Chronic wasting disease strain diversity, distribution and transmission

2021 Summer.Includes bibliographical references.Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an invariably fatal prion disease affecting captive and free-ranging cervids, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, elk and reindeer. Since the initial discovery of the disease in the 1960's, CWD has spread across the US and Canada, South Korea, and, most recently, Europe. While some outbreaks of CWD were caused by transport of infected animals from endemic regions, the origin of CWD in other epizootics is unclear and not all outbreaks have been characterized. Previous studies have shown that there are multiple strains of CWD; however, the continuous spread and the unclear origin of several outbreaks warrant continued surveillance and further characterization of strain diversity. Moreover, studies implicating extraneural prions as more zoonotic motivated us to examine within-host prion strain diversity. The overarching goal of the work presented here was threefold: 1) address CWD strain differences between lymphoid and brain tissue from the same animal, 2) assess if there are any differences in CWD from either within or between contiguous and non-contiguous outbreaks and 3) address aspects of plant-vectored CWD transmission. The work presented here has important implications for understanding strain diversity within and between deer, as well as identifies samples that appear to be novel strains that warrant follow up assessment. Finally, we show how plants may be playing a role in vectoring infectious prions shortly after exposure. This research has important implications for our understanding of prion strain diversity and distribution as well as adds insight to plant-vectored prion transmission. First, we assessed differences between lymph node-derived and brain-derived prions from within the same animal to characterize strain differences within a single animal. To do this, we assessed isolates using biochemical techniques including electrophoretic mobility, glycoform ratio and conformational stability. Interestingly, we found that there were biochemical differences between lymph node and brain isolates, novel intermediate conformations of the prions in the brain (but not the lymph node) and increased variability in the lymph node-derived prions. Collectively, these results suggest that there are more diverse prion strains in the periphery and are distinct from neurological prions. The research discussed here advances our understanding of the differences between lymph node-derived and brain-derived prions. In addition to within-host strain comparisons, we also wanted to assess biochemical strain differences from naturally infected cervid species. Numerous studies have examined CWD strains upon passage into transgenic mouse models. For the purposes of our research, we wanted to examine CWD strains from the natural host for a number of reasons: 1) bioassay is expensive and time consuming, making strain characterization challenging, 2) research indicating that host factors other than PrPC may be influencing strain characteristics and 3) to determine if we could detect dramatic biochemical differences in strains, thereby providing an easier method to determine CWD strain prevalence in cervid populations without bioassay. Because the origin of CWD is unknown and some outbreaks of CWD have no clear exposure/connection to ongoing CWD outbreaks, this research would provide insight into the evolution and origin of CWD. Here, we show that there are some cases of CWD that present with novel biochemical characteristics that distinguish them from other CWD isolates. These instances suggest a new strain has emerged or that there is differential evolution in these subpopulations. Importantly, this work highlights that there is a lot more variability CWD biochemical characteristics than previously described. As a part of the strain typing project, two samples were received from captive white-tailed deer in Texas. These samples immediately proved to be a challenge to work with because they were behaving in an unusual way in our biochemical strain typing assays. In short, these isolates behaved in strange ways depending on the detergent class with which they were being digested. Because there was no known introduction of CWD to this captive herd, we were suspicious that we were seeing a novel strain of CWD. Isolates were passaged into cervid and human PrP mice. Upon passage, these isolates looked like classical CWD in Tg33 mice and, fortunately, don't appear to have any zoonotic transmission potential into human PrP mice. Importantly, this work highlights that CWD can present in a unique way in a cervid host but cause a classical-type disease in transgenic animals. Finally, we examined the role of plants to transmit CWD. Previous research implicated plants as having a possible role as a vector in prion transmission. We built upon this previous research by using CWD prions rather than hamster prions and a different plant model. The research presented here will show that plants are able to uptake prions shortly after exposure, but that these prions are no longer detected by 72 h. The work presented here implicates plants as potential CWD vectors in the short term

“Sounding” Like Lake-Effect Snow: Evaluating the Thermodynamic and Synoptic Setup of Northwest Indiana Lake-Effect Events Using Local Profiles and Numerical Modeling

Lake-effect snow presents significant hazards for Northwest Indiana, which necessitates the need for accurate forecasts for these events. Recent radiosonde observations were taken routinely with radiosonde launches by Valparaiso University’s Aviation Team surrounding lake-effect events. From these soundings, thermodynamic environments are analyzed in conjunction with numerical simulations and official Green Bay soundings of 12 lake-effect precipitation events. This study will use the data from the sounding profiles and from numerical simulations to determine similarities and differences within the thermodynamic and synoptic environments surrounding these events. Through analysis of these pre-storm local environments, unique thresholds will be identified in environmental parameters associated with the setup and formation of lake-effect events over the southern Lake Michigan region. Creating a mean sounding for Northwest Indiana of these lake-effect setups would be optimal for aiding forecasts of similar future events. This analysis should allow observation of model biases and enhance the ability to predict lake-effect snow

Three short studies from field studies in marine biology and oceanography

ZOO*4300 (Marine Biology and Oceanography) is a senior-level field course offered by the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph. This two-week course is held at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrew’s New Brunswick, Canada. Students enrolled in the course study various aspects of the ecology, behaviour, physiology, biochemistry and genetics of marine organisms using a variety of oceanographic techniques. The course also includes group exercises to study various intertidal and sub-tidal environments as well as boat cruises to collect plankton, benthic invertebrates, marine fish, and to observe marine mammals. The course provides excellent opportunities for students to familiarize themselves with state-of-the-art techniques involved in various branches of marine biology and oceanography and conduct an individual research project. This feature highlights three individual research projects by University of Guelph students. More information about the field course in marine biology and oceanography is accessible at the following link: http://www.uoguelph.ca/ib/undergrad/fieldcourses_marine.shtml

The Relationship of Postoperative Delirium and Unplanned Perioperative Hypothermia in Surgical Patients

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between postoperative delirium (POD) and unplanned perioperative hypothermia (UPH) among adults undergoing noncardiac surgery. DESIGN: A retrospective, exploratory design was used. METHODS: A retrospective, exploratory study was conducted using electronic medical record data abstracted from a purposive convenience sample of adult patients undergoing noncardiac surgery from January 2014 to June 2017. FINDINGS: The analyzed data set included 22,548 surgeries, of which 9% experienced POD. Logistic regression indicated that American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class was the strongest predictor of POD (χ = 1,207.11, df = 4, inclusive of all ASA class terms). A significant relationship between UPH and POD (χ = 54.94, df = 4, inclusive of all UPH terms) and a complex relationship among UPH, patient age, ASA class, and POD were also found. CONCLUSIONS: Results support a relationship between UPH and POD. Notably, there is also a complex relationship in the noncardiac surgery population among UPH, age, ASA class, and POD. Preliminary understanding of this relationship is based on the pathophysiological response to surgical stress. Further research is indicated

Differential Innate Immune Responses Elicited by Nipah Virus and Cedar Virus Correlate with Disparate In Vivo Pathogenesis in Hamsters

Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) are a pathogenesis model for the Nipah virus (NiV), and we sought to determine if they are also susceptible to the Cedar virus (CedPV). Following intranasal inoculation with CedPV, virus replication occurred in the lungs and spleens of infected hamsters, a neutralizing antibody was produced in some hamsters within 8 days post-challenge, and no conspicuous signs of disease occurred. CedPV replicated to a similar magnitude as NiV-Bangladesh in type I IFN-deficient BHK-21 Syrian hamster fibroblasts but replicated 4 logs lower in type I IFN-competent primary Syrian hamster and human pulmonary endothelial cells, a principal target of henipaviruses. The coinfection of these cells with CedPV and NiV failed to rescue CedPV titers and did not diminish NiV titers, suggesting the replication machinery is virus-specific. Type I IFN response transcripts Ifna7, Ddx58, Stat1, Stat2, Ccl5, Cxcl10, Isg20, Irf7, and Iigp1 were all significantly elevated in CedPV-infected hamster endothelial cells, whereas Ifna7 and Iigp1 expression were significantly repressed during NiV infection. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that CedPV’s inability to counter the host type I IFN response may, in part, contribute to its lack of pathogenicity. Because NiV causes a fatal disease in Syrian hamsters with similarities to human disease, this model will provide valuable information about the pathogenic mechanisms of henipaviruses.Peer Reviewe

Survey of SLPs’ Assessment Practices with Children Who Have SSD Within an ICF Framework

ASHA endorsed the WHO ICF framework in the Scope of Practice in SLP in describing the breadth of the SLP role in the management of communication disorders. Survey results of SLPs will be presented with regard to the inclusion of the ICF framework in working with children with SSD

The relationship of postoperative delirium and unplanned perioperative hypothermia in surgical patients

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between postoperative delirium (POD) and unplanned perioperative hypothermia (UPH) among adults undergoing noncardiac surgery. Design A retrospective, exploratory design was used. Methods A retrospective, exploratory study was conducted using electronic medical record data abstracted from a purposive convenience sample of adult patients undergoing noncardiac surgery from January 2014 to June 2017. Findings The analyzed data set included 22,548 surgeries, of which 9% experienced POD. Logistic regression indicated that American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class was the strongest predictor of POD (χ2 = 1,207.11, df = 4, inclusive of all ASA class terms). A significant relationship between UPH and POD (χ2 = 54.94, df = 4, inclusive of all UPH terms) and a complex relationship among UPH, patient age, ASA class, and POD were also found. Conclusions Results support a relationship between UPH and POD. Notably, there is also a complex relationship in the noncardiac surgery population among UPH, age, ASA class, and POD. Preliminary understanding of this relationship is based on the pathophysiological response to surgical stress. Further research is indicated

Survey of SLPs’ Assessment Practices with Children Who Have SSD Within an ICF Framework

ASHA endorsed the WHO ICF framework in the Scope of Practice in SLP in describing the breadth of the SLP role in the management of communication disorders. Survey results of SLPs will be presented with regard to the inclusion of the ICF framework in working with children with SSD