Mountain Lions (Puma Concolor) Resist Long-Term Dietary Exposure to Chronic Wasting Disease

Abstract

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Chronic Wasting Disease: State of the Science

“…To date, CWD has largely failed to cause disease in these mice [ 98 , 99 , 100 , 101 , 102 , 103 ]; however, a recent study provides evidence that CWD can infect transgenic mice that express human PrP C , albeit with a low attack rate and at times post-infection that are at the end of the animal’s life span [ 104 ]. CWD can infect other sympatric species following direct inoculation of the brain (e.g., cattle, cats); however, these species do not develop disease following natural routes of infection [ 105 , 106 , 107 , 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 ]. Importantly, swine and sheep are an exception where ingestion or nasal exposure of CWD prions results in replication of CWD prions, but these animals do not develop clinical signs of disease [ 114 , 115 ].…”

Where we stand on chronic wasting disease: A systematic literature review of its prevalence patterns, impacts, and management interventions

“…The infected cervids are more vulnerable to predation; thus, predators are more likely to be exposed to the prions by consuming the infected meat, possibly leading to a disturbance in the natural selection of species and ecosystem imbalance [ 11 , 12 ]. However, no research to date has indicated CWD transmission to predators such as the mountain lion ( Puma concolor ) [ 13 ]. CWD has also shown a zoonotic potential as experimental research suggested a transmission possibility to humanized mice, squirrels, and monkeys [ [14] , [15] , [16] ].…”