Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that affects cervids, such as deer, elk, and moose. It is a fatal and degenerative neurological disorder characterized by the accumulation of an abnormal, infectious protein called a prion in the brain and other tissues of affected animals.
CWD is typically progressive and slowly impacts the central nervous system of the infected animal, leading to abnormal behavior, weight loss, loss of bodily functions, and eventually death. Early signs include excessive salivation, increased drinking and urination, listlessness, and altered feeding patterns. As the disease progresses, affected animals often exhibit behavioral changes such as repetitive walking patterns, decreased interaction with others, and reduced responsiveness to external stimuli.
This disease primarily spreads through direct animal-to-animal contact or exposure to environments contaminated with infectious prions shed by infected animals. It can persist in the environment for years and remains contagious even after the animal's death. It is crucial to note that no treatment or cure currently exists for CWD, and affected animals are not suitable for human consumption due to the potential risk of prion transmission.
Given the potential for CWD to impact wild cervid populations, management strategies, including surveillance, testing, and restrictions on the movement of potentially infected animals, are implemented to minimize its spread. Efforts also focus on the proper disposal of carcasses and the education of hunters and the public about the disease in order to mitigate its impact on cervid populations and to reduce the risk of transmission to other species.
