Abstract
Of all the species exposed naturally to the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent, the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), a nondomesticated bovine from Africa, appears to be the most susceptible to the disease. We present the results of mouse bioassay studies to show that, contrary to findings in cattle with BSE in which the tissue distribution of infectivity is the most limited recorded for any of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE), infectivity in greater kudu with BSE is distributed in as wide a range of tissues as occurs in any TSE. BSE agent was also detected in skin, conjunctiva, and salivary gland, tissues in which infectivity has not previously been reported in any naturally occurring TSE. The distribution of infectivity in greater kudu with BSE suggests possible routes for transmission of the disease and highlights the need for further research into the distribution of TSE infectious agents in other host species.
Highlights
To date, 13 species of zoo animal have been confirmed as having died with a novel scrapie-like spongiform encephalopathy (SE) concurrent with the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) epidemic (Table 1)
Tissues Tissues from four greater kudu that died with spongiform encephalopathy were tested for infectivity by bioassay in C57Bl-J6 mice (Table 2)
The groups were mice in which either a low number were positive, testing was inconclusive on histopathologic assessment, or the results indicated a novel or anomalous distribution of the agent in kudu compared to that in other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE)
Summary
13 species of zoo animal have been confirmed as having died with a novel scrapie-like spongiform encephalopathy (SE) concurrent with the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) epidemic (Table 1). Natural infection with BSE has been reported in five species of primate in French zoos [11], but these results are considered equivocal for the confirmation of a spongiform encephalopathy BSE was diagnosed in six of eight greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), a member of the family Bovidae, subfamily Bovinae, that died at the London Zoo from 1989 through 1992 [2,13,14]. The epidemiology of this disease in greater kudu is consistent with either a high susceptibility to infection, the occurrence of direct animal-to-animal transmission of the disease, or with a combination of
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
