Consider the following statements regarding Chronic Wasting Disease (C...
In a concerning development, scientists are sounding the alarm about the potential spread of a condition known as chronic wasting disease (CWD) from animals to humans.
About Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD):
- CWD, also known as Zombie deer disease, is a neurological disorder affecting deer and other cervids (members of the deer family) caused by the abnormal growth of a misfolded protein called a prion.
- This prion causes healthy brain proteins to become abnormal, leading to a range of symptoms.
- CWD is contagious; it can be transmitted freely within and among cervid populations.
- Transmission: CWD is transmitted directly through animal-to-animal contact and indirectly through contact with objects or environments contaminated with infectious material (including saliva, urine, feces, and carcasses of CWD-infected animals).
- Symptoms: It may take over a year before an infected animal develops symptoms, which can include drastic weight loss (wasting), stumbling, listlessness, and other neurologic symptoms.
- CWD is particularly concerning because it has the potential to affect both animals and humans, with the possibility of transmission through the consumption of infected meat.
- CWD can affect animals of all ages, and some infected animals may die without ever developing the disease.
- CWD is fatal to animals, and there are no treatments or vaccines.
Hence only statement 1 is correct.
Consider the following statements regarding Chronic Wasting Disease (C...
The correct answer is option 'A': 1 only.
Explanation:
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a neurological disorder that affects animals, particularly deer, elk, and moose. It is characterized by the degeneration of brain tissue, resulting in abnormal behavior, weight loss, and ultimately death. The disease belongs to a group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), which also includes diseases like Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) in humans.
Statement 1: It is a neurological disorder affecting animals.
This statement is correct. Chronic Wasting Disease is a neurological disorder that affects animals, primarily members of the deer family. It is caused by an abnormal protein called a prion, which leads to the degeneration of brain tissue. The disease is progressive and ultimately fatal for the affected animals.
Statement 2: It is non-contagious and does not transmit through contact.
This statement is incorrect. Chronic Wasting Disease is a contagious disease that can be transmitted from one animal to another through direct contact, as well as through indirect contact with contaminated environments. The prions that cause the disease can be shed in the saliva, feces, and urine of infected animals, and these prions can persist in the environment for years. Therefore, animals can become infected by coming into contact with contaminated surfaces or by ingesting contaminated food or water.
CWD has been a concern for wildlife management and conservation because it can have significant impacts on affected populations. The disease has been found in several countries, including the United States, Canada, Norway, Finland, and South Korea. Efforts are being made to monitor and control the spread of CWD through measures such as surveillance, testing, and management strategies.
In conclusion, Chronic Wasting Disease is a neurological disorder that affects animals, and it is contagious and can be transmitted through contact. Therefore, the correct answer is option 'A': 1 only.
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