Chronic wasting disease (CWD) affects cervids (elk, moose, mule deer, and white-tailed deer) throughout the U.S. CWD affects the nervous system in these animals and creates distinctive brain lesions. At this time, we have no treatment for CWD and it is fatal to the animals who contract it.
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CWD is caused by an infectious, irregular form of cellular prion protein. CWD can be directly and indirectly transmitted through the contact with saliva, urine, feces, and infected carcasses, or CWD contaminated environmental surfaces.
USGS scientists are studying CWD to determine how the disease is transmitted, whether sex and/or age of the animal play a role in infection, and whether a genetic resistance is present in some animals.
Frequently Asked Questions about CWD
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Filter Total Items: 23
Applying a Bayesian weighted surveillance approach to detect chronic wasting disease in white‐tailed deer
Surveillance is critical for early detection of emerging and re‐emerging infectious diseases. Weighted surveillance leverages heterogeneity in infection risk to increase sampling efficiency.Here, we apply a Bayesian approach to estimate weights for 16 surveillance classes of white‐tailed deer in Wisconsin, USA, relative to hunter‐harvested yearling males. We used these weights to conduct a surveil
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Christopher S. Jennelle, Daniel P. Walsh, Michael D. Samuel, Erik E. Osnas, Robert E. Rolley, Julia A. Langenberg, Jenny G. Powers, Ryan J. Monello, E. David Demarest, Rolf Gubler, Dennis M. Heisey
Chronic wasting disease—Status, science, and management support by the U.S. Geological Survey
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) investigates chronic wasting disease (CWD) at multiple science centers and cooperative research units across the Nation and supports the management of CWD through science-based strategies. CWD research conducted by USGS scientists has three strategies: (1) to understand the biology, ecology, and causes and distribution of CWD; (2) to assess and predict the spread
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Christina M. Carlson, M. Camille Hopkins, Natalie T. Nguyen, Bryan J. Richards, Daniel P. Walsh, W. David Walter
Endemic chronic wasting disease causes mule deer population decline in Wyoming
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal transmissible spongiform encephalopathy affecting white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni), and moose (Alces alces shirasi) in North America. In southeastern Wyoming average annual CWD prevalence in mule deer exceeds 20% and appears to contribute to regional population declines.
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Melia DeVivo, David R. Edmunds, Matthew J. Kauffman, Brant A. Schumaker, Justin Binfet, Terry J. Kreeger, Bryan J. Richards, Hermann M. Schatzl, Todd Cornish
Chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer: Infection, mortality, and implications for heterogeneous transmission
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting free-ranging and captive cervids that now occurs in 24 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. Despite the potential threat of CWD to deer populations, little is known about the rates of infection and mortality caused by this disease. We used epidemiological models to estimate the force of infection and disease-associated
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Michael D. Samuel, Daniel J. Storm
Identifying priority chronic wasting disease surveillance areas for mule deer in Montana
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal prion disease that affects a variety of ungulate species including mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). As of 2014, no CWD cases had been reported in free-ranging ungulates in Montana. However, nearby cases in Canada, Wyoming, and the Dakotas indicated that the disease was encroaching on Montana's borders. Mule deer are native and common throughout Montana, and
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Robin E. Russell, Justin Gude, N.J. Anderson, Jennifer M. Ramsey
Assessing transmissible spongiform encephalopathy species barriers with an in vitro prion protein conversion assay
Studies to understanding interspecies transmission of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs, prion diseases) are challenging in that they typically rely upon lengthy and costly in vivo animal challenge studies. A number of in vitro assays have been developed to aid in measuring prion species barriers, thereby reducing animal use and providing quicker results than animal bioassays. Here,
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Christopher J. Johnson, Christina M. Carlson, Aaron R. Morawski, Alyson Manthei, Neil R. Cashman
Using landscape epidemiological models to understand the distribution of chronic wasting disease in the Midwestern USA
Animal movement across the landscape plays a critical role in the ecology of infectious wildlife diseases. Dispersing animals can spread pathogens between infected areas and naïve populations. While tracking free-ranging animals over the geographic scales relevant to landscape-level disease management is challenging, landscape features that influence gene flow among wildlife populations may also i
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Stacie J. Robinson, Michael D. Samuel, Robert E. Rolley, Paul Shelton
In vitro prion protein conversion suggests risk of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies
Background: Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) affect both domestic sheep (scrapie) and captive and free-ranging cervids (chronic wasting disease; CWD). The geographical range of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis; BHS) overlaps with states or provinces that have contained scrapie-positive sheep or goats and areas with present epizootics of CWD in cervids. No TSEs have been documented in
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Christopher J. Johnson, A.R. Morawski, C.M. Carlson, H. Chang
Association mapping of genetic risk factors for chronic wasting disease in wild deer
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal transmissible spongiform encephalopathy affecting North American cervids. We assessed the feasibility of association mapping CWD genetic risk factors in wild white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) using a panel of bovine microsatellite markers from three homologous deer linkage groups predicted to contain candidate ge
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Tomomi Matsumoto, Michael D. Samuel, Trent Bollinger, Margo Pybus, David W. Coltman
Evaluating spatial overlap and relatedness of white-tailed deer in a chronic wasting disease management zone
Wildlife disease transmission, at a local scale, can occur from interactions between infected and susceptible conspecifics or from a contaminated environment. Thus, the degree of spatial overlap and rate of contact among deer is likely to impact both direct and indirect transmission of infectious diseases such chronic wasting disease (CWD) or bovine tuberculosis. We identified a strong relationshi
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Michael D. Samuel, Seth B. Magle, Timothy R. Van Deelen, Stacie J. Robinson, Nancy E. Mathews
Deer density and disease prevalence influence transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease in White-tailed Deer
Host-parasite dynamics and strategies for managing infectious diseases of wildlife depend on the functional relationship between disease transmission rates and host density. However, the disease transmission function is rarely known for free-living wildlife, leading to uncertainty regarding the impacts of diseases on host populations and effective control actions. We evaluated the influence of dee
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Michael D. Samuel, Bryan J. Richards, Daniel J. Storm, Robert E. Rolley, Paul Shelton, Nicholas S. Keuler, Timothy R. Van Deelen
Prion protein degradation by lichens of the genus Cladonia
It has recently been discovered that lichens contain a serine protease capable of degrading the pathogenic prion protein, the etiological agent of prion diseases such as sheep scrapie and cervid chronic wasting disease. Limited methods are available to degrade or inactivate prion disease agents, especially in the environment, and lichens or their serine protease could prove important for managemen
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- Publications
Filter Total Items: 23
Applying a Bayesian weighted surveillance approach to detect chronic wasting disease in white‐tailed deer
Surveillance is critical for early detection of emerging and re‐emerging infectious diseases. Weighted surveillance leverages heterogeneity in infection risk to increase sampling efficiency.Here, we apply a Bayesian approach to estimate weights for 16 surveillance classes of white‐tailed deer in Wisconsin, USA, relative to hunter‐harvested yearling males. We used these weights to conduct a surveilAuthorsChristopher S. Jennelle, Daniel P. Walsh, Michael D. Samuel, Erik E. Osnas, Robert E. Rolley, Julia A. Langenberg, Jenny G. Powers, Ryan J. Monello, E. David Demarest, Rolf Gubler, Dennis M. HeiseyChronic wasting disease—Status, science, and management support by the U.S. Geological Survey
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) investigates chronic wasting disease (CWD) at multiple science centers and cooperative research units across the Nation and supports the management of CWD through science-based strategies. CWD research conducted by USGS scientists has three strategies: (1) to understand the biology, ecology, and causes and distribution of CWD; (2) to assess and predict the spreadAuthorsChristina M. Carlson, M. Camille Hopkins, Natalie T. Nguyen, Bryan J. Richards, Daniel P. Walsh, W. David WalterEndemic chronic wasting disease causes mule deer population decline in Wyoming
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal transmissible spongiform encephalopathy affecting white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni), and moose (Alces alces shirasi) in North America. In southeastern Wyoming average annual CWD prevalence in mule deer exceeds 20% and appears to contribute to regional population declines.AuthorsMelia DeVivo, David R. Edmunds, Matthew J. Kauffman, Brant A. Schumaker, Justin Binfet, Terry J. Kreeger, Bryan J. Richards, Hermann M. Schatzl, Todd CornishChronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer: Infection, mortality, and implications for heterogeneous transmission
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting free-ranging and captive cervids that now occurs in 24 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. Despite the potential threat of CWD to deer populations, little is known about the rates of infection and mortality caused by this disease. We used epidemiological models to estimate the force of infection and disease-associatedAuthorsMichael D. Samuel, Daniel J. StormIdentifying priority chronic wasting disease surveillance areas for mule deer in Montana
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal prion disease that affects a variety of ungulate species including mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). As of 2014, no CWD cases had been reported in free-ranging ungulates in Montana. However, nearby cases in Canada, Wyoming, and the Dakotas indicated that the disease was encroaching on Montana's borders. Mule deer are native and common throughout Montana, andAuthorsRobin E. Russell, Justin Gude, N.J. Anderson, Jennifer M. RamseyAssessing transmissible spongiform encephalopathy species barriers with an in vitro prion protein conversion assay
Studies to understanding interspecies transmission of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs, prion diseases) are challenging in that they typically rely upon lengthy and costly in vivo animal challenge studies. A number of in vitro assays have been developed to aid in measuring prion species barriers, thereby reducing animal use and providing quicker results than animal bioassays. Here,AuthorsChristopher J. Johnson, Christina M. Carlson, Aaron R. Morawski, Alyson Manthei, Neil R. CashmanUsing landscape epidemiological models to understand the distribution of chronic wasting disease in the Midwestern USA
Animal movement across the landscape plays a critical role in the ecology of infectious wildlife diseases. Dispersing animals can spread pathogens between infected areas and naïve populations. While tracking free-ranging animals over the geographic scales relevant to landscape-level disease management is challenging, landscape features that influence gene flow among wildlife populations may also iAuthorsStacie J. Robinson, Michael D. Samuel, Robert E. Rolley, Paul SheltonIn vitro prion protein conversion suggests risk of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies
Background: Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) affect both domestic sheep (scrapie) and captive and free-ranging cervids (chronic wasting disease; CWD). The geographical range of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis; BHS) overlaps with states or provinces that have contained scrapie-positive sheep or goats and areas with present epizootics of CWD in cervids. No TSEs have been documented inAuthorsChristopher J. Johnson, A.R. Morawski, C.M. Carlson, H. ChangAssociation mapping of genetic risk factors for chronic wasting disease in wild deer
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal transmissible spongiform encephalopathy affecting North American cervids. We assessed the feasibility of association mapping CWD genetic risk factors in wild white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) using a panel of bovine microsatellite markers from three homologous deer linkage groups predicted to contain candidate geAuthorsTomomi Matsumoto, Michael D. Samuel, Trent Bollinger, Margo Pybus, David W. ColtmanEvaluating spatial overlap and relatedness of white-tailed deer in a chronic wasting disease management zone
Wildlife disease transmission, at a local scale, can occur from interactions between infected and susceptible conspecifics or from a contaminated environment. Thus, the degree of spatial overlap and rate of contact among deer is likely to impact both direct and indirect transmission of infectious diseases such chronic wasting disease (CWD) or bovine tuberculosis. We identified a strong relationshiAuthorsMichael D. Samuel, Seth B. Magle, Timothy R. Van Deelen, Stacie J. Robinson, Nancy E. MathewsDeer density and disease prevalence influence transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease in White-tailed Deer
Host-parasite dynamics and strategies for managing infectious diseases of wildlife depend on the functional relationship between disease transmission rates and host density. However, the disease transmission function is rarely known for free-living wildlife, leading to uncertainty regarding the impacts of diseases on host populations and effective control actions. We evaluated the influence of deeAuthorsMichael D. Samuel, Bryan J. Richards, Daniel J. Storm, Robert E. Rolley, Paul Shelton, Nicholas S. Keuler, Timothy R. Van DeelenPrion protein degradation by lichens of the genus Cladonia
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