chronic wasting disease

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Explanation of "Chronic Wasting Disease"

Definition: Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a serious illness that affects deer and elk. It is caused by abnormal proteins called prions, which can harm the brain of these animals. CWD is similar to another disease known as "bovine spongiform encephalitis" (BSE), which affects cattle.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "chronic wasting disease" when talking about wildlife health issues, especially concerning deer and elk.
• It is a technical term mainly used in discussions about wildlife management, veterinary medicine, or environmental science.

Example Sentence:

• "Chronic wasting disease has spread across several states, causing concern among wildlife officials about its impact on deer populations."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced discussions, you might encounter scientific papers or reports analyzing the effects of chronic wasting disease on ecosystems, prevention strategies, or its transmission methods.

Word Variants:

• There are no direct variants of "chronic wasting disease," but you might see it abbreviated as "CWD" in scientific literature or discussions.

Different Meanings:

• "Chronic" means long-lasting or persistent, and "wasting" refers to a gradual loss of health, weight, or condition. In a broader sense, "chronic" can be used to describe any illness that is long-term, such as chronic pain or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Synonyms:

• There are no direct synonyms for "chronic wasting disease," but related terms could include:
  • Neurological disease (in a general sense)
  • Prion disease (as it involves prions)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "chronic wasting disease," as it is a specific medical term.

Summary:

Chronic wasting disease is a serious illness affecting deer and elk, caused by prions that damage their brains. It's important for wildlife health and management discussions.

Academic

Noun

1. a wildlife disease (akin to bovine spongiform encephalitis) that affects deer and elk