Prion Diseases Among Deer can be Transmitted Horizontally

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.

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