Prion forensics: a multidisciplinary approach to investigate CWD at an illegal deer carcass disposal site

Marc D. Schwabenlander; Jason C. Bartz; Michelle Carstensen; Alberto Fameli; Linda Glaser; Roxanne J. Larsen; Manci Li; Rachel L. Shoemaker; Gage Rowden; Suzanne Stone; W. David Walter; Tiffany M. Wolf; Peter A. Larsen

doi:10.1080/19336896.2024.2343298

Prion (Dec 2024)

Prion forensics: a multidisciplinary approach to investigate CWD at an illegal deer carcass disposal site

Marc D. Schwabenlander,
Jason C. Bartz,
Michelle Carstensen,
Alberto Fameli,
Linda Glaser,
Roxanne J. Larsen,
Manci Li,
Rachel L. Shoemaker,
Gage Rowden,
Suzanne Stone,
W. David Walter,
Tiffany M. Wolf,
Peter A. Larsen

Affiliations

Marc D. Schwabenlander: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
Jason C. Bartz: Minnesota Center for Prion Research and Outreach, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
Michelle Carstensen: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA
Alberto Fameli: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Health Program, Forest Lake, MN, USA
Linda Glaser: Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
Roxanne J. Larsen: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
Manci Li: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
Rachel L. Shoemaker: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
Gage Rowden: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
Suzanne Stone: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
W. David Walter: Minnesota Board of Animal Health, Farmed Cervidae Program, St. Paul, MN, USA
Tiffany M. Wolf: U.S. Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
Peter A. Larsen: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19336896.2024.2343298
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 18, no. 1
pp. 72 – 86

Abstract

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ABSTRACTInfectious prions are resistant to degradation and remain infectious in the environment for several years. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been detected in cervids inhabiting North America, the Nordic countries, and South Korea. CWD-prion spread is partially attributed to carcass transport and disposal. We employed a forensic approach to investigate an illegal carcass dump site connected with a CWD-positive herd. We integrated anatomic, genetic, and prion amplification methods to discover CWD-positive remains from six white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and, using microsatellite markers, confirmed a portion originated from the CWD-infected herd. This approach provides a foundation for future studies of carcass prion transmission risk.

Published in Prion

ISSN: 1933-6896 (Print); 1933-690X (Online)
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry: Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system; Science: Biology (General)
Website: https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/kprn

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