Emergence of CWD strains

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Neuroscience
• Wildlife Biology

Background:

• Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a contagious prion disease affecting cervids like deer, elk, and moose.
• CWD strains exhibit varying biochemical and neuropathological properties, influencing interspecies transmission.
• The global spread of CWD necessitates a deeper understanding of its diverse strains.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and summarize the characteristics of currently identified CWD strains.
• To explore the influence of prion protein gene polymorphisms on CWD strain generation.
• To discuss the implications of cervids potentially harboring multiple CWD strains.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of characterized CWD strains.
• Analysis of prion protein gene polymorphisms in cervid hosts.
• Examination of evidence for co-infection with multiple CWD strains in individual animals.

Main Results:

• Ten distinct CWD strains have been characterized to date.
• Prion protein gene polymorphisms play a role in CWD strain diversity and emergence.
• Cervids may harbor more than one CWD strain, complicating disease analysis and host adaptation.

Conclusions:

• Understanding CWD strain diversity is crucial for effective disease management and mitigation strategies.
• Host genetic factors significantly influence the evolution and spread of CWD strains.
• The potential for co-infection with multiple CWD strains presents complex challenges for surveillance and control efforts.