Prion
Diseases Among Deer can be Transmitted Horizontally
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The
prion diseases in themselves are a nightmare. Recent
research carried out by Miller and Williams at the
Colorado Division of Wildlife, Wildlife Research
Center, Fort Collins has provided evidence of horizontal
transmission among deer.
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Horizontal
transmission is the way many infectious diseases spread
- from animal to animal unlike inherited disease which
spread from mother to offspring.
In their
study, the investigators found the incidence of chronic
wasting disease (CWD) in captive mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus)
due to horizontal transmission to be rather high - 89%.
Reference
Nature. 2003 Sep 4;425(6953):35-6. Prion disease: horizontal
prion transmission in mule deer. Miller MW, Williams ES.
Colorado Division of Wildlife, Wildlife Research Center,
Fort Collins, Colorado 80526, USA. mike.miller@state.co.us
