Zombie Deer and the Prion: A Growing Concern
Rome, 21 February 2024 – The discovery of “zombie deer” in Europe has raised concerns about the transmission of prions, a misfolded protein that causes wasting disease. Carlo Citterio, a veterinarian and director of the Wildlife Specialist Center of the Venetian Zooprophylactic Institute, explains that the disease has been known since the middle of the last century and has never been associated with human infections.
Prions are not yet fully understood, and it is not known whether they are derived from domestic ruminants or whether they developed on their own as an evolutionary problem in cervids. The malformation of this protein is transmissible and infectious, and during the illness and over the long incubation period, the protein can be secreted by animals, contaminating the environment for years.
Despite the concerns, Citterio reassures that at the moment, the possibility of transmission to humans does not seem probable. Italy has a surveillance plan in place, but the disease has never been found in the country.
In Europe, the disease has been documented in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, with 31 cases reported in April 2023. This includes 13 reindeer, 15 moose, and 3 deer. However, Citterio emphasizes that there is no evidence of the disease spreading to humans.
The Istituto Zooprophylattico delle Venezie provides information on the disease and its surveillance plan. As the scientific community continues to study prions and their impact, further research and vigilance will be necessary to understand and mitigate the risks associated with “zombie deer” and the prion.