Novel Type of Chronic Wasting Disease Detected in Moose (Alces Alces), Norway

Overview

Journal Emerg Infect Dis

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2018 Nov 21

PMID 30457526

Citations 66

Authors

Laura Pirisinu

Linh Tran

Barbara Chiappini

Ilaria Vanni

Michele A Di Bari

Gabriele Vaccari

Turid Vikoren

Knut Ivar Madslien

Jorn Vage

Terry Spraker

Gordon Mitchell

Aru Balachandran

Thierry Baron

Cristina Casalone

Christer M Rolandsen

Knut H Roed

Umberto Agrimi

Romolo Nonno

Sylvie L Benestad

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) persists in cervid populations of North America and in 2016 was detected for the first time in Europe in a wild reindeer in Norway. We report the detection of CWD in 3 moose (Alces alces) in Norway, identified through a large scale surveillance program. The cases occurred in 13-14-year-old female moose, and we detected an abnormal form of prion protein (PrP) in the brain but not in lymphoid tissues. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the moose shared the same neuropathologic phenotype, characterized by mostly intraneuronal deposition of PrP. This pattern differed from that observed in reindeer and has not been previously reported in CWD-infected cervids. Moreover, Western blot revealed a PrP type distinguishable from previous CWD cases and from known ruminant prion diseases in Europe, with the possible exception of sheep CH1641. These findings suggest that these cases in moose represent a novel type of CWD.

Citing Articles

Prions in Muscles of Cervids with Chronic Wasting Disease, Norway.

Vuong T, Cazzaniga F, Tran L, Vage J, Di Bari M, Pirisinu L Emerg Infect Dis. 2025; 31(2):246-255.

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Quantifying the Molecular Properties of the Elk Chronic Wasting Disease Agent with Mass Spectrometry.

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Zoonotic Potential of Chronic Wasting Disease after Adaptation in Intermediate Species.

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Minor prion substrains overcome transmission barriers.

Steadman B, Bian J, Shikiya R, Bartz J mBio. 2024; 15(11):e0272124.

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Temporal Characterization of Prion Shedding in Secreta of White-Tailed Deer in Longitudinal Study of Chronic Wasting Disease, United States.

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