Like ‘Mad Cow,’ Chronic Wasting Disease in Deer Currently Has no Cure

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal illness that affects the brain, spinal cord, and many other tissues in deer, elk, and moose. The disease’s name comes from the most obvious symptom, dramatic weight loss.

CWD is one of a group of diseases called prion diseases or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Other TSEs include scrapie, in sheep and goats, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy – mad cow disease – in cattle. Prions are proteins that exist throughout the body but are most prevalent in the brain. Malformed prions lead to the disease.

Deer-to-human transmission of CWD is not known to occur under normal circumstances.

ARS scientists at the National Animal Disease Center (NADC) in Ames, IA, are investigating CWD. One approach is to develop a new test that can detect low levels of CWD in easily accessible samples, like saliva, feces, and nasal swabs. They’re also investigating biomarkers that can detect target proteins at ultra-low levels in the blood through a technique called single molecule array.

NADC researchers are investigating various rare prion protein genotypes in white-tailed deer. They are hoping to find a genotype that may be at least partially resistant to CWD. Even finding a genotype that could slow the onset of the disease would give producers a tool for managing deer on their farms.

While not normally considered an agricultural resource, the commercial deer breeding industry represents a $7.9 billion annual impact on the U.S. economy and supports more than 56,000 jobs.