes a little STRONGER (p = 0.08).
snip...
It was found that when veal was included in the model with another exposure, the association between veal and CJD remained statistically significant (p = < 0.05 for all exposures), while the other exposures ceased to be statistically significant (p = > 0.05).
snip...
In conclusion, an analysis of dietary histories revealed statistical associations between various meats/animal products and INCREASED RISK OF CJD. When some account was taken of possible confounding, the association between VEAL EATING AND RISK OF CJD EMERGED AS THE STRONGEST OF THESE ASSOCIATIONS STATISTICALLY. ...
snip...
In the study in the USA, a range of foodstuffs were associated with an increased risk of CJD, including liver consumption which was associated with an apparent SIX-FOLD INCREASE IN THE RISK OF CJD. By comparing the data from 3 studies in relation to this particular dietary factor, the risk of liver consumption became non-significant with an odds ratio of 1.2 (PERSONAL COMMUNICATION, PROFESSOR A. HOFMAN. ERASMUS UNIVERSITY, ROTTERDAM). (???...TSS)
snip...see full report ;
http://web.archive.org/web/20090506050043/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1994/08/00004001.pdf
http://web.archive.org/web/20090506050007/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1994/10/00003001.pdf
http://web.archive.org/web/20090506050244/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1994/07/00001001.pdf
Stephen Dealler is a consultant medical microbiologist deal@airtime.co.uk
BSE Inquiry Steve Dealler
Management In Confidence
BSE: Private Submission of Bovine Brain Dealler
snip...end
########### http://mailhost.rz.uni-karlsruhe.de/warc/bse-l.html ############
BSE INQUIRY
CJD9/10022
October 1994
Mr R.N. Elmhirst Chairman British Deer Farmers Association Holly Lodge Spencers Lane
BerksWell Coventry CV7 7BZ
Dear Mr Elmhirst,
CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE (CJD) SURVEILLANCE UNIT REPORT
Thank you for your recent letter concerning the publication of the third annual report from the CJD Surveillance Unit. I am sorry that you are dissatisfied with the way in which this report was published.
The Surveillance Unit is a completely independant outside body and the Department of Health is committed to publishing their reports as soon as they become available. In the circumstances it is not the practice to circulate the report for comment since the findings of the report would not be amended.. In future we can ensure that the British Deer Farmers Association receives a copy of the report in advance of publication.
The Chief Medical Officer has undertaken to keep the public fully informed of the results of any research in respect of CJD. This report was entirely the work of the unit and was produced completely independantly of the the Department.
The statistical results reqarding the consumption of venison was put into perspective in the body of the report and was not mentioned at all in the press release. Media attention regarding this report was low key but gave a realistic presentation of the statistical findings of the Unit. This approach to publication was successful in that consumption of venison was highlighted only once by the media ie. in the News at one television proqramme.
I believe that a further statement about the report, or indeed statistical links between CJD and consumption of venison, would increase, and quite possibly give damaging credence, to the whole issue. From the low key media reports of which I am aware it seems unlikely that venison consumption will suffer adversely, if at all.
http://web.archive.org/web/20030511010117/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1994/10/00003001.pdf
TSE in wild UK deer? The first case of BSE (as we now realise) was in a nyala in London zoo and the further zoo cases in ungulates were simply thought of as being interesting transmissions of scrapie initially. The big problem started to appear with animals in 1993-5 when it became clear that there was an increase in the CJD cases in people that had eaten deer although the statistics involved must have been questionable. The reason for this was that the CJD Surveillance was well funded to look into the diet of people dying of CJD. This effect is not clear with vCJD...if only because the numbers involved are much smaller and hence it is difficult to gain enough statistics. They found that many other foods did not appear to have much association at all but that deer certainly did and as years went by the association actually became clearer. The appearance of vCJD in 1996 made all this much more difficult in that it was suddenly clearer that the cases of sporadic CJD that they had been checking up until then probably had nothing to do with beef...and the study decreased. During the period there was an increasing worry that deer were involved with CJD..
see references:
DEER BRAIN SURVEY
https://web.archive.org/web/20090506025229/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1991/11/20004001.pdf
CONFIDENTIAL AND IN CONFIDENCE TRANSMISSION TO CHIMPANZEES AND PIGS
IN CONFIDENCE
TRANSMISSION TO CHIMPANZEES
Kuru and CJD have been successfully transmitted to chimpanzees but scrapie and TME have not.
We cannot say that scrapie will not transmit to chimpanzees. There are several scrapie strains and I am not aware that all have been tried (that would have to be from mouse passaged material). Nor has a wide enough range of field isolates subsequently strain typed in mice been inoculated by the appropriate routes (i/c, i/p and i/v).
I believe the proposed experiment to determine transmissibility, if conducted, would only show the susceptibility or resistance of the chimpanzee to infection/disease by the routes used and the result could not be interpreted for the predictability of the susceptibility for man. proposals for prolonged oral exposure of chimpanzees to milk from cattle were suggested a long while ago and rejected.
In view of Dr Gibbs' probable use of chimpazees Mr Wells' comments (enclosed) are pertinent. I have yet to receive a direct communication from Dr Schellekers but before any collaboration or provision of material we should identify the Gibbs' proposals and objectives.
A positive result from a chimpanzee challenged severely would likely create alarm in some circles even if the result could not be interpreted for man. I have a view that all these agents could be transmitted provided a large enough dose by appropriate routes was given and the animals kept long enough. Until the mechanisms of the species barrier are more clearly understood it might be best to retain that hypothesis.
A negative result would take a lifetime to determine but that would be a shorter period than might be available for human exposure and it would still not answer the question regarding mans ‘susceptibility. In the meantime no doubt the negativity would be used defensively. It would however be counterproductive if the experiment finally became positive. We may learn more about public reactions following next Monday's meeting.
R Bradley
CVO (+ Mr Wells’ commenters 23 September 1990 Dr T W A Little Dr B J Shreeve
90/9.23/1.1
https://web.archive.org/web/20090506041740/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1990/09/23001001.pdf
*** now, let’s see what the authors said about this casual link, personal communications years ago, and then the latest on the zoonotic potential from CWD to humans from the TOKYO PRION 2016 CONFERENCE.
see where it is stated NO STRONG evidence. so, does this mean there IS casual evidence ????
“Our conclusion stating that we found no strong evidence of CWD transmission to humans”
From: TSS Subject: CWD aka MAD DEER/ELK TO HUMANS ???
Date: September 30, 2002 at 7:06 am PST
From: "Belay, Ermias"
To: Cc: "Race, Richard (NIH)" ; ; "Belay, Ermias"
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 9:22 AM
Subject: RE: TO CDC AND NIH - PUB MED- 3 MORE DEATHS - CWD - YOUNG HUNTERS
Dear Sir/Madam, In the Archives of Neurology you quoted (the abstract of which was attached to your email), we did not say CWD in humans will present like variant CJD.. That assumption would be wrong. I encourage you to read the whole article and call me if you have questions or need more clarification (phone: 404-639-3091).
Also, we do not claim that "no-one has ever been infected with prion disease from eating venison." Our conclusion stating that we found no strong evidence of CWD transmission to humans in the article you quoted or in any other forum is limited to the patients we investigated.
Ermias Belay, M.D. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
-----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
Thursday, April 03, 2008
A prion disease of cervids: Chronic wasting disease 2008 1: Vet Res. 2008 Apr 3;39(4):41 A prion disease of cervids: Chronic wasting disease Sigurdson CJ.
snip... *** twenty-seven CJD patients who regularly consumed venison were reported to the Surveillance Center***,
snip... full text ;
http://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2008/04/prion-disease-of-cervids-chronic.html
However, to date, no CWD infections have been reported in people.
sporadic, spontaneous CJD, 85%+ of all human TSE, did not just happen. never in scientific literature has this been proven. if one looks up the word sporadic or spontaneous at pubmed, you will get a laundry list of disease that are classified in such a way;
sporadic = 54,983 hits
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=sporadic
spontaneous = 325,650 hits
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=spontaneous
key word here is 'reported'. science has shown that CWD in humans will look like sporadic CJD.
SO, how can one assume that CWD has not already transmitted to humans? they can't, and it's as simple as that. from all recorded science to date, CWD has already transmitted to humans, and it's being misdiagnosed as sporadic CJD. ...terry
*** LOOKING FOR CWD IN HUMANS AS nvCJD or as an ATYPICAL CJD, LOOKING IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES $$$ ***
However, to date, no CWD infections have been reported in people. key word here is ‘reported’. science has shown that CWD in humans will look like sporadic CJD. SO, how can one assume that CWD has not already transmitted to humans? they can’t, and it’s as simple as that. from all recorded science to date, CWD has already transmitted to humans, and it’s being misdiagnosed as sporadic CJD. …terry
*** LOOKING FOR CWD IN HUMANS AS nvCJD or as an ATYPICAL CJD, LOOKING IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES $$$ ***
*** These results would seem to suggest that CWD does indeed have zoonotic potential, at least as judged by the compatibility of CWD prions and their human PrPC target. Furthermore, extrapolation from this simple in vitro assay suggests that if zoonotic CWD occurred, it would most likely effect those of the PRNP codon 129-MM genotype and that the PrPres type would be similar to that found in the most common subtype of sCJD (MM1).***
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.4161/pri.28124?src=recsys
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.4161/pri.28124?needAccess=true
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/20/1/13-0858_article
So, this is what we leave our children and grandchildren?
CDC CWD TSE Prion Update 2025
KEY POINTS
Chronic wasting disease affects deer, elk and similar animals in the United States and a few other countries.
The disease hasn't been shown to infect people.
However, it might be a risk to people if they have contact with or eat meat from animals infected with CWD.
https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-wasting/about/index.html
Volume 31, Number 4—April 2025
Research
Detection and Decontamination of Chronic Wasting Disease Prions during Venison Processing
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/4/24-1176_article
Prions in Muscles of Cervids with Chronic Wasting Disease, Norway
Volume 31, Number 2—February 2025
Research
Prions in Muscles of Cervids with Chronic Wasting Disease, Norway
Snip…
In summary, the results of our study indicate that prions are widely distributed in peripheral and edible tissues of cervids in Norway, including muscles. This finding highlights the risk of human exposure to small amounts of prions through handling and consuming infected cervids. Nevertheless, we note that this study did not investigate the zoonotic potential of the Norway CWD prions. In North America, humans have historically consumed meat from CWD-infected animals, which has been documented to harbor prions (35,44–47). Despite the potential exposure to prions, no epidemiologic evidence indicates a correlation between the occurrence of CWD cases in animals and the prevalence of human prion diseases (48). A recent bioassay study reported no transmissions from 3 Nordic isolates into transgenic mice expressing human PrP (49). Therefore, our findings should be interpreted with caution in terms of human health implications, and further research is required to determine the zoonotic potential of these CWD strains.
The presence of prions in peripheral tissues indicates that CWD may have a systemic nature in all Norwegian cervid species, challenging the view that prions are exclusively localized in the CNS in sporadic CWD of moose and red deer. Our findings expand the notion of just how widely distributed prions can be in cervids affected with CWD and call into question the capability of emerging CWD strains in terms of infectivity to other species, including humans.
Appendix
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/2/24-0903-app1.pdf
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/2/24-0903_article
Volume 31, Number 2—February 2025
Dispatch
Detection of Chronic Wasting Disease Prions in Raw, Processed, and Cooked Elk Meat, Texas, USA
Rebeca Benavente, Fraser Brydon, Francisca Bravo-Risi, Paulina Soto, J. Hunter Reed, Mitch Lockwood, Glenn Telling, Marcelo A. Barria, and Rodrigo MoralesComments to Author
Snip…
CWD prions have been detected in the muscle of both farmed and wild deer (10), and at concentrations relevant to sustain disease transmission (11). CWD prions have also been identified across several cervid species and in multiple tissues, including lymph nodes, spleen, tongue, intestines, adrenal gland, eyes, reproductive tissues, ears, lungs, and liver, among others (12–14). Those findings raise concerns about the safety of ingesting processed meats that contain tissues other than skeletal muscle (15) (Appendix). https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/2/24-0906-app1.pdf .
In addition, those findings highlight the need for continued vigilance and research on the transmission risks of prion diseases and for development of new preventative and detection measures to ensure the safety of the human food supply.
Snip…
Overall, our study results confirm previous reports describing the presence of CWD prions in elk muscles (13). The data also demonstrated CWD prion persistence in food products even after processing through different procedures, including the addition of salts, spices, and other edible elements. Of note, our data show that exposure to high temperatures used to cook the meat increased the availability of prions for in vitro amplification. Considering the potential implications in food safety and public health, we believe that the findings described in this study warrant further research. Our results suggest that although the elk meat used in this study resisted different manipulations involved in subsequent consumption by humans, their zoonotic potential was limited. Nevertheless, even though no cases of CWD transmission to human have been reported, the potential for human infection is still unclear and continued monitoring for zoonotic potential is warranted.
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/2/24-0906_article
Volume 31, Number 1—January 2025
Dispatch
Detection of Prions in Wild Pigs (Sus scrofa) from Areas with Reported Chronic Wasting Disease Cases, United States
Abstract
Using a prion amplification assay, we identified prions in tissues from wild pigs (Sus scrofa) living in areas of the United States with variable chronic wasting disease (CWD) epidemiology. Our findings indicate that scavenging swine could play a role in disseminating CWD and could therefore influence its epidemiology, geographic distribution, and interspecies spread.
Snip…
Conclusions In summary, results from this study showed that wild pigs are exposed to cervid prions, although the pigs seem to display some resistance to infection via natural exposure. Future studies should address the susceptibility of this invasive animal species to the multiple prion strains circulating in the environment. Nonetheless, identification of CWD prions in wild pig tissues indicated the potential for pigs to move prions across the landscape, which may, in turn, influence the epidemiology and geographic spread of CWD.
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/%2031/1/24-0401_article
Detection of chronic wasting disease prions in processed meats
Rebeca Benavente1 , Francisca Bravo1,2, J. Hunter Reed3 , Mitch Lockwood3 , Glenn Telling4 , Rodrigo Morales1,2 1 Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Texas, USA; 2 Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins. Santiago, Chile; 3 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas, USA. 4 Prion Research Center, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Aims: identify the presence of CWD prions in processed meats derived from elk.
Materials and Methods: In this study, we analyzed different processed meats derived from a CWD-positive (pre-clinical) free-ranging elk. Products tested included filets, sausages, boneless steaks, burgers, seasoned chili meats, and spiced meats. The presence of CWD-prions in these samples were assessed by PMCA using deer and elk substrates. The same analyses were performed in grilled and boiled meats to evaluate the resistance of the infectious agent to these procedures.
Results: Our results show positive prion detection in all the samples analyzed using deer and elk substrates. Surprisingly, cooked meats displayed increased seeding activities. This data suggests that CWD-prions are available to people even after meats are processed and cooked.
Conclusions: These results suggest CWD prions are accessible to humans through meats, even after processing and cooking. Considering the fact that these samples were collected from already processed specimens, the availability of CWD prions to humans is probably underestimated.
Funded by: NIH and USDA
Grant number: 1R01AI132695 and APP-20115 to RM
Acknowledgement: We would like to thank TPWD personnel for providing us with valuable samples
"Our results show positive prion detection in all the samples analyzed using deer and elk substrates. Surprisingly, cooked meats displayed increased seeding activities."
end...
PRION 2023 CONTINUED;
https://prion2023.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Meeting-book-final-version2.pdf
The detection and decontamination of chronic wasting disease prions during venison processing
Aims: There is a growing concern that chronic wasting disease (CWD) prions in venison pose a risk to human health. CWD prions accumulate in infected deer tissues that commonly enter the human food chain through meat processing and consumption. The United States (US) Food and Drug Administration and US Department of Agriculture now formally consider CWD-positive venison unfit for human and animal consumption. Yet, the degree to which prion contamination occurs during routine venison processing is unknown. Here, we use environmental surface swab methods to:
a) experimentally test meat processing equipment (i.e., stainless steel knives and polyethylene cutting boards) before and after processing CWD-positive venison and
b) test the efficacy of five different disinfectant types (i.e., Dawn dish soap, Virkon-S, Briotech, 10% bleach, and 40% bleach) to determine prion decontamination efficacy.
Materials and Methods: We used a real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assay to determine CWD infection status of venison and to detect CWD prions in the swabs. We collected three swabs per surface and ran eight technical replicates on RT-QuIC.
Results: CWD prions were detected on all cutting boards (n= 3; replicates= 8/8, 8/8, 8/8 and knives (n= 3; replicates= 8/8, 8/8, 8/8) used in processing CWD-positive venison, but not on those used for CWD-negative venison. After processing CWD-positive venison, allowing the surfaces to dry, and washing the cutting board with Dawn dish soap, we detected CWD prions on the cutting board surface (n= 3; replicates= 8/8, 8/8, 8/8) but not on the knife (n= 3, replicates = 0/8, 0/8, 0/8). Similar patterns were observed with Briotech (cutting board: n= 3; replicates= 7/8, 1/8, 0/8; knife: n= 3; replicates = 0/8, 0/8, 0/8). We did not detect CWD prions on the knives or cutting boards after disinfecting with Virkon-S, 10% bleach, and 40% bleach.
Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest that Dawn dish soap and Briotech do not reliably decontaminate CWD prions from these surfaces. Our data suggest that Virkon-S and various bleach concentrations are more effective in reducing prion contamination of meat processing surfaces; however, surface type may also influence the ability of prions to adsorb to surfaces, preventing complete decontamination. Our results will directly inform best practices to prevent the introduction of CWD prions into the human food chain during venison processing.
Prion 2023 Abstracts
https://prion2023.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Meeting-book-final-version2.pdf
DETECTION OF CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE PRIONS IN PROCESSED MEATS.
Abstract
The zoonotic potential of chronic wasting disease (CWD) remains unknown. Currently, there are no known natural cases of CWD transmission to humans but increasing evidence suggests that the host range of CWD is not confined only to cervid species. Alarmingly, recent experimental evidence suggests that certain CWD isolates can induce disease in non-human primates. While the CDC strongly recommends determining CWD status in animals prior to consumption, this practice is voluntary. Consequently, it is plausible that a proportion of the cervid meat entering the human food chain may be contaminated with CWD. Of additional concern is that traditional diagnostic techniques used to detect CWD have relatively low sensitivity and are only approved for use in tissues other than those typically ingested by humans. In this study, we analyzed different processed meats derived from a pre-clinical, CWD-positive free-ranging elk. Products tested included filets, sausages, boneless steaks, burgers, ham steaks, seasoned chili meats, and spiced meats. CWD-prion presence in these products were assessed by PMCA using deer and elk substrates. Our results show positive prion detection in all products. To confirm the resilience of CWD-prions to traditional cooking methods, we grilled and boiled the meat products and evaluated them for any remnant PMCA seeding activity. Results confirmed the presence of CWD-prions in these meat products suggesting that infectious particles may still be available to people even after cooking. Our results strongly suggest ongoing human exposure to CWD-prions and raise significant concerns of zoonotic transmission through ingestion of CWD contaminated meat products.
***> Products tested included filets, sausages, boneless steaks, burgers, ham steaks, seasoned chili meats, and spiced meats.
***> CWD-prion presence in these products were assessed by PMCA using deer and elk substrates.
***> Our results show positive prion detection in all products.
***> Results confirmed the presence of CWD-prions in these meat products suggesting that infectious particles may still be available to people even after cooking.
***> Our results strongly suggest ongoing human exposure to CWD-prions and raise significant concerns of zoonotic transmission through ingestion of CWD contaminated meat products.
https://intcwdsympo.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/final-agenda-with-abstracts.pdf?force_download=true
Transmission of prion infectivity from CWD-infected macaque tissues to rodent models demonstrates the zoonotic potential of chronic wasting disease.
Samia Hannaoui1,2, Ginny Cheng1,2, Wiebke Wemheuer3, Walter Schulz-Schaeffer3, Sabine Gilch1,2, Hermann Schatzl1,2 1University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. 2Calgary Prion Research Unit, Calgary, Canada. 3Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
Snip…
***> Further passage to cervidized mice revealed transmission with a 100% attack rate.
***> Our findings demonstrate that macaques, considered the best model for the zoonotic potential of prions, were infected upon CWD challenge, including the oral one.
****> The disease manifested as atypical in macaques and initial transgenic mouse transmissions, but with infectivity present at all times, as unveiled in the bank vole model with an unusual tissue tropism.
***> Epidemiologic surveillance of prion disease among cervid hunters and people likely to have consumed venison contaminated with chronic wasting disease
=====
https://intcwdsympo.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/final-agenda-with-abstracts.pdf?force_download=true
Transmission of Cervid Prions to Humanized Mice Demonstrates the Zoonotic Potential of CWD
Samia Hannaouia, Irina Zemlyankinaa, Sheng Chun Changa, Maria Immaculata Arifina, Vincent Béringueb, Debbie McKenziec, Hermann M. Schatzla, and Sabine Gilcha
Results: Here, we provide the strongest evidence supporting the zoonotic potential of CWD prions, and their possible phenotype in humans. Inoculation of mice expressing human PrPCwith deer CWD isolates (strains Wisc-1 and 116AG) resulted in atypical clinical manifestations in > 75% of the mice, with myoclonus as leading clinical sign. Most of tg650brain homogenates were positive for seeding activity in RT-QuIC. Clinical disease and presentation was transmissible to tg650 mice and bank voles. Intriguingly, protease-resistant PrP in the brain of tg650 mice resembled that found in a familial human prion disease and was transmissible upon passage. Abnormal PrP aggregates upon infection with Wisc-1 were detectable in thalamus, hypothalamus, and midbrain/pons regions.
Unprecedented in human prion disease, feces of CWD-inoculated tg650 mice harbored prion seeding activity and infectious prions, as shown by inoculation of bank voles and tg650 with fecal homogenates.
Conclusions: This is the first evidence that CWD can infect humans and cause disease with a distinctive clinical presentation, signature, and tropism, which might be transmissible between humans while current diagnostic assays might fail to detect it. These findings have major implications for public health and CWD-management.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19336896.2022.2091286
The finding that infectious PrPSc was shed in fecal material of CWD-infected humanized mice and induced clinical disease, different tropism, and typical three banding pattern-PrPres in bank voles that is transmissible upon second passage is highly concerning for public health. The fact that this biochemical signature in bank voles resembles that of the Wisc-1 original deer isolate and is different from that of bvWisc-1, in the migration profile and the glyco-form-ratio, is valid evidence that these results are not a product of contamination in our study. If CWD in humans is found to be contagious and transmissible among humans, as it is in cervids [57], the spread of the disease within humans might become endemic.
Transmission of cervid prions to humanized mice demonstrates the zoonotic potential of CWD
Acta Neuropathol 144, 767–784 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-022-02482-9
Published
22 August 2022
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00401-022-02482-9
Fortuitous generation of a zoonotic cervid prion strain
Aims: Whether CWD prions can infect humans remains unclear despite the very substantial scale and long history of human exposure of CWD in many states or provinces of USA and Canada. Multiple in vitro conversion experiments and in vivo animal studies indicate that the CWD-to-human transmission barrier is not unbreakable. A major long-term public health concern on CWD zoonosis is the emergence of highly zoonotic CWD strains. We aim to address the question of whether highly zoonotic CWD strains are possible.
Materials and Methods: We inoculated several sCJD brain samples into cervidized transgenic mice (Tg12), which were intended as negative controls for bioassays of brain tissues from sCJD cases who had potentially been exposed to CWD. Some of the Tg12 mice became infected and their brain tissues were further examined by Western blot as well as serial passages in humanized or cervidized mice.
Results: Passage of sCJDMM1 in transgenic mice expressing elk PrP (Tg12) resulted in a “cervidized” CJD strain that we termed CJDElkPrP. We observed 100% transmission of the original CJDElkPrP in transgenic mice expressing human PrP. We passaged CJDElkPrP two more times in the Tg12 mice. We found that such second and third passage CJDElkPrP prions retained 100% transmission rate in the humanized mice, despite that the natural elk CWD isolates and CJDElkPrP share the same elk PrP sequence. In contrast, we and others found zero or poor transmission of natural elk CWD isolates in humanized mice.
Conclusions: Our data indicate that highly zoonotic cervid prion strains are not only possible but also can retain zoonotic potential after serial passages in cervids, suggesting a very significant and serious long-term risk of CWD zoonosis given that the broad and continuing spread of CWD prions will provide fertile grounds for the emergence of zoonotic CWD strains over time.
https://prion2023.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Meeting-book-final-version2.pdf
The finding that infectious PrPSc was shed in fecal material of CWD-infected humanized mice and induced clinical disease, different tropism, and typical three banding pattern-PrPres in bank voles that is transmissible upon second passage is highly concerning for public health. The fact that this biochemical signature in bank voles resembles that of the Wisc-1 original deer isolate and is different from that of bvWisc-1, in the migration profile and the glyco-form-ratio, is valid evidence that these results are not a product of contamination in our study. If CWD in humans is found to be contagious and transmissible among humans, as it is in cervids [57], the spread of the disease within humans might become endemic.
Transmission of cervid prions to humanized mice demonstrates the zoonotic potential of CWD
Acta Neuropathol 144, 767–784 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-022-02482-9
Published
22 August 2022
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00401-022-02482-9
Transmission of cervid prions to humanized mice demonstrates the zoonotic potential of CWD
Samia Hannaoui1 · Irina Zemlyankina1 · Sheng Chun Chang1 · Maria Immaculata Arifn1 · Vincent Béringue2 · Debbie McKenzie3 · Hermann M. Schatzl1 · Sabine Gilch1
Received: 24 May 2022 / Revised: 5 August 2022 / Accepted: 7 August 2022
© The Author(s) 2022
Abstract
Prions cause infectious and fatal neurodegenerative diseases in mammals. Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a prion disease of cervids, spreads efficiently among wild and farmed animals. Potential transmission to humans of CWD is a growing concern due to its increasing prevalence. Here, we provide evidence for a zoonotic potential of CWD prions, and its probable signature using mice expressing human prion protein (PrP) as an infection model. Inoculation of these mice with deer CWD isolates resulted in atypical clinical manifestation with prion seeding activity and efficient transmissible infectivity in the brain and, remarkably, in feces, but without classical neuropathological or Western blot appearances of prion diseases. Intriguingly, the protease-resistant PrP in the brain resembled that found in a familial human prion disease and was transmissible upon second passage. Our results suggest that CWD might infect humans, although the transmission barrier is likely higher compared to zoonotic transmission of cattle prions. Notably, our data suggest a different clinical presentation, prion signature, and tissue tropism, which causes challenges for detection by current diagnostic assays. Furthermore, the presence of infectious prions in feces is concerning because if this occurs in humans, it is a source for human-to-human transmission. These findings have strong implications for public health and CWD management.
Keywords Chronic wasting disease · CWD · Zoonotic potential · Prion strains · Zoonotic prions
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS STUDY
================================
Our results suggest that CWD might infect humans, although the transmission barrier is likely higher compared to zoonotic transmission of cattle prions. Notably, our data suggest a different clinical presentation, prion signature, and tissue tropism, which causes challenges for detection by current diagnostic assays. Furthermore, the presence of infectious prions in feces is concerning because if this occurs in humans, it is a source for human-to-human transmission. These findings have strong implications for public health and CWD management.
In this study, we evaluated the zoonotic potential of CWD using a transgenic mouse model overexpressing human M129-PrPC (tg650 [12]). We inoculated tg650 mice intracerebrally with two deer CWD isolates, Wisc-1 and 116AG [22, 23, 27, 29]. We demonstrate that this transgenic line was susceptible to infection with CWD prions and displayed a distinct leading clinical sign, an atypical PrPSc signature and unusual fecal shedding of infectious prions. Importantly, these prions generated by the human PrP transgenic mice were transmissible upon passage. Our results are the first evidence of a zoonotic risk of CWD when using one of the most common CWD strains, Wisc-1/CWD1 for infection. We demonstrated in a human transgenic mouse model that the species barrier for transmission of CWD to humans is not absolute. The fact that its signature was not typical raises the questions whether CWD would manifest in humans as a subclinical infection, whether it would arise through direct or indirect transmission including an intermediate host, or a silent to uncovered human-to-human transmission, and whether current detection techniques will be suffcient to unveil its presence.
Our findings strongly suggest that CWD should be regarded as an actual public health risk. Here, we use humanized mice to show that CWD prions can cross the species barrier to humans, and remarkably, infectious prions can be excreted in feces.
Our results indicate that if CWD crosses the species-barrier to humans, it is unlikely to resemble the most common forms of human prion diseases with respect to clinical signs, tissue tropism and PrPSc signature. For instance, PrPSc in variable protease-sensitive prionopathy (VPSPr), a sporadic form of human prion disease, and in the genetic form Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS) is defined by an atypical PK-resistant PrPSc fragment that is non-glycosylated and truncated at both C- and N-termini, with a molecular weight between 6 and 8 kDa [24, 44–46]. These biochemical features are unique and distinctive from PrPSc (PrP27-30) found in most other human or animal prion disease. The atypical PrPSc signature detected in brain homogenate of tg650 mice #321 (1st passage) and #3063 (2nd passage), and the 7–8 kDa fragment (Figs. 2, 4) are very similar to that of GSS, both in terms of migration profile and the N-terminal cleavage site.
CWD in humans might remain subclinical but with PrPSc deposits in the brain with an unusual morphology that does not resemble the patterns usually seen in different prion diseases (e.g., mouse #328; Fig. 3), clinical with untraceable abnormal PrP (e.g., mouse #327) but still transmissible and uncovered upon subsequent passage (e.g., mouse #3063; Fig. 4), or prions have other reservoirs than the usual ones, hence the presence of infectivity in feces (e.g., mouse #327) suggesting a potential for human-to-human transmission and a real iatrogenic risk that might be unrecognizable.
“suggesting a potential for human-to-human transmission and a real iatrogenic risk that might be unrecognizable.”
=================================
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-022-02482-9
snip...see full text;
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00401-022-02482-9
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00401-022-02482-9.pdf
EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) Antonia Ricci Ana Allende Declan Bolton Marianne Chemaly Robert Davies Pablo Salvador Fernández Escámez ...
First published: 17 January 2018 https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5132
also, see;
8. Even though human TSE‐exposure risk through consumption of game from European cervids can be assumed to be minor, if at all existing, no final conclusion can be drawn due to the overall lack of scientific data.
***> In particular the US data do not clearly exclude the possibility of human (sporadic or familial) TSE development due to consumption of venison.
The Working Group thus recognizes a potential risk to consumers if a TSE would be present in European cervids. It might be prudent considering appropriate measures to reduce such a risk, e.g. excluding tissues such as CNS and lymphoid tissues from the human food chain, which would greatly reduce any potential risk for consumers.. However, it is stressed that currently, no data regarding a risk of TSE infections from cervid products are available.
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5132
***> Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease CJD TSE Prion Cases Increasing March 2025
https://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/2025/03/creutzfeldt-jakob-disease-tse-prion.html
***> Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease CJD, BSE, CWD, TSE, Prion, December 14, 2024 Annual Update
https://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/2024/12/creutzfeldt-jacob-disease-cjd-bse-cwd.html
https://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/
Iatrogenic Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy TSE Prion, CWD, our worst nightmare, what if?
https://itseprion.blogspot.com/
So, this is what we leave our children and grandchildren?
CATTLE, SHEEP, PIGS, CERVID, MONKEYS, CWD, TSE, PRION, OH MY!
the U.K. mad cow BSE Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy TSE Prion epidemic, where some 300,000 cattle had BSE, they did NOT “medicate” them with any cure. It was the feed, they stopped feeding the cattle feed with animal products that was infected with a TSE prion. Which reminds me…
Very low oral exposure to prions of brain or saliva origin can transmit chronic wasting disease
Nathaniel D Denkers 1 , Clare E Hoover 2 , Kristen A Davenport 3 , Davin M Henderson 1 , Erin E McNulty 1 , Amy V Nalls 1 , Candace K Mathiason 1 , Edward A Hoover 1
These studies suggest that the CWD minimum infectious dose approximates 100 to 300 ng CWD-positive brain (or saliva equivalent), and that CWD infection appears to conform more with a threshold than a cumulative dose dynamic.
Snip…
Discussion
As CWD expands across North America and Scandinavia, how this disease is transmitted so efficiently remains unclear, given the low concentrations of prions shed in secretions and excretions [13, 14]. The present studies demonstrated that a single oral exposure to as little as 300nmg of CWD-positive brain or equivalent saliva can initiate infection in 100% of exposed white-tailed deer. However, distributing this dose as 10, 30 ng exposures failed to induce infection. Overall, these results suggest that the minimum oral infectious exposure approaches 100 to 300 ng of CWD-positive brain equivalent. These dynamics also invite speculation as to whether potential infection co-factors, such as particle binding [46, 47] or compromises in mucosal integrity may influence infection susceptibility, as suggested from two studies in rodent models [48, 49].
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0237410
PRION 2023 CONTINUED;
https://prion2023.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Meeting-book-final-version2.pdf
Prion 2023 Experimental Oronasal Inoculation of the Chronic Wasting Disease Agent into White Tailed Deer
Aims: The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether white-tailed deer (WTD) are susceptible to inoculation of chronic wasting disease (CWD) via oronasal exposure.
Results: All deer developed characteristic clinical signs of CWD including weight loss, regurgitation, and ataxia…
PRION 2023 CONTINUED;
https://prion2023.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Meeting-book-final-version2.pdf
MAFF PRESS RELEASE BSE TRANSMISSION EXPERITMENT IN PIGS
https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20080102222859mp_/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1990/09/24007001.pdf
Although the current U.S. feed ban is based on keeping tissues from TSE infected cattle from contaminating animal feed, swine rations in the U.S. could contain animal derived components including materials from scrapie infected sheep and goats. These results indicating the susceptibility of pigs to sheep scrapie, coupled with the limitations of the current feed ban, indicates that a revision of the feed ban may be necessary to protect swine production and potentially human health.
2. Determined that pigs naturally exposed to chronic wasting disease (CWD) may act as a reservoir of CWD infectivity. Chronic wasting disease is a naturally occurring, fatal, neurodegenerative disease of cervids. The potential for swine to serve as a host for the agent of CWD disease is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the susceptibility of swine to the CWD agent following experimental oral or intracranial inoculation. Pigs were assigned to 1 of 3 groups: intracranially inoculated; orally inoculated; or non-inoculated. At market weight age, half of the pigs in each group were tested ('market weight' groups). The remaining pigs ('aged' groups) were allowed to incubate for up to 73 months post inoculation (MPI). Tissues collected at necropsy were examined for disease-associated prion protein (PrPSc) by multiple diagnostic methods. Brain samples from selected pigs were bioassayed in mice expressing porcine prion protein. Some pigs from each inoculated group were positive by one or more tests. Bioassay was positive in 4 out of 5 pigs assayed. Although only small amounts of PrPSc were detected using sensitive methods, this study demonstrates that pigs can serve as hosts for CWD. Detection of infectivity in orally inoculated pigs using mouse bioassay raises the possibility that naturally exposed pigs could act as a reservoir of CWD infectivity. Currently, swine rations in the U.S. could contain animal derived components including materials from deer or elk. In addition, feral swine could be exposed to infected carcasses in areas where CWD is present in wildlife populations. The current feed ban in the U.S. is based exclusively on keeping tissues from TSE infected cattle from entering animal feeds. These results indicating the susceptibility of pigs to CWD, coupled with the limitations of the current feed ban, indicates that a revision of the feed ban may be necessary to protect swine production and potentially human health.
https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=353091
https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/project/?accnNo=432011&fy=2017
https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=337105
https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=326166
Transmission of the chronic wasting disease agent from elk to cattle after oronasal exposure
Conclusions: Cattle with the E211K polymorphism are susceptible to the CWD agent after oronasal exposure of 0.2 g of infectious material.
"Cattle with the E211K polymorphism are susceptible to the CWD agent after oronasal exposure of 0.2 g of infectious material."
=====end
Strain characterization of chronic wasting disease in bovine-PrP transgenic mice
Conclusions: Altogether, these results exhibit the diversity of CWD strains present in the panel of CWD isolates and the ability of at least some CWD isolates to infect bovine species. Cattle being one of the most important farming species, this ability represents a potential threat to both animal and human health, and consequently deserves further study.
"Altogether, these results exhibit the diversity of CWD strains present in the panel of CWD isolates and the ability of at least some CWD isolates to infect bovine species. Cattle being one of the most important farming species, this ability represents a potential threat to both animal and human health, and consequently deserves further study."
https://prion2023.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Meeting-book-final-version2.pdf
TRUCKING CWD
“CWD spreads among wild populations at a relatively slow rate, limited by the natural home range and dispersed nature of wild animals.”
NOW HOLD YOUR HORSES, Chronic Wasting Disease CWD of Cervid can spread rather swiftly, traveling around 50 MPH, from the back of truck and trailer, and Here in Texas, we call it ‘Trucking CWD’…
Preventive Veterinary Medicine Volume 234, January 2025, 106385
Use of biosecurity practices to prevent chronic wasting disease in Minnesota cervid herds
Vehicles or trailers that entered the farm were used to transport other live cervids, cervid carcasses, or cervid body parts in past 3 years in 64.3 % (95 % CI 46.3–82.3) of larger elk/reindeer herds compared to 13.6 % (95 % CI 4.7–22.4) of smaller deer herds.
Snip…
Identifying the exact pathway of initial CWD transmission to cervid herds is often not possible, in part due to many potential pathways of transmission for the infection, including both direct and indirect contact with infected farmed or wild cervids (Kincheloe et al., 2021). That study identified that transmissions from infected farmed cervids may occur from direct contact with the movement of cervids from one herd to another and from indirect contact with the sharing of equipment, vehicles, clothing, reproductive equipment, and potentially through semen or embryos.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016758772400271X
***> Department records indicate that within the last five years (since January 1, 2020), 30 deer breeding facilities where CWD has been confirmed transferred a total of 8,799 deer to 249 additional deer breeding facilities and 487 release sites located in a total of 144 counties in Texas. <***
https://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/pdf/backview/0411/0411adop.pdf
Texas Kimble County Farm Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion Approximate Herd Prevalence 12%
SUMMARY MINUTES OF THE 407th COMMISSION MEETING Texas Animal Health Commission
September 22, 2020
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD):
A new CWD positive breeding herd was disclosed in February 2020 in Kimble County. This herd depopulation was completed in July 2020. Including the two index positive deer, an additional eight more positive deer were disclosed (approximate herd prevalence 12%). Since July 2015 and prior to this discovery, five positive captive breeder herds have been disclosed and four of those are in Medina County. One herd in Lavaca and three herds in Medina County were depopulated leaving one large herd in Medina County that is managed on a herd plan. A new zone was established in Val Verde County in December 2019 as a result of a positive free-ranging White-tailed Deer (WTD). A second positive WTD was also disclosed in February 2020 in the same area.
SUMMARY MINUTES OF THE 407th COMMISSION MEETING – 9/22/2020
Scrapie: The flock identified in April 2016 remains under quarantine in Hartley County.
https://www.tahc.texas.gov/agency/meetings/minutes/SummaryMinutes_CommMtg_2020-09-22
http://web.archive.org/web/20201017124040/https://www.tahc.texas.gov/agency/meetings/minutes/SummaryMinutes_CommMtg_2020-09-22.pdf
Texas CWD Update May 2025
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2025
Texas CWD TSE Prion Cases Rises to 1099 Confirmed Cases To Date
Entries CWD Positives
Positive Number CWD Positive Confirmation Date Free Range Captive County Source Species Sex Age
regular venison eating associated with a 9 FOLD INCREASE IN RISK OF CJD
Subject: Re: DEER SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY SURVEY & HOUND STUDY
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 23:12:22 +0100
From: Steve Dealler
Reply-To: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Organization: Netscape Online member
To: BSE-L@ …
######## Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy <BSE-L@UNI-KARLSRUHE.DE> #########
Dear Terry,
An excellent piece of review as this literature is desparately difficult to get back from Government sites.
What happened with the deer was that an association between deer meat eating and sporadic CJD was found in about 1993. The evidence was not great but did not disappear after several years of asking CJD cases what they had eaten. I think that the work into deer disease largely stopped because it was not helpful to the UK industry...and no specific cases were reported.
Well, if you dont look adequately like they are in USA currenly then you wont find any!
Steve Dealler
########### http://mailhost.rz.uni-karlsruhe.de/warc/bse-l.html ############
Subject: DEER SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY SURVEY & HOUND STUDY
From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr." <flounder@WT.NET>
Reply To: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy <BSE-L@UNI-KARLSRUHE.DE>
Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 17:04:51 -0700
snip...
''The association between venison eating and risk of CJD shows similar pattern, with regular venison eating associated with a 9 FOLD INCREASE IN RISK OF CJD (p = 0.04).''
CREUTZFELDT JAKOB DISEASE SURVEILLANCE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM THIRD ANNUAL REPORT AUGUST 1994
Consumption of venison and veal was much less widespread among both cases and controls. For both of these meats there was evidence of a trend with increasing frequency of consumption being associated with increasing risk of CJD. (not nvCJD, but sporadic CJD...tss) These associations were largely unchanged when attention was restricted to pairs with data obtained from relatives. ...
Table 9 presents the results of an analysis of these data.
There is STRONG evidence of an association between ‘’regular’’ veal eating and risk of CJD (p = .0.01).
Individuals reported to eat veal on average at least once a year appear to be at 13 TIMES THE RISK of individuals who have never eaten veal.
There is, however, a very wide confidence interval around this estimate. There is no strong evidence that eating veal less than once per year is associated with increased risk of CJD (p = 0.51).
The association between venison eating and risk of CJD shows similar pattern, with regular venison eating associated with a 9 FOLD INCREASE IN RISK OF CJD (p = 0.04).
There is some evidence that risk of CJD INCREASES WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY OF LAMB EATING (p = 0.02).
The evidence for such an association between beef eating and CJD is weaker (p = 0.14). When only controls for whom a relative was interviewed are included, this evidence becomes a little STRONGER (p = 0.08).
snip...
It was found that when veal was included in the model with another exposure, the association between veal and CJD remained statistically significant (p = < 0.05 for all exposures), while the other exposures ceased to be statistically significant (p = > 0.05).
snip...
In conclusion, an analysis of dietary histories revealed statistical associations between various meats/animal products and INCREASED RISK OF CJD. When some account was taken of possible confounding, the association between VEAL EATING AND RISK OF CJD EMERGED AS THE STRONGEST OF THESE ASSOCIATIONS STATISTICALLY. ...
snip...
In the study in the USA, a range of foodstuffs were associated with an increased risk of CJD, including liver consumption which was associated with an apparent SIX-FOLD INCREASE IN THE RISK OF CJD. By comparing the data from 3 studies in relation to this particular dietary factor, the risk of liver consumption became non-significant with an odds ratio of 1.2 (PERSONAL COMMUNICATION, PROFESSOR A. HOFMAN. ERASMUS UNIVERSITY, ROTTERDAM). (???...TSS)
snip...see full report ;
http://web.archive.org/web/20090506050043/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1994/08/00004001.pdf
http://web.archive.org/web/20090506050007/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1994/10/00003001.pdf
http://web.archive.org/web/20090506050244/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1994/07/00001001.pdf
Stephen Dealler is a consultant medical microbiologist deal@airtime.co.uk
BSE Inquiry Steve Dealler
Management In Confidence
BSE: Private Submission of Bovine Brain Dealler
snip...end
########### http://mailhost.rz.uni-karlsruhe.de/warc/bse-l.html ############
BSE INQUIRY
CJD9/10022
October 1994
Mr R.N. Elmhirst Chairman British Deer Farmers Association Holly Lodge Spencers Lane
BerksWell Coventry CV7 7BZ
Dear Mr Elmhirst,
CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE (CJD) SURVEILLANCE UNIT REPORT
Thank you for your recent letter concerning the publication of the third annual report from the CJD Surveillance Unit. I am sorry that you are dissatisfied with the way in which this report was published.
The Surveillance Unit is a completely independant outside body and the Department of Health is committed to publishing their reports as soon as they become available. In the circumstances it is not the practice to circulate the report for comment since the findings of the report would not be amended.. In future we can ensure that the British Deer Farmers Association receives a copy of the report in advance of publication.
The Chief Medical Officer has undertaken to keep the public fully informed of the results of any research in respect of CJD. This report was entirely the work of the unit and was produced completely independantly of the the Department.
The statistical results reqarding the consumption of venison was put into perspective in the body of the report and was not mentioned at all in the press release. Media attention regarding this report was low key but gave a realistic presentation of the statistical findings of the Unit. This approach to publication was successful in that consumption of venison was highlighted only once by the media ie. in the News at one television proqramme.
I believe that a further statement about the report, or indeed statistical links between CJD and consumption of venison, would increase, and quite possibly give damaging credence, to the whole issue. From the low key media reports of which I am aware it seems unlikely that venison consumption will suffer adversely, if at all.
http://web.archive.org/web/20030511010117/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1994/10/00003001.pdf
TSE in wild UK deer? The first case of BSE (as we now realise) was in a nyala in London zoo and the further zoo cases in ungulates were simply thought of as being interesting transmissions of scrapie initially. The big problem started to appear with animals in 1993-5 when it became clear that there was an increase in the CJD cases in people that had eaten deer although the statistics involved must have been questionable. The reason for this was that the CJD Surveillance was well funded to look into the diet of people dying of CJD. This effect is not clear with vCJD...if only because the numbers involved are much smaller and hence it is difficult to gain enough statistics. They found that many other foods did not appear to have much association at all but that deer certainly did and as years went by the association actually became clearer. The appearance of vCJD in 1996 made all this much more difficult in that it was suddenly clearer that the cases of sporadic CJD that they had been checking up until then probably had nothing to do with beef...and the study decreased. During the period there was an increasing worry that deer were involved with CJD..
see references:
DEER BRAIN SURVEY
https://web.archive.org/web/20090506025229/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1991/11/20004001.pdf
CONFIDENTIAL AND IN CONFIDENCE TRANSMISSION TO CHIMPANZEES AND PIGS
IN CONFIDENCE
TRANSMISSION TO CHIMPANZEES
Kuru and CJD have been successfully transmitted to chimpanzees but scrapie and TME have not.
We cannot say that scrapie will not transmit to chimpanzees. There are several scrapie strains and I am not aware that all have been tried (that would have to be from mouse passaged material). Nor has a wide enough range of field isolates subsequently strain typed in mice been inoculated by the appropriate routes (i/c, i/p and i/v).
I believe the proposed experiment to determine transmissibility, if conducted, would only show the susceptibility or resistance of the chimpanzee to infection/disease by the routes used and the result could not be interpreted for the predictability of the susceptibility for man. proposals for prolonged oral exposure of chimpanzees to milk from cattle were suggested a long while ago and rejected.
In view of Dr Gibbs' probable use of chimpazees Mr Wells' comments (enclosed) are pertinent. I have yet to receive a direct communication from Dr Schellekers but before any collaboration or provision of material we should identify the Gibbs' proposals and objectives.
A positive result from a chimpanzee challenged severely would likely create alarm in some circles even if the result could not be interpreted for man. I have a view that all these agents could be transmitted provided a large enough dose by appropriate routes was given and the animals kept long enough. Until the mechanisms of the species barrier are more clearly understood it might be best to retain that hypothesis.
A negative result would take a lifetime to determine but that would be a shorter period than might be available for human exposure and it would still not answer the question regarding mans ‘susceptibility. In the meantime no doubt the negativity would be used defensively. It would however be counterproductive if the experiment finally became positive. We may learn more about public reactions following next Monday's meeting.
R Bradley
CVO (+ Mr Wells’ commenters 23 September 1990 Dr T W A Little Dr B J Shreeve
90/9.23/1.1
https://web.archive.org/web/20090506041740/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1990/09/23001001.pdf
*** now, let’s see what the authors said about this casual link, personal communications years ago, and then the latest on the zoonotic potential from CWD to humans from the TOKYO PRION 2016 CONFERENCE.
see where it is stated NO STRONG evidence. so, does this mean there IS casual evidence ????
“Our conclusion stating that we found no strong evidence of CWD transmission to humans”
From: TSS Subject: CWD aka MAD DEER/ELK TO HUMANS ???
Date: September 30, 2002 at 7:06 am PST
From: "Belay, Ermias"
To: Cc: "Race, Richard (NIH)" ; ; "Belay, Ermias"
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 9:22 AM
Subject: RE: TO CDC AND NIH - PUB MED- 3 MORE DEATHS - CWD - YOUNG HUNTERS
Dear Sir/Madam, In the Archives of Neurology you quoted (the abstract of which was attached to your email), we did not say CWD in humans will present like variant CJD.. That assumption would be wrong. I encourage you to read the whole article and call me if you have questions or need more clarification (phone: 404-639-3091).
Also, we do not claim that "no-one has ever been infected with prion disease from eating venison." Our conclusion stating that we found no strong evidence of CWD transmission to humans in the article you quoted or in any other forum is limited to the patients we investigated.
Ermias Belay, M.D. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
-----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
Thursday, April 03, 2008
A prion disease of cervids: Chronic wasting disease 2008 1: Vet Res. 2008 Apr 3;39(4):41 A prion disease of cervids: Chronic wasting disease Sigurdson CJ.
snip... *** twenty-seven CJD patients who regularly consumed venison were reported to the Surveillance Center***,
snip... full text ;
http://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2008/04/prion-disease-of-cervids-chronic.html
However, to date, no CWD infections have been reported in people.
sporadic, spontaneous CJD, 85%+ of all human TSE, did not just happen. never in scientific literature has this been proven. if one looks up the word sporadic or spontaneous at pubmed, you will get a laundry list of disease that are classified in such a way;
sporadic = 54,983 hits
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=sporadic
spontaneous = 325,650 hits
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=spontaneous
key word here is 'reported'. science has shown that CWD in humans will look like sporadic CJD.
SO, how can one assume that CWD has not already transmitted to humans? they can't, and it's as simple as that. from all recorded science to date, CWD has already transmitted to humans, and it's being misdiagnosed as sporadic CJD. ...terry
*** LOOKING FOR CWD IN HUMANS AS nvCJD or as an ATYPICAL CJD, LOOKING IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES $$$ ***
However, to date, no CWD infections have been reported in people. key word here is ‘reported’. science has shown that CWD in humans will look like sporadic CJD. SO, how can one assume that CWD has not already transmitted to humans? they can’t, and it’s as simple as that. from all recorded science to date, CWD has already transmitted to humans, and it’s being misdiagnosed as sporadic CJD. …terry
*** LOOKING FOR CWD IN HUMANS AS nvCJD or as an ATYPICAL CJD, LOOKING IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES $$$ ***
*** These results would seem to suggest that CWD does indeed have zoonotic potential, at least as judged by the compatibility of CWD prions and their human PrPC target. Furthermore, extrapolation from this simple in vitro assay suggests that if zoonotic CWD occurred, it would most likely effect those of the PRNP codon 129-MM genotype and that the PrPres type would be similar to that found in the most common subtype of sCJD (MM1).***
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.4161/pri.28124?src=recsys
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.4161/pri.28124?needAccess=true
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/20/1/13-0858_article
So, this is what we leave our children and grandchildren?
CDC CWD TSE Prion Update 2025
KEY POINTS
Chronic wasting disease affects deer, elk and similar animals in the United States and a few other countries.
The disease hasn't been shown to infect people.
However, it might be a risk to people if they have contact with or eat meat from animals infected with CWD.
https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-wasting/about/index.html
Volume 31, Number 4—April 2025
Research
Detection and Decontamination of Chronic Wasting Disease Prions during Venison Processing
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/4/24-1176_article
Prions in Muscles of Cervids with Chronic Wasting Disease, Norway
Volume 31, Number 2—February 2025
Research
Prions in Muscles of Cervids with Chronic Wasting Disease, Norway
Snip…
In summary, the results of our study indicate that prions are widely distributed in peripheral and edible tissues of cervids in Norway, including muscles. This finding highlights the risk of human exposure to small amounts of prions through handling and consuming infected cervids. Nevertheless, we note that this study did not investigate the zoonotic potential of the Norway CWD prions. In North America, humans have historically consumed meat from CWD-infected animals, which has been documented to harbor prions (35,44–47). Despite the potential exposure to prions, no epidemiologic evidence indicates a correlation between the occurrence of CWD cases in animals and the prevalence of human prion diseases (48). A recent bioassay study reported no transmissions from 3 Nordic isolates into transgenic mice expressing human PrP (49). Therefore, our findings should be interpreted with caution in terms of human health implications, and further research is required to determine the zoonotic potential of these CWD strains.
The presence of prions in peripheral tissues indicates that CWD may have a systemic nature in all Norwegian cervid species, challenging the view that prions are exclusively localized in the CNS in sporadic CWD of moose and red deer. Our findings expand the notion of just how widely distributed prions can be in cervids affected with CWD and call into question the capability of emerging CWD strains in terms of infectivity to other species, including humans.
Appendix
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/2/24-0903-app1.pdf
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/2/24-0903_article
Volume 31, Number 2—February 2025
Dispatch
Detection of Chronic Wasting Disease Prions in Raw, Processed, and Cooked Elk Meat, Texas, USA
Rebeca Benavente, Fraser Brydon, Francisca Bravo-Risi, Paulina Soto, J. Hunter Reed, Mitch Lockwood, Glenn Telling, Marcelo A. Barria, and Rodrigo MoralesComments to Author
Snip…
CWD prions have been detected in the muscle of both farmed and wild deer (10), and at concentrations relevant to sustain disease transmission (11). CWD prions have also been identified across several cervid species and in multiple tissues, including lymph nodes, spleen, tongue, intestines, adrenal gland, eyes, reproductive tissues, ears, lungs, and liver, among others (12–14). Those findings raise concerns about the safety of ingesting processed meats that contain tissues other than skeletal muscle (15) (Appendix). https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/2/24-0906-app1.pdf .
In addition, those findings highlight the need for continued vigilance and research on the transmission risks of prion diseases and for development of new preventative and detection measures to ensure the safety of the human food supply.
Snip…
Overall, our study results confirm previous reports describing the presence of CWD prions in elk muscles (13). The data also demonstrated CWD prion persistence in food products even after processing through different procedures, including the addition of salts, spices, and other edible elements. Of note, our data show that exposure to high temperatures used to cook the meat increased the availability of prions for in vitro amplification. Considering the potential implications in food safety and public health, we believe that the findings described in this study warrant further research. Our results suggest that although the elk meat used in this study resisted different manipulations involved in subsequent consumption by humans, their zoonotic potential was limited. Nevertheless, even though no cases of CWD transmission to human have been reported, the potential for human infection is still unclear and continued monitoring for zoonotic potential is warranted.
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/2/24-0906_article
Volume 31, Number 1—January 2025
Dispatch
Detection of Prions in Wild Pigs (Sus scrofa) from Areas with Reported Chronic Wasting Disease Cases, United States
Abstract
Using a prion amplification assay, we identified prions in tissues from wild pigs (Sus scrofa) living in areas of the United States with variable chronic wasting disease (CWD) epidemiology. Our findings indicate that scavenging swine could play a role in disseminating CWD and could therefore influence its epidemiology, geographic distribution, and interspecies spread.
Snip…
Conclusions In summary, results from this study showed that wild pigs are exposed to cervid prions, although the pigs seem to display some resistance to infection via natural exposure. Future studies should address the susceptibility of this invasive animal species to the multiple prion strains circulating in the environment. Nonetheless, identification of CWD prions in wild pig tissues indicated the potential for pigs to move prions across the landscape, which may, in turn, influence the epidemiology and geographic spread of CWD.
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/%2031/1/24-0401_article
Detection of chronic wasting disease prions in processed meats
Rebeca Benavente1 , Francisca Bravo1,2, J. Hunter Reed3 , Mitch Lockwood3 , Glenn Telling4 , Rodrigo Morales1,2 1 Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Texas, USA; 2 Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins. Santiago, Chile; 3 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas, USA. 4 Prion Research Center, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Aims: identify the presence of CWD prions in processed meats derived from elk.
Materials and Methods: In this study, we analyzed different processed meats derived from a CWD-positive (pre-clinical) free-ranging elk. Products tested included filets, sausages, boneless steaks, burgers, seasoned chili meats, and spiced meats. The presence of CWD-prions in these samples were assessed by PMCA using deer and elk substrates. The same analyses were performed in grilled and boiled meats to evaluate the resistance of the infectious agent to these procedures.
Results: Our results show positive prion detection in all the samples analyzed using deer and elk substrates. Surprisingly, cooked meats displayed increased seeding activities. This data suggests that CWD-prions are available to people even after meats are processed and cooked.
Conclusions: These results suggest CWD prions are accessible to humans through meats, even after processing and cooking. Considering the fact that these samples were collected from already processed specimens, the availability of CWD prions to humans is probably underestimated.
Funded by: NIH and USDA
Grant number: 1R01AI132695 and APP-20115 to RM
Acknowledgement: We would like to thank TPWD personnel for providing us with valuable samples
"Our results show positive prion detection in all the samples analyzed using deer and elk substrates. Surprisingly, cooked meats displayed increased seeding activities."
end...
PRION 2023 CONTINUED;
https://prion2023.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Meeting-book-final-version2.pdf
The detection and decontamination of chronic wasting disease prions during venison processing
Aims: There is a growing concern that chronic wasting disease (CWD) prions in venison pose a risk to human health. CWD prions accumulate in infected deer tissues that commonly enter the human food chain through meat processing and consumption. The United States (US) Food and Drug Administration and US Department of Agriculture now formally consider CWD-positive venison unfit for human and animal consumption. Yet, the degree to which prion contamination occurs during routine venison processing is unknown. Here, we use environmental surface swab methods to:
a) experimentally test meat processing equipment (i.e., stainless steel knives and polyethylene cutting boards) before and after processing CWD-positive venison and
b) test the efficacy of five different disinfectant types (i.e., Dawn dish soap, Virkon-S, Briotech, 10% bleach, and 40% bleach) to determine prion decontamination efficacy.
Materials and Methods: We used a real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assay to determine CWD infection status of venison and to detect CWD prions in the swabs. We collected three swabs per surface and ran eight technical replicates on RT-QuIC.
Results: CWD prions were detected on all cutting boards (n= 3; replicates= 8/8, 8/8, 8/8 and knives (n= 3; replicates= 8/8, 8/8, 8/8) used in processing CWD-positive venison, but not on those used for CWD-negative venison. After processing CWD-positive venison, allowing the surfaces to dry, and washing the cutting board with Dawn dish soap, we detected CWD prions on the cutting board surface (n= 3; replicates= 8/8, 8/8, 8/8) but not on the knife (n= 3, replicates = 0/8, 0/8, 0/8). Similar patterns were observed with Briotech (cutting board: n= 3; replicates= 7/8, 1/8, 0/8; knife: n= 3; replicates = 0/8, 0/8, 0/8). We did not detect CWD prions on the knives or cutting boards after disinfecting with Virkon-S, 10% bleach, and 40% bleach.
Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest that Dawn dish soap and Briotech do not reliably decontaminate CWD prions from these surfaces. Our data suggest that Virkon-S and various bleach concentrations are more effective in reducing prion contamination of meat processing surfaces; however, surface type may also influence the ability of prions to adsorb to surfaces, preventing complete decontamination. Our results will directly inform best practices to prevent the introduction of CWD prions into the human food chain during venison processing.
Prion 2023 Abstracts
https://prion2023.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Meeting-book-final-version2.pdf
DETECTION OF CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE PRIONS IN PROCESSED MEATS.
Abstract
The zoonotic potential of chronic wasting disease (CWD) remains unknown. Currently, there are no known natural cases of CWD transmission to humans but increasing evidence suggests that the host range of CWD is not confined only to cervid species. Alarmingly, recent experimental evidence suggests that certain CWD isolates can induce disease in non-human primates. While the CDC strongly recommends determining CWD status in animals prior to consumption, this practice is voluntary. Consequently, it is plausible that a proportion of the cervid meat entering the human food chain may be contaminated with CWD. Of additional concern is that traditional diagnostic techniques used to detect CWD have relatively low sensitivity and are only approved for use in tissues other than those typically ingested by humans. In this study, we analyzed different processed meats derived from a pre-clinical, CWD-positive free-ranging elk. Products tested included filets, sausages, boneless steaks, burgers, ham steaks, seasoned chili meats, and spiced meats. CWD-prion presence in these products were assessed by PMCA using deer and elk substrates. Our results show positive prion detection in all products. To confirm the resilience of CWD-prions to traditional cooking methods, we grilled and boiled the meat products and evaluated them for any remnant PMCA seeding activity. Results confirmed the presence of CWD-prions in these meat products suggesting that infectious particles may still be available to people even after cooking. Our results strongly suggest ongoing human exposure to CWD-prions and raise significant concerns of zoonotic transmission through ingestion of CWD contaminated meat products.
***> Products tested included filets, sausages, boneless steaks, burgers, ham steaks, seasoned chili meats, and spiced meats.
***> CWD-prion presence in these products were assessed by PMCA using deer and elk substrates.
***> Our results show positive prion detection in all products.
***> Results confirmed the presence of CWD-prions in these meat products suggesting that infectious particles may still be available to people even after cooking.
***> Our results strongly suggest ongoing human exposure to CWD-prions and raise significant concerns of zoonotic transmission through ingestion of CWD contaminated meat products.
https://intcwdsympo.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/final-agenda-with-abstracts.pdf?force_download=true
Transmission of prion infectivity from CWD-infected macaque tissues to rodent models demonstrates the zoonotic potential of chronic wasting disease.
Samia Hannaoui1,2, Ginny Cheng1,2, Wiebke Wemheuer3, Walter Schulz-Schaeffer3, Sabine Gilch1,2, Hermann Schatzl1,2 1University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. 2Calgary Prion Research Unit, Calgary, Canada. 3Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
Snip…
***> Further passage to cervidized mice revealed transmission with a 100% attack rate.
***> Our findings demonstrate that macaques, considered the best model for the zoonotic potential of prions, were infected upon CWD challenge, including the oral one.
****> The disease manifested as atypical in macaques and initial transgenic mouse transmissions, but with infectivity present at all times, as unveiled in the bank vole model with an unusual tissue tropism.
***> Epidemiologic surveillance of prion disease among cervid hunters and people likely to have consumed venison contaminated with chronic wasting disease
=====
https://intcwdsympo.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/final-agenda-with-abstracts.pdf?force_download=true
Transmission of Cervid Prions to Humanized Mice Demonstrates the Zoonotic Potential of CWD
Samia Hannaouia, Irina Zemlyankinaa, Sheng Chun Changa, Maria Immaculata Arifina, Vincent Béringueb, Debbie McKenziec, Hermann M. Schatzla, and Sabine Gilcha
Results: Here, we provide the strongest evidence supporting the zoonotic potential of CWD prions, and their possible phenotype in humans. Inoculation of mice expressing human PrPCwith deer CWD isolates (strains Wisc-1 and 116AG) resulted in atypical clinical manifestations in > 75% of the mice, with myoclonus as leading clinical sign. Most of tg650brain homogenates were positive for seeding activity in RT-QuIC. Clinical disease and presentation was transmissible to tg650 mice and bank voles. Intriguingly, protease-resistant PrP in the brain of tg650 mice resembled that found in a familial human prion disease and was transmissible upon passage. Abnormal PrP aggregates upon infection with Wisc-1 were detectable in thalamus, hypothalamus, and midbrain/pons regions.
Unprecedented in human prion disease, feces of CWD-inoculated tg650 mice harbored prion seeding activity and infectious prions, as shown by inoculation of bank voles and tg650 with fecal homogenates.
Conclusions: This is the first evidence that CWD can infect humans and cause disease with a distinctive clinical presentation, signature, and tropism, which might be transmissible between humans while current diagnostic assays might fail to detect it. These findings have major implications for public health and CWD-management.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19336896.2022.2091286
The finding that infectious PrPSc was shed in fecal material of CWD-infected humanized mice and induced clinical disease, different tropism, and typical three banding pattern-PrPres in bank voles that is transmissible upon second passage is highly concerning for public health. The fact that this biochemical signature in bank voles resembles that of the Wisc-1 original deer isolate and is different from that of bvWisc-1, in the migration profile and the glyco-form-ratio, is valid evidence that these results are not a product of contamination in our study. If CWD in humans is found to be contagious and transmissible among humans, as it is in cervids [57], the spread of the disease within humans might become endemic.
Transmission of cervid prions to humanized mice demonstrates the zoonotic potential of CWD
Acta Neuropathol 144, 767–784 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-022-02482-9
Published
22 August 2022
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00401-022-02482-9
Fortuitous generation of a zoonotic cervid prion strain
Aims: Whether CWD prions can infect humans remains unclear despite the very substantial scale and long history of human exposure of CWD in many states or provinces of USA and Canada. Multiple in vitro conversion experiments and in vivo animal studies indicate that the CWD-to-human transmission barrier is not unbreakable. A major long-term public health concern on CWD zoonosis is the emergence of highly zoonotic CWD strains. We aim to address the question of whether highly zoonotic CWD strains are possible.
Materials and Methods: We inoculated several sCJD brain samples into cervidized transgenic mice (Tg12), which were intended as negative controls for bioassays of brain tissues from sCJD cases who had potentially been exposed to CWD. Some of the Tg12 mice became infected and their brain tissues were further examined by Western blot as well as serial passages in humanized or cervidized mice.
Results: Passage of sCJDMM1 in transgenic mice expressing elk PrP (Tg12) resulted in a “cervidized” CJD strain that we termed CJDElkPrP. We observed 100% transmission of the original CJDElkPrP in transgenic mice expressing human PrP. We passaged CJDElkPrP two more times in the Tg12 mice. We found that such second and third passage CJDElkPrP prions retained 100% transmission rate in the humanized mice, despite that the natural elk CWD isolates and CJDElkPrP share the same elk PrP sequence. In contrast, we and others found zero or poor transmission of natural elk CWD isolates in humanized mice.
Conclusions: Our data indicate that highly zoonotic cervid prion strains are not only possible but also can retain zoonotic potential after serial passages in cervids, suggesting a very significant and serious long-term risk of CWD zoonosis given that the broad and continuing spread of CWD prions will provide fertile grounds for the emergence of zoonotic CWD strains over time.
https://prion2023.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Meeting-book-final-version2.pdf
The finding that infectious PrPSc was shed in fecal material of CWD-infected humanized mice and induced clinical disease, different tropism, and typical three banding pattern-PrPres in bank voles that is transmissible upon second passage is highly concerning for public health. The fact that this biochemical signature in bank voles resembles that of the Wisc-1 original deer isolate and is different from that of bvWisc-1, in the migration profile and the glyco-form-ratio, is valid evidence that these results are not a product of contamination in our study. If CWD in humans is found to be contagious and transmissible among humans, as it is in cervids [57], the spread of the disease within humans might become endemic.
Transmission of cervid prions to humanized mice demonstrates the zoonotic potential of CWD
Acta Neuropathol 144, 767–784 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-022-02482-9
Published
22 August 2022
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00401-022-02482-9
Transmission of cervid prions to humanized mice demonstrates the zoonotic potential of CWD
Samia Hannaoui1 · Irina Zemlyankina1 · Sheng Chun Chang1 · Maria Immaculata Arifn1 · Vincent Béringue2 · Debbie McKenzie3 · Hermann M. Schatzl1 · Sabine Gilch1
Received: 24 May 2022 / Revised: 5 August 2022 / Accepted: 7 August 2022
© The Author(s) 2022
Abstract
Prions cause infectious and fatal neurodegenerative diseases in mammals. Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a prion disease of cervids, spreads efficiently among wild and farmed animals. Potential transmission to humans of CWD is a growing concern due to its increasing prevalence. Here, we provide evidence for a zoonotic potential of CWD prions, and its probable signature using mice expressing human prion protein (PrP) as an infection model. Inoculation of these mice with deer CWD isolates resulted in atypical clinical manifestation with prion seeding activity and efficient transmissible infectivity in the brain and, remarkably, in feces, but without classical neuropathological or Western blot appearances of prion diseases. Intriguingly, the protease-resistant PrP in the brain resembled that found in a familial human prion disease and was transmissible upon second passage. Our results suggest that CWD might infect humans, although the transmission barrier is likely higher compared to zoonotic transmission of cattle prions. Notably, our data suggest a different clinical presentation, prion signature, and tissue tropism, which causes challenges for detection by current diagnostic assays. Furthermore, the presence of infectious prions in feces is concerning because if this occurs in humans, it is a source for human-to-human transmission. These findings have strong implications for public health and CWD management.
Keywords Chronic wasting disease · CWD · Zoonotic potential · Prion strains · Zoonotic prions
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS STUDY
================================
Our results suggest that CWD might infect humans, although the transmission barrier is likely higher compared to zoonotic transmission of cattle prions. Notably, our data suggest a different clinical presentation, prion signature, and tissue tropism, which causes challenges for detection by current diagnostic assays. Furthermore, the presence of infectious prions in feces is concerning because if this occurs in humans, it is a source for human-to-human transmission. These findings have strong implications for public health and CWD management.
In this study, we evaluated the zoonotic potential of CWD using a transgenic mouse model overexpressing human M129-PrPC (tg650 [12]). We inoculated tg650 mice intracerebrally with two deer CWD isolates, Wisc-1 and 116AG [22, 23, 27, 29]. We demonstrate that this transgenic line was susceptible to infection with CWD prions and displayed a distinct leading clinical sign, an atypical PrPSc signature and unusual fecal shedding of infectious prions. Importantly, these prions generated by the human PrP transgenic mice were transmissible upon passage. Our results are the first evidence of a zoonotic risk of CWD when using one of the most common CWD strains, Wisc-1/CWD1 for infection. We demonstrated in a human transgenic mouse model that the species barrier for transmission of CWD to humans is not absolute. The fact that its signature was not typical raises the questions whether CWD would manifest in humans as a subclinical infection, whether it would arise through direct or indirect transmission including an intermediate host, or a silent to uncovered human-to-human transmission, and whether current detection techniques will be suffcient to unveil its presence.
Our findings strongly suggest that CWD should be regarded as an actual public health risk. Here, we use humanized mice to show that CWD prions can cross the species barrier to humans, and remarkably, infectious prions can be excreted in feces.
Our results indicate that if CWD crosses the species-barrier to humans, it is unlikely to resemble the most common forms of human prion diseases with respect to clinical signs, tissue tropism and PrPSc signature. For instance, PrPSc in variable protease-sensitive prionopathy (VPSPr), a sporadic form of human prion disease, and in the genetic form Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS) is defined by an atypical PK-resistant PrPSc fragment that is non-glycosylated and truncated at both C- and N-termini, with a molecular weight between 6 and 8 kDa [24, 44–46]. These biochemical features are unique and distinctive from PrPSc (PrP27-30) found in most other human or animal prion disease. The atypical PrPSc signature detected in brain homogenate of tg650 mice #321 (1st passage) and #3063 (2nd passage), and the 7–8 kDa fragment (Figs. 2, 4) are very similar to that of GSS, both in terms of migration profile and the N-terminal cleavage site.
CWD in humans might remain subclinical but with PrPSc deposits in the brain with an unusual morphology that does not resemble the patterns usually seen in different prion diseases (e.g., mouse #328; Fig. 3), clinical with untraceable abnormal PrP (e.g., mouse #327) but still transmissible and uncovered upon subsequent passage (e.g., mouse #3063; Fig. 4), or prions have other reservoirs than the usual ones, hence the presence of infectivity in feces (e.g., mouse #327) suggesting a potential for human-to-human transmission and a real iatrogenic risk that might be unrecognizable.
“suggesting a potential for human-to-human transmission and a real iatrogenic risk that might be unrecognizable.”
=================================
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-022-02482-9
snip...see full text;
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00401-022-02482-9
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00401-022-02482-9.pdf
EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) Antonia Ricci Ana Allende Declan Bolton Marianne Chemaly Robert Davies Pablo Salvador Fernández Escámez ...
First published: 17 January 2018 https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5132
also, see;
8. Even though human TSE‐exposure risk through consumption of game from European cervids can be assumed to be minor, if at all existing, no final conclusion can be drawn due to the overall lack of scientific data.
***> In particular the US data do not clearly exclude the possibility of human (sporadic or familial) TSE development due to consumption of venison.
The Working Group thus recognizes a potential risk to consumers if a TSE would be present in European cervids. It might be prudent considering appropriate measures to reduce such a risk, e.g. excluding tissues such as CNS and lymphoid tissues from the human food chain, which would greatly reduce any potential risk for consumers.. However, it is stressed that currently, no data regarding a risk of TSE infections from cervid products are available.
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5132
***> Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease CJD TSE Prion Cases Increasing March 2025
https://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/2025/03/creutzfeldt-jakob-disease-tse-prion.html
***> Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease CJD, BSE, CWD, TSE, Prion, December 14, 2024 Annual Update
https://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/2024/12/creutzfeldt-jacob-disease-cjd-bse-cwd.html
https://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/
Iatrogenic Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy TSE Prion, CWD, our worst nightmare, what if?
https://itseprion.blogspot.com/
So, this is what we leave our children and grandchildren?
CATTLE, SHEEP, PIGS, CERVID, MONKEYS, CWD, TSE, PRION, OH MY!
the U.K. mad cow BSE Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy TSE Prion epidemic, where some 300,000 cattle had BSE, they did NOT “medicate” them with any cure. It was the feed, they stopped feeding the cattle feed with animal products that was infected with a TSE prion. Which reminds me…
Very low oral exposure to prions of brain or saliva origin can transmit chronic wasting disease
Nathaniel D Denkers 1 , Clare E Hoover 2 , Kristen A Davenport 3 , Davin M Henderson 1 , Erin E McNulty 1 , Amy V Nalls 1 , Candace K Mathiason 1 , Edward A Hoover 1
These studies suggest that the CWD minimum infectious dose approximates 100 to 300 ng CWD-positive brain (or saliva equivalent), and that CWD infection appears to conform more with a threshold than a cumulative dose dynamic.
Snip…
Discussion
As CWD expands across North America and Scandinavia, how this disease is transmitted so efficiently remains unclear, given the low concentrations of prions shed in secretions and excretions [13, 14]. The present studies demonstrated that a single oral exposure to as little as 300nmg of CWD-positive brain or equivalent saliva can initiate infection in 100% of exposed white-tailed deer. However, distributing this dose as 10, 30 ng exposures failed to induce infection. Overall, these results suggest that the minimum oral infectious exposure approaches 100 to 300 ng of CWD-positive brain equivalent. These dynamics also invite speculation as to whether potential infection co-factors, such as particle binding [46, 47] or compromises in mucosal integrity may influence infection susceptibility, as suggested from two studies in rodent models [48, 49].
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0237410
PRION 2023 CONTINUED;
https://prion2023.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Meeting-book-final-version2.pdf
Prion 2023 Experimental Oronasal Inoculation of the Chronic Wasting Disease Agent into White Tailed Deer
Aims: The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether white-tailed deer (WTD) are susceptible to inoculation of chronic wasting disease (CWD) via oronasal exposure.
Results: All deer developed characteristic clinical signs of CWD including weight loss, regurgitation, and ataxia…
PRION 2023 CONTINUED;
https://prion2023.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Meeting-book-final-version2.pdf
MAFF PRESS RELEASE BSE TRANSMISSION EXPERITMENT IN PIGS
https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20080102222859mp_/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1990/09/24007001.pdf
Although the current U.S. feed ban is based on keeping tissues from TSE infected cattle from contaminating animal feed, swine rations in the U.S. could contain animal derived components including materials from scrapie infected sheep and goats. These results indicating the susceptibility of pigs to sheep scrapie, coupled with the limitations of the current feed ban, indicates that a revision of the feed ban may be necessary to protect swine production and potentially human health.
2. Determined that pigs naturally exposed to chronic wasting disease (CWD) may act as a reservoir of CWD infectivity. Chronic wasting disease is a naturally occurring, fatal, neurodegenerative disease of cervids. The potential for swine to serve as a host for the agent of CWD disease is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the susceptibility of swine to the CWD agent following experimental oral or intracranial inoculation. Pigs were assigned to 1 of 3 groups: intracranially inoculated; orally inoculated; or non-inoculated. At market weight age, half of the pigs in each group were tested ('market weight' groups). The remaining pigs ('aged' groups) were allowed to incubate for up to 73 months post inoculation (MPI). Tissues collected at necropsy were examined for disease-associated prion protein (PrPSc) by multiple diagnostic methods. Brain samples from selected pigs were bioassayed in mice expressing porcine prion protein. Some pigs from each inoculated group were positive by one or more tests. Bioassay was positive in 4 out of 5 pigs assayed. Although only small amounts of PrPSc were detected using sensitive methods, this study demonstrates that pigs can serve as hosts for CWD. Detection of infectivity in orally inoculated pigs using mouse bioassay raises the possibility that naturally exposed pigs could act as a reservoir of CWD infectivity. Currently, swine rations in the U.S. could contain animal derived components including materials from deer or elk. In addition, feral swine could be exposed to infected carcasses in areas where CWD is present in wildlife populations. The current feed ban in the U.S. is based exclusively on keeping tissues from TSE infected cattle from entering animal feeds. These results indicating the susceptibility of pigs to CWD, coupled with the limitations of the current feed ban, indicates that a revision of the feed ban may be necessary to protect swine production and potentially human health.
https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=353091
https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/project/?accnNo=432011&fy=2017
https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=337105
https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=326166
Transmission of the chronic wasting disease agent from elk to cattle after oronasal exposure
Conclusions: Cattle with the E211K polymorphism are susceptible to the CWD agent after oronasal exposure of 0.2 g of infectious material.
"Cattle with the E211K polymorphism are susceptible to the CWD agent after oronasal exposure of 0.2 g of infectious material."
=====end
Strain characterization of chronic wasting disease in bovine-PrP transgenic mice
Conclusions: Altogether, these results exhibit the diversity of CWD strains present in the panel of CWD isolates and the ability of at least some CWD isolates to infect bovine species. Cattle being one of the most important farming species, this ability represents a potential threat to both animal and human health, and consequently deserves further study.
"Altogether, these results exhibit the diversity of CWD strains present in the panel of CWD isolates and the ability of at least some CWD isolates to infect bovine species. Cattle being one of the most important farming species, this ability represents a potential threat to both animal and human health, and consequently deserves further study."
https://prion2023.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Meeting-book-final-version2.pdf
TRUCKING CWD
“CWD spreads among wild populations at a relatively slow rate, limited by the natural home range and dispersed nature of wild animals.”
NOW HOLD YOUR HORSES, Chronic Wasting Disease CWD of Cervid can spread rather swiftly, traveling around 50 MPH, from the back of truck and trailer, and Here in Texas, we call it ‘Trucking CWD’…
Preventive Veterinary Medicine Volume 234, January 2025, 106385
Use of biosecurity practices to prevent chronic wasting disease in Minnesota cervid herds
Vehicles or trailers that entered the farm were used to transport other live cervids, cervid carcasses, or cervid body parts in past 3 years in 64.3 % (95 % CI 46.3–82.3) of larger elk/reindeer herds compared to 13.6 % (95 % CI 4.7–22.4) of smaller deer herds.
Snip…
Identifying the exact pathway of initial CWD transmission to cervid herds is often not possible, in part due to many potential pathways of transmission for the infection, including both direct and indirect contact with infected farmed or wild cervids (Kincheloe et al., 2021). That study identified that transmissions from infected farmed cervids may occur from direct contact with the movement of cervids from one herd to another and from indirect contact with the sharing of equipment, vehicles, clothing, reproductive equipment, and potentially through semen or embryos.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016758772400271X
***> Department records indicate that within the last five years (since January 1, 2020), 30 deer breeding facilities where CWD has been confirmed transferred a total of 8,799 deer to 249 additional deer breeding facilities and 487 release sites located in a total of 144 counties in Texas. <***
https://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/pdf/backview/0411/0411adop.pdf
Texas Kimble County Farm Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion Approximate Herd Prevalence 12%
SUMMARY MINUTES OF THE 407th COMMISSION MEETING Texas Animal Health Commission
September 22, 2020
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD):
A new CWD positive breeding herd was disclosed in February 2020 in Kimble County. This herd depopulation was completed in July 2020. Including the two index positive deer, an additional eight more positive deer were disclosed (approximate herd prevalence 12%). Since July 2015 and prior to this discovery, five positive captive breeder herds have been disclosed and four of those are in Medina County. One herd in Lavaca and three herds in Medina County were depopulated leaving one large herd in Medina County that is managed on a herd plan. A new zone was established in Val Verde County in December 2019 as a result of a positive free-ranging White-tailed Deer (WTD). A second positive WTD was also disclosed in February 2020 in the same area.
SUMMARY MINUTES OF THE 407th COMMISSION MEETING – 9/22/2020
Scrapie: The flock identified in April 2016 remains under quarantine in Hartley County.
https://www.tahc.texas.gov/agency/meetings/minutes/SummaryMinutes_CommMtg_2020-09-22
http://web.archive.org/web/20201017124040/https://www.tahc.texas.gov/agency/meetings/minutes/SummaryMinutes_CommMtg_2020-09-22.pdf
Texas CWD Update May 2025
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2025
Texas CWD TSE Prion Cases Rises to 1099 Confirmed Cases To Date
Entries CWD Positives
Positive Number CWD Positive Confirmation Date Free Range Captive County Source Species Sex Age
1099 5/5/25 Breeder Deer Gillespie Facility #14 White-tailed Deer M 4.9
1098 4/24/25 Breeder Deer Zavala Facility #23 White-tailed Deer F 7.8
1097 4/24/25 Breeder Deer Zavala Facility #23 White-tailed Deer F 7.8
1096 4/17/25 Breeder Release Site Zavala N/A White-tailed Deer M 10.5
1095 4/3/25 Breeder Deer Kimble Facility #26 White-tailed Deer F 2.5
1094 4/3/25 Breeder Deer Kimble Facility #26 White-tailed Deer F 6.5
1093 4/3/25 Breeder Deer Kimble Facility #26 White-tailed Deer F 3.5
1092 4/3/25 Breeder Deer Frio Facility #24 White-tailed Deer F 1.7
1091 4/3/25 Breeder Deer Frio Facility #24 White-tailed Deer F 1.7
1090 4/3/25 Breeder Deer Frio Facility #24 White-tailed Deer F 3.7
1089 4/3/25 Breeder Deer Frio Facility #24 White-tailed Deer F 5.7
1088 4/3/25 Breeder Deer Frio Facility #24 White-tailed Deer F 5.7
1087 4/3/25 Breeder Deer Frio Facility #24 White-tailed Deer F 7.7
1086 4/3/25 Breeder Deer Frio Facility #24 White-tailed Deer F 3.7
1085 4/3/25 Breeder Deer Frio Facility #24 White-tailed Deer F 3.7
1084 3/19/25 Free Range El Paso N/A Mule Deer M 6.5
1083 3/14/25 Breeder Deer Frio Facility #24 White-tailed Deer M 1.7
1082 2/27/25 Breeder Deer Kaufman Facility #36 White-tailed Deer F 0.5
1081 2/27/25 Breeder Deer Kaufman Facility #36 White-tailed Deer M 1.5
1080 2/21/25 Breeder Deer Gillespie Facility #15 White-tailed Deer M 2.5
1079 2/19/25 Breeder Deer Frio Facility #24 White-tailed Deer M 1.4
1078 2/13/25 Breeder Release Site Medina Facility #3 Elk F 4
1077 1/14/25 Breeder Deer Frio Facility #24 White-tailed Deer F 2.5
1076 1/14/25 Breeder Deer Frio Facility #24 White-tailed Deer M 1.5
1075 1/14/25 Breeder Deer Frio Facility #24 White-tailed Deer M 1.5
1074 1/24/25 Breeder Deer Zavala Facility #23 White-tailed Deer F 1.5
1073 1/24/25 Breeder Deer Zavala Facility #23 White-tailed Deer F 4.5
1072 1/24/25 Breeder Deer Zavala Facility #23 White-tailed Deer M 2.5
1071 1/24/25 Breeder Deer Zavala Facility #23 White-tailed Deer M 2.5
1070 1/24/25 Breeder Deer Zavala Facility #23 White-tailed Deer M 3.5
1069 2/4/25 Breeder Release Site Brown N/A White-tailed Deer F 2.6
1068 1/23/25 Breeder Release Site Sutton N/A White-tailed Deer M 6.5
1067 1/23/25 Breeder Release Site Medina Facility #3 White-tailed Deer M 5.5
1066 1/24/25 Breeder Release Site Hunt N/A White-tailed Deer M 2.5
1065 1/14/25 Breeder Release Site Zavala N/A White-tailed Deer M 5.5
1064 1/14/25 Breeder Release Site Zavala N/A White-tailed Deer M 5.5
1063 1/16/25 Free Range Hudspeth N/A Mule Deer M 8.5
1062 1/7/25 Breeder Deer Real Facility #29 White-tailed Deer F 3.4
1061 12/26/24 Breeder Release Site Brown N/A White-tailed Deer F 3.5
Snip…see full list of CWD Positives;
https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/diseases/cwd/positive-cases/listing-cwd-cases-texas.phtml
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2025/05/texas-cwd-tse-prion-cases-rises-to-1099.html
December 2024
***> TEXAS CWD TSE PRION POSITIVE SAMPLES BY CALENDAR YEAR JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31 2024 TOTAL TO DATE 1061 CASES CONFIRMED
Texas CWD total by calendar years
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2024/12/texas-cwd-tse-prion-positive-samples-by.html
May 2024
Texas TAHC TPWD Confirm 132 More Cases of CWD TSE PrP
Jumps from 663 in March, to 795 Positive In May 2024, wow!
https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/diseases/cwd/positive-cases/listing-cwd-cases-texas.phtml#texasCWD
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2024/05/texas-tahc-tpwd-confirm-132-more-cases.html
TPWD CWD Tracking
https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/diseases/cwd/positive-cases/listing-cwd-cases-texas.phtml#texasCWD
Counties where CWD Exposed Deer were Released
https://tpwd.texas.gov/documents/257/CWD-Trace-OutReleaseSites.pdf
Number of CWD Exposed Deer Released by County
https://tpwd.texas.gov/documents/258/CWD-Trace-OutReleaseSites-NbrDeer.pdf
THE CWD TSE Prion aka mad cow type disease is not your normal pathogen.
The TSE prion disease survives ashing to 600 degrees celsius, that’s around 1112 degrees farenheit.
you cannot cook the TSE prion disease out of meat.
you can take the ash and mix it with saline and inject that ash into a mouse, and the mouse will go down with TSE.
Prion Infected Meat-and-Bone Meal Is Still Infectious after Biodiesel Production as well.
the TSE prion agent also survives Simulated Wastewater Treatment Processes.
IN fact, you should also know that the TSE Prion agent will survive in the environment for years, if not decades.
you can bury it and it will not go away.
The TSE agent is capable of infected your water table i.e. Detection of protease-resistant cervid prion protein in water from a CWD-endemic area.
it’s not your ordinary pathogen you can just cook it out and be done
New studies on the heat resistance of hamster-adapted scrapie agent: Threshold survival after ashing at 600°C suggests an inorganic template of replication
http://www.pnas.org/content/97/7/3418.full
Prion Infected Meat-and-Bone Meal Is Still Infectious after Biodiesel Production
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2493038/
Detection of protease-resistant cervid prion protein in water from a CWD-endemic area
https://www.ncbi...nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2802782/pdf/prion0303_0171.pdf
Prions in Waterways
https://vimeo.com/898941380?fbclid=IwAR3Di7tLuU-iagCetdt4-CVPrOPQQrv037QS1Uxz0tX3z7BuvPeYlwIp7IY
A Quantitative Assessment of the Amount of Prion Diverted to Category 1 Materials and Wastewater During Processing
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1539-6924.2012.01922.x/abstract
Rapid assessment of bovine spongiform encephalopathy prion inactivation by heat treatment in yellow grease produced in the industrial manufacturing process of meat and bone meals
https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/1746-6148-9-134.pdf
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2019
BSE infectivity survives burial for five years with only limited spread
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs00705-019-04154-8.pdf
So, this is what we leave our children and grandchildren?
Detection of chronic wasting disease prions in the farm soil of the Republic of Korea
Here, we show that prion seeding activity was detected in extracts from farm soil following 4 years of incubation with CWD-infected brain homogenate.
https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msphere.00866-24
"Additionally, we have determined that prion seeding activity is retained for at least fifteen years at a contaminated site following attempted remediation."
Detection of prions in soils contaminated by multiple routes
Results: We are able to detect prion seeding activity at multiple types of environmental hotspots, including carcass sites, contaminated captive facilities, and scrapes (i.e. urine and saliva). Differences in relative prion concentration vary depending on the nature and source of the contamination. Additionally, we have determined that prion seeding activity is retained for at least fifteen years at a contaminated site following attempted remediation.
Conclusions: Detection of prions in the environment is of the utmost importance for controlling chronic wasting disease spread. Here, we have demonstrated a viable method for detection of prions in complex environmental matrices. However, it is quite likely that this method underestimates the total infectious prion load in a contaminated sample, due to incomplete recovery of infectious prions. Further refinements are necessary for accurate quantification of prions in such samples, and to account for the intrinsic heterogeneities found in the broader environment.
Funded by: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Prion 2023 Abstracts
https://prion2023.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Meeting-book-final-version2.pdf
***> 15 YEARS!!!
Chronic wasting disease prions on deer feeders and wildlife visitation to deer feeding areas
Miranda H. J. Huang, Steve Demarais, Marc D. Schwabenlander, Bronson K. Strickland, Kurt C. VerCauteren, William T. McKinley, Gage Rowden, Corina C. Valencia Tibbitts … See all authors
First published: 10 February 2025
https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70000
Abstract
Eliminating supplemental feeding is a common regulatory action within chronic wasting disease (CWD) management zones. These regulations target the potential for increased animal-animal contact and environmental contamination with CWD prions. Prions, the causative agent of CWD, have been detected on feeder surfaces in CWD-positive, captive deer facilities but not among free-ranging populations, and information on the relative risk of transmission at anthropogenic and natural food sources is limited. In this study, we established and maintained 13 gravity feeders from September 2022 to March 2023 in a CWD zone in northern Mississippi, USA (apparent prevalence ~30%). We set up feeders up in 3 ways: no exclusion (deer feeders, n = 7), exclusion of deer using fencing with holes cut at the ground-level to permit smaller wildlife to enter (raccoon feeders, n = 3), and environmental control feeders, which were fully fenced and not filled with feed (control feeders, n = 3). We swabbed feeder spouts at setup and at 4 intervals approximately 6 weeks apart to test for prion contamination via real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC). We detected prions 12 weeks after setup on all deer and raccoon feeders. We compared relative transmission risk using camera traps at these feeders, 6 agronomic plantings for wildlife forage (i.e., food plots), and 7 oak mast trees. Weekly visitation rate by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; hereafter: deer) differed (P = 0.02) among deer feeders (median = 24.5 deer/week, range = 15.6–65.7), food plots (median = 12.7, range = 3.8–24.7), and mast trees (median = 2.0, range = 0.4–5.1). Contact rates between individual deer also differed between site types (P < 0.01): deer feeders (median = 2.1 deer-to-deer contacts/week, range = 0–10.1), food plots (median = 0.1, range = 0–4.0), and mast trees (median = 0, range = 0–0.3). Raccoons also visited feeders at greater rates than food plots and mast trees (P < 0.04). Finally, we swabbed 19 feeders in 2 areas where CWD was newly detected, finding prion contamination on swabs from 4 feeders. We show that deer feeders in free-ranging populations with high CWD prevalence become contaminated with CWD prions quickly, becoming a potential site of exposure of deer to CWD prions. Our results also demonstrate the ability to find evidence of prion contamination on deer feeders, even in areas where CWD is newly detected.
Snip…
We found that supplemental feeding increased the risk of exposure to CWD prions due to contamination of feeders, increased deer visitation, and increased deer-to-deer contact.
The 12-fold increase in deer visitation to feeders compared to mast trees and 2-fold increase compared to food plots demonstrates increased risk for direct disease spread.
https://wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jwmg.70000
Artificial mineral sites that pre-date endemic chronic wasting disease become prion hotspots
The detection of PrPCWD in soils at attractant sites within an endemic CWD zone significantly advances our understanding of environmental PrPCWD accumulation dynamics, providing valuable information for advancing adaptive CWD management approaches.
https://int-cwd-sympo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/final-agenda-with-abstracts.pdf
Chronic wasting disease detection in environmental and biological samples from a taxidermy site
Results: The PMCA analysis demonstrated CWD seeding activity in some of the components of this facility, including insects involved in head processing, soils, and a trash dumpster.
Conclusions: Different areas of this property were used for various taxidermy procedures. We were able to detect the presence of prions in i) soils that were in contact with the heads of dead animals, ii) insects involved in the cleaning of skulls, and iii) an empty dumpster where animal carcasses were previously placed. This is the first report demonstrating that swabbing is a helpful method to screen for prion infectivity on surfaces potentially contaminated with CWD. These findings are relevant as this swabbing and amplification strategy may be used to evaluate the disease status of other free-ranging and captive settings where there is a concern for CWD transmissions, such as at feeders and water troughs with CWD-exposed properties. This approach could have substantial implications for free-ranging cervid surveillance as well as in epidemiological investigations of CWD.
Prion 2022 Conference abstracts: pushing the boundaries
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19336896.2022.2091286
https://intcwdsympo.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/final-agenda-with-abstracts.pdf?force_download=true
***> Infectious agent of sheep scrapie may persist in the environment for at least 16 years
***> Nine of these recurrences occurred 14–21 years after culling, apparently as the result of environmental contamination, but outside entry could not always be absolutely excluded.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY Volume 87, Issue 12
Infectious agent of sheep scrapie may persist in the environment for at least 16 years Free
https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.82011-0
***> 14 TO 21 YEARS!
Rapid recontamination of a farm building occurs after attempted prion removal
First published: 19 January 2019 https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.105054
The data illustrates the difficulty in decontaminating farm buildings from scrapie, and demonstrates the likely contribution of farm dust to the recontamination of these environments to levels that are capable of causing disease. snip...
This study clearly demonstrates the difficulty in removing scrapie infectivity from the farm environment. Practical and effective prion decontamination methods are still urgently required for decontamination of scrapie infectivity from farms that have had cases of scrapie and this is particularly relevant for scrapie positive goatherds, which currently have limited genetic resistance to scrapie within commercial breeds.24 This is very likely to have parallels with control efforts for CWD in cervids.
https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1136/vr.105054
***>This is very likely to have parallels with control efforts for CWD in cervids.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30602491/
What about the Real Estate Market?
I remember what I was told about Scrapie way back around 2001, I never forgot, and it seems it’s come to pass;
***> Confidential!!!!
***> As early as 1992-3 there had been long studies conducted on small pastures containing scrapie infected sheep at the sheep research station associated with the Neuropathogenesis Unit in Edinburgh, Scotland. Whether these are documented...I don't know. But personal recounts both heard and recorded in a daily journal indicate that leaving the pastures free and replacing the topsoil completely at least 2 feet of thickness each year for SEVEN years....and then when very clean (proven scrapie free) sheep were placed on these small pastures.... the new sheep also broke out with scrapie and passed it to offspring. I am not sure that TSE contaminated ground could ever be free of the agent!! A very frightening revelation!!!
---end personal email---end...tss
So, this is what we leave our children and grandchildren?
Friday, February 21, 2025
CWD, BAITING, AND MINERAL LICKS, WHAT IF?
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2025/02/cwd-baiting-and-mineral-licks-what-if.html
Friday, February 21, 2025
Deer don’t die from CWD, it’s the insurance companies, or it's a Government conspiracy?
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2025/02/deer-dont-die-from-cwd-its-insurance.html
Friday, February 21, 2025
LEGISLATING CWD TSE Prion, Bills to release Genetically Modified Cervid into the wild, what could go wrong?
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2025/02/legislating-cwd-tse-prion-bills-to.html
Control of Chronic Wasting Disease OMB Control Number: 0579-0189APHIS-2021-0004 Singeltary Submission
https://www.regulations.gov/comment/APHIS-2021-0004-0002
https://downloads.regulations.gov/APHIS-2021-0004-0002/attachment_1.pdf
Docket No. APHIS-2018-0011 Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification
https://www.regulations.gov/document/APHIS-2018-0011-0003
https://downloads.regulations.gov/APHIS-2018-0011-0003/attachment_1.pdf
APHIS Indemnity Regulations [Docket No. APHIS-2021-0010] RIN 0579-AE65 Singeltary Comment Submission
Comment from Singeltary Sr., Terry
Posted by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on Sep 8, 2022
https://www.regulations.gov/comment/APHIS-2021-0010-0003
https://downloads.regulations.gov/APHIS-2021-0010-0003/attachment_1.pdf
Docket No. FDA-2003-D-0432 (formerly 03D-0186) Use of Material from Deer and Elk in Animal Feed
PUBLIC SUBMISSION
Comment from Terry Singeltary Sr.
Posted by the Food and Drug Administration on May 17, 2016 Comment
Docket No. FDA-2003-D-0432 (formerly 03D-0186) Use of Material from Deer and Elk in Animal Feed Singeltary Submission
https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FDA-2003-D-0432-0011
https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FDA-2003-D-0432
Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/diseases/cwd/positive-cases/listing-cwd-cases-texas.phtml
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2025/05/texas-cwd-tse-prion-cases-rises-to-1099.html
December 2024
***> TEXAS CWD TSE PRION POSITIVE SAMPLES BY CALENDAR YEAR JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31 2024 TOTAL TO DATE 1061 CASES CONFIRMED
Texas CWD total by calendar years
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2024/12/texas-cwd-tse-prion-positive-samples-by.html
May 2024
Texas TAHC TPWD Confirm 132 More Cases of CWD TSE PrP
Jumps from 663 in March, to 795 Positive In May 2024, wow!
https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/diseases/cwd/positive-cases/listing-cwd-cases-texas.phtml#texasCWD
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2024/05/texas-tahc-tpwd-confirm-132-more-cases.html
TPWD CWD Tracking
https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/diseases/cwd/positive-cases/listing-cwd-cases-texas.phtml#texasCWD
Counties where CWD Exposed Deer were Released
https://tpwd.texas.gov/documents/257/CWD-Trace-OutReleaseSites.pdf
Number of CWD Exposed Deer Released by County
https://tpwd.texas.gov/documents/258/CWD-Trace-OutReleaseSites-NbrDeer.pdf
THE CWD TSE Prion aka mad cow type disease is not your normal pathogen.
The TSE prion disease survives ashing to 600 degrees celsius, that’s around 1112 degrees farenheit.
you cannot cook the TSE prion disease out of meat.
you can take the ash and mix it with saline and inject that ash into a mouse, and the mouse will go down with TSE.
Prion Infected Meat-and-Bone Meal Is Still Infectious after Biodiesel Production as well.
the TSE prion agent also survives Simulated Wastewater Treatment Processes.
IN fact, you should also know that the TSE Prion agent will survive in the environment for years, if not decades.
you can bury it and it will not go away.
The TSE agent is capable of infected your water table i.e. Detection of protease-resistant cervid prion protein in water from a CWD-endemic area.
it’s not your ordinary pathogen you can just cook it out and be done
New studies on the heat resistance of hamster-adapted scrapie agent: Threshold survival after ashing at 600°C suggests an inorganic template of replication
http://www.pnas.org/content/97/7/3418.full
Prion Infected Meat-and-Bone Meal Is Still Infectious after Biodiesel Production
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2493038/
Detection of protease-resistant cervid prion protein in water from a CWD-endemic area
https://www.ncbi...nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2802782/pdf/prion0303_0171.pdf
Prions in Waterways
https://vimeo.com/898941380?fbclid=IwAR3Di7tLuU-iagCetdt4-CVPrOPQQrv037QS1Uxz0tX3z7BuvPeYlwIp7IY
A Quantitative Assessment of the Amount of Prion Diverted to Category 1 Materials and Wastewater During Processing
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1539-6924.2012.01922.x/abstract
Rapid assessment of bovine spongiform encephalopathy prion inactivation by heat treatment in yellow grease produced in the industrial manufacturing process of meat and bone meals
https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/1746-6148-9-134.pdf
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2019
BSE infectivity survives burial for five years with only limited spread
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs00705-019-04154-8.pdf
So, this is what we leave our children and grandchildren?
Detection of chronic wasting disease prions in the farm soil of the Republic of Korea
Here, we show that prion seeding activity was detected in extracts from farm soil following 4 years of incubation with CWD-infected brain homogenate.
https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msphere.00866-24
"Additionally, we have determined that prion seeding activity is retained for at least fifteen years at a contaminated site following attempted remediation."
Detection of prions in soils contaminated by multiple routes
Results: We are able to detect prion seeding activity at multiple types of environmental hotspots, including carcass sites, contaminated captive facilities, and scrapes (i.e. urine and saliva). Differences in relative prion concentration vary depending on the nature and source of the contamination. Additionally, we have determined that prion seeding activity is retained for at least fifteen years at a contaminated site following attempted remediation.
Conclusions: Detection of prions in the environment is of the utmost importance for controlling chronic wasting disease spread. Here, we have demonstrated a viable method for detection of prions in complex environmental matrices. However, it is quite likely that this method underestimates the total infectious prion load in a contaminated sample, due to incomplete recovery of infectious prions. Further refinements are necessary for accurate quantification of prions in such samples, and to account for the intrinsic heterogeneities found in the broader environment.
Funded by: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Prion 2023 Abstracts
https://prion2023.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Meeting-book-final-version2.pdf
***> 15 YEARS!!!
Chronic wasting disease prions on deer feeders and wildlife visitation to deer feeding areas
Miranda H. J. Huang, Steve Demarais, Marc D. Schwabenlander, Bronson K. Strickland, Kurt C. VerCauteren, William T. McKinley, Gage Rowden, Corina C. Valencia Tibbitts … See all authors
First published: 10 February 2025
https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70000
Abstract
Eliminating supplemental feeding is a common regulatory action within chronic wasting disease (CWD) management zones. These regulations target the potential for increased animal-animal contact and environmental contamination with CWD prions. Prions, the causative agent of CWD, have been detected on feeder surfaces in CWD-positive, captive deer facilities but not among free-ranging populations, and information on the relative risk of transmission at anthropogenic and natural food sources is limited. In this study, we established and maintained 13 gravity feeders from September 2022 to March 2023 in a CWD zone in northern Mississippi, USA (apparent prevalence ~30%). We set up feeders up in 3 ways: no exclusion (deer feeders, n = 7), exclusion of deer using fencing with holes cut at the ground-level to permit smaller wildlife to enter (raccoon feeders, n = 3), and environmental control feeders, which were fully fenced and not filled with feed (control feeders, n = 3). We swabbed feeder spouts at setup and at 4 intervals approximately 6 weeks apart to test for prion contamination via real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC). We detected prions 12 weeks after setup on all deer and raccoon feeders. We compared relative transmission risk using camera traps at these feeders, 6 agronomic plantings for wildlife forage (i.e., food plots), and 7 oak mast trees. Weekly visitation rate by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; hereafter: deer) differed (P = 0.02) among deer feeders (median = 24.5 deer/week, range = 15.6–65.7), food plots (median = 12.7, range = 3.8–24.7), and mast trees (median = 2.0, range = 0.4–5.1). Contact rates between individual deer also differed between site types (P < 0.01): deer feeders (median = 2.1 deer-to-deer contacts/week, range = 0–10.1), food plots (median = 0.1, range = 0–4.0), and mast trees (median = 0, range = 0–0.3). Raccoons also visited feeders at greater rates than food plots and mast trees (P < 0.04). Finally, we swabbed 19 feeders in 2 areas where CWD was newly detected, finding prion contamination on swabs from 4 feeders. We show that deer feeders in free-ranging populations with high CWD prevalence become contaminated with CWD prions quickly, becoming a potential site of exposure of deer to CWD prions. Our results also demonstrate the ability to find evidence of prion contamination on deer feeders, even in areas where CWD is newly detected.
Snip…
We found that supplemental feeding increased the risk of exposure to CWD prions due to contamination of feeders, increased deer visitation, and increased deer-to-deer contact.
The 12-fold increase in deer visitation to feeders compared to mast trees and 2-fold increase compared to food plots demonstrates increased risk for direct disease spread.
https://wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jwmg.70000
Artificial mineral sites that pre-date endemic chronic wasting disease become prion hotspots
The detection of PrPCWD in soils at attractant sites within an endemic CWD zone significantly advances our understanding of environmental PrPCWD accumulation dynamics, providing valuable information for advancing adaptive CWD management approaches.
https://int-cwd-sympo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/final-agenda-with-abstracts.pdf
Chronic wasting disease detection in environmental and biological samples from a taxidermy site
Results: The PMCA analysis demonstrated CWD seeding activity in some of the components of this facility, including insects involved in head processing, soils, and a trash dumpster.
Conclusions: Different areas of this property were used for various taxidermy procedures. We were able to detect the presence of prions in i) soils that were in contact with the heads of dead animals, ii) insects involved in the cleaning of skulls, and iii) an empty dumpster where animal carcasses were previously placed. This is the first report demonstrating that swabbing is a helpful method to screen for prion infectivity on surfaces potentially contaminated with CWD. These findings are relevant as this swabbing and amplification strategy may be used to evaluate the disease status of other free-ranging and captive settings where there is a concern for CWD transmissions, such as at feeders and water troughs with CWD-exposed properties. This approach could have substantial implications for free-ranging cervid surveillance as well as in epidemiological investigations of CWD.
Prion 2022 Conference abstracts: pushing the boundaries
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19336896.2022.2091286
https://intcwdsympo.files.wordpress.com/2023/06/final-agenda-with-abstracts.pdf?force_download=true
***> Infectious agent of sheep scrapie may persist in the environment for at least 16 years
***> Nine of these recurrences occurred 14–21 years after culling, apparently as the result of environmental contamination, but outside entry could not always be absolutely excluded.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY Volume 87, Issue 12
Infectious agent of sheep scrapie may persist in the environment for at least 16 years Free
https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.82011-0
***> 14 TO 21 YEARS!
Rapid recontamination of a farm building occurs after attempted prion removal
First published: 19 January 2019 https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.105054
The data illustrates the difficulty in decontaminating farm buildings from scrapie, and demonstrates the likely contribution of farm dust to the recontamination of these environments to levels that are capable of causing disease. snip...
This study clearly demonstrates the difficulty in removing scrapie infectivity from the farm environment. Practical and effective prion decontamination methods are still urgently required for decontamination of scrapie infectivity from farms that have had cases of scrapie and this is particularly relevant for scrapie positive goatherds, which currently have limited genetic resistance to scrapie within commercial breeds.24 This is very likely to have parallels with control efforts for CWD in cervids.
https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1136/vr.105054
***>This is very likely to have parallels with control efforts for CWD in cervids.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30602491/
What about the Real Estate Market?
I remember what I was told about Scrapie way back around 2001, I never forgot, and it seems it’s come to pass;
***> Confidential!!!!
***> As early as 1992-3 there had been long studies conducted on small pastures containing scrapie infected sheep at the sheep research station associated with the Neuropathogenesis Unit in Edinburgh, Scotland. Whether these are documented...I don't know. But personal recounts both heard and recorded in a daily journal indicate that leaving the pastures free and replacing the topsoil completely at least 2 feet of thickness each year for SEVEN years....and then when very clean (proven scrapie free) sheep were placed on these small pastures.... the new sheep also broke out with scrapie and passed it to offspring. I am not sure that TSE contaminated ground could ever be free of the agent!! A very frightening revelation!!!
---end personal email---end...tss
So, this is what we leave our children and grandchildren?
Friday, February 21, 2025
CWD, BAITING, AND MINERAL LICKS, WHAT IF?
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2025/02/cwd-baiting-and-mineral-licks-what-if.html
Friday, February 21, 2025
Deer don’t die from CWD, it’s the insurance companies, or it's a Government conspiracy?
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2025/02/deer-dont-die-from-cwd-its-insurance.html
Friday, February 21, 2025
LEGISLATING CWD TSE Prion, Bills to release Genetically Modified Cervid into the wild, what could go wrong?
https://chronic-wasting-disease.blogspot.com/2025/02/legislating-cwd-tse-prion-bills-to.html
Control of Chronic Wasting Disease OMB Control Number: 0579-0189APHIS-2021-0004 Singeltary Submission
https://www.regulations.gov/comment/APHIS-2021-0004-0002
https://downloads.regulations.gov/APHIS-2021-0004-0002/attachment_1.pdf
Docket No. APHIS-2018-0011 Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification
https://www.regulations.gov/document/APHIS-2018-0011-0003
https://downloads.regulations.gov/APHIS-2018-0011-0003/attachment_1.pdf
APHIS Indemnity Regulations [Docket No. APHIS-2021-0010] RIN 0579-AE65 Singeltary Comment Submission
Comment from Singeltary Sr., Terry
Posted by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on Sep 8, 2022
https://www.regulations.gov/comment/APHIS-2021-0010-0003
https://downloads.regulations.gov/APHIS-2021-0010-0003/attachment_1.pdf
Docket No. FDA-2003-D-0432 (formerly 03D-0186) Use of Material from Deer and Elk in Animal Feed
PUBLIC SUBMISSION
Comment from Terry Singeltary Sr.
Posted by the Food and Drug Administration on May 17, 2016 Comment
Docket No. FDA-2003-D-0432 (formerly 03D-0186) Use of Material from Deer and Elk in Animal Feed Singeltary Submission
https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FDA-2003-D-0432-0011
https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FDA-2003-D-0432
Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
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