Colorado surveillance program for chronic wasting disease transmission to humans: lessons from 2 highly suspicious but negative cases.
OBJECTIVE
To describe 2 patients with rapidly progressive dementia and risk factors for exposure to chronic wasting disease (CWD) in whom extensive testing negated the possible transmission of CWD. Design/


METHODS
We describe the evaluation of 2 young adults with initial exposure histories and clinical presentations that suggested the possibility of CWD transmission to humans. Patients A 52-year-old woman with possible laboratory exposure to CWD and a 25-year-old man who had consumed meat from a CWD endemic area.


METHODS
Clinical evaluation, neuropathological examination, and genetic testing.


RESULTS
Neuropathological and genetic assessment in the 2 patients proved the diagnoses of early-onset Alzheimer disease and a rare genetic prion disease.


CONCLUSIONS
No convincing cases of CWD transmission to humans have been detected in our surveillance program.
Anderson
C Alan
CA
Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80262, USA. al.anderson@uchsc.edu
Bosque
Patrick
P
Filley
Christopher M
CM
Arciniegas
David B
DB
Kleinschmidt-Demasters
B K
BK
Pape
W John
WJ
Tyler
Kenneth L
KL
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D034081:Wasting Disease, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000635:transmission*