Chronic Wasting Disease

Abstract

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) belongs to a group of fatal neurodegenerative diseases in cervids and is an example of a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). An extraordinary feature of CWD is its relatively high incidence in wild animals, despite its capability to affect both captive and freeliving cervids. CWD infection in the wild appears to be limited to mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) [1], white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) [2], Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelson) [3], and Shiras moose (Alces alces shirasi) [4]. Within endemic areas, transmission occurs intraspeci- cally (among deer of the same species) and interspecically (among cervids of different species) through direct or indirect contact with infected cervids.