Open AccessChronic Wasting Disease in Cervids: Implications for Prion Transmission to Humans and Other Animal Species
Author(s) -
Michael T. Osterholm,
Cory Anderson,
Mark D. Zabel,
Joni Scheftel,
Kristine A. Moore,
Brian S. Appleby
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
mbio
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.562
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 2161-2129
pISSN - 2150-7511
DOI - 10.1128/mbio.01091-19
Subject(s) - chronic wasting disease , bovine spongiform encephalopathy , transmissible spongiform encephalopathy , disease , transmission (telecommunications) , biology , wasting , zoology , prion protein , virology , medicine , scrapie , pathology , electrical engineering , engineering , endocrinology
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion-related transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of cervids, including deer, elk, reindeer, sika deer, and moose. CWD has been confirmed in at least 26 U.S. states, three Canadian provinces, South Korea, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, with a notable increase in the past 5 years. The continued geographic spread of this disease increases the frequency of exposure to CWD prions among cervids, humans, and other animal species. Since CWD is now an established wildlife disease in North America, proactive steps, where possible, should be taken to limit transmission of CWD among animals and reduce the potential for human exposure.