EU-Approved Rapid Tests for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Detect
Atypical Forms: A Study for Their Sensitivities
Daniela Meloni1, Aart Davidse2, Jan P. M. Langeveld2, Katia Varello1,
Cristina Casalone1, Cristiano Corona1, Anne Balkema-Buschmann3, Martin H.
Groschup3, Francesco Ingravalle1, Elena Bozzetta1*
1 Centro di Referenza Nazionale per le Encefalopatie Animali, Istituto
Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Turin,
Italy, 2 Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The
Netherlands, 3 Friedrich-Loeffler Institut, Federal Research Institute for
Animal Health, Insel Riems, Germany
Abstract Top Since 2004 it become clear that atypical bovine spongiform
encephalopthies (BSEs) exist in cattle. Whenever their detection has relied on
active surveillance plans implemented in Europe since 2001 by rapid tests, the
overall and inter-laboratory performance of these diagnostic systems in the
detection of the atypical strains has not been studied thoroughly to date. To
fill this gap, the present study reports on the analytical sensitivity of the
EU-approved rapid tests for atypical L- and H-type and classical BSE in
parallel. Each test was challenged with two dilution series, one created from a
positive pool of the three BSE forms according to the EURL standard method of
homogenate preparation (50% w/v) and the other as per the test kit
manufacturer's instructions. Multilevel logistic models and simple logistic
models with the rapid test as the only covariate were fitted for each BSE form
analyzed as directed by the test manufacturer's dilution protocol. The same
schemes, but excluding the BSE type, were then applied to compare test
performance under the manufacturer's versus the water protocol. The IDEXX
HerdChek ® BSE-scrapie short protocol test showed the highest sensitivity for
all BSE forms. The IDEXX® HerdChek BSE-scrapie ultra short protocol, the
Prionics® - Check WESTERN and the AJ Roboscreen® BetaPrion tests showed similar
sensitivities, followed by the Roche® PrionScreen, the Bio-Rad® TeSeE™ SAP and
the Prionics® - Check PrioSTRIP in descending order of analytical sensitivity.
Despite these differences, the limit of detection of all seven rapid tests
against the different classes of material set within a 2 log10 range of the
best-performing test, thus meeting the European Food Safety Authority
requirement for BSE surveillance purposes. These findings indicate that not many
atypical cases would have been missed surveillance since 2001 which is important
for further epidemiological interpretations of the sporadic character of
atypical forms.
Citation: Meloni D, Davidse A, Langeveld JPM, Varello K, Casalone C, et al.
(2012) EU-Approved Rapid Tests for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Detect
Atypical Forms: A Study for Their Sensitivities. PLoS ONE 7(9): e43133.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0043133
Editor: Corinne Ida Lasmezas, The Scripps Research Institute Scripps
Florida, United States of America
Received: March 19, 2012; Accepted: July 16, 2012; Published: September 11,
2012
Copyright: © 2012 Meloni et al. This is an open-access article distributed
under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the
original author and source are credited.
Funding: The authors have no funding or support to report.
Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests
exist.
* E-mail: elena.bozzetta@izsto.it
snip...
Discussion
In this study we have evaluated the analytical sensitivity of approved
rapid tests for the current known atypical BSEs detection. It is to be noted
that Seuberlich et al. [38] raised the possibility that a new prion disease not
previously encountered and distinct from the known types of BSEs exists.
Nevertheless, the information is really limited and the puzzle of the different
observations has still to be assembled, considering that the results described
remind the features of poorly digested normal PrP (known as the physiologically
C2 fragment of PrP [39], [40]).
Referring to the tissues origin, is to be remarked that the investigated
H-BSE tissues originated from intracranially challenged cattle, whereas the
three other forms derived from field cases. Nevertheless, recent studies showed
that biochemical and histopathological features of experimental H-type BSE
animals were identical to that found with field H-type [12], [24], [41].
According to our results, all tests were able to detect both H- and L-BSE
types at a 1:16 dilution prepared as directed by the manufacturer's
instructions, with the same performance as for classical BSE.
The LOD varied across the tests. The IDEXX® HerdCheck BSE-scrapie short
protocol showed the highest analytical sensitivity, as previously reported in a
EURL study on classical BSE [21]. The performance of the AJ Roboscreen®
BetaPrion, IDEXX® HerdCheck BSE-scrapie ultra short protocol, and Prionics® -
Check WESTERN compared favourably with one another at our statistical analysis.
The Prionics® - Check PrioSTRIP, Bio-Rad® TeSeE™ SAP and Roche® PrionScreen
tests showed the lowest sensitivities for all the BSE types analyzed. These
results were confirmed also using other explorative statistical approaches
(e.g., Poisson models for number of positive replicates, receiver operating
characteristic [ROC] curves) which we had initially applied (results not
reported).
The analytical sensitivity of the tests was investigated in accordance with
the requirements set by the relevant evaluation protocols established by the
European Commission, the SSC and EFSA, using serial dilutions of sample
replicates.
Test differences between the last positive dilutions of weak and strong
C-BSE samples varies among the different systems from two to four factors (2
base logarithm) for buffer dilutions and from two to five factors for water
dilutions. In this context, the different tests showed parallel results between
the dilutions prepared following the two protocols. The dynamic range of each
rapid test or rather the concentration range of PrPres that results in a change
in response is a specific peculiarity of each diagnostic system.
The rate of conversion of substrate to coloured product should be
proportional to the amount of PrPres within the well, but there are many limits
to this depending on the analyte itself, that tends to aggregate rapidly in
solution, and on the combination of methods and materials used within the test
kits other than on the equipments.
A gradual stratification of the signal represents a surplus value for TSE
rapid assays.
In our study, the Bio-Rad® TeSeE™ SAP test could surprisingly detect only
the 1:2 dilution when challenged with positive C BSE weak samples. A loss of
analytical sensitivity for this test was observed also during the active
surveillance activity carried out from 2004 to 2008 by the Italian Reference
Center for TSEs applying Bio-Rad® TeSeE™ test. In that context, a National batch
testing was performed on every new batch prior to commercialization to provide
reassurance that BSE rapid test kits were fit for the survey purpose. As a
consequence, distribution of some kit batches was precluded because of the lack
of signal showed on positive reference samples. Further to the unexpected poor
performance of Bio-Rad® TeSeE™ within this study even after test repetition, the
same Bio-Rad® homogenate sample set, according to previous studies in which its
suitability for the IDEXX test was shown, was challenged with the last test
revealing signals miming the ones reported for IDEXX test (data not shown). The
question of whether the specific kit batch affected the test performance is of
concern, but it is noteworthy that all producers were asked to provide a kit for
this evaluation. Thereby, our results represent a picture of the kits available
on the market.
The seven simple logistic models showed a meaningful difference between the
dilution protocols only for the AJ Roboscreen® BetaPrion and Bio-Rad® TeSeE™
SAP. The lower bounds of the 95% confidence intervals for the Roche® PrionScreen
and Prionics® - Check WESTERN tests approached 1 (0.9528 and 0.9755,
respectively); for the remaining tests, there was no statistical evidence of a
higher test sensitivity between the manufacturer's dilution protocol and the 50%
w/v protocol (Figure 2).
Whenever in order to evaluate the field performances of BSE rapid post
mortem tests the manufacturers' protocol represents the term of reference, the
relevance of water dilution-based results relies on the specific Annex X of
Regulation (EC) 999/2001 requirements. NRLs for TSE periodically have to verify
national diagnostic standards and methods by means of comparative trials. The
objectives are to monitor national rapid test activity and to demonstrate to the
EC that the rapid surveillance system is effective. EURL itself annually
verifies the interlaboratory agreement of the rapid systems used by the
NRLs.
As previously reported in the EURL study [20], the analytical sensitivity
values obtained under the 50% w/v protocol were from one to three dilutions
inferior to those obtained under the specific homogenization protocol. For all
the tests except one, the discrepancies between the two modes of dilutions were
similar whatever the sample tested. Particularly with the Bio-Rad test the
strong positive C -BSE sample was four factors lower when the water protocol was
applied. Anyway, this is congruent with the EFSA 2009 results [21], where the
discrepancy set at three logarithms. This difference needs to be taken into
account when organizing ring trials, during which a less sensitive test could be
penalized.
To rule out a possible decrement of the signal related to the storage of
the water aliquots, and because of the scarcity of atypical BSE material, the
laboratory test exercise was completed within a 15-day period. This
precautionary approach was taken as no data exist on the stability of atypical
BSE homogenates, whereas differences in stability have been observed for
atypical versus classical scrapie [21], [42], [43], [44]. Further, as it is
indeed known that the results of some tests can lapse while approaching the
expiring date of kit batches, the kits provided for the evaluation were expected
to expire from three to six months after the date of testing. Table S1 lists the
kit batches used, the expiring dates and the days of testing.
With regard to the homogeneity of serial dilutions, as PrPres is
amyloidogenic, the fibrils tend to aggregate in solution [45], thus potentially
hindering a real homogeneity of dilution series. In our study, the ICC of the
replicates was higher than 0.99. This ensured that, whenever the amounts of BSE
tissues available were extremely limited, the material tested was
homogeneous.
When considering the working principle of rapid tests, summarized in the
Text S1, all approved tests include a PK digestion step to unmask cryptic
epitopes, except for the IDEXX HerdChek® BSE-scrapie EIA, which relies on
conformational detection technology using a specific aggregate specific capture
ligand on a dextran polymer (Seprion ligand technology, Microsens
Biotechnologies, London, UK) [46]. The severe effects of proteinase K (PK) in
digesting atypical PrPres are well known. Depending on the PK concentration,
signal loss after atypical BSE-related PrPres PK digestion varies from less than
20% for the C-type isolates to more than 50% for both L- and H-type BSE tissues
[4]. This could be the reason for the higher sensitivity of the IDEXX test in
detecting atypical BSEs compared to the others. However, the type of detergent
used in homogenates and the type of TSE strain used do affect the extent of
PrPres degradation, and this remains a matter of further study [47].
With regard to the interpretation of results, five of the rapid tests in
this study are based on semi-quantitative ELISA methods that produce a
qualitative result relative to a cut-off value. To minimize subjectivity, the
study's Prionics® - Check PrioSTRIP results were interpreted with the use of the
computerized PrioSCAN® software, although visual interpretation by two
independent readers was also validated. The Prionics® - Check Western is both a
qualitative and quantitative test, as it distinguishes PrPres in non-, mono-,
and diglycoforms while expressing their respective quantitative ratio and
migration positions. The diagnostic criteria for positive results are based on
the exhibition of a three-band signal, the top one corresponding to a protein
with an approximate molecular weight of 30 kD. Signal intensity decreases from
top to bottom, but the higher band should be clearly visible immediately under
the PK band. Significant blot images of atypical BSE dilution series obtained on
in the frame of this study are presented in the Figure S1. In addition,
extremely weak samples, notably for atypical BSE strains, can vary in their
conventional blot pattern that fit positive criteria. Glycoform separation on
the Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate PolyAcrylamide gel by electrophoresis causes the
PrPres signal to thin out along the migration line rather than concentrate in a
narrow area, as occurs with ELISA and immunochromatographic methods. This means
that if the relative non-, mono-, and diglycoform immunoreactivity ratios of
L-BSE are taken as corresponding roughly to 39%, 35%, and 26% [48], the blot
signal characterizing the last tissue ratio meeting the non-negative criteria
generates from only 39% of the total prion protein on the migration line.
Despite this, the Prionics® - Check Western was found to be among the more
sensitive systems, indicating that the interpretation of a specific PrPres
marker by an expert reader can increase the test's sensitivity.
In conclusion, despite the evidence of clear differences in relative
analytical sensitivity, the LOD of all seven rapid tests included in this study,
against all the classes of material used, was within a 2 log10 range of the
best-performing test, thus meeting EFSA criteria for rapid tests for BSE
monitoring.
No certain conclusions on the field of diagnostic performance of these
rapid-test kits can be drawn from our results on their analytical sensitivity,
as the two parameters are not directly linked, anyway samples from animals
exhibiting subclinical signs [24], could be expected to behave similarly to
extremely diluted CNS tissues used in analytical sensitivity studies.
The outcome of this study endorses the current epidemiological follow up
and interpretation of all three BSE forms prevalence [49], [50] and means that
for epidemiological studies the data obtained in the different countries and
regions of EU can be considered equally, as plausibly, most stronger atypical
cases have been detected by the different rapid tests.
see full text ;
Performance analysis of rapid diagnostic tests on atypical bovine
spongiform encephalopathy
John G. Gray Sandor Dudas Catherine Graham Stefanie Czub1 Canadian Food
Inspection Agency, Lethbridge Laboratory, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada ↵1
Stefanie Czub, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Lethbridge Laboratory. Box 640,
Township Road 9-1, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1J 3Z4. Stefanie.Czub@inspection.gc.ca
Abstract
The preferred method to determine the prevalence of bovine spongiform
encephalopathy (BSE) in a country is to use immunology-based rapid-tests. Though
these tests are validated to detect C-type BSE disease–associated prion (PrPsc),
test-specific properties may influence their ability to detect H- and/or L-type
BSE PrPsc, where both are atypical from C-type PrPsc. Molecular characterization
shows atypical BSE PrPsc to have a different sensitivity to proteinase activity
and different affinities for certain prion-specific antibodies. It is important
to understand how atypical BSE PrPsc may affect the performance of rapid-tests,
which are typically dependant on the use of specific proteases and antibodies.
The current study used experimentally generated C-, H-, and L-type BSE PrPsc to
evaluate 3 tests used in various national BSE surveillance programs: an
immunochromatographic assay, a standard sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay (stndELISA), and a PrPsc-conformation–specific ELISA (confELISA). Although
BSE PrPsc type had some effects on rapid-test performance, analytical
sensitivity for atypical BSE PrPsc on all 3 platforms was not significantly
compromised. When testing for atypical BSE PrPsc, the 3 tests were able to meet
the same requirements that the European Food Safety Authority set when
evaluating the tests for C-type BSE PrPsc.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Japan Moves Closer To Raising 20-Month Age Limit For Beef Imports, and
further risk consumer to CJD
Monday, September 3, 2012
2012 JAPAN BANS DEER AND ELK MEAT AND ALLOWS SOME BEEF PRODUCTS, what about
TSE prion concerns ?
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Detection of PrPSc in peripheral tissues of clinically affected cattle
after oral challenge with BSE
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Susceptibility of cattle to the agent of chronic wasting disease from elk
after intracranial inoculation 2012
Research Project: TRANSMISSION, DIFFERENTIATION, AND PATHOBIOLOGY OF
TRANSMISSIBLE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHIES Location: Virus and Prion Research
Unit
Friday, February 24, 2012
SAMPLE COLLECTION FROM CATTLE UNDER THE BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY
(BSE) ONGOING SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM 2/14/12
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE
WASHINGTON, DC FSIS NOTICE
U.S.A. 50 STATE BSE MAD COW CONFERENCE CALL Jan. 9, 2001
Subject: BSE--U.S. 50 STATE CONFERENCE CALL Jan. 9, 2001
Date: Tue, 9 Jan 2001 16:49:00 -0800
From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr."
Reply-To: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
To: BSE-L@uni-karlsruhe.de
######### Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy #########
Greetings List Members,
I was lucky enough to sit in on this BSE conference call today and even
managed to ask a question. that is when the trouble started.
I submitted a version of my notes to Sandra Blakeslee of the New York
Times, whom seemed very upset, and rightly so.
"They tell me it is a closed meeting and they will release whatever
information they deem fit. Rather infuriating."
and i would have been doing just fine, until i asked my question. i was
surprised my time to ask a question so quick.
(understand, these are taken from my notes for now. the spelling of names
and such could be off.)
[host Richard Barns] and now a question from Terry S. Singeltary of CJD
Watch.
[TSS] yes, thank you, U.S. cattle, what kind of guarantee can you give for
serum or tissue donor herds?
[no answer, you could hear in the back ground, mumbling and 'we can't. have
him ask the question again.]
[host Richard] could you repeat the question?
[TSS] U.S. cattle, what kind of guarantee can you give for serum or tissue
donor herds?
[not sure whom ask this] what group are you with?
[TSS] CJD Watch, my Mom died from hvCJD and we are tracking CJD world-wide.
[not sure who is speaking] could you please disconnect Mr. Singeltary
[TSS] you are not going to answer my question?
[not sure whom speaking] NO
from this point, i was still connected, got to listen and tape the whole
conference. at one point someone came on, a woman, and ask again;
[unknown woman] what group are you with?
[TSS] CJD Watch and my Mom died from hvCJD we are trying to tract down CJD
and other human TSE's world wide. i was invited to sit in on this from someone
inside the USDA/APHIS and that is why i am here. do you intend on banning me
from this conference now?
at this point the conference was turned back up, and i got to finish
listening. They never answered or even addressed my one question, or even
addressed the issue. BUT, i will try and give you a run-down for now, of the
conference.
IF i were another Country, I would take heed to my notes, BUT PLEASE do not
depend on them. ask for transcript from;
RBARNS@ORA.FDA.GOV 301-827-6906
he would be glad to give you one ;-)
Rockville Maryland, Richard Barns Host
BSE issues in the U.S., How they were labelling ruminant feed? Revising
issues.
The conference opened up with the explaining of the U.K. BSE epidemic
winding down with about 30 cases a week.
although new cases in other countries were now appearing.
Look at Germany whom said NO BSE and now have BSE.
BSE increasing across Europe.
Because of Temporary Ban on certain rendered product, heightened interest
in U.S.
A recent statement in Washington Post, said the New Administration (old GW)
has a list of issues. BSE is one of the issues.
BSE Risk is still low, minimal in U.S. with a greater interest in MBM not
to enter U.S.
HOWEVER, if BSE were to enter the U.S. it would be economically disastrous
to the render, feed, cattle, industries, and for human health.
(human health-they just threw that in cause i was listening. I will now jot
down some figures in which they told you, 'no need to write them down'. just
hope i have them correct. hmmm, maybe i hope i don't ???)
80% inspection of rendering
*Problem-Complete coverage of rendering HAS NOT occurred.
sizeable number of 1st time FAILED INITIAL INSPECTION, have not been
reinspected (70% to 80%).
Compliance critical, Compliance poor in U.K. and other European Firms.
Gloria Dunason Major Assignment 1998 goal TOTAL compliance. This _did not_
occur. Mixed level of compliance, depending on firm.
Rendering FDA license and NON FDA license
system in place for home rendering & feed 76% in compliance 79% cross
contamination 21% DID NOT have system 92% record keeping less than 60% total
compliance
279 inspectors 185 handling prohibited materials
Renderer at top of pyramid, significant part of compliance. 84% compliance
failed to have caution statement render 72% compliance & cross
contamination caution statement on feed, 'DO NOT FEED TO CATTLE'
56 FIRMS NEVER INSPECTED
1240 FDA license feed mills 846 inspected
"close to 400 feed mills have not been inspected"
80% compliance for feed.
10% don't have system.
NON-FDA licensed mills There is NO inventory on non licensed mills.
approximately 6000 to 8000 Firms ??? 4,344 ever inspected. "FDA does not have a
lot of experience with"
40% do NOT have caution statement 'DO NOT FEED'.
74% Commingling compliance
"This industry needs a lot of work and only half gotten to"
"700 Firms that were falitive, and need to be re-inspected, in addition to
the 8,000 Firms."
Quote to do BSE inspection in 19 states by end of January or 30 days, and
other states 60 days. to change feed status??? Contract check and ask questions
and pass info.
At this time, we will take questions.
[I was about the third or fourth to ask question. then all B.S.eee broke
loose, and i lost my train of thought for a few minutes. picked back up here]
someone asking about nutritional supplements and sourcing, did not get
name. something about inspectors not knowing of BSE risk??? the conference
person assuring that Steve Follum? and the TSE advisory Committee were handling
that.
Some other Dr. Vet, whom were asking questions that did not know what to
do???
[Dennis Wilson] California Food Agr. Imports, are they looking at imports?
[Conference person] they are looking at imports, FDA issued imports
Bulletin.
[Linda Singeltary ??? this was a another phone in question, not related i
don't think] Why do we have non-licensed facilities?
(conference person) other feed mills do not handle as potent drugs???
Dennis Blank, Ken Jackson licensed 400 non FDA 4400 inspected of a total of
6000 to 8000, (they really don't know how many non licensed Firms in U.S. they
guess 6000 to 8000??? TSS)
Linda Detwiler asking everyone (me) not to use emergency BSE number, unless
last resort. (i thought of calling them today, and reporting the whole damn U.S.
cattle herd ;-) 'not'
Warren-Maryland Dept. Agr. Prudent to re-inspect after 3 years. concerned
of Firms that have changed owners.
THE END
TSS
############ http://mailhost.rz.uni-karlsruhe.de/warc/bse-l.html
############
snip...see full text and more here on tissue donor herds and the TSE Prion
disease ;
U.S.A. 50 STATE BSE MAD COW CONFERENCE CALL Jan. 9, 2001
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
IN CONFIDENCE
The information contained herein should not be disseminated further except
on the basis of "NEED TO KNOW".
BSE - ATYPICAL LESION DISTRIBUTION (RBSE 92-21367) statutory (obex only)
diagnostic criteria CVL 1992
APHIS Factsheet
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service April 2012
BSE Confirmatory Tests
Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
• Primary confirmatory test for USDA’s BSE surveillance program.
• Recognized by the World Organization for Animal Health, or OIE.
• Allows scientists to determine if a sample is positive for BSE in two
distinct ways: visually (spongiform changes), and through a staining technique
(presence of abnormal prion protein).
• Involves looking at an intact portion of the brain, the obex, to see if
there are lesions (holes or a “spongy” appearance) present that are
characteristic for BSE, and using a staining process using antibodies that
detect the abnormal protein prion.
• Takes four to seven days to run.
• Freezing samples does not interfere with performing the IHC test as long
as the sample is confirmed as obex. Western Blot
• Several types, with the SAF Immunoblot and commercially available Western
blot kits recognized by OIE.
• Used under USDA protocol when a sample is “not suitable for IHC”, i.e.,
if it is autolyzed (or degraded) or brain stem architecture is not evident
microscopically.
• Uses a large portion of obex brain tissue; the abnormal prion protein in
brain material is enriched, and the sample is exposed to protease, an enzyme, to
destroy any normal prion proteins that may be present, leaving only abnormal
prion proteins. Remaining sample is then run through a gel to separate the
abnormal prion protein components by molecular weight. After the transfer of the
proteins to a membrane, proteins are stained using antibodies that can identify
a specific banding pattern associated with prion diseases including BSE. A
diagnosis is made by recognizing three distinctive bands that are identified as
a result of a reaction with the anti-prion protein antibody.
• Freezing samples does not interfere with the performance of western blot
tests.
Similarities/Differences
• Both IHC and the Immunblot (Western blot) are internationally recognized
as confirmatory tests for BSE.
• The tests use different methods to determine if the abnormal prion
protein is present in brain tissue of an animal.
• The IHC test additionally allows for the viewing of brain tissue to
determine if lesions characteristic to BSE are present.
• Both tests are equally effective at detecting the classical form of
BSE.
United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
2009 UPDATE ON ALABAMA AND TEXAS MAD COWS 2005 and 2006
in the url that follows, I have posted
SRM breaches first, as late as 2011.
then
MAD COW FEED BAN BREACHES AND TONNAGES OF MAD COW FEED IN COMMERCE up until
2007, when they ceased posting them.
then,
MAD COW SURVEILLANCE BREACHES.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Update from APHIS Regarding a Detection of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
(BSE) in the United States Friday May 18, 2012
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Are USDA assurances on mad cow case 'gross oversimplification'?
SNIP...
What irks many scientists is the USDA’s April 25 statement that the rare
disease is “not generally associated with an animal consuming infected
feed.”
The USDA’s conclusion is a “gross oversimplification,” said Dr. Paul Brown,
one of the world’s experts on this type of disease who retired recently from the
National Institutes of Health.
"(The agency) has no foundation on which to base that statement.”
“We can’t say it’s not feed related,” agreed Dr. Linda Detwiler, an
official with the USDA during the Clinton Administration now at Mississippi
State.
In the May 1 email to me, USDA’s Cole backed off a bit. “No one knows the
origins of atypical cases of BSE,” she said
The argument about feed is critical because if feed is the cause, not a
spontaneous mutation, the California cow could be part of a larger outbreak.
SNIP...
==============================================
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Final Feed Investigation Summary - California BSE Case - July 2012
=============================================
SUMMARY REPORT CALIFORNIA BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY CASE
INVESTIGATION JULY 2012
Summary Report BSE 2012
Executive Summary
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Update from APHIS Regarding Release of the Final Report on the BSE
Epidemiological Investigation
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Detection of PrPSc in peripheral tissues of clinically affected cattle
after oral challenge with BSE
2011 Monday, September 26, 2011
L-BSE BASE prion and atypical sporadic CJD
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease Human TSE report update North America, Canada,
Mexico, and USDA PRION UNIT as of May 18, 2012
type determination pending Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (tdpCJD), is on the
rise in Canada and the USA
Monday, July 23, 2012
The National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center July 2012
TSS
