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Volume 31, Number 4—April 2025
Research

Detection and Decontamination of Chronic Wasting Disease Prions during Venison Processing

Marissa Milstein, Sarah C. Gresch, Marc D. Schwabenlander, Manci Li, Jason C. Bartz, Damani N. Bryant, Peter R. Christenson, Laramie L. Lindsey, Nicole Lurndahl, Sang-Hyun Oh, Gage R. Rowden, Rachel L. Shoemaker, Tiffany M. Wolf, Peter A. Larsen, and Stuart S. LichtenbergComments to Author 
Author affiliation: University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA (M. Milstein, S.C. Gresch, M.D. Schwabenlander, M. Li, D.N. Bryant, L.L. Lindsey, N. Lurndahl, G.R. Rowden, R.L. Shoemaker, T.M. Wolf, P.A. Larsen, S.S. Lichtenberg); University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA (M. Li, P.R. Christenson, S.-H. Oh); Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA (J.C. Bartz)

Main Article

Table 1

Overview of study phases and goals in study of detection and decontamination of CWD prions during venison processing*

Study phase Goal
Pilot study
 Determine whether we could recover, detect, and decontaminate prions on common meat-processing surfaces.
Study controls
 Confirm that the selected decontaminants did not interfere with the real-time quaking-induced conversion assay and that CWD-positive material could be detected on both stainless steel and cast iron surfaces. Determine whether the decontaminants inhibit seeding activity.
Knife and cutting board
 Determine whether prion seeding activity could be detected before and after decontaminating stainless steel knives and cutting boards. Test the efficacy of 5 decontaminants on those surfaces.
Meat cross-contamination
 Determine whether CWD-negative meat becomes CWD-positive after passing through a meat grinder that just processed CWD-positive meat.
Meat grinder Determine whether prion seeding activity could be detected before and after decontaminating stainless steel and cast iron meat grinders. Test the efficacy of 4 decontaminants on the grinders.

*CWD, chronic wasting disease.

Main Article

Page created: February 07, 2025
Page updated: March 24, 2025
Page reviewed: March 24, 2025
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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