by Anthony Grabski, Ph.D.
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by Anthony Grabski, Ph.D. |
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New Fears Founded? Here's a few points to emphasize in weighing the significance of these new findings: The Results apply only to severly Diseased Mule Deer.The Mule Deer used in these samples were ones with clear clinical signs of CWD in an advanced state of the disease. In the Rocky Mountain News article, CWD researcher Mike Miller at the Colorado Division of Wildlife, a collaborator in the study, commented "We know now that, at least in the end stage of disease, there is some amount of infectivity in the muscle tissue, which is something we didn't know before." This is the reason some wildlife officials have stated nothing new in terms of venison consumption risk has resulted from this study. Hunters have been previously advised against consuming deer showing any signs of disease or unnatural behavior - regardless of test results. This study simply underscores that advice. The Results only apply to Deer to Deer transmission, not Deer to Human. According to report in the Jackson Hole Star Tribune website, the mice used in this study were bred to genetically resemble Mule Deer. These specially designed mice were injected with CWD material drawn from the muscle tissue of the severly infected Mule Deer and subsequently were found to have CWD. Terry Kreeger, Supervisor of Wyoming's Veterinary Research Service concluded: "So basically the reality of this research, from a pure scientific perspective, is that if a deer eats the muscle of another CWD-infected deer, then that deer could get CWD." Kreeger went on to explain that every study using mice bred to resemble humans have all failed to get CWD when injected with CWD prions from diseased deer. ". . . . It's total speculation to move that to humans eating deer muscle. Any extrapolation to humans is totally speculative." A more sensitive CWD prion detection protocol was used in this study. Statistics on the incidence of CWD prions in the wild population are based upon an old technique, IHC, long considered the Gold Standard. Yet in the last three years a number of newer tests have come on line, including one co-developed by Prion research pioneer Stanley Pruisiner, which promise much greater sensitivity to CWD detection. Based upon the following comment by Miller, one of these newer, state of the art tests was used in the new study: "Miller said previous methods of looking for infectious prions didn't turn up any presence of the agents in muscle tissue, but the new technique used in the latest study did. " [RockyMountainNews.com] So when it comes to determining how widespread is CWD in the wild population, we use the conservative IHC testing regimine - which many scientists, including Prusiner, believe seriously under-reports the extent of disease. But when we are trying to make some newsworthy publication, we use state of the art sensitive techniques that identify CWD prions missed by the IHC "gold standard." If indeed the new methods are accurate and the old IHC "Gold Standard" is faulty, then the incidence of CWD is much more widely spread than official results indicate. One implication of this is there are undoubtedly many hunters and their families who have eaten deer who possessed CWD prions. This means the total population of people who potentially could have ill effects from eating deer with CWD prions is much larger than presumed. Nobody Has Ever Died from CWD. Billingsgazette.com reports on the comments of Terry Kreeger, Supervisor of Wyoming's Veterinary Research Service: "We find no evidence from the epidemiological perspective or any investigations that humans get this disease," Kreeger said. "There is some very good, very compelling research out there that says it's very highly unlikely that humans can get this disease." Kreeger maintained that people in the Wyoming area have been eating meat for at least 25 years that could have contained CWD prions. Even using the old-fashioned conservative IHC testing, we now know CWD is in the wild populations of at least 11 states. Had we been using the more sensitive methods used in the recent reported research study and those advocated by those who believe the IHC gold standard test deficient, the area of known CWD would be much larger. So with a large number of people who could have gotten sick, and the huge amount of money pouring into CWD research the last four years, why has no human link been found? Perhaps, it is the obvious. It isn't there? Certainly research should continue to search for any possible human link, yet premature Chicken Little rantings of impending disaster do not serve the public good. Statistically you are much more likely to die from crossing the street to go to your bank than eating venison. Major Implications for Wisconsin Deer Hunters and the Wisconsin DNR While the above review explains why the results from this new study need to be very cautiously interpretted, if there is a chance they have more widespread implications, it means Wisconsin needs to revamp its CWD testing program. Put Hunters first, DNR needs second. At present, the program serves the research and bureaucratic needs of the Wisconsin DNR . . . not the needs of the Wisconsin hunter and his or her family. The main purpose of the testing program is to track the known extent of CWD presence in Wisconsin deer. This primary goal is why every deer within the known eradication zone must be tested. And with the zone expanding in size every year, this places a huge burden on testing facilities as many tens of thousands of deer are cued up for testing - whether the hunter wants them tested or not. This traffic jam has been one reason why Wisconsin deer hunters have had to wait far too long to receive their test results. The present 100% testing coverage needs to cease and the priority for testing go to the hunter who *asks* that his or her deer be tested. The voluntary testing program should realize enough samples for research and if not, a very modest involuntary sampling program can be initiated. Give Hunters the Rapid Test Results - Rapidly. Unknown to most hunters is the fact that their deer sample goes through two or three rounds of testing. Hunters only receive the results from the last round - which is whatever is the conclusion of the old standby IHC test. Only if the IHC confirms positive, is the sample deemed positive. If the IHC contradicts the results from the earlier rounds of the newer, more rapid tests, it is the IHC that is reported. Not only is this hiding information from the hunter, it is another factor that delays the dissemination of results. The rapid tests are rapid; the IHC test is slow and ponderous and subject to human interpretation (and error). Place the Priority on Human Health and Full Disclosure. From a human health standpoint, every hunter should know the results of every round of testing his or her sample incurs. If the first rapid test detects positive or is inconclusive, the hunter should know this. Even allowing for the possibility that the rapid ELISA tests could be overly sensitive, occasionally declaring a false positive, the hunter should have all the facts and caveats, and then be empowered to make the decision. Those who don't want to take a chance can elect to dispose of their meat upon receiving an inconclusive or positive rapid test result; those who want to rely on the results of later tests can elect that route. With the high level of concern for human health risks of CWD, it is unconscionable that Governor Doyle allows his Department of Natural Resources to withhold this important test result from hunters.
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