Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Virus and Prion Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #227181
Title: Experimental transmission of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (scrapie, chronic wasting disease, transmissible mink encephalopathy) to cattle and their differentiation from bovine spongiform encephalopathy

Author
item Hamir, Amirali
item Kunkle, Robert
item Richt, Juergen
item Greenlee, Justin
item Nicholson, Eric
item Kehrli Jr, Marcus

Submitted to: American College of Veterinary Pathologists Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/2008
Publication Date: 11/15/2008
Citation: Hamir, A.N., Cutlip, R.C., Miler, J.M., Kunkle, R.A., Richt, J.A., Greenlee, J.J., Nicholson, E.M., Kehrli, Jr., M.E. 2008. Experimental Transmission of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (Scrapie, Chronic Wasting Disease, Transmissible Mink Encephalopathy) to Cattle and Their Differentiation from Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy [abstract]. American College of Veterinary Pathologists. Paper No. 153. p. 770.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Experimental cross-species transmission of TSE agents provides valuable information for identification of potential host ranges of known TSEs. This report provides a synopsis of TSE (scrapie, CWD, TME) transmission studies that have been conducted in cattle and compares these findings to those seen in animals with BSE. The primary objectives of this study were to determine if the TSE agents (scrapie, CWD, TME) could be transmitted to cattle and to provide information about clinical course, lesions and suitability of currently used TSE diagnostic procedures for detection of these agents in cattle. Inoculated calves were housed in a Biosafety Level 2 isolation barn at the National Animal Disease Center (NADC), Ames, Iowa. Calves were inoculated intracerebrally with 1 ml of a 10% TSE brain inoculum. Results of various TSE cattle experiments with intracerebral inoculation of scrapie, CWD and TME will be documented. It was concluded that: 1. All three TSEs agents (scrapie, CWD and TME) are capable of propagating in cattle tissues when administered intracerebrally. 2. All three TSEs can be distinguished from each other and from BSE when inoculated intracerebrally by histopathology, immunohistochemistry and Western blot techniques.