Variation in the prion protein gene (PRNP) sequence of wild deer in Great Britain and mainland Europe

Robinson, Amy L.; Williamson, Helen; Güere, Mariella E.; Tharaldsen, Helene; Baker, Karis; Smith, Stephanie L.; Pérez-Espona, Sílvia; Krojerová-Prokešová, Jarmila; Pemberton, Josephine M.; Goldmann, Wilfred; Houston, Fiona

Abstract

Susceptibility to prion diseases is largely determined by the sequence of the prion protein gene (PRNP), which encodes the prion protein (PrP). The recent emergence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Europe has highlighted the need to investigate PRNP gene diversity in European deer species, to better predict their susceptibility to CWD. Here we report a large genetic survey of six British deer species, including red (Cervus elaphus), sika (Cervus nippon), roe (Capreolus capreolus), fallow (Dama dama), muntjac (Muntiacus reevesii), and Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis), which establishes PRNP haplotype and genotype frequencies. Two smaller data sets from red deer in Norway and the Czech Republic are also included for comparison. Overall red deer show the most PRNP variation, with non-synonymous/ coding polymorphisms at codons 98, 168, 226 and 247, which vary markedly in frequency between different regions. Polymorphisms P168S and I247L were only found in Scottish and Czech populations, respectively. T98A was found in all populations except Norway and the south of England. Significant regional differences in genotype frequencies were observed within both British and European red deer populations. Other deer species showed less variation, particularly roe and fallow deer, in which identical PRNP gene sequences were found in all individuals analysed. Based on comparison with PRNP sequences of North American cervids affected by CWD and limited experimental challenge data, these results suggest that a high proportion of wild deer in Great Britain may be susceptible to CWD.

Citation

Robinson, A. L., Williamson, H., Güere, M. E., Tharaldsen, H., Baker, K., Smith, S. L., Pérez-Espona, S., Krojerová-Prokešová, J., Pemberton, J. M., Goldmann, W., & Houston, F. (2019). Variation in the prion protein gene (PRNP) sequence of wild deer in Great Britain and mainland Europe. Veterinary Research, 50(1), Article 59. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-019-0675-6

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 5, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Jul 31, 2019
• Publication Date: Jul 31, 2019
• Deposit Date: Aug 16, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 16, 2019
• Journal: Veterinary Research
• Print ISSN: 0928-4249
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 50
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 59
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-019-0675-6
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1295176