September 2023 - 26

STUDY LOOKS TO SEE IF SCAVENGING BOBCATS REDUCE CWD PRIONS
An ongoing study considers if
Chronic wasting disease prions are the
invisible, long-lasting environmental particles
responsible for the transmission of the fatal
disease among cervids. Research shows prions
can remain infectious in the environment for
16-plus years outside of a cervid host without
losing its infectious ability. Their long-lasting
ability to persist in the environment has created
challenges for management of the disease.
Little is known about what can destroy prions,
but emerging research is providing pieces of
information about one scavenger's ability to
reduce prions in the environment - the bobcat.
The preliminary research comes from Madi
Davis, a graduate student at the University of
Wyoming who was interested in determining
if bobcats limit or contribute to the spread of
CWD by digesting and inactivating prions or
alternatively littering them across the landscape.
In an effort to investigate their role in the CWD
ecosystem, Davis worked with Game and Fish
personnel at the Tom Thorne/Beth Williams
Wildlife Research Center north of Laramie.
Three captive bobcats were fed CWD-infected
meat. Game and Fish personnel collected their
scat for one week to test for prions. Preliminary
results show less than 2 percent of prions can
be recovered after their passage through the
gastrointestinal tract of the bobcats, which indicates
the felines can potentially reduce the
environmental burden through the consumption
of CWD carcasses.
bobcats could reduce the prions
that are responsible for the
transmission of chronic wasting
disease. (Photo by Tim Christie)
It is unknown how the prions break down in
the stomachs of bobcats, but there are a few
theories circulating. Some theorize there may
be a digestive enzyme within the feline's gut
that is able to break prions down. Others believe
the pH level could be a contributing factor in
the degradation of prions.
" Perhaps it is the microbiome of these animals.
Maybe they have specific bacteria that
can break down these prion proteins, " Davis
said. " I am not sure, but that is just one theory. "
Davis plans on moving forward in her research
and evaluating possible infection rates of the
prions after they have passed through the gastrointestinal
tract of a bobcat.
" Theoretically, the 2 percent of prions that
were recovered from the bobcats' excretion
could still potentially be enough to infect a
deer, " Davis said. " We want to see if maybe
these prions are less stable in the environment
compared to what a mule deer is shedding as
they are infected. "
Davis feels strongly that predators get a bad
reputation and she hopes her research can
demonstrate their importance on the landscape.
" The preliminary findings from Madi's work are
an exciting contribution to our understanding of
how bobcats and other scavengers may play a
positive role in removing CWD carcasses from
the landscape, " said Peach Van Wick, Game
and Fish assistant state wildlife veterinarian.
" When it comes to CWD management, we can
use all the help we can get and we're excited to
continue participating in this research. "
- Breanna Ball
potentially offer researchers and wildlife managers
a method of identifying and studying
CWD-positive deer. The ultimate goal of the
research project is to identify CWD-positive
deer before death and gain a better understanding
of how those deer behave, migrate
and interact with their surroundings.
Earlier this year, researchers, graduate students
and veterinary services staff collected
ear-punch samples from deer in the Wind
River and Laramie mountain areas during a
capturing and collaring event. Now the team
is refining their procedures by testing ears
from dead deer and comparing them to their
paired lymph node samples. This means they
can perfect the method and better understand
its accuracy before they test the samples collected
from live deer earlier this year.
26 | September 2023
" We know that CWD is likely contributing
to suboptimal mule deer herd performance
and population declines, but we don't
really know the extent or the degree of the
impact or fully understand the interaction
of CWD with other causes of mortality, "
Malmberg said. " The goal of this project is
to provide a better detection tool that can
inform research, management and hopefully
improve mule deer herd performance in the
Rocky Mountain West. "
In addition to the ear-punch test, Malmberg,
Game and Fish wildlife managers and
UW researchers are examining how collared
mule deer within the Bates Hole and Upper
Powder River herds move and interact with
their habitat when infected with CWD.
Behavioral differences invite the opportunity
September 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2023
