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Hoar BR, Ernest HB, Johnson LNL, LaCava MEF, Sandidge DJ, Gerow K, Mousel MR, Galloway NL, Swain W, Malmberg JL. Ecology and Chronic Wasting Disease Epidemiology Shape Prion Protein Gene Variation in Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni). J Wildl Dis 2024; 60:496-501. [PMID: 38287919 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-23-00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
As chronic wasting disease (CWD) continues to spread across North America, the relationship between CWD and host genetics has become of interest. In Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni), one or two copies of a leucine allele at codon 132 of the prion protein gene (132L*) has been shown to prolong the incubation period of CWD. Our study examined the relationship between CWD epidemiology and codon 132 evolution in elk from Wyoming, USA, from 2011 to 2018. Using PCR and Sanger sequencing, we genotyped 997 elk and assessed the relationship between genotype and CWD prevalence estimated from surveillance data. Using logistic regression, we showed that each 1% increase in CWD prevalence is associated with a 9.6% increase in the odds that an elk would have at least one copy of leucine at codon 132. In some regions, however, 132L* variants were found in the absence of CWD, indicating that evolutionary and epidemiologic patterns can be heterogeneous across space and time. We also provide evidence that naturally occurring CWD is not rare in 132L* elk, which merits the study of shedding kinetics in 132L* elk and the influence of genotype on CWD strain diversity. The management implications of cervid adaptations to CWD are difficult to predict. Studies that investigate the degree to which evolutionary outcomes are shaped by host spatial structure can provide useful epidemiologic insight, which can in turn aid management by informing scale and extent of mitigation actions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laura N L Johnson
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, 1212 South Adams Street, Laramie, Wyoming 82070, USA
| | - Melanie E F LaCava
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | | | - Ken Gerow
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Wyoming, 1000 East University Avenue, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, USA
| | - Michelle R Mousel
- Animal Disease Research, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, 2020 Northeast Wilson Road, Pullman, Washington 99163, USA
- School for Global Health, Washington State University, 1155 Northeast College Avenue, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA
| | - Nathan L Galloway
- Biological Resources Division, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive #200, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525, USA
| | - William Swain
- One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Jennifer L Malmberg
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, 1174 Snowy Range Road, Laramie, Wyoming 82070, USA
- Current affiliation: National Wildlife Research Center, Wildlife Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, US Department of Agriculture, 4101 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA
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Cook M, Hensley-McBain T, Grindeland A. Mouse models of chronic wasting disease: A review. FRONTIERS IN VIROLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fviro.2023.1055487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Animal models are essential tools for investigating and understanding complex prion diseases like chronic wasting disease (CWD), an infectious prion disease of cervids (elk, deer, moose, and reindeer). Over the past several decades, numerous mouse models have been generated to aid in the advancement of CWD knowledge and comprehension. These models have facilitated the investigation of pathogenesis, transmission, and potential therapies for CWD. Findings have impacted CWD management and disease outcomes, though much remains unknown, and a cure has yet to be discovered. Studying wildlife for CWD effects is singularly difficult due to the long incubation time, subtle clinical signs at early stages, lack of convenient in-the-field live testing methods, and lack of reproducibility of a controlled laboratory setting. Mouse models in many cases is the first step to understanding the mechanisms of disease in a shortened time frame. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of studies with mouse models in CWD research. We begin by reviewing studies that examined the use of mouse models for bioassays for tissues, bodily fluids, and excreta that spread disease, then address routes of infectivity and infectious load. Next, we delve into studies of genetic factors that influence protein structure. We then move on to immune factors, possible transmission through environmental contamination, and species barriers and differing prion strains. We conclude with studies that make use of cervidized mouse models in the search for therapies for CWD.
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Cubaynes S, Brandell EE, Stahler DR, Smith DW, Almberg ES, Schindler S, Wayne RK, Dobson AP, vonHoldt BM, MacNulty DR, Cross PC, Hudson PJ, Coulson T. Disease outbreaks select for mate choice and coat color in wolves. Science 2022; 378:300-303. [PMID: 36264784 DOI: 10.1126/science.abi8745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
We know much about pathogen evolution and the emergence of new disease strains, but less about host resistance and how it is signaled to other individuals and subsequently maintained. The cline in frequency of black-coated wolves (Canis lupus) across North America is hypothesized to result from a relationship with canine distemper virus (CDV) outbreaks. We tested this hypothesis using cross-sectional data from wolf populations across North America that vary in the prevalence of CDV and the allele that makes coats black, longitudinal data from Yellowstone National Park, and modeling. We found that the frequency of CDV outbreaks generates fluctuating selection that results in heterozygote advantage that in turn affects the frequency of the black allele, optimal mating behavior, and black wolf cline across the continent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Cubaynes
- CEFE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE-PSL University, IRD, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Ellen E Brandell
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16802, USA
| | - Daniel R Stahler
- Yellowstone Center for Resources, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA
| | - Douglas W Smith
- Yellowstone Center for Resources, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA
| | - Emily S Almberg
- Wildlife Division, Montana Fish Wildlife & Park, Bozeman, MT 59718, USA
| | - Susanne Schindler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1QU, UK
| | - Robert K Wayne
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Andrew P Dobson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.,Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA
| | - Bridgett M vonHoldt
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Daniel R MacNulty
- Department of Wildland Resources and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Paul C Cross
- US Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Bozeman, MT 59715, USA
| | - Peter J Hudson
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16802, USA
| | - Tim Coulson
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
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Perrin-Stowe TI, Ishida Y, Reed DM, Terrill EE, Ryder OA, Novakofski JE, Mateus-Pinilla NE, Pukazhenthi BS, Roca AL. Extrapolating the susceptibility of Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldii thamin) to chronic wasting disease from prion protein gene (PRNP) polymorphisms. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.1007100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion disease of North American cervids. The transmission of CWD to endangered cervid species is of concern for captive breeding programs. Trans-species transmission could occur via direct contact with infected wild deer, or via prion contaminated fomites. Variation in the prion protein gene, PRNP, is associated with differences in CWD susceptibility among cervids. We therefore sequenced PRNP in 36 endangered Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldii thamin), detecting five synonymous and two non-synonymous SNPs. Three haplotypes were inferred, suggesting that genetic management in captive breeding programs has been effective at maintaining PRNP diversity. The haplotypes encoded two PrP protein variants. The more common Eld’s deer PrP variant encodes methionine at codon 208 and glutamine at codon 226. Because this protein variant is identical to a common PrP variant in white-tailed deer and mule deer and is especially common in white-tailed deer positive for CWD, we recommend reducing the frequency of this variant in the breeding stock, while implementing strict management practices to avoid exposure to wild North American cervids. The frequency of the other PrP variant, which differs from variants present in these North American cervids, was low. It has the potential to reduce susceptibility to CWD and thus could be increased in frequency. While PRNP haplotype frequencies should be shifted, genetic diversity should be maintained. Ultimately protein diversity may be protective should CWD infect the species, and trans-species polymorphisms are suggestive of past balancing selection and a potential fitness advantage for PRNP diversity.
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Brandell EE, Cross PC, Smith DW, Rogers W, Galloway N, MacNulty DR, Stahler DR, Treanor J, Hudson PJ. Examination of the interaction between age-specific predation and chronic disease in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:1373-1384. [PMID: 34994978 PMCID: PMC9912199 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Predators may create healthier prey populations by selectively removing diseased individuals. Predators typically prefer some ages of prey over others, which may, or may not, align with those prey ages that are most likely to be diseased. The interaction of age-specific infection and predation has not been previously explored and likely has sizable effects on disease dynamics. We hypothesize that predator cleansing effects will be greater when the disease and predation occur in the same prey age groups. We examine the predator cleansing effect using a model where both vulnerability to predators and pathogen prevalence vary with age. We tailor this model to chronic wasting disease (CWD) in mule deer and elk populations in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, with empirical data from Yellowstone grey wolves and cougars. Model results suggest that under moderate, yet realistic, predation pressure from cougars and wolves independently, predators may decrease CWD outbreak size substantially and delay the accumulation of symptomatic deer and elk. The magnitude of this effect is driven by the ability of predators to selectively remove late-stage CWD infections that are likely the most responsible for transmission, but this may not be the age class they typically select. Thus, predators that select for infected young adults over uninfected juveniles have a stronger cleansing effect, and these effects are strengthened when transmission rates increase with increasing prey morbidity. There are also trade-offs from a management perspective-that is, increasing predator kill rates can result in opposing forces on prey abundance and CWD prevalence. Our modelling exploration shows that predators have the potential to reduce prevalence in prey populations when prey age and disease severity are considered, yet the strength of this effect is influenced by predators' selection for demography or body condition. Current CWD management focuses on increasing cervid hunting as the primary management tool, and our results suggest predators may also be a useful tool under certain conditions, but not necessarily without additional impacts on host abundance and demography. Protected areas with predator populations will play a large role in informing the debate over predator impacts on disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen E. Brandell
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics and Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of the Life SciencesPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPAUSA,Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Forest and Wildlife EcologyUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
| | - Paul C. Cross
- U.S. Geological SurveyNorthern Rocky Mountain Science CenterBozemanMTUSA
| | - Douglas W. Smith
- Yellowstone Center for ResourcesYellowstone National ParkWyomingWYUSA
| | - Will Rogers
- Department of EcologyMontana State UniversityBozemanMTUSA
| | | | | | - Daniel R. Stahler
- Yellowstone Center for ResourcesYellowstone National ParkWyomingWYUSA
| | - John Treanor
- Yellowstone Center for ResourcesYellowstone National ParkWyomingWYUSA
| | - Peter J. Hudson
- Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics and Department of Biology, Huck Institutes of the Life SciencesPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPAUSA
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Silva CJ. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Cervids and the Consequences of a Mutable Protein Conformation. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:12474-12492. [PMID: 35465121 PMCID: PMC9022204 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c00155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion disease of cervids (deer, elk, moose, etc.). It spreads readily from CWD-contaminated environments and among wild cervids. As of 2022, North American CWD has been found in 29 states, four Canadian provinces and South Korea. The Scandinavian form of CWD originated independently. Prions propagate their pathology by inducing a natively expressed prion protein (PrPC) to adopt the prion conformation (PrPSc). PrPC and PrPSc differ solely in their conformation. Like other prion diseases, transmissible CWD prions can arise spontaneously. The CWD prions can respond to selection pressures resulting in the emergence of new strain phenotypes. Annually, 11.5 million Americans hunt and harvest nearly 6 million deer, indicating that CWD is a potential threat to an important American food source. No tested CWD strain has been shown to be zoonotic. However, this may not be true for emerging strains. Should a zoonotic CWD strain emerge, it could adversely impact the hunting economy and game meat consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Silva
- Produce Safety & Microbiology
Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research
Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, California 94710, United States of America
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Ketz AC, Robinson SJ, Johnson CJ, Samuel MD. Pathogen‐mediated selection and management implications for white‐tailed deer exposed to chronic wasting disease. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alison C. Ketz
- Wisconsin Cooperative Research Unit Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology University of Wisconsin Madison WI USA
| | - Stacie J. Robinson
- NOAA Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Honolulu HI USA
| | - Chad J. Johnson
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology University of Wisconsin Madison WI USA
| | - Michael D. Samuel
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology University of Wisconsin Madison WI USA
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Fisher MC, Prioreschi RA, Wolfe LL, Runge JP, Griffin KA, Swanson HM, Miller MW. Apparent stability masks underlying change in a mule deer herd with unmanaged chronic wasting disease. Commun Biol 2022; 5:15. [PMID: 35017638 PMCID: PMC8752592 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02951-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The contagious prion disease "chronic wasting disease" (CWD) infects mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and related species. Unchecked epidemics raise ecological, socioeconomic, and public health concerns. Prion infection shortens a deer's lifespan, and when prevalence (proportion of adults infected) becomes sufficiently high CWD can affect herd dynamics. Understanding population responses over time is key to forecasting long-term impacts. Here we describe unexpected stability in prevalence and abundance in a mule deer herd where CWD has been left unmanaged. High apparent prevalence (~30%) since at least 2005 likely drove observed changes in the proportion and age distribution of wild-type native prion protein (PRNP) gene homozygotes among deer sampled. Predation by mountain lions (Puma concolor) may be helping keep CWD in check. Despite stable appearances, prion disease nonetheless impairs adult survival and likely resilience in this deer herd, limiting its potential for growth despite refuge from hunter harvest and favorable habitat and winter conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark C Fisher
- Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, 4330 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521-2153, USA
| | - Ryan A Prioreschi
- City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, 66 South Cherryvale Road, Boulder, Colorado, 80302, USA
| | - Lisa L Wolfe
- Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, 4330 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521-2153, USA
| | - Jonathan P Runge
- Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, 4330 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521-2153, USA
| | - Karen A Griffin
- Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, 4330 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521-2153, USA
| | - Heather M Swanson
- City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, 66 South Cherryvale Road, Boulder, Colorado, 80302, USA
| | - Michael W Miller
- Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, 4330 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521-2153, USA.
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