Chronic wasting disease in Wyoming cervids
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of cervids (deer, elk, moose and reindeer) first identified in Colorado and now detected in 26 additional states, three Canadian provinces, Scandinavia, and the Republic of Korea. Studies have demonstrated chronic wasting disease (CWD) as a direct cause of population declines in Wyoming mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), where CWD prevalence in some hunt areas exceed 50%. Currently CWD prevalence in elk (Cervus canadensis) is notably lower than in sympatric deer; however, there is evidence that population-level impacts of CWD on elk are likely in absence of improved strategies for disease control.
While much progress has been made toward understanding CWD pathogenesis and transmission, an inability to detect CWD during early stages and through non-invasive sampling remain critical limitations. Real-time quaking induced conversion (RT-QuIC) is an ultrasensitive experimental prion amplification technique designed for rapid, high-throughput, detection of prions in a variety of sample types. This technique allows for enhanced early detection of prions, and is thus suited to support a variety of studies that aim to better understand many facets of CWD, including animal-to-animal/environment-to-animal transmission dynamics, pathogenesis, tissue tropism/trafficking, genetic susceptibility, epidemiology, and prion evolution and ecology. Working with established and experienced collaborators, the Malmberg Lab aims to develop and implement RT-QuIC to support multiple current and future CWD studies that strive to better understand and mitigate CWD in Wyoming.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of cervids (deer, elk, moose and reindeer) first identified in Colorado and now detected in 26 additional states, three Canadian provinces, Scandinavia, and the Republic of Korea. Studies have demonstrated chronic wasting disease (CWD) as a direct cause of population declines in Wyoming mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), where CWD prevalence in some hunt areas exceed 50%. Currently CWD prevalence in elk (Cervus canadensis) is notably lower than in sympatric deer; however, there is evidence that population-level impacts of CWD on elk are likely in absence of improved strategies for disease control.
While much progress has been made toward understanding CWD pathogenesis and transmission, an inability to detect CWD during early stages and through non-invasive sampling remain critical limitations. Real-time quaking induced conversion (RT-QuIC) is an ultrasensitive experimental prion amplification technique designed for rapid, high-throughput, detection of prions in a variety of sample types. This technique allows for enhanced early detection of prions, and is thus suited to support a variety of studies that aim to better understand many facets of CWD, including animal-to-animal/environment-to-animal transmission dynamics, pathogenesis, tissue tropism/trafficking, genetic susceptibility, epidemiology, and prion evolution and ecology. Working with established and experienced collaborators, the Malmberg Lab aims to develop and implement RT-QuIC to support multiple current and future CWD studies that strive to better understand and mitigate CWD in Wyoming.
