BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY: A NOVEL DISEASE

摘要

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was first identified and reported by Wells et al., (1987) in Great Britain. This is a sporadic, slowly progressive, neurological disorder of adult cattle, which has close similarities to natural scrapie affectingsheep and also goats and related transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (Wilesmith et al, 1988). The disease has assumed considerable importance, both because of its primary effect on cattle industry and transmissibility to human beings, who directlycome into contact of BSE cases in cattle farms (Davis et al., 1993). According to Winter et al., (1989) dietary feeding of animal protein in large quantity might be the cause of disease in cattle. The disease has great similarity not only with scrapie but also with Kuru, Gerstmann Straussle Scheinkere Syndrome and Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease of humans, Chronic Wasting Disease in mule deer and elk and Transmissible Mink Encephalopathy in mink (Kadostits et al., 1994).