PROCEEDINGS ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING of the UNITED STATES
ANIMAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION Sheraton Greensboro Hotel Greensboro, North Carolina
October 18 – 24, 2012
SNIP...
RESOLUTION NUMBER: 20– APPROVED
SOURCE: Committee on Captive Wildlife and Alternative Livestock
SUBJECT MATTER: Chronic Wasting Disease Control
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
It has been stated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services that (1) the goal of
the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) program in the United States has now changed
from eradication to controlling its spread, (2) there is no longer federal
funding available to pay for CWD testing or to pay indemnity for CWD infected or
exposed animals, and (3) depopulation of infected herds will no longer be
required or expected.
With this major change in objectives, it is critical that we change the way
we implement the CWD program in the United States. We now need a program that
minimizes the risk of spreading CWD in farmed and wild cervidae without putting
farmed cervidae producers out of business if their
NOMINATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
397
herds become CWD infected or exposed. We need a CWD control program that
includes plans for how to (1) handle infected or exposed herds, (2) clean up
infected herds without depopulation, and (3) provide outlets so producers can
continue to sell velvet antler and live animals to slaughter or specified
terminal facilities.
RESOLUTION:
The United States Animal Health Association urges the United States
Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service,
Veterinary Services and state animal health regulatory officials to develop
protocols for the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) control program that mitigate
the risk of the spread of CWD and allow producers with CWD infected or exposed
herds to continue operations under quarantine and which allow (1) addition of
cervidae from CWD certified herds, (2) participation in herd plans such as test
and removal, and (3) movement of velvet antler and live animals to slaughter or
other approved terminal facilities.
*****
RESOLUTION NUMBER: 21 – APPROVED AS AMENDED
SOURCE: Committee on Captive Wildlife and Alternative Livestock
SUBJECT MATTER: Funding for Chronic Wasting Disease Testing
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The requirements for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) herd certification (9
CFR 55) and for interstate movement of farmed cervidae (9 CFR 81) specify that
all farmed cervidae greater than 12 months of age that die or are slaughtered
must be tested for CWD.
The CWD testing protocol that is recommended for farmed cervidae is the
immunohistochemistry test using formalin fixed samples of brain stem or a
retropharyngeal lymph node. The test on either of these tissues is highly
sensitive and specific for detecting the presence of CWD prion. The test costs
at least $25.00 per slide to perform at United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) approved laboratories.
In the past, USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary
Services has provided funding to pay for CWD testing of wild and farmed cervids
in the United States. Federal funding for this purpose is no longer available
and farmed cervidae producers in most states must pay the entire cost for
required CWD tests. Without federal funding for CWD testing, producer compliance
with program requirements is likely to decrease. Without producer support, the
program to control the spread of CWD in the United States may become less
effective.
Funding for CWD testing was requested and approved in United States Animal
Health Association 2011 resolution number 14.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
398
RESOLUTION:
The United States Animal Health Association urges Congress to appropriate
federal funding to pay the laboratory costs of testing farmed and wild cervidae
for Chronic Wasting Disease.
*****
RESOLUTION NUMBER: 22 – Combined with 15
SOURCE: Committee on Captive Wildlife and Alternative Livestock
SUBJECT MATTER: Vaccine for the Various Strains of Epizootic Hemorrhagic
Disease in Cervids
*****
RESOLUTION NUMBER: 23 – Combined with 13
SOURCE: Committee on Captive Wildlife and Alternative Livestock
SUBJECT MATTER: Funding for Indemnity of Chronic Wasting Disease Positive
or Exposed Animals
*****
RESOLUTION NUMBER: 24 – APPROVED
SOURCE: Committee on Captive Wildlife and Alternative Livestock
SUBJECT MATTER: Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
It has been stated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA),
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS)
that the goal of the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) program in the United States
has now changed from eradication to controlling its spread.
The document entitled, "Chronic Wasting Disease Program Standards" was
published by USDA-APHIS-VS in July 2012. It was developed before the shift of
the CWD program from eradication to control and without adequate input from
state wildlife and animal health officials or farmed cervidae producers.
Sections of the document suggest placing restrictions on farmed cervidae
producers that do nothing to further the effort to control the spread of CWD.
The restrictions are not based on current scientific knowledge and could
undermine the success of CWD control programs that have been in place in many
states for more than a decade.
NOMINATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
399
RESOLUTION:
The United States Animal Health Association urges the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) to revise the document entitled, "Chronic
Wasting Disease Program Standards", and establish a Chronic Wasting Disease
(CWD) Program Standards Committee to review and rewrite the document within 90
days so that it more appropriately reflects the needs of producers and
regulatory officials charged with implementation of a program to control, not
eradicate, CWD in the United States.
The United States Animal Health Association suggests that the CWD Program
Standards Committee should be made up of representatives from and appointed by
each of the following organizations: (1) the Exotic Wildlife Association, (2)
the North American Elk Breeders Association, (3) the North American Deer Farmers
Association, (4) the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, (5) the National
Assembly of State Animal Health Officials, and (6) the USDA-APHIS-VS.
*****
RESOLUTION NUMBER: 26, 9 and 30 Combined – APPROVED
SOURCE: Committee on Scrapie
Committee on Import Export Committee on Sheep and Goats SUBJECT MATTER:
Export of Sheep and Goats BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Under the National Scrapie Eradication Program the prevalence of scrapie in
the United States flock has decreased significantly over the past 10 years. The
funding for the Scrapie Flock Certification Program (SFCP) has been reduced and
participation by sheep and goat breeders has dramatically decreased. It has
become increasingly difficult to find breeding sheep and goats for export
shipments that meet importing country protocols that rely on SFCP participation.
Additionally, new tools such as genotyping and live-animal testing can be used
to identify sheep that are at low risk for
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
400
scrapie. These approaches may provide an appropriate basis for revised
export protocols.
RESOLUTION:
The United States Animal Health Association urges the United States
Department of Agriculture, Animal Health and Plant Inspection Services,
Veterinary Services to expand their negotiating tools for the export of sheep
and goats beyond those that rely on the Scrapie Flock Certification Program
participation alone and to encourage other countries to recognize current
National Scrapie Eradication Program prevalence and surveillance data along with
the use of other tools such as genotyping when appropriate.
*****
Summary - World Animal Health Organization (OIE) General Assembly,
2012
The Eightieth General Assembly of OIE met as usual this past May. As part
of the general meeting, the member countries (178 according to OIE 2011 data)
vote to adopt changes or new chapters. With regard to the work of Terrestrial
Animal Health Commission, this year, the member countries took action to approve
chapter changes or new chapters for the following: antimicrobial resistance
(surveillance and monitoring, usage patterns in livestock), equine viral
arteritis, semen and embryos, infection with Aujeszky's disease virus, rabies,
and avian influenza.
Several other chapters continue under revision and were not acted on during
the OIE general meeting. Currently these are brucellosis, bovine
IMPORT-EXPORT
299
tuberculosis, Trichinellosis, classical swine fever, peste des petits
ruminants, and a chapter on the prudent and responsible use of antimicrobial
agents.
Of interest to the membership of the Committee on Import and Export will
also be that the OIE continues working towards guidance for safe production
methods for animal-based foods. A working group is heading up this work,
addressing food borne hazards that stem from animals before slaughter, focusing
attention at the animal production level. Specific issues being addressed are
Salmonella, Trichinella, animal feeding, and antimicrobial resistance.
Finally, the OIE continues their work on animal welfare pertaining to food
animals. Under development during 2012 is guidance towards livestock production
systems with a focus on beef cattle. Future expected work will be broiler
production (2013), dairy production (perhaps in 2014), to be followed with swine
production. We continue encouraging an approach focusing on outcomes resulting
from of a range of acceptable practices, and that OIE would focus less on a
prescriptive measures.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
300
National Center for Import and Export (NCIE)
Import Products/By-products
FY 2012 Activities
Magde Elshafie
USDA-APHIS-VS-NCIE
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Comprehensive Rule
The BSE Comprehensive Rule was published March 2012, the comment period
closed in June of 2012. It established BSE-related import provisions which are
more closely aligned with OIE guidelines including country risk status
classifications (Negligible, Controlled, and Undetermined). It also allows
flexibility in the BSE risk classification process allowing Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to concur with World Animal Health
Organization (OIE) BSE determinations. However, this will not eliminate
independent APHIS evaluation of any country or region for BSE status. A country
will be considered undetermined risk until such time that APHIS determines it to
be Negligible or Controlled Risk. Recognition will be based on the following
criteria;
1) APHIS concurrence with OIE classification, OR 2) APHIS evaluation, upon
request, of countries not classified by the OIE.
The BSE Comprehensive Rule eliminates the need for formal rulemaking for
each individual country/region. The importation of bovines and bovine products
from BSE minimal-risk regions (Canada) and for boneless beef from Japan would be
removed from the Federal Register and incorporated into the final rule. It will
allow the importation of additional bovine and bovine products into the United
States from all negligible and controlled risk regions using requirements based
on OIE guidelines.
• Hides/skins and Gelatin/Collagen from hides/skins
• Deboned meat (excluding methlysulfonylmethane (MSM) from cattle ≤30
months of age provided the animals pass ante- and post-mortem inspection,
specified risk materials (SRM) are removed, and they were not subjected to an
air injected stunning process or pithing
• Protein-free tallow and derivatives made from this tallow • Dicalcium
phosphate with no trace of protein or fat
• Blood/blood by-products derived from cattle not subjected to an air
injected stunning process or pithing, and collected in a manner that avoids
contamination Ruminant meat-and-bone meal (MBM) and greaves from controlled and
undetermined risk countries will remain as prohibited materials.
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE) Rule
OIE Code does not address BSE risk for ovines/caprines. Therefore, a
separate rule and risk assessment currently under development that will address
import requirements for TSEs and allow importation of sheep and
IMPORT-EXPORT
301
goats, their embryos, and their products/by products from countries
classified as Negligible or Controlled Risk for BSE under certain conditions.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Review and Updates of the USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) National
Chronice Wasting Disease (CWD) Program 2012-2013
Greetings America,
THAT my friends, is how the USDA and the OIE solved the Transmissible
Spongiform Encephalopathy TSE BSE, Scrapie, CWD, mad cow problem $$$
yep, that faithful day back in December of 2003, changed science forever,
the USDA et al at the OIE did anyway. changed all that sound science to junk
science over night I am here to tell ya...amazing what money can buy.
yep, that faithful day back in December of 2003, when the USDA et al lost
the ‘gold card’ or ‘BSE mad cow free status’, all science there after went out
the door, asap.
from that day forward, from what the USDA et al preached daily in the past
about mad cow disease, was thrown out the door, and from that day forward, it
was to be anything goes, they were to work diligently to make all TSE prion
disease there from a legal trading commodity i.e., what I mean, it is o.k. to
trade products with the TSE prion disease globally. a sad day in time for sure,
when junk science trumped sound science. I will document the past history of the
USDA OIE mad cow follies below.
what next, only time will tell ? but the folks at the USDA or the OIE, that
made up these new pro-industry rules and protocols for mad cow type disease now
in all species i.e. the TSE prion disease, well, they will not be around later
on when the incubation period catches up, and when sound science finally
prevails, over this corporate bought junk science that these new import and
export regulations for TSE are now going to be based on, or now the NSAA policy
of the USDA and the OIE when making regulations on the TSE prion disease, NSAA
i.e. No Science At All policy for the atypical scrapie’s and the typical
scrapie’s, or you could call it NBAA i.e. no brain at all. ...tss
***PRION2013 CONGRESSIONAL ABSTRACTS
HD.13: CWD infection in the spleen of humanized transgenic mice
Liuting Qing and Qingzhong Kong
Case Western Reserve University; Cleveland, OH USA
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a widespread prion disease in free-ranging
and captive cervid species in North America, and there is evidence suggesting
the existence of multiple CWD strains. The susceptibility of human CNS and
peripheral organs to the various CWD prion strains remains largely unclear.
Current literature suggests that the classical CWD strain is unlikely to infect
human brain, but the potential for peripheral infection by CWD in humans is
unknown. We detected protease-resistant PrpSc in the spleens of a few humanized
transgenic mice that were intracerebrally inoculated with natural CWD isolates,
but PrpSc was not detected in the brains of any of the CWD-inoculated mice. Our
ongoing bioassays in humanized Tg mice indicate that intracerebral challenge
with such PrpSc-positive humanized mouse spleen already led to prion disease in
most animals. These results indicate that the CWD prion may have the potential
to infect human peripheral lymphoid tissues.
=====
HD.12: Comparative study of the distribution of the prion protein in the
squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) following experimental challenge with variant
and sporadic CJD
Diane L. Ritchie,1 Paul Brown,2 Susan Gibson,3 Thomas R. Kreil,4 Christian
Abee3 and James W. Ironside1
1National CJD Surveillance Unit; Edinburgh, UK; 2Bethesda; Bethesda, MD
USA; 3Deparment of Comparative Medicine; University of South Alabama; Mobile, AL
USA; 4Baxter Bioscience; Vienna, Austria
Introduction, Reports suggest that the number of tissues and organs showing
the presence of the abnormal prion protein (PrPTSE) in variant CJD (vCJD)
patients may be greater than previously thought. A limited peripheral
involvement in some cases of sporadic CJD (sCJD) has also been reported. This
accumulation of PrPTSE outside the brain has raised concerns about the possible
iatrogenic transmission risk of vCJD. The squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) has
been shown to be highly susceptible to experimental challenge with human prion
disease. Neuropathological and biochemical analyses of CNS tissue have shown
that sCJD and vCJD can be distinguished in the squirrel monkey and that many of
the strain characteristics that define these agents are conserved after
transmission. Following on from these initial studies, immunohistochemistry and
western blot analysis were performed on a wide range of peripheral tissues
including, lymphoreticular tissues and peripheral neural tissue to establish the
full-body distribution of PrPTSE in this primate animal model.
Materials and Methods. Brain homogenates from sCJD or vCJD patients were
inoculated into the frontal cortex of squirrel monkeys. Animals were kept under
constant clinical surveillance. At post-mortem, formalin fixed CNS tissue and a
wide range of peripheral tissues were taken for immunohistochemical analysis
together with frozen tissues taken for the biochemical detection of PrPTSE.
Results. Immunohistochemical analysis showed no evidence of PrPTSE
deposition in peripheral tissues in either variant or sporadic CJD-infected
animals. However, western blot assays detected PrPTSE in the spleen of a
proportion of the vCJD- infected animals. The PrPTSE isotype resembled that
detected in CNS tissue from the vCJD- infected animals and from human vCJD
cases. ***In addition, western blot analysis detected PrPTSE in the spleen of a
single animal following challenge with sporadic CJD. The PrPTSE type in this
animal resembled that found in CNS tissue from the same animal, with a PrPTSE
type similar to that found in human sCJD type 1 cases.
Conclusion. This study confirms the accumulation of PrPTSE in the CNS and
spleen of a proportion of squirrel monkeys infected intra-cerebrally with human
vCJD. Furthermore, this study extends the evidence that there may be a
peripheral involvement in some cases of sCJD. PrPTSE typing confirms the
conservation of PrPTSE type on transmission to the squirrel monkey and suggests
that there are no tissue-specific adaptations in the biochemical phenotype of
the agent strain following primate-to-primate transmission.
=====
Oral.15: Molecular barriers to zoonotic prion transmission: Comparison of
the ability of sheep, cattle and deer prion disease isolates to convert normal
human prion protein to its pathological isoform in a cell-free system
Marcelo A.Barria,1 Aru Balachandran,2 Masanori Morita,3 Tetsuyuki
Kitamoto,4 Rona Barron,5 Jean Manson,5 Richard Kniqht,1 James W. lronside1 and
Mark W. Head1
1National CJD Research and Surveillance Unit; Centre for Clinical Brain
Sciences; School of Clinical Sciences; The University of Edinburgh; Edinburgh,
UK; 2National and OIE Reference Laboratory for Scrapie and CWD; Canadian Food
Inspection Agency; Ottawa Laboratory; Fallowfield. ON Canada; 3Infectious
Pathogen Research Section; Central Research Laboratory; Japan Blood Products
Organization; Kobe, Japan; 4Department of Neurological Science; Tohoku
University Graduate School of Medicine; Sendai. Japan; 5Neurobiology Division;
The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS; University of Edinburgh; Easter Bush;
Midlothian; Edinburgh, UK
Background. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a known zoonotic
prion disease, resulting in variant Creurzfeldt- Jakob disease (vCJD) in humans.
In contrast, classical scrapie in sheep is thought to offer little or no danger
to human health. However, a widening range of prion diseases have been
recognized in cattle, sheep and deer. The risks posed by individual animal prion
diseases to human health cannot be determined a priori and are difficult to
assess empirically. The fundamemal event in prion disease pathogenesis is
thought to be the seeded conversion of normal prion protein (PrPC) to its
pathological isoform (PrPSc). Here we report the use of a rapid molecular
conversion assay to test whether brain specimens from different animal prion
diseases are capable of seeding the conversion of human PrPC ro PrPSc.
Material and Methods. Classical BSE (C-type BSE), H-type BSE, L-type BSE,
classical scrapie, atypical scrapie, chronic wasting disease and vCJD brain
homogenates were tested for their ability to seed conversion of human PrPC to
PrPSc in protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) reactions. Newly formed
human PrPSc was detected by protease digestion and western blotting using the
antibody 3F4.
Results. C-type BSE and vCJD were found to efficiently convert PrPC to
PrPSc. Scrapie failed to convert human PrPC to PrPSc. Of the other animal prion
diseases tested only chronic wasting disease appeared to have the capability ro
convert human PrPC to PrPSc. The results were consistent whether the human PrPC
came from human brain, humanised transgenic mouse brain or from cultured human
cells and the effect was more pronounced for PrPC with methionine at codon 129
compared with that with valine.
Conclusion. Our results show that none of the tested animal prion disease
isolates are as efficient as C-type BSE and vCJD in converting human prion
protein in this in vitro assay. However, they also show that there is no
absolute barrier ro conversion of human prion protein in the case of chronic
wasting disease.
=====
Invited.16: Studies of chronic wasting disease transmission in cervid and
non-cervid species
Edward A, Hoover,1 Candace K. Mathiason,1 Davin M. Henderson,1 Nicholas J.
Haley,1 Davis M. Seelig,1 Nathaniel D. Denkers,1 Amy V. Nalls,1 Mark D. Zabe,1
Glenn C. Telling,1 Fernando Goni2 and Thomas Wisniewski,2
1Prion Research Center; Colorado State University; Fort Collins, CO USA;
2New York University School of Medicine; New York, NY USA
How and why some misfolded proteins become horizontally transmitted agents
and occasionally cross species barriers are issues fundamental to understanding
prion disease. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) of cervids is perhaps a prototype
of horizontal prion transmission, encompassing efficient mucosal uptake,
lymphoid amplification, neuroinvasion, peripheralization, and dissemination via
mucosal excretion. Efficient mucosal transmission of CWD in deer has been
demonstrated by oral, nasal, aerosol, and indirect contact exposure. In
addition, other studies (Mathiason CK, et al.) reported at the symposium support
a significant role for pre- and/or postnatal transmission of CWD from doe to
offspring. Accumulating, yet still incomplete, evidence also suggests that the
period of relatively covert CWD infection may be longer than originally thought.
Given the above, minimally invasive sensitive assays based on body fluids from
live animals would aid substantially in understanding the biology of CWD. We
have been applying seeded realtirne quaking-induced amplification of recombinant
PrP substrates (i.e., RT-QuIC methodology) to: (1) investigate antemortem CWD
detection, and (2) model PrP-based species barriers and trans-species
adaptation-topics we previously explored using sPMCA and in vivo bioassays. At
this symposium, we report sensitive and specific detection CWD prions in saliva,
urine, blood (Mathiason lab), and rectal and pharyngeal lymph node samples
(Haley NJ, et al.) from pre-symptomatic and symptomatic experimentally and
naturally exposed deer. Other ongoing studies are employing RT-QuIC methodology
to model amplification barriers among CWD, FSE, BSE, and CJD prions using
cervine, feline, bovine, human, and promiscuous rPrP substrates and the above
species prion seeds, cellular co-factors, and transgenic mice. Finally, in
collaboration with the Wisniewski laboratory, we are conducting of experimental
CWD vaccination studies in deer employing oral administration of an attenuated
Salmonella vector expressing cervid PrP epitopes.
=====
AD.06: Detecting prions in the brain and blood of TSE-infected deer and
hamsters
Alan Elder,1 Davin Henderson,1 Anca Selariu,1 Amy Nalls,1 Byron Caughey,2
Richard Bessen,1 Jason Bartz3 and Candace Mathiason1
1Colorado State University; Fort Collins, CO USA; 2NIH Rocky Mountain
Laboratories; Hamilton, MT USA; 3Creighton University; Omaha, NE USA
While large quantities of protease resistant prion protein (PrPres) can be
demonstrated by western blot or IHC in lymphoid biopsies or post-mortem brain
tissues harvested from prion-infected animals, these conventional assays are
less reliable as means to detect the small quantities of prions thought to be
present in bodily fluids or associated with early and asymptomatic phases of TSE
disease. The Real Time-Quaking Induced Conversion (RT-QuIC) assay is capable of
detecting prions at concentrations below the level of sensitivity of
conventional assays and provides a real-time fluorescent readout negating the
use of proteases. We have made modifications to the RT-QuIC assay to utilize it
for the detection of PrPres in brain and blood harvested from various species
infected with prions. In this study, we analyzed CWD-infected deer and
CWD/TME-infected hamster whole blood to determine the effect of:
(1) various anticoagulants,
(2) freezing and
(3) NaPTA precipitation.
Brain tissue and blood collected from naive deer and hamsters served as
negative controls.
We were able to demonstrate amplifiable prions in
(1) brain and blood samples harvested from CWD/TME-infected animals,
(2) heparinized blood,
(3) frozen vs. fresh blood and
(4) NaPTA treated samples.
The RT-QuIC assay is able to detect PrPres in various species of animals
and shows promise as an antemortem diagnostic tool for blood-borne TSEs.
=====
Oral.08: Mother to offspring transmission of chronic wasting disease in
Reeve's Muntjac deer
Amy Nalls,1 Erin McNulty,1 Jenny Powers,2 Davis Seelig,1 Clare Hoover,1
Nicholas Haley,1 Jeanette Hayes-Klug,1 Kelly Anderson,1 Paula Stewart,3 Wilfred
Goldmann,3 Edward A. Hoover1 and Candace K. Mathiason1
1Colorado State University; Fort Collins, CO USA; 2National Park Service;
Fort Collins, CO USA; 3The Roslin Institute and Royal School of Veterinary
Studies; Edinburgh, UK
To investigate the role mother to offspring transmission plays in chronic
wasting disease (CWD), we have developed a cervid model employing the Reeve's
muntjac deer (Muntiacus reevesi). Eight muntjac doe were orally inoculated with
CWD and tested PrPCWD lymphoid positive by 4 mo post infection. Fourteen fawns
were born to these eight CWD-infected doe-3 were born viable, 6 were born
non-viable and 5 were harvested as fetuses from early or end-stage CWD-infected
doe. All three viable fawns have demonstrated CWD IHC lymphoid biopsy positivity
between 43 d post birth and 11 mo post birth. Two of these three CWD positive
viable offspring have developed clinical signs consistent with TSE disease
(28-33 mo post birth). Moreover, CWD prions have been detected by sPMCA in 11 of
16 tissues harvested from 6 full-term non-viable fawns and in 7 of 11 fetal
tissues harvested in utero from the second and third trimester fetuses.
Additional tissues and pregnancy related fluids from doe and offspring are being
analyzed for CWD prions. In summary, using the muntjac deer model we have
demonstrated CWD clinical disease in offspring born to CWD-infected doe, and in
utero transmission of CWD from mother to offspring. These studies provide basis
to further investigate the mechanisms of maternal transfer of prions.
=====
AD.63: Susceptibility of domestic cats to chronic wasting disease
Amy V.Nalls,1 Candace Mathiason,1 Davis Seelig,2 Susan Kraft,1 Kevin
Carnes,1 Kelly Anderson,1 Jeanette Hayes-Klug1 and Edward A. Hoover1
1Colorado State University; Fort Collins, CO USA; 2University of Minnesota;
Saint Paul, MN USA
Domestic and nondomestic cats have been shown to be susceptible to feline
spongiform encephalopathy (FSE), almost certainly caused by consumption of
bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)-contaminated meat. Because domestic and
free-ranging nondomestic felids scavenge cervid carcasses, including those in
areas affected by chronic wasting disease (CWD), we evaluated the susceptibility
of the domestic cat (Felis catus) to CWD infection experimentally. Cohorts of 5
cats each were inoculated either intracerebrally (IC) or orally (PO) with
CWD-infected deer brain. At 40 and 42 mo post-inoculation, two IC-inoculated
cats developed signs consistent with prion disease, including a stilted gait,
weight loss, anorexia, polydipsia, patterned motor behaviors, head and tail
tremors, and ataxia, and progressed to terminal disease within 5 mo. Brains from
these two cats were pooled and inoculated into cohorts of cats by IC, PO, and
intraperitoneal and subcutaneous (IP/SC) routes. Upon subpassage, feline-adapted
CWD (FelCWD) was transmitted to all IC-inoculated cats with a decreased
incubation period of 23 to 27 mo. FelCWD was detected in the brains of all the
symptomatic cats by western blotting and immunohistochemistry and abnormalities
were seen in magnetic resonance imaging, including multifocal T2 fluid
attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) signal hyper-intensities, ventricular size
increases, prominent sulci, and white matter tract cavitation. Currently, 3 of 4
IP/SQ and 2 of 4 PO inoculared cats have developed abnormal behavior patterns
consistent with the early stage of feline CWD. These results demonstrate that
CWD can be transmitted and adapted to the domestic cat, thus raising the issue
of potential cervid-to- feline transmission in nature.
snip...see full text ;
Sunday, August 25, 2013
***PRION2013 CONGRESSIONAL ABSTRACTS
Prion2013 Chronic Wasting Disease CWD risk factors, humans, domestic cats,
blood, and mother to offspring transmission
Sunday, July 21, 2013
*** As Chronic Wasting Disease CWD rises in deer herd, what about risk for
humans?
Wednesday, September 04, 2013
cwd - cervid captive livestock escapes, loose and on the run in the wild...
Thursday, August 08, 2013
***PRION2013 CONGRESSIONAL ABSTRACTS
Characterization of the first case of naturally occurring chronic wasting
disease in a captive red deer (Cervus elaphus) in North America
Sunday, August 25, 2013
***PRION2013 CONGRESSIONAL ABSTRACTS
Prion2013 Chronic Wasting Disease CWD risk factors, humans, domestic cats,
blood, and mother to offspring transmission
Sunday, September 01, 2013
hunting over gut piles and CWD TSE prion disease
Sunday, June 09, 2013
Missouri House forms 13-member Interim Committee on the Cause and Spread of
Chronic Wasting Disease CWD
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
IOWA DNR EMERGENCY CONSENT ORDER IN THE MATTER OF TOM & LINDA BRAKKE
D/B/A PINE RIDGE HUNTING LODGE UPDATE AUGUST 21, 2013
Saturday, September 07, 2013
Georgia House Bill 1043 and Chronic Wasting Disease CWD
Greetings Honorable Representatives of the House, Game, Fish, & Parks,
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
PA Captive deer from CWD-positive farm roaming free
USDA TO PGC ONCE CAPTIVES ESCAPE "it‘s no longer its business.”
Sunday, January 06, 2013
USDA TO PGC ONCE CAPTIVES ESCAPE "it‘s no longer its business.”
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Chronic Wasting Disease CWD quarantine Louisiana via CWD index herd
Pennsylvania Update May 28, 2013
6 doe from Pennsylvania CWD index herd still on the loose in Louisiana,
quarantine began on October 18, 2012, still ongoing, Lake Charles premises.
Monday, June 24, 2013
The Effects of Chronic Wasting Disease on the Pennsylvania Cervid Industry
Following its Discovery
Saturday, June 29, 2013
PENNSYLVANIA CAPTIVE CWD INDEX HERD MATE YELLOW *47 STILL RUNNING LOOSE IN
INDIANA, YELLOW NUMBER 2 STILL MISSING, AND OTHERS ON THE RUN STILL IN LOUISIANA
Friday, August 02, 2013
The Fight to Keep Chronic Wasting Disease Out of Florida
*** The potential impact of prion diseases on human health was greatly
magnified by the recognition that interspecies transfer of BSE to humans by beef
ingestion resulted in vCJD. While changes in animal feed constituents and
slaughter practices appear to have curtailed vCJD, there is concern that CWD of
free-ranging deer and elk in the U.S. might also cross the species barrier.
Thus, consuming venison could be a source of human prion disease. Whether BSE
and CWD represent interspecies scrapie transfer or are newly arisen prion
diseases is unknown. Therefore, the possibility of transmission of prion disease
through other food animals cannot be ruled out. There is evidence that vCJD can
be transmitted through blood transfusion. There is likely a pool of unknown size
of asymptomatic individuals infected with vCJD, and there may be asymptomatic
individuals infected with the CWD equivalent. These circumstances represent a
potential threat to blood, blood products, and plasma supplies.
pens, pens, PENS ???
*** Spraker suggested an interesting explanation for the occurrence of CWD.
The deer pens at the Foot Hills Campus were built some 30-40 years ago by a Dr.
Bob Davis. At or abut that time, allegedly, some scrapie work was conducted at
this site. When deer were introduced to the pens they occupied ground that had
previously been occupied by sheep.
now, decades later ;
2012
PO-039: A comparison of scrapie and chronic wasting disease in white-tailed
deer
Justin Greenlee, Jodi Smith, Eric Nicholson US Dept. Agriculture;
Agricultural Research Service, National Animal Disease Center; Ames, IA USA
snip...
The results of this study suggest that there are many similarities in the
manifestation of CWD and scrapie in WTD after IC inoculation including early and
widespread presence of PrPSc in lymphoid tissues, clinical signs of depression
and weight loss progressing to wasting, and an incubation time of 21-23 months.
Moreover, western blots (WB) done on brain material from the obex region have a
molecular profile similar to CWD and distinct from tissues of the cerebrum or
the scrapie inoculum. However, results of microscopic and IHC examination
indicate that there are differences between the lesions expected in CWD and
those that occur in deer with scrapie: amyloid plaques were not noted in any
sections of brain examined from these deer and the pattern of immunoreactivity
by IHC was diffuse rather than plaque-like. After a natural route of exposure,
100% of WTD were susceptible to scrapie. Deer developed clinical signs of
wasting and mental depression and were necropsied from 28 to 33 months PI.
Tissues from these deer were positive for PrPSc by IHC and WB. Similar to IC
inoculated deer, samples from these deer exhibited two different molecular
profiles: samples from obex resembled CWD whereas those from cerebrum were
similar to the original scrapie inoculum. On further examination by WB using a
panel of antibodies, the tissues from deer with scrapie exhibit properties
differing from tissues either from sheep with scrapie or WTD with CWD. Samples
from WTD with CWD or sheep with scrapie are strongly immunoreactive when probed
with mAb P4, however, samples from WTD with scrapie are only weakly
immunoreactive. In contrast, when probed with mAb’s 6H4 or SAF 84, samples from
sheep with scrapie and WTD with CWD are weakly immunoreactive and samples from
WTD with scrapie are strongly positive. This work demonstrates that WTD are
highly susceptible to sheep scrapie, but on first passage, scrapie in WTD is
differentiable from CWD.
2011
*** After a natural route of exposure, 100% of white-tailed deer were
susceptible to scrapie.
Scrapie in Deer: Comparisons and Contrasts to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
Justin J. Greenlee of the Virus and Prion Diseases Research Unit, National
Animal Disease Center, ARS, USDA, Ames, IA
snip...
This highlights the facts that 1) prior to the onset of clinical signs
PrPSc is widely distributed in the CNS and lymphoid tissues and 2) currently
used diagnostic methods are sufficient to detect PrPSc prior to the onset of
clinical signs. The results of this study suggest that there are many
similarities in the manifestation of CWD and scrapie in white-tailed deer after
IC inoculation including early and widespread presence of PrPSc in lymphoid
tissues, clinical signs of depression and weight loss progressing to wasting,
and an incubation time of 21-23 months. Moreover, western blots (WB) done on
brain material from the obex region have a molecular profile consistent with CWD
and distinct from tissues of the cerebrum or the scrapie inoculum. However,
results of microscopic and IHC examination indicate that there are differences
between the lesions expected in CWD and those that occur in deer with scrapie:
amyloid plaques were not noted in any sections of brain examined from these deer
and the pattern of immunoreactivity by IHC was diffuse rather than plaque-like.
After a natural route of exposure, 100% of white-tailed deer were susceptible to
scrapie. Deer developed clinical signs of wasting and mental depression and were
necropsied from 28 to 33 months PI. Tissues from these deer were positive for
scrapie by IHC and WB. Tissues with PrPSc immunoreactivity included brain,
tonsil, retropharyngeal and mesenteric lymph nodes, hemal node, Peyer’s patches,
and spleen. While two WB patterns have been detected in brain regions of deer
inoculated by the natural route, unlike the IC inoculated deer, the pattern
similar to the scrapie inoculum predominates.
2011 Annual Report
Research Project: TRANSMISSION, DIFFERENTIATION, AND PATHOBIOLOGY OF
TRANSMISSIBLE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHIES Location: Virus and Prion Research
Unit
2011 Annual Report
In Objective 1, Assess cross-species transmissibility of transmissible
spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in livestock and wildlife, numerous
experiments assessing the susceptibility of various TSEs in different host
species were conducted. Most notable is deer inoculated with scrapie, which
exhibits similarities to chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer suggestive of
sheep scrapie as an origin of CWD.
snip...
4.Accomplishments 1. Deer inoculated with domestic isolates of sheep
scrapie. Scrapie-affected deer exhibit 2 different patterns of disease
associated prion protein. In some regions of the brain the pattern is much like
that observed for scrapie, while in others it is more like chronic wasting
disease (CWD), the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy typically associated
with deer. This work conducted by ARS scientists at the National Animal Disease
Center, Ames, IA suggests that an interspecies transmission of sheep scrapie to
deer may have been the origin of CWD. This is important for husbandry practices
with both captive deer, elk and sheep for farmers and ranchers attempting to
keep their herds and flocks free of CWD and scrapie.
White-tailed Deer are Susceptible to Scrapie by Natural Route of Infection
Jodi D. Smith, Justin J. Greenlee, and Robert A. Kunkle; Virus and Prion
Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, USDA-ARS
snip...
This work demonstrates for the first time that white-tailed deer are
susceptible to sheep scrapie by potential natural routes of inoculation.
In-depth analysis of tissues will be done to determine similarities between
scrapie in deer after intracranial and oral/intranasal inoculation and chronic
wasting disease resulting from similar routes of inoculation.
see full text ;
SEE MORE USAHA REPORTS HERE, 2012 NOT PUBLISHED YET...TSS
Thursday, June 20, 2013
atypical, BSE, CWD, Scrapie, Captive Farmed shooting pens (livestock), Wild
Cervids, Rectal Mucosa Biopsy 2012 USAHA Proceedings, and CJD TSE prion Update
Friday, December 14, 2012
DEFRA U.K. What is the risk of Chronic Wasting Disease CWD being introduced
into Great Britain? A Qualitative Risk Assessment October 2012
snip...
In the USA, under the Food and Drug Administration’s BSE Feed Regulation
(21 CFR 589.2000) most material (exceptions include milk, tallow, and gelatin)
from deer and elk is prohibited for use in feed for ruminant animals. With
regards to feed for non-ruminant animals, under FDA law, CWD positive deer may
not be used for any animal feed or feed ingredients. For elk and deer considered
at high risk for CWD, the FDA recommends that these animals do not enter the
animal feed system. However, this recommendation is guidance and not a
requirement by law.
Animals considered at high risk for CWD include:
1) animals from areas declared to be endemic for CWD and/or to be CWD
eradication zones and
2) deer and elk that at some time during the 60-month period prior to
slaughter were in a captive herd that contained a CWD-positive animal.
Therefore, in the USA, materials from cervids other than CWD positive
animals may be used in animal feed and feed ingredients for non-ruminants.
The amount of animal PAP that is of deer and/or elk origin imported from
the USA to GB can not be determined, however, as it is not specified in TRACES.
It may constitute a small percentage of the 8412 kilos of non-fish origin
processed animal proteins that were imported from US into GB in 2011.
Overall, therefore, it is considered there is a __greater than negligible
risk___ that (nonruminant) animal feed and pet food containing deer and/or elk
protein is imported into GB.
There is uncertainty associated with this estimate given the lack of data
on the amount of deer and/or elk protein possibly being imported in these
products.
snip...
36% in 2007 (Almberg et al., 2011). In such areas, population declines of
deer of up to 30 to 50% have been observed (Almberg et al., 2011). In areas of
Colorado, the prevalence can be as high as 30% (EFSA, 2011). The clinical signs
of CWD in affected adults are weight loss and behavioural changes that can span
weeks or months (Williams, 2005). In addition, signs might include excessive
salivation, behavioural alterations including a fixed stare and changes in
interaction with other animals in the herd, and an altered stance (Williams,
2005). These signs are indistinguishable from cervids experimentally infected
with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Given this, if CWD was to be
introduced into countries with BSE such as GB, for example, infected deer
populations would need to be tested to differentiate if they were infected with
CWD or BSE to minimise the risk of BSE entering the human food-chain via
affected venison.
snip...
The rate of transmission of CWD has been reported to be as high as 30% and
can approach 100% among captive animals in endemic areas (Safar et al., 2008).
snip...
In summary, in endemic areas, there is a medium probability that the soil
and surrounding environment is contaminated with CWD prions and in a
bioavailable form. In rural areas where CWD has not been reported and deer are
present, there is a greater than negligible risk the soil is contaminated with
CWD prion.
snip...
In summary, given the volume of tourists, hunters and servicemen moving
between GB and North America, the probability of at least one person travelling
to/from a CWD affected area and, in doing so, contaminating their clothing,
footwear and/or equipment prior to arriving in GB is greater than negligible.
For deer hunters, specifically, the risk is likely to be greater given the
increased contact with deer and their environment. However, there is significant
uncertainty associated with these estimates.
snip...
Therefore, it is considered that farmed and park deer may have a higher
probability of exposure to CWD transferred to the environment than wild deer
given the restricted habitat range and higher frequency of contact with tourists
and returning GB residents.
snip...
SNIP...SEE ;
Friday, December 14, 2012
DEFRA U.K. What is the risk of Chronic Wasting Disease CWD being introduced
into Great Britain? A Qualitative Risk Assessment October 2012
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION OF THE SIXTEENTH CASE OF BOVINE SPONGIFORM
ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE) IN CANADA
Thursday, August 19, 2010
REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION OF THE SEVENTEENTH CASE OF BOVINE SPONGIFORM
ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE) IN CANADA
Friday, March 4, 2011
Alberta dairy cow found with mad cow disease
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
*** Canada, USA, Bad feed, mad cows: Why we know three BSE cases had a
common origin and why the SSS policy is in full force $$$
CFIA, USDA, AND OIE SHOOT, SHOVEL, AND SHUT THE HELL UP SSS BSE TSE PRION
MAD COW TYPE POLICY $$$, and the media is buying it hook, line, and sinker $$$
EDMONTON - Some of former Alberta premier Ralph Klein's most colourful
quotes — and the reactions they elicited:
SNIP...
"This all came about through the discovery of a single, isolated case of
mad cow disease in one Alberta cow on May 20th.
The farmer — I think he was a Louisiana fish farmer who knew nothing about
cattle ranching.
*** I guess any self-respecting rancher would have shot, shovelled and shut
up, but he didn't do that." — Klein recalls how the mad cow crisis started and
rancher Marwyn Peaster's role.
The premier was speaking at the Western Governors Association meeting in
Big Sky, Mont. September 2004.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010.
Manitoba veterinarian has been fined $10,000 for falsifying certification
documents for U.S. bound cattle and what about mad cow disease?
CENSORSHIP IS A TERRIBLE THING $$$.
Canada has had a COVER-UP policy of mad cow disease since about the 17th
case OR 18th case of mad cow disease. AFTER THAT, all FOIA request were ignored
$$$.
THIS proves there is indeed an epidemic of mad cow disease in North
America, and it has been covered up for years and years, if not for decades, and
it’s getting worse $$$.
Thursday, February 10, 2011.
TRANSMISSIBLE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY REPORT UPDATE CANADA FEBRUARY 2011
and how to hide mad cow disease in Canada Current as of: 2011-01-31.
Thursday, January 17, 2013.
Canada, U.S. agree on animal-disease measures to protect trade, while
reducing human and animal health protection.
Reasons for the New Regulation Order No. 23 (as well as amending Order No.
149) of the State Committee for Veterinary Medicine name BSE as the reason for
new import requirement. The legal title for Order No. 23 is "On Urgent Measures
Aimed at Prevention and Elimination of BSE and Other Prion Infections in
Cattle”. Neither Order explains how the threat of introduction of BSE can be
addressed through the inspection of producers of all products of animal origin
including fish, dairy products, poultry and pork. It is not clear what other
concerns are addressed through the proposed inspections. Formal Notification of
Trading Partners On August 3rd, Ukraine's Notification and Enquiry Point issued
a legal Notification G/SPS/N/UKR/3/Rev.1 found on the Official WTO Website
(Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures)
Increased Atypical Scrapie Detections.
Press reports indicate that increased surveillance is catching what
otherwise would have been unreported findings of atypical scrapie in sheep. In
2009, five new cases have been reported in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and
Saskatchewan. With the exception of Quebec, all cases have been diagnosed as
being the atypical form found in older animals. Canada encourages producers to
join its voluntary surveillance program in order to gain scrapie-free status.
The World Animal Health will not classify Canada as scrapie-free until no new
cases are reported for seven years. The Canadian Sheep Federation is calling on
the government to fund a wider surveillance program in order to establish the
level of prevalence prior to setting an eradication date. Besides long-term
testing, industry is calling for a compensation program for farmers who report
unusual deaths in their flocks.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Atypical Scrapie NOR-98 confirmed Alberta Canada sheep January 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
20120402 - Breach of quarantine/Violation de la mise en quarantaine of an
ongoing Scrapie investigation
Thursday, March 29, 2012
atypical Nor-98 Scrapie has spread from coast to coast in the USA 2012
NIAA Annual Conference April 11-14, 2011San Antonio, Texas
Monday, April 25, 2011
Experimental Oral Transmission of Atypical Scrapie to Sheep
Volume 17, Number 5-May 2011 However, work with transgenic mice has
demonstrated the potential susceptibility of pigs, with the disturbing finding
that the biochemical properties of the resulting PrPSc have changed on
transmission (40).
Friday, July 26, 2013
Voluntary Scrapie Program USA UPDATE July 26, 2013 increase in FY 2013 is
not statistically meaningful due to the sample size
P03.141
Aspects of the Cerebellar Neuropathology in Nor98
Gavier-Widén, D1; Benestad, SL2; Ottander, L1; Westergren, E1 1National
Veterinary Insitute, Sweden; 2National Veterinary Institute,
Norway Nor98 is a prion disease of old sheep and goats. This atypical form
of scrapie was first described in Norway in 1998. Several features of Nor98 were
shown to be different from classical scrapie including the distribution of
disease associated prion protein (PrPd) accumulation in the brain. The
cerebellum is generally the most affected brain area in Nor98. The study here
presented aimed at adding information on the neuropathology in the cerebellum of
Nor98 naturally affected sheep of various genotypes in Sweden and Norway. A
panel of histochemical and immunohistochemical (IHC) stainings such as IHC for
PrPd, synaptophysin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, amyloid, and cell markers
for phagocytic cells were conducted. The type of histological lesions and tissue
reactions were evaluated. The types of PrPd deposition were characterized. The
cerebellar cortex was regularly affected, even though there was a variation in
the severity of the lesions from case to case. Neuropil vacuolation was more
marked in the molecular layer, but affected also the granular cell layer. There
was a loss of granule cells. Punctate deposition of PrPd was characteristic. It
was morphologically and in distribution identical with that of synaptophysin,
suggesting that PrPd accumulates in the synaptic structures. PrPd was also
observed in the granule cell layer and in the white matter. The pathology
features of Nor98 in the cerebellum of the affected sheep showed similarities
with those of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans.
***The pathology features of Nor98 in the cerebellum of the affected sheep
showed similarities with those of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in
humans.
PR-26
NOR98 SHOWS MOLECULAR FEATURES REMINISCENT OF GSS
R. Nonno1, E. Esposito1, G. Vaccari1, E. Bandino2, M. Conte1, B.
Chiappini1, S. Marcon1, M. Di Bari1, S.L. Benestad3, U. Agrimi1 1 Istituto
Superiore di Sanità , Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Public Health,
Rome, Italy (romolo.nonno@iss.it); 2 Istituto Zooprofilattico della Sardegna,
Sassari, Italy; 3 National Veterinary Institute, Department of Pathology, Oslo,
Norway
Molecular variants of PrPSc are being increasingly investigated in sheep
scrapie and are generally referred to as "atypical" scrapie, as opposed to
"classical scrapie". Among the atypical group, Nor98 seems to be the best
identified. We studied the molecular properties of Italian and Norwegian Nor98
samples by WB analysis of brain homogenates, either untreated, digested with
different concentrations of proteinase K, or subjected to enzymatic
deglycosylation. The identity of PrP fragments was inferred by means of
antibodies spanning the full PrP sequence. We found that undigested brain
homogenates contain a Nor98-specific PrP fragment migrating at 11 kDa (PrP11),
truncated at both the C-terminus and the N-terminus, and not N-glycosylated.
After mild PK digestion, Nor98 displayed full-length PrP (FL-PrP) and
N-glycosylated C-terminal fragments (CTF), along with increased levels of PrP11.
Proteinase K digestion curves (0,006-6,4 mg/ml) showed that FL-PrP and CTF are
mainly digested above 0,01 mg/ml, while PrP11 is not entirely digested even at
the highest concentrations, similarly to PrP27-30 associated with classical
scrapie. Above 0,2 mg/ml PK, most Nor98 samples showed only PrP11 and a fragment
of 17 kDa with the same properties of PrP11, that was tentatively identified as
a dimer of PrP11. Detergent solubility studies showed that PrP11 is insoluble in
2% sodium laurylsorcosine and is mainly produced from detergentsoluble,
full-length PrPSc. Furthermore, among Italian scrapie isolates, we found that a
sample with molecular and pathological properties consistent with Nor98 showed
plaque-like deposits of PrPSc in the thalamus when the brain was analysed by
PrPSc immunohistochemistry. Taken together, our results show that the
distinctive pathological feature of Nor98 is a PrP fragment spanning amino acids
~ 90-155. This fragment is produced by successive N-terminal and C-terminal
cleavages from a full-length and largely detergent-soluble PrPSc, is produced in
vivo and is extremely resistant to PK digestion.
*** Intriguingly, these conclusions suggest that some pathological features
of Nor98 are reminiscent of Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease.
119
A newly identified type of scrapie agent can naturally infect sheep with
resistant PrP genotypes
Annick Le Dur*,?, Vincent Béringue*,?, Olivier Andréoletti?, Fabienne
Reine*, Thanh Lan Laï*, Thierry Baron§, Bjørn Bratberg¶, Jean-Luc Vilotte?,
Pierre Sarradin**, Sylvie L. Benestad¶, and Hubert Laude*,?? +Author
Affiliations
*Virologie Immunologie Moléculaires and ?Génétique Biochimique et
Cytogénétique, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 78350
Jouy-en-Josas, France; ?Unité Mixte de Recherche, Institut National de la
Recherche Agronomique-Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Interactions Hôte
Agent Pathogène, 31066 Toulouse, France; §Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire
des Aliments, Unité Agents Transmissibles Non Conventionnels, 69364 Lyon,
France; **Pathologie Infectieuse et Immunologie, Institut National de la
Recherche Agronomique, 37380 Nouzilly, France; and ¶Department of Pathology,
National Veterinary Institute, 0033 Oslo, Norway
***Edited by Stanley B. Prusiner, University of California, San Francisco,
CA (received for review March 21, 2005)
Abstract Scrapie in small ruminants belongs to transmissible spongiform
encephalopathies (TSEs), or prion diseases, a family of fatal neurodegenerative
disorders that affect humans and animals and can transmit within and between
species by ingestion or inoculation. Conversion of the host-encoded prion
protein (PrP), normal cellular PrP (PrPc), into a misfolded form, abnormal PrP
(PrPSc), plays a key role in TSE transmission and pathogenesis. The intensified
surveillance of scrapie in the European Union, together with the improvement of
PrPSc detection techniques, has led to the discovery of a growing number of
so-called atypical scrapie cases. These include clinical Nor98 cases first
identified in Norwegian sheep on the basis of unusual pathological and PrPSc
molecular features and "cases" that produced discordant responses in the rapid
tests currently applied to the large-scale random screening of slaughtered or
fallen animals. Worryingly, a substantial proportion of such cases involved
sheep with PrP genotypes known until now to confer natural resistance to
conventional scrapie. Here we report that both Nor98 and discordant cases,
including three sheep homozygous for the resistant PrPARR allele (A136R154R171),
efficiently transmitted the disease to transgenic mice expressing ovine PrP, and
that they shared unique biological and biochemical features upon propagation in
mice. *** These observations support the view that a truly infectious TSE agent,
unrecognized until recently, infects sheep and goat flocks and may have
important implications in terms of scrapie control and public health.
Monday, December 1, 2008
When Atypical Scrapie cross species barriers
Authors
Andreoletti O., Herva M. H., Cassard H., Espinosa J. C., Lacroux C., Simon
S., Padilla D., Benestad S. L., Lantier F., Schelcher F., Grassi J., Torres, J.
M., UMR INRA ENVT 1225, Ecole Nationale Veterinaire de Toulouse.France;
ICISA-INlA, Madrid, Spain; CEA, IBiTec-5, DSV, CEA/Saclay, Gif sur Yvette cedex,
France; National Veterinary Institute, Postboks 750 Sentrum, 0106 Oslo, Norway,
INRA IASP, Centre INRA de Tours, 3738O Nouzilly, France.
Content
Atypical scrapie is a TSE occurring in small ruminants and harbouring
peculiar clinical, epidemiological and biochemical properties. Currently this
form of disease is identified in a large number of countries. In this study we
report the transmission of an atypical scrapie isolate through different species
barriers as modeled by transgenic mice (Tg) expressing different species PRP
sequence.
The donor isolate was collected in 1995 in a French commercial sheep flock.
inoculation into AHQ/AHQ sheep induced a disease which had all
neuro-pathological and biochemical characteristics of atypical scrapie.
Transmitted into Transgenic mice expressing either ovine or PrPc, the isolate
retained all the described characteristics of atypical scrapie.
Surprisingly the TSE agent characteristics were dramatically different
v/hen passaged into Tg bovine mice. The recovered TSE agent had biological and
biochemical characteristics similar to those of atypical BSE L in the same mouse
model. Moreover, whereas no other TSE agent than BSE were shown to transmit into
Tg porcine mice, atypical scrapie was able to develop into this model, albeit
with low attack rate on first passage.
Furthermore, after adaptation in the porcine mouse model this prion showed
similar biological and biochemical characteristics than BSE adapted to this
porcine mouse model. Altogether these data indicate.
(i) the unsuspected potential abilities of atypical scrapie to cross
species barriers
(ii) the possible capacity of this agent to acquire new characteristics
when crossing species barrier
These findings raise some interrogation on the concept of TSE strain and on
the origin of the diversity of the TSE agents and could have consequences on
field TSE control measures.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Atypical/Nor98 Scrapie Infectivity in Sheep Peripheral Tissues
RESEARCH
Emerging Infectious Diseases • www.cdc.gov/eid • Vol. 17, No. 5, May 2011
Experimental Oral Transmission of Atypical Scrapie to Sheep
Marion M. Simmons, S. Jo Moore,1 Timm Konold, Lisa Thurston, Linda A.
Terry, Leigh Thorne, Richard Lockey, Chris Vickery, Stephen A.C. Hawkins,
Melanie J. Chaplin, and John Spiropoulos
To investigate the possibility of oral transmission of atypical scrapie in
sheep and determine the distribution of infectivity in the animals’ peripheral
tissues, we challenged neonatal lambs orally with atypical scrapie; they were
then killed at 12 or 24 months. Screening test results were negative for
disease-specifi c prion protein in all but 2 recipients; they had positive
results for examination of brain, but negative for peripheral tissues.
Infectivity of brain, distal ileum, and spleen from all animals was assessed in
mouse bioassays; positive results were obtained from tissues that had negative
results on screening. These fi ndings demonstrate that atypical scrapie can be
transmitted orally and indicate that it has the potential for natural
transmission and iatrogenic spread through animal feed. Detection of infectivity
in tissues negative by current surveillance methods indicates that diagnostic
sensitivity is suboptimal for atypical scrapie, and potentially infectious
material may be able to pass into the human food chain.
SNIP...
Although we do not have epidemiologic evidence that supports the effi cient
spread of disease in the fi eld, these data imply that disease is potentially
transmissible under fi eld situations and that spread through animal feed may be
possible if the current feed restrictions were to be relaxed. Additionally,
almost no data are available on the potential for atypical scrapie to transmit
to other food animal species, certainly by the oral route. However, work with
transgenic mice has demonstrated the potential susceptibility of pigs, with the
disturbing fi nding that the biochemical properties of the resulting PrPSc have
changed on transmission (40). The implications of this observation for
subsequent transmission and host target range are currently unknown.
How reassuring is this absence of detectable PrPSc from a public health
perspective? The bioassays performed in this study are not titrations, so the
infectious load of the positive gut tissues cannot be quantifi ed, although
infectivity has been shown unequivocally. No experimental data are currently
available on the zoonotic potential of atypical scrapie, either through
experimental challenge of humanized mice or any meaningful epidemiologic
correlation with human forms of TSE. However, the detection of infectivity in
the distal ileum of animals as young as 12 months, in which all the tissues
tested were negative for PrPSc by the currently available screening and confi
rmatory diagnostic tests, indicates that the diagnostic sensitivity of current
surveillance methods is suboptimal for detecting atypical scrapie and that
potentially infectious material may be able to pass into the human food chain
undetected.
Emerging Infectious Diseases • www.cdc.gov/eid • Vol. 17, No. 5, May 2011
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)
***It also suggests a similar cause or source for atypical BSE in these
countries.
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, August 4, 2012
*** Final Feed Investigation Summary - California BSE Case - July 2012
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
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Are USDA assurances on mad cow case 'gross oversimplification'?
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
Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio Department of Health
Governor
John R. Kasich
Lieutenant Governor
Mary Taylor
ODA Director
James Zehringer
ODH Director
Theodore E. Wymyslo, M.D.
DT: July 14, 2011
TO: Health Commissioners, Directors of Environmental Health and Interested
Parties
RE: Recall Announcement (ODA/ODH) 2011-076
Valley Farm Meats (DBA Strasburg Provision, Inc) Issues Precautionary
Recall for Beef Products Due to Possible Contamination with Prohibited Materials
snip...end...TSS
=========================================
Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio Department of Health
Governor
John R. Kasich Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor ODA Director James Zehringer
ODH Director Theodore E. Wymyslo, M.D.
DT: July 14, 2011
TO: Health Commissioners, Directors of Environmental Health and Interested
Parties
RE: Recall Announcement (ODA/ODH) 2011-076
Valley Farm Meats (DBA Strasburg Provision, Inc) Issues Precautionary
Recall for Beef Products Due to Possible Contamination with Prohibited Materials
[STRASBURG, Ohio] – Valley Farm Meats (DBA Strasburg Provision, Inc) of
Strasburg, OH announces a voluntary recall of an unknown amount of beef products
that may contain the spinal cord and vertebral column, which are considered
specified risk materials (SRMs). SRMs must be removed from cattle over 30 months
of age in accordance with federal and state regulations. SRMs are tissues that
are known to contain the infective agent in cattle infected with Bovine
Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), as well as materials that are closely
associated with these potentially infective tissues. Therefore, federal and
state regulations prohibit SRMs from use as human food to minimize potential
human exposure to the BSE agent.
The products subject to recall include all beef products slaughtered and
processed by or purchased from Valley Farm Meats retail store, 1317 N. Wooster
Ave NW, Strasburg, OH 44680 or purchased from Ed Lind Livestock and Poultry,
3333 Church Rd B, Medina, Ohio 44256. These products were produced between
01/28/2011 and 07/05/2011 and offered for sale from 01/28/2011 through
07/11/2011. The package labels or beef carcasses may bear the Ohio mark of
inspection and “Est. 80”, however products processed through Ed Lind Livestock
and Poultry may not contain such markings. The problem was discovered through
routine inspection activities by the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Division
of Meat Inspection. The Department has received no reports of illnesses
associated with consumption of this product. The United States Department of
Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service classifies this type of
potential contamination as a low health risk, however individuals concerned
about an illness should contact a health care provider. Because of potential
product contamination, Valley Farm Meats urges its customers who have purchased
the suspect product(s) not to eat them and to return them to the company.
Customers may bring those designated packages to Valley Farm Meats, 1317 N
Wooster Avenue NW, Strasburg, OH 44680 during regular business hours or call the
company’s owner, Paul Berry at 330-878-5557.
see old FSIS example of SRM recalls from the past ;
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
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
SEE FULL TEXT OF ALL THIS HERE ;
*** 2009 UPDATE ON ALABAMA AND TEXAS MAD COWS 2005 and 2006
Atypical BSE in Cattle
To date the OIE/WAHO assumes that the human and animal health standards set
out in the BSE chapter for classical BSE (C-Type) applies to all forms of BSE
which include the H-type and L-type atypical forms. This assumption is
scientifically not completely justified and accumulating evidence suggests that
this may in fact not be the case. Molecular characterization and the spatial
distribution pattern of histopathologic lesions and immunohistochemistry (IHC)
signals are used to identify and characterize atypical BSE. Both the L-type and
H-type atypical cases display significant differences in the conformation and
spatial accumulation of the disease associated prion protein (PrPSc) in brains
of afflicted cattle. Transmission studies in bovine transgenic and wild type
mouse models support that the atypical BSE types might be unique strains because
they have different incubation times and lesion profiles when compared to C-type
BSE. When L-type BSE was inoculated into ovine transgenic mice and Syrian
hamster the resulting molecular fingerprint had changed, either in the first or
a subsequent passage, from L-type into C-type BSE.
In addition, non-human primates are specifically susceptible for atypical
BSE as demonstrated by an approximately 50% shortened incubation time for L-type
BSE as compared to C-type. Considering the current scientific information
available, it cannot be assumed that these different BSE types pose the same
human health risks as C-type BSE or that these risks are mitigated by the same
protective measures.
This study will contribute to a correct definition of specified risk
material (SRM) in atypical BSE. The incumbent of this position will develop new
and transfer existing, ultra-sensitive methods for the detection of atypical BSE
in tissue of experimentally infected cattle.
When L-type BSE was inoculated into ovine transgenic mice and Syrian
hamster the resulting molecular fingerprint had changed, either in the first or
a subsequent passage, from L-type into C-type BSE. In addition, non-human
primates are specifically susceptible for atypical BSE as demonstrated by an
approximately 50% shortened incubation time for L-type BSE as compared to
C-type. Considering the current scientific information available, it cannot be
assumed that these different BSE types pose the same human health risks as
C-type BSE or that these risks are mitigated by the same protective measures.
This study will contribute to a correct definition of specified risk
material (SRM) in atypical BSE. The incumbent of this position will develop new
and transfer existing, ultra-sensitive methods for the detection of atypical BSE
in tissue of experimentally infected cattle.
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."
BSE-H is also transmissible in our humanized Tg mice.
personal communication with Professor Kong. ...TSS
The possibility of more than two atypical BSE strains will be discussed.
Supported by NINDS NS052319, NIA AG14359, and NIH AI 77774.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Similarities between Forms of Sheep Scrapie and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Are Encoded by Distinct Prion Types
(hmmm, this is getting interesting now...TSS)
Sporadic CJD type 1 and atypical/ Nor98 scrapie are characterized by fine
(reticular) deposits,
see also ;
All of the Heidenhain variants were of the methionine/ methionine type 1
molecular subtype.
see full text ;
Monday, December 14, 2009
Similarities between Forms of Sheep Scrapie and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Are Encoded by Distinct Prion Types
Friday, March 09, 2012
Experimental H-type and L-type bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle:
observation of two clinical syndromes and diagnostic challenges
Research article
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Experimental H-type bovine spongiform encephalopathy characterized by
plaques and glial- and stellate-type prion protein deposits
Monday, August 26, 2013
The Presence of Disease-Associated Prion Protein in Skeletal Muscle of
Cattle Infected with Classical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
please see below from PRION2013 ;
*** This study imply the possibility that the novel BSE prions with high
virulence in cattle will be emerged during intraspecies transmission.
AD.56: The emergence of novel BSE prions by serial passages of H-type BSE
in bovinized mice
Kentaro Masujin, Naoko Tabeta, Ritsuko Miwa, Kohtaro Miyazawa, Hiroyuki
Okada, Shirou Mohri and Takashi Yokoyama
National Institute of Animal Health; Tsukuba, Japan
H-type bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is an atypical form of BSE,
and has been detected in several European countries, and North America.
Transmission studies of H-type BSE led to the emergence of the classical BSE
(C-BSE) phenotypes during passages in inbred wild type and bovinized
PrP-overexpressing transgenic mice. In this study, we conducted serial passages
of Canadian H-type BSE isolate in bovinized PrP-overexpressing transgenic mice
(TgBoPrP). H-type BSE isolate was transmitted to TgBoPrP with incubation periods
of 320 ± 12.2 d at primary passage. The incubation period of 2nd and 3rd passage
were constant (~= 220 d), no clear differences were observed in their biological
and biochemical properties. However, at the forth passage, 2 different BSE
phenotypes were confirmed; one is shorter survival times (109 ± 4 d) and the
other is longer survival times. TgBoPrP mice with longer incubation period
showed the H-type phenotype of PrPsc profile and pathology. However, those of
shorter incubation period were different phenotypes from previously existed BSE
prions (C-BSE, L-type BSE, and H-type BSE). *** This study imply the possibility
that the novel BSE prions with high virulence in cattle will be emerged during
intraspecies transmission.
please see ;
Thursday, August 15, 2013
The emergence of novel BSE prions by serial passages of H-type BSE in
bovinized mice
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Stability properties of PrPSc from cattle with experimental transmissible
spongiform encephalopathies: use of a rapid whole homogenate, protease-free
assay
Monday, March 19, 2012
Infectivity in Skeletal Muscle of Cattle with Atypical Bovine Spongiform
Encephalopathy
PLoS One. 2012; 7(2): e31449.
Monday, August 26, 2013
The Presence of Disease-Associated Prion Protein in Skeletal Muscle of
Cattle Infected with Classical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Weld County Bi-Products dba Fort Morgan Pet Foods 6/1/12 significant
deviations from requirements in FDA regulations that are intended to reduce the
risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) within the United States
Thursday, June 6, 2013
BSE TSE PRION USDA FDA MAD COW FEED COMPLIANCE REPORT and NAI, OAI, and VAI
ratings as at June 5, 2013
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
APHIS USDA Administrator Message to Stakeholders: Agency Vision and Goals
Eliminating ALL remaining BSE barriers to export market
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Atypical prion proteins and IBNC in cattle DEFRA project code SE1796 FOIA
Final report
IN CONFIDENCE
BSE ATYPICAL LESION DISTRIBUTION
http://web.archive.org/web/20041226015813/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1993/03/14001001.pdf
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
BSE - ATYPICAL LESION DISTRIBUTION (RBSE 92-21367) statutory (obex only)
diagnostic criteria CVL 1992
Thursday, May 02, 2013
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Texas Important Update on OBEX ONLY TEXTING
OBEX ONLY
USDA 2003
We have to be careful that we don't get so set in the way we do things that
we forget to look for different emerging variations of disease. We've gotten
away from collecting the whole brain in our systems. We're using the brain stem
and we're looking in only one area. In Norway, they were doing a project and
looking at cases of Scrapie, and they found this where they did not find lesions
or PRP in the area of the obex. They found it in the cerebellum and the
cerebrum. It's a good lesson for us. Ames had to go back and change the
procedure for looking at Scrapie samples. In the USDA, we had routinely looked
at all the sections of the brain, and then we got away from it. They've recently
gone back. Dr. Keller: Tissues are routinely tested, based on which tissue
provides an 'official' test result as recognized by APHIS.
Dr. Detwiler: That's on the slaughter. But on the clinical cases, aren't
they still asking for the brain? But even on the slaughter, they're looking only
at the brainstem. We may be missing certain things if we confine ourselves to
one area.
snip.............
Dr. Detwiler: It seems a good idea, but I'm not aware of it. Another
important thing to get across to the public is that the negatives do not
guarantee absence of infectivity. The animal could be early in the disease and
the incubation period. Even sample collection is so important. If you're not
collecting the right area of the brain in sheep, or if collecting
lymphoreticular tissue, and you don't get a good biopsy, you could miss the area
with the PRP in it and come up with a negative test. There's a new, unusual form
of Scrapie that's been detected in Norway. We have to be careful that we don't
get so set in the way we do things that we forget to look for different emerging
variations of disease. We've gotten away from collecting the whole brain in our
systems. We're using the brain stem and we're looking in only one area. In
Norway, they were doing a project and looking at cases of Scrapie, and they
found this where they did not find lesions or PRP in the area of the obex. They
found it in the cerebellum and the cerebrum. It's a good lesson for us. Ames had
to go back and change the procedure for looking at Scrapie samples. In the USDA,
we had routinely looked at all the sections of the brain, and then we got away
from it. They've recently gone back.
Dr. Keller: Tissues are routinely tested, based on which tissue provides an
'official' test result as recognized by APHIS .
Dr. Detwiler: That's on the slaughter. But on the clinical cases, aren't
they still asking for the brain? But even on the slaughter, they're looking only
at the brainstem. We may be missing certain things if we confine ourselves to
one area.
snip...
FULL TEXT;
Completely Edited Version PRION ROUNDTABLE
Accomplished this day, Wednesday, December 11, 2003, Denver, Colorado
END...TSS
snip...see ;
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
IN CONFIDENCE
The information contained herein should not be disseminated further except
on the basis of "NEED TO KNOW".
BSE - ATYPICAL LESION DISTRIBUTION (RBSE 92-21367) statutory (obex only)
diagnostic criteria CVL 1992
In Confidence - Perceptions of unconventional slow virus diseases of
animals in the USA - APRIL-MAY 1989 - G A H Wells
snip...
PAGE 31
Appendix I
VISIT TO USA - DR A E WRATHALL - INFO ON BSE AND SCRAPIE
1. Dr Clark lately of the Scrapie Research Unit, Mission Texas has
successfully transmitted ovine and caprine scrapie to cattle. The experimental
results have not been published but there are plans to do this. This work was
initiated in 1978. A summary of it is:-
Expt A 6 Her x Jer calves born in 1978 were inoculated as follows with a
2nd Suffolk scrapie passage:-
i/c 1ml i/m, 5ml; s/c 5ml; oral 30ml.
1/6 went down after 48 months with a scrapie/BSE-like disease.
Expt B 6 Her or Jer or HxJ calves were inoculated with angora Goat virus
2/6 went down similarly after 36 months.
Expt C Mice inoculated from brains of calves/cattle in expts A & B were
resistant, only 1/20 going down with scrapie and this was the reason given for
not publishing.
Diagnosis in A, B, C was by histopath. No reports on SAF were given.
Dr Warren Foote indicated success so far in eliminating scrapie in
offspring from experimentally- (and naturally) infected sheep by ET. He had
found difficulty in obtaining emhryos from naturally infected sheep (cf SPA).
3. Prof. A Robertson gave a brief account of BSE. The US approach was to
PAGE 32
accord it a very low profile indeed. Dr A Thiermann showed the picture in
the "Independent" with cattle being incinerated and thought this was a fanatical
incident to be avoided in the US at all costs. BSE was not reported in USA.
4. Scrapie incidents (ie affected flocks) have shown a dramatic increase
since 1978. In 1953 when the National Control Scheme was started there were
10-14 incidents, in 1978 - 1 and in 1988 so far 60.
5. Scrapie agent was reported to have been isolated from a solitary fetus.
6. A western blotting diagnostic technique (? on PrP} shows some promise.
7. Results of a questionnaire sent to 33 states on the subject of the
national sheep scrapie programme survey indicated;
17/33 wished to drop it 6/33 wished to develop it 8/33 had few sheep and
were neutral
Information obtained from Dr Wrathall's notes of a meeting of the U.S.
Animal Health Association at Little Rock, Arkansas Nov. 1988.
please see ;
In Confidence - Perceptions of unconventional slow virus diseases of
animals in the USA - APRIL-MAY 1989 - G A H Wells
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Transmissibility of BSE-L and Cattle-Adapted TME Prion Strain to Cynomolgus
Macaque
"BSE-L in North America may have existed for decades"
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 U.S.
Emergency Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Response Plan Summary and BSE
Red Book
Date: February 14, 2000 at 8:56 am PST
WHERE did we go wrong $$$
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Evaluation of the Zoonotic Potential of Transmissible Mink Encephalopathy
We previously described the biochemical similarities between PrPres derived
from L-BSE infected macaque and cortical MM2 sporadic CJD: those observations
suggest a link between these two uncommon prion phenotypes in a primate model
(it is to note that such a link has not been observed in other models less
relevant from the human situation as hamsters or transgenic mice overexpressing
ovine PrP [28]). We speculate that a group of related animal prion strains
(L-BSE, c-BSE and TME) would have a zoonotic potential and lead to prion
diseases in humans with a type 2 PrPres molecular signature (and more
specifically type 2B for vCJD)
snip...
Together with previous experiments performed in ovinized and bovinized
transgenic mice and hamsters [8,9] indicating similarities between TME and
L-BSE, the data support the hypothesis that L-BSE could be the origin of the TME
outbreaks in North America and Europe during the mid-1900s.
Monday, September 02, 2013
Atypical BSE: role of the E211K prion polymorphism
Research Project: TRANSMISSION, DIFFERENTIATION, AND PATHOBIOLOGY OF
TRANSMISSIBLE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHIES
Location: Virus and Prion Research Unit
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Increased susceptibility of human-PrP transgenic mice to bovine spongiform
encephalopathy following passage in sheep
why do we not want to do TSE transmission studies on chimpanzees $
5. A positive result from a chimpanzee challenged severly would likely
create alarm in some circles even if the result could not be interpreted for
man. I have a view that all these agents could be transmitted provided a large
enough dose by appropriate routes was given and the animals kept long enough.
Until the mechanisms of the species barrier are more clearly understood it might
be best to retain that hypothesis.
snip...
R. BRADLEY
1: J Infect Dis 1980 Aug;142(2):205-8
Oral transmission of kuru, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and scrapie to
nonhuman primates.
Gibbs CJ Jr, Amyx HL, Bacote A, Masters CL, Gajdusek DC.
Kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease of humans and scrapie disease of sheep
and goats were transmitted to squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) that were
exposed to the infectious agents only by their nonforced consumption of known
infectious tissues. The asymptomatic incubation period in the one monkey exposed
to the virus of kuru was 36 months; that in the two monkeys exposed to the virus
of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was 23 and 27 months, respectively; and that in the
two monkeys exposed to the virus of scrapie was 25 and 32 months, respectively.
Careful physical examination of the buccal cavities of all of the monkeys failed
to reveal signs or oral lesions. One additional monkey similarly exposed to kuru
has remained asymptomatic during the 39 months that it has been under
observation.
snip...
The successful transmission of kuru, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and scrapie
by natural feeding to squirrel monkeys that we have reported provides further
grounds for concern that scrapie-infected meat may occasionally give rise in
humans to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
PMID: 6997404
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=6997404&dopt=Abstract
Recently the question has again been brought up as to whether scrapie is
transmissible to man. This has followed reports that the disease has been
transmitted to primates. One particularly lurid speculation (Gajdusek 1977)
conjectures that the agents of scrapie, kuru, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and
transmissible encephalopathy of mink are varieties of a single "virus". The U.S.
Department of Agriculture concluded that it could "no longer justify or permit
scrapie-blood line and scrapie-exposed sheep and goats to be processed for human
or animal food at slaughter or rendering plants" (ARC 84/77)" The problem is
emphasised by the finding that some strains of scrapie produce lesions identical
to the once which characterise the human dementias"
Whether true or not. the hypothesis that these agents might be
transmissible to man raises two considerations. First, the safety of laboratory
personnel requires prompt attention. Second, action such as the "scorched meat"
policy of USDA makes the solution of the acrapie problem urgent if the sheep
industry is not to suffer grievously.
snip...
76/10.12/4.6
Nature. 1972 Mar 10;236(5341):73-4.
Transmission of scrapie to the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis).
Gibbs CJ Jr, Gajdusek DC.
Nature 236, 73 - 74 (10 March 1972); doi:10.1038/236073a0
Transmission of Scrapie to the Cynomolgus Monkey (Macaca fascicularis)
C. J. GIBBS jun. & D. C. GAJDUSEK
National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, National Institutes
of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
SCRAPIE has been transmitted to the cynomolgus, or crab-eating, monkey
(Macaca fascicularis) with an incubation period of more than 5 yr from the time
of intracerebral inoculation of scrapie-infected mouse brain. The animal
developed a chronic central nervous system degeneration, with ataxia, tremor and
myoclonus with associated severe scrapie-like pathology of intensive astroglial
hypertrophy and proliferation, neuronal vacuolation and status spongiosus of
grey matter. The strain of scrapie virus used was the eighth passage in Swiss
mice (NIH) of a Compton strain of scrapie obtained as ninth intracerebral
passage of the agent in goat brain, from Dr R. L. Chandler (ARC, Compton,
Berkshire).
Saturday, May 2, 2009
APHIS AND WHO PLAN TO EXEMPT THE ATYPICAL SCRAPIE NOR-98 FROM REGULATIONS
AT MEETING THIS MONTH
Monday, November 30, 2009
USDA AND OIE COLLABORATE TO EXCLUDE ATYPICAL SCRAPIE NOR-98 ANIMAL HEALTH
CODE
Thursday, December 20, 2012
OIE GROUP RECOMMENDS THAT SCRAPE PRION DISEASE BE DELISTED AND SAME OLD BSe
WITH BOVINE MAD COW DISEASE
Sunday, June 23, 2013
National Animal Health Laboratory Network Reorganization Concept Paper
(Document ID APHIS-2012-0105-0001)
Terry S. Singeltary Sr. submission
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
APHIS USDA Administrator Message to Stakeholders: Agency Vision and Goals
Eliminating ALL remaining BSE barriers to export market
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. ...
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,
Thursday, May 30, 2013
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has upgraded the United States'
risk classification for mad cow disease to "negligible" from "controlled", and
risk further exposing the globe to the TSE prion mad cow type disease
U.S. gets top mad-cow rating from international group and risk further
exposing the globe to the TSE prion mad cow type disease
*** 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.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
*** Small Ruminant Nor98 Prions Share Biochemical Features with Human
Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker Disease and Variably Protease-Sensitive
Prionopathy
Research Article
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease CJD cases rising North America updated report
August 2013
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease CJD cases rising North America with Canada seeing
an extreme increase of 48% between 2008 and 2010
Friday, August 16, 2013
*** Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) biannual update August 2013 U.K. and
Contaminated blood products induce a highly atypical prion disease devoid of
PrPres in primates
Sunday, September 08, 2013
Iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease via surgical instruments and
decontamination possibilities for the TSE prion
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease CJD worlds youngest documented victim, 11 years
old, shall we pray
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
Saturday, December 29, 2012
MAD COW USA HUMAN TSE PRION DISEASE DECEMBER 29 2012 CJD CASE LAB REPORT
MAD COW USDA ATYPICAL L-TYPE BASE BSE, the rest of the story...
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Transmission of New Bovine Prion to Mice, Atypical Scrapie, BSE, and
Sporadic CJD, November-December 2012 update
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
Saturday, March 5, 2011
MAD COW ATYPICAL CJD PRION TSE CASES WITH CLASSIFICATIONS PENDING ON THE
RISE IN NORTH AMERICA
Sunday, February 12, 2012
National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center Cases Examined1
(August 19, 2011) including Texas
Monday, August 9, 2010
Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy: A new sporadic disease of the
prion protein or just more Prionbaloney ?
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
VARIABLY PROTEASE-SENSITVE PRIONOPATHY IS TRANSMISSIBLE ...price of prion
poker goes up again $
OR-10 15:25 - 15:40 VARIABLY PROTEASE-SENSITIVE PRIONOPATHY IS
TRANSMISSIBLE IN BANK VOLES Nonno
Sunday, August 09, 2009
CJD...Straight talk with...James Ironside...and...Terry Singeltary... 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
BSE-The Untold Story - joe gibbs and singeltary 1999 – 2009
Monday, October 10, 2011
EFSA Journal 2011 The European Response to BSE: A Success Story
snip...
EFSA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
recently delivered a scientific opinion on any possible epidemiological or
molecular association between TSEs in animals and humans (EFSA Panel on
Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) and ECDC, 2011). This opinion confirmed Classical
BSE prions as the only TSE agents demonstrated to be zoonotic so far but the
possibility that a small proportion of human cases so far classified as
"sporadic" CJD are of zoonotic origin could ***not be excluded. Moreover,
transmission experiments to non-human primates suggest that some TSE agents in
addition to Classical BSE prions in cattle (namely L-type Atypical BSE,
Classical BSE in sheep, transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME) and chronic
wasting disease (CWD) agents) might have zoonotic potential.
snip...
see follow-up here about North America BSE Mad Cow TSE prion risk factors,
and the ever emerging strains of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy in many
species here in the USA, including humans ;
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Seven main threats for the future linked to prions
First threat
The TSE road map defining the evolution of European policy for protection
against prion diseases is based on a certain numbers of hypotheses some of which
may turn out to be erroneous. In particular, a form of BSE (called atypical
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy), recently identified by systematic testing in
aged cattle without clinical signs, may be the origin of classical BSE and thus
potentially constitute a reservoir, which may be impossible to eradicate if a
sporadic origin is confirmed.
***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...
TSS