Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy – A Review from the Perspective of Food Safety

Abstract

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that belongs to transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). Since the first case was identified in the UK in 1986, BSE spread to other countries including Japan. Its incidence peaked in 1992 in the UK and from 2001 to 2006 in many other countries, but a feed ban aimed at eliminating the recycling of the BSE agent and other control measures aimed at preventing food and feed contamination with the agent were highly effective at reducing the spread of BSE. In 2004, two types of atypical BSE, H-type BSE (H-BSE) and L-type BSE (L-BSE), which differ from classical BSE (C-BSE), were found in France and Italy. Atypical BSE, which is assumed to occur spontaneously, has also been detected among cattle in other countries including Japan. The BSE agent including atypical BSE agent is a unique food-safety hazard with different chemical and biological properties from the microbial pathogens and toxic chemicals that contaminate food. In this review, we summarize the reported findings on the tissue distribution of BSE prions in infected cattle and other aspects of BSE, as well as the control measures against the disease employed in Japan. Topics that require further studies are discussed based on the summarized findings from the perspective of food safety. Key word: BSE, atypical, vCJD, control measure, origin tified in the UK in 1986 1). The UK epidemic was attributed to the exposure to an infectious agent in 1981-1982 in association with a dramatic reduction in the use of organic solvents in the manufacture of meat and bone meal (MBM) 2). The annual number of BSE cases reported in the UK increased

First Report of the Potential Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)-Related Somatic Mutation E211K of the Prion Protein Gene (PRNP) in Cattle

“…Although the number of classical BSE cases caused by contaminated meat and bone meal has decreased dramatically due to global efforts, the number of atypical BSE cases increased [ 30 , 31 ]. In humans, genetic prion disease makes up approximately 10% to 15% of cases with germline mutations of the PRNP gene [ 19 ].…”

Preparation, Characteristics, and Advantages of Plant Protein-Based Bioactive Molecule Delivery Systems

“…Compared with traditional animal proteins, plant proteins have better hydrophobicity and water stability, are more stable in the water environment without diplomatic links, have a higher load capacity for hydrophobic bioactive substances, and have a longer-lasting payload release [ 49 ]. Furthermore, the use of plant proteins can reduce the risk of transmitting zoonotic diseases [ 50 ]. Therefore, the development of nano-enabled carriers, such as nanoparticles, gels, emulsions, and fibers, from highly cross-linked plant proteins may be a promising approach to improve the stability and bioavailability of various bioactive substances ( Figure 2 ).…”

COVID-19 in Hong Kong – Public health, food safety, and animal vectors perspectives

“…In modern day, farmed animals have also been implicated in epidemic infectious diseases. Good examples include the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (also known as BSE or mad cow disease) outbreak in the UK in the 1980s and 1990s, and the haemolytic uraemic syndrome epidemic associated with undercooked burger patties in the US in 1982-2002 ( Kumagai et al, 2019 ; Rangel et al, 2005 ).…”