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Sequence Variation within the Prion Protein Gene from White‐tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) of Northern Illinois
Author(s) -
Kelly Amy Catherine,
Jewell Emily,
MateusPinilla Nohra,
Beissel Tom,
Diffendorfer Jay,
Killefer John,
Novakofski Jan,
Shelton Paul
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a643
Subject(s) - prnp , chronic wasting disease , biology , odocoileus , genotype , locus (genetics) , transmissible spongiform encephalopathy , scrapie , allele , genetics , gene , virology , disease , prion protein , zoology , medicine , pathology
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a cervid transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), was first identified in Northern Illinois in 2002. CWD is a neuro‐degenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of an abnormal form of the prion protein. In addition to cervids, TSE’s are found in sheep (scrapie), cattle (Mad Cow Disease), and humans (Cruetzfeldt‐Jakob disease). In sheep certain genotypic variants of the prion protein gene (Prnp) offer resistance to scrapie allowing domestic breeders to select for resistant genotypes in attempts to control the disease. Though the efficacy of selection strategies in wild populations is unknown, our goal was to identify possible allelic variants related to CWD disease susceptibility. We sequenced Prnp from numerous white‐tailed deer in the CWD affected areas of Illinois to determine allelic variation. Tissues were obtained from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources CWD Surveillance program. We obtained DNA sequences by isolation of DNA followed by amplification of the Prnp gene locus via PCR. 19 CWD‐positive and 118 CWD‐negative deer displayed Prnp polymorphisms within the range of published sequences. No differences in allele frequencies between positive and negative groups could be associated with susceptibility. Deer sampled were from a restricted geographical area, and all deer within this region display low variation in genotypes at the Prnp locus. We continue to analyze data and are increasing sample size and geographic region represented.