1. Infectious Disease Project Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
Pre-AP Biology Unit 10
Infectious Disease Project
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) P1
Ms. Johnson

2. 1. INTRODUCTION
Explain what the disease is by identifying the scientific name of the disease/pathogen and any common names, as well as the type of pathogen.
Example: Lyme disease (common name) is caused by the bacteria (type of pathogen) Borrelia burgdorferi (scientific name).
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a disease that affects animals such as deer, elk and moose. This is a contagious disease that affects the brain, spinal cord, eyes and spleen of these animals. It can make them have abnormal behavior and loss of bodily functions and death. This disease belongs to a group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs).

3. 2. TRANSMISSION
Indicate the mode of transmission using one of the six modes of transmission from the in-class activity on The Spread of Pathogens.
Vector and Waterborne.
Specify the organisms that are affected by this disease (Are only humans affected? Are only cats affected? Is it “zoonotic”?).
CWD is a disease of wildlife that affects white-tailed deer, elk and mule deer. It has not been found in livestock or humans.
Include any information about the pathogen’s life cycle in this section.
The deer or elk is infected, it begins to show signs of sickness over time and then dies.

4. 3. SYMPTOMS and PROGRESSION
Describe the symptoms that are characteristics of the disease.
Weight Loss
Behavioral Changes
Staggering
Drinking large amounts of water
Excessive urination
Drooling
Decreased social interaction
Loss of awareness
Loss of fear of humans
Outline the progression of the disease step by step over time, if this information is available. Include a diagram or infographic, if possible.
Disease is spread through urine, saliva or feces from animal to animal.
Can be up to 24 months before infection is noticed.
Affects the brain, eyes, spinal cord, spleen and lymph nodes.

5. 4. TREATMENTS and PROGRESSION
Indicate if the disease has a cure.
CWD is not treatable and does not have a cure. It is fatal but can sometimes take up to two years before the animals show signs of this disease.
Outline all possible treatments used for organisms affected with the disease. If no cure if available, then indicate what medical measures are taken for those that are affected (such as palliative care to treat symptoms only).
Several states are trying to monitor hunter harvested deer and elk.
Several states are trying to enforce regulations on transporting animals out of known CWD areas.
Several states have implemented supplemental feeding programs.
Federal legislation is trying to get more funding to do research on CWD to help control the disease from spreading.
Describe the prognosis (What are the disease outcomes? What statistics are available? Is it fatal?)
The testing of this disease has dropped dramatically but the disease continues to spread. It appears more in male animals than in the female. Between 2002 and 2012, more than 750,000 deer and elk have been tested for CWD in the United States. Only 1 deer in 1000 tested positive and 4 in 1000 elk tested positive.

6. 5. PREVENTION
Provide information on ways to prevent the disease by including he following:
Is there a vaccine or other treatment available to PREVENT the disease?
Yes, they have a vaccine called Mucosal immunization.
What ACTIONS are useful in preventing the spread of this disease?
Reduce potential diseases transmission at water structures
Keep water clean and replace frequently
Clean water structure with a bleach solution
Avoid the use of stainless steel materials
Eliminate the need of urine based scents by using food based or synthetic scents
Do not transport whole wild deer carcasses or any deer brains outside the county
Do not transport from a state that has known CWD
Use processors or anyone that has practice with approved disposal methods
Use clean tools, materials and surfaces

7. 6. GEORGRAPHIC SIGNIFICANCE and NOTABLE OUTBREAKS
Indicate where this disease is most prevalent, if specific to certain geographic reasons. Include a map highlighting these regions, if possible.
Wisconsin, Colorado, Minnesota and most of the mid west states had the highest population of the CWD in the United States.
Describe notable outbreaks of the disease by providing historical examples or a timeline.
Worst outbreak in US history was at the Elk Echo Ranch in northeastern Colorado in 2001
There was an outbreak of CWD on elk farms in Saskatchewan, Canada from 1996 – 2002

8. 7. INFORMATIVE RESOURCES
Include a section with TWO additional resources for your audience to review to learn more about your disease by providing the title and a functional link to each of the following:
Website page published by a REPUTABLE organization (.org,.gov, or .edu)
YouTube video explaining quality information about your disease.

9. 8. REFERENCE LIST
You must include a Reference List that includes a minimum of THREE APA cited, QUALITY sources
(.org, .gov,.edu).
These sources must be IN ADDITION to your Informative Resources from Section 7.
Refer to the Purdue OWL APA Citation Guide for help
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