Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Cervid to human prion transmission 
Kong, Qingzhong 
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States 
Abstract
Prion disease is transmissible and invariably fatal. Chronic wasting 
disease (CWD) is the prion disease affecting deer, elk and moose, and it is a 
widespread and expanding epidemic affecting 22 US States and 2 Canadian 
provinces so far. CWD poses the most serious zoonotic prion transmission risks 
in North America because of huge venison consumption (>6 million deer/elk 
hunted and consumed annually in the USA alone), significant prion infectivity in 
muscles and other tissues/fluids from CWD-affected cervids, and usually high 
levels of individual exposure to CWD resulting from consumption of the affected 
animal among often just family and friends. However, we still do not know 
whether CWD prions can infect humans in the brain or peripheral tissues or 
whether clinical/asymptomatic CWD zoonosis has already occurred, and we have no 
essays to reliably detect CWD infection in humans. We hypothesize that: 
(1) The classic CWD prion strain can infect humans at low levels in the 
brain and peripheral lymphoid tissues;
(2) The cervid-to-human transmission barrier is dependent on the cervid 
prion strain and influenced by the host (human) prion protein (PrP) primary 
sequence;
(3) Reliable essays can be established to detect CWD infection in 
humans;and 
(4) CWD transmission to humans has already occurred. We will test these 
hypotheses in 4 Aims using transgenic (Tg) mouse models and complementary in 
vitro approaches. 
Aim 1 will prove that the classical CWD strain may infect humans in brain 
or peripheral lymphoid tissues at low levels by conducting systemic bioassays in 
a set of "humanized" Tg mouse lines expressing common human PrP variants using a 
number of CWD isolates at varying doses and routes. Experimental "human CWD" 
samples will also be generated for Aim 3. 
Aim 2 will test the hypothesis that the cervid-to-human prion transmission 
barrier is dependent on prion strain and influenced by the host (human) PrP 
sequence by examining and comparing the transmission efficiency and phenotypes 
of several atypical/unusual CWD isolates/strains as well as a few prion strains 
from other species that have adapted to cervid PrP sequence, utilizing the same 
panel of humanized Tg mouse lines as in Aim 1. 
Aim 3 will establish reliable essays for detection and surveillance of CWD 
infection in humans by examining in details the clinical, pathological, 
biochemical and in vitro seeding properties of existing and future experimental 
"human CWD" samples generated from Aims 1-2 and compare them with those of 
common sporadic human Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) prions. 
Aim 4 will attempt to detect clinical CWD-affected human cases by examining 
a significant number of brain samples from prion-affected human subjects in the 
USA and Canada who have consumed venison from CWD-endemic areas utilizing the 
criteria and essays established in Aim 3. The findings from this proposal will 
greatly advance our understandings on the potential and characteristics of 
cervid prion transmission in humans, establish reliable essays for CWD zoonosis 
and potentially discover the first case(s) of CWD infection in humans.
Public Health Relevance There are significant and increasing human exposure 
to cervid prions because chronic wasting disease (CWD, a widespread and highly 
infectious prion disease among deer and elk in North America) continues 
spreading and consumption of venison remains popular, but our understanding on 
cervid-to-human prion transmission is still very limited, raising public health 
concerns. This proposal aims to define the zoonotic risks of cervid prions and 
set up and apply essays to detect CWD zoonosis using mouse models and in vitro 
methods. The findings will greatly expand our knowledge on the potentials and 
characteristics of cervid prion transmission in humans, establish reliable 
essays for such infections and may discover the first case(s) of CWD infection 
in humans.
 Funding Agency Agency National Institute of Health (NIH) 
Institute National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) 
Type Research Project (R01) 
Project # 1R01NS088604-01A1 
Application # 9037884 
Study Section Cellular and Molecular Biology of Neurodegeneration Study 
Section (CMND) 
Program Officer Wong, May 
Project Start 2015-09-30 
Project End 2019-07-31 
Budget Start 2015-09-30 
Budget End 2016-07-31 
Support Year 1 
Fiscal Year 2015 
Total Cost $337,507 
Indirect Cost $118,756
 Institution 
Name Case Western Reserve University 
Department Pathology 
Type Schools of Medicine 
DUNS # 077758407
City Cleveland 
State OH 
Country United States 
Zip Code 44106
===========================================================
We hypothesize that: 
(1) The classic CWD prion strain can infect humans at low levels in the 
brain and peripheral lymphoid tissues;
(2) The cervid-to-human transmission barrier is dependent on the cervid 
prion strain and influenced by the host (human) prion protein (PrP) primary 
sequence;
(3) Reliable essays can be established to detect CWD infection in 
humans;and 
(4) *** CWD transmission to humans has already occurred. *** We will test 
these hypotheses in 4 Aims using transgenic (Tg) mouse models and complementary 
in vitro approaches. 
============================================================ 
Key Molecular Mechanisms of TSEs 
Zabel, Mark D. 
Colorado State University-Fort Collins, Fort Collins, CO, United States 
Abstract Prion diseases, or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), 
are fatal neurodegenerative diseases affecting humans, cervids, bovids, and 
ovids. The absolute requirement of PrPC expression to generate prion diseases 
and the lack of instructional nucleic acid define prions as unique infectious 
agents. Prions exhibit species-specific tropism, inferring that unique prion 
strains exist that preferentially infct certain host species and confront 
transmission barriers to heterologous host species. However, transmission 
barriers are not absolute. Scientific consensus agrees that the sheep TSE 
scrapie probably breached the transmission barrier to cattle causing bovine 
spongiform encephalopathy that subsequently breached the human transmission 
barrier and likely caused several hundred deaths by a new-variant form of the 
human TSE Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the UK and Europe. The impact to human 
health, emotion and economies can still be felt in areas like farming, blood and 
organ donations and the threat of a latent TSE epidemic. This precedent raises 
the real possibility of other TSEs, like chronic wasting disease of cervids, 
overcoming similar human transmission barriers. A groundbreaking discovery made 
last year revealed that mice infected with heterologous prion strains facing 
significant transmission barriers replicated prions far more readily in spleens 
than brains6. Furthermore, these splenic prions exhibited weakened transmission 
barriers and expanded host ranges compared to neurogenic prions. These data 
question conventional wisdom of avoiding neural tissue to avoid prion 
xenotransmission, when more promiscuous prions may lurk in extraneural tissues. 
Data derived from work previously funded by NIH demonstrate that Complement 
receptors CD21/35 bind prions and high density PrPC and differentially impact 
prion disease depending on the prion isolate or strain used. Recent advances in 
live animal and whole organ imaging have led us to generate preliminary data to 
support novel, innovative approaches to assessing prion capture and transport. 
We plan to test our unifying hypothesis for this proposal that CD21/35 control 
the processes of peripheral prion capture, transport, strain selection and 
xenotransmission in the following specific aims. 1. Assess the role of CD21/35 
in splenic prion strain selection and host range expansion. 2. Determine whether 
CD21/35 and C1q differentially bind distinct prion strains 3. Monitor the 
effects of CD21/35 on prion trafficking in real time and space 4. Assess the 
role of CD21/35 in incunabular prion trafficking
Public Health Relevance Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, or prion 
diseases, are devastating illnesses that greatly impact public health, 
agriculture and wildlife in North America and around the world. The impact to 
human health, emotion and economies can still be felt in areas like farming, 
blood and organ donations and the threat of a latent TSE epidemic. This 
precedent raises the real possibility of other TSEs, like chronic wasting 
disease (CWD) of cervids, overcoming similar human transmission barriers. Early 
this year Canada reported its first case of BSE in over a decade audits first 
case of CWD in farmed elk in three years, underscoring the need for continued 
vigilance and research. Identifying mechanisms of transmission and zoonoses 
remains an extremely important and intense area of research that will benefit 
human and other animal populations.
 Funding Agency Agency National Institute of Health (NIH) 
Institute National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) 
Type High Priority, Short Term Project Award (R56) 
Project # 1R56AI122273-01A1 
Application # 9211114 
Study Section Cellular and Molecular Biology of Neurodegeneration Study 
Section (CMND) 
Program Officer Beisel, Christopher E 
Project Start 2016-02-16 
Project End 2017-01-31 
Budget Start 2016-02-16 
Budget End 2017-01-31 
Support Year 1 
Fiscal Year 2016 
Total Cost 
Indirect Cost Institution Name Colorado State University-Fort Collins 
Department Microbiology/Immun/Virology 
Type Schools of Veterinary Medicine 
DUNS # 785979618 City Fort Collins 
State CO 
Country United States 
Zip Code 80523 
PMCA Detection of CWD Infection in Cervid and Non-Cervid Species 
Hoover, Edward Arthur 
Colorado State University-Fort Collins, Fort Collins, CO, United States 
Abstract Chronic wasting disease (CWD) of deer and elk is an emerging highly 
transmissible prion disease now recognized in 18 States, 2 Canadian provinces, 
and Korea. We have shown that Infected deer harbor and shed high levels of 
infectious prions in saliva, blood, urine, and feces, and in the tissues 
generating those body fluids and excreta, thereby leading to facile transmission 
by direct contact and environmental contamination. We have also shown that CWD 
can infect some non-cervid species, thus the potential risk CWD represents to 
domestic animal species and to humans remains unknown. Whether prions borne in 
blood, saliva, nasal fluids, milk, or excreta are generated or modified in the 
proximate peripheral tissue sites, may differ in subtle ways from those 
generated in brain, or may be adapted for mucosal infection remain open 
questions. The increasing parallels in the pathogenesis between prion diseases 
and human neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's 
diseases, add relevance to CWD as a transmissible protein misfolding disease. 
The overall goal of this work is to elucidate the process of CWD prion 
transmission from mucosal secretory and excretory tissue sites by addressing 
these questions: (a) What are the kinetics and magnitude of CWD prion shedding 
post-exposure? (b) Are excreted prions biochemically distinct, or not, from 
those in the CNS? (c) Are peripheral epithelial or CNS tissues, or both, the 
source of excreted prions? and (d) Are excreted prions adapted for horizontal 
transmission via natural/trans-mucosal routes? The specific aims of this 
proposal are: (1) To determine the onset and consistency of CWD prion shedding 
in deer and cervidized mice; (2); To compare the biochemical and biophysical 
properties of excretory vs. CNS prions; (3) To determine the capacity of 
peripheral tissues to support replication of CWD prions; (4) To determine the 
protease- sensitive infectious fraction of excreted vs. CNS prions; and (5) To 
compare the mucosal infectivity of excretory vs. CNS prions. Understanding the 
mechanisms that enable efficient prion dissemination and shedding will help 
elucidate how horizontally transmissible prions evolve and succeed, and is the 
basis of this proposal. Understanding how infectious misfolded proteins (prions) 
are generated, trafficked, shed, and transmitted will aid in preventing, 
treating, and managing the risks associated with these agents and the diseases 
they cause.
Public Health Relevance Chronic wasting disease (CWD) of deer and elk is an 
emergent highly transmissible prion disease now recognized throughout the USA as 
well as in Canada and Korea. We have shown that infected deer harbor and shed 
high levels of infectious prions in saliva, blood, urine, and feces thereby 
leading to transmission by direct contact and environmental contamination. In 
that our studies have also shown that CWD can infect some non-cervid species, 
the potential risk CWD may represents to domestic animal species and humans 
remains unknown. The increasing parallels in the development of major human 
neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and 
prion diseases add relevance to CWD as a model of a transmissible protein 
misfolding disease. Understanding how infectious misfolded proteins (prions) are 
generated and transmitted will aid in interrupting, treating, and managing the 
risks associated with these agents and the diseases they cause.
 Funding Agency Agency National Institute of Health (NIH) 
Institute National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) 
Type Research Project (R01) 
Project # 4R01NS061902-07 
Application # 9010980 
Study Section Cellular and Molecular Biology of Neurodegeneration Study 
Section (CMND) 
Program Officer Wong, May Project Start 2009-09-30 
Project End 2018-02-28 
Budget Start 2016-03-01 
Budget End 2017-02-28 
Support Year 7 
Fiscal Year 2016 
Total Cost $409,868 
Indirect Cost $134,234 Institution Name Colorado State University-Fort 
Collins 
Department Microbiology/Immun/Virology 
Type Schools of Veterinary Medicine 
DUNS # 785979618 City Fort Collins 
State CO 
Country United States 
Zip Code 80523 
Zoonotic Potential of CWD Prions: An Update
Ignazio Cali1, Liuting Qing1, Jue Yuan1, Shenghai Huang2, Diane Kofskey1,3, 
Nicholas Maurer1, Debbie McKenzie4, Jiri Safar1,3,5, Wenquan Zou1,3,5,6, 
Pierluigi Gambetti1, Qingzhong Kong1,5,6
1Department of Pathology, 3National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance 
Center, 5Department of Neurology, 6National Center for Regenerative Medicine, 
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
4Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Prions and Protein 
Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada,
2Encore Health Resources, 1331 Lamar St, Houston, TX 77010
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a widespread and highly transmissible 
prion disease in free-ranging and captive cervid species in North America. The 
zoonotic potential of CWD prions is a serious public health concern, but the 
susceptibility of human CNS and peripheral organs to CWD prions remains largely 
unresolved. We reported earlier that peripheral and CNS infections were detected 
in transgenic mice expressing human PrP129M or PrP129V. Here we will present an 
update on this project, including evidence for strain dependence and influence 
of cervid PrP polymorphisms on CWD zoonosis as well as the characteristics of 
experimental human CWD prions.
PRION 2016 TOKYO
In Conjunction with Asia Pacific Prion Symposium 2016
PRION 2016 Tokyo 
Prion 2016
Prion 2016
Purchase options Price * Issue Purchase USD 198.00 
Prion. 10:S15-S21. 2016 ISSN: 1933-6896 printl 1933-690X online
Taylor & Francis
Prion 2016 Animal Prion Disease Workshop Abstracts
WS-01: Prion diseases in animals and zoonotic potential
Juan Maria Torres a, Olivier Andreoletti b, J uan-Carlos Espinosa a. 
Vincent Beringue c. Patricia Aguilar a,
Natalia Fernandez-Borges a. and Alba Marin-Moreno a
"Centro de Investigacion en Sanidad Animal ( CISA-INIA ). Valdeolmos, 
Madrid. Spain; b UMR INRA -ENVT 1225 Interactions Holes Agents Pathogenes. ENVT. 
Toulouse. France: "UR892. Virologie lmmunologie MolécuIaires, Jouy-en-Josas. 
France
Dietary exposure to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) contaminated 
bovine tissues is considered as the origin of variant Creutzfeldt Jakob (vCJD) 
disease in human. To date, BSE agent is the only recognized zoonotic prion. 
Despite the variety of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) agents that 
have been circulating for centuries in farmed ruminants there is no apparent 
epidemiological link between exposure to ruminant products and the occurrence of 
other form of TSE in human like sporadic Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (sCJD). 
However, the zoonotic potential of the diversity of circulating TSE agents has 
never been systematically assessed. The major issue in experimental assessment 
of TSEs zoonotic potential lies in the modeling of the ‘species barrier‘, the 
biological phenomenon that limits TSE agents’ propagation from a species to 
another. In the last decade, mice genetically engineered to express normal forms 
of the human prion protein has proved essential in studying human prions 
pathogenesis and modeling the capacity of TSEs to cross the human species 
barrier.
To assess the zoonotic potential of prions circulating in farmed ruminants, 
we study their transmission ability in transgenic mice expressing human PrPC 
(HuPrP-Tg). Two lines of mice expressing different forms of the human PrPC 
(129Met or 129Val) are used to determine the role of the Met129Val dimorphism in 
susceptibility/resistance to the different agents.
These transmission experiments confirm the ability of BSE prions to 
propagate in 129M- HuPrP-Tg mice and demonstrate that Met129 homozygotes may be 
susceptible to BSE in sheep or goat to a greater degree than the BSE agent in 
cattle and that these agents can convey molecular properties and 
neuropathological indistinguishable from vCJD. However homozygous 129V mice are 
resistant to all tested BSE derived prions independently of the originating 
species suggesting a higher transmission barrier for 129V-PrP variant.
Transmission data also revealed that several scrapie prions propagate in 
HuPrP-Tg mice with efficiency comparable to that of cattle BSE. While the 
efficiency of transmission at primary passage was low, subsequent passages 
resulted in a highly virulent prion disease in both Met129 and Val129 mice. 
Transmission of the different scrapie isolates in these mice leads to the 
emergence of prion strain phenotypes that showed similar characteristics to 
those displayed by MM1 or VV2 sCJD prion. These results demonstrate that scrapie 
prions have a zoonotic potential and raise new questions about the possible link 
between animal and human prions.
Saturday, April 23, 2016 
SCRAPIE WS-01: Prion diseases in animals and zoonotic potential 2016 
Prion. 10:S15-S21. 2016 ISSN: 1933-6896 printl 1933-690X online
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).*** 
PRION 2015 CONFERENCE FT. COLLINS CWD RISK FACTORS TO HUMANS 
*** LATE-BREAKING ABSTRACTS PRION 2015 CONFERENCE *** 
O18 
Zoonotic Potential of CWD Prions 
Liuting Qing1, Ignazio Cali1,2, Jue Yuan1, Shenghai Huang3, Diane Kofskey1, 
Pierluigi Gambetti1, Wenquan Zou1, Qingzhong Kong1 1Case Western Reserve 
University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, 2Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy, 
3Encore Health Resources, Houston, Texas, USA 
*** These results indicate that the CWD prion has the potential to infect 
human CNS and peripheral lymphoid tissues and that there might be asymptomatic 
human carriers of CWD infection. 
================== 
***These results indicate that the CWD prion has the potential to infect 
human CNS and peripheral lymphoid tissues and that there might be asymptomatic 
human carriers of CWD infection.*** 
================== 
P.105: RT-QuIC models trans-species prion transmission 
Kristen Davenport, Davin Henderson, Candace Mathiason, and Edward Hoover 
Prion Research Center; Colorado State University; Fort Collins, CO USA 
Conversely, FSE maintained sufficient BSE characteristics to more 
efficiently convert bovine rPrP than feline rPrP. Additionally, human rPrP was 
competent for conversion by CWD and fCWD. 
***This insinuates that, at the level of protein:protein interactions, the 
barrier preventing transmission of CWD to humans is less robust than previously 
estimated. 
================ 
***This insinuates that, at the level of protein:protein interactions, the 
barrier preventing transmission of CWD to humans is less robust than previously 
estimated.*** 
================ 
*** PRICE OF CWD TSE PRION POKER GOES UP 2014 *** 
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy TSE PRION update January 2, 2014 
*** chronic wasting disease, there was no absolute barrier to conversion of 
the human prion protein. 
*** Furthermore, the form of human PrPres produced in this in vitro assay 
when seeded with CWD, resembles that found in the most common human prion 
disease, namely sCJD of the MM1 subtype. 
*** 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).*** 
*** The potential impact of prion diseases on human health was greatly 
magnified by the recognition that interspecies transfer of BSE to humans by beef 
ingestion resulted in vCJD. While changes in animal feed constituents and 
slaughter practices appear to have curtailed vCJD, there is concern that CWD of 
free-ranging deer and elk in the U.S. might also cross the species barrier. 
Thus, consuming venison could be a source of human prion disease. Whether BSE 
and CWD represent interspecies scrapie transfer or are newly arisen prion 
diseases is unknown. Therefore, the possibility of transmission of prion disease 
through other food animals cannot be ruled out. There is evidence that vCJD can 
be transmitted through blood transfusion. There is likely a pool of unknown size 
of asymptomatic individuals infected with vCJD, and there may be asymptomatic 
individuals infected with the CWD equivalent. These circumstances represent a 
potential threat to blood, blood products, and plasma supplies. 
Chronic Wasting Disease and Potential Transmission to Humans
Ermias D. Belay,* Ryan A. Maddox,* Elizabeth S. Williams,† Michael W. 
Miller,‡ Pierluigi Gambetti,§ and Lawrence B. Schonberger* 
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) of deer and elk is endemic in a tri-corner 
area of Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska, and new foci of CWD have been detected 
in other parts of the United States. Although detection in some areas may be 
related to increased surveillance, introduction of CWD due to translocation or 
natural migration of animals may account for some new foci of infection. 
Increasing spread of CWD has raised concerns about the potential for increasing 
human exposure to the CWD agent. The foodborne transmission of bovine spongiform 
encephalopathy to humans indicates that the species barrier may not completely 
protect humans from animal prion diseases. Conversion of human prion protein by 
CWDassociated prions has been demonstrated in an in vitro cellfree experiment, 
but limited investigations have not identified strong evidence for CWD 
transmission to humans. More epidemiologic and laboratory studies are needed to 
monitor the possibility of such transmissions. 
Conclusions
The lack of evidence of a link between CWD transmission and unusual cases 
of CJD, despite several epidemiologic investigations, and the absence of an 
increase in CJD incidence in Colorado and Wyoming suggest that the risk, if any, 
of transmission of CWD to humans is low. Although the in vitro studies 
indicating inefficient conversion of human prion protein by CWD-associated 
prions raise the possibility of low-level transmission of CWD to humans, no 
human cases of prion disease with strong evidence of a link with CWD have been 
identified. However, the transmission of BSE to humans and the resulting vCJD 
indicate that, provided sufficient exposure, the species barrier may not 
completely protect humans from animal prion diseases. Because CWD has occurred 
in a limited geographic area for decades, an adequate number of people may not 
have been exposed to the CWD agent to result in a clinically recognizable human 
disease. The level and frequency of human exposure to the CWD agent may increase 
with the spread of CWD in the United States. Because the number of studies 
seeking evidence for CWD transmission to humans is limited, more epidemiologic 
and laboratory studies should be conducted to monitor the possibility of such 
transmissions. Studies involving transgenic mice expressing human and cervid 
prion protein are in progress to further assess the potential for the CWD agent 
to cause human disease. Epidemiologic studies have also been initiated to 
identify human cases of prion disease among persons with an increased risk for 
exposure to potentially CWD-infected deer or elk meat (47). If such cases are 
identified, laboratory data showing similarities of the etiologic agent to that 
of the CWD agent would strengthen the conclusion for a causal link. Surveillance 
for human prion diseases, particularly in areas where CWD has been detected, 
remains important to effectively monitor the possible transmission of CWD to 
humans. Because of the long incubation period associated with prion diseases, 
convincing negative results from epidemiologic and experimental laboratory 
studies would likely require years of follow-up. In the meantime, to minimize 
the risk for exposure to the CWD agent, hunters should consult with their state 
wildlife agencies to identify areas where CWD occurs and continue to follow 
advice provided by public health and wildlife agencies. Hunters should avoid 
eating meat from deer and elk that look sick or test positive for CWD. They 
should wear gloves when field-dressing carcasses, boneout the meat from the 
animal, and minimize handling of brain and spinal cord tissues. As a precaution, 
hunters should avoid eating deer and elk tissues known to harbor the CWD agent 
(e.g., brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, tonsils, lymph nodes) from areas where 
CWD has been identified.
now, let’s see what the authors said about this casual link, personal 
communications years ago. 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 (216-119-163-189.ipset45.wt.net) 
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 ; 
CJD is so rare in people under age 30, one case in a billion (leaving out 
medical mishaps), that four cases under 30 is "very high," says Colorado 
neurologist Bosque. "Then, if you add these other two from Wisconsin [cases in 
the newspaper], six cases of CJD in people associated with venison is very, very 
high." Only now, with Mary Riley, there are at least seven, and possibly eight, 
with Steve, her dining companion. "It's not critical mass that matters," 
however, Belay says. "One case would do it for me." The chance that two people 
who know each other would both contact CJD, like the two Wisconsin sportsmen, is 
so unlikely, experts say, it would happen only once in 140 years. 
Given the incubation period for TSEs in humans, it may require another 
generation to write the final chapter on CWD in Wisconsin. "Does chronic wasting 
disease pass into humans? We'll be able to answer that in 2022," says Race. 
Meanwhile, the state has become part of an immense experiment. 
I urge everyone to watch this video closely...terry 
*** you can see video here and interview with Jeff's Mom, and scientist 
telling you to test everything and potential risk factors for humans *** 
Envt.07: 
Pathological Prion Protein (PrPTSE) in Skeletal Muscles of Farmed and Free 
Ranging White-Tailed Deer Infected with Chronic Wasting Disease 
***The presence and seeding activity of PrPTSE in skeletal muscle from 
CWD-infected cervids suggests prevention of such tissue in the human diet as a 
precautionary measure for food safety, pending on further clarification of 
whether CWD may be transmissible to humans. 
Prions in Skeletal Muscles of Deer with Chronic Wasting Disease Rachel C. 
Angers1,*, Shawn R. Browning1,*,†, Tanya S. Seward2, Christina J. Sigurdson4,‡, 
Michael W. Miller5, Edward A. Hoover4, Glenn C. Telling1,2,3,§ snip... 
Abstract The emergence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer and elk in 
an increasingly wide geographic area, as well as the interspecies transmission 
of bovine spongiform encephalopathy to humans in the form of variant Creutzfeldt 
Jakob disease, have raised concerns about the zoonotic potential of CWD. Because 
meat consumption is the most likely means of exposure, it is important to 
determine whether skeletal muscle of diseased cervids contains prion 
infectivity. Here bioassays in transgenic mice expressing cervid prion protein 
revealed the presence of infectious prions in skeletal muscles of CWD-infected 
deer, demonstrating that humans consuming or handling meat from CWD-infected 
deer are at risk to prion exposure. 
***********CJD REPORT 1994 increased risk for consumption of veal and 
venison and lamb*********** 
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 ; 
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 
*** 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).*** 
O.05: Transmission of prions to primates after extended silent incubation 
periods: Implications for BSE and scrapie risk assessment in human populations 
Emmanuel Comoy, Jacqueline Mikol, Valerie Durand, Sophie Luccantoni, 
Evelyne Correia, Nathalie Lescoutra, Capucine Dehen, and Jean-Philippe Deslys 
Atomic Energy Commission; Fontenay-aux-Roses, France 
Prion diseases (PD) are the unique neurodegenerative proteinopathies 
reputed to be transmissible under field conditions since decades. The 
transmission of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) to humans evidenced that 
an animal PD might be zoonotic under appropriate conditions. Contrarily, in the 
absence of obvious (epidemiological or experimental) elements supporting a 
transmission or genetic predispositions, PD, like the other proteinopathies, are 
reputed to occur spontaneously (atpical animal prion strains, sporadic CJD 
summing 80% of human prion cases). Non-human primate models provided the first 
evidences supporting the transmissibiity of human prion strains and the zoonotic 
potential of BSE. Among them, cynomolgus macaques brought major information for 
BSE risk assessment for human health (Chen, 2014), according to their 
phylogenetic proximity to humans and extended lifetime. We used this model to 
assess the zoonotic potential of other animal PD from bovine, ovine and cervid 
origins even after very long silent incubation periods. 
*** We recently observed the direct transmission of a natural classical 
scrapie isolate to macaque after a 10-year silent incubation period, 
***with features similar to some reported for human cases of sporadic CJD, 
albeit requiring fourfold long incubation than BSE. Scrapie, as recently evoked 
in humanized mice (Cassard, 2014), 
***is the third potentially zoonotic PD (with BSE and L-type BSE), 
***thus questioning the origin of human sporadic cases. We will present an 
updated panorama of our different transmission studies and discuss the 
implications of such extended incubation periods on risk assessment of animal PD 
for human health. 
=============== 
***thus questioning the origin of human sporadic cases*** 
=============== 
***our findings suggest that possible transmission risk of H-type BSE to 
sheep and human. Bioassay will be required to determine whether the PMCA 
products are infectious to these animals. 
============== 
Research Project: TRANSMISSION, DIFFERENTIATION, AND PATHOBIOLOGY OF 
TRANSMISSIBLE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHIES 
Title: Transmission of scrapie prions to primate after an extended silent 
incubation period 
Authors 
item Comoy, Emmanuel - item Mikol, Jacqueline - item Luccantoni-Freire, 
Sophie - item Correia, Evelyne - item Lescoutra-Etchegaray, Nathalie - item 
Durand, Valérie - item Dehen, Capucine - item Andreoletti, Olivier - item 
Casalone, Cristina - item Richt, Juergen item Greenlee, Justin item Baron, 
Thierry - item Benestad, Sylvie - item Hills, Bob - item Brown, Paul - item 
Deslys, Jean-Philippe - 
Submitted to: Scientific Reports Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal 
Publication Acceptance Date: May 28, 2015 Publication Date: June 30, 2015 
Citation: Comoy, E.E., Mikol, J., Luccantoni-Freire, S., Correia, E., 
Lescoutra-Etchegaray, N., Durand, V., Dehen, C., Andreoletti, O., Casalone, C., 
Richt, J.A., Greenlee, J.J., Baron, T., Benestad, S., Brown, P., Deslys, J. 
2015. Transmission of scrapie prions to primate after an extended silent 
incubation period. Scientific Reports. 5:11573. 
Interpretive Summary: The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (also 
called prion diseases) are fatal neurodegenerative diseases that affect animals 
and humans. The agent of prion diseases is a misfolded form of the prion protein 
that is resistant to breakdown by the host cells. Since all mammals express 
prion protein on the surface of various cells such as neurons, all mammals are, 
in theory, capable of replicating prion diseases. One example of a prion 
disease, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE; also called mad cow disease), 
has been shown to infect cattle, sheep, exotic undulates, cats, non-human 
primates, and humans when the new host is exposed to feeds or foods contaminated 
with the disease agent. The purpose of this study was to test whether non-human 
primates (cynomologous macaque) are susceptible to the agent of sheep scrapie. 
After an incubation period of approximately 10 years a macaque developed 
progressive clinical signs suggestive of neurologic disease. Upon postmortem 
examination and microscopic examination of tissues, there was a widespread 
distribution of lesions consistent with a transmissible spongiform 
encephalopathy. This information will have a scientific impact since it is the 
first study that demonstrates the transmission of scrapie to a non-human primate 
with a close genetic relationship to humans. This information is especially 
useful to regulatory officials and those involved with risk assessment of the 
potential transmission of animal prion diseases to humans. Technical Abstract: 
Classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (c-BSE) is an animal prion disease 
that also causes variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. Over the past 
decades, c-BSE's zoonotic potential has been the driving force in establishing 
extensive protective measures for animal and human health. 
*** In complement to the recent demonstration that humanized mice are 
susceptible to scrapie, we report here the first observation of direct 
transmission of a natural classical scrapie isolate to a macaque after a 10-year 
incubation period. Neuropathologic examination revealed all of the features of a 
prion disease: spongiform change, neuronal loss, and accumulation of PrPres 
throughout the CNS. 
*** This observation strengthens the questioning of the harmlessness of 
scrapie to humans, at a time when protective measures for human and animal 
health are being dismantled and reduced as c-BSE is considered controlled and 
being eradicated. 
*** Our results underscore the importance of precautionary and protective 
measures and the necessity for long-term experimental transmission studies to 
assess the zoonotic potential of other animal prion strains. 
why do we not want to do TSE transmission studies on chimpanzees $ 
5. A positive result from a chimpanzee challenged severly 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. 
snip... 
R. BRADLEY 
”The occurrence of CWD must be viewed against the contest of the locations 
in which it occurred. It was an incidental and unwelcome complication of the 
respective wildlife research programmes. Despite it’s subsequent recognition as 
a new disease of cervids, therefore justifying direct investigation, no specific 
research funding was forthcoming. The USDA veiwed it as a wildlife problem and 
consequently not their province!” page 26. 
In Confidence - Perceptions of unconventional slow virus diseases of 
animals in the USA - APRIL-MAY 1989 - G A H Wells 
3. Prof. A. Robertson gave a brief account of BSE. The US approach was to 
accord it a very low profile indeed. Dr. A Thiermann showed the picture in the 
''Independent'' with cattle being incinerated and thought this was a fanatical 
incident to be avoided in the US at all costs. ... 
Evidence That Transmissible Mink Encephalopathy Results from Feeding 
Infected Cattle Over the next 8-10 weeks, approximately 40% of all the adult 
mink on the farm died from TME. 
snip... 
The rancher was a ''dead stock'' feeder using mostly (>95%) downer 
or dead dairy cattle... 
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).*** 
Saturday, May 30, 2015 
PRION 2015 ORAL AND POSTER CONGRESSIONAL ABSTRACTS 
Wednesday, June 10, 2015 
Zoonotic Potential of CWD Prions LATE-BREAKING ABSTRACTS 
2015 PDA Virus & TSE Safety Forum Meeting Report 
>>>Recently transmission of prions from blood of patients with 
sporadic CJD to humanized mice could be demonstrated.<<< 
>>>Further-on, urine samples of a control population (normal and 
neurological population) showed no signal in the study; *** however, in samples 
from patients with sporadic CJD and vCJD, a signal was detected in both patient 
populations.<<< 
Meeting Report: 2015 PDA Virus & TSE Safety Forum 
Monday, May 09, 2016 
A comparison of classical and H-type bovine spongiform encephalopathy 
associated with E211K prion protein polymorphism in wild type and EK211 cattle 
following intracranial inoculation 
Sunday, May 08, 2016 
WISCONSIN CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CWD TSE PRION SPIRALING FURTHER INTO THE 
ABYSS UPDATE 
Friday, April 22, 2016 
COLORADO CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CWD TSE PRION SURVEILLANCE AND TESTING 
PROGRAM IS MINIMAL AND LIMITED 
Tuesday, May 03, 2016 
Arkansas Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion and Elk Restoration Project 
and Hunkering Down in the BSE Situation Room USDA 1998 
Wednesday, April 27, 2016 
WYOMING GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE MANAGEMENT PLAN 
APRIL 22, 2016 
Friday, April 22, 2016 
Missouri MDC finds seven new cases of ChronicWasting Disease CWD during 
past‐season testing 
Wednesday, April 20, 2016 
UTAH CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CWD TSE PRION SURVEILLANCE AND TESTING PROGRAM 
70 mule deer and two elk have tested positive 
KANSAS CWD CASES ALARMING 
Wednesday, March 02, 2016 Kansas Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion 52 
cases 2015 updated report 'ALARMING' 
Tuesday, February 02, 2016 
Illinois six out of 19 deer samples tested positive for CWD in the Oswego 
zone of Kendall County 
Tuesday, April 12, 2016 
*** The first detection of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Europe 
***
Friday, April 22, 2016 
Texas Scrapie Confirmed in a Hartley County Sheep where CWD was detected in 
a Mule Deer 
Wednesday, May 04, 2016 
TPWD proposes the repeal of §§65.90 -65.94 and new §§65.90 -65.99 
Concerning Chronic Wasting Disease - Movement of Deer Singeltary Comment 
Submission 
Saturday, April 02, 2016 
TEXAS TAHC BREAKS IT'S SILENCE WITH TWO MORE CASES CWD CAPTIVE DEER 
BRINGING TOTAL TO 10 CAPTIVES REPORTED TO DATE 
Friday, February 26, 2016 
TEXAS Hartley County Mule Deer Tests Positive for Chronic Wasting Disease 
CWD TSE Prion 
SEE UPDATE ON CWD OUTBREAK IN OTHER STATES USA
Thursday, March 31, 2016 
*** Chronic Wasting Disease CWD TSE Prion Roundup USA 2016 ***
Saturday, April 16, 2016 
APHIS [Docket No. APHIS-2016-0029] Secretary's Advisory Committee on Animal 
Health; Meeting May 2, 2016, and June 16, 2016 Singeltary Submission 
Sunday, May 1, 2016 
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research 25th Meeting of: The 
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Advisory Committee June 1, 2015 
Transcript 
AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
Tuesday, May 10, 2016 
Accessing transmissibility and diagnostic marker of skin prions 
Terry S. Singeltary Sr.

0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home