Chronic wasting disease is a dangerous ailment currently destroying the populations of deer, moose, elk, and other similar animals across North America, Europe, and Asia. While there had recently been no effective treatment to help prevent this, a new discovery may soon pave the way to protect these creatures.
Science News reports on a potential cure for the deadly chronic wasting disease, ironically enough coming from a similar source to the disease itself.
When investigating humus soil samples, scientists uncovered a type of organic acid known as humic acid that naturally occurred within this designation of ground. Isolated from the dirt, this acid was found to almost completely break down the prions (folded brain protein) that happen as a result of the disease. This makes humic acid the first potential cure ever discovered for this disease.
Chronic wasting disease, similar to the related mad cow disease, is spread through decaying matter and feces left behind by those that are infected. Given how nutrient-rich these substances can be on their own, plants and other flora will begin to break them down and grow on top of them. This only spreads the disease, however, as the grasses and plants grown from the infected matter are still infectious when they’re eaten by a living organism, starting the cycle all over again.
What’s worse, the contaminated soil can stay that way for years according to the most recent studies. Based on the findings of Bryan Richards of the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center, microscopic minerals in the ground like quartz offer an easy surface for the disease to bind to, letting them stay infectious for much longer than normal.
As a neurodegenerative disease, chronic wasting disease attacks the victim’s brain, slowly killing the animal while causing it to act more and more erratically due to pain and mental instability. Given its nearly 100% fatality rate, finding a cure is imperative for preserving these creatures in their natural habitat.
News of a potential cure is quite heartening, though, especially if it turns out the disease can spread across species or even to humans. Lab tests are already underway on mice, all of which have turned out extremely positive results so far.
Humic acid’s role as both a cure and soil decontaminant may not be fully there yet, but continued research as to how it affects both animals and the ground around it could prove instrumental in eradicating this terrible disease.
