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Chronic wasting disease prions in mule deer interdigital glands
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a geographically expanding, fatal neurodegenerative disease in cervids. The disease can be transmitted directly (animal-animal) or indirectly via infectious prions shed into the environment. The precise mechanisms of indirect CWD transmission are unclear but known sources of the infectious prions that contaminate the environment include saliva, urine and feces. We have previously identified PrPC expression in deer interdigital glands, sac-like exocrine structures located between the digits of the hooves. In this study, we assayed for CWD prions within the interdigital glands of CWD infected deer to determine if they could serve as a source of prion shedding and potentially contribute to CWD transmission. Immunohistochemical analysis of interdigital glands from a CWD-infected female mule deer identified disease-associated PrPCWD within clusters of infiltrating leukocytes adjacent to sudoriferous and sebaceous glands, and within the acrosyringeal epidermis of a sudoriferous gland tubule. Proteinase K-resistant PrPCWD material was amplified by serial protein misfolding cyclic amplification (sPMCA) from soil retrieved from between the hoof digits of a clinically affected mule deer. Blinded testing of interdigital glands from 11 mule deer by real-time quake-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) accurately identified CWD-infected animals. The data described suggests that interdigital glands may play a role in the dissemination of CWD prions into the environment, warranting future investigation.
Journal Article
Call me Francis Tucket
Having separated from the one-armed trapper who taught him how to survive in the wilderness of the Old West, fifteen-year-old Francis gets lost and continues to have adventures involving dangerous men and a friendly mule.
Book
IDMRT3/I Allele Frequencies in Batida- and Picada-Gaited Donkeys and Mules in Brazil
In Brazil, the production of gaited mules has been a prominent activity in agribusiness. The selection of gaited saddle mules with a comfortable gait for covering long distances at low speeds involves crossing marching donkeys of the Pêga breeds with horses, preferably those belonging to the Mangalarga Marchador and Campolina breeds. The reference-C and non-reference-A alleles of the DMRT3:g.22999655C>A SNP are linked with different horse gaits, including the batida gait (diagonalized) and the picada gait (lateralized) in Mangalarga Marchador and Campolina horses, respectively. Since donkeys (Equus asinus) and mules (E. asinus ♂ x E. caballus ♀) also exhibit these gaits, this study aimed to determine whether the genotype affects the gait type in these animals. The higher frequency of CA mules and the rare presence of the A allele of DMRT3 in donkeys match previous findings in Mangalarga Marchador and Campolina horses, which are crucial in creating marching mules in Brazil. This suggests that the A allele likely came from the mares used in mating with donkeys. Furthermore, our findings suggest that factors beyond this gene variant, such as other genes and genetic variations, play a role in gait characteristics in equids. In Brazil, the production of mules with a comfortable gait primarily involves the breeding of marching saddle mules. This is achieved by crossing gaited Pêga donkeys with horses from the Mangalarga Marchador and Campolina breeds. The DMRT3:g.22999655C>A SNP is implicated in regulating gait phenotypes observed in various horse breeds, including the batida (CC) and picada (CA) gaits found in these horse breeds. We aimed to determine if genotypes influenced gait type in 159 mules and 203 donkeys genotyped for the DMRT3 SNP by PCR-RFLP analysis. About 47% of mules had the CC-genotype, while 53% had the CA-genotype. Donkeys predominantly had the CC-genotype (97%), and none had AA. Both CC- and CA-genotypes were evenly distributed among mules with the batida or picada gaits. In donkeys, the CC-genotype frequencies were consistent regardless of gait type. However, the CA-genotype was more common in picada-gaited donkeys than in batida-gaited donkeys. The prevalence of CA mules and the rare presence of the non-reference allele in donkeys align with previous findings in Mangalarga Marchador and Campolina horses. This suggests that the non-reference allele likely originated from the mares involved in donkey crosses. Our results also imply that factors beyond this variant, such as other genes and polymorphisms, influence gait traits in equids.
Journal Article
Donkey
Donkeys have historically been among our most useful domesticated animals--from plowing fields to navigating difficult terrain; however, they have been much maligned in popular culture and given very little respect. Jill Bough champions this humble creature, proving that after 10,000 years of domestication, this incredibly hard-working animal deserves our appreciation. With accounts that are both fascinating and touching, this cultural history of the donkey will inspire a new respect and admiration for this essential creature.
Book
