EFSA Annual Report of the Scientific Network on BSE-TSE 2023
Annual Report of the Scientific Network on BSE-TSE 2023
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
First published: 08 November 2023 https://doi.org/10.2903/sp.efsa.2023.EN-8386
Requestor: EFSA
Question number: EFSA-Q-2021-00680
Abstract
Establishing a system of Networks of organisations operating in the fields within EFSA's mission is among the tasks of EFSA, according to Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, in order to facilitate a scientific cooperation framework by the coordination of activities, the exchange of information, the development and implementation of joint projects, the exchange of expertise and best practices. The EFSA Scientific Network on bovine spongiform encephalopathies and other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (BSE-TSE) was established in 2006 and held its 18th annual meeting on 11 October 2023, as an online half-day meeting. The meeting served as an opportunity to exchange scientific information on BSE-TSE related issues among EU Member States, countries from the European Free Trade Association, EU candidate countries, EFSA, the European Commission (EC) and ad hoc participants [in the 2023 meeting, represented by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)]. The topics discussed included: animal and public health risks associated to the relax of the feed ban (presented by the Netherlands), the recent and ongoing activities on TSE of EFSA, the EURL, the EC and the WOAH, as well as the preliminary results of the 2022 EU TSE summary report.
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2.1 Animal and public health risks of relaxing the feed ban Linda Kox, Senior advisor Microbiology from the Office for Risk Assessment Office for Risk Assessment & Research of the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority presented possible public and animal health risk of relaxing the feed ban.
Current legislation requires the ban on feeding animal proteins to farm animals, the prohibition of interspecies recycling and removal of specified risk material from cattle that led to significant decrease in incidence of BSE. But it was emphasized that incidental cases of classical BSE still occur, although classical BSE is nowadays outnumbered by the atypical BSE cases. The national control programme of BSE for feed was presented highlighting the number of samples collected by species to detect prohibited material like ruminant PAP. Critical issues associated to the progressive lift of the feed ban following the reauthorisation of the use of poultry PAP and insect PAP for pig and pig PAP and insect PAP for poultry, with the potential cross-contamination despite the separation of production lines. One point was showcased when ruminant DNA is found in compound feed in which dairy products in the label appear as ingredients. The detection of ruminant DNA does not allow the discrimination between legal bovine milk and bovine PAP. Yet again the effectiveness and scale of the feed testing programme for monitoring the feed ban on the use of prohibited animal proteins was discussed in the questions after the presentation.
2.2 2022 TSE EU summary report: provisional results Walter Martelli, from the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, presented the preliminary results that will be included in the EU annual report on TSE for 2022. The report presents the results of surveillance of TSE in different animal species and is expected to be published by the end of November 2023 by EFSA. It includes data from 27 Member States (MS), 8 non-European Reporting Countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland and Turkey), and the United Kingdom (as non-MS from 1 February 2020 in respect of Northern Ireland only).
In total, 977,008 cattle were tested by EU27 and XI (-4.3% compared with 2021), and 52,395 cattle by eight non-EU reporting countries, with only one cases of H-BSE in France.
No other BSE cases were reported worldwide in 2022.
In total, 295,145 sheep and 109,074 goats were tested in the EU27 and XI (-5.2% and -7.9 %, respectively, compared to 2021).
In sheep, 557 cases of scrapie were reported by 19 MS and XI:
a) 86.2% classical scrapie (CS) by five MS, 80 index cases (IC) among them; a total of 97% of the CS scrapie cases held genotypes of susceptible groups;
b) 13.8% atypical scrapie (AS) (96 IC)by 14 MS and XI. In the other non-EU reporting countries 25,535 sheep were tested with 16 AS in Norway.
In goats, 224 cases of scrapie were reported by 10 and XI: 96.4% classical scrapie (CS) by six MS and 3.6% atypical scrapie (AS) by 4 MS and XI.
Index cases: increase in both CS and AS.
Ovine random genotyping was reported by eight MS and genotypes of susceptible groups accounted for 7.3%.
In total, 3,202 cervids were tested for chronic wasting disease by ten MS with 1 positive case: a female European moose over 12 months old from the fallen/culled group confirmed by Finland.
Norway tested 17,583 cervids with four positive cases i.e. 2 in moose, 1 case in red deer, 1 in reindeer.
2.3 TSE EURL: update activities Giuseppe Ru, Director EURL-TSE of the EURL of TSE presented the activities of the EURL since the last meeting. After giving a general overview of the epidemiological situation of TSE in animals and humans, he introduced the new EURL website (https://www.eurl-tse.eu/) designed to store data and information as well as to enhance communication. The main topics elaborated were: to ensure availability and use of high-quality methods and to ensure high quality performance by NRLs; to provide scientific and technical assistance to NRLs; to provide scientific and technical assistance to the European commission and other organisations, to produce, store and circulate (reagents) and reference material, and to account for requirements related to other legislation. Special mention was made to the study funded by the EC to propagate atypical BSE by inoculating 6-10 calves with each type of atypical BSE at 4-6 months of age. This project will ensure the availability of positive material for future proficiency testing. The EURL works though 2-year work plans. The 2021-2022 work plan has been closed and the 2023-2024 one is now running though it is awaiting approval.
Romolo Nonno, responsible for the strain typing and genotypes in the EURL, provided with a detailed information regarding to the Survey on biosafety procedures delivered to National Reference Laboratories or TSEs. The goal was to gather data on biosafety measures in NRLs of TSE. The results were presented and discussed in an aggregated, anonymized way at the 20th EURL TSE meeting in Rome on 2-3 October 2023. The results of survey showed 63 % of positive answers for availability of specific national guidance for safety working with TSE agents, as well confirmed the carried out a risk assessment in the laboratory that deal with TSE agents, 87% confirmed the implementation biosafety training protocols for staff dealing with TSEs, 80% have specific biosafety procedures available for ELISA/WB, 57% have specific biosafety procedures available for pathology/IHC, 70% have established procedures in place to prevent damage caused by use of sharp or pointed tools, 100% reported on availability specific procedures for safe waste management, 87% have specific procedures for safe transportation of the TSE agents. He also shared data on the study of the genetic profile of cases of atypical scrapie in Italy and the identification of mutations in animals homozygous ALRQ. He pledged NLRs to collaborate in this study by doing the full genotype of the open reading frame or sent the data to Romolo for analysis. The hypothesis is that atypical scrapie could be an genetic spontaneous disease like genetic CJD due to mutations in a single individual. 2.4EFSA activities on TSE 2022-2023Angel Ortiz (EFSA) Chair updated the Network on the TSE-related risk assessment activities that took place in EFSA since the 2022 annual Network meeting. In particular, he presented the main findings of the scientific opinion regarding monitoring of CWD, published on 17 April 2023. Also was provided detailed report about results of EC request the technical assistance of EFSA to evaluate the application of the Czech Republic to be recognized as having a negligible risk of classical scrapie which anticipated to be published in October 2023. The audience was briefed with the ongoing mandate on estimation of Potential BSE risk posed by the use of ruminant collagen and gelatine produced in accordance with respective requirements of legislation (Section XIV and XV of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009, Regulation (EU)No 142/2011), Additionally, although not directly associated to TSE, he provided information on the published scientific opinion concerning the efficacy of methods 2 to 5 and method 7 to inactivate relevant pathogens when producing processed animal protein (PAP) of porcine origin intended to feed poultry and aquaculture animals that comprised an assessment of the level of inactivation of relevant pathogens that could be present in processed animal protein of porcine origin intended to feed poultry and aquaculture animals. He finally presented the new ABP application submitted by the European Composting Network (ECN) via the Belgian competent authority n new European Transformation Parameters for Composting Animal By-Products in a Tunnel.
2.4 EFSA activities on TSE 2022-2023Angel Ortiz (EFSA) Chair updated the Network on the TSE-related risk assessment activities that took place in EFSA since the 2022 annual Network meeting. In particular, he presented the main findings of the scientific opinion regarding monitoring of CWD, published on 17 April 2023. Also was provided detailed report about results of EC request the technical assistance of EFSA to evaluate the application of the Czech Republic to be recognized as having a negligible risk of classical scrapie which anticipated to be published in October 2023. The audience was briefed with the ongoing mandate on estimation of Potential BSE risk posed by the use of ruminant collagen and gelatine produced in accordance with respective requirements of legislation (Section XIV and XV of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009, Regulation (EU)No 142/2011),
Additionally, although not directly associated to TSE, he provided information on the published scientific opinion concerning the efficacy of methods 2 to 5 and method 7 to inactivate relevant pathogens when producing processed animal protein (PAP) of porcine origin intended to feed poultry and aquaculture animals that comprised an assessment of the level of inactivation of relevant pathogens that could be present in processed animal protein of porcine origin intended to feed poultry and aquaculture animals. He finally presented the new ABP application submitted by the European Composting Network (ECN) via the Belgian competent authority n new European Transformation Parameters for Composting Animal By-Products in a Tunnel.
2.5 Update on the activities of WOAH in the TSE field Natalie Moyen, Disease Status Officer of the Status Department of WOAH, updated the Network on the TSE-related activities ongoing at WOAH since the previous Network meeting. During 2022there have been many activities in WOAH:
a) new BSE chapter (11.4) of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (Terrestrial Code)was adopted at the General Assembly in May 2023. She highlighted the main differences between the old and the new provisions in terms of risk assessment, surveillance and trade requirements and the main stages of the transition process;
b) the official recognition of BSE risk status: No applications considered/suspensions in 2022 or 2023. Currently Negligible risk status recognized in 53 Members and 3 zones, controlled risk status in 4 Members and 2 zones, which is outlined on WOAH Member’s official BSE risk status map;
c) the revised BSE standards came in force. She explained the impact of the new chapter on trade, applications, maintenance of BSE risk status, and on reporting of classical and atypical BSE;
d) development of BSE surveillance guidelines: now available to Members on the BSE General Information webpage;
e) Revision of Scrapie standards (Chapter 14.8. of the Terrestrial Code): At its February 2024 meeting, the Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission will consider all comments and decide on a strategy forward.
2.6 Additional topics discussed
2.6.1 Update on regulatory activities on TSE in the EC The Chair presented to the audience an update on regulatory activities on TSE in the EU, with information provided by the European Commission a few minutes before starting the meeting via email. Information included the DG-Sante transfer of the TSE file from G-5 to G-2. Regulatory adjustments on the feed ban (Minor adjustments in Annex IV to Regulation 999/2001 required) and scrapie measures, as Regulation 2020/772 recognised that the alleles K222, D146 and S146 are associated to resistance to classical scrapie (CS) in goats. But the 2020 adjustments failed to fully align measures in goats is it has been done in sheep, on movements to holdings with a scrapie status and imports. Current Status: draft Regulation amending Annexes IV, VIII and IX to Regulation 999/2001 voted at PAFF Committee in Feb. 2023 ongoing and publication expected in the first quarter 2024. Corrections in the measures adopted in August 2021. Future reflection on the adoption of end points developed for organic fertilisers / soil improvers in the framework of the ABP legislation.
Trade-Related Matters regarding chapters 11.4 and 1.8 of the Terrestrial Code: it went under revision that were submitted to WOAH before the 2023 WOAH General Assembly. The upcoming activities includes discussing the next steps at the TSE working group meeting. An update was given on the decision regarding Atypical BSE reference material. The existing stockpile of atypical BSE (H and L-types) reference material is critically low, posing a challenge for proficiency testing in the 13 NRLs conducting discriminatory BSE testing. To address this, a long-term solution has been implemented: launching an experimental challenge of cattle to produce an adequate supply of atypical BSE reference material for at least the next 20 years. The Commission has allocated the required budget and the EURL-TSE has launched the project with its contractor, that is currently in progress. The follow-up of the EFSA’s opinion on monitoring of CWD is the examination of the recommendations of EFSA and discuss the matter at the TSE WG.
2.6.2 Other points discussed by participants
•Italy asked WOAH if now that atypical BSE has been delisted, and the cases will only appear in the annual reconfirmation dossiers that are undisclosed, there will be any way to ascertain the caseload in third countries. WOAH replied that, following the delisting of atypical BSE, this information is no longer available on WAHIS. Spain asked for confirmation that cases of atypical BSE do not need to be notified to the WOAH. WOAH reiterated this is the case.
•Norway informed that Norway will continue doing surveillance in cervids for the foreseeable future, with special emphasis on the transmissible presentation in reindeer and the possible spontaneous nature of the disease moose. Last week a new case of CWD in moose was confirmed.
•An update of the situation in Norway was presented. Multiple strains are circulating in Norway, more than one in moose, and different from that in red deer and reindeer. Forthcoming results of experimental challenge of sheep with CWD are showing unusual presentations. Classical scrapie was last confirmed in Norway in 1999 but a number of cases of atypical scrapie are confirmed every year adding extra uncertainties, in general on these diseases and in particular on the origin of CWD.
•Both Italian members of the network expressed the value of the scientific network as one of the only opportunities left to networking and fostering collaboration. They also pointed out the risk associated with the changes in the regulatory framework of TSE, the possible reduction in surveillance and that continue reduction in the amount of data and knowledge available. If a new TSE crisis appears, it will be very difficult to detect and will take many years to detect an increase of cases.
•Ireland highlighted the importance of the next meeting of the TSE working group of the EC, in which the EC anticipated important points will be discussed, like the future surveillance of cervids in Europe and the alignment of the EU legislation to the provisions of the new WOAH BSE chapter.
•Italy also reminded that Classical BSE has not been eradicated, last case was in 2021. Germany expressed concern about the possible reduction of surveillance when there are still questions unanswered about the species barrier, the nature of prion strains and their zoonotic potential and their origin. France concurred with these comments adding concerns if the removal of SRM is discontinued as well as the increase of use of processed animal protein for feed, like the recent reauthorization of poultry to pig and viceversa. The Netherlands expressed similar concerns that were articulated in the presentation.
•France reminded the risk assessment done by ANSES the last year on the use of tallow for ruminant feed as an example of activities ed by member states. France asked if other countries were conducting similar assessment. No other country reported any TSE risk assessment done recently.
•Spain expressed concern and asked about the end of co-funding of TSE testing by the EC. EFSA mentioned it is an issue raised by several countries in several venues but should be redirected to the EC and their own competent authorities.
References
Decision of the Management Board concerning the establishment and operation of European Networks of scientific organisations operating in the fields within the Authority’s mission (mb210623-a4). Available online:
MB 18 03 10 –item 7 doc 6 Management Board Decision concerning the establishment and operation of European Networks of scientific organisations operating in the fields within the Authority’s mission. Available online:
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety. OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1–24.
***> •Italy asked WOAH if now that atypical BSE has been delisted, and the cases will only appear in the annual reconfirmation dossiers that are undisclosed, there will be any way to ascertain the caseload in third countries. WOAH replied that, following the delisting of atypical BSE, this information is no longer available on WAHIS. Spain asked for confirmation that cases of atypical BSE do not need to be notified to the WOAH. WOAH reiterated this is the case. <***
INSANITY AT ITS FINEST, SETS BACK THE ATTEMPTED ERADICATION OF TSE IN CATTLE BACK 4 DECADES, AND IT'S JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE DUE TO THE RELAX OF RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE TSE PRION IN THE BOVINE AND HUMANS. THE BSE MRR POLICY MUST BE ABOLISHED AND THE BSE GBR RISK ASSESSMENTS BROUGHT BACK FOR RISK ASSESSMENT OF THE BSE TSE PRION BOTH TYPICAL AND ATYPICAL, AND ENHANCED TO INCLUDE CWD IN CERVID AND ATYPICAL BSE REGULATED AS TYPICAL BSE, ASAP...terry
***> Current legislation requires the ban on feeding animal proteins to farm animals, the prohibition of interspecies recycling and removal of specified risk material from cattle that led to significant decrease in incidence of BSE. But it was emphasized that incidental cases of classical BSE still occur, although classical BSE is nowadays outnumbered by the atypical BSE cases. The national control programme of BSE for feed was presented highlighting the number of samples collected by species to detect prohibited material like ruminant PAP. Critical issues associated to the progressive lift of the feed ban following the reauthorisation of the use of poultry PAP and insect PAP for pig and pig PAP and insect PAP for poultry, with the potential cross-contamination despite the separation of production lines. <***
***> Special mention was made to the study funded by the EC to propagate atypical BSE by inoculating 6-10 calves with each type of atypical BSE at 4-6 months of age. This project will ensure the availability of positive material for future proficiency testing. The EURL works though 2-year work plans. <***
oh what a dangerous web of deceit we weave, when all we do is still practice to deceive...terry
***> PLEASE SEE LATEST STUDIES PRION CONFERENCE 2023
Conclusion: These results demonstrate the oral transmission potential of atypical BSE in cattle. Surprisingly, regardless of which atypical type of BSE was used for P1 oral challenge, PrPSc in the P2 animals acquired biochemical characteristics similar to that of PrPSc in C-BSE, suggesting atypical BSE as a possible origin of C-BSE in UK.
Atypical BSE cases in Ireland: neurological signs, brain histopathology and Tissue distribution of PrPres
Sebas6an Alessandro Mignacca, Ann Sharpe, Emma Curley, Semsa Omerovic, Cisca Kimbembe, Máire McElroy Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine - Pathology Division, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Aims:
In Ireland, six atypical BSE cases, five H-type (H-1 to -5) and one L-type, have been confirmed up to May 2023. Herein, the neurological characteristics, brain histopathology, topographical distribution, and signal intensity of PrPres are described.
Material and Methods:
All cases were identified through active surveillance. Clinical history was retrieved from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine archives. Whole brains/brainstems of H-type animals, and the L-type, and selected peripheral tissues of L-type were further studied by histopathology, immunohistochemistry (IHC - MAb F89) and immunoblotting (APHA BioRad TeSeE Hybrid). Investigations on PrPres distribution on the H-5 are in progress.
Results:
All animals were beef-breed females, aged between 11 – 18 years-old. They had vague clinical histories of depression, inappetence, incoordination, and recumbency, lasting 2-4 days. In the L-type and in H-5 intermittent signs lasted 2 and 6 weeks, respectively. H-2 was a healthy slaughtered animal.
Among the suitable obices for histopathology (H-1, -2 and -5), and the whole brain of H-5, vacuolation was only detected in H-5. Positive immunostaining was detected at the obex for H-1, in medulla, thalamus, cerebellum for H-2, and at all levels of the brain for H-3 and H-5. In the fallen H-type cases, immunoblot and Idexx EIA were consistently strong in all brain levels. In the healthy slaughter animal, PrPres levels were lower in cerebellum and cerebral cortex.
L-type showed inconclusive histopathological changes at obex, whilst neuropil vacuolation was most marked in thalamus and midbrain. PrPres was detected by IHC, immunoblotting and Idexx EIA at all levels of the brain and spinal cord, and immunoblotting only in the optic nerve and retina.
Conclusions:
Clinical courses were short and non-specific. PrPres intensity in all cases were generally high at all levels of the brain tested including the obex, the official target area for BSE surveillance.
Acknowledgements: Colleagues in Regional Veterinary Laboratories for collec6ng the brain material. Colleagues in TSE Division and DVOs for clinical information on cases
Title: Transmission of atypical BSE: a possible origin of Classical BSE in cattle
Authors: Sandor Dudas1, Samuel James Sharpe1, Kristina Santiago-Mateo1, Stefanie Czub1, Waqas Tahir1,2, *
Affiliation: 1National and WOAH reference Laboratory for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, Canadian Food inspection Agency, Lethbridge Laboratory, Lethbridge, Canada. 2Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
*Corresponding and Presenting Author: waqas.tahir@inspection.gc.ca
Background: Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of cattle and is categorized into classical and atypical forms. Classical BSE (CBSE) is linked to the consumption of BSE contaminated feed whereas atypical BSE is considered to be spontaneous in origin. The potential for oral transmission of atypical BSE is yet to be clearly defined.
Aims: To assess the oral transmissibility of atypical BSE (H and L type) in cattle. Should transmission be successful, determine the biochemical characteristics and distribution of PrPSc in the challenge cattle.
Material and Methods: For oral transmission, calves were fed with 100 g of either H (n=3) or L BSE (n=3) positive brain material. Two years post challenge, 1 calf from each of the H and L BSE challenge groups exhibited behavioural signs and were euthanized. Various brain regions of both animals were tested by traditional and novel prion detection methods with inconclusive results. To detect infectivity, brain homogenates from these oral challenge animals (P1) were injected intra-cranially (IC) into steer calves. Upon clinical signs of BSE, 3/4 of IC challenged steer calves were euthanized and tested for PrPSc with ELISA, immunohistochemistry and immunoblot.
Results: After 6 years of incubation, 3/4 animals (2/2 steers IC challenged with brain from P1 L-BSE oral challenge and 1/2 steer IC challenged with brain from P1 H-BSE oral challenge) developed clinical disease. Analysis of these animals revealed high levels of PrPSc in their brains, having biochemical properties similar to that of PrPSc in C-BSE.
Conclusion: These results demonstrate the oral transmission potential of atypical BSE in cattle. Surprisingly, regardless of which atypical type of BSE was used for P1 oral challenge, PrPSc in the P2 animals acquired biochemical characteristics similar to that of PrPSc in C-BSE, suggesting atypical BSE as a possible origin of C-BSE in UK.
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Funded by: CFIA, Health Canada, Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency, Alberta Prion Research Institute
Grant Number: ALMA/APRI: 201400006, HC 414250
Molecular phenotype shift after passage of low-type bovine spongiform encephalopathy (L-BSE).
Zoe J. Lambert, M. Heather West Greenlee, Jifeng Bian, Justin J. Greenlee Ames, USA
Aims: The purpose of this study is to compare the molecular phenotypes of L-BSE in wild type cattle and cattle with the E211K polymorphism to samples of other cattle TSEs, such as classical BSE (C-BSE), hightype BSE (H-BSE), and transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME).
Materials and Methods: Two wild type cattle (EE211 PRNP) and one steer with the E211K polymorphism (EK211) were intracranially inoculated with 1 mL of brain homogenate that originated from a 2005 French L-BSE case. Multiple assays were used to compare and differentiate tissues, including enzyme immunoassay, western blot (Sha31, 12B2, SAF84), stability (Sha31), and immunohistochemistry (F99/97).
Results: Approximately 16.6 months post-inoculation, Steer 6 (EK211 L-BSE) developed neurologic signs, including agitation, difficulty eating accompanied by weight loss, head tremor, ataxia, and fasciculations in the forelimbs, and was necropsied. Enzyme immunoassays demonstrated misfolded prion protein in the brainstem (4.0 O.D) but not in peripheral tissues, such as the retropharyngeal lymph node and palatine tonsil. When compared by western blot, the molecular phenotype of the brainstem of Steer 6 (EK211 L-BSE) is higher than that of wildtype cattle inoculated with L-BSE, requiring careful differentiation from C-BSE. Ongoing mouse studies in bovinized mice (K211 and TgBov) will provide data to compare to all other BSE strains available, including L-BSE, C-BSE, H-BSE, E211K H-BSE, and TME.
Conclusions: Further study of L-BSE in EK211 cattle with a higher molecular phenotype in the brainstem may give more insight into the origin of C-BSE.
Funded by: This research was funded in its entirety by congressionally appropriated funds to the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. The funders of the work did not influence study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. This research was supported in part by an appointment to the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Research Participation Program administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) through an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). ORISE is managed by ORAU under DOE contract number DE-SC0014664. All opinions expressed in this paper are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the policies and views of USDA, ARS, DOE, or ORAU/ORISE.
Grant number: DOE contract number DE-SC0014664 Acknowledgements: NA Theme: Animal prion diseases
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PRION 2023 CONTINUED;
Price of TSE Prion Poker goes up substantially, all you cattle ranchers and such, better pay close attention here...terry
Transmission of the chronic wasting disease agent from elk to cattle after oronasal exposure
Justin Greenlee, Jifeng Bian, Zoe Lambert, Alexis Frese, and Eric Cassmann Virus and Prion Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, USDA-ARS, Ames, IA, USA
Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the susceptibility of cattle to chronic wasting disease agent from elk.
Conclusions: Cattle with the E211K polymorphism are susceptible to the CWD agent after oronasal exposure of 0.2 g of infectious material.
"Cattle with the E211K polymorphism are susceptible to the CWD agent after oronasal exposure of 0.2 g of infectious material."
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Strain characterization of chronic wasting disease in bovine-PrP transgenic mice
Conclusions: Altogether, these results exhibit the diversity of CWD strains present in the panel of CWD isolates and the ability of at least some CWD isolates to infect bovine species. Cattle being one of the most important farming species, this ability represents a potential threat to both animal and human health, and consequently deserves further study.
"Altogether, these results exhibit the diversity of CWD strains present in the panel of CWD isolates and the ability of at least some CWD isolates to infect bovine species. Cattle being one of the most important farming species, this ability represents a potential threat to both animal and human health, and consequently deserves further study."
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Experimental transmission of ovine atypical scrapie to cattle Experimental transmission of ovine atypical scrapie to cattle
Timm Konold, John Spiropoulos, Janet Hills, Hasina Abdul, Saira Cawthraw, Laura Phelan, Amy McKenna, Lauren Read, Sara Canoyra, Alba Marín-Moreno & Juan María Torres
Veterinary Research volume 54, Article number: 98 (2023)
Abstract
Classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle was caused by the recycling and feeding of meat and bone meal contaminated with a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) agent but its origin remains unknown. This study aimed to determine whether atypical scrapie could cause disease in cattle and to compare it with other known TSEs in cattle. Two groups of calves (five and two) were intracerebrally inoculated with atypical scrapie brain homogenate from two sheep with atypical scrapie. Controls were five calves intracerebrally inoculated with saline solution and one non-inoculated animal. Cattle were clinically monitored until clinical end-stage or at least 96 months post-inoculation (mpi). After euthanasia, tissues were collected for TSE diagnosis and potential transgenic mouse bioassay. One animal was culled with BSE-like clinical signs at 48 mpi. The other cattle either developed intercurrent diseases leading to cull or remained clinical unremarkable at study endpoint, including control cattle. None of the animals tested positive for TSEs by Western immunoblot and immunohistochemistry. Bioassay of brain samples from the clinical suspect in Ov-Tg338 and Bov-Tg110 mice was also negative. By contrast, protein misfolding cyclic amplification detected prions in the examined brains from atypical scrapie-challenged cattle, which had a classical BSE-like phenotype. This study demonstrates for the first time that a TSE agent with BSE-like properties can be amplified in cattle inoculated with atypical scrapie brain homogenate.
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This is the first study in cattle inoculated with naturally occurring scrapie isolates that found the presence of prions resembling classical BSE in bovine brain although this was limited to detection by the ultrasensitive PMCA. The results from thermostability assay confirmed that the isolates were as thermoresistant as the BSE agent as proven in other studies [36, 48]. Previous PMCA studies with various British atypical scrapie isolates did not find any evidence of amplification [49, 50]. This may be explained by the use of ovine brain as substrate rather than brain from Bov-Tg110 mice, which may facilitate conversion to classical BSE prions.
Two hypotheses for prion strain propagation in cross-species transmission experiments have been proposed: conformational selection favours a particular strain conformation out of a mixture of conformations in a scrapie isolate whilst mutation results in the conformational shift of one conformation into another [51]. Following on from the study in mice [17], it has been subsequently suggested that classical BSE properties that arise in atypical scrapie isolates transmitted to cattle may be due to conformational mutation in a new host [52]. It does not confirm that the atypical scrapie agent is the origin of the classical BSE epidemic and further transmission studies would be required to see whether classical BSE can be generated.
Would PMCA applied to brains from cattle exposed to TSE agents other than classical BSE and atypical scrapie also produce a classical BSE-like molecular phenotype? The PMCA product obtained in the thermostability test using a thermosensitive classical scrapie control showed a profile unlike classical BSE. Atypical BSE has been linked to the origin of classical BSE because of its conversion into classical BSE following serial passages in wild-type mice (L-type BSE [11]) and bovine transgenic mice (H-type BSE [53]). Although we have not tested PMCA products of atypical BSE isolates as part of this study, there is no evidence that PMCA products from atypical BSE convert into classical BSE, at least for H-type BSE using bovine brain as substrate [54]. In fact, we were unable to propagate H-type BSE using the same methodology (S Canoyra, A Marín-Moreno, JM Torres, unpublished observation).
The study results support the decision to maintain the current ban on animal meal in feedstuffs for ruminants, particularly as atypical scrapie occurs world-wide, and eradication is unlikely for a sporadic disease.
In summary, experimental inoculation of cattle with the atypical scrapie agent may produce clinical disease indistinguishable from classical BSE, which cannot be diagnosed by conventional diagnostic tests, but prions can be amplified by ultrasensitive tests in both clinically affected and clinically unremarkable cattle, which reveal classical BSE-like characteristics. Further studies are required to assess whether a BSE-like disease can be confirmed by conventional tests, which may initially include a second passage in cattle.
Comparing the Distribution of Ovine Classical Scrapie and Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in Italy: Spatial and Temporal Associations (2002-2014)
Ru G1 ., Pocchiari M2 ., Bertolini S. 1, Pite L.1 , Puopolo M.2 , Ladogana A.2 , Perrotta M.G.3 , Meloni D 1 . (1) National reference center for the study and research on animal encephalopathies and comparative neuropathologies (CEA). Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy.
(2) Department of Cellular Biology and Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy. (3) Office 3 National center for the fight and emergency against animal diseases. Ministry of Health, Roma, Italy.
Aim: This study aims to investigate potential spatial and temporal associations between Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans (2010-2014) and ovine classical scrapie (CS) (2002- 2006) in Italy, serving as a proxy for exposure.
Materials and Methods: National data from prion disease surveillance in humans (sporadic CJD) and small ruminants (CS) in Italy were utilized. A descriptive geographic analysis was conducted for each disease individually. Subsequently, an ecological study was performed to compare the occurrence of both diseases at the district and regional levels. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR), adjusted for confounders, were calculated for CJD and CS by district and region, respectively, representing the outcome and proxy of exposure. Considering a possible long incubation period of CJD, two study periods were analysed: 2010-2014 for CJD and 2002-2006 for CS. Eight alternative linear regression models were developed using SIR in humans as the dependent variable and SIR in sheep as the independent variable. These models varied in the scale of SIR data (continuous vs. categorical), geographical level (district vs. region), and the potential past exposure of sheep in specific areas to a known source of infection (via a contaminated vaccine).
Results: The analysis of data at the district level revealed no significant association. However, when considering aggregated regional data, all four models consistently indicated a statistically significant positive association, suggesting a higher incidence of the disease in humans as the regional incidence of sheep scrapie increased.
Conclusions: While the results are intriguing, it is important to acknowledge the inherent limitations of ecological studies. Nevertheless, these findings provide valuable evidence to formulate a hypothesis regarding the zoonotic potential of classical scrapie. Further investigations are necessary, employing specific designs such as analytical epidemiology studies, to test this hypothesis effectively.
Funded by: Italian Ministry of Health Grant number: Realizzazione del programma epidemiologico finalizzato a dare evidenza del potenziale zoonotico delle TSE animali diverse dalla BSE. Prot. N. 0018730-17/07/2015-DGSAFCOD_UO-P
''Nevertheless, these findings provide valuable evidence to formulate a hypothesis regarding the zoonotic potential of classical scrapie. Further investigations are necessary, employing specific designs such as analytical epidemiology studies, to test this hypothesis effectively.''
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Transmission of Idiopathic human prion disease CJD MM1 to small ruminant mouse models (Tg338 and Tg501).
Enric Vidal1,2, Samanta Giler1,2, Montse Ordóñez1,2, Hasier Eraña3,4, Jorge M. Charco3,4, Guillermo Cantero1,2, Juan C. Espinosa5 , Juan M. Torres5 , Vincent Béringue6 , Martí Pumarola7 and Joaquín Castilla3,8,9 1 Unitat mixta d’Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal. Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA). Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Catalonia. 2 IRTA. Programa de Sanitat Animal. Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA). Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Catalonia. 3 Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Prion Research Lab, Derio, Spain. 4 ATLAS Molecular Pharma S. L. Derio (Bizkaia), Spain. 5 Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, CISA-INIA-CSIC, Valdeolmos, Madrid 28130, Spain. 6 Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France 7 Unitat de Patologia Murina i Comparada, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Campus de UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Catalonia. 8 IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao 48013, Bizkaia, Spain. 9 Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Carlos III National Health Institute, Madrid, Spain. Corresponding author: enric.vidal@irta.cat Phone: 934674040 (1784)
Aims: About 90% of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease cases are classified as sporadic (sCJD), that is, occur infrequently, randomly and without a known cause. It is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with an incidence of 1-1.5 cases per million per year. Epidemiological studies have been so far unable to establish a causal relationship between sCJD and prion diseases in animals.
The zoonotic potential of sheep scrapie was demonstrated in 2014 (Cassard et al., Nature Communications) through inoculation of transgenic mice overexpressing the human prion protein with scrapie isolates. The resulting prion disease was indistinguishable from that occurring after sCJD inoculation in the same model and, while these results do not demonstrate that sCJD is caused by scrapie prions, they do show that the transmission barrier between ovine and human prions is not absolute. Our aim is to further assess this zoonotic risk.
Materials and methods: we have prepared inocula from 3 sCJD cases (MM1, MV2 and VV2) and 2 VPSPr cases (MM and MV) to verify if it is possible to recover the scrapie phenotype upon inoculation in Tg338 and Tg501 ovinized mouse models. Additionally, two different inocula gCJD (E200K) and GSS (A117V) have been also included in the bioassays as controls for classical and atypical genetic human prions, respectively.
Results: No evidence of transmission was found on a first passage in Tg338 nor Tg501 ovinized mice, but on second passage, 4/10 Tg338 mice succumbed to CJDMM1 (40% attack rate after 645 dpi) and 1/12 Tg501 mice (519dpi, 10 still alive). The remaining 2nd passages are still ongoing. Conclusions: In this poster, the neuropathological features of the resulting strain are discussed.
Funded by: MINECO grant number AGL2017-88535-P and PID2021-1222010B-C22 and by Interreg POCTEFA grant number EFA148/16 (RedPRION)
''but on second passage, 4/10 Tg338 mice succumbed to CJDMM1 (40% attack rate after 645 dpi) and 1/12 Tg501 mice (519dpi, 10 still alive). The remaining 2nd passages are still ongoing. Conclusions: In this poster, the neuropathological features of the resulting strain are discussed.''
Title: Transmission of scrapie prions to primate after an extended silent incubation period)
*** In complement to the recent demonstration that humanized mice are susceptible to scrapie, we report here the first observation of direct transmission of a natural classical scrapie isolate to a macaque after a 10-year incubation period. Neuropathologic examination revealed all of the features of a prion disease: spongiform change, neuronal loss, and accumulation of PrPres throughout the CNS.
*** This observation strengthens the questioning of the harmlessness of scrapie to humans, at a time when protective measures for human and animal health are being dismantled and reduced as c-BSE is considered controlled and being eradicated.
*** Our results underscore the importance of precautionary and protective measures and the necessity for long-term experimental transmission studies to assess the zoonotic potential of other animal prion strains.
***Transmission data also revealed that several scrapie prions propagate in HuPrP-Tg mice with efficiency comparable to that of cattle BSE. While the efficiency of transmission at primary passage was low, subsequent passages resulted in a highly virulent prion disease in both Met129 and Val129 mice.
***Transmission of the different scrapie isolates in these mice leads to the emergence of prion strain phenotypes that showed similar characteristics to those displayed by MM1 or VV2 sCJD prion.
***These results demonstrate that scrapie prions have a zoonotic potential and raise new questions about the possible link between animal and human prions.
***Moreover, sporadic disease has never been observed in breeding colonies or primate research laboratories, most notably among hundreds of animals over several decades of study at the National Institutes of Health25, and in nearly twenty older animals continuously housed in our own facility.***
Even if the prevailing view is that sporadic CJD is due to the spontaneous formation of CJD prions, it remains possible that its apparent sporadic nature may, at least in part, result from our limited capacity to identify an environmental origin.
O.05: Transmission of prions to primates after extended silent incubation periods: Implications for BSE and scrapie risk assessment in human populations
Emmanuel Comoy, Jacqueline Mikol, Valerie Durand, Sophie Luccantoni, Evelyne Correia, Nathalie Lescoutra, Capucine Dehen, and Jean-Philippe Deslys Atomic Energy Commission; Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
Prion diseases (PD) are the unique neurodegenerative proteinopathies reputed to be transmissible under field conditions since decades. The transmission of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) to humans evidenced that an animal PD might be zoonotic under appropriate conditions. Contrarily, in the absence of obvious (epidemiological or experimental) elements supporting a transmission or genetic predispositions, PD, like the other proteinopathies, are reputed to occur spontaneously (atpical animal prion strains, sporadic CJD summing 80% of human prion cases).
Non-human primate models provided the first evidences supporting the transmissibiity of human prion strains and the zoonotic potential of BSE. Among them, cynomolgus macaques brought major information for BSE risk assessment for human health (Chen, 2014), according to their phylogenetic proximity to humans and extended lifetime. We used this model to assess the zoonotic potential of other animal PD from bovine, ovine and cervid origins even after very long silent incubation periods.
*** We recently observed the direct transmission of a natural classical scrapie isolate to macaque after a 10-year silent incubation period,
***with features similar to some reported for human cases of sporadic CJD, albeit requiring fourfold long incubation than BSE. Scrapie, as recently evoked in humanized mice (Cassard, 2014),
***is the third potentially zoonotic PD (with BSE and L-type BSE),
***thus questioning the origin of human sporadic cases.
We will present an updated panorama of our different transmission studies and discuss the implications of such extended incubation periods on risk assessment of animal PD for human health.
===============
***thus questioning the origin of human sporadic cases***
===============
***our findings suggest that possible transmission risk of H-type BSE to sheep and human. Bioassay will be required to determine whether the PMCA products are infectious to these animals.
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PRION 2015 CONFERENCE
***Transmission data also revealed that several scrapie prions propagate in HuPrP-Tg mice with efficiency comparable to that of cattle BSE. While the efficiency of transmission at primary passage was low, subsequent passages resulted in a highly virulent prion disease in both Met129 and Val129 mice.
***Transmission of the different scrapie isolates in these mice leads to the emergence of prion strain phenotypes that showed similar characteristics to those displayed by MM1 or VV2 sCJD prion.
***These results demonstrate that scrapie prions have a zoonotic potential and raise new questions about the possible link between animal and human prions.
PRION 2016 TOKYO
Saturday, April 23, 2016
SCRAPIE WS-01: Prion diseases in animals and zoonotic potential 2016
Prion. 10:S15-S21. 2016 ISSN: 1933-6896 1933-690X
Taylor & Francis
Prion 2016 Animal Prion Disease Workshop Abstracts
WS-01: Prion diseases in animals and zoonotic potential
Transmission of the different scrapie isolates in these mice leads to the emergence of prion strain phenotypes that showed similar characteristics to those displayed by MM1 or VV2 sCJD prion.
These results demonstrate that scrapie prions have a zoonotic potential and raise new questions about the possible link between animal and human prions.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19336896.2016.1163048?journalCode=kprn20
Title: Transmission of scrapie prions to primate after an extended silent incubation period)
*** In complement to the recent demonstration that humanized mice are susceptible to scrapie, we report here the first observation of direct transmission of a natural classical scrapie isolate to a macaque after a 10-year incubation period. Neuropathologic examination revealed all of the features of a prion disease: spongiform change, neuronal loss, and accumulation of PrPres throughout the CNS.
*** This observation strengthens the questioning of the harmlessness of scrapie to humans, at a time when protective measures for human and animal health are being dismantled and reduced as c-BSE is considered controlled and being eradicated.
*** Our results underscore the importance of precautionary and protective measures and the necessity for long-term experimental transmission studies to assess the zoonotic potential of other animal prion strains.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023
EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SCRAPIE IN THE UNITED STATES
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2021
Scrapie TSE Prion United States of America a Review February 2021 Singeltary et al
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2022
SHEEP BY-PRODUCTS AND WHAT ABOUT Scrapie TSE PrP and Potential Zoonosis?
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2021
Importation of Sheep, Goats, and Certain Other Ruminants AGENCY: Animal APHIA, USDA, FINAL RULE [Docket No. APHIS–2009–0095] RIN 0579–AD10
Research Project: TRANSMISSION, DIFFERENTIATION, AND PATHOBIOLOGY OF TRANSMISSIBLE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHIES Location: Virus and Prion Research
Title: Disease-associated prion protein detected in lymphoid tissues from pigs challenged with the agent of chronic wasting disease
Conclusions: This study demonstrates that PrPSc accumulates in lymphoid tissues from pigs challenged intracranially or orally with the CWD agent, and can be detected as early as 4 months after challenge. CWD-infected pigs rarely develop clinical disease and if they do, they do so after a long incubation period. This raises the possibility that CWD-infected pigs could shed prions into their environment long before they develop clinical disease. Furthermore, lymphoid tissues from CWD-infected pigs could present a potential source of CWD infectivity in the animal and human food chains.
Research Project: Pathobiology, Genetics, and Detection of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Location: Virus and Prion Research
Title: The agent of chronic wasting disease from pigs is infectious in transgenic mice expressing human PRNP
Author item MOORE, S - Orise Fellow item Kokemuller, Robyn item WEST-GREENLEE, M - Iowa State University item BALKEMA-BUSCHMANN, ANNE - Friedrich-Loeffler-institut item GROSCHUP, MARTIN - Friedrich-Loeffler-institut item Greenlee, Justin Submitted to: Prion Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/2018 Publication Date: 5/22/2018 Citation: Moore, S.J., Kokemuller, R.D., West-Greenlee, M.H., Balkema-Buschmann, A., Groschup, M.H., Greenlee, J.J. 2018. The agent of chronic wasting disease from pigs is infectious in transgenic mice expressing human PRNP. Prion 2018, Santiago de Compostela, Spain, May 22-25, 2018. Paper No. WA15, page 44.
Interpretive Summary:
The successful transmission of pig-passaged CWD to Tg40 mice reported here suggests that passage of the CWD agent through pigs results in a change of the transmission characteristics which reduces the transmission barrier of Tg40 mice to the CWD agent. If this biological behavior is recapitulated in the original host species, passage of the CWD agent through pigs could potentially lead to increased pathogenicity of the CWD agent in humans.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 01, 2023
TEXAS CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE RISES SUBSTANTIALLY TO 575 CONFIRMED CWD CASES TO DATE
cwd scrapie pigs oral routes
***> However, at 51 months of incubation or greater, 5 animals were positive by one or more diagnostic methods. Furthermore, positive bioassay results were obtained from all inoculated groups (oral and intracranial; market weight and end of study) suggesting that swine are potential hosts for the agent of scrapie. <***
>*** Although the current U.S. feed ban is based on keeping tissues from TSE infected cattle from contaminating animal feed, swine rations in the U.S. could contain animal derived components including materials from scrapie infected sheep and goats. These results indicating the susceptibility of pigs to sheep scrapie, coupled with the limitations of the current feed ban, indicates that a revision of the feed ban may be necessary to protect swine production and potentially human health. <***
***> Results: PrPSc was not detected by EIA and IHC in any RPLNs. All tonsils and MLNs were negative by IHC, though the MLN from one pig in the oral <6 month group was positive by EIA. PrPSc was detected by QuIC in at least one of the lymphoid tissues examined in 5/6 pigs in the intracranial <6 months group, 6/7 intracranial >6 months group, 5/6 pigs in the oral <6 months group, and 4/6 oral >6 months group. Overall, the MLN was positive in 14/19 (74%) of samples examined, the RPLN in 8/18 (44%), and the tonsil in 10/25 (40%).
***> Conclusions: This study demonstrates that PrPSc accumulates in lymphoid tissues from pigs challenged intracranially or orally with the CWD agent, and can be detected as early as 4 months after challenge. CWD-infected pigs rarely develop clinical disease and if they do, they do so after a long incubation period. This raises the possibility that CWD-infected pigs could shed prions into their environment long before they develop clinical disease. Furthermore, lymphoid tissues from CWD-infected pigs could present a potential source of CWD infectivity in the animal and human food chains.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates that PrPSc accumulates in lymphoid tissues from pigs challenged intracranially or orally with the CWD agent, and can be detected as early as 4 months after challenge. CWD-infected pigs rarely develop clinical disease and if they do, they do so after a long incubation period. This raises the possibility that CWD-infected pigs could shed prions into their environment long before they develop clinical disease. Furthermore, lymphoid tissues from CWD-infected pigs could present a potential source of CWD infectivity in the animal and human food chains.
CONFIDENTIAL
EXPERIMENTAL PORCINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY
LINE TO TAKE
3. If questions on pharmaceuticals are raised at the Press conference, the suggested line to take is as follows:-
"There are no medicinal products licensed for use on the market which make use of UK-derived porcine tissues with which any hypothetical “high risk" ‘might be associated. The results of the recent experimental work at the CSM will be carefully examined by the CSM‘s Working Group on spongiform encephalopathy at its next meeting.
DO Hagger RM 1533 MT Ext 3201
While this clearly is a cause for concern we should not jump to the conclusion that this means that pigs will necessarily be infected by bone and meat meal fed by the oral route as is the case with cattle. ...
we cannot rule out the possibility that unrecognised subclinical spongiform encephalopathy could be present in British pigs though there is no evidence for this: only with parenteral/implantable pharmaceuticals/devices is the theoretical risk to humans of sufficient concern to consider any action.
May I, at the outset, reiterate that we should avoid dissemination of papers relating to this experimental finding to prevent premature release of the information. ...
3. It is particularly important that this information is not passed outside the Department, until Ministers have decided how they wish it to be handled. ...
But it would be easier for us if pharmaceuticals/devices are not directly mentioned at all. ...
Our records show that while some use is made of porcine materials in medicinal products, the only products which would appear to be in a hypothetically ''higher risk'' area are the adrenocorticotrophic hormone for which the source material comes from outside the United Kingdom, namely America China Sweden France and Germany. The products are manufactured by Ferring and Armour. A further product, ''Zenoderm Corium implant'' manufactured by Ethicon, makes use of porcine skin - which is not considered to be a ''high risk'' tissue, but one of its uses is described in the data sheet as ''in dural replacement''. This product is sourced from the United Kingdom.....
2023 PRION CONFERENCE
Prion 2023 Experimental Oronasal Inoculation of the Chronic Wasting Disease Agent into White Tailed Deer
Author list: Sarah Zurbuchena,b , S. Jo Moorea,b , Jifeng Biana , Eric D. Cassmanna , and Justin J. Greenleea . a. Virus and Prion Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, ARS, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA, US b. Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
Aims: The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether white-tailed deer (WTD) are susceptible to inoculation of chronic wasting disease (CWD) via oronasal exposure.
Materials and methods: Six male, neutered WTD were oronasally inoculated with brainstem material (10% w/v) from a CWD-positive wild-type WTD. The genotypes of five inoculated deer were Q95/G96 (wild-type). One inoculated deer was homozygous S at codon 96 (96SS). Cervidized (Tg12; M132 elk PrP) mice were inoculated with 1% w/v brainstem homogenate from either a 96GG WTD (n=10) or the 96SS WTD (n=10).
Results: All deer developed characteristic clinical signs of CWD including weight loss, regurgitation, and ataxia. The 96SS individual had a prolonged disease course and incubation period compared to the other deer. Western blots of the brainstem on all deer yielded similar molecular profiles. All deer had widespread lymphoid distribution of PrPCWD and neuropathologic lesions associated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Both groups of mice had a 100% attack rate and developed clinical signs, including loss of body condition, ataxia, and loss of righting reflex. Mice inoculated with material from the 96SS deer had a significantly shorter incubation period than mice inoculated with material from 96GG deer (Welch two sample T-test, P<0.05). Serial dilutions of each inocula suggests that differences in incubation period were not due to a greater concentration of PrPCWD in the 96SS inoculum. Molecular profiles from western blot of brain homogenates from mice appeared similar regardless of inoculum and appear similar to those of deer used for inoculum.
Conclusions: This study characterizes the lesions and clinical course of CWD in WTD inoculated in a similar manner to natural conditions. It supports previous findings that 96SS deer have a prolonged disease course. Further, it describes a first pass of inoculum from a 96SS deer in cervidized mice which shortened the incubation period.
Funded by: This research was funded in its entirety by congressionally appropriated funds to the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. The funders of the work did not influence study design, data collection, analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Acknowledgement: We thank Ami Frank and Kevin Hassall for their technical contributions to this project.
=====end
PRION 2023 CONTINUED;
Ruminant feed ban for cervids in the United States ?
Posted by flounder on 31 Jan 2015 at 20:14 GMT
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...
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
*** 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.
==================================
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.
=================================
Draft Guidance on Use of Material From Deer and Elk in Animal Feed; CVM Updates on Deer and Elk Withdrawn FDA Veterinarian Newsletter July/August 2003 Volume XVIII, No 4
FDA has announced the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled “Use of Material from Deer and Elk in Animal Feed.” This draft guidance document (GFI #158), when finalized, will describe FDA’s current thinking regarding the use in animal feed of material from deer and elk that are positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) or that are at high risk for CWD.
CWD is a neurological (brain) disease of farmed and wild deer and elk that belong in the cervidae animal family (cervids). Only deer and elk are known to be susceptible to CWD by natural transmission. The disease has been found in farmed and wild mule deer, white-tailed deer, North American elk, and farmed black-tailed deer. CWD belongs to a family of animal and human diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). TSEs are very rare, but are always fatal.
This draft Level 1 guidance, when finalized, will represent the Agency’s current thinking on the topic. It does not create or confer any rights for or on any person and does not operate to bind FDA or the public. An alternate method may be used as long as it satisfies the requirements of applicable statutes and regulations.
Draft guidance #158 is posted on the FDA/Center for Veterinary Medicine Home Page. Single copies of the draft guidance may be obtained from the FDA Veterinarian.
- - Page Last Updated: 04/16/2013
CONTAINS NON-BINDING RECOMMENDATIONS
158
Guidance for Industry
Use of Material from Deer and Elk in Animal Feed
Comments and suggestions regarding the document should be submitted to Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Submit electronic comments to http://www.regulations.go.... All comments should be identified with the Docket No. 03D-0186.
For questions regarding this guidance, contact Burt Pritchett, Center for Veterinary Medicine (HFV- 222), Food and Drug Administration, 7519 Standish Place, Rockville, MD 20855, 240-453-6860, E-mail: burt.pritchett@fda.hhs.gov . Additional copies of this guidance document may be requested from the Communications Staff (HFV-12), Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food and Drug Administration, 7519 Standish Place, Rockville, MD 20855, and may be viewed on the Internet at http://www.fda.gov/Animal....
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine September 15, 2003
CONTAINS NON-BINDING RECOMMENDATIONS
158
Guidance for Industry1
Use of Material from Deer and Elk in Animal Feed
This guidance represents the Food and Drug Administration’s current thinking on the use of material from deer and elk in animal feed. It does not create or confer any rights for or on any person and does not operate to bind FDA or the public. You can use an alternative approach if the approach satisfies the requirements of applicable statutes or regulations. If you want to discuss an alternative approach, contact the FDA staff responsible for implementing this guidance. If you cannot identify the appropriate FDA staff, call the appropriate number listed on the title page of this guidance.
I. Introduction
FDA’s guidance documents, including this guidance, do not establish legally enforceable responsibilities. Instead, guidances describe the Agency’s current thinking on a topic and should be viewed only as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are cited. The use of the word “should” in Agency guidances means that something is suggested or recommended, but not required.
Under FDA’s BSE feed regulation (21 CFR 589.2000) most material from deer and elk is prohibited for use in feed for ruminant animals. This guidance document describes FDA’s recommendations regarding the use in all animal feed of all material from deer and elk that are positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) or are considered at high risk for CWD. The potential risks from CWD to humans or non-cervid animals such as poultry and swine are not well understood. However, because of recent recognition that CWD is spreading rapidly in white-tailed deer, and because CWD’s route of transmission is poorly understood, FDA is making recommendations regarding the use in animal feed of rendered materials from deer and elk that are CWD-positive or that are at high risk for CWD.
II. Background
CWD is a neurological (brain) disease of farmed and wild deer and elk that belong in the animal family cervidae (cervids). Only deer and elk are known to be susceptible to CWD by natural transmission. The disease has been found in farmed and wild mule deer,
1 This guidance has been prepared by the Division of Animal Feeds in the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at the Food and Drug Administration.
1
CONTAINS NON-BINDING RECOMMENDATIONS
2
white-tailed deer, North American elk, and in farmed black-tailed deer. CWD belongs to a family of animal and human diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). These include bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or “mad cow” disease) in cattle; scrapie in sheep and goats; and classical and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob diseases (CJD and vCJD) in humans. There is no known treatment for these diseases, and there is no vaccine to prevent them. In addition, although validated postmortem diagnostic tests are available, there are no validated diagnostic tests for CWD that can be used to test for the disease in live animals.
III.
Use in animal feed of material from CWD-positive deer and elk
Material from CWD-positive animals may not be used in any animal feed or feed ingredients. Pursuant to Sec. 402(a)(5) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, animal feed and feed ingredients containing material from a CWD-positive animal would be considered adulterated. FDA recommends that any such adulterated feed or feed ingredients be recalled or otherwise removed from the marketplace.
IV.
Use in animal feed of material from deer and elk considered at high risk for CWD
Deer and elk considered at high risk for CWD include: (1) animals from areas declared by State officials 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 immediately before the time of slaughter were in a captive herd that contained a CWD-positive animal.
FDA recommends that materials from deer and elk considered at high risk for CWD no longer be entered into the animal feed system. Under present circumstances, FDA is not recommending that feed made from deer and elk from a non-endemic area be recalled if a State later declares the area endemic for CWD or a CWD eradication zone. In addition, at this time, FDA is not recommending that feed made from deer and elk believed to be from a captive herd that contained no CWD-positive animals be recalled if that herd is subsequently found to contain a CWD-positive animal. V. Use in animal feed of material from deer and elk NOT considered at high risk for CWD
FDA continues to consider materials from deer and elk NOT considered at high risk for CWD to be acceptable for use in NON-RUMINANT animal feeds in accordance with current agency regulations, 21 CFR 589.2000. Deer and elk not considered at high risk include: (1) deer and elk from areas not declared by State officials to be endemic for CWD and/or to be CWD eradication zones; and (2) deer and elk that were not at some time during the 60-month period immediately before the time of slaughter in a captive herd that contained a CWD-positive animal.
How in the hell do you make a complete recall of 27,694,240 lbs of feed that was manufactured from materials that may have been contaminated with mammalian protein, in one state, Michigan, 2006? Wonder how much was fed out?
RECALLS AND FIELD CORRECTIONS: VETERINARY MEDICINE -- CLASS II
______________________________
PRODUCT
a) CO-OP 32% Sinking Catfish, Recall # V-100-6; b) Performance Sheep Pell W/Decox/A/N, medicated, net wt. 50 lbs, Recall # V-101-6; c) Pro 40% Swine Conc Meal -- 50 lb, Recall # V-102-6; d) CO-OP 32% Sinking Catfish Food Medicated, Recall # V-103-6; e) "Big Jim’s" BBB Deer Ration, Big Buck Blend, Recall # V-104-6; f) CO-OP 40% Hog Supplement Medicated Pelleted, Tylosin 100 grams/ton, 50 lb. bag, Recall # V-105-6; g) Pig Starter Pell II, 18% W/MCDX Medicated 282020, Carbadox -- 0.0055%, Recall # V-106-6; h) CO-OP STARTER-GROWER CRUMBLES, Complete Feed for Chickens from Hatch to 20 Weeks, Medicated, Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate, 25 and 50 Lbs, Recall # V-107-6; i) CO-OP LAYING PELLETS, Complete Feed for Laying Chickens, Recall # 108-6; j) CO-OP LAYING CRUMBLES, Recall # V-109-6; k) CO-OP QUAIL FLIGHT CONDITIONER MEDICATED, net wt 50 Lbs, Recall # V-110-6; l) CO-OP QUAIL STARTER MEDICATED, Net Wt. 50 Lbs, Recall # V-111-6; m) CO-OP QUAIL GROWER MEDICATED, 50 Lbs, Recall # V-112-6
CODE Product manufactured from 02/01/2005 until 06/06/2006
RECALLING FIRM/MANUFACTURER Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc., Decatur, AL, by telephone, fax, email and visit on June 9, 2006. FDA initiated recall is complete.
REASON Animal and fish feeds which were possibly contaminated with ruminant based protein not labeled as "Do not feed to ruminants".
VOLUME OF PRODUCT IN COMMERCE 125 tons
DISTRIBUTION AL and FL
______________________________
PRODUCT Bulk custom dairy feds manufactured from concentrates, Recall # V-113-6
CODE All dairy feeds produced between 2/1/05 and 6/16/06 and containing H. J. Baker recalled feed products.
RECALLING FIRM/MANUFACTURER Vita Plus Corp., Gagetown, MI, by visit beginning on June 21, 2006. Firm initiated recall is complete.
REASON The feed was manufactured from materials that may have been contaminated with mammalian protein.
VOLUME OF PRODUCT IN COMMERCE 27,694,240 lbs
DISTRIBUTION MI
______________________________
PRODUCT Bulk custom made dairy feed, Recall # V-114-6
CODE None
RECALLING FIRM/MANUFACTURER Burkmann Feeds LLC, Glasgow, KY, by letter on July 14, 2006. Firm initiated recall is ongoing.
REASON Custom made feeds contain ingredient called Pro-Lak, which may contain ruminant derived meat and bone meal.
VOLUME OF PRODUCT IN COMMERCE ?????
DISTRIBUTION KY
END OF ENFORCEMENT REPORT FOR AUGUST 2, 2006
###
17 DETECTION OF CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE PRIONS IN PROCESSED MEATS.
Rebeca Benavente1, Francisca Bravo1,2, Paulina Soto1,2, J. Hunter Reed3, Mitch Lockwood3, Rodrigo Morales1,2
1Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, USA. 2Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins, Santiago, Chile. 3Texas Parks and Wildlife, Austin, USA
Abstract
The zoonotic potential of chronic wasting disease (CWD) remains unknown. Currently, there are no known natural cases of CWD transmission to humans but increasing evidence suggests that the host range of CWD is not confined only to cervid species. Alarmingly, recent experimental evidence suggests that certain CWD isolates can induce disease in non-human primates. While the CDC strongly recommends determining CWD status in animals prior to consumption, this practice is voluntary. Consequently, it is plausible that a proportion of the cervid meat entering the human food chain may be contaminated with CWD. Of additional concern is that traditional diagnostic techniques used to detect CWD have relatively low sensitivity and are only approved for use in tissues other than those typically ingested by humans. In this study, we analyzed different processed meats derived from a pre-clinical, CWD-positive free-ranging elk. Products tested included filets, sausages, boneless steaks, burgers, ham steaks, seasoned chili meats, and spiced meats. CWD-prion presence in these products were assessed by PMCA using deer and elk substrates.
***> Our results show positive prion detection in all products.
***>To confirm the resilience of CWD-prions to traditional cooking methods, we grilled and boiled the meat products and evaluated them for any remnant PMCA seeding activity. Results confirmed the presence of CWD-prions in these meat products suggesting that infectious particles may still be available to people even after cooking.
***> Our results strongly suggest ongoing human exposure to CWD-prions and raise significant concerns of zoonotic transmission through ingestion of CWD contaminated meat products.
***> Products tested included filets, sausages, boneless steaks, burgers, ham steaks, seasoned chili meats, and spiced meats.
***> CWD-prion presence in these products were assessed by PMCA using deer and elk substrates.
***> Our results show positive prion detection in all products.
***> Results confirmed the presence of CWD-prions in these meat products suggesting that infectious particles may still be available to people even after cooking.
***> Our results strongly suggest ongoing human exposure to CWD-prions and raise significant concerns of zoonotic transmission through ingestion of CWD contaminated meat products.
=====
Transmission of prion infectivity from CWD-infected macaque tissues to rodent models demonstrates the zoonotic potential of chronic wasting disease.
Samia Hannaoui1,2, Ginny Cheng1,2, Wiebke Wemheuer3, Walter Schulz-Schaeffer3, Sabine Gilch1,2, Hermann Schatzl1,2 1University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. 2Calgary Prion Research Unit, Calgary, Canada. 3Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
***> Further passage to cervidized mice revealed transmission with a 100% attack rate.
***> Our findings demonstrate that macaques, considered the best model for the zoonotic potential of prions, were infected upon CWD challenge, including the oral one.
****> The disease manifested as atypical in macaques and initial transgenic mouse transmissions, but with infectivity present at all times, as unveiled in the bank vole model with an unusual tissue tropism.
***> Epidemiologic surveillance of prion disease among cervid hunters and people likely to have consumed venison contaminated with chronic wasting disease
=====
***Moreover, sporadic disease has never been observed in breeding colonies or primate research laboratories, most notably among hundreds of animals over several decades of study at the National Institutes of Health25, and in nearly twenty older animals continuously housed in our own facility.***
Even if the prevailing view is that sporadic CJD is due to the spontaneous formation of CJD prions, it remains possible that its apparent sporadic nature may, at least in part, result from our limited capacity to identify an environmental origin.
OIE Conclusions on transmissibility of atypical BSE among cattle
Given that cattle have been successfully infected by the oral route, at least for L-BSE, it is reasonable to conclude that atypical BSE is potentially capable of being recycled in a cattle population if cattle are exposed to contaminated feed. In addition, based on reports of atypical BSE from several countries that have not had C-BSE, it appears likely that atypical BSE would arise as a spontaneous disease in any country, albeit at a very low incidence in old cattle. In the presence of livestock industry practices that would allow it to be recycled in the cattle feed chain, it is likely that some level of exposure and transmission may occur. As a result, since atypical BSE can be reasonably considered to pose a potential background level of risk for any country with cattle, the recycling of both classical and atypical strains in the cattle and broader ruminant populations should be avoided.
Annex 7 (contd) AHG on BSE risk assessment and surveillance/March 2019
34 Scientific Commission/September 2019
3. Atypical BSE
The Group discussed and endorsed with minor revisions an overview of relevant literature on the risk of atypical BSE being recycled in a cattle population and its zoonotic potential that had been prepared ahead of the meeting by one expert from the Group. This overview is provided as Appendix IV and its main conclusions are outlined below. With regard to the risk of recycling of atypical BSE, recently published research confirmed that the L-type BSE prion (a type of atypical BSE prion) may be orally transmitted to calves1 . In light of this evidence, and the likelihood that atypical BSE could arise as a spontaneous disease in any country, albeit at a very low incidence, the Group was of the opinion that it would be reasonable to conclude that atypical BSE is potentially capable of being recycled in a cattle population if cattle were to be exposed to contaminated feed. Therefore, the recycling of atypical strains in cattle and broader ruminant populations should be avoided.
4. Definitions of meat-and-bone meal (MBM) and greaves
The L-type BSE prion is much more virulent in primates and in humanized mice than is the classical BSE prion, which suggests the possibility of zoonotic risk associated with the L-type BSE prion
Consumption of L-BSE–contaminated feed may pose a risk for oral transmission of the disease agent to cattle.
Thus, it is imperative to maintain measures that prevent the entry of tissues from cattle possibly infected with the agent of L-BSE into the food chain.
Atypical L-type bovine spongiform encephalopathy (L-BSE) transmission to cynomolgus macaques, a non-human primate
Fumiko Ono 1, Naomi Tase, Asuka Kurosawa, Akio Hiyaoka, Atsushi Ohyama, Yukio Tezuka, Naomi Wada, Yuko Sato, Minoru Tobiume, Ken'ichi Hagiwara, Yoshio Yamakawa, Keiji Terao, Tetsutaro Sata
Affiliations expand
PMID: 21266763
Abstract
A low molecular weight type of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (L-BSE) was transmitted to two cynomolgus macaques by intracerebral inoculation of a brain homogenate of cattle with atypical BSE detected in Japan. They developed neurological signs and symptoms at 19 or 20 months post-inoculation and were euthanized 6 months after the onset of total paralysis. Both the incubation period and duration of the disease were shorter than those for experimental transmission of classical BSE (C-BSE) into macaques. Although the clinical manifestations, such as tremor, myoclonic jerking, and paralysis, were similar to those induced upon C-BSE transmission, no premonitory symptoms, such as hyperekplexia and depression, were evident. Most of the abnormal prion protein (PrP(Sc)) was confined to the tissues of the central nervous system, as determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. The PrP(Sc) glycoform that accumulated in the monkey brain showed a similar profile to that of L-BSE and consistent with that in the cattle brain used as the inoculant. PrP(Sc) staining in the cerebral cortex showed a diffuse synaptic pattern by immunohistochemistry, whereas it accumulated as fine and coarse granules and/or small plaques in the cerebellar cortex and brain stem. Severe spongiosis spread widely in the cerebral cortex, whereas florid plaques, a hallmark of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, were observed in macaques inoculated with C-BSE but not in those inoculated with L-BSE.
see full text;
''H-TYPE BSE AGENT IS TRANSMISSIBLE BY THE ORONASAL ROUTE''
This study demonstrates that the H-type BSE agent is transmissible by the oronasal route. These results reinforce the need for ongoing surveillance for classical and atypical BSE to minimize the risk of potentially infectious tissues entering the animal or human food chains.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy BSE TSE Prion Origin USA?, what if?
Research Project: Pathobiology, Genetics, and Detection of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Location: Virus and Prion Research
Title: Sheep are susceptible to the agent of TME by intracranial inoculation and have evidence of infectivity in lymphoid tissues
Author item CASSMANN, ERIC - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE) item MOORE, SARA - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE) item SMITH, JODI - Iowa State University item Greenlee, Justin
Submitted to: Frontiers in Veterinary Science Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 11/14/2019 Publication Date: 11/29/2019 Citation: Cassmann, E.D., Moore, S.J., Smith, J.D., Greenlee, J.J. 2019.
Sheep are susceptible to the agent of TME by intracranial inoculation and have evidence of infectivity in lymphoid tissues.
Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 6:430. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00430. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00430
Interpretive Summary: Prion diseases are protein misfolding diseases that are transmissible between animals. The outcome of prion infection is irreversible brain damage and death. Transmission can occur between animals of the same or different species, however, transmission between different species is usually less efficient due to the species barrier, which results from differences in the amino acid sequence of the prion protein between the donor and recipient species. The present work evaluated whether transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME) can infect sheep. Our results demonstrate that sheep are susceptible to the TME agent and that the TME agent has similar properties to the agent of L-type atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (L-BSE). This work supports the ideas that L-BSE is a possible source for TME in mink and that the practice of feeding cattle with neurologic disease to mink should be avoided. This information is important to farmers who raise cattle, sheep, or mink.
Technical Abstract: Transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME) is a food borne prion disease. Epidemiological and experimental evidence suggests similarities between the agent of TME and L-BSE. This experiment demonstrates the susceptibility of four different genotypes of sheep to the agent of TME by intracranial inoculation. The four genotypes of sheep used in this experiment had polymorphisms corresponding to codons 136 and 171 of the prion gene: VV136QQ171, AV136QQ171, AA136QQ171, and AA136QR171. All intracranially inoculated sheep without comorbidities (15/15) developed clinical scrapie and had detectable PrPSc by immunohistochemistry, western blot, and enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The mean incubation periods in TME infected sheep correlated with their relative genotypic susceptibility. There was peripheral distribution of PrPSc in the trigeminal ganglion and neuromuscular spindles; however, unlike classical scrapie and C-BSE in sheep, ovine TME did not accumulate in the lymphoid tissue. To rule out the presence of infectious, but proteinase K susceptible PrPSc, the lymph nodes of two sheep genotypes, VV136QQ171 and AA136QQ171, were bioassayed in transgenic ovinized mice. None of the mice (0/32) inoculated by the intraperitoneal route had detectable PrPSc by EIA. Interestingly, mice intracranially inoculated with RPLN tissue from a VV136QQ171 sheep were EIA positive (3/17) indicating that sheep inoculated with TME harbor infectivity in their lymph nodes. Western blot analysis demonstrated similarities in the migration patterns between ovine TME and the bovine TME inoculum. Overall, these results demonstrate that sheep are susceptible to the agent of TME, and that the tissue distribution of PrPSc in TME infected sheep is distinct from classical scrapie.
Previous work has shown that the Stetsonville, WI outbreak of TME could have been precipitated by feeding mink a downer cow with atypical BSE; therefore, it very well may have originated from a cow with L-BSE. The agent of TME appears to remain stable, and it has a high transmission efficiency after a sequence of interspecies transmission events. Although C-BSE is the archetypal foodborne TSE, our findings indicate that L-BSE and bTME have greater transmission efficiencies in bovinized mice. Previous work has demonstrated that L-BSE also is more virulent than C-BSE in mice expressing the human prion protein [46, 55]. Although the documented incidence of L-BSE is low, the propensity of L-BSE and the TME agent to cross species barriers support the continued monitoring for atypical BSE.
Unforeseen decrease of full-length prion protein in macaques exposed to prion contaminated blood products
Emmanuel COMOY, Nina JAFFRE, Jérôme DELMOTTE, Jacqueline MIKOL, and Jean Philippe DESLYS Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique, DRF/IBFJ/SEPIA, 18 Route du Panorama, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
Aims: The presence of prion infectivity in blood from patients affected by variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (v-CJD) questions the risk of its inter-human transmission through transfusion. We have previously described that several cynomolgus macaques experimentally exposed to prion-contaminated blood products developed c-BSE/v-CJD; however, after an exposure to low infectious doses, the vast majority of them developed an unexpected, fatal disease phenotype focused on spinal cord involvement which does not fulfill the classical diagnostic criteria of v-CJD, notably concerning the pathognomonic accumulation of abnormal prion protein. Here we aim to investigate the etiology and physiopathology of this original myelopathy.
Materials and Methods: CNS (brain and spinal cord) samples from myelopathic macaques were tested with different biochemical approaches in comparison to samples derived from either healthy animals or their counterparts exposed to different strains of prion diseases.
Results: Current conventional techniques failed to detect any accumulation of abnormal prion protein (PrPv-CJD) in the CNS of these myelopathic animals. Conversely, in their spinal cord we observed an alteration of their physiological cellular PrP pattern: PrP was not detectable under its full-length classical expression but mainly under its physiological terminal-truncated C1 fragment.
Conclusions: We here confirm the prion origin of this original syndrome, with a very specific biochemical signature linked to changes in PrP at the level of spinal cord lesions: contrary to what is classically described in prion diseases, host PrP is here altered in a form that is abnormally sensitive to degradation by cellular catabolism. This could provide the first experimental evidence of a link between loss of function of the cellular prion protein and the onset of disease. These observations open up new horizons in the field of prion diseases, which has hitherto been limited to pathologies associated with abnormal changes in cellular PrP towards highly structured conformations, with the possibility of unsuspected prion mechanisms/origins in certain neurodegenerative disorders.
Funded by: Financial support for the study was provided by the French National Research Agency (ANR).
Grant number: ANR-10-BLAN-133001 and BIOTECS2010-BloodSecur
Acknowledgement: We specially thank N. Lescoutra, A. Culeux, V. Durand, E. Correia, C. Durand and S. Jacquin for precious technical assistance
Saturday, February 2, 2019
CWD GSS TSE PRION SPINAL CORD, Confucius Ponders, What if?
REVIEW
***> In conclusion, sensory symptoms and loss of reflexes in Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome can be explained by neuropathological changes in the spinal cord. We conclude that the sensory symptoms and loss of lower limb reflexes in Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome is due to pathology in the caudal spinal cord. <***
***> The clinical and pathological presentation in macaques was mostly atypical, with a strong emphasis on spinal cord pathology.<***
***> The notion that CWD can be transmitted orally into both new-world and old-world non-human primates asks for a careful reevaluation of the zoonotic risk of CWD. <***
***> All animals have variable signs of prion neuropathology in spinal cords and brains and by supersensitive IHC, reaction was detected in spinal cord segments of all animals.<***
***> In particular the US data do not clearly exclude the possibility of human (sporadic or familial) TSE development due to consumption of venison. The Working Group thus recognizes a potential risk to consumers if a TSE would be present in European cervids.'' Scientific opinion on chronic wasting disease (II) <***
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 08, 2023
Ireland Atypical BSE confirmed November 3 2023
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
WAHIS, WOAH, OIE, United States of America Bovine spongiform encephalopathy Immediate notification
FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2023
USDA Announces Atypical L-Type Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy BSE Detection
SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2023
Tennessee State Veterinarian Alerts Cattle Owners to Disease Detection Mad Cow atypical L-Type BSE
ABOUT 2+ WEEKS BEFORE THE DETECTION OF BSE IN THE USA IN 2023, I WROTE THIS;
May 2, 2023, i submitted this to the USDA et al;
Docket No. APHIS–2023–0027 Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; National Veterinary Services Laboratories; Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Surveillance Program Singeltary Submission
ONLY by the Grace of God, have we not had a documented BSE outbreak, that and the fact the USDA et al are only testing 25K cattle for BSE, a number too low to find mad cow disease from some 28.9 million beef cows in the United States as of Jan. 1, 2023, down 4% from last year. The number of milk cows in the United States increased to 9.40 million. U.S. calf crop was estimated at 34.5 million head, down 2% from 2021. Jan 31, 2023.
ALL it would take is one BSE positive, yet alone a handful of BSE cases, this is why the Enhanced BSE was shut down, and the BSE testing shut down to 25k, and the BSE GBRs were replaced with BSE MRRs, after the 2003 Christmas Mad cow, the cow that stole Christmas, making it legal to trade BSE, imo.
Document APHIS-2023-0027-0001 BSE Singeltary Comment Submission
see full submission;
RECENT MAD COW CASES 2023
Monday, March 20, 2023
WAHIS, WOAH, OIE, REPORT United Kingdom Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Atypical H-Type
SUNDAY, JULY 16, 2023
Switzerland Atypical BSE detected in a cow in the canton of St. Gallen
WAHIS, WOAH, OIE, REPORT Switzerland Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Atypical L-Type
Switzerland Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Atypical L-Type
Switzerland - Bovine spongiform encephalopathy - Immediate notification
BRAZIL BSE START DATE 2023/01/18
BRAZIL BSE CONFIRMATION DATE 2023/02/22
BRAZIL BSE END DATE 2023/03/03
SPAIN BSE START DATE 2023/01/21
SPAIN BSE CONFIRMATION DATE 2023/02/03
SPAIN BSE END DATE 2023/02/06
NETHERLANDS BSE START DATE 2023/02/01
NETHERLANDS BSE CONFIRMATION DATE 2023/02/01
NETHERLANDS BSE END DATE 2023/03/13
Professor John Collinge on tackling prion diseases, sCJD accounts for around 1 in 5000 deaths worldwide
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2023
Professor John Collinge on tackling prion diseases “The best-known human prion disease is sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD), a rapidly progressive dementia which accounts for around 1 in 5000 deaths worldwide.” There is accumulating evidence also for iatrogenic AD. Understanding prion biology, and in particular how propagation of prions leads to neurodegeneration, is therefore of central research importance in medicine.
Terry S. Singeltary Sr., Bacliff, Texas USA 77518 flounder9@verizon.net
