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Published on: September 29, 2017
Experimental chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the ferret
C J Sigurdson1, C K Mathiason, M R Perrott
1Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1619, USA.
Journal of Comparative Pathology
|April 5, 2008
Summary
Ferrets experimentally infected with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) developed neurological signs after intracerebral inoculation. Oral CWD infection was not successful, indicating ferrets may be resistant to oral transmission.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Prion Disease Research
- Wildlife Disease Epidemiology
Background:
- Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy affecting cervids.
- The potential host range and transmission routes of CWD are not fully understood.
- Ferrets are a potential model for studying prion diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the susceptibility of ferrets to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
- To investigate the effects of intracerebral (IC) and oral (PO) inoculation routes of CWD in ferrets.
- To characterize the pathological and biochemical features of CWD in ferrets.
Main Methods:
- Ferrets were inoculated with CWD brain material via IC or PO routes.
- Neurological signs and disease progression were monitored.
- Post-mortem examination included histopathology and PrP(CWD) detection using western blots.
- Prion infectivity was assessed through sub-passage experiments.
Main Results:
- Intracerebral inoculation led to CWD development in ferrets within 15-20 months, with reduced incubation periods upon sub-passage.
- Neuropathological findings included spongiform changes and PrP(CWD) deposition, resembling cervid CWD.
- Oral inoculation did not result in CWD development, even after extended observation periods.
- Biochemical analysis showed a PrP(CWD) glycoform profile similar to deer CWD.
Conclusions:
- Ferrets are susceptible to CWD via intracerebral inoculation, developing a disease with features similar to cervid CWD.
- Ferrets appear relatively resistant to oral CWD infection from deer-derived inoculum.
- These findings contribute to understanding CWD host range and transmission dynamics.
