Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy :: BSE Prion Mad Cow Disease

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy(bovine spongiform encephalitis)BSE is a affection found in affrights that contaminates the brain. It kills many oxen each yearbecause there is no known retrieve. Humans can be infected by a complaint called Creutzfeldt - Jakob disease and sheep can be infected with a disease called scrapie. There is no known treatment for any of the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy, including CJD. In order to prevent this disease, the beef is inspected before coming into the United States. Without antibodies, a microscope is the only other way to confirm the cow as existence infected.Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, other wise known as mad cow disease is an infectious degenerative brain disease occurring in cattle (www.dictionary.com). Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy is one of many Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathys (TSE) in animals. Humans can not be infected with BSE but if they are exposed to contaminated meat, hence they are at risk of being i nfected with Creutzfeldt - Jakob disease (CJD). CJD is very rare and as well as BSE, cannot be treated because there has been no cure found. shape one shows the death rate of humans infected with CJD.(BSEInfo.org July 27, 2006)Figure oneBSE mainly occurs in the brain but experiments exhaust been conducted and found it to be in the spinal cord, and in the retina of the eye. The BSE cistron may also be present in the small intestine, tonsil, get up marrow, and dorsal root ganglia (lying along the vertebral column) (US Food and Drug Association, kinsfolk 24, 2004). Once the cow is infected, the brain tissue bewilders on a sponge-like display under a microscope. This is how the disease got the name Spongiform.(Mad Cow Disease, Andrew Simmons)BSE is outspread throughout the brain by important proteins called prions. The prion folds itself incorrectly which leads other prions that light upon the false protein to fold as well. Spreading in the brain then occurs. Figure two shows ho w the brain would look when mad cow disease is present. These infected prions are extremely difficult to destroy, resulting in no thinkable cure.Figure TwoThere are several ways to advertise of a cow is infected with BSE. An adult cow may take from two to eight years to first show signs of being infected but others can take a short time. The symptoms for infected kine are anxiety, nervousness, and initial hyperactivity followed by lethargy (Ratzan 10). Also cows experience disquiet in their horns, horn sockets and ears when they are infected.