A recent study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has shed light on the transmission potential of chronic wasting disease (CWD) from animals to humans. The study, published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, utilized a human cerebral organoid model to investigate the likelihood of CWD transmission from cervids such as deer, elk, and moose to people.
Prion diseases, which are degenerative disorders affecting the brain and other organs, are caused by abnormal protein folding leading to the destruction of the central nervous system. Despite extensive research, there are currently no preventive or therapeutic treatments available for prion diseases.
CWD, a type of prion disease commonly found in cervids, has raised concerns about the potential transmission to humans through the consumption of infected meat. This concern stems from past experiences with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as mad cow disease, which led to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in individuals who consumed contaminated beef.
While CWD has not been detected in humans, the study aimed to address the longstanding question of whether individuals consuming meat from CWD-infected cervids could develop prion disease. The research, conducted by NIH scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), reinforces the existence of a significant species barrier preventing the transmission of CWD to humans.
Historically, animal models such as mice, hamsters, and monkeys have been used to study prion diseases and assess the potential risks of cross-species transmission. However, the development of a human cerebral organoid model by NIAID scientists in 2019 has provided a more accurate platform to evaluate prion disease treatments and transmission pathways.
The study’s findings offer reassurance regarding the limited likelihood of CWD transmission from cervids to humans, highlighting the importance of ongoing research to better understand and mitigate the risks associated with prion diseases.
