Dissociation between Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) 
Infectivity and Proteinase K-Resistant PrPSc Levels in Peripheral Tissue from a 
Murine Transgenic Model of TSE Disease 
Karen Dobie and 
Rona Barron
+ Author Affiliations 
Neurobiology Division, The Roslin Institute & R(D)SVS, Easter Bush, 
Midlothian, United Kingdom 
ABSTRACT
Most current diagnostic tests for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies 
(TSE) rely on the presence of proteinase K (PK)-resistant PrPSc (PrP-res) in 
postmortem tissues as an indication of TSE disease. However, a number of studies 
have highlighted a discrepancy between TSE infectivity and PrP-res levels in 
both natural and experimental cases of TSE disease. Previously, we have shown 
high TSE infectivity levels in the brain tissue of mice that have a clinical TSE 
disease with associated vacuolar pathology but little or no detectable PrP-res. 
Here, the levels of TSE infectivity and PrP-res within a peripheral tissue of 
this mouse model were investigated. Biochemical analysis showed that low levels 
of PrP-res were present in the spleen tissue in comparison to the levels 
observed in the spleen of mice infected with ME7 or 79A. However, upon 
subpassage of brain and spleen tissue from clinically ill mice with little or no 
PrP-res detectable, similar short incubation periods to disease were observed, 
indicating that infectivity levels were similarly high in both tissues. Thus, 
the discrepancy between PrP-res and TSE infectivity was also present in the 
peripheral tissues of this disease model. This result indicates that peripheral 
tissues can contain higher levels of infectivity given the correct combination 
of host species, PrP genotype, and TSE agent. Therefore, the assumption that the 
levels of peripheral infectivity are lower than those in the central nervous 
system is not always correct, and this could have implications for current food 
safety regulations. 
FOOTNOTES
Received 19 December 2012. 
Accepted 7 March 2013. 
Address correspondence to Rona Barron, rona.barron@roslin.ed.ac.uk. 
Published ahead of print 13 March 2013 
Copyright © 2013, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. 
> and this could have implications for current food safety regulations. 
now that’s funny, I don’t care who you are. 
if for one minute anyone thinks any government regulatory body i.e. the 
USDA, CFIA, MAFF, and or the OIE, is going to change any regulatory aspects of 
the BSE TSE SRM tissue regulations, if anyone believes this, I have some beach 
front property out in west Texas up for sale... 
Friday, April 19, 2013 
FDA BSE TSE PRION NEWS FEED AND ANNUAL INSPECTION OF FEED MILLS REPORTS HAS 
CEASED TO EXIST 
Monday, March 25, 2013 
Minnesota Firm Recalls Bone-In Ribeye That May Contain Specified Risk 
Materials Recall Release CLASS II RECALL FSIS-RC-024-2013 
Saturday, December 15, 2012 
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy: the effect of oral exposure dose on 
attack rate and incubation period in cattle -- an update 5 December 2012
Tuesday, March 5, 2013 
Use of Materials Derived From Cattle in Human Food and Cosmetics; Reopening 
of the Comment Period FDA-2004-N-0188-0051 (TSS SUBMISSION) 
FDA believes current regulation protects the public from BSE but reopens 
comment period due to new studies 
Wednesday, March 20, 2013 
GAO-13-244, Mar 18, 2013 Dietary Supplements FDA May Have Opportunities to 
Expand Its Use of Reported Health Problems to Oversee Product 
From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr. 
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 2:46 PM 
To: gomezj@gao.gov 
Cc: siggerudk@gao.gov ; youngc1@gao.gov ; oighotline@gao.gov 
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
World Organization for Animal Health Recommends United States' BSE Risk 
Status Be Upgraded
Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack: 
Thursday, February 14, 2013
The Many Faces of Mad Cow Disease Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy BSE and 
TSE prion disease 
Friday, April 19, 2013 
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Feed Safety Support Program Grants 
Fiscal Year 2011: October 1, 2010 - September 30, 2011 FDA 
IT is of my opinion, that the OIE and the USDA et al, are the soul reason, 
and responsible parties, for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy TSE prion 
diseases, including typical and atypical BSE, typical and atypical Scrapie, and 
all strains of CWD, and human TSE there from, spreading around the globe. I have 
lost all confidence of this organization as a regulatory authority on animal 
disease, and consider it nothing more than a National Trading Brokerage for all 
strains of animal TSE, just to satisfy there commodity. AS i said before, OIE 
should hang up there jock strap now, since it appears they will buckle every 
time a country makes some political hay about trade protocol, commodities and 
futures. IF they are not going to be science based, they should do everyone a 
favor and dissolve there organization. JUST because of low documented human body 
count with nvCJD and the long incubation periods, the lack of sound science 
being replaced by political and corporate science in relations with the fact 
that science has now linked some sporadic CJD with atypical BSE and atypical 
scrapie, and the very real threat of CWD being zoonosis, I believed the O.I.E. 
has failed terribly and again, I call for this organization to be dissolved. ... 
Thursday, December 20, 2012 
OIE GROUP RECOMMENDS THAT SCRAPE PRION DISEASE BE DELISTED AND SAME OLD BSe 
WITH BOVINE MAD COW DISEASE 
Tuesday, July 17, 2012 
O.I.E. BSE, CWD, SCRAPIE, TSE PRION DISEASE Final Report of the 80th 
General Session, 20 - 25 May 2012 
Wednesday, May 16, 2012 
OIE UPDATE BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY UNITED STATES OF AMERICA MAY 
15, 2012 
RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS 
of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Update, October 31, 2005 INTRODUCTION 
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service 
(FSIS) held a public meeting on July 25, 2006 in Washington, D.C. to present 
findings from the Harvard Risk Assessment of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy 
Update, October 31, 2005 (report and model located on the FSIS website: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/Risk_Assessments/index.asp). 
Comments on technical aspects of the risk assessment were then submitted to 
FSIS. Comments were received from Food and Water Watch, Food Animal Concerns 
Trust (FACT), Farm Sanctuary, R-CALF USA, Linda A Detwiler, and Terry S. 
Singeltary. This document provides itemized replies to the public comments 
received on the 2005 updated Harvard BSE risk assessment. Please bear the 
following points in mind: 
IN SHORT, AND IN A NUT SHELL ; 
(Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 23 May 2006) 
11. Information published by the OIE is derived from appropriate 
declarations made by the official Veterinary Services of Member Countries. The 
OIE is not responsible for inaccurate publication of country disease status 
based on inaccurate information or changes in epidemiological status or other 
significant events that were not promptly reported to the Central Bureau, 
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 
PO-028: Oral transmission of L-type bovine spongiform encephalopathy 
(L-BSE) in primate model Microcebus murinus 
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 
ARS FLIP FLOPS ON SRM REMOVAL FOR ATYPICAL L-TYPE BASE BSE RISK HUMAN AND 
ANIMAL HEALTH 
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 
re-Freedom of Information Act Project Number 3625-32000-086-05, Study of 
Atypical BSE UPDATE July 28, 2010 
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 11:42 AM 
Subject: re-Freedom of Information Act Project Number 3625-32000-086-05, 
Study of Atypical BSE UPDATE 
Greetings again Ms Williams et al at FOIA USDA, 
Thank You again for your kind reply on this important information. However, 
I am concerned that you may not be aware of new transmission studies. You (USDA 
et al) state Ma'am ; 
================================================ 
The SCA with Italy was mainly to confirm our respective country’s 
diagnostic tests would detect the various atypical BSE cases as seen in each 
country), in the meantime, the Italians have published their transmissibility 
and pathogenesis work on their BASE cases in the following article: 
Lombardi G, Casalone C, A DA, Gelmetti D, Torcoli G, Barbieri I, Corona C, 
Fasoli E, Farinazzo A, Fiorini M, Gelati M, Iulini B, Tagliavini F, Ferrari S, 
Caramelli M, Monaco S, Capucci L, Zanusso G (2008) Intraspecies transmission of 
BASE induces clinical dullness and amyotrophic changes. PLoS Pathog 4:e1000075 
 The above mentioned paper concludes, “In all experimentally infected 
animals, no PrP**TSE was detected in peripheral tissues, including cervical and 
mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, liver, lung, peripheral nerves and 
forelimb and limb muscles, either by standard Western blot analysis or following 
phosphotungstic acid precipitation.“ 
 It is not necessary to change SRM removal due to any different tissue 
infectivity distribution between classical BSE and atypical BSE. At this time, 
there is no scientific evidence to suggest a need for expanding the list of 
tissues included in the Specified Risk Material (SRM) ban as a result of 
published studies on atypical BSE. snip... 
 Moreover, in the paper by Buschmann A, Groschup MH (2005,) Highly bovine 
spongiform encephalopathy-sensitive transgenic mice confirm the essential 
restriction of infectivity to the nervous system in clinically diseased cattle. 
J Infect Dis 192:934-942; the authors, when speaking about the classical BSE 
food-borne epidemic in Europe, concluded their “results provide further 
indication that the pathogenesis of BSE in cattle is fundamentally different 
from that in sheep and mice, due to an exclusive intraneuronal spread of 
infectivity from the gut to the central nervous system.” 
end... 
================================================ 
Again, in my opinion, the USDA is cherry picking the science they want to 
use, and in doing so, I believe they are putting human lives at risk. I disagree 
for the following reasons. New studies indeed show that ; 
July 10, 2010 
see full text ; 
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 
re-Freedom of Information Act Project Number 3625-32000-086-05, Study of 
Atypical BSE UPDATE July 28, 2010 
USDA TRIPLE BSE MAD COW FIREWALL, SRM, FEED, AND SURVEILLANCE 
2012 
***Also, a link is suspected between atypical BSE and some apparently 
sporadic cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. These atypical BSE cases 
constitute an unforeseen first threat that could sharply modify the European 
approach to prion diseases. 
Second threat 
snip... 
MAD COW USDA ATYPICAL L-TYPE BASE BSE, the rest of the story... 
 ***Oral Transmission of L-type Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in Primate 
Model 
***Infectivity in skeletal muscle of BASE-infected cattle 
***feedstuffs- It also suggests a similar cause or source for atypical BSE 
in these countries. 
***Also, a link is suspected between atypical BSE and some apparently 
sporadic cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. 
The present study demonstrated successful intraspecies transmission of 
H-type BSE to cattle and the distribution and immunolabeling patterns of PrPSc 
in the brain of the H-type BSE-challenged cattle. TSE agent virulence can be 
minimally defined by oral transmission of different TSE agents (C-type, L-type, 
and H-type BSE agents) [59]. Oral transmission studies with H-type BSEinfected 
cattle have been initiated and are underway to provide information regarding the 
extent of similarity in the immunohistochemical and molecular features before 
and after transmission. 
In addition, the present data will support risk assessments in some 
peripheral tissues derived from cattle affected with H-type BSE. 
Friday, May 11, 2012 
Experimental H-type bovine spongiform encephalopathy characterized by 
plaques and glial- and stellate-type prion protein deposits 
***support risk assessments in some peripheral tissues derived from cattle 
affected with H-type BSE 
Thursday, June 21, 2012 
Clinical and Pathologic Features of H-Type Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy 
Associated with E211K Prion Protein Polymorphism 
Justin J. Greenlee1*, Jodi D. Smith1, M. Heather West Greenlee2, Eric M. 
Nicholson1 
1 National Animal Disease Center, United States Department of Agriculture, 
Agricultural Research Service, Ames, Iowa, United States of America, 2 Iowa 
State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America 
Abstract 
The majority of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) cases have been 
ascribed to the classical form of the disease. Htype and L-type BSE cases have 
atypical molecular profiles compared to classical BSE and are thought to arise 
spontaneously. However, one case of H-type BSE was associated with a heritable 
E211K mutation in the prion protein gene. The purpose of this study was to 
describe transmission of this unique isolate of H-type BSE when inoculated into 
a calf of the same genotype by the intracranial route. Electroretinograms were 
used to demonstrate preclinical deficits in retinal function, and optical 
coherence tomography was used to demonstrate an antemortem decrease in retinal 
thickness. The calf rapidly progressed to clinical disease (9.4 months) and was 
necropsied. Widespread distribution of abnormal prion protein was demonstrated 
within neural tissues by western blot and immunohistochemistry. While this 
isolate is categorized as BSE-H due to a higher molecular mass of the 
unglycosylated PrPSc isoform, a strong labeling of all 3 PrPSc bands with 
monoclonal antibodies 6H4 and P4, and a second unglycosylated band at 
approximately 14 kDa when developed with antibodies that bind in the C-terminal 
region, it is unique from other described cases of BSE-H because of an 
additional band 23 kDa demonstrated on western blots of the cerebellum. This 
work demonstrates that this isolate is transmissible, has a BSE-H phenotype when 
transmitted to cattle with the K211 polymorphism, and has molecular features 
that distinguish it from other cases of BSE-H described in the literature. 
snip... 
Most significantly it must be determined if the molecular phenotype of this 
cattle TSE remains stable when transmitted to cattle without the E211K 
polymorphism as several other isolates of atypical BSE have been shown to adopt 
a molecular profile consistent with classical BSE after passage in transgenic 
mice expressing bovine PrPC [40] or multiple passages in wild type mice [23]. 
Results of ongoing studies, namely passage of the E211K Htype isolate into 
wild-type cattle, will lend further insight into what role, if any, genetic and 
sporadic forms of BSE may have played in the origins of classical BSE. Atypical 
cases presumably of spontaneous or, in the case of E211K BSE-H, genetic origins 
highlight that it may not be possible to eradicate BSE entirely and that it 
would be hazardous to remove disease control measures such as prohibiting the 
feeding of meat and bone meal to ruminants. 
P.4.23 
Transmission of atypical BSE in humanized mouse models 
Liuting Qing1, Wenquan Zou1, Cristina Casalone2, Martin Groschup3, Miroslaw 
Polak4, Maria Caramelli2, Pierluigi Gambetti1, Juergen Richt5, Qingzhong Kong1 
1Case Western Reserve University, USA; 2Instituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale, 
Italy; 3Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Germany; 4National Veterinary Research 
Institute, Poland; 5Kansas State University (Previously at USDA National Animal 
Disease Center), USA 
 Background: Classical BSE is a world-wide prion disease in cattle, and the 
classical BSE strain (BSE-C) has led to over 200 cases of clinical human 
infection (variant CJD). Atypical BSE cases have been discovered in three 
continents since 2004; they include the L-type (also named BASE), the H-type, 
and the first reported case of naturally occurring BSE with mutated bovine PRNP 
(termed BSE-M). The public health risks posed by atypical BSE were largely 
undefined. Objectives: To investigate these atypical BSE types in terms of their 
transmissibility and phenotypes in humanized mice. Methods: Transgenic mice 
expressing human PrP were inoculated with several classical (C-type) and 
atypical (L-, H-, or Mtype) BSE isolates, and the transmission rate, incubation 
time, characteristics and distribution of PrPSc, symptoms, and histopathology 
were or will be examined and compared. Results: Sixty percent of BASE-inoculated 
humanized mice became infected with minimal spongiosis and an average incubation 
time of 20-22 months, whereas only one of the C-type BSE-inoculated mice 
developed prion disease after more than 2 years. Protease-resistant PrPSc in 
BASE-infected humanized Tg mouse brains was biochemically different from bovine 
BASE or sCJD. PrPSc was also detected in the spleen of 22% of BASE-infected 
humanized mice, but not in those infected with sCJD. Secondary transmission of 
BASE in the humanized mice led to a small reduction in incubation time.*** The 
atypical BSE-H strain is also transmissible with distinct phenotypes in the 
humanized mice, but no BSE-M transmission has been observed so far. Discussion: 
Our results demonstrate that BASE is more virulent than classical BSE, has a 
lymphotropic phenotype, and displays a modest transmission barrier in our 
humanized mice. BSE-H is also transmissible in our humanized Tg mice. The 
possibility of more than two atypical BSE strains will be discussed. 
Supported by NINDS NS052319, NIA AG14359, and NIH AI 77774. 
P26 TRANSMISSION OF ATYPICAL BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE) IN 
HUMANIZED MOUSE MODELS 
Liuting Qing1, Fusong Chen1, Michael Payne1, Wenquan Zou1, Cristina 
Casalone2, Martin Groschup3, Miroslaw Polak4, Maria Caramelli2, Pierluigi 
Gambetti1, Juergen Richt5*, and Qingzhong Kong1 1Department of Pathology, Case 
Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; 2CEA, Istituto 
Zooprofilattico Sperimentale, Italy; 3Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Germany; 
4National Veterinary Research Institute, Poland; 5Kansas State University, 
Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology Department, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA. *Previous 
address: USDA National Animal Disease Center, Ames, IA 50010, USA 
Classical BSE is a world-wide prion disease in cattle, and the classical 
BSE strain (BSE-C) has led to over 200 cases of clinical human infection 
(variant CJD). Two atypical BSE strains, BSE-L (also named BASE) and BSE-H, have 
been discovered in three continents since 2004. The first case of naturally 
occurring BSE with mutated bovine PrP gene (termed BSE-M) was also found in 2006 
in the USA. The transmissibility and phenotypes of these atypical BSE 
strains/isolates in humans were unknown. We have inoculated humanized transgenic 
mice with classical and atypical BSE strains (BSE-C, BSE-L, BSE-H) and the BSE-M 
isolate. We have found that the atypical BSE-L strain is much more virulent than 
the classical BSE-C.*** The atypical BSE-H strain is also transmissible in the 
humanized transgenic mice with distinct phenotype, but no transmission has been 
observed for the BSE-M isolate so far. III International Symposium on THE NEW 
PRION BIOLOGY: BASIC SCIENCE, DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY 2 - 4 APRIL 2009, VENEZIA 
(ITALY) 
I ask Professor Kong ; 
Thursday, December 04, 2008 3:37 PM Subject: RE: re--Chronic Wating Disease 
(CWD) and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathies (BSE): Public Health Risk 
Assessment 
''IS the h-BSE more virulent than typical BSE as well, or the same as cBSE, 
or less virulent than cBSE? just curious.....'' 
Professor Kong reply ; 
.....snip 
''As to the H-BSE, we do not have sufficient data to say one way or 
another, but we have found that H-BSE can infect humans. I hope we could publish 
these data once the study is complete. Thanks for your interest.'' 
Best regards, 
Qingzhong Kong, PhD Associate Professor Department of Pathology Case 
Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH 44106 USA 
END...TSS 
Thursday, December 04, 2008 2:37 PM 
"we have found that H-BSE can infect humans." 
personal communication with Professor Kong. ...TSS 
BSE-H is also transmissible in our humanized Tg mice. 
The possibility of more than two atypical BSE strains will be discussed. 
Supported by NINDS NS052319, NIA AG14359, and NIH AI 77774. 
let's take a closer look at this new prionpathy or prionopathy, and then 
let's look at the g-h-BSEalabama mad cow. This new prionopathy in humans? the 
genetic makeup is IDENTICAL to the g-h-BSEalabama mad cow, the only _documented_ 
mad cow in the world to date like this, ......wait, it get's better. this new 
prionpathy is killing young and old humans, with LONG DURATION from onset of 
symptoms to death, and the symptoms are very similar to nvCJD victims, OH, and 
the plaques are very similar in some cases too, bbbut, it's not related to the 
g-h-BSEalabama cow, WAIT NOW, it gets even better, the new human prionpathy that 
they claim is a genetic TSE, has no relation to any gene mutation in that 
family. daaa, ya think it could be related to that mad cow with the same genetic 
make-up ??? there were literally tons and tons of banned mad cow protein in 
Alabama in commerce, and none of it transmitted to cows, and the cows to humans 
there from ??? r i g h t $$$ 
 ALABAMA MAD COW g-h-BSEalabama 
 In this study, we identified a novel mutation in the bovine prion protein 
gene (Prnp), called E211K, of a confirmed BSE positive cow from Alabama, United 
States of America. This mutation is identical to the E200K pathogenic mutation 
found in humans with a genetic form of CJD. This finding represents the first 
report of a confirmed case of BSE with a potential pathogenic mutation within 
the bovine Prnp gene. We hypothesize that the bovine Prnp E211K mutation most 
likely has caused BSE in "the approximately 10-year-old cow" carrying the E221K 
mutation. 
her healthy calf also carried the mutation (J. A. Richt and S. M. Hall PLoS 
Pathog. 4, e1000156; 2008). This raises the possibility that the disease could 
occasionally be genetic in origin. Indeed, the report of the UK BSE Inquiry in 
2000 suggested that the UK epidemic had most likely originated from such a 
mutation and argued against the scrapierelated assumption. Such rare potential 
pathogenic PRNP mutations could occur in countries at present considered to be 
free of BSE, such as Australia and New Zealand. So it is important to maintain 
strict surveillance for BSE in cattle, with rigorous enforcement of the ruminant 
feed ban (many countries still feed ruminant proteins to pigs). Removal of 
specified risk material, such as brain and spinal cord, from cattle at slaughter 
prevents infected material from entering the human food chain. Routine genetic 
screening of cattle for PRNP mutations, which is now available, could provide 
additional data on the risk to the public. Because the point mutation identified 
in the Alabama animals is identical to that responsible for the commonest type 
of familial (genetic) CJD in humans, it is possible that the resulting infective 
prion protein might cross the bovine–human species barrier more easily. Patients 
with vCJD continue to be identified. The fact that this is happening less often 
should not lead to relaxation of the controls necessary to prevent future 
outbreaks. Malcolm A. Ferguson-Smith Cambridge University Department of 
Veterinary Medicine, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK e-mail: 
maf12@cam.ac.uk Jürgen A. Richt College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State 
University, K224B Mosier Hall, Manhattan, Kansas 66506-5601, USA 
NATURE|Vol 457|26 February 2009 
Saturday, August 14, 2010 
BSE Case Associated with Prion Protein Gene Mutation (g-h-BSEalabama) and 
VPSPr PRIONPATHY (see mad cow feed in COMMERCE IN ALABAMA...TSS) 
P.9.21 
Molecular characterization of BSE in Canada 
Jianmin Yang1, Sandor Dudas2, Catherine Graham2, Markus Czub3, Tim 
McAllister1, Stefanie Czub1 1Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre, 
Canada; 2National and OIE BSE Reference Laboratory, Canada; 3University of 
Calgary, Canada 
Background: Three BSE types (classical and two atypical) have been 
identified on the basis of molecular characteristics of the misfolded protein 
associated with the disease. To date, each of these three types have been 
detected in Canadian cattle. Objectives: This study was conducted to further 
characterize the 16 Canadian BSE cases based on the biochemical properties of 
there associated PrPres. Methods: Immuno-reactivity, molecular weight, glycoform 
profiles and relative proteinase K sensitivity of the PrPres from each of the 16 
confirmed Canadian BSE cases was determined using modified Western blot 
analysis. Results: Fourteen of the 16 Canadian BSE cases were C type, 1 was H 
type and 1 was L type. The Canadian H and L-type BSE cases exhibited size shifts 
and changes in glycosylation similar to other atypical BSE cases. PK digestion 
under mild and stringent conditions revealed a reduced protease resistance of 
the atypical cases compared to the C-type cases. N terminal- specific antibodies 
bound to PrPres from H type but not from C or L type. The C-terminal-specific 
antibodies resulted in a shift in the glycoform profile and detected a fourth 
band in the Canadian H-type BSE. Discussion: The C, L and H type BSE cases in 
Canada exhibit molecular characteristics similar to those described for 
classical and atypical BSE cases from Europe and Japan. This supports the theory 
that the importation of BSE contaminated feedstuff is the source of C-type BSE 
in Canada. 
*** It also suggests a similar cause or source for atypical BSE in these 
countries. 
Saturday, May 26, 2012 
Are USDA assurances on mad cow case 'gross oversimplification'? 
SNIP... 
What irks many scientists is the USDA’s April 25 statement that the rare 
disease is “not generally associated with an animal consuming infected feed.” 
The USDA’s conclusion is a “gross oversimplification,” said Dr. Paul Brown, 
one of the world’s experts on this type of disease who retired recently from the 
National Institutes of Health. "(The agency) has no foundation on which to base 
that statement.” 
“We can’t say it’s not feed related,” agreed Dr. Linda Detwiler, an 
official with the USDA during the Clinton Administration now at Mississippi 
State. 
In the May 1 email to me, USDA’s Cole backed off a bit. “No one knows the 
origins of atypical cases of BSE,” she said 
The argument about feed is critical because if feed is the cause, not a 
spontaneous mutation, the California cow could be part of a larger outbreak. 
SNIP... 
2009 UPDATE ON ALABAMA AND TEXAS MAD COWS 2005 and 2006 
in the url that follows, I have posted 
SRM breaches first, as late as 2011. 
then 
MAD COW FEED BAN BREACHES AND TONNAGES OF MAD COW FEED IN COMMERCE up until 
2007, when they ceased posting them. 
then, 
MAD COW SURVEILLANCE BREACHES. 
Friday, May 18, 2012 
Update from APHIS Regarding a Detection of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy 
(BSE) in the United States Friday May 18, 2012 
Monday, November 30, 2009 
USDA AND OIE COLLABORATE TO EXCLUDE ATYPICAL SCRAPIE NOR-98 ANIMAL HEALTH 
CODE 
Friday, February 11, 2011 
Atypical/Nor98 Scrapie Infectivity in Sheep Peripheral Tissues 
Monday, April 22, 2013 
North Carolina Senate bill S.B. 648 could be health risk and risk your 
children again to mad cow type disease BSE TSE prion disease 
Letter: Senate bill could be health risk 
Thursday, February 21, 2013 
National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center Cases Examined January 
16, 2013 
16 YEAR OLD SPORADIC FFI ? 
 Monday, January 14, 2013 
Gambetti et al USA Prion Unit change another highly suspect USA mad cow 
victim to another fake name i.e. sporadic FFI at age 16 CJD Foundation goes 
along with this BSe 
Monday, December 31, 2012 
Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease and Human TSE Prion Disease in Washington State, 
2006–2011-2012 
Tuesday, December 25, 2012 
CREUTZFELDT JAKOB TSE PRION DISEASE HUMANS END OF YEAR REVIEW DECEMBER 25, 
2012 
Tuesday, June 26, 2012 
Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease Human TSE report update North America, Canada, 
Mexico, and USDA PRION UNIT as of May 18, 2012 
type determination pending Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (tdpCJD), is on the 
rise in Canada and the USA 
Wednesday, June 13, 2012 
MEXICO IS UNDER or MIS DIAGNOSING CREUTZFELDT JAKOB DISEASE AND OTHER PRION 
DISEASE SOME WITH POSSIBLE nvCJD 
*** The discovery of previously unrecognized prion diseases in both humans 
and animals (i.e., Nor98 in small ruminants) demonstrates that the range of 
prion diseases might be wider than expected and raises crucial questions about 
the epidemiology and strain properties of these new forms. We are investigating 
this latter issue by molecular and biological comparison of VPSPr, GSS and 
Nor98. 
VARIABLY PROTEASE-SENSITVE PRIONOPATHY IS TRANSMISSIBLE ...price of prion 
poker goes up again $ 
OR-10: Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy is transmissible in bank 
voles 
Romolo Nonno,1 Michele Di Bari,1 Laura Pirisinu,1 Claudia D’Agostino,1 
Stefano Marcon,1 Geraldina Riccardi,1 Gabriele Vaccari,1 Piero Parchi,2 Wenquan 
Zou,3 Pierluigi Gambetti,3 Umberto Agrimi1 1Istituto Superiore di Sanità; Rome, 
Italy; 2Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche, Università di Bologna; Bologna, 
Italy; 3Case Western Reserve University; Cleveland, OH USA 
Background. Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy (VPSPr) is a recently 
described “sporadic”neurodegenerative disease involving prion protein 
aggregation, which has clinical similarities with non-Alzheimer dementias, such 
as fronto-temporal dementia. Currently, 30 cases of VPSPr have been reported in 
Europe and USA, of which 19 cases were homozygous for valine at codon 129 of the 
prion protein (VV), 8 were MV and 3 were MM. A distinctive feature of VPSPr is 
the electrophoretic pattern of PrPSc after digestion with proteinase K (PK). 
After PK-treatment, PrP from VPSPr forms a ladder-like electrophoretic pattern 
similar to that described in GSS cases. The clinical and pathological features 
of VPSPr raised the question of the correct classification of VPSPr among prion 
diseases or other forms of neurodegenerative disorders. Here we report 
preliminary data on the transmissibility and pathological features of VPSPr 
cases in bank voles. 
Materials and Methods. Seven VPSPr cases were inoculated in two genetic 
lines of bank voles, carrying either methionine or isoleucine at codon 109 of 
the prion protein (named BvM109 and BvI109, respectively). Among the VPSPr cases 
selected, 2 were VV at PrP codon 129, 3 were MV and 2 were MM. Clinical 
diagnosis in voles was confirmed by brain pathological assessment and western 
blot for PK-resistant PrPSc (PrPres) with mAbs SAF32, SAF84, 12B2 and 9A2. 
Results. To date, 2 VPSPr cases (1 MV and 1 MM) gave positive transmission 
in BvM109. Overall, 3 voles were positive with survival time between 290 and 588 
d post inoculation (d.p.i.). All positive voles accumulated PrPres in the form 
of the typical PrP27–30, which was indistinguishable to that previously observed 
in BvM109 inoculated with sCJDMM1 cases. 
In BvI109, 3 VPSPr cases (2 VV and 1 MM) showed positive transmission until 
now. Overall, 5 voles were positive with survival time between 281 and 596 
d.p.i.. In contrast to what observed in BvM109, all BvI109 showed a GSS-like 
PrPSc electrophoretic pattern, characterized by low molecular weight PrPres. 
These PrPres fragments were positive with mAb 9A2 and 12B2, while being negative 
with SAF32 and SAF84, suggesting that they are cleaved at both the C-terminus 
and the N-terminus. Second passages are in progress from these first successful 
transmissions. 
Conclusions. Preliminary results from transmission studies in bank voles 
strongly support the notion that VPSPr is a transmissible prion disease. 
Interestingly, VPSPr undergoes divergent evolution in the two genetic lines of 
voles, with sCJD-like features in BvM109 and GSS-like properties in BvI109. 
The discovery of previously unrecognized prion diseases in both humans and 
animals (i.e., Nor98 in small ruminants) demonstrates that the range of prion 
diseases might be wider than expected and raises crucial questions about the 
epidemiology and strain properties of these new forms. We are investigating this 
latter issue by molecular and biological comparison of VPSPr, GSS and Nor98. 
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 
VARIABLY PROTEASE-SENSITVE PRIONOPATHY IS TRANSMISSIBLE, price of prion 
poker goes up again $ 
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy in the UK: a retrospective review 
1991–2008 
Brain (2013) 136 (4): 1102-1115. doi: 10.1093/brain/aws366 
Sunday, March 31, 2013 
Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease CJD worlds youngest documented victim, 11 years 
old, shall we pray 
tss
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