MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Scientists will soon inject brain tissue from deer infected with chronic wasting disease into the brains of healthy cattle to see whether the cows develop a similar disease.

Scientists in Ames, Iowa, will begin later this month to try to determine whether the fatal disease can cross from one species to another, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Sunday.

Chronic wasting disease is related to mad cow disease and damages brain and nerve tissue. The disease has been detected in at least 10 Midwest and Rocky Mountain states and parts of Canada. In Wisconsin, 40 infected deer have been found.

Janice Miller, a U.S. Department of Agriculture veterinarian in charge of the experiment, said it is unlikely that the disease can spread to cattle.

Still, "there is no way you can say 'no risk,"' she said. "The way the research is piling up, I think you can say 'low."'

Researchers likely will not have the results of the experiment for several years. Next year, they plan similar experiments with pigs and sheep.

There is no known way for deer to spread the disease to humans, but experts say hunters should take precautions when preparing deer for food, including cooking it thoroughly.

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