Browsing by Author "Cheng, Yo Ching"

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    Chronic Wasting Disease: Investigations on Prion Shedding and Risk of Transmission to Caribou
    (2016) Cheng, Yo Ching; Gilch, Sabine; Jirik, Frank Robert; Kutz, Susan J.
    Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible prion disease affecting cervids mainly in North America. The responsible agent for this disease is the protease-resistant and infectious prion protein isoform (PrPSc) which is converted from a normal host-encoded glycoprotein (PrPC). In this study, I employed a novel in vitro amplification assay; the real-time quaking-induced conversion assay (RT-QuIC) to detect CWD prions in feces. I demonstrated the use of optimized RT-QuIC to define the shedding pattern of CWD prions in feces during the course of CWD. Additionally, I analyzed the distribution of PrP polymorphism among caribou populations in Alberta. The results permit predictions on the probability of CWD transmission to caribou populations. My studies provide a new tool to improve CWD surveillance and transmission risk assessment, and may be useful for CWD management in the future.