Bad News for CWD
There is an article in the Denver Post about finding infectious prions in deer meat. Research finds the matter, which causes chronic wasting disease, in muscle. It had been thought to be only in nervous-system tissue. A person who eats venison could swallow the proteins shown to cause a deadly brain disease in deer, elk and moose, researchers reported today.
Their article in the journal Science represents the first time scientists have found the proteins that cause the affliction, chronic wasting disease, in the meat and muscle of deer. Previously, it had been found only in the brain, spinal and lymph tissues. Health officials have long reassured hunters they would not be exposed to the disease as long as they did not touch or eat those parts.
There has been a lot of news about CWD over the past few years. However, this is quite a breakthrough in research if what they are finding is true. Interesting to see how this changes future management and practices.
You can read the article here.
Add comment January 30th, 2006
