In summary, these data reveal that although CNS prion disease duration is shorter in microglia‐deficient Csf1rΔFIRE mice, this is not accompanied by increased neuronal vacuolation, prion accumulation, or upregulation of GFAP or CD44 at the terminal stage, when compared to infected Csf1rWT mice. The gene discussed is CD44; the disease is prion disease.