Prions are misfolded infectious proteins responsible for a group of fatal neurodegenerative diseases termed transmissible spongiform encephalopathy or prion diseases. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is the prion disease with the highest spillover potential, affecting at least seven Cervidae (deer) species. The zoonotic potential of CWD is inconclusive and cannot be ruled out. A risk of infection for other domestic and wildlife species is also plausible. Here, we review the current status of the knowledge with respect to CWD ecology in wildlife. Our current understanding of the geographic distribution of CWD lacks spatial and temporal detail, does not consider the biogeography of infectious diseases, and is largely biased by sampling based on hunters' cooperation and funding available for each region. Limitations of the methods used for data collection suggest that the extent and prevalence of CWD in wildlife is underestimated. If the zoonotic potential of CWD is confirmed in the short term, as suggested by recent results obtained in experimental animal models, there will be limited accurate epidemiological data to inform public health. Research gaps in CWD prion ecology include the need to identify specific biological characteristics of potential CWD reservoir species that better explain susceptibility to spillover, landscape and climate configurations that are suitable for CWD transmission, and the magnitude of sampling bias in our current understanding of CWD distribution and risk. Addressing these research gaps will help anticipate novel areas and species where CWD spillover is expected, which will inform control strategies. From an ecological perspective, control strategies could include assessing restoration of natural predators of CWD reservoirs, ultrasensitive CWD detection in biotic and abiotic reservoirs, and deer density and landscape modification to reduce CWD spread and prevalence.

中文翻译：

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野生动物慢性消耗性疾病的生态学

朊病毒是错误折叠的感染性蛋白质，导致一组致命的神经退行性疾病，称为传染性海绵状脑病或朊病毒病。慢性消耗性疾病 (CWD) 是最具溢出潜力的朊病毒疾病，影响至少七种鹿科动物。CWD 的人畜共患潜力尚无定论，不能排除。其他家畜和野生动物也有感染的风险。在这里，我们回顾了野生动物 CWD 生态学的知识现状。我们目前对 CWD 地理分布的了解缺乏空间和时间细节，没有考虑传染病的生物地理学，并且在很大程度上是基于猎人合作和每个地区可用资金的抽样而产生偏差。数据收集方法的局限性表明野生动物中 CWD 的程度和患病率被低估。如果正如最近在实验动物模型中获得的结果所表明的那样，CWD 的人畜共患潜力在短期内得到证实，那么为公共卫生提供信息的准确流行病学数据将会有限。CWD 朊病毒生态学的研究差距包括需要确定潜在 CWD 储存物种的具体生物学特征，以更好地解释溢出的易感性、适合 CWD 传播的景观和气候配置，以及我们目前对 CWD 分布的理解中的采样偏差大小和风险。解决这些研究空白将有助于预测 CWD 溢出的新地区和物种，从而为控制策略提供信息。从生态角度来看，控制策略可包括评估 CWD 水库自然捕食者的恢复情况、生物和非生物水库中超灵敏的 CWD 检测，以及鹿密度和景观改造以减少 CWD 传播和流行。