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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 3

High-level overview of findings of study of detection and decontamination of CWD prions during venison processing*

Study phase Result†
Pilot study
 Prions can be recovered and detected on common meat processing items. 10%, 40%, and 100% bleach were effective at decontaminating meat processing surfaces.
Study controls
 The selected decontaminants do not interfere with the assay. Prions could be recovered and detected on surfaces that had processed CWD-positive meat. Surfaces swabbed after processing CWD-negative meat tested negative for seeding activity.
Knife and cutting board
 Dish soap removed seeding activity from knife blades but not cutting boards. Briotech removed seeding activity from knives but only partially from cutting boards. Virkon-S, 10% bleach, and 40% bleach removed seeding activity from knives and cutting boards.
Meat cross-contamination
 CWD-negative meat was contaminated (5 of 8 samples tested positive) after passing through a grinder that had processed CWD-positive meat ≈5 min earlier.
Meat grinder Dish soap removed seeding activity from cast iron grinders but not stainless steel. Virkon-S reduced but did not eliminate seeding activity from cast iron and stainless steel grinders. 10% and 40% bleach removed seeding activity from cast iron and stainless steel grinders.

*CWD, chronic wasting disease. †Dish soap, Dawn brand (Procter & Gamble, https://dawn-dish.com); Briotech, 0.02% hypochlorous acid (https://briotechusa.shop); Virkon-S, 2% potassium peroxymonosulfate (Lanxess AG, https://lanxess.com); bleach, 10% vol/vol (7,500 ppm) and 40% vol/vol (30,000 ppm) commercial bleach solutions (7.5% sodium hypochlorite; The Clorox Company, https://www.clorox.com).

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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