Identifying spatial patterns of CWD-resistant genotypes in New England white-tailed deer populations
Ellis, Gwen
Ellis, Gwen
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Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a form of spongiform encephalopathy, is a global threat to cervids, with high disease areas in North America approaching 85% prevalence. Susceptibility is partially controlled by the prion protein encoding gene (Prnp), where individuals with certain genotypes have lower susceptibility and delayed disease progression. Common management strategies include developing predictive models, but do not incorporate the spatial distribution of Prnp genotypes and population structure, thus missing key data influencing CWD transmission. In states with no CWD, proactive management is the central focus, thus understanding the distribution of white-tailed deer resistant genotypes across these landscapes is critical for robust modeling of CWD introduction and spread. The work presented is a preliminary investigation of the spatial distribution of Prnp genotypes in two CWD-na�ve states, Vermont and Maine. Resistant alleles exist in both Vermont and Maine at low frequencies consistent with no CWD introduction. Multiple loci are associated with CWD resistance across cervid taxa, but only two of these loci, amino acid positions 95 and 96, are polymorphic in the surveyed populations. Current results suggest little spatial clustering, but some areas have higher resistant allele frequencies. While early-on in the project, these results contribute to our current understanding of white-tailed deer populations and their susceptibility to CWD.
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Date
1/1/2026
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Graduate Student
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Poster
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Biology
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College of Arts and Sciences
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Life Science