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Vet Pathol 45:443-454 (2008)
© 2008 American College of Veterinary Pathologists
INFECTIOUS DISEASE

A Histopathologic and Immunohistochemical Review of Archived UK Caprine Scrapie Cases

B. H. Dustan, Y. I. Spencer, C. Casalone, J. Brownlie and M. M. Simmons

Leahurst Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool Faculty of Veterinary Science, Old Chester Highroad, Neston, Wirral (BHD), Department of Pathology Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey (YIS, MMS), CEA—Istituto Zooprofililattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta—V. Bologna, Torino, Italy (CC), and Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, UK (JB)

Abstract

In 2005, a prion disease identified in a goat from France was reported to be consistent with disease from the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent. Subsequent retrospective examination of UK goat scrapie cases led to the identification of one potentially similar, but as yet unconfirmed, case from Scotland. These findings strengthened concerns that small ruminant populations exposed to the BSE agent have become infected. The lack of data relating specifically to scrapie in goats has been contributory to past assumptions that, in general, sheep and goats respond similarly to prion infections. In this study, brain material from 22 archived caprine scrapie cases from the UK was reviewed by histopathology and by immunohistochemical examination for accumulations of disease-specific prion protein (PrPSc) to provide additional data on the lesions of caprine scrapie and to identify any BSE-like features. The vacuolar change observed in the goats was characteristic of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in general. PrPSc immunohistochemical morphologic forms described in scrapie and experimental BSE infections of sheep were demonstrable in the goats, but these were generally more extensive and variable in PrPSc accumulation. None of the cases examined showed a PrPSc immunohistochemical pattern indicative of BSE.

Key words: Bovine spongiform encephalopathy; BSE; goats; prion protein; scrapie; sheep.

Request reprints from Dr M M SimmonsMRCVS, Department of Pathology, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weybridge), Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB (UK). E-mail: m.m.simmons{at}vla.defra.gsi.gov.uk






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