BSE Cattle

Definition

BSE, or Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects cattle. It is an acellular disease of the nervous system, caused by abnormal prion proteins that lead to the development of sponge-like changes in the brain and spinal cord of infected animals.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. BSE, also known as 'mad cow disease,' was first identified in the United Kingdom in the 1980s and is believed to have been caused by feeding cattle with feed containing infected sheep remains.
2. The abnormal prion proteins that cause BSE can be transmitted to humans through the consumption of contaminated beef products, leading to a human form of the disease called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD).
3. BSE is classified as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), a group of rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorders that affect the brain and nervous system.
4. Symptoms of BSE in cattle include behavioral changes, loss of coordination, and progressive neurological deterioration, ultimately leading to the animal's death.
5. The incubation period for BSE can range from 2 to 8 years, making it difficult to detect the disease in its early stages.

Review Questions

• Explain the role of prions in the development of BSE in cattle.
  • Prions, which are infectious agents composed of misfolded proteins, are the causative agents of BSE in cattle. These abnormal prion proteins can convert normal cellular proteins into the same misfolded form, leading to the accumulation of prions in the brain and spinal cord of infected animals. This process results in the characteristic sponge-like changes in the nervous system, ultimately causing the neurological symptoms and progressive deterioration observed in BSE-affected cattle.
• Describe the potential transmission of BSE from cattle to humans and the resulting human form of the disease.
  • BSE is considered a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. The consumption of beef products contaminated with the BSE prion can lead to the development of a human form of the disease called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD). This rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder affects the human brain and nervous system, with symptoms similar to those observed in cattle with BSE. The transmission of BSE from cattle to humans highlights the importance of food safety measures and the need for ongoing surveillance and research to prevent the spread of this disease.
• Analyze the potential factors that contributed to the initial outbreak of BSE in the United Kingdom and the measures taken to control the disease.
  • The initial outbreak of BSE in the United Kingdom in the 1980s is believed to have been caused by the practice of feeding cattle with feed containing infected sheep remains. This practice allowed the transmission of the abnormal prion proteins from sheep to cattle, leading to the emergence of BSE. In response to the outbreak, the UK government implemented a series of measures, including banning the use of certain animal byproducts in cattle feed, enhanced surveillance and testing of cattle, and the culling of infected herds. These actions, along with increased public awareness and changes in farming practices, helped to control the spread of BSE and reduce the risk of transmission to humans. The BSE crisis in the UK serves as a cautionary tale and highlights the importance of stringent food safety regulations and disease monitoring to prevent the emergence and spread of such zoonotic diseases.

Related terms

Prion: An infectious agent composed of misfolded proteins, without any genetic material like DNA or RNA, that can propagate by converting normal proteins into the abnormal form.

Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE): A group of rare, fatal neurodegenerative disorders caused by prions that affect the brain and nervous system in various species, including humans, cattle, and other animals.

Zoonotic Disease: An infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, or vice versa, through direct contact, exposure to bodily fluids, or consumption of contaminated food or water.