Infectious prions in the saliva and blood of deer with chronic wasting disease.
Mathiason CK,
Powers JG,
Dahmes SJ,
Osborn DA,
Miller KV,
Warren RJ,
Mason GL,
Hays SA,
Hayes-Klug J,
Seelig DM,
Wild MA,
Wolfe LL,
Spraker TR,
Miller MW,
Sigurdson CJ,
Telling GC,
Hoover EA.
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences (CVMBS), Colorado State University (CSU), Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
A critical concern in the transmission of prion diseases, including chronic wasting disease (CWD) of cervids, is the potential presence of prions in body fluids. To address this issue directly, we exposed cohorts of CWD-naïve deer to saliva, blood, or urine and feces from CWD-positive deer. We found infectious prions capable of transmitting CWD in saliva (by the oral route) and in blood (by transfusion). The results help to explain the facile transmission of CWD among cervids and prompt caution concerning contact with body fluids in prion infections.
PMID: 17023660 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]