A Survey of the Prion Protein Gene Heterogeneity in New Jersey White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Abstract

Polymorphisms within the prion protein gene (Prnp) have been associated with modified susceptibility to chronic wasting disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Studies of naturally infected white-tailed deer have determined that polymorphisms in the cervid Prnp at codons 95, 96, and 116 may provide reduced susceptibility or slowed progression of CWD. A survey was performed to determine the Prnp heterogeneity within New Jersey white-tailed deer. No CWD positive deer have been reported in New Jersey and all animals included in this study were determined to be CWD negative before the start of the project. The Prnp genes of 150 hunter-harvested deer were sequenced. All polymorphisms were identified and allelic frequencies were calculated. Seventy percent of the deer sampled in New Jersey were homozygous at codon 95 (glutamine) and codon 96 (glycine) and 94.7% had at least one copy of this allele. Only 2 % of the deer sampled had a single copy of the allele with histidine at Codon 95 and a glycine at Codon 96, which is under represented in naturally infected deer and may provide resistance to infection. These deer were found only in the southwestern portion of New Jersey. The genetic heterogeneity and distribution of the PrP gene of New Jersey white-tailed deer adds to our current understanding of the Prnp diversity within this species.