High prevalence of prion protein genotype associated with resistance to chronic wasting disease in one Alberta woodland caribou population. Issue 2 (4th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cheng, Yo Ching; Musiani, Marco; Cavedon, Maria; Gilch, Sabine
• Is Part Of: Prion. Volume 11:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 136
• Page End: 142
• Publication Date: 2017-03-04
• Subjects: caribou -- chronic wasting disease -- conservation -- genetic resistance -- prion protein -- prion protein gene polymorphism; Protein folding -- Periodicals; Prions -- Periodicals; Proteins -- Biotechnology -- Periodicals; 572.633
• DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2017.1300741
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1933-6896

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion disease found in deer, elk and moose in North America and since recently, wild reindeer in Norway. Caribou are at-risk to encounter CWD in areas such as Alberta, Canada, where the disease spreads toward caribou habitats. CWD susceptibility is modulated by species-specific polymorphisms in the prion protein gene ( Prnp ). We sequenced Prnp of woodland caribou from 9 Albertan populations. In one population (Chinchaga) a significantly higher frequency of the 138N allele linked to reduced CWD susceptibility was observed. These data are relevant for developing CWD management strategies including conservation of threatened caribou populations.