1
|
Fast C, Graham C, Kaatz M, Santiago-Mateo K, Kaatz T, MacPherson K, Balkema-Buschmann A, Ziegler U, Groschup MH, Czub S. Discrimination of Classical and Atypical BSE by a Distinct Immunohistochemical PrP Sc Profile. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020353. [PMID: 36839625 PMCID: PMC9965285 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) belongs to the group of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies and is associated with the accumulation of a pathological isoform of the host-encoded glycoprotein, designated prion protein (PrPSc). Classical BSE (C-type) and two atypical BSE forms (L- and H-type) are known, and can be discriminated by biochemical characteristics. The goal of our study was to identify type-specific PrPSc profiles by using Immunohistochemistry. In our study, brain samples from 21 cattle, intracerebrally inoculated with C-, H-, and L-type BSE, were used. In addition, the corresponding samples from three orally C-type BSE infected animals were also included. From all animals, a lesion and PrPSc-profiles of six brain regions were determined. The lesion profile and the neuroanatomical distribution of PrPSc was highly consistent between the groups, but the immunohistochemical analysis revealed a distinct PrPSc profile for the different BSE-types, which included both the topographic and cellular pattern of PrPSc. This qualitative and quantitative analysis of PrPSc affected structures sheds new light into the pathogenesis of the different BSE types. Furthermore, immunohistochemical characterization is supported as an additional diagnostic tool in BSE surveillance programs, especially when only formalin-fixed tissue samples are available.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christine Fast
- Friedrich-Loeffler Institut/INEID, 17493 Insel Riems, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-38351-71274
| | | | - Martin Kaatz
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | | | - Tammy Kaatz
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Lethbridge, AB T1J 3Z4, Canada
| | - Kendra MacPherson
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | | | - Ute Ziegler
- Friedrich-Loeffler Institut/INEID, 17493 Insel Riems, Germany
| | | | - Stefanie Czub
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Lethbridge, AB T1J 3Z4, Canada
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ackermann I, Ulrich R, Tauscher K, Fatola OI, Keller M, Shawulu JC, Arnold M, Czub S, Groschup MH, Balkema-Buschmann A. Prion Infectivity and PrP BSE in the Peripheral and Central Nervous System of Cattle 8 Months Post Oral BSE Challenge. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111310. [PMID: 34768738 PMCID: PMC8583047 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
After oral exposure of cattle with classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (C-BSE), the infectious agent ascends from the gut to the central nervous system (CNS) primarily via the autonomic nervous system. However, the timeline of this progression has thus far remained widely undetermined. Previous studies were focused on later time points after oral exposure of animals that were already 4 to 6 months old when challenged. In contrast, in this present study, we have orally inoculated 4 to 6 weeks old unweaned calves with high doses of BSE to identify any possible BSE infectivity and/or PrPBSE in peripheral nervous tissues during the first eight months post-inoculation (mpi). For the detection of BSE infectivity, we used a bovine PrP transgenic mouse bioassay, while PrPBSE depositions were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and by protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA). We were able to show that as early as 8 mpi the thoracic spinal cord as well as the parasympathetic nodal ganglion of these animals contained PrPBSE and BSE infectivity. This shows that the centripetal prion spread starts early after challenge at least in this age group, which represents an essential piece of information for the risk assessments for food, feed, and pharmaceutical products produced from young calves.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ivett Ackermann
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (I.A.); (O.I.F.); (M.K.); (J.C.S.); (M.H.G.)
| | - Reiner Ulrich
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany;
| | - Kerstin Tauscher
- Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany;
| | - Olanrewaju I. Fatola
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (I.A.); (O.I.F.); (M.K.); (J.C.S.); (M.H.G.)
- Neuroscience Unit, Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200284, Nigeria
| | - Markus Keller
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (I.A.); (O.I.F.); (M.K.); (J.C.S.); (M.H.G.)
| | - James C. Shawulu
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (I.A.); (O.I.F.); (M.K.); (J.C.S.); (M.H.G.)
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja 900105, Nigeria
| | - Mark Arnold
- Animal and Plant Health Agency Sutton Bonington, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire LE12 5RB, UK;
| | - Stefanie Czub
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Lethbridge Laboratory, Lethbridge, AB T1J 3Z4, Canada;
| | - Martin H. Groschup
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (I.A.); (O.I.F.); (M.K.); (J.C.S.); (M.H.G.)
| | - Anne Balkema-Buschmann
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; (I.A.); (O.I.F.); (M.K.); (J.C.S.); (M.H.G.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Histotype-Dependent Oligodendroglial PrP Pathology in Sporadic CJD: A Frequent Feature of the M2C "Strain". Viruses 2021; 13:v13091796. [PMID: 34578377 PMCID: PMC8473396 DOI: 10.3390/v13091796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, molecular subtypes are neuropathologically well identified by the lesioning profile and the immunohistochemical PrPd deposition pattern in the grey matter (histotypes). While astrocytic PrP pathology has been reported in variant CJD and some less frequent histotypes (e.g., MV2K), oligodendroglial pathology has been rarely addressed. We assessed a series of sCJD cases with the aim to identify particular histotypes that could be more prone to harbor oligodendroglial PrPd. Particularly, the MM2C phenotype, in both its more “pure” and its mixed MM1+2C or MV2K+2C forms, showed more frequent oligodendroglial PrP pathology in the underlying white matter than the more common MM1/MV1 and VV2 histotypes, and was more abundant in patients with a longer disease duration. We concluded that the MM2C strain was particularly prone to accumulate PrPd in white matter oligodendrocytes.
Collapse
|
4
|
Koutsoumanis K, Allende A, Alvarez-Ordoňez A, Bolton D, Bover-Cid S, Chemaly M, Davies R, De Cesare A, Herman L, Hilbert F, Lindqvist R, Nauta M, Peixe L, Ru G, Skandamis P, Suffredini E, Andreoletti O, Benestad SL, Comoy E, Nonno R, da Silva Felicio T, Ortiz-Pelaez A, Simmons MM. Update on chronic wasting disease (CWD) III. EFSA J 2019; 17:e05863. [PMID: 32626163 PMCID: PMC7008890 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2019.5863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The European Commission asked EFSA for a Scientific Opinion: to revise the state of knowledge about the differences between the chronic wasting disease (CWD) strains found in North America (NA) and Europe and within Europe; to review new scientific evidence on the zoonotic potential of CWD and to provide recommendations to address the potential risks and to identify risk factors for the spread of CWD in the European Union. Full characterisation of European isolates is being pursued, whereas most NA CWD isolates have not been characterised in this way. The differing surveillance programmes in these continents result in biases in the types of cases that can be detected. Preliminary data support the contention that the CWD strains identified in Europe and NA are different and suggest the presence of strain diversity in European cervids. Current data do not allow any conclusion on the implications of strain diversity on transmissibility, pathogenesis or prevalence. Available data do not allow any conclusion on the zoonotic potential of NA or European CWD isolates. The risk of CWD to humans through consumption of meat cannot be directly assessed. At individual level, consumers of meat, meat products and offal derived from CWD-infected cervids will be exposed to the CWD agent(s). Measures to reduce human dietary exposure could be applied, but exclusion from the food chain of whole carcasses of infected animals would be required to eliminate exposure. Based on NA experiences, all the risk factors identified for the spread of CWD may be associated with animals accumulating infectivity in both the peripheral tissues and the central nervous system. A subset of risk factors is relevant for infected animals without involvement of peripheral tissues. All the risk factors should be taken into account due to the potential co-localisation of animals presenting with different disease phenotypes.
Collapse
|
5
|
Kumagai S, Daikai T, Onodera T. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
- A Review from the Perspective of Food Safety. Food Saf (Tokyo) 2019; 7:21-47. [PMID: 31998585 PMCID: PMC6978881 DOI: 10.14252/foodsafetyfscj.2018009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that belongs to transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). Since the first case was identified in the UK in 1986, BSE spread to other countries including Japan. Its incidence peaked in 1992 in the UK and from 2001 to 2006 in many other countries, but a feed ban aimed at eliminating the recycling of the BSE agent and other control measures aimed at preventing food and feed contamination with the agent were highly effective at reducing the spread of BSE. In 2004, two types of atypical BSE, H-type BSE (H-BSE) and L-type BSE (L-BSE), which differ from classical BSE (C-BSE), were found in France and Italy. Atypical BSE, which is assumed to occur spontaneously, has also been detected among cattle in other countries including Japan. The BSE agent including atypical BSE agent is a unique food-safety hazard with different chemical and biological properties from the microbial pathogens and toxic chemicals that contaminate food. In this review, we summarize the reported findings on the tissue distribution of BSE prions in infected cattle and other aspects of BSE, as well as the control measures against the disease employed in Japan. Topics that require further studies are discussed based on the summarized findings from the perspective of food safety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susumu Kumagai
- Research Center for Food Safety, The University of
Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657,
Japan
| | - Takateru Daikai
- Food Safety Commission of Japan Secretariat, Akasaka
Park Bld. 22F, Akasaka 5-2-20, Minato-ku,
Tokyo 107-6122, Japan
- Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine,
Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Iwate University, Morioka-shi,
Iwate 020-8550, Japan
| | - Takashi Onodera
- Research Center for Food Safety, The University of
Tokyo, Yayoi 1-1-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657,
Japan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Xerxa E, Barbisin M, Chieppa MN, Krmac H, Vallino Costassa E, Vatta P, Simmons M, Caramelli M, Casalone C, Corona C, Legname G. Whole Blood Gene Expression Profiling in Preclinical and Clinical Cattle Infected with Atypical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0153425. [PMID: 27073865 PMCID: PMC4830546 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathies (BSE), are transmissible neurodegenerative disorders affecting humans and a wide variety of mammals. Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), a prion disease in humans, has been linked to exposure to BSE prions. This classical BSE (cBSE) is now rapidly disappearing as a result of appropriate measures to control animal feeding. Besides cBSE, two atypical forms (named H- and L-type BSE) have recently been described in Europe, Japan, and North America. Here we describe the first wide-spectrum microarray analysis in whole blood of atypical BSE-infected cattle. Transcriptome changes in infected animals were analyzed prior to and after the onset of clinical signs. The microarray analysis revealed gene expression changes in blood prior to the appearance of the clinical signs and during the progression of the disease. A set of 32 differentially expressed genes was found to be in common between clinical and preclinical stages and showed a very similar expression pattern in the two phases. A 22-gene signature showed an oscillating pattern of expression, being differentially expressed in the preclinical stage and then going back to control levels in the symptomatic phase. One gene, SEL1L3, was downregulated during the progression of the disease. Most of the studies performed up to date utilized various tissues, which are not suitable for a rapid analysis of infected animals and patients. Our findings suggest the intriguing possibility to take advantage of whole blood RNA transcriptional profiling for the preclinical identification of prion infection. Further, this study highlighted several pathways, such as immune response and metabolism that may play an important role in peripheral prion pathogenesis. Finally, the gene expression changes identified in the present study may be further investigated as a fingerprint for monitoring the progression of disease and for developing targeted therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Xerxa
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Functional and Structural Genomics sector, Trieste, Italy
| | - Maura Barbisin
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Functional and Structural Genomics sector, Trieste, Italy
| | - Maria Novella Chieppa
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Helena Krmac
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Functional and Structural Genomics sector, Trieste, Italy
| | - Elena Vallino Costassa
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Paolo Vatta
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Functional and Structural Genomics sector, Trieste, Italy
| | - Marion Simmons
- Pathology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency (Weybridge), New Haw, Addlestone, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Caramelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Cristina Casalone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Cristiano Corona
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Torino, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Functional and Structural Genomics sector, Trieste, Italy
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Konold T, Phelan LJ, Clifford D, Chaplin MJ, Cawthraw S, Stack MJ, Simmons MM. The pathological and molecular but not clinical phenotypes are maintained after second passage of experimental atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle. BMC Vet Res 2014; 10:243. [PMID: 25274502 PMCID: PMC4190426 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-014-0243-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2014] [Accepted: 09/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathies (BSEs), classified as H-type and L-type BSE based on the Western immunoblot profiles, are naturally occurring diseases in cattle, which are phenotypically different to classical BSE. Transmission studies in cattle using the intracerebral route resulted in disease where the phenotypes were maintained irrespective of BSE type but clinically affected cattle with a shorter survival time displayed a nervous form whereas cattle with a longer survival time displayed a dull form. A second transmission study is reported here where four cattle were intracerebrally inoculated with brain tissue from experimentally infected cattle presenting with either the nervous or dull form of H- or L-type BSE to determine whether the phenotype is maintained. Results The four inoculated cattle were culled at 16.5-19.5 months post inoculation after presenting with difficulty getting up, a positive scratch response (all) and dullness (three cattle), which was not observed in two non-inoculated control cattle, each housed with either group of inoculated cattle. Only the inoculated cattle had detectable prion protein in the brain based on immunohistochemical examination, and the Western immunoblot profile was consistent with the H-type or L-type BSE of the respective donor cattle. Conclusions Second passage of H-type and L-type BSE in cattle produced a TSE where the majority of cattle displayed the dull form regardless of clinical disease form of the donor cattle. The pathological and molecular phenotypes of H- and L-type BSE were maintained. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-014-0243-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timm Konold
- Animal Sciences Unit, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, UK.
| | - Laura J Phelan
- Pathology Department, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, UK.
| | - Derek Clifford
- Animal Sciences Unit, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, UK.
| | - Melanie J Chaplin
- Prion Unit, Virology Department, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, UK.
| | - Saira Cawthraw
- Central Sequencing Unit, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, UK.
| | - Michael J Stack
- Prion Unit, Virology Department, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, UK.
| | - Marion M Simmons
- Pathology Department, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Protocol for further laboratory investigations into the distribution of infectivity of Atypical BSE. EFSA J 2014. [DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2014.3798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
|
9
|
Consideration of Risk Variations in Japan Derived from the Proposed Revisions of the Current Countermeasures against BSE. Food Saf (Tokyo) 2014. [DOI: 10.14252/foodsafetyfscj.2014019f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
|
10
|
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy: the effect of oral exposure dose on attack rate and incubation period in cattle - an update. BMC Res Notes 2012; 5:674. [PMID: 23217206 PMCID: PMC3543162 DOI: 10.1186/1756-0500-5-674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2012] [Accepted: 11/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To provide information on dose-response and aid in modelling the exposure dynamics of the BSE epidemic in the United Kingdom groups of cattle were exposed orally to a range of different doses of brainstem homogenate of known infectious titre from clinical cases of classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Interim data from this study was published in 2007. This communication documents additional BSE cases, which occurred subsequently, examines possible influence of the bovine prion protein gene on disease incidence and revises estimates of effective oral exposure. FINDINGS Following interim published results, two further cattle, one dosed with 100 mg and culled at 127 months post exposure and the other dosed with 10 mg and culled at 110 months post exposure, developed BSE. Both had a similar pathological phenotype to previous cases. Based on attack rate and incubation period distribution according to dose, the dose estimate at which 50% of confirmed cases would be clinically affected was revised to 0.15 g of the brain homogenate used in the experiment, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.03-0.79 g. Neither the full open reading frame nor the promoter region of the prion protein gene of dosed cattle appeared to influence susceptibility to BSE, but this may be due to the sample size. CONCLUSIONS Oral exposure of cattle to a large range of doses of a BSE brainstem homogenate produced disease in all dose groups. The pathological presentation resembled natural disease. The attack rate and incubation period were dependent on the dose.
Collapse
|
11
|
Scientific and technical assistance on the minimum sample size to test should an annual BSE statistical testing regime be authorised in healthy slaughtered cattle. EFSA J 2012. [DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
|
12
|
Minimal Involvement of the Circumventricular Organs in the Pathogenesis of Spontaneously Arising and Experimentally Induced Classical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy. J Comp Pathol 2012; 147:305-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2012.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2011] [Revised: 11/18/2011] [Accepted: 01/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
13
|
Konold T, Bone GE, Clifford D, Chaplin MJ, Cawthraw S, Stack MJ, Simmons MM. Experimental H-type and L-type bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle: observation of two clinical syndromes and diagnostic challenges. BMC Vet Res 2012; 8:22. [PMID: 22401036 PMCID: PMC3378435 DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-8-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2011] [Accepted: 03/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The majority of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) cases so far identified worldwide have been detected by active surveillance. Consequently the volume and quality of material available for detailed characterisation is very limiting. Here we report on a small transmission study of both atypical forms, H- and L-type BSE, in cattle to provide tissue for test evaluation and research, and to generate clinical, molecular and pathological data in a standardised way to enable more robust comparison of the two variants with particular reference to those aspects most relevant to case ascertainment and confirmatory diagnosis within existing regulated surveillance programmes. RESULTS Two groups of four cattle, intracerebrally inoculated with L-type or H-type BSE, all presented with a nervous disease form with some similarities to classical BSE, which progressed to a more dull form in one animal from each group. Difficulty rising was a consistent feature of both disease forms and not seen in two BSE-free, non-inoculated cattle that served as controls. The pathology and molecular characteristics were distinct from classical BSE, and broadly consistent with published data, but with some variation in the pathological characteristics. Both atypical BSE types were readily detectable as BSE by current confirmatory methods using the medulla brain region at the obex, but making a clear diagnostic distinction between the forms was not consistently straightforward in this brain region. Cerebellum proved a more reliable sample for discrimination when using immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSIONS The prominent feature of difficulty rising in atypical BSE cases may explain the detection of naturally occurring cases in emergency slaughter cattle and fallen stock. Current confirmatory diagnostic methods are effective for the detection of such atypical cases, but consistently and correctly identifying the variant forms may require modifications to the sampling regimes and methods that are currently in use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timm Konold
- TSE Department, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency Weybridge, New Haw, Addlestone, UK.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Konold T, Sayers AR, Sach A, Bone GE, van Winden S, Wells GAH, Simmons MM, Stack MJ, Wear A, Hawkins SAC. Relationship between clinical signs and postmortem test status in cattle experimentally infected with the bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent. BMC Vet Res 2010; 6:53. [PMID: 21143919 PMCID: PMC3019182 DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-6-53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2010] [Accepted: 12/09/2010] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Various clinical protocols have been developed to aid in the clinical diagnosis of classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), which is confirmed by postmortem examinations based on vacuolation and accumulation of disease-associated prion protein (PrPd) in the brain. The present study investigated the occurrence and progression of sixty selected clinical signs and behaviour combinations in 513 experimentally exposed cattle subsequently categorised postmortem as confirmed or unconfirmed BSE cases. Appropriate undosed or saline inoculated controls were examined similarly and the data analysed to explore the possible occurrence of BSE-specific clinical expression in animals unconfirmed by postmortem examinations. Results Based on the display of selected behavioural, sensory and locomotor changes, 20 (67%) orally dosed and 17 (77%) intracerebrally inoculated pathologically confirmed BSE cases and 21 (13%) orally dosed and 18 (6%) intracerebrally inoculated but unconfirmed cases were considered clinical BSE suspects. None of 103 controls showed significant signs and were all negative on diagnostic postmortem examinations. Signs indicative of BSE suspects, particularly over-reactivity and ataxia, were more frequently displayed in confirmed cases with vacuolar changes in the brain. The display of several BSE-associated signs over time, including repeated startle responses and nervousness, was significantly more frequent in confirmed BSE cases compared to controls, but these two signs were also significantly more frequent in orally dosed cattle unconfirmed by postmortem examinations. Conclusions The findings confirm that in experimentally infected cattle clinical abnormalities indicative of BSE are accompanied by vacuolar changes and PrPd accumulation in the brainstem. The presence of more frequently expressed signs in cases with vacuolar changes is consistent with this pathology representing a more advanced stage of disease. That BSE-like signs or sign combinations occur in inoculated animals that were not confirmed as BSE cases by postmortem examinations requires further study to investigate the potential causal relationship with prion disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timm Konold
- Veterinary Laboratories Agency Weybridge, Host Pathology and Susceptibility Department, New Haw, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, UK.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Scientific Opinion on a second update on the risk for human and animal health related to the revision of the BSE monitoring regime in some Member States. EFSA J 2010. [DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
|