Chronic wasting disease

Definition

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy affecting cervids like deer, elk, and moose. It is caused by misfolded prion proteins that lead to severe neurological degeneration.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. CWD spreads through direct animal-to-animal contact or indirectly through contaminated environments.
2. There is no known cure or vaccine for CWD, making control and prevention critical.
3. Prions responsible for CWD are highly resistant to standard disinfection methods.
4. Infected animals may show symptoms such as drastic weight loss, stumbling, listlessness, and other neurologic symptoms.
5. Diagnosis of CWD typically involves post-mortem analysis of brain tissues.

Review Questions

• What type of protein is responsible for causing chronic wasting disease?
• How can chronic wasting disease be transmitted among cervids?
• Why is it difficult to disinfect areas contaminated with CWD prions?

Related terms

Prions: Misfolded proteins that cause various neurodegenerative diseases.

Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs): A group of progressive conditions affecting the brain and nervous system in humans and animals.

Kuru: A human TSE caused by prions, historically found in Papua New Guinea due to cannibalistic rituals.