What practitioners should know about bovine spongiform encephalopathy to serve clients and the cattle industry

摘要

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has been one of the most widely discussed animal diseases of the past 20 years. Its prominence in the US dialogue increased greatly following diagnosis of the first case in the United States in December 2003Yet,knowledge of the disease and its many impacts on agriculture and society is limited. Many excellent review sources are available that detail the disease and its theorized agent, pathogenesis, and epidemiologic characteristics. The information provided here focuses on the responsibilities of veterinarians regarding the disease and their role as disease experts, agriculture advocates, and public health defenders.