Experimental oral transmission of chronic wasting disease to red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus): Early detection and late stage distribution of protease-resistant prion protein

Authors

Aru Balachandran, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Noel P. Harrington, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
James Algire, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Andrei Soutyrine, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Terry R. Spraker, Colorado State University - Fort Collins
Martin Jeffrey, Veterinary Laboratory Agency
Lorenzo González, Veterinary Laboratory Agency
Katherine I. O'Rourke, U.S. Department of AgricultureFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2010

Comments

Published in CVJ / VOL 51 / FEBRUARY 2010

Abstract

Chronic wasting disease (CWD), an important emerging prion disease of cervids, is readily transmitted by intracerebral or oral inoculation from deer-to-deer and elk-to-elk, suggesting the latter is a natural route of exposure. Studies of host range susceptibility to oral infection, particularly of those species found in habitats where CWD currently exists are imperative. This report describes the experimental transmission of CWD to red deer following oral inoculation with infectious CWD material of elk origin. At 18 to 20 months post-inoculation, mild to moderate neurological signs and weight loss were observed and animals were euthanized and tested using 3 conventional immunological assays. The data indicate that red deer are susceptible to oral challenge and that tissues currently used for CWD diagnosis show strong abnormal prion (PrPC^WD) accumulation. Widespread peripheral PrPC^WD deposition involves lymphoreticular tissues, endocrine tissues, and cardiac muscle and suggests a potential source of prion infectivity, a means of horizontal transmission and carrier state.