Recent comments

##################### Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy ##################### CJD WATCH MESSAGE BOARD TSS EXPORT of potential USDA CERTIFIED ATYPICAL AND TYPICAL TSE Sat Jun 17, 2006 13:19 71.248.130.63 Greetings, Thought some of you might be interested in the USDA exports of potential USDA CERTIFIED ATYPICAL AND TYPICAL MAD COW BRAINS, SWEETBREADS, BOVINE FROZEN OFFAL, AND LIVE CATTLE. Interestingly, the USA may be the one to blame from there consistent lies and deceit and what they have exported globally for decades, to blame for spreading sporadic CJD around the globe. Looking from stats at ; http://www.fas.usda.gov/ustrade/ustlists/ExCmdty.asp?QI=370619655344&type=1&code=02 then searching here ; http://www.fas.usda.gov/ustrade/USTEXHS10.asp?QI=370619655344 SEEMS that Mexico received from the USA a boat load of potential mad cow brains 0206290030 between 2001 to 2005, Mexico received the most compared to COTE D'IVOIRE which was next in line, followed by ROMANIA, GREECE, SINGAPORE, GERMANY AND SWEDEN. ... NEXT, looking at SWEETBREADS 0206290040 the USA exported, and whatever phenotype of TSE that went along, we have as follows; MEXICO AGAIN receiving a boat load of sweetbreads, followed by ARGENTINA, JAPAN, URUGUAY, COLOMBIA, ISRAEL, BULGARIA, HONG KONG, VENEZUELA, United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, Singapore, Netherlands, The Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic. ... THE LIST for BOVINE OFFAL FROZEN 020629 EXPORTED FROM THE USA ACROSS THE GLOBE IS PHENOMENAL WITH JAPAN RECEIVING THE MOST FROM 1998 TO 2003, FOLLOWED BY MEXICO, and from here the list is staggering along with the amount of potential TSE tainted materials. ... FINALLY, LIVE CATTLE WITH CANADA RECEIVING THE MOST, FOLLOWED BY MEXICO, KOREA REPUBLIC OF, followed by many more countries with smaller amounts. ... WHEN the OIE did away with the BSE GBR risk assessments to ride saddle with GW and his legal tool to trade TSE globally i.e. the BSE MRR policy, 20 years of fighting this disease went down the drain, just so he could trade his precious commodities and futures. THIS BSe about how now the USA having an epidemic of a spontaneous TSE in cattle and humans, as sporadic CJD triples in 3 years in the USA, is simply absurd. nothing is spontaneous about it, there is absolutely no science to back these 'spontaneous' statements up. ... US "Atypical" Mad Cow Threat Was Predicted https://www.prwatch.org/node/4883 TSS #################### https://lists.aegee.org/bse-l.html #################### ##################### Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy ##################### Subject: DECLARATION OF EXTRAORDINARY EMERGENCY BECAUSE OF AN ATYPICAL T.S.E. (PRION DISEASE) OF FOREIGN ORIGIN IN THE UNITED STATES Date: June 17, 2006 at 6:56 pm PST Greetings list members, here i go again. i must bring those mad sheep of mad river valley up again. what about those mouse bio-assays? can one of the aphis/usda lurkers on this list, can one of them please comment please? a declaration of emergency was announced ; >> Imported >> Belgium/Netherlands >> Sheep Test Results >> Background >> Factsheet >> Veterinary Services April 2002 >> APHIS > > > > snip... > >> Additional tests will be conducted to determine >> exactly what TSE the animals haveBSE or scrapie. >> These tests involve the use of bioassays that consist >> of injecting mice with tissue from the infected animals >> and waiting for them to develop disease. This testing >> may take at least 2 to 3 years to complete. > > > > http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/fsheet_faq_notice/fs_ahvtsheeptr.pdf > > DECLARATION OF EXTRAORDINARY EMERGENCY BECAUSE OF AN ATYPICAL T.S.E. > (PRION DISEASE) OF FOREIGN ORIGIN IN THE UNITED STATES > > http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2000_register&docid=fr20jy00-31 > > > DECLARATION OF EXTRAORDINARY EMERGENCY BECAUSE OF AN ATYPICAL T.S.E > (PRION DISEASE) OF FOREIGN ORIGIN IN THE UNITED STATES [2] > > http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2000_register&docid=fr20jy00-32 > > > or if those old urls dont work, go here; > > DECLARATION OF EXTRAORDINARY EMERGENCY BECAUSE OF AN ATYPICAL T.S.E > (PRION DISEASE) OF FOREIGN ORIGIN IN THE UNITED STATES > - Terry S. > Singeltary Sr. 7/20/00 (0) > > [Federal Register: July 20, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 140)] [Notices] > [Page 45018] >From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access > [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr20jy00-32] > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE > > Office of the Secretary > > [Docket No. 00-072-1] > > Declaration of Extraordinary Emergency Because of an Atypical > Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (Prion Disease) of Foreign Origin > > A transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) (prion disease) of > foreign origin has been detected in the United States. It is different > from TSE's previously diagnosed in the United States. The TSE was > detected in the progeny of imported sheep. The imported sheep and > their progeny are under quarantine in Vermont. Transmissible > spongiform encephalopathies are degenerative fatal diseases that can > affect livestock. TSE's are caused by similar, as yet uncharacterized, > agents that usually produce spongiform changes in the brain. > Post-mortem analysis has indicated positive results for an atypical > TSE of foreign origin in four sheep in Vermont. Because of the > potentially serious consequences of allowing the disease to spread to > other livestock in the United States, it is necessary to seize and > dispose of those flocks of sheep in Vermont that are affected with or > exposed to the disease, and their germ plasm. The existence of the > atypical TSE of foreign origin represents a threat to U.S. livestock. > It constitutes a real danger to the national economy and a potential > serious burden on interstate and foreign commerce. The Department has > reviewed the measures being taken by Vermont to quarantine and > regulate the flocks in question and has consulted with appropriate > officials in the State of Vermont. Based on such review and > consultation, the Department has determined that Vermont does not have > the funds to compensate flock owners for the seizure and disposal of > flocks affected with or exposed to the disease, and their germ plasm. > Without such funds, it will be unlikely to achieve expeditious > disposal of the flocks and germ plasm. Therefore, the Department has > determined that an extraordinary emergency exists because of the > existence of the atypical TSE in Vermont. This declaration of > extraordinary emergency authorizes the Secretary to seize, quarantine, > and dispose of, in such manner as he deems necessary, any animals that > he finds are affected with or exposed to the disease in question, and > their germ plasm, and otherwise to carry out the provisions and > purposes of the Act of July 2, 1962 (21 U.S.C. 134-134h). The State of > Vermont has been informed of these facts. > > Dated: This declaration of extraordinary emergency shall become > effective July 14, 2000. Dan Glickman, Secretary of Agriculture. [FR > Doc. 00-18367 Filed 7-19-00; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-34-P > > http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2000_register&docid=fr20jy00-32 ================================ > [Federal Register: July 20, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 140)] [Notices] > [Page 45018] >From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access > [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr20jy00-31] > > ======================================================================== > Notices Federal Register > ________________________________________________________________________ > > This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than > rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of > hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and > rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and > applications and agency statements of organization and functions are > examples of documents appearing in this section. > > ======================================================================== > > [[Page 45018]] > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE > > Office of the Secretary > > [Docket No. 00-072-2] > > Declaration of Emergency Because of an Atypical Transmissible > Spongiform Encephalopathy (Prion Disease) of Foreign Origin > > A transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) (prion disease) of > foreign origin has been detected in the United States. It is different > from TSE's previously diagnosed in the United States. The TSE was > detected in the progeny of imported sheep. The imported sheep and > their progeny are under quarantine in Vermont. Transmissible > spongiform encephalopathies are degenerative fatal diseases that can > affect livestock. TSE's are caused by similar, as yet uncharacterized, > agents that usually produce spongiform changes in the brain. > Post-mortem analysis has indicated positive results for an atypical > TSE of foreign origin in four sheep in Vermont. Because of the > potentially serious consequences of allowing the disease to spread to > other livestock in the United States, it is necessary to seize and > dispose of those flocks of sheep in Vermont that are affected with or > exposed to the disease, and their germ plasm. The existence of the > atypical TSE of foreign origin represents a threat to U.S. livestock. > It constitutes a real danger to the national economy and a potential > serious burden on interstate and foreign commerce. APHIS has > insufficient funds to carry out the seizure and disposal of animals > and germ plasm necessary to eliminate this disease risk. These funds > would be used to compensate the owners of the animals and germ plasm > for their seizure and disposal in accordance with 21 U.S.C. 134a. > Therefore, in accordance with the provisions of the Act of September > 25, 1981, as amended (7 U.S.C. 147b), I declare that there is an > emergency that threatens the livestock industry of this country and > hereby authorize the transfer and use of such funds as may be > necessary from appropriations or other funds available to agencies or > corporations of the United States Department of Agriculture to seize > and dispose of animals that are affected with or exposed to this TSE, > and their germplasm, in accordance with 21 U.S.C. 134a. > > Dated: This declaration of emergency shall become effective July 14, > 2000. Dan Glickman, Secretary of Agriculture. [FR Doc. 00-18368 Filed > 7-19-00; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-34-P > > I was told that ; > > > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: Re: hello Dr. Sutton...question please...scrapie...TSS > Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 14:36:09 -0400 > From: Jim.D.Rogers@aphis.usda.gov > To: flounder@wt.net snip... FULL TEXT AND THREAD BETWEEN TSS, MAFF, USDA AND DR. DETWILER HERE ; https://web01.aphis.usda.gov/regpublic.nsf/168556f5aa7a82ba85256ed00044eb1f/eff9eff1f7c5cf2b87256ecf000df08d?OpenDocument Greetings again BSE-L members, NOW, i cannot for the life of me figure out why we have not heard anything about those mouse bio-assays of those mad sheep of mad river valley, and atypical TSE ? i mean hell, there was a DECLARATION OF EXTRAORDINARY EMERGENCY BECAUSE OF AN ATYPICAL T.S.E (PRION DISEASE) OF FOREIGN ORIGIN IN THE UNITED STATES and we never hear of final results, is this not another case of the TEXAS BSE PROTOCOLS of just never confirming anything unless the GAO gets involved? maybe USDA could comment on this now? or is this too like those WMD, just something that never existed? i know Dr. Detwiler is out of the loop on this now, but there are others here that could answer this question if they wanted too and or could??? QUOTE ; 1998 Dr. Detwiler replied. "There is new research which shows that sheep can contract BSE" ......"information I can't divulge".....end WHY, after some 7 years, do we still not have any answers ??? WHERE are those mouse bio-assays ??? PLEASE look on every shelf, maybe same one that those TEXAS MAD COW tissue samples were left on for 7+ months before finally confirming after a Congressional order and or end around, they could be there. ... still disgusted in sunny Bacliff, Texas Terry S. Singeltary Sr. FSA 06/06/03 AGENDA 3.1, 15 JUNE 2006 ATYPICAL SCRAPIE IN SMALL RUMINANTS: CONSIDERATION OF THE CURRENT PRECAUTIONARY RISK MANAGEMENT MEASURES Executive Summary 1. This paper provides information on atypical scrapie (a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE)) in sheep and goats and the precautionary measures currently in place to protect consumers from the possible risks from TSEs in these species. There are a great many unknowns about atypical scrapie, including the potential implications, if any, for human health. 2. It also reports on the views of stakeholders and consumer focus groups who were asked whether, in the light of this uncertainty, additional precautionary measures were needed and for their views on the Agency’s advice on this subject. 3. The Board is asked to: • note that the Agency’s advice has been reworded to take account of the views of stakeholders and the consumer focus groups and will be tested further • note that the background information on sheep TSEs on the Agency’s website will be reviewed • note that the agricultural departments are planning to review the Ram Genotyping Scheme • note that surveillance for atypical scrapie will be maintained in order to detect any changes in prevalence. • agree that the Agency’s advice and recommendations on precautionary measures should be kept under review and be brought back to the Board if there are significant changes in the understanding of the risk. • agree that developments on atypical scrapie be kept under review to enable contingency policy to be refined as new information emerges. • agree that the Agency should open discussions with the European Commission on the issue of the identification of meat from older sheep or goats and natural sausage casings made from sheep intestines to enable consumer choice. 2 TSE DIVISION Contacts: Alison Gleadle Tel: 020 7276 8303 Email: alison.gleadle@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk Irene Hill Tel: 020 7276 8324 Email: irene.hill@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk 3 FSA 06/06/03 AGENDA ITEM 3.1, 15 JUNE 2006 ATYPICAL SCRAPIE IN SHEEP AND GOATS: CONSIDERATION OF THE CURRENT PRECAUTIONARY RISK MANAGEMENT MEASURES Issue 1. To consider whether the Agency should recommend, on the basis of current evidence, that additional precautionary measures are needed to reduce the possible risk to consumers from atypical scrapie....... snip... Conclusions 27. Atypical scrapie is definitely present in the UK flock, and in the flocks of other Member States (MS), and animals with atypical scrapie have, and will be, entering the food supply. However it is not known if this constitutes any risk to human health. Unlike the situation when BSE was first discovered in cattle, precautionary measures are already in place. Based on the limited knowledge of the distribution of infectivity in atypical scrapie, the SEAC Subgroup concluded that the SRM requirements that were put in place on a precautionary basis for BSE in sheep may provide at least a similar level of protection against the possible risk from atypical scrapie. 28. The consideration of the proportionality of any additional precautionary measures is very difficult when the human health risk is unknown, and, as reported by SEAC, there is insufficient data to carry out a risk assessment. 29. Any additional precautionary measures that could be put in place have a high economic cost, are currently highly impractical (see Annex 1 for details) and would impose a cost on industry that would, according to industry stakeholders, be likely to bring into question the economic viability of sheep farming. ... snip... full text ; http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/fsa060603.pdf FSA 06/06/04 AGENDA ITEM 3.2, 15 JUNE 2006 BSE AND SHEEP CONTINGENCY POLICY Executive Summary 1. This paper asks the Board to agree, for purposes of contingency planning, a possible approach to a graduated strengthening of measures to protect consumers in response to one or more findings of BSE in the current UK sheep flock. 2. The paper also notes the high level of uncertainty around estimates of the possible risk from BSE in sheep and that, if BSE were ever found in a UK sheep, the estimate of the risk to consumers would depend on the accumulated results of surveillance for BSE in sheep up to that time. It therefore recommends that the policy be kept under review and that any policy agreed now on a contingency basis should urgently be reconfirmed taking into account the circumstances at the time of any finding of BSE in a UK sheep. 3. The Board is invited to: • note that, in the event of confirmation of BSE in a sheep, targeted testing of animals in the affected flock or flocks would be carried out to assist in determining the potential spread of the disease and whether it may have entered the food supply (paragraph 9). • agree that an expert group be set up to advise on what additional surveillance should be put in place, if BSE were to be found in a UK sheep, to improve estimates of prevalence of BSE in UK sheep (paragraph 13). • agree that, on current knowledge, it would advise the following graduated response to one or more findings of BSE in the current UK sheep flock: • one finding of BSE in sheep - remove additional SRM; • two findings of BSE in unrelated flocks - exclude sheep aged over 12 months from the food supply and remove the additional SRM from the remaining sheep; • three findings of BSE in unrelated flocks - allow into the food supply only sheep that were either genetically resistant to BSE or semi-resistant and aged under 12 months and remove the additional SRM from those sheep (paragraph 20). 2 • agree that its contingency policy for a finding of BSE in sheep should be kept under review and be urgently reconfirmed should BSE actually be found in a UK sheep (paragraph 22). • comment on the outline handling plan at Annex F and the strategy for the external communication that would be needed (paragraph 30). TSE Division Contacts: Alison Gleadle Tel: 020 7276 8303 (GTN 7276 8303) Email: alison.gleadle@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk David Carruthers Tel: 020 7276 8305 (GTN 7276 8305) Email: david.carruthers@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk snip... http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/fsa060604.pdf Subject: REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCRAPIE November 9, 2005 USAHA Date: February 12, 2006 at 1:03 pm PST REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCRAPIE Chair: Dr. Jim Logan, Cheyenne, WY Vice Chair: Dr. Joe D. Ross, Sonora, TX Dr. Deborah L. Brennan, MS; Dr. Beth Carlson, ND; Dr. John R. Clifford, DC; Dr. Thomas F. Conner, OH; Dr. Walter E. Cook, WY; Dr. Wayne E. Cunningham, CO; Dr. Jerry W. Diemer, TX; Dr. Anita J. Edmondson, CA; Dr. Dee Ellis, TX; Dr. Lisa A. Ferguson, MD; Dr. Keith R. Forbes, NY; Dr. R. David Glauer, OH; Dr. James R. Grady, CO; Dr. William L. Hartmann, MN; Dr. Carolyn Inch, CAN; Dr. Susan J. Keller, ND; Dr. Allen M. Knowles, TN; Dr. Thomas F. Linfield, MT; Dr. Michael R. Marshall, UT; Dr. Cheryl A. Miller, In; Dr. Brian V. Noland, CO; Dr. Charles Palmer, CA; Dr. Kristine R. Petrini, MN; Mr. Stan Potratz, IA; Mr. Paul E. Rodgers, CO; Dr. Joan D. Rowe, CA; Dr. Pamela L. Smith, IA; Dr. Diane L. Sutton, MD; Dr. Lynn Anne Tesar, SD; Dr. Delwin D. Wilmot, NE; Dr. Nora E. Wineland, CO; Dr. Cindy B. Wolf, MN. The Committee met on November 9, 2005, from 8:00am until 11:55am, Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania. The meeting was called to order by Dr. Jim Logan, chair, with vice chairman Dr. Joe D. Ross attending. There were 74 people in attendance. The Scrapie Program Update was provided by Dr. Diane Sutton, National Scrapie Program Coordinator, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS). The complete text of the Status Report is included in these Proceedings. Dr. Patricia Meinhardt, USDA-APHIS-VS-National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) gave the Update on Genotyping Labs and Discrepancies in Results. NVSL conducts investigations into discrepancies on genotype testing results associated with the Scrapie Eradication Program. It is the policy of the Program to conduct a second genotype test at a second laboratory on certain individual animals. Occasionally, there are discrepancies in those results. The NVSL conducts follow-up on these situations through additional testing on additional samples from the field and archive samples from the testing laboratories. For the period of time from January 1, 2005, until October 15, 2005, there were 23 instances of discrepancies in results from 35 flocks. Of those 23 instances, 14 were caused by laboratory error (paperwork or sample mix-up), 3 results from field error, 5 were not completely resolved, and 1 originated from the use of a non-approved laboratory for the first test. As a result of inconsistencies, one laboratory’s certification was revoked by APHIS-VS. To reduce/eliminate these problems, the Program has placed additional quality requirements on the testing laboratories: additional review of final reports, additional coding systems for testing operations, strict follow-up and reports to NVSL on corrective actions, dual data entry systems, and more frequent inspections. The Agricultural Research Services (ARS) Scrapie Research Update was given by Janet Alverson, USDA- ARS. Dr. Alverson reported on the effect of multiple births and fetal position within the uterus on PrP-Sc accumulation in fetal cotyledons. Fetal cotyledons of fetuses with resistant genotypes can accumulate PrP-Sc when positioned next to a fetus of susceptible genotype with cotyledons positive for PrP-Sc accumulation. Scrapie Surveillance Evaluation Working Group Update was presented by Tracey Lynn, Epidemiologist with the National Surveillance Unit, Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health (CEAH). The presentation provided a background on evaluation, a quick review of analyses completed to date by the scrapie surveillance evaluation working group, and some of the preliminary findings. The process of surveillance system evaluation is undertaken to assist a disease control program with identifying possible improvements to their surveillance system, and includes an assessment of the overall utility of the system, identification of potential gaps in coverage, and an evaluation of the overall performance of the system. The scrapie surveillance evaluation working group reviewed the structure and processes of the scrapie surveillance program, as well as various quality and effectiveness measures. Overall, 98-99% of surveillance samples come from the Regulatory Scrapie Surveillance System (RSSS), so the RSSS system has been the primary focus of the evaluation process. The working group developed a flow chart indicating the flow of sheep through RSSS, which identified potential gaps in surveillance coverage, including custom kill plants and sheep being exported to Mexico. Spatial analyses can assist in identifying areas with high density sheep populations with lower levels of RSSS sampling. Identification compliance is being evaluated by reviewing reports from slaughter plants on the proportion of animals with appropriate identification. Additional analyses remain, including defining the most appropriate economic analyses, and comparing the surveillance system with developing surveillance standards. The working group hopes to have a draft written report for review by the end of the year. Giving the Update on Scrapie Diagnostics and Susceptibility was Katherine O’Roarke, Research Microbiologist, USDA-ARS. "What’s New in Scrapie" -- Biopsy sampling of the third eyelid or tonsillar lymphoid tissue is a useful live animal test for scrapie. The biopsy sample is examined for accumulation of the abnormal prion protein using immunohistochemistry. A joint project conducted by the Veterinary Laboratory Agencies and the Moredun Institute in the United Kingdom has developed an alternative technique in which tissue is collected from the narrow band of lymphoid tissue near the rectal-anal junction. The morphology of the lymphoid follicles is similar in the tonsil, retropharyngeal lymph nodes, third eyelid, and rectal-anal mucosal tissue. A report on more than 300 sheep in the United Kingdom (UK), prepared by Drs. Lorenzo Gonzalez and Jeffrey Martin, will describe the sensitivity, specificity, and optimal collection interval for this technique in a variety of breeds of British sheep. ARS has done a preliminary evaluation of the technique in US sheep. Samples of third eyelid and rectal-mucosal tissue were collected from 56 sheep. Forty-two (42) sheep had negative biopsies at both sites; most of these sheep have been necropsied and no PrP-d was found in retropharyngeal lymph node or tonsil, showing good agreement with the antemortem biopsies. Fourteen (14) sheep had positive rectal biopsy samples; of those, only 12 had positive eyelid biopsies. These sheep will be monitored for disease development. However, the protocol is identical for all samples and it is probable that these sheep represent false negative third eyelid results. Abstracts of reports on the UK studies indicate that sensitivity of the test was 70% in the UK; similar large scale testing on US sheep is necessary. The biopsy tissue is somewhat difficult to handle in the tissue processing laboratory and adaptation to an ELISA format may improve test performance. Alexia McKnight, Assistant Professor of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, reviewed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnostics before the committee. A synopsis containing references is attached at the end of this report. Dr. McKnight asked the question, "could MRI be a cost-effective screening test, estimated at $25-30 each with results immediately available." The committee feels that it is not practical as compared to other alternatives currently available. However, the committee expressed interest in future reference to this technology. Dr. Diane Sutton lead the Uniform Methods and Rules (UM&R) and Regulatory Issues Discussion. Several modifications to the UM&R were discussed. Eight issues were identified and communicated to the APHIS scrapie program coordinator. The committee acknowledged that APHIS and the industry is adequately addressing the year-to-year industry concerns. Dr. Kris Petrini representing the North Central United States Animal Health Association District presented five recommendations to the Committee. During the discussions regarding these recommendations it was evident that all five issues had been addressed during the year at this Committee meeting. The Committee approved a recommendation that USDA-APHIS-VS continue to provide indemnity funds for animals that have been designated for testing in Flocks Under Investigation as an alternative to third eyelid testing after consultation with the designated Scrapie Epidemiologist (DSE) and the Regional Area Epidemiologist (RAE). The 2004 Resolutions along with their responses were reviewed by the Committee. A Resolution concerning premises registration and identification was approved by the Committee and forwarded to the Committee on Nominations and Resolutions. Committee on Scrapie Status Report-Fiscal Year 2005: Cooperative State-Federal Scrapie Eradication Program Submitted by Diane Sutton, DVM and Gary Ross, DVM National Center for Animal Health Programs, APHIS, USDA In Fiscal Year 2005 the Scrapie Eradication Program focused on: (1) utilization of a genetic based approach to flock clean-up plans; (2) cleaning up infected and source flocks; (3) tracing and testing exposed animals and flocks; (4) expansion of regulatory slaughter surveillance (RSSS); (5) conducting considtent state reviews, (6) producer education; (7) upgrading of the Scrapie National Generic Database and (8) publishing the updated Scrapie Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules (UM&R). The current Scrapie Eradication UM&R is posted at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahps/scrapie/umr-scrapie-erad.pdf. Consistent State Reviews States must meet the requirements in 9 CFR 79.6 in order to move sheep and goats in interstate commerce with minimal restrictions. Twenty seven states have enacted the required identification rules, the remaining states have submitted a work plan that describes the steps that will be taken to comply and provided a timeline for completing significant milestones. USDA is conducting onsite scrapie program consistent state reviews and has completed reviews in 12 states. States must be in full compliance by the end of their current rule making cycle. States not in full compliance at that time will be removed from the consistent state list. Removal from the list would create a significant impact on the interstate movement of sheep and goats from those States. Scrapie Flock Certification Program As of September 30, 2005, there were 1,961 flocks participating in the Scrapie Flock Certification Program (SFCP). Of these flocks 188 were certified flocks, 1,770 were complete monitored flocks, and 3 were selective monitored flocks (figure 2). There were 209 flocks newly enrolled and 53 newly certified (13 with status dates in FY 2005 and 40 with status dates in previous years) in FY 2005 (figure 3). Infected and Source Flocks As of September 30, 2005, there were 105 scrapie infected and source flocks. There were a total of 165** new infected and source flocks reported for FY 2005. The total infected and source flocks that have been released in FY 2005 was 128. The ratio of infected and source flocks cleaned up or placed on clean up plans vs. new infected and source flocks discovered in FY 2005 was 1.03 : 1*. In addition 622 scrapie cases were confirmed and reported by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in FY 2005, of which 130 were RSSS cases. Fifteen cases of scrapie in goats have been reported since 1990. The last goat case was reported in May 2005. Approximately 5,626 animals were indemnified comprised of 49% non-registered sheep, 45% registered sheep, 1.4% non-registered goats and 4.6% registered goats. Regulatory Scrapie Slaughter Surveillance (RSSS) RSSS was designed to utilize the findings of the Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health (CEAH) Scrapie: Ovine Slaughter Surveillance (SOSS) study. The results of SOSS can be found at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ceah/cahm/Sheep/sheep.htm . RSSS started April 1, 2003. It is a targeted slaughter surveillance program which is designed to identify infected flocks for clean-up. During FY 2005 collections increased by 32% overall and by 90% for black and mottled faced sheep improving overall program effectiveness and efficiency as demonstrated by the 26% decrease in percent positive black faced sheep compared to FY 2004. Samples have been collected from 62,864 sheep since April 1, 2003, of which results have been reported for 59,105 of which 209 were confirmed positive. During FY 2005, 33,137 samples were collected from 81 plants. There have been 130 NVSL confirmed positive cases (30 collected in FY 2004 and confirmed in FY 2005 and 100 collected and confirmed in FY 2005) in FY 2005. Face colors of these positives were 114 black, 14 mottled, 1 white and 1 unknown. The percent positive by face color is shown in the chart below. Scrapie Testing In FY 2005, 35,845 animals have been tested for scrapie: 30,192 RSSS; 4,742 regulatory field cases; 772 regulatory third eyelid biopsies; 10 third eyelid validations; and 129 necropsy validations (chart 9). Animal ID As of October 04, 2005, 103,580 sheep and goat premises have been assigned identification numbers in the Scrapie National Generic Database. Official eartags have been issued to 73,807 of these premises. *This number based on an adjusted 12 month interval to accommodate the 60 day period for setting up flock plans. http://www.usaha.org/committees/reports/2005/report-scr-2005.pdf Subject: SCRAPIE USA UPDATE AS of March 31, 2006 2 NEW CASES IN GOAT, 82 INFECTED SOURCE FLOCKS, 19 INFECTED RSSS Date: April 30, 2006 at 4:49 pm PST SCRAPIE USA UPDATE AS of March 31, 2006 2 NEW CASES IN GOAT, 82 INFECTED SOURCE FLOCKS, WITH 4 NEW INFECTED SOURCE FLOCKS IN MARCH, WITH 19 SCRAPIE INFECTED RSSS REPORTED BY NVSL http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahps/scrapie/monthly_report/monthly-report.html 12/10/76 AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL REPORT OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTE ON SCRAPIE Office Note CHAIRMAN: PROFESSOR PETER WILDY snip... A The Present Position with respect to Scrapie A] The Problem Scrapie is a natural disease of sheep and goats. It is a slow and inexorably progressive degenerative disorder of the nervous system and it ia fatal. It is enzootic in the United Kingdom but not in all countries. The field problem has been reviewed by a MAFF working group (ARC 35/77). It is difficult to assess the incidence in Britain for a variety of reasons but the disease causes serious financial loss; it is estimated that it cost Swaledale breeders alone $l.7 M during the five years 1971-1975. A further inestimable loss arises from the closure of certain export markets, in particular those of the United States, to British sheep. It is clear that scrapie in sheep is important commercially and for that reason alone effective measures to control it should be devised as quickly as possible. Recently the question has again been brought up as to whether scrapie is transmissible to man. This has followed reports that the disease has been transmitted to primates. One particularly lurid speculation (Gajdusek 1977) conjectures that the agents of scrapie, kuru, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and transmissible encephalopathy of mink are varieties of a single "virus". The U.S. Department of Agriculture concluded that it could "no longer justify or permit scrapie-blood line and scrapie-exposed sheep and goats to be processed for human or animal food at slaughter or rendering plants" (ARC 84/77)" The problem is emphasised by the finding that some strains of scrapie produce lesions identical to the once which characterise the human dementias" Whether true or not. the hypothesis that these agents might be transmissible to man raises two considerations. First, the safety of laboratory personnel requires prompt attention. Second, action such as the "scorched meat" policy of USDA makes the solution of the acrapie problem urgent if the sheep industry is not to suffer grievously. snip... 76/10.12/4.6 http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1976/10/12004001.pdf Published online before print October 20, 2005 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 10.1073/pnas.0502296102 Medical Sciences A newly identified type of scrapie agent can naturally infect sheep with resistant PrP genotypes ( sheep prion | transgenic mice ) Annick Le Dur *, Vincent Béringue *, Olivier Andréoletti , Fabienne Reine *, Thanh Lan Laï *, Thierry Baron , Bjørn Bratberg ¶, Jean-Luc Vilotte ||, Pierre Sarradin **, Sylvie L. Benestad ¶, and Hubert Laude * *Virologie Immunologie Moléculaires and ||Génétique Biochimique et Cytogénétique, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France; Unité Mixte de Recherche, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique-Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Interactions Hôte Agent Pathogène, 31066 Toulouse, France; Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments, Unité Agents Transmissibles Non Conventionnels, 69364 Lyon, France; **Pathologie Infectieuse et Immunologie, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 37380 Nouzilly, France; and ¶Department of Pathology, National Veterinary Institute, 0033 Oslo, Norway Edited by Stanley B. Prusiner, University of California, San Francisco, CA, and approved September 12, 2005 (received for review March 21, 2005) Scrapie in small ruminants belongs to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), or prion diseases, a family of fatal neurodegenerative disorders that affect humans and animals and can transmit within and between species by ingestion or inoculation. Conversion of the host-encoded prion protein (PrP), normal cellular PrP (PrPc), into a misfolded form, abnormal PrP (PrPSc), plays a key role in TSE transmission and pathogenesis. The intensified surveillance of scrapie in the European Union, together with the improvement of PrPSc detection techniques, has led to the discovery of a growing number of so-called atypical scrapie cases. These include clinical Nor98 cases first identified in Norwegian sheep on the basis of unusual pathological and PrPSc molecular features and "cases" that produced discordant responses in the rapid tests currently applied to the large-scale random screening of slaughtered or fallen animals. Worryingly, a substantial proportion of such cases involved sheep with PrP genotypes known until now to confer natural resistance to conventional scrapie. Here we report that both Nor98 and discordant cases, including three sheep homozygous for the resistant PrPARR allele (A136R154R171), efficiently transmitted the disease to transgenic mice expressing ovine PrP, and that they shared unique biological and biochemical features upon propagation in mice. These observations support the view that a truly infectious TSE agent, unrecognized until recently, infects sheep and goat flocks and may have important implications in terms of scrapie control and public health. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author contributions: H.L. designed research; A.L.D., V.B., O.A., F.R., T.L.L., J.-L.V., and H.L. performed research; T.B., B.B., P.S., and S.L.B. contributed new reagents/analytic tools; V.B., O.A., and H.L. analyzed data; and H.L. wrote the paper. A.L.D. and V.B. contributed equally to this work. To whom correspondence should be addressed. Hubert Laude, E-mail: laude@jouy.inra.fr www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.0502296102 http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/0502296102v1 Of greatest interest today is the BSE agent because it is the presumptive cause of new variant CJD and must be considered a demonstrated risk to human health. The scrapie agent poses a theoretical risk to human health. Today we ask you to consider the implications of two theoretical possibilities: the first, that sheep and goats in BSE countries theoretically might be infected with the BSE agent, and Professor Almond, who headed a subcommittee of the United Kingdom's Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, has agreed to review that topic for us today. Then scrapie, which theoretically might be a human pathogen, though there's no hard evidence for that, and of course, some number of sheep and goats in many countries, including the United States, are infected with the scrapie agent. Now, let me say now that no U.S. government regulatory authority would ever knowingly permit humans or animals to be exposed to a product containing the scrapie agent, but considering the nature of the scrapie agent and the disease, we are not so naive as to think that such exposures have not already occurred. ... FULL TEXT ; http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/99/transcpt/3518t2.rtf http://72.14.209.104/searchq=cache:pKJPlLI2R44J:www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/99/transcpt/3518t2.rtf+scrapie+strains+breed+east+friesian&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=23 TSS #################### https://lists.aegee.org/bse-l.html ####################

Subject: SEAC Position statement vCJD and Endodontic dentistry and atypical TSE ??? Date: June 14, 2006 at 12:56 pm PST SEAC Position Statement -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Position statement vCJD and Endodontic dentistry Issue 1. The Department of Health (DH) asked SEAC to advise on the findings and implications of a preliminary risk assessment of potential vCJD transmission via endodontic procedures (dental procedures involved in the maintenance of dental pulp and the treatment of the pulp cavity) 1. This is particularly pertinent because of the large number of endodontic procedures undertaken in the UK. Background 2. There are no reported definite or suspected cases of vCJD transmission arising from dental procedures. However, prions are more resistant than other types of infectious agent to the conventional cleaning and sterilisation practices used to decontaminate dental instruments 2. Therefore, should dental instruments become contaminated from tissues in the oral cavity of infected individuals, there is a risk of transmission to subsequent patients. 3. A quantitative DH risk assessment 3, accepted by SEAC in 2003, considered two possible mechanisms for the transfer of vCJD infectivity via dental instruments: (i) accidental abrasion of the lingual tonsil, known to carry infectivity in vCJD cases; and (ii) contact with dental pulp that evidence from animal studies suggested may be infective. On the basis of the information available, the DH analysis suggested that the risk of transmission to individual patients via accidental abrasion of the lingual tonsil is very low. Furthermore, should dental pulp be infective, the risk of transmission via endodontic procedures, although higher, is also low. Although a very large number of dental procedures are conducted, the relative risk to public health from potential transmission via dental, compared with hospital, surgery was considered to be relatively low. 4. In 2006, SEAC considered a new preliminary risk assessment by DH of the risks of vCJD transmission via endodontic procedures, taking into account new information on decontamination of dental instruments, the potential infectivity of dental pulp, and the possible existence of subclinical vCJD carrier cases. Endodontic instruments 5. Evidence suggests that the files and reamers used in endodontic procedures are reused and are difficult to reliably decontaminate 4. Appreciable quantities of residual material remain adherent to the surface after normal cleaning and sterilisation 5. Thus, there is potential for transfer of dental pulp between patients undergoing endodontic procedures. vCJD infectivity in dental tissues 6. There are no data on vCJD infectivity in dental pulp. Although no abnormal prions were found in a study of dental tissues, including dental pulp, from vCJD cases 6, dental pulp includes blood and peripheral nerve tissue known to carry vCJD infectivity 7,8. In addition, appreciable infectivity has been found in the dental pulp of hamsters with hamster scrapie 9. Although it is possible that the peripheral nerve may only become infective close to, or after, the onset of clinical vCJD, inflammation may promote the propagation of prions 10. Thus, although the data are limited and indirect, it is reasonable to assume that the dental pulp of individuals subclinically-infected with vCJD may be infectious although the level of infectivity is unknown. Studies underway will provide direct data on the infectivity in dental tissues from vCJD cases. Subclinical carrier state 7. A study of humanised mice showed that vCJD infections may not always progress to clinical disease within the normal lifespan of the animals 11. Another study suggested that prion infections in mice that remain at a subclinical level can be transmitted to other mice, resulting in clinical disease 12. Thus, there is evidence to suggest that individuals infected with the BSE / vCJD agent may remain in a subclinical infection carrier state instead of developing vCJD. A discrepancy between prevalence estimates based on a survey of abnormal prion protein in appendix and tonsil tissue and data on vCJD cases supports this hypothesis 13. As no diagnostic test exists to identify such individuals, they could over the course of their lives be potential sources of numerous secondary infections arising from invasive medical or dental procedures. 8. The prevalence of subclinical infection in the UK population is uncertain. A recent estimate suggests the number of subclinical carriers may be of the order of several thousand 14. SEAC has strongly recommended that further studies to ascertain better the prevalence of vCJD infection be urgently considered 15. Transmission risks 9. The new DH analysis suggests that, on the basis that residual dental pulp on endodontic files and reamers is transferred relatively efficiently to patients on reuse, dental pulp is as infective as peripheral nerve tissue and a subclinical carrier population for vCJD exists, a self-sustaining vCJD epidemic arising from endodontic surgery is plausible. There are uncertainties about the efficiency of vCJD transmission via endodontic procedures, the vCJD infectivity of dental pulp and the existence of a subclinical infection carrier state. However, even if a self-sustaining epidemic were not possible, clusters of vCJD infections could arise from the use of instruments contaminated with the vCJD agent from endodontic procedures on infected patients. Interactions between this and other routes of secondary transmission, such as blood transfusion and hospital surgery, would make a self-sustaining epidemic more likely. Potential risk reduction measures 10. Endodontic files and reamers have a limited lifespan, restricting the number of possible secondary transmissions. Improving the effectiveness of procedures used to decontaminate dental instruments would reduce the risk of transmission. Restricting endodontic files and reamers to single use would prevent potential secondary transmission via these instruments. Conclusions 11. A preliminary risk assessment produced by DH suggests that vCJD transmission via endodontic dentistry may, under certain hypothetical but plausible scenarios, be sufficient to sustain a secondary vCJD epidemic. However, there are uncertainties around the data and assumptions underpinning the assessment. Research underway will address some of these uncertainties and allow the risk assessment to be refined. Once the research is complete and / or other data become available, the risks should be reassessed. A watching brief should be maintained. 12. It is unclear whether or not vCJD infectivity can be transmitted via endodontic files and reamers. However, given the plausibility of such a scenario and the large number of procedures undertaken annually, it would be prudent to consider restricting these instruments to single use as a precautionary measure. Since sufficiently rigorous decontamination of these instruments is difficult, single use of these instruments would eliminate this risk, should it exist. SEAC May 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Department of Health. Dentistry and vCJD: the implications of a “carrier state” for a self-sustaining epidemic due to endodontic dentistry. A Preliminary Risk Assessment. Unpublished. 2. Smith et al. (2003) Prions and the oral cavity. J. Dent. Res. 82, 769-775. 3. Department of Health. (2003) Risk assessment for vCJD and dentistry. 4. Letters et al. (2005) A study of visual and blood contamination on reprocessed endodontic files from general dental practice. Br. Dent. J. 199, 522-525. 5. Smith et al. (2005) Residual protein levels on reprocessed dental instruments. J. Hosp. Infect. 61, 237-241. 6. Head et al. (2003) Investigation of PrPres in dental tissues in variant CJD. Br. Dent. J. 195, 339-343. 7. SEAC 91 minutes paragraph 9. www.seac.gov.uk/papers/papers.htm 8. Department of Health (2005) Assessing the risk of vCJD transmission via surgery: an interim view. Unpublished. 9. Ingrosso et al. (1999) Transmission of the 263K scrapie strain by the dental route. J. Gen. Virol. 80, 3043-3047. 10. Heikenwalder et al. (2005) Chronic lymphocytic inflammation specifies the organ tropism of prions. Science. 307, 1107-1110. 11. Bishop et al. (2006) Predicting susceptibility and incubation time of human-to-human transmission of vCJD. Lancet Neurology. 12. Hill et al. (2000) Species-barrier-independent prion replication in apparently resistant species. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 97, 10248-10253. 13. SEAC Epidemiology Subgroup (2005) Position statement on the vCJD epidemic. www.seac.gov.uk/statements/state260106subgroup.htm 14. Clarke & Ghani. (2005) Projections of future course of the primary vCJD epidemic in the UK: inclusion of subclinical infection and the possibility of wider genetic susceptibility. R. J. Soc. Interface. 15. SEAC (2005) SEAC response to the SEAC Epidemiology Subgroup statement on the vCJD epidemic. www.seac.gov.uk/statements/state260106.htm Page updated: 8th May 2006 http://www.seac.gov.uk/statements/statement0506.htm Greetings, WITH the new atypical TSE in cattle in the USA, new atypical TSE in sheep and goat (USA imported from UK?), real definitions of SRMs now???, this brings into question once again of the ukbsenvcjd only theory, especially in terms of iCJD i.e. 'friendly fire'. what about those 'unknown' strains of sporadic CJD popping up now??? SEE STEADY INCREASE IN SPORADIC CJD IN THE USA FROM 1997 TO 2004. SPORADIC CJD CASES TRIPLED, and that is with a human TSE surveillance system that is terrible flawed. in 1997 cases of the _reported_ cases of cjd were at 54, to 163 _reported_ cases in 2004. see stats here; p.s. please note the 47 PENDING CASES to Sept. 2005 p.s. please note the 2005 Prion D. total 120(8) 8=includes 51 type pending, 1 TYPE UNKNOWN ??? p.s. please note sporadic CJD 2002(1) 1=3 TYPE UNKNOWN??? p.s. please note 2004 prion disease (6) 6=7 TYPE UNKNOWN??? http://www.cjdsurveillance.com/resources-casereport.html TSS Subject: ENDOSCOPY EQUIPMENT (Terminal ileal biopsies should not be used) and CJD (ALL PHENOTYPES) Date: March 8, 2005 at 1:09 pm PST -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Terminal ileal biopsies should not be used to document extent of colonoscopic examination Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2005 09:17:50 -0600 From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr." Reply-To: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy To: BSE-L@LISTSERV.KALIV.UNI-KARLSRUHE.DE ##################### Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy ##################### Greetings again, seems Bramble et al have failed to take heed to the latest data on atypical TSEs. UNTIL the BSE/nvCJD 'ONLY THEORY' is put to rest once and for all, this agent will continue to spread. with the findings of the testing with CDI from Prusiner et al and Aguzzi continued warnings of muscle tissue and Collinge warnings about sporadic CJD, to continue with this BSE/nvCJD 'ONLY THEORY' should be regarded with great suspicion. WITH many atypical TSEs showing up in cattle, sheep and goats in many different parts of the Globe, with the findings of BASE in cattle in Italy of Identification of a second bovine amyloidotic spongiform encephalopathy: Molecular similarities with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/0305777101v1 Adaptation of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent to primates and comparison with Creutzfeldt- Jakob disease: Implications for human health THE findings from Corinne Ida Lasmézas*, [dagger] , Jean-Guy Fournier*, Virginie Nouvel*, Hermann Boe*, Domíníque Marcé*, François Lamoury*, Nicolas Kopp [Dagger ] , Jean-Jacques Hauw§, James Ironside¶, Moira Bruce [||] , Dominique Dormont*, and Jean-Philippe Deslys* et al, that The agent responsible for French iatrogenic growth hormone-linked CJD taken as a control is very different from vCJD but is similar to that found in one case of sporadic CJD and one sheep scrapie isolate; http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/041490898v1 Characterization of two distinct prion strains derived from bovine spongiform encephalopathy transmissions to inbred mice http://vir.sgmjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/85/8/2471 WITH ALL THIS DATA, TO CONTINUE TO WARN ONLY OF THE nvCJD threat will only allow this agent to continue to spread...TSS Gut 2005;54:566 © 2005 by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & British Society of Gastroenterology ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LETTER Terminal ileal biopsies should not be used to document extent of colonoscopic examination M D Rutter1 and M G Bramble2 1 University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, UK 2 James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, UK Correspondence to: Dr M D Rutter University Hospital of North Tees, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, TS19 8PE, UK; matt.rutter@nth.nhs.uk Keywords: ileal biopsies; colonoscopy; guidelines The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. We commend the British Society of Gastroenterology and the authors for the excellent publication of guidelines for the management of inflammatory bowel disease in adults (Gut 2004;53(suppl V):v1v16). However, we feel that their recommendation for routine terminal ileal biopsying is inappropriate. Although it is important to biopsy the terminal ileum if there is macroscopic evidence of an abnormality, their statement that "a terminal ileal biopsy performed at colonoscopy documents the extent of examination" is not recommended practice, due to the potential risk of variant Creutzfeld-Jacob disease transmission from prion proteins which are prevalent in the lymphoid tissue of Peyers patches in the ileum. Although the use of disposable forceps may reduce the risk of transmission, there could still be contamination of the intubation channel of the colonoscope and prion protein is resistant to the standard endoscopic cleaning process.1 If the extent of examination needs to . . . [Full text of this article ] http://gut.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/extract/54/4/566-a -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: gutjnl_el;110 Terry S. Singeltary Sr. (22 Aug 2003) ""CJDs (all human TSEs) and Endoscopy Equipment Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2003 15:10:51 -0500 From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr." To: Robin.Spiller@nottingham.ac.uk hello Professor Spiller and GUT, this has become a real challenge trying to raise my concerns to GUT about sporadic CJD. but i will not give up. you only have to see it once. i hope you take the time to read over all data below...thank you > unsubstantiated opinion and emotion these are not my unsubstantiated opinions, they are backed up by science (transmission studies and or lack of transmissions studies), and i will try and leave my emotions out. > I feel that we need a proper evidence based approach to this. > There is too much unsubstantiated opinion i agree... to categorically state that nv/v CJD is the only risk to endoscopy equipment, while ignoring all other TSEs, is very unsubstantiated. i will try and give more evidence for my concerns below. 1st, there has never been to date any _documented_ transmission of nv/v CJD via the medical surgical arena. this has only been hypothesized... 2nd, However, there has been _documented_ evidence of transmission of sporadic CJD via the medical and surgical arena. TO continue to hide behind the nv/v CJD only theory, when there are over 20 strains of scrapie, most of which transmits to all mammalian species that has been tried upon, CWD which no one knows if or if not it can transmit to humans (to date no transmission studies of any TSEs done on man), but studies have shown transmission to humans as easy as BSE, and does transmit to primate. there are now 6 _documented_ phenotypes of sporadic CJD. with CWD and Scrapie running rampant in the USA, no real active surveillance in cattle for TSEs and no rapid testing done to find BSE agent (48,000+ BSE/TSE test in 14 years TOTAL USA), who knows how these strains of CJD will act and how they will transmit. also, in vitro experiments have demonstrated that scrapie/cwd prions are as efficient as BSE prions in transforming normal human prion protein to PrPSc. this data strongly supports that scrapie/cwd is as infectious as BSE. IN fact, scrapie seems to be more infectious than BSE due to higher concentration of TSE infectious agents in ovine muscle meat and other parts of the sheep, when compared to cattle, and CWD could even be more infectious than all of them, if you consider how it has rapidly spread across the USA. but to categorically state that only nv/v CJD to be of risk to endoscopy equipment when no such documented transmission has ever been documented, while ignoring such similar medical _documented_ transmissions in sporadic CJD, this is very disturbing and most unsubstantiated, and potentially risking TSE exposure to millions and millions due to nothing more than denial and wishful thinking. if i could deny this and wish it away, i would have done this six years ago. but we cant, all we can do is warn the public and the medical community of what we know to date. i am surprised GUT has chosen not to do this, and only to go with the BSE/nv/v/CJD only theory. 85%+ of all CJDs don't just happen without route and source. my fear is a great deal are being mis-diagnosed and un-reported, but being acquired via the medical surgical arena. but one will never know without making all human TSEs reportable in every State, and issuing a CJD Questionnaire to all families of victims of CJD/TSE and asking the _real_ questions that pertain to route and source of agent...TSS REFERENCES snip...end http://neuro-mancer.mgh.harvard.edu/ubb/Forum24/HTML/000145.html FULL TEXT ; http://www.vegsource.com/talk/madcow/messages/93658.html TSS HISTORY OF GUT, ENDOSCOPY, CJD AND TSS http://www.vegsource.com/talk/madcow/messages/93658.html http://www.google.com/search?num=30&hl=en&lr=&edition=us&ie=UTF-8&search=search&tab=wn&scoring=d&q=CJD+ENDOSCOPY+TSS&btnmeta%3Dsearch%3Dsearch=Search+the+Web MAD COW i.e. all TSE 'FRIENDLY FIRE' GETTING SERIOUS (iCJD) ##################### Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy ##################### CJD WATCH MESSAGE BOARD TSS Detection and Localization of PrPSc in the Skeletal Muscle Thu Mar 2, 2006 10:40 70.110.86.250 © 2006 American Society for Investigative Pathology Detection and Localization of PrPSc in the Skeletal Muscle of Patients with Variant, Iatrogenic, and Sporadic Forms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Alexander H. Peden, Diane L. Ritchie, Mark W. Head and James W. Ironside From the National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance Unit and Division of Pathology, School of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) differs from other human prion diseases in that the pathogenic prion protein PrPSc can be detected to a greater extent at extraneuronal sites throughout the body, principally within lymphoid tissues. However, a recent study using a high-sensitivity Western blotting technique revealed low levels of PrPSc in skeletal muscle from a quarter of Swiss patients with sporadic CJD (sCJD). This posed the question of whether PrPSc in muscle could also be detected in vCJD, sCJD, and iatrogenic (iCJD) patients from other populations. Therefore, we have used the same high-sensitivity Western blotting technique, in combination with paraffin-embedded tissue blotting, to screen for PrPSc in muscle tissue specimens taken at autopsy from 49 CJD patients in the United Kingdom. These techniques identified muscle PrPSc in 8 of 17 vCJD, 7 of 26 sCJD, and 2 of 5 iCJD patients. Paraffin-embedded tissue blotting analysis showed PrPSc in skeletal muscle in localized anatomical structures that had the morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of nerve fibers. The detection of PrPSc in muscle tissue from all forms of CJD indicates the possible presence of infectivity in these tissues, suggesting important implications for assessing the potential risk of iatrogenic spread via contaminated surgical instruments. http://ajp.amjpathol.org/cgi/content/abstract/168/3/927 TSS #################### https://lists.aegee.org/bse-l.html #################### BSE ALSO; PrPSc distribution of a natural case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy Yoshifumi Iwamaru, Yuka Okubo, Tamako Ikeda, Hiroko Hayashi, Mori- kazu Imamura, Takashi Yokoyama and Morikazu Shinagawa Priori Disease Research Center, National Institute of Animal Health, 3-1-5 Kannondai, Tsukuba 305-0856 Japan gan@affrc.go.jp Abstract Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a disease of cattle that causes progressive neurodegeneration of the central nervous system. Infectivity of BSE agent is accompanied with an abnormal isoform of prion protein (PrPSc). The specified risk materials (SRM) are tissues potentially carrying BSE infectivity. The following tissues are designated as SRM in Japan: the skull including the brain and eyes but excluding the glossa and the masse- ter muscle, the vertebral column excluding the vertebrae of the tail, spinal cord, distal illeum. For a risk management step, the use of SRM in both animal feed or human food has been prohibited. However, detailed PrPSc distribution remains obscure in BSE cattle and it has caused controversies about definitions of SRM. Therefore we have examined PrPSc distribution in a BSE cattle by Western blotting to reassess definitions of SRM. The 11th BSE case in Japan was detected in fallen stock surveillance. The carcass was stocked in the refrigerator. For the detection of PrPSc, 200 mg of tissue samples were homogenized. Following collagenase treatment, samples were digested with proteinase K. After digestion, PrPSc was precipitated by sodium phosphotungstate (PTA). The pellets were subjected to Western blotting using the standard procedure. Anti-prion protein monoclonal antibody (mAb) T2 conjugated horseradish peroxidase was used for the detection of PrPSc. PrPSc was detected in brain, spinal cord, dorsal root ganglia, trigeminal ganglia, sublingual ganglion, retina. In addition, PrPSc was also detected in the peripheral nerves (sciatic nerve, tibial nerve, vagus nerve). Our results suggest that the currently accepted definitions of SRM in 9/13/2005 179 Page 10 of 17 BSE cattle may need to be reexamined. T. Kitamoto (Ed.) PRIONS Food and Drug Safety ================ ALSO from the International Symposium of Prion Diseases held in Sendai, October 31, to November 2, 2004; Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Japan snip... "Furthermore, current studies into transmission of cases of BSE that are atypical or that develop in young cattle are expected to amplify the BSE prion" NO. Date conf. Farm Birth place and Date Age at diagnosis 8. 2003.10.6. Fukushima Tochigi 2001.10.13. 23 9. 2003.11.4. Hiroshima Hyogo 2002.1.13. 21 Test results # 8b, 9c cows Elisa Positive, WB Positive, IHC negative, histopathology negative b = atypical BSE case c = case of BSE in a young animal b,c, No PrPSc on IHC, and no spongiform change on histology International Symposium of Prion Diseases held in Sendai, October 31, to November 2, 2004. Tetsuyuki Kitamoto Professor and Chairman Department of Prion Research Tohoku University School of Medicine 2-1 SeiryoAoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, JAPAN TEL +81-22-717-8147 FAX +81-22-717-8148 e-mail; kitamoto@mail.tains.tohoku.ac.jp Symposium Secretariat Kyomi Sasaki TEL +81-22-717-8233 FAX +81-22-717-7656 e-mail: kvomi-sasaki@mail.tains.tohoku.ac.ip ================================= 9/13/2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 11 of 17 From: TSS () Subject: Atypical Proteinase K-Resistant Prion Protein (PrPres) observed in an Apparently Healthy 23-Month-Old Holstein Steer Date: August 26, 2005 at 10:24 am PST Atypical Proteinase K-Resistant Prion Protein (PrPres) observed in an Apparently Healthy 23-Month-Old Holstein Steer Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 56, 221-222, 2003 Laboratory and Epidemiology Communications Atypical Proteinase K-Resistant Prion Protein (PrPres) Observed in an Apparently Healthy 23-Month-Old Holstein Steer Yoshio Yamakawa*, KenÕichi Hagiwara, Kyoko Nohtomi, Yuko Nakamura, Masahiro Nishizima ,Yoshimi Higuchi1, Yuko Sato1, Tetsutaro Sata1 and the Expert Committee for BSE Diagnosis, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan2 Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology and 1Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640 and 2Miistry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Tokyo 100-8916 Communicated by Tetsutaro Sata (Accepted December 2, 2003) *Corresponding author: Mailing address: Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama 1-23-1, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 1628640, Japan. Tel: +81-3-5285-1111, Fax: +81-3-5285-1157, E-mail: yamakawa@nih.go.jp Since October 18, 2001, 'bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) examination for all cattle slaughtered at abattoirs in the country' has been mandated in Japan by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). 'Plateria' ELISA-kit (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, Calif., USA) is routinely used at abattoirs for detecting proteinase K (PK)-resistant prion protein (PrPSc) in the obex region. Samples positive according to the ELISA screening are further subjected to Western blot (WB) and histologic and immunohistochemical examination (IHC) at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) or Obihiro University. If PrPSc is detected either by WB or by IHC, the cattle are diagnosed as BSE. The diagnosis is approved by the Expert Committee for BSE Diagnosis, MHLW. From October 18, 2001 to September 30, 2003, approximately 2.5 million cattle were screened at abattoirs. A hundred and ten specimens positive according to ELISA were subjected to WB/IHC. Seven showed positive by both WB and IHC, all exhibiting the typical electrophoretic profile of a high content of the di-glycosylated molecular form of PrPSc (1-3) and the distinctive granular deposition of PrPSc in neuronal cells and neuropil of the dorsal nucleus of vagus. An ELISA-positive specimen from a 23 month-old Holstein steer slaughtered on September 29, 2003, in Ibaraki Prefecture (Ibaraki case) was sent to the NIID for confirmation. The animal was reportedly healthy before slaughter. The OD titer in ELISA was slightly higher than the 'cut-off' level given by the manufacturer. The histology showed no spongiform changes and IHC revealed no signal of PrPSc accumulation typical for BSE. However, WB analysis of the homogenate that was prepared from the obex region and used for ELISA revealed a small amount of PrPSc with an electrophoretic profile different from that of typical BSE-associated PrPSc (1-3). The characteristics were (i) low content of the di-glycosylated molecular form of PrPSc, (ii) a faster migration of the non-glycosylated form of PrPSc on SDS-PAGE, and (iii) less resistance against PK digestion as compared with an authentic PrPSc specimen derived from an 83-month-old Holstein (Wakayama case) (Fig. 1). Table 1 summarizes the relative amounts of three distinctive glycoforms (di-, mono, non-glycosylated) of PrPSc calculated by densitometric analysis of the blot shown in Fig. 1. As 2.5 mg wet weight obex-equivalent homogenate of the Ibaraki case (Fig. 1, lane 4) gave slightly stronger band intensities of PrPSc than an 8 mg wet weight obex-equivqlent homogenate of a typical BSE-affected Wakayama case (Fig. 1, lane 2), the amount of PrPSc accumulated in the Ibaraki case was calculated to be 1/500 - 1/1000 of the Wakayama case. In the Ibaraki case, the PrPSc bands were not detectable in the homogenates of the proximal surrounding region of the obex. These findings were consistent with the low OD value in ELISA, i.e., 0.2 -0.3 for the Ibaraki case versus over 3.0 for the Wakayama case. The DNA sequence of the PrP coding region of the Ibaraki case was the same as that appearing in the database (GenBank accession number: AJ298878). More recently, we encountered another case that resembled the Ibaraki case. It was a 21-monthold Holstein steer from Hiroshima Prefecture. WB showed typical BSE-specific PrPSc deposition though IHC did not detect positive signals of PrPSc (data not shown). Though the clinical onset of BSE is usually at around 5 years of age or later, a 20-month-old case showing the clinical signs has been reported (4). Variant forms of BSE similar to our cases, i.e., with atypical histopathological and/or biochemical phenotype, have been recently reported in Italy (5) and in France (6). Such variant BSE was not associated with mutations in the prion protein (PrP) coding region as in our case (5,6). The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) announced a ban of feeding ruminants with meat bone meal (MBM) on September 18, 2001, and a complete ban was made on October 15 of the same year. According to the recent MAFF report, the previous seven cases of BSE in Japan were cattle born in 1995 - 1996 and possibly fed with cross-contaminated feed. However, the two cattle in this report were born after the complete ban. Whether contaminated MBM was implicated in the present cases remains to be investigated. REFERENCES Collinge, J., Sidle, K. C. L., Meads, J., Ironside, J. and Hill, A. F. (1996): Molecular analysis of prion strain variation and the aetiology of 'new variant' CJD. Nature, 383, 685690. Bruce, M. E., Will, R. G., Ironside, J. W., McConnell, I., Drummond, D., Suttie, A., McCardle, L., Chree, A., Hope, J., Birkett, C., Cousens, S., Fraser, H. and Bostock, C. J. (1997): Transmissions to mice indicate that 'new variant' CJD is caused by the BSE agent. Nature, 389, 498-501. Hill, A. F., Desbruslais, M., Joiner, S., Sidle, K. C. L., Gowland, I. and Collinge, J. (1997): The same prion strain causes vCJD and BSE. Nature, 389, 448-450. Matravers, W., Bridgeman, J. and Smith, M.-F. (ed.)(2000): The BSE Inquiry. p. 37. vol. 16. The Stationery Office Ltd., Norwich, UK. Casalone, C., Zanusso, G., Acutis, P. L., Crescio, M. I., Corona, C., Ferrari, S., Capobianco, R., Tagliavini, F., Monaco, S. and Caramelli, M. (2003): Identification of a novel molecular and neuropathological BSE phenotype in Italy. International Conference on Prion Disease: from basic research to intervention concepts. Gasreig, Munhen, October 8-10. Bicaba, A. G., Laplanche, J. L., Ryder, S. and Baron, T. (2003): A molecular variant of bovine spongiform encephalopatie. International Conference on Prion Disease: from basic research to intervention concepts. Gasreig, Munhen, October 8-10. Asante, E. A., Linehan, J. M., Desbruslais, M., Joiner, S., Gowland, I., Wood, A. L., Welch, J., Hill, A. F., Lloyd, S. E., Wadsworth, J. D. F. and Collinge, J. (2002). BSE prions propagate as either variant CJD-like or sporadic CJD-like prion strains in transgenic mice expressing human prion protein. EMBO J., 21, 6358-6366. 9/13/2005 Page 12 of 17 SEE SLIDES IN PDF FILE; http://www.nih.go.jp/JJID/56/221.pdf http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/Comments/03-025IFA/03-025IFA-2.pdf AND CWD; Prions in Skeletal Muscles of Deer with Chronic Wasting Disease Rachel C. Angers,1* Shawn R. Browning,1*† Tanya S. Seward,2 Christina J. Sigurdson,4‡ Michael W. Miller,5 Edward A. Hoover,4 Glenn C. Telling1,2,3§ 1Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, 2Sanders Brown Center on Aging, 3Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA. 4Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. 5Colorado Division of Wildlife, Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA. *These authors contributed equally to this work. †Present address: Department of Infectology, Scripps Research Institute, 5353 Parkside Drive, RF-2, Jupiter, Florida, 33458, USA. ‡Present address: Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 12, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland. §To whom correspondence should be addressed: E-mail: gtell2@uky.edu Prions are transmissible proteinaceous agents of mammals that cause fatal neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). The presence of infectivity in skeletal muscle of experimentally infected mice raised the possibility that dietary exposure to prions might occur through meat consumption (1). Chronic wasting disease (CWD), an enigmatic and contagious prion disease of North American cervids, is of particular concern. The emergence of CWD in an increasingly wide geographic area and the interspecies transmission of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) to humans as variant Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (vCJD) have raised concerns about zoonotic transmission of CWD. To test whether skeletal muscle of diseased cervids.........SNIP....END TSS