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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Virus and Prion Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #167763
Title: EXPERIMENTAL CROSS-SPECIES TRANSMISSION OF CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE (CWD) AT THE NATIONAL ANIMAL DISEASE CENTER (NADC), AMES, IOWA: AN UPDATE

Author
item Hamir, Amirali

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/29/2004
Publication Date: 10/14/2004
Citation: Hamir, A.N. 2004. Experimental cross-species transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) at the National Animal Disease Center (NADC), Ames, Iowa: an update [abstract]. Animal Prion Diseases and the Americas. p. 42.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Experimental cross-species transmission of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) provides valuable information for identification of potential host ranges, and generates much needed prion-infected tissues for research. At NADC, studies utilizing CWD agent(s) were initiated in 1997. However, since these studies involve long incubation periods under BL-2 conditions, to date only one study has been completed. Initially our studies were restricted to farm livestock (cattle and sheep). However, as a result of increased demand from our stakeholders, we now also conduct research on wildlife (herbivores and carnivores). Following are some of the significant findings of past and on-going experiments at NADC: Completed study: CATTLE: Intracerebral inoculation of CWD-mule-deer resulted in amplification of PrPres in a small number of inoculated cattle (5 of 13; 38%). However, none of the animals with PrPres had classic histopathologic lesions of spongiform encephalopathy. Studies utilizing CWD-elk and CWD-white-tailed-deer in cattle are in progress. Preliminary findings of ongoing CWD experiments in other species indicate that: 1. SHEEP: CWD-mule-deer can be transmitted intracerebrally to sheep (1 of 8; 5 yrs PI). 2. WHITE-TAILED DEER: CWD-elk, CWD-white-tailed-deer, and CWD-mule-deer are pathogenic for white-tailed deer (60%; 2 yrs PI). 3. FALLOW DEER: Compared with other cervids studies, appear to be resistant to intracerebral inoculation of CWD-elk and CWD-white-tailed-deer (0%; 2 yrs PI). White-tailed deer with CWD-mule-deer are pending. 4. RACCOONS: TME and scrapie can be transmitted within 6 months and 2 years, respectively, whereas CWD cannot. (Therefore, may be possible to differentiate these 3 TSE agents in raccoons). Study utilizing BSE in raccoons is pending.