Overall CWD prion detection reproductive tissues and semen from white-tailed deer bucks.

Overall CWD prion detection reproductive tissues and semen from white-tailed deer bucks.</p

Modulation of PMCA efficiency by testes and epididymides homogenates.

Known amounts of brain-derived CWD prions (10−7–10−10 brain dilutions) were spiked in testis and epididymis homogenates from a CWD-negative white tailed-deer. Samples were processed in the same way as samples depicted in previous figures and tested in three PMCA rounds. Positive controls included samples spiked in PBS, or directly spiked in PMCA substrate (CWD (+) Ctrl). Negative controls comprised unseeded reactions (Ctrl1-4). Numbers at the right represent molecular weight markers. Dotted lines represent splicing of different membranes.</p

Detection of CWD prions male reproductive tissues and semen from white-tailed deer at different incubation periods.

Detection of CWD prions male reproductive tissues and semen from white-tailed deer at different incubation periods.</p

CWD prion detection in male reproductive tissues and semen from white-tailed deer depending of prion protein polymorphic variation at position 96.

CWD prion detection in male reproductive tissues and semen from white-tailed deer depending of prion protein polymorphic variation at position 96.</p

Evaluation of CWD prions presence in testes stroma of white-tailed deer bucks.

Testes from twenty-one white tailed-deer (same animals depicted in Fig 1) were tested for the presence of CWD prions by PMCA. Similar methods as described in Fig 1 were used in this case. B+ LN+: had PrPSc deposition in the brain stem and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes (MRPLN) by immunohistochemistry (late pre-symptomatic); B- LN+: had PrPSc deposition only in the MRPLN (early pre-symptomatic); Neg: samples were non-detect for CWD in both the brain stem and the MRPLN. Numbers at the right represent molecular weight markers.</p

Identification of CWD prions in epididymides of white-tailed deer.

Epididymides from white tailed-deer were analyzed for the presence of CWD prions by PMCA. Samples and methods utilized for detection in this case were the same as listed for Figs 1 and 2. B+LN+: had PrPSc deposition in the brain stem and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes (MRPLN) by immunohistochemistry (late pre-symptomatic); B- LN+: had PrPSc deposition only in the MRPLN (early pre-symptomatic); Neg: samples were non-detect for CWD in both the brain stem and the MRPLN. Numbers at the right represent molecular weight markers.</p

CWD prion detection in semen samples from white-tailed deer.

Twenty-one semen samples from farmed white tailed-deer were tested for their presence of CWD prions by PMCA. Four serial PMCA rounds were performed to increase sensitivity. B+ LN+: had PrPSc deposition in the brain stem and medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes (MRPLN) by immunohistochemistry (late pre-symptomatic); B- LN+: had PrPSc deposition only in the MRPLN (early pre-symptomatic); Neg: samples were non-detect for CWD in both the brain stem and the MRPLN. Numbers at the right represent molecular weight markers.</p