Work

Failure To Detect Prion Infectivity in Ticks following Prion-Infected Blood Meal

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging prion disease that affects cervids, including mule deer, white-tailed deer, black-tailed deer, red deer reindeer, elk, and moose. The mechanism of CWD transmission in unknown. Due to the presence of prions in the blood of CWD-infected animals, it is possible for invertebrates that feed on cervid blood to contribute to the transmission of CWD. We examined the blood meal ofD.andersoni, a tick with a similar geographic range as cervids, that fed upon prion-infected hamsters for the presence of prion infectivity by animal bioassay. None of theD. andersoniblood meals that had been ingested from prion-infected hamsters yielded evidence of prion infection. Overall, the data do not support a role ofD. andersoniin the transmission of prion disease.

Source: mSphere

DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00741-20

Authors: Ronald A. Shikiya, Anthony E. Kincaid, Jason C. Bartz, Travis J. Bourret

Institution: Creighton University

Language: English

Topic: Prion Diseases and Protein Misfolding

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,500