Chronic Wasting Disease
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.
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.
CWD Research by USGS & Partners
Find information on USGS science addressing CWD across the Nation in this interactive map. Search for projects by state or by species to find valuable information on research coming from each USGS Center or Cooperative Research Unit.
Current CWD Distribution
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been detected in 30 US states and four Canadian provinces. CWD has been detected in free-ranging cervids in 29 states and three provinces and in captive cervid facilities in 18 states and three provinces.
CWD Research
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.
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.
CWD Research by USGS & Partners
Find information on USGS science addressing CWD across the Nation in this interactive map. Search for projects by state or by species to find valuable information on research coming from each USGS Center or Cooperative Research Unit.
Current CWD Distribution
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been detected in 30 US states and four Canadian provinces. CWD has been detected in free-ranging cervids in 29 states and three provinces and in captive cervid facilities in 18 states and three provinces.