Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Contamination of Vegetation

This project will examine the potential for chronic wasting disease (CWD) prions to contaminate deer forage and Alberta crops. CWD is a contagious prion disease present in Alberta deer, elk and moose. CWD infectivity is shed through saliva, urine and feces of infected cervids and is known to persist in the environment. Prions are notoriously sticky, however, the ability of CWD prions to be retained upon vegetation is not known. We will determine: i) the binding of CWD prions to a variety of deer forage and Alberta crops, ii) the impact of rainwater washes on CWD removal from plant surfaces iii) the impact of freezing and drying to release CWD bound to plants and iv) if significant amounts of CWD can be taken up from soil by plants.