Deer Spread Fatal Disease Long Before Showing Any Symptoms

Study on Chronic Wasting Disease in Wild Deer

According to НВ — Техно: A study published in Science Advances has revealed that chronic wasting disease (CWD) in wild deer can be transmitted well before symptoms appear. The illness is caused by infectious proteins called prions, not by viruses or bacteria. CWD is always fatal for infected animals. In North America, the disease continues to spread into new areas, including the province of Alberta.

According to the research, infected animals can be contagious long before visible signs emerge. They shed prions through urine and feces for months or even years before clinical symptoms show up. No confirmed human cases have been reported, but researchers are concerned about potential risks. Hermann Schaetzl noted:

“By the time clinical signs appear, the animal has often been infectious for a long time.” - Hermann Schaetzl

He added that “the risk is linked to the prevalence” of this disease.

Vaccine Development and Results

A team from the University of Calgary working on a vaccine has seen encouraging results in mouse models. Vaccinated animals shed fewer infectious prions at both early and late stages of the disease and lived longer after infection. “If we can reduce prion shedding, we might be able to reduce disease transmission,” said Samia Hannaoui.

The researchers emphasize that “we are not dealing with a single fixed pathogen,” highlighting the difficulty of combating these infectious proteins. Schaetzl added that “prion strains evolve, and this evolution affects how the disease develops.”

These new findings underscore the need for further study of CWD and the development of strategies to control its spread among wild animals. Understanding disease transmission mechanisms and the potential for a vaccine could significantly impact prevention and risk reduction for CWD, not only for wild deer but also for potentially vulnerable species. This research may also represent an important step in fighting other prion-caused diseases, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to wildlife health management.