Evidence of 
in utero transmission of classical scrapie in sheep 
John 
Spiropoulos⇑, Stephen A.C. Hawkins, Marion M. Simmons and Susan J. Bellworthy 
+ Author 
Affiliations Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) Weybridge, 
Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK 
ABSTRACT
Classical 
scrapie is one of the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE), a group 
of fatal infectious diseases that affect the central nervous system (CNS). 
Classical scrapie can transmit laterally from ewe to lamb perinatally, or 
between adult animals. Here we report detection of infectivity in tissues of an 
unborn foetus, providing evidence that in utero transmission of classical 
scrapie is also possible. 
FOOTNOTES 
Corresponding Author: John Spiropoulos: Department of Pathology, Animal Health 
and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, 
KT15 3NB, Email: john.spiropoulos@ahvla.gsi.gov.uk, Tel: +44 (0) 1932 357795, 
Fax: +44 (0) 1932 357805 Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. 
All Rights Reserved. 
Tuesday, 
September 17, 2013 
Mother to 
Offspring Transmission of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy TSE prion 
disease snip... Maternal CWD infection also appears to result in lower 
percentage of live birth offspring. In addition, evolving evidence from protein 
misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) assays on fetal tissues suggest that 
covert prion infection occurs in utero. Overall, our findings demonstrate that 
transmission of prions from mother to offspring can occur, and may be 
underestimated for all prion diseases.
snip...
Here, in an 
experimental model of CWD, we have demonstrated the transmission of infectious 
prions from clinical and subclinical mothers to full-term viable, nonviable and 
in utero harvested offspring, revealing that the transmission of TSEs from 
mother to offspring can occur and may be underestimated for all prion diseases. 
snip... please see full text ; Tuesday, September 17, 2013 
*** Mother 
to Offspring Transmission of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy TSE prion 
disease ***
Friday, May 
10, 2013 
Evidence of 
effective scrapie transmission via colostrum and milk in sheep
Tuesday, 
April 30, 2013 
Transmission of 
classical scrapie via goat milk 
Veterinary 
Record2013;172:455 doi:10.1136/vr.f2613 
Envt.18: 
Mother to Offspring Transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease 
Candace K. 
Mathiason,† Amy Nalls, Kelly Anderson, Jeanette Hayes-Klug, Jenny G. Powers, 
Nicholas J. Haley and Edward A. Hoover 
Colorado 
State University; Fort Collins, CO USA†Presenting author; Email: 
ckm@lamar.colostate.edu 
We have 
developed a new cervid model in small Asian muntjac deer (Muntiacus reevesi) to 
study potential modes of vertical transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) 
from mother to offspring. Eight of eight (8/8) muntjac doe orally infected with 
CWD tested PrPCWD lymphoid positive by four months post infection. Ten fawns 
were born to these CWD-infected doe— four of the fawns were viable, five were 
non-viable and one was a first trimester fetus harvested from a CWD-infected doe 
euthanized at end-stage disease. The viable fawns have been monitored for CWD 
infection by immunohistochemistry and sPMCA performed on serial tonsil and 
rectal lymphoid tissue biopsies. PrPCWD has been detected in one fawn by IHC as 
early as 40 days of age. Moreover, sPMCA performed on rectal lymphoid tissue has 
yielded positive results on another fawn at ten days of age. In addition, sPMCA 
assays have demonstrated amplifiable prions in fetal placental or spleen tissue 
of three non-viable fawns and mammary tissue of the dams. 
Additional 
pregnancy related fluids and tissues from the doe as well as tissue from the 
nonviable fawns are currently being probed for the presence of CWD. In summary, 
we have employed the muntjac deer model, to demonstrate for the first time the 
transmission of CWD from mother to offspring. These studies provide the 
foundation to investigate the mechanisms and pathways of maternal prion 
transfer. 
=========================== 
PPo3tss-18: 
A Possible Case of Maternal Transmission of the BSE Agent within Captive Cheetah 
Affected with Feline Spongiform Encephalopathy 
Anna 
Bencsik, Sabine Debeer, Thierry Petit and Thierry Baron 
Afssa; 
Unité ATNC; Lyon, France; Zoo de la Palmyre; Les Mathes, France 
Key words: 
BSE, FSE, vertical transmission 
Introduction. 
Feline spongiform encephalopathy (FSE) is considered to be related to bovine 
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). It has been reported in domestic cats as well 
as in captive wild cats including cheetahs, first in the United Kingdom (UK) and 
then in other European countries. In France, several cases were described in 
cheetahs either imported from UK or born in France. Here we report details of 
two other FSE cases in captive cheetah. These cases are of particular interest 
since the 2nd case of FSE in a cheetah born in France, appears most likely due 
to maternal transmission.1 
Results. 
Complete PrPd study showed the close likeness between the two cheetah cases. The 
TgOvPrP4 mouse brains infected with cattle BSE and cheetah FSE revealed similar 
vacuolar lesion profiles, PrPd brain mapping with occurrence of typical florid 
plaques. 
Materials 
and Methods. Using immunohistochemistry (IHC), pathological form of PrP(PrPd) 
was analyzed in the brains and peripheral organs of these two cheetahs. 
Transmission studies to the TgOvPrP4 mouse line were also performed, for 
comparison with the transmission of cattle BSE. Lesion profiles of the infected 
transgenic mice were analyzed as well as type and brain distribution of PrPd. 
Conclusion. 
Collectively, these data indicate that both FSE cases harbor the same strain of 
agent as the cattle BSE agent. Because this is most probably a case of maternal 
transmission of the disease, this new observation may have some impact on our 
knowledge of vertical transmission of BSE agent-linked TSEs such as in human 
variant Creutzfeldt Jakob disease. 
References 
1. Bencsik 
et al. PLoS One 2009; 4:6929. 
========================= 
PPo3tss-40: 
Mother to Offspring Transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease 
Candace K. 
Mathiason, Amy V. Nalls, Kelly Anderson, Jeanette Hayes-Klug, Nicholas Haley and 
Edward A. Hoover 
Colorado 
State University, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Fort 
Collins, CO USA 
Key words: 
Chronic wasting disease, vertical transmission, muntjac deer 
We have 
developed a new cervid model in small Asian muntjac deer (Muntiacus reevesi) to 
study potential modes of vertical transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) 
from mother to offspring. Eight of eight (8/8) muntjac doe orally infected with 
CWD tested PrPCWD lymphoid positive by 4 months post infection. Six fawns were 
born to these CWD-infected doe. Six fawns were born to 6 CWD-infected doe; 4 of 
the fawns were non-viable. The viable fawns have been monitored for CWD 
infection by immunohistochemistry and sPMCA performed on serial tonsil and 
rectal lymphoid tissue biopsies. PrPCWD has been detected in one fawn as early 
as 40 days of age. Moreover, sPMCA performed on rectal lymphoid tissue has yield 
positive results on another fawn at 10 days of age. In addition, sPMCA assays 
have also demonstrated amplifiable prions in maternal placental (caruncule) and 
mammary tissue of the dam. 
Additional 
pregnancy related fluids and tissues from the doe as well as tissue from the 
nonviable fawns are currently being probed for the presence of CWD. In summary, 
we have employed the muntjac deer model, to demonstrate for the first time the 
transmission of CWD from mother to offspring. These studies provide the 
foundation to investigate the mechanisms and pathways of maternal prion 
transfer. 
PRION 2011 
landesbioscience.com 
International 
Prion Congress: From agent to diseaseSeptember 8–11, 2010Salzburg, Austria 
Friday, 
December 23, 2011 
Detection 
of PrPres in Genetically Susceptible Fetuses from Sheep with Natural Scrapie 
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/12/detection-of-prpres-in-genetically.html 
Monday, November 22, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
SHEEP WITH 
MASTITIS TRANSMIT INFECTIOUS PRIONS THROUGH THE MILK 
Saturday, 
April 12, 2008 
Evidence of 
scrapie transmission via milk 
[6] Date: 
Fri 4 Feb 2005 
From: Terry 
S. Singeltary Sr. flounder@wt.net 
Source: 
Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC), Position Paper, January 
2005 [edited] 
Position 
Statement: Maternal Transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease Issue: 
1. The 
Chief Medical Officer for England asked SEAC to consider current evidence and 
comment on the potential transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease 
(vCJD) from mother to child via human breast milk. In utero transmission was 
also considered. The committee also commented on the scientific basis of a risk 
reduction measure for possible transmission of vCJD via banked breast milk. 
Background: 
2. No 
diagnostic test is currently available for the detection of abnormal PrP in 
milk. Research is under way to develop tests to screen for the possible presence 
of abnormal prion protein (PrP) in milk samples from cattle experimentally 
infected with BSE [A joint FSA/SEAC milk working group is monitoring and 
providing advice on this research carried out at the Veterinary Laboratories 
Agency.] These modified tests may also be applicable to human milk. However, it 
is not yet clear when/if a reliable test will be available. 
3. A small 
number of breast milk banks in the UK supply highly vulnerable premature babies 
for whom no milk may be available from the mother. A model developed by the 
Department of Health to assess the effect of pooling breast milk from multiple 
donors on the possible risks of transmission of vCJD via breast milk banks was 
considered. 
4. There is 
some, albeit limited, published epidemiological and experimental research on 
maternal transmission of prion diseases. There are also unpublished surveillance 
data of children born to vCJD cases from the National CJD Surveillance Unit and 
UK surveillance of neurological illness in children which might inform on 
potential risks of maternal transmission. Breast milk banks: 
5. There is 
no evidence that vCJD infectivity has ever been transmitted through breast milk. 
However, a theoretical risk exists. Modelling studies clearly show that the 
practice of pooling breast milk increases the number of donors to which a 
recipient is exposed and thereby increases the potential risk of an infant 
receiving milk contaminated with vCJD infectivity. The theoretical risk of 
infection can be minimised by not pooling the milk, by the use of individual 
hand operated breast milk pumps for single donors, and by the use of single-use 
sterilised bottles for collection. In addition, available evidence suggests that 
infection/inflammation of the breast results in increased lymphocytes in milk 
and therefore increased risk of infectivity. This risk would be minimised if 
milk from donors showing signs of infection were not used. 
6. The 
committee suggested that, if practicable, milk could be stored for an 
appropriate period of time to allow the health status of donors to be monitored, 
before it is released. However, information was not available to the committee 
on whether long-term storage of human milk is detrimental to its nutritional 
quality. Maternal transmission 
7. There is 
evidence from animal studies for low-level maternal transmission of prions in 
cattle and sheep. This transmission may occur in utero, via milk and/or 
perinatally. However, the possibility that this putative maternal transmission 
might have been due to another mode of transmission, for example through a 
contaminated environment or feed, cannot be ruled out. 
8. In 
contrast, in humans there is no evidence for maternal transmission in cases of 
familial prion disease, other than the transfer of a mutant form of the PrP 
gene, and there is no evidence of maternal transmission of Kuru [a chronic, 
progressive, uniformly fatal nervous system disorder caused by prions, 
associated with cannibalism among the Fore tribe and neighboring peoples in New 
Guinea. - CopyEd.PG]. However, compared with other human prion diseases vCJD may 
pose a greater risk because of the greater involvement of the lymphoreticular 
system in vCJD pathogenesis. Although, breast tissue (and placenta) from a 
single vCJD case tested negative for PrPvCJD, transfer of infectivity to breast 
milk may depend on the physiological status of the mammary gland. Similar tests 
or infectivity bioassays have not been conducted on breast tissue from lactating 
patients with vCJD. 
9. A 
published study suggesting transmission of sCJD in colostrum (ref. 1) was 
considered unreliable because tissues not normally associated with high levels 
of infectivity (blood and placenta) showed equivalent infectivity to that of the 
brain in this study. 
10. 
Analysis of prospective surveillance data of UK children born to mothers with, 
or that had subsequently developed clinical vCJD, provide no evidence for 
maternal transmission of vCJD. However, the number of cases is very small and 
the incubation period of vCJD, if transmitted from mother to child, is unknown 
and so the children may yet be too young to have developed symptoms. 
11. The 
phenotype of BSE infection in humans expressing PrP genotypes other than M/M at 
codon 129 is not known. Given recently published studies in mice expressing the 
human PrP gene (ref. 2), which suggest that the human PrP genotype may affect 
disease phenotype, the committee considered it very important that undiagnosed 
neurological diseases be carefully monitored. In this respect, amongst others, 
it is recommended that the careful monitoring of neurological illnesses through 
the PIND surveillance of children (ref. 3) continue. Conclusions 
12. In 
summary, there is currently no epidemiological evidence for maternal 
transmission of vCJD, including transmission via breast milk. However, there is 
a hypothetical risk. Although available evidence is limited and mostly indirect 
rather than direct, this risk, if any, appears to be low. As a risk cannot be 
excluded, a watching brief should be maintained. 
References: 
(1) Tamai Y et al. Demonstration of the transmissible agent in tissue from a 
pregnant woman with CJD. New Eng J Med 1992 327, 649. (2) Wadsworth et al. Human 
prion protein with valine 129 prevents expression of variant CJD phenotype. 
Science. 2004 306, 1793-1796. (3) Devereux G et al. Variations in 
neurodegenerative disease across the UK: findings from the national study of 
Progressive Intellectual and Neurological Deterioration (PIND). Arch DisChild. 
2004 89, 8-12. -- Terry S. Singeltary Sr. flounder@wt.net ****** 
P.4.31
Prion 
infectivity in milk from ARQ/ARQ sheep experimentally infected with Scrapie and 
MAEDI-VISNA virus
Ciriaco 
Ligios1, Maria Giovanna Cancedda1, Antonello Carta2, Cinzia Santucciu1 Caterina 
Maestrale1, Francesca Demontis1, Sonia Attene1, Maria Giovanna Tilocca1, 
Cristiana Patta1, Massimo Basagni5, Paola Melis1, James C. De- Martini3, 
Christina Sigurdson4 1Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, 
Italy; 2Research Unit: Genetics and Biotechnology, DIRPA, AGRIS Sardinia, Italy; 
3Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State 
University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; 4Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, 
University of California San Diego, USA; 5Prion Diagnostica Rho, Italy
Background:
Scrapie in 
sheep is characterized by the deposition of misfolded and aggregated prion 
protein (PrPSc) in the central nervous system (CNS) and within the 
lymphoreticular system (LRS). PrPSc was shown to accumulate in organs beyond the 
CNS and the LRS when lymphofollicular or granulomatous inflammation was also 
present.
Objectives:
Our aim was 
to determine whether ectopic PrPSc accumulation in the inflamed mammary gland of 
sheep with scrapie results in infectious prion secretion into the milk.
Methods:
We fed 
approximately 1.1 - 2.1 L of milk from sheep with lymphofollicular mastitis and 
clinical scrapie to each of 8 ARQ/ARQ lambs derived from scrapie-free flocks. 
The milk donor sheep had been previously inoculated with Maedi-Visna virus (MVV) 
intratracheally and intravenously and scrapie brain homogenate orally. In 
addition, 3 ARQ/ARQ lambs were fed approximately 1.4 – 1.7 L of milk from 
ARQ/ARQ sheep that had been experimentally infected with only scrapie. 
Additional control ARQ/ARQ lambs were inoculated with scrapie brain homogenate 
only, or with milk from uninfected sheep.
Results:
Two lambs 
which had received milk from sheep with mastitis and scrapie developed clinical 
signs of scrapie at 677 and 745 days post-inoculation. One additional clinically 
healthy lamb from this group, which was sacrificed for a cause unrelated to 
scrapie, was found to have PrPSc in brain and tonsil. The control lambs and 
those which received milk from sheep affected only with scrapie are, to date, 
clinically healthy.
Discussion:
This is the 
first evidence of clinical scrapie in sheep fed milk from scrapie sick sheep. 
The experiment is ongoing, however these preliminary results indicate that milk 
and/or colostrum from ARQ/ARQ sheep with clinical scrapie and lymphofollicular 
mastitis could contribute to scrapie transmission.
Monday, 
August 03, 2009
Prions Are 
Secreted in Milk from Clinically Normal Scrapie-Exposed Sheep
Journal of 
Virology, August 2009, p. 8293-8296, Vol. 83, No. 16 0022-538X/09/$08.00+0 
doi:10.1128/JVI.00051-09 Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. 
All Rights Reserved.
TAFS 
INTERNATIONAL FORUM FOR TRANSMISSIBLE ANIMAL DISEASES AND FOOD SAFETY a 
non-profit Swiss Foundation (January, 2009) TAFS1 STATEMENT ON TRANSMISSION OF 
SCRAPIE VIA MILK
Prions in 
Milk from Ewes Incubating Natural Scrapie
ProMED-mail
Archive 
Number 20050211.0467 Published
Date 
11-FEB-2005 Subject PRO/AH/EDR> CJD (new var.) update 2005 (02)
snip...
******
[3] Date: 
Thu 20 Jan 2005 From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr. 
Chronic 
Lymphocytic Inflammation Specifies the Organ Tropism of Prions
Chronic 
Lymphocytic Inflammation Specifies the Organ Tropism of Prions
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[The 
following is the summary of a paper by Mathias Heikenwalder and 8 others, 
published in Science online, 10.1126/science.1106460, Thu 20 Jan 2005 .
This paper 
describes work that illustrates that chronic inflammatory conditions may affect 
and expand the natural and iatrogenic transmission of prions - Mod.CP]
Prions 
typically accumulate in nervous and lymphoid tissues. Because proinflammatory 
cytokines and immune cells are required for lymphoid prion replication, we 
tested whether inflammatory conditions affect prion pathogenesis. We 
administered prions to mice with 5 inflammatory diseases of kidney, pancreas or 
liver. In all cases, chronic lymphocytic inflammation enabled prion accumulation 
in otherwise prion-free organs. Inflammatory foci consistently correlated with 
lymphotoxin upregulation and ectopic induction of PrPC-expressing FDC-M1+ cells, 
whereas inflamed organs of mice lacking lymphotoxin-alpha or its receptor 
accumulate neither PrPSc nor infectivity upon prion inoculation. By expanding 
the tissue distribution of prions, chronic inflammatory conditions may act as 
modifiers of natural and iatrogenic prion transmission.
****** [4] 
Date: Thu 20 Jan 2005 From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr. Source: Reuters News Agency, 
Thu 20 Jan 2005 [edited] 
 Study 
Finds that Illness May Promote Spread of Mad Cow Prion
------------------------------------------------------------
The agent 
that transmits mad cow disease and related diseases may spread further in the 
body of an animal suffering from certain illnesses, scientists said on Thu 20 
Jan 2005. Their finding raises the question of whether measures aimed at curbing 
the spread of mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), are 
adequate, the researchers said.
Tests on 
mice showed that prions, the protein-like fragments that transmit BSE and 
related diseases [e.g. variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans], can show up 
in organs they are not supposed to if the mouse has an inflammatory condition. 
Scientists have believed that BSE-causing prions are limited to the brain, 
spleen, spinal cord and lymph tissue, although some tests have suggested blood 
and muscle tissue may also harbor the prions. The latest study, published in the 
journal Science, suggests prions may also sometimes be found in the kidney, 
pancreas and liver. "We administered prions to mice with 5 inflammatory diseases 
of kidney, pancreas or liver," wrote the researchers, led by top prion expert 
Dr. Adriano Aguzzi of the University Hospital of Zurich in Switzerland.
Aguzzi and 
colleagues in Britain and the United States inoculated specially bred mice with 
prions and checked to see if the prions spread in their bodies when the mice had 
an inflammatory condition. This is because other studies had suggested that 
prions might be attracted to immune system inflammatory cells. "In all cases, 
chronic lymphocytic inflammation enabled prion accumulation in otherwise 
prion-free organs," the researchers wrote.
BSE peaked 
in British cattle herds in the mid-1990s, and a few cases have been reported in 
other countries. Canada reported its 3rd case this month. People who eat 
BSE-infected beef products can develop a related human brain disease called 
variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or vCJD. There is no treatment or cure. [As of 
4 Feb 2005, so far in the UK for the year 2005 there have 8 referrals of 
suspected CJD; and there have been 8 deaths from sporadic CJC, one from GSS and 
none from familial, iatrogenic or variant CJD. - Mod.CP]. It has killed 148 
Britons, and 5 [now 6] Britons are alive with the disease, according to the 
British Department of Health's monthly report on the disease. The World Health 
Organization says it has reports of 6 cases in France, one in Ireland, one in 
Italy, one in Canada and one in the United States [and one in Japan: see; 
ProMED-mail post "CJD (new var.) - Japan: death 20050204.0381" - Mod.CP]
Experts 
believed BSE first appeared when cattle were fed improperly rendered remains of 
sheep infected with scrapie, a related disease. In 1997, the United States and 
Canada imposed animal feed bans, and have mandated the removal of materials 
believed to carry infectious prions. These include the skull, brain, nerves 
attached to the brain, eyes, tonsils, spinal cord and attached nerves, plus a 
portion of the small intestine. The study suggests that even symptom-free 
animals may also have prions in their liver, kidney, and pancreas.
-- Terry S. 
Singeltary Sr. 
****** [5] 
Date: Fri 21 Jan 2005 From: ProMED-mail Souce: New York Times, Fri 21 Jan 2005 
[edited] 
 Study 
Finds Broader Reach for Mad Cow Proteins
----------------------------------------------
Mad cow 
disease has long been thought to occur in just the brains and nervous systems of 
infected animals. But scientists are reporting today that the proteins thought 
to cause the disease can travel to other organs as well. The research is based 
on experiments with mice, but if it is borne out in other species, it may 
suggest that no part of an infected animal is safe to eat. The disease leads to 
a fatal brain disease in humans [variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease].
In the 
mouse experiments, reported in the journal Science [see [3] above], researchers 
in Switzerland found that prions, proteins that are the infectious agent in mad 
cow disease, follow immune cells, called lymphocytes, in the body. When mice 
were given chronic infectious diseases of the liver, kidney and pancreas and 
then inoculated with prions, the prions made their way to the infected organs. 
Dr. Adriano Aguzzi, a neuropathologist at the University Hospital in Zurich, who 
led the experiments, said this meant that cows and sheep infected with prions 
could harbor the disease in any inflamed organ.
But Dr. 
David R. Smith, a veterinarian at the University of Nebraska, said the research 
did not raise alarms about American beef. For one thing, he said, livestock with 
obvious signs of systemic infection, like a fever, are not allowed into the food 
supply. And most American cattle are slaughtered while they are young and at 
reduced risk of infection.
Many 
countries, including the United States, require the removal of skulls, brains, 
eyes, spinal cords and other nervous tissues from slaughtered animals because 
prions are known to accumulate in those tissues. Even in countries with mad cow 
disease, mainly in Europe, meat is considered safe if those tissues are removed, 
Dr. Aguzzi said. But the disease could spread more readily if infections are not 
obvious or if inspections are sloppily done, he said.
[Byline: 
Sandra Blakeslee]
-- 
ProMED-mail 
****** [6] 
Date: Fri 4 Feb 2005 From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr. 
Source: 
Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC), Position Paper, January 
2005 [edited] 
 Position 
Statement: Maternal Transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
-----------------------------------------------
Issue:
1. The 
Chief Medical Officer for England asked SEAC to consider current evidence and 
comment on the potential transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease 
(vCJD) from mother to child via human breast milk. In utero transmission was 
also considered. The committee also commented on the scientific basis of a risk 
reduction measure for possible transmission of vCJD via banked breast 
milk.
Background:
2. No 
diagnostic test is currently available for the detection of abnormal PrP in 
milk. Research is under way to develop tests to screen for the possible presence 
of abnormal prion protein (PrP) in milk samples from cattle experimentally 
infected with BSE [A joint FSA/SEAC milk working group is monitoring and 
providing advice on this research carried out at the Veterinary Laboratories 
Agency.] These modified tests may also be applicable to human milk. However, it 
is not yet clear when/if a reliable test will be available.
3. A small 
number of breast milk banks in the UK supply highly vulnerable premature babies 
for whom no milk may be available from the mother. A model developed by the 
Department of Health to assess the effect of pooling breast milk from multiple 
donors on the possible risks of transmission of vCJD via breast milk banks was 
considered.
4. There is 
some, albeit limited, published epidemiological and experimental research on 
maternal transmission of prion diseases. There are also unpublished surveillance 
data of children born to vCJD cases from the National CJD Surveillance Unit and 
UK surveillance of neurological illness in children which might inform on 
potential risks of maternal transmission.
Breast milk 
banks:
5. There is 
no evidence that vCJD infectivity has ever been transmitted through breast milk. 
However, a theoretical risk exists. Modelling studies clearly show that the 
practice of pooling breast milk increases the number of donors to which a 
recipient is exposed and thereby increases the potential risk of an infant 
receiving milk contaminated with vCJD infectivity. The theoretical risk of 
infection can be minimised by not pooling the milk, by the use of individual 
hand operated breast milk pumps for single donors, and by the use of single-use 
sterilised bottles for collection. In addition, available evidence suggests that 
infection/inflammation of the breast results in increased lymphocytes in milk 
and therefore increased risk of infectivity. This risk would be minimised if 
milk from donors showing signs of infection were not used.
6. The 
committee suggested that, if practicable, milk could be stored for an 
appropriate period of time to allow the health status of donors to be monitored, 
before it is released. However, information was not available to the committee 
on whether long-term storage of human milk is detrimental to its nutritional 
quality. Maternal transmission
7. There is 
evidence from animal studies for low-level maternal transmission of prions in 
cattle and sheep. This transmission may occur in utero, via milk and/or 
perinatally. However, the possibility that this putative maternal transmission 
might have been due to another mode of transmission, for example through a 
contaminated environment or feed, cannot be ruled out.
8. In 
contrast, in humans there is no evidence for maternal transmission in cases of 
familial prion disease, other than the transfer of a mutant form of the PrP 
gene, and there is no evidence of maternal transmission of Kuru [a chronic, 
progressive, uniformly fatal nervous system disorder caused by prions, 
associated with cannibalism among the Fore tribe and neighboring peoples in New 
Guinea. - CopyEd.PG]. However, compared with other human prion diseases vCJD may 
pose a greater risk because of the greater involvement of the lymphoreticular 
system in vCJD pathogenesis. Although, breast tissue (and placenta) from a 
single vCJD case tested negative for PrPvCJD, transfer of infectivity to breast 
milk may depend on the physiological status of the mammary gland. Similar tests 
or infectivity bioassays have not been conducted on breast tissue from lactating 
patients with vCJD.
9. A 
published study suggesting transmission of sCJD in colostrum (ref. 1) was 
considered unreliable because tissues not normally associated with high levels 
of infectivity (blood and placenta) showed equivalent infectivity to that of the 
brain in this study.
10. 
Analysis of prospective surveillance data of UK children born to mothers with, 
or that had subsequently developed clinical vCJD, provide no evidence for 
maternal transmission of vCJD. However, the number of cases is very small and 
the incubation period of vCJD, if transmitted from mother to child, is unknown 
and so the children may yet be too young to have developed symptoms.
11. The 
phenotype of BSE infection in humans expressing PrP genotypes other than M/M at 
codon 129 is not known. Given recently published studies in mice expressing the 
human PrP gene (ref. 2), which suggest that the human PrP genotype may affect 
disease phenotype, the committee considered it very important that undiagnosed 
neurological diseases be carefully monitored. In this respect, amongst others, 
it is recommended that the careful monitoring of neurological illnesses through 
the PIND surveillance of children (ref. 3) continue.
Conclusions
12. In 
summary, there is currently no epidemiological evidence for maternal 
transmission of vCJD, including transmission via breast milk. However, there is 
a hypothetical risk. Although available evidence is limited and mostly indirect 
rather than direct, this risk, if any, appears to be low. As a risk cannot be 
excluded, a watching brief should be maintained.
References:
(1) Tamai Y 
et al. Demonstration of the transmissible agent in tissue from a pregnant woman 
with CJD. New Eng J Med 1992 327, 649.
(2) 
Wadsworth et al. Human prion protein with valine 129 prevents expression of 
variant CJD phenotype. Science. 2004 306, 1793-1796.
(3) 
Devereux G et al. Variations in neurodegenerative disease across the UK: 
findings from the national study of Progressive Intellectual and Neurological 
Deterioration (PIND). Arch DisChild. 2004 89, 8-12.
-- Terry S. 
Singeltary Sr. 
******
snip...
ProMED-mail 
promed@promedmail.org 
******[6]Date: Fri 4 Feb 2005
From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr. 
Source: Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee 
(SEAC), Position Paper, January 2005 [edited]
snip...
******[6]Date: Fri 4 Feb 2005
From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr. 
Source: Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee 
(SEAC), Position Paper, January 2005 [edited]
SNIP...
SEE FULL TEXT ;
p.s. ProMed archives are pay-per-view now. ...tss
SEE FULL TEXT ;
p.s. ProMed archives are pay-per-view now. ...tss
SNIP...SEE FULL TEXT ;
cjd mother to child transmission ???
Mother 
passes on CJD to unborn baby Sun, 17 Sep 2000 Telegraph By Rajeev Syal, Jenny 
Booth and Chris Hastings
Dr Will 
offers me a tour of the laboratories. As we are getting up to go, I broach 
something that has been bothering me. Does he think the victims will get any 
younger? 
'Well, we 
now have a 12-year-old.' 
A 
12-year-old? 
'That's 
what I said.' He looks almost ashamed. 
Girl or 
boy? 
'I can't 
say.' 
But if the 
incubation period is at least 10 years, then the child was barely eating solid 
food when it contracted the infection. 'I'm not saying anything,' the 
neurologist says wearily. 'You've got small children of your own, Allison. You 
do the maths.' 
The child 
has been ill since she was born but tests to pinpoint the cause of the problem 
have so far proved inconclusive INCONCLUSIVE. What does not put an end to a 
thing. Inconclusive presumptions are those which may be overcome by opposing 
proof; for example, the law presumes that he who possesses personal property is 
the owner of it, but evidence is allowed to contradict this presumption, and 
show who is . At birth the baby, who cannot be named for legal reasons, could 
not swallow and was unable to gain weight. 
Wednesday, 
December 30, 2009 
Is there 
evidence of vertical transmission of variant CJD ? 
J Neurol 
Neurosurg Psychiatry doi:10.1136/jnnp.2009.172148
Is there 
evidence of vertical transmission of variant CJD?
Katy Murray 
(kmurray12@doctors.org.uk) + Author Affiliations
NationalCJD 
Surveillance Unit, United Kingdom James Peters (jimmypeters1980@yahoo.co.uk) + 
Author Affiliations
NationalCJD 
Surveillance Unit, United Kingdom Lesley Stellitano 
(lesley.stellitano@addenbrookes.nhs.uk) + Author Affiliations
Addenbrooke's 
Hospital, United Kingdom Annemarie Winstone 
(annemarie.winstone@addenbrookes.nhs.uk) + Author Affiliations
Addenbrooke's 
Hospital, United Kingdom Christopher Verity 
(christopher.verity@addenbrookes.nhs.uk) + Author Affiliations
Addenbrooke's 
Hospital, United Kingdom Robert Will (r.g.will@ed.ac.uk) + Author 
Affiliations
NationalCJD 
Surveillance Unit, United Kingdom Published Online First 27 April 2009 Abstract 
Objectives: The possibility of vertical transmission of variant CJD (vCJD) has 
been raised, because of the widespread distribution of infectivity in vCJD and 
the demonstration that this condition can be transmitted through blood 
transfusion. The aim is to search for evidence of this type of transmission of 
vCJD.
Methods: A 
national surveillance system for CJD has been established in the UK since 1990. 
Through this register details were extracted of all children born to vCJD cases 
up to March 2009. This list was checked against the CJD register and cases 
identified through the UK study of progressive intellectual and neurological 
deterioration in children (PIND) to determine whether any of the children of 
vCJD cases had themselves developed a progressive neurological disorder or 
vCJD.
Results: 
125 children have been born to parents with a diagnosis of vCJD. Nine of these 
children were born to females with vCJD who were symptomatic at conception, 
birth or within a year of clinical onset. Only one woman was known to have 
breast fed her child. None of the children of vCJD cases have been referred to 
the NCJDSU as suspected vCJD and none have been classified as suffering from a 
progressive neurodegenerative disorder through the PIND study. One of the 
children has been investigated by the National Prion Unit (see accompanying case 
report).
Interpretation: 
To date there is no evidence of vertical transmission of vCJD. However, the 
incubation period through this mechanism might be prolonged and it will be many 
years before observational data can exclude this possibility.
snip...see 
more here ;
Wednesday, 
December 30, 2009 
Is there evidence of vertical transmission of variant CJD ?
http://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/2009/12/is-there-evidence-of-vertical.html
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Is there evidence of vertical transmission of variant CJD ?
http://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/2009/12/is-there-evidence-of-vertical.html
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Medical 
Devices Containing Materials Derived from Animal Sources (Except for In Vitro 
Diagnostic Devices) [Docket No. FDA–2013–D–1574] 
2013 
Tuesday, September 17, 2013 
*** Mother 
to Offspring Transmission of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy TSE prion 
disease *** 
 To date, 
125 children have been born to women who later developed CJD [11]. This is 
concerning because PrPCJD has been detected in the fetal and pregnancy related 
tissues of a woman infected with CJD [12]. Although decades may pass before the 
onset of clinical effects associated with such transmission due to a long 
subclinical carrier state, the probability that these individuals harbor 
infectious prions remains high.
Sunday, 
August 25, 2013 
 Prion2013 
Chronic Wasting Disease CWD risk factors, humans, domestic cats, blood, and 
mother to offspring transmission 
 snip... 
 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. 
 snip... 
 Sunday, 
August 25, 2013 
 Prion2013 
Chronic Wasting Disease CWD risk factors, humans, domestic cats, blood, and 
mother to offspring transmission 
 >>> 
Here, in an experimental model of CWD, we have demonstrated the transmission of 
infectious prions from clinical and subclinical mothers to full-term viable, 
nonviable and in utero harvested offspring, revealing that the transmission of 
TSEs from mother to offspring can occur and may be underestimated for all prion 
diseases. <<< 
2014
Sunday, 
January 19, 2014 
National 
Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center Cases Examined1 as of January 8, 
2014 
Thursday, 
January 23, 2014 
Medical 
Devices Containing Materials Derived from Animal Sources (Except for In Vitro 
Diagnostic Devices) [Docket No. FDA–2013–D–1574] 
Terry S. 
Singeltary Sr. 
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