Prion protein genotyping surveillance and chronic wasting disease risk in Montana's elk and deer population

This project focuses on prion protein genotyping surveillance and assessing chronic wasting disease (CWD) risk in Montana’s elk and deer populations. The Grindeland laboratory centers on finding early detection methods and understanding genetic susceptibility factors for CWD, a neurodegenerative disease of deer and elk that carries potential ecological impacts.

The laboratory frames its work within a “one health” approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of wildlife health, ecosystem integrity, and broader public and animal health concerns. The surveillance and genotyping work seeks to define how variation in the prion protein gene among cervid populations may correlate with susceptibility to CWD and its spread. By systematically characterizing genetic variants in mule deer, white-tailed deer, and elk populations across Montana, the project aims to establish a clearer baseline of genetic diversity related to prion protein structure and function within regional herds. This baseline can inform understanding of which genetic profiles may confer increased resistance or vulnerability to misfolded prion propagation. Simultaneously, development and validation of early detection methods are prioritized to identify infected animals sooner in the disease course, which is critical for management strategies intended to limit transmission and ecological consequences.

The laboratory’s experience with transgenic mouse models of neurodegeneration provide methodological strengths for translating molecular findings into applied surveillance tools. Techniques adapted from model systems support sensitive detection of abnormal prion proteins and can be evaluated alongside genetic data to refine risk assessment frameworks. The project’s emphasis on early detection acknowledges the value of timely information for wildlife managers, public agencies, and stakeholders responsible for conservation, hunting and livestock interfaces. Operating from a one health perspective, the research integrates genetic, diagnostic, and ecological considerations. Surveillance data linked to genotyping results can guide targeted monitoring efforts, inform selective management practices, and enhance predictive modeling of CWD dynamics in Montana landscapes. The work also underscores broader ecological implications: understanding the genetic landscape of prion susceptibility among cervids helps anticipate potential shifts in population health, species interactions, and ecosystem stability driven by a spreading neurodegenerative disease. While rooted in regional concerns for Montana’s elk and deer populations, the approaches championed by the Grindeland laboratory—combining prion protein genotyping, improved early detection and translational expertise from neurodegenerative disease models—offer a template for collaborative, multidisciplinary responses to wildlife prion diseases. The project aligns veterinary clinical insight, laboratory science, and wildlife health policy considerations to address the complex challenge of chronic wasting disease in affected cervid populations.