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Prion disease

Horizontal prion transmission in mule deer

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The gathering of deer during winter may foster the spread of chronic wasting disease.

Abstract

Epidemics of contagious prion1 diseases can be perpetuated by horizontal (animal to animal) and maternal (dam to offspring, before or after birth) transmission2,3,4,5,6,7, but the relative importance of each mechanism is unclear. Here we compare the incidence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in captive mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) that is attributable to horizontal or maternal transmission. We find that horizontal transmission is remarkably efficient, producing a high incidence of disease (89%) in a cohort of deer in which maternal transmission was improbable. Our results indicate that horizontal transmission is likely to be important in sustaining CWD epidemics.

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Figure 1

M. MILLER

Figure 2: Horizontal transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in captive mule deer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Colorado Division of Wildlife, Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, 80526, Colorado, USA

    Michael W. Miller

  2. Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, 82070, Wyoming, USA

    Elizabeth S. Williams

Authors
  1. Michael W. Miller
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  2. Elizabeth S. Williams
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael W. Miller.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Miller, M., Williams, E. Horizontal prion transmission in mule deer. Nature 425, 35–36 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/425035a

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