The demographic pattern of infection with chronic wasting disease in reindeer at an early epidemic stage

• DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2931
• Publication Date: 2019-11-01T15:58:43Z
• Authors: Atle Mysterud; Knut Madslien; Hildegunn Viljugrein; Turid Vikøren; Roy Andersen; Mariella Evelyn G...; Sylvie L. Benestad; Petter Hopp; Olav Strand; Bjørnar Ytrehus; Knut H. Røed; Christer M. Rolan...; Jørn Våge
• Keywords: Chronic wasting disease

Abstract Infection patterns linked to age and sex are crucial predict the population dynamic effects of diseases in long‐lived species. How such demographic infection arise is often multifactorial, although cause commonly seen as a combination immune status well variation pathogen exposure. Prion particularly interesting, they do not trigger an adaptive response; hence, differences exposure behavior could be prime determinant pattern infection. In cervids, fatal prion disease, chronic wasting disease ( CWD ), spreading geographically, with economic cultural consequences affected areas North America, all infected individuals eventually die from disease‐associated sequelae if live long enough. Understanding causes therefore urgent but limited by fact that reported data primarily come related deer species America. The recent (detected 2016) emergence among wild alpine reindeer Rangifer tarandus ) Norway different social organization, is, no home range matrilineal female groups, offers opportunity advance our understanding how influences patterns. Testing 1081 males 1278 females detected 19 animals positive for abnormal protein brain and/or lymphatic tissues. No calves only one male yearling were infected, remaining positives being adults (representing 1.5% adult 0.5% females). We found strong sex‐biased (with 2.7 times more likely males), which similar results mule white‐tailed deer. hazard increased males. There was close genetic relatedness animals. consistent within‐group contact possible major route transmission. discuss view lack stable other key behavioral traits relevant general.