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The Risk of Prion Infection through Bovine Grafting Materials
Author(s) -
Kim Yeoungsug,
Rodriguez Angel Emmanuel,
Nowzari Hessam
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
clinical implant dentistry and related research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.338
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1708-8208
pISSN - 1523-0899
DOI - 10.1111/cid.12391
Subject(s) - grafting , medicine , chemistry , dentistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , organic chemistry , polymer
Background Bovine‐derived grafting materials are frequently used in a variety of bone augmentation techniques. The aim of this paper is to assess the unique safety issue of bovine‐derived grafting materials that is rarely addressed in dental literature: risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Methods The validity of the current BSE diagnostic methods, surveillance and epidemiological trends in affected countries, and BSE infectivity in bovine bone before and after manufacturing processing were reviewed and analyzed. Results Prion screening has significant limits. Humans are not safe from the infection of prion disease of other species. Prions can and do break the species barrier. There is evidence there may be tens of thousands of infectious carriers in the western countries alone. This raises concern about the potential for perpetuation of infection via medical procedures. Conclusion The limited ability to screen prions within the animal genome, along with a long latency period to manifestation of the disease (1 to over 50 years) in infected patients, provides a framework for discussing posible long‐term risks of the xenografts that are used so extensively in dentistry. We suggest abolishing the use of bovine bone.