An assessment of the efficiency of PrPsc detection in rectal mucosa and third-eyelid biopsies from animals infected with scrapie

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2011Author
Monleón Moscardó, Eva
Garza, María Carmen
Sarasa, Rocío
Bolea, Rosa
Monzón, Marta
Vargas, M. Antonia
Badiola, Juan José
Acín, Cristina
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Monleón Moscardó, Eva;
Garza, María Carmen;
Sarasa, Rocío;
Álvarez Rodríguez, Javier;
Bolea, Rosa;
Monzón, Marta;
...
Acín, Cristina.
(2011)
.
An assessment of the efficiency of PrPsc detection in rectal mucosa and third-eyelid biopsies from animals infected with scrapie.
Veterinary Microbiology, 201, vol. 147, núm. 3-4, p. 237-243.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2010.06.028.
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Show full item recordAbstract
In classical scrapie, detection of PrPsc on lymphoreticular system is used for the in vivo and
post mortem diagnosis of the disease. However, the sensitivity of this methodology is not
well characterised because the magnitude and duration of lymphoid tissue involvement
can vary considerably. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of
detecting PrPsc in rectal mucosa and third-eyelid biopsies. A total of 474 genetically
susceptible sheep and 24 goats from three scrapie infected flocks were included in this
study. A sample from rectal mucosa and a sample from third-eyelid lymphoid tissue were
collected from each animal. Biopsy samples were fixed in formaldehyde and processed for
immunohistochemical examination. Animals with negative biopsy results were studied
more closely through a post mortem examination of central nervous and lymphoreticular
systems and if there was a positive result, additional biopsy sections were further tested.
The sensitivity of rectal mucosa and third-eyelid assays were 36% and 40% respectively on
initial examination but increased to 48% and 44% respectively after retesting. The results of
this field study show a high percentage of infected animals that do not have detectable
levels of PrPsc in the biopsied lymphoid tissue, duemainly to the relatively high number of
animals with minimal or no involvement of lymphoid tissue in the pathogenesis of the
disease.