The Zombie Disease | Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a neurological disorder that affects deer, elk, and moose. It is a topic of concern among wildlife enthusiasts and scientists alike. Let me provide you with a comprehensive overview of CWD in about 1000 words. Chronic Wasting Disease, also known as CWD, is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that primarily affects cervids, which include deer, elk, and moose. It was first identified in the late 1960s in captive mule deer in Colorado, United States. Since then, it has spread to various regions across North America and even to some parts of Europe. CWD is caused by an abnormal protein called a prion. Prions are misfolded proteins that can trigger the misfolding of normal proteins, leading to the accumulation of these abnormal proteins in the brain and other tissues. This accumulation ultimately results in the degeneration of brain cells, leading to the characteristic symptoms of CWD. One of the most concerning aspects of CWD is its ability to s...