Open AccessDistribution of the prion protein in sheep terminally affected with BSE following experimental oral transmission
Author(s) -
Jim Foster,
David Parnham,
Nora Hunter,
Moira E. Bruce
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of general virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.55
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1465-2099
pISSN - 0022-1317
DOI - 10.1099/0022-1317-82-10-2319
Subject(s) - biology , prion protein , central nervous system , nervous system , incubation period , transmission (telecommunications) , virology , peripheral nervous system , distribution (mathematics) , immunocytochemistry , incubation , bovine spongiform encephalopathy , immunology , pathology , endocrinology , disease , medicine , biochemistry , engineering , neuroscience , electrical engineering , mathematical analysis , mathematics
This study has examined the distribution of PrP Sc in sheep by immunocytochemistry of tissues recovered from terminally affected animals following their experimental infection by the oral route with BSE. Despite a wide range of incubation period lengths, affected sheep showed a similar distribution of high levels of PrP Sc throughout the central nervous system. PrP Sc was also found in the lymphoid system, including parts of the digestive tract, and some components of the peripheral nervous system. These abundant PrP Sc deposits in sheep in regions outside the central nervous system are in direct contrast with cattle infected with BSE, which show barely detectable levels of PrP Sc in peripheral tissues. A number of genetically susceptible, challenged animals appear to have survived.