Chronic wasting disease, or CWD is a prion disease that affects several cervid species: deer, elk, reindeer, sika deer and moose. It has been found in some areas of North America, including three provinces in Canada and at least 26 states.
My guest today has expressed concern that it is probable that human cases of CWD associated with the consumption of contaminated meat will be documented in the years ahead.
This has prompted the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota to launch the Chronic Wasting Disease Response, Research and Policy Program (CWD Program).
Joining me today is the director of CIDRAP, Michael Osterholm, PhD.
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I was disappointed with the interview on this podcast. Most reputable prion research groups in North America suggest it is highly unlikely that humans will develop TSE from the CWD prion because of a genetic block to the prions’ ability to cause disease in humans. These researchers include the National Institute of Health and the University of California. My suggestion to you would be to do a follow-up interview with these prion research groups to get a realistic, unbiased opinion on this subject. While I support the need for funding CWD research, causing alarm with scientifically unsubstantiated opinion is unnecessary and misleading.
It was also suggested that farmed cervidae are the culprit in spreading the CWD prion to the wild population. This again is misleading in that while it is true that there have been farmed cervidae that have become infected with the prion, it is far more likely that environmental exposure to the prion which is spread by predators, improper disposal of hunter and road-killed carcasses and migration of wild infected deer have caused the majority of the infection in the wild population. Farmed cervidae in Minnesota are under very thorough surveillance through testing of harvested and deceased deer. These farms have an 85% testing compliance in Minnesota. Conversely, less than .1% of the wild harvested deer in Minnesota are tested for CWD. It is therefore at least 30 times (Indiana Study) more likely that a farmed cervid will be found positive than a wild deer given the same infection rate across the groups. Statistics show that even in states with no cervidae farms, CWD is present in the wild deer and is increasing in prevalence.
Further research including the likelihood of genetic resistance and decisions based on scientific facts are necessary to move forward to control this disease in both the wild and captive cervidae. Political agenda and personal unscientific bias will only interfere with our ability to arrive at management and control of CWD.