Mechanisms of chronic wasting disease (CWD) transmissionproject period: 01 02 2025 - 12 31 2029ABSTRACT summary: chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurologic disease of wildlife in the deer family…

This federal Cooperative Agreement award of $365,846, provided by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the Cooperative Research Units (CFDA 15.812) program, will support research to deepen the understanding of the mechanisms of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) transmission in deer populations. The University of Wisconsin-Madison will conduct this 5-year project, which aims to address key knowledge gaps around CWD, including prion detection and variation, environmental transmission, susceptibility of sympatric species, and the fate of CWD prions in ecosystems. The project will train a Ph.D. student and generate novel datasets and insights to benefit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and other stakeholders working to mitigate the spread of CWD across North America. The research findings will be disseminated through scientific and agency presentations, peer-reviewed publications, and technical reports.

Mechanisms of chronic wasting disease (CWD) transmissionproject period: 01 02 2025 - 12 31 2029ABSTRACT summary: chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurologic disease of wildlife in the deer family (cervidae), for which there is no cure or treatment. This disease is a major concern for the health of cervid populations in affected regions of north america. This makes chronic wasting disease a major management concern for wildlife agencies and understanding the principles of chronic wasting disease transmission is crucial for developing effective chronic wasting disease control strategies. Chronic wasting disease is caused by infectious misfolded proteins, called prions. These prions can be transmitted directly, from an infected to a susceptible host through close contact, or indirectly, through host contact with prions in the environment. Little is currently known about the environmental transmission pathway, and its importance in disease spread in deer populations. This project will address knowledge gaps around chronic wasting disease that focus on prion detection and variation, chronic wasting disease environmental transmission, the susceptibility of sympatric species and the fate of CWD prions in ecosystems. Activities to be performed - the objectives of this project are to conduct research that will deepen understanding of the mechanisms of chronic wasting disease transmission and to develop the conservation workforce through graduate education. Deliverables and expected outcomes -this project will train and support a PH.d. Student in the comparative biomedical sciences program at university of wisconsin - madison. The project will generate novel datasets and insights into prion variation and environmental transmission risk. Recipient will disseminate findings via scientific and agency presentations, peer-reviewed publications, and technical reports. Annual progress reports will be provided at the end of each year and a final report will be submitted to the relevant land and wildlife management authorities and researchers 90 days post-project. Intended beneficiary(IES) -project outcomes will directly benefit the wisconsin department of natural resources, with findings on environmental transmission risk conducted in a high-prevalence area where the disease was first detected in wisconsin. Project results will also benefit stakeholders working to understand and slow the spread of chronic wasting disease across north america, including federal, state and tribal agencies in at-risk areas. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award -n a