Story perspectives

Calgary Study: Asymptomatic CWD Carriers Transmit Prions

6/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

Calgary researchers found chronic wasting disease prions can spread to other species while donor animals remain asymptomatic yet contain prions.
Transferring tissue from those animals to new hosts produced clear disease signs.
Lead author Dr. Samia Hannaoui said the findings do not show an immediate human risk.
Co-author Dr. Hermann Schaetzl warned that evolving prion strains complicate transmission predictions, noting that mouse vaccine trials reduced shedding and improved survival.

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Story summary

Calgary researchers found chronic wasting disease prions can spread to other species while donor animals remain asymptomatic yet contain prions.
Transferring tissue from those animals to new hosts produced clear disease signs.
Lead author Dr. Samia Hannaoui said the findings do not show an immediate human risk.
Co-author Dr. Hermann Schaetzl warned that evolving prion strains complicate transmission predictions, noting that mouse vaccine trials reduced shedding and improved survival.