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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 25, 2025

Protocol for Assessing the Relative Effects of Environment and Genetics on Antler and Body Growth for a Long-lived Cervid

Protocol for Assessing the Relative Effects of Environment and Genetics on Antler and Body Growth for a Long-lived Cervid

Published on: August 8, 2017

Antler cannibalism in reindeer.

Atle Mysterud¹, Bjørnar Ytrehus², Michael A Tranulis³

¹Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Blindern, P.O. Box 1066, 0316, Oslo, Norway. atle.mysterud@ibv.uio.no.

Scientific Reports

|December 18, 2020

Summary

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in European reindeer may originate from antler cannibalism, a behavior that has increased with disease emergence. This suggests a potential

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Area of Science:

Veterinary Neurology
Wildlife Disease Ecology
Prion Disease Research

Background:

Prion diseases, such as Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), are fatal neurodegenerative disorders affecting cervids.
CWD is spreading in North America and has emerged in European reindeer, posing significant ecological and economic threats.
The origin of CWD in European reindeer remains unclear, necessitating investigation into potential novel emergence pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the potential role of antler cannibalism in the emergence of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in European reindeer.
To explore the hypothesis of a 'Kuru-analogue' origin for CWD in reindeer, linked to the ingestion of conspecific tissues.
To propose a model for the emergence of contagious CWD from a sporadic form under specific epidemiological conditions.

Main Methods:

Documentation of extensive antler cannibalism in a CWD-infected reindeer population in Norway.
Analysis of the temporal correlation between increased antler cannibalism and CWD emergence.
Review of prion disease pathology and strain selection principles to formulate a hypothesis.

Main Results:

A novel phenomenon of extensive antler cannibalism, including ingestion of vascularized antlers, was observed in Norwegian reindeer prior to shedding.
The extent of antler cannibalism has increased in recent decades, coinciding with the emergence of CWD.
The observed behavior presents a potential risk factor for prion disease emergence through conspecific tissue ingestion.

Conclusions:

Antler cannibalism in reindeer presents an intriguing possibility for a 'Kuru-analogue' origin of CWD in Europe.
A hypothesis is proposed for the emergence of contagious CWD from a sporadic form, driven by antler cannibalism and prion strain selection.
Further research is required to confirm the presence of prions in reindeer antlers and validate the proposed emergence pathway.