Chronic Wasting Disease Agents in Nonhuman Primates

Abstract

Chronic wasting disease is a prion disease of cervids. Assessment of its zoonotic potential is critical. To evaluate primate susceptibility, we tested monkeys from 2 genera. We found that 100% of intracerebrally inoculated and 92% of orally inoculated squirrel monkeys were susceptible, but cynomolgus macaques were not, suggesting possible low risk for humans.

Keywords

• Chronic wasting disease
• prion
• transmissible spongiform encephalopathy
• species barrier
• transmission
• non-human primate