Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Exportation of Live Animals, Hatching Eggs, and Animal Germplasm From the United States [Docket No. APHIS-2012-0049] RIN 0579-AE00 2016-00962

Subject: Exportation of Live Animals, Hatching Eggs, and Animal Germplasm From the United States [Docket No. APHIS-2012-0049] RIN 0579-AE00 2016-00962


Filed On:
01/19/2016 at 08:45 AM
Publication Date:
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Agency:
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Type:
Rule
Pages
76
Document Number:
2016-00962
Shorter URL:
https://federalregister.gov/a/2016-00962 



This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 01/20/2016 and available online at http://federalregister.gov/a/2016-00962, and on FDsys.gov
 
BILLING CODE: 3410-34-P
 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
 
9 CFR Part 91
 
[Docket No. APHIS-2012-0049]
 
RIN 0579-AE00
 
Exportation of Live Animals, Hatching Eggs, and Animal Germplasm From the United States
 
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
 
ACTION: Final rule.
 
SUMMARY: We are revising the regulations pertaining to the exportation of livestock from the United States. Among other things, we are removing most of the requirements for export health certifications, tests, and treatments from the regulations, and instead directing exporters to follow the requirements of the importing country regarding such processes and procedures. We are retaining only those export health certification, testing, and treatment requirements that we consider necessary to have assurances regarding the health and welfare of livestock exported from the United States. We also are allowing pre-export inspection of livestock to occur at facilities other than an export inspection facility associated with the port of embarkation, under certain circumstances, and replacing specific standards for export inspection facilities and ocean vessels with performance standards. These changes will provide exporters and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) with more flexibility in arranging for the export of livestock from the United States while continuing to ensure the health and welfare of the livestock. Additionally, if APHIS knows that an importing country requires an export health certificate endorsed by the competent veterinary authority of the United States for any animal
 
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other than livestock, including pets, or for any hatching eggs or animal germplasm, we are requiring that the animal, hatching eggs, or animal germplasm have such a health certificate to be eligible for export from the United States. This change will help ensure that all animals, hatching eggs, and animal germplasm exported from the United States meet the health requirements of the countries to which they are destined. Finally, we are making editorial amendments to the regulations to make them easier to understand and comply with.
 
DATES: Effective [Insert date 30 days after date of publication in the Federal Register].
 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Jack Taniewski, Director for Animal Export, National Import Export Services, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 851-3300.
 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
 
Background
 
Under the Animal Health Protection Act (AHPA, 7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.), the Secretary of Agriculture may prohibit or restrict the exportation of any animal, article, or means of conveyance if the Secretary determines that the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the dissemination of any pest or disease of livestock from or within the United States. The AHPA also authorizes the Secretary to prohibit: (1) The exportation of any livestock if the Secretary determines that the livestock is unfit to be moved; (2) the use of any means of conveyance or facility in connection with the exportation of any animal or article if the Secretary determines that the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the dissemination of any pest or disease of livestock from or within the United States; and (3) the use of any means of conveyance in connection with the exportation of livestock if the Secretary determines that the prohibition or restriction is necessary because the means of conveyance has not been maintained
 
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in a clean and sanitary condition or does not have accommodations for the safe and proper movement and humane treatment of livestock.
 
The Secretary has delegated this authority to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Pursuant to this authority, APHIS has issued the regulations in 9 CFR part 91, “Inspection and Handling of Livestock for Exportation” (“the regulations”).
 
We had not substantively amended these regulations for many years and some revisions were needed. Some provisions, such as those that require pre-export inspection of livestock at an export inspection facility associated with the port of embarkation and those that set forth specific construction and maintenance standards for export inspection facilities and ocean vessels, sometimes interfered with exports. Other requirements, particularly those that required certain tests and certifications for all livestock intended for export from the United States, were not always required by importing countries or necessary for us to have assurances regarding the health and welfare of the livestock at the time of export.
 
For these reasons, on February 26, 2015, we published in the Federal Register (80 FR 10398-10417, Docket No. APHIS-2012-0049) a proposed rule1 to remove requirements that we determined to be unnecessary or overly prescriptive from the regulations in order to provide exporters and APHIS with more options for inspecting and handling livestock intended for export.
 
Additionally, we proposed to amend the regulations so that, when an importing country is known to require an export health certificate for any animal other than livestock or for any animal semen, animal embryos, hatching eggs, other embryonated eggs, or gametes intended for 1 To view the proposed rule, its supporting documents, or the comments that we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2012-0049.
 
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export to that country, the animal or other commodity would have to have an export health certificate in order to be eligible for export from the United States.
 
Finally, we proposed to group certain provisions that were located in disparate sections of the regulations, and to make certain other editorial changes to make the regulations easier to read.
 
We solicited comments concerning our proposal for 60 days ending April 27, 2015. We received 48 comments by that date. They were from exporters, brokers, non-profit animal welfare organizations, and private citizens. We discuss the comments that we received below, grouped by topic in the following order:
 
 General comments on the proposed rule;  Comments regarding specific sections of the proposed rule; and  Comment regarding the Program Handbook.
 
snip...
 
We proposed to define livestock as “horses, cattle (including American bison), captive
cervids, sheep, swine, and goats, regardless of intended use.”
 
snip...
 
This rule amends 9 CFR part 91, which contains requirements for the inspection and
handling of livestock (cattle, horses, captive cervids, sheep, goats, and swine) to be exported
from the United States. Among other things, the rule removes some prescriptive requirements
applicable to livestock, either completely or by replacing them with performance standards, and
makes other adjustments in inspection and handling requirements to assist exporters. These
changes will provide APHIS and exporters more flexibility in arranging for the export of
livestock from the United States while continuing to ensure the animals’ health and welfare.
 
snip...
 
Livestock. Horses, cattle (including American bison), captive cervids, sheep, swine, and
goats, regardless of intended use.
 
snip...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
update........>>>>
 
APHIS Administrator Announces Upcoming Veterinary Services Leadership Transition
 
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sent this bulletin at 01/21/2016 03:00 PM EST
 
Dear Stakeholders:
 
I wanted to make you aware of an upcoming leadership change here at APHIS. Dr. John Clifford, who has served for the past 12 years as Chief Veterinary Officer and Deputy Administrator for Veterinary Services is transitioning from this role to become the Chief Trade Advisor for Veterinary Services National Import Export Services staff beginning March 1st.
 
Maintaining existing and expanding new markets for trade is essential for today’s livestock producers. This change will allow Dr. Clifford to focus more on global trade issues at a time when international work has become ever more crucial to our mission.
 
In the wake of last year’s highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak and our eradication of the virus, Dr. Clifford spent several weeks traveling overseas and meeting with numerous agricultural officials across Asia with the goal of addressing trade restrictions on behalf of the poultry industry. Those discussions helped maintain poultry trade with several Asian countries.
 
In his role as Deputy Administrator, Dr. Clifford has also been actively engaged with the World Organization for Animal Health or the OIE, which is the international body responsible for improving animal health worldwide. This organization helps to ensure transparency regarding countries’ disease statuses and that countries adhere to the latest science when establishing trade restrictions due to animal disease. As Chief Trade Advisor, Dr. Clifford will continue to liaise with the OIE on behalf of U.S. producers.
 
Dr. Clifford has been with APHIS for more than 30 years in both field and headquarters positions. In this time, he has established relationships across all animal sectors and been tirelessly dedicated to safeguarding U.S. animal health. As Administrator, I am thankful we will continue to benefit from Dr. Clifford’s expertise in an arena where we have much at stake, and I will announce Dr. Clifford’s successor closer to his transition date in March.
 
Sincerely,
 
Shea
 
Kevin Shea
 
APHIS Administrator
 
 
 
end update.......<<<<<<<<
 
 
the OIE BSE TSE Prion policy now, the BSE MRR, legalized the free trading of the TSE Prion disease, humans and animals have now become expendable. ...
 
‘’AS i said before, OIE should hang up there jock strap now, since it appears they will buckle every time a country makes some political hay about trade protocol, commodities and futures. IF they are not going to be science based, they should do everyone a favor and dissolve there organization.’’
 
IN A NUT SHELL ;
 
(Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 23 May 2006)
 
11. Information published by the OIE is derived from appropriate declarations made by the official Veterinary Services of Member Countries. The OIE is not responsible for inaccurate publication of country disease status based on inaccurate information or changes in epidemiological status or other significant events that were not promptly reported to the Central Bureau,
 
 
snip...see ;
 
Thursday, January 14, 2016
 
*** EMERGING ANIMAL DISEASES Actions Needed to Better Position USDA to Address Future Risks Report to the Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives December 2015 GAO-16-132
 
GAO
 
 
Friday, January 1, 2016
 
South Korea Lifts Ban on Beef, Veal Imports From Canada
 
 
US CONGRESS, another failed entity...tss
 
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
 
*** Congress repeals country-of-origin labeling rule for beef and pork
 
 
December 28, 2015 at 2:21am
 
*** Australian government assessing risk of importing beef from US, Japan and the Netherlands
 
 
Thursday, December 24, 2015
 
Infectious disease spread is fueled by international trade
 
 
Thursday, December 17, 2015
 
Annual report of the Scientific Network on BSE-TSE 2015 EFSA-Q-2015-00738 10 December 2015
 
 
Sunday, October 18, 2015
 
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Institut Pasteur Cooperating on animal disease and zoonosis research
 
 
SSS SHOOT SHOVEL AND SHUT UP !
 
*** you can find some history of the BSE cases in Canada and Klein’s BSE SSS policy comment here ;
 
 
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
 
MAD COW USDA TSE PRION COVER UP or JUST IGNORANCE, for the record AUGUST 2014
 
 
Saturday, December 12, 2015
 
*** BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY BSE TSE PRION REPORT DECEMBER 14, 2015
 
 
*** Needless conflict ***
 
Nature 485, 279–280 (17 May 2012) doi:10.1038/485279b
 
Published online 16 May 2012
 
Terry S. Singeltary Sr. said:
 
I kindly wish to submit the following please ;
 
 
Research Project: TRANSMISSION, DIFFERENTIATION, AND PATHOBIOLOGY OF TRANSMISSIBLE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHIES
 
Title: Transmission of scrapie prions to primate after an extended silent incubation period
 
Authors
 
item Comoy, Emmanuel - item Mikol, Jacqueline - item Luccantoni-Freire, Sophie - item Correia, Evelyne - item Lescoutra-Etchegaray, Nathalie - item Durand, Valérie - item Dehen, Capucine - item Andreoletti, Olivier - item Casalone, Cristina - item Richt, Juergen item Greenlee, Justin item Baron, Thierry - item Benestad, Sylvie - item Hills, Bob - item Brown, Paul - item Deslys, Jean-Philippe -
 
Submitted to: Scientific Reports Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: May 28, 2015 Publication Date: June 30, 2015 Citation: Comoy, E.E., Mikol, J., Luccantoni-Freire, S., Correia, E., Lescoutra-Etchegaray, N., Durand, V., Dehen, C., Andreoletti, O., Casalone, C., Richt, J.A., Greenlee, J.J., Baron, T., Benestad, S., Brown, P., Deslys, J. 2015. Transmission of scrapie prions to primate after an extended silent incubation period. Scientific Reports. 5:11573.
 
Interpretive Summary:
 
The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (also called prion diseases) are fatal neurodegenerative diseases that affect animals and humans. The agent of prion diseases is a misfolded form of the prion protein that is resistant to breakdown by the host cells. Since all mammals express prion protein on the surface of various cells such as neurons, all mammals are, in theory, capable of replicating prion diseases. One example of a prion disease, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE; also called mad cow disease), has been shown to infect cattle, sheep, exotic undulates, cats, non-human primates, and humans when the new host is exposed to feeds or foods contaminated with the disease agent. The purpose of this study was to test whether non-human primates (cynomologous macaque) are susceptible to the agent of sheep scrapie. After an incubation period of approximately 10 years a macaque developed progressive clinical signs suggestive of neurologic disease. Upon postmortem examination and microscopic examination of tissues, there was a widespread distribution of lesions consistent with a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. This information will have a scientific impact since it is the first study that demonstrates the transmission of scrapie to a non-human primate with a close genetic relationship to humans. This information is especially useful to regulatory officials and those involved with risk assessment of the potential transmission of animal prion diseases to humans.
 
Technical Abstract:
 
Classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (c-BSE) is an animal prion disease that also causes variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. Over the past decades, c-BSE's zoonotic potential has been the driving force in establishing extensive protective measures for animal and human health. In complement to the recent demonstration that humanized mice are susceptible to scrapie, we report here the first observation of direct transmission of a natural classical scrapie isolate to a macaque after a 10-year incubation period. Neuropathologic examination revealed all of the features of a prion disease: spongiform change, neuronal loss, and accumulation of PrPres throughout the CNS.
 
***This observation strengthens the questioning of the harmlessness of scrapie to humans, at a time when protective measures for human and animal health are being dismantled and reduced as c-BSE is considered controlled and being eradicated. Our results underscore the importance of precautionary and protective measures and the necessity for long-term experimental transmission studies to assess the zoonotic potential of other animal prion strains.
 
 
*** Docket No. APHIS-2007-0127 Scrapie in Sheep and Goats Terry Singeltary Sr. Submission ***
 
Docket No. APHIS-2007-0127 Scrapie in Sheep and Goats
 
SUMMARY: We are reopening the comment period for our proposed rule that would revise completely the scrapie regulations, which concern the risk groups and categories established for individual animals and for flocks, the use of genetic testing as a means of assigning risk levels to animals, movement restrictions for animals found to be genetically less susceptible or resistant to scrapie, and recordkeeping requirements. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.
 
DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published on September 10, 2015 (80 FR 54660-54692) is reopened. We will consider all comments that we receive on or before December 9, 2015. ...
 
 
 
 
COMMENT SUBMISSION TERRY S. SINGELTARY SR.
 
WITH regards to Docket No. APHIS-2007-0127 Scrapie in Sheep and Goats, I kindly submit the following ;
 
>>>The last major revision of the scrapie regulations occurred on August 21, 2001, when we published in theFederal Register(66 FR 43964, Docket No. 97-093-5) a final rule amending part 79 by imposing additional restrictions on the interstate movement of sheep and goats.<<<
 
Indeed, much science has changed about the Scrapie TSE prion, including more science linking Scrapie to humans. sadly, politics, industry, and trade, have not changed, and those usually trump sound science, as is the case with all Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy TSE Prion disease in livestock producing animals and the OIE. we can look no further at the legal trading of the Scrapie TSE prion both typical and atypical of all strains, and CWD all stains. With as much science of old, and now more new science to back this up, Scrapie of all types i.e. atypical and typical, BSE all strains, and CWD all strains, should be regulated in trade as BSE TSE PRION. In fact, I urge APHIS et al and the OIE, and all trading partners to take heed to the latest science on the TSE prion disease, all of them, and seriously reconsider the blatant disregards for human and animal health, all in the name of trade, with the continued relaxing of TSE Prion trade regulations through the ‘NEGLIGIBLE BSE RISK’ PROGRAM, which was set up to fail in the first place. If the world does not go back to the ‘BSE RISK ASSESSMENTS’, enhance, and or change that assessment process to include all TSE prion disease, i.e. ‘TSE RISK ASSESSMENT’, if we do not do this and if we continue this farce with OIE and the USDA et al, and the ‘NEGLIGIBLE BSE RISK’ PROGRAM, we will never eradicate the TSE prion aka mad cow type disease, they will continue to mutate and spread among species of human and animal origin, and they will continue to kill. ...
 
please see ;
 
O.05: Transmission of prions to primates after extended silent incubation periods: Implications for BSE and scrapie risk assessment in human populations
 
Emmanuel Comoy, Jacqueline Mikol, Valerie Durand, Sophie Luccantoni, Evelyne Correia, Nathalie Lescoutra, Capucine Dehen, and Jean-Philippe Deslys Atomic Energy Commission; Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
 
Prion diseases (PD) are the unique neurodegenerative proteinopathies reputed to be transmissible under field conditions since decades. The transmission of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) to humans evidenced that an animal PD might be zoonotic under appropriate conditions. Contrarily, in the absence of obvious (epidemiological or experimental) elements supporting a transmission or genetic predispositions, PD, like the other proteinopathies, are reputed to occur spontaneously (atpical animal prion strains, sporadic CJD summing 80% of human prion cases). Non-human primate models provided the first evidences supporting the transmissibiity of human prion strains and the zoonotic potential of BSE. Among them, cynomolgus macaques brought major information for BSE risk assessment for human health (Chen, 2014), according to their phylogenetic proximity to humans and extended lifetime. We used this model to assess the zoonotic potential of other animal PD from bovine, ovine and cervid origins even after very long silent incubation periods.
 
*** We recently observed the direct transmission of a natural classical scrapie isolate to macaque after a 10-year silent incubation period,
 
***with features similar to some reported for human cases of sporadic CJD, albeit requiring fourfold long incubation than BSE. Scrapie, as recently evoked in humanized mice (Cassard, 2014),
 
***is the third potentially zoonotic PD (with BSE and L-type BSE),
 
***thus questioning the origin of human sporadic cases. We will present an updated panorama of our different transmission studies and discuss the implications of such extended incubation periods on risk assessment of animal PD for human health.
 
===============
 
***thus questioning the origin of human sporadic cases***
 
===============
 
 
snip...see ;
 
Monday, November 16, 2015
 
*** Docket No. APHIS-2007-0127 Scrapie in Sheep and Goats Terry Singeltary Sr. Submission ***
 
 
 
==========================================
 
***our findings suggest that possible transmission risk of H-type BSE to sheep and human. Bioassay will be required to determine whether the PMCA products are infectious to these animals.
 
==========================================
 
PRION 2015 CONFERENCE FT. COLLINS CWD RISK FACTORS TO HUMANS
 
*** LATE-BREAKING ABSTRACTS PRION 2015 CONFERENCE ***
 
O18
 
Zoonotic Potential of CWD Prions
 
Liuting Qing1, Ignazio Cali1,2, Jue Yuan1, Shenghai Huang3, Diane Kofskey1, Pierluigi Gambetti1, Wenquan Zou1, Qingzhong Kong1 1Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, 2Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy, 3Encore Health Resources, Houston, Texas, USA
 
*** These results indicate that the CWD prion has the potential to infect human CNS and peripheral lymphoid tissues and that there might be asymptomatic human carriers of CWD infection.
 
==================
 
***These results indicate that the CWD prion has the potential to infect human CNS and peripheral lymphoid tissues and that there might be asymptomatic human carriers of CWD infection.***
 
==================
 
P.105: RT-QuIC models trans-species prion transmission
 
Kristen Davenport, Davin Henderson, Candace Mathiason, and Edward Hoover Prion Research Center; Colorado State University; Fort Collins, CO USA
 
Conversely, FSE maintained sufficient BSE characteristics to more efficiently convert bovine rPrP than feline rPrP. Additionally, human rPrP was competent for conversion by CWD and fCWD.
 
***This insinuates that, at the level of protein:protein interactions, the barrier preventing transmission of CWD to humans is less robust than previously estimated.
 
================
 
***This insinuates that, at the level of protein:protein interactions, the barrier preventing transmission of CWD to humans is less robust than previously estimated.***
 
================
 
 
REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE OIE TERRESTRIAL ANIMAL HEALTH STANDARDS COMMISSION Paris, 19–28 February 2013
 
In response to a Member Country’s detailed justification for listing of chronic wasting disease of cervids (CWD) against the criteria of Article 1.2.2., the Code Commission recommended this disease be reconsidered for listing.
 
 
CWD TO HUMANS RISK FACTORS STILL IGNORED
 
REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE OIE TERRESTRIAL ANIMAL HEALTH STANDARDS COMMISSION Paris, 17–26 September 2013
 
Item 5 Criteria for listing diseases (Chapter 1.2.)
 
Comments were received from Australia, EU, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, Thailand and AU-IBAR The Code Commission noted a Member Country’s comment suggesting that greater clarity was needed for the term ‘significant morbidity and mortality’. As noted in the February 2013 report, the Code Commission considered that the structured process of listing diseases, first by an expert group whose conclusions are documented and circulated for Member Countries’ review and comment, then consideration by the World Assembly of Delegates before final adoption, is sufficiently rigorous and transparent.
 
 
link updated ;
 
Monday, May 05, 2014
 
Member Country details for listing OIE CWD 2013 against the criteria of Article 1.2.2., the Code Commission recommends consideration for listing
 
 
*** Singeltary submission ;
 
*** Program Standards: Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program and Interstate Movement of Farmed or Captive Deer, Elk, and Moose
 
*** DOCUMENT ID: APHIS-2006-0118-0411 ***
 
see attachments PDF @ bottom of submission...tss
 
 
 
SCRAPIE TO HUMANS RISK FACTORS STILL IGNORED
 
***This information will have a scientific impact since it is the first study that demonstrates the transmission of scrapie to a non-human primate with a close genetic relationship to humans. This information is especially useful to regulatory officials and those involved with risk assessment of the potential transmission of animal prion diseases to humans.
 
***This observation strengthens the questioning of the harmlessness of scrapie to humans, at a time when protective measures for human and animal health are being dismantled and reduced as c-BSE is considered controlled and being eradicated. Our results underscore the importance of precautionary and protective measures and the necessity for long-term experimental transmission studies to assess the zoonotic potential of other animal prion strains.
 
 
Monday, November 16, 2015
 
*** Docket No. APHIS-2007-0127 Scrapie in Sheep and Goats Terry Singeltary Sr. Submission ***
 
 
98 | Veterinary Record | January 24, 2015
 
EDITORIAL
 
Scrapie: a particularly persistent pathogen
 
Cristina Acín
 
Resistant prions in the environment have been the sword of Damocles for scrapie control and eradication. Attempts to establish which physical and chemical agents could be applied to inactivate or moderate scrapie infectivity were initiated in the 1960s and 1970s,with the first study of this type focusing on the effect of heat treatment in reducing prion infectivity (Hunter and Millson 1964). Nowadays, most of the chemical procedures that aim to inactivate the prion protein are based on the method developed by Kimberlin and collaborators (1983). This procedure consists of treatment with 20,000 parts per million free chlorine solution, for a minimum of one hour, of all surfaces that need to be sterilised (in laboratories, lambing pens, slaughterhouses, and so on). Despite this, veterinarians and farmers may still ask a range of questions, such as ‘Is there an official procedure published somewhere?’ and ‘Is there an international organisation which recommends and defines the exact method of scrapie decontamination that must be applied?’
 
From a European perspective, it is difficult to find a treatment that could be applied, especially in relation to the disinfection of surfaces in lambing pens of affected flocks. A 999/2001 EU regulation on controlling spongiform encephalopathies (European Parliament and Council 2001) did not specify a particular decontamination measure to be used when an outbreak of scrapie is diagnosed. There is only a brief recommendation in Annex VII concerning the control and eradication of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE s).
 
Chapter B of the regulation explains the measures that must be applied if new caprine animals are to be introduced to a holding where a scrapie outbreak has previously been diagnosed. In that case, the statement indicates that caprine animals can be introduced ‘provided that a cleaning and disinfection of all animal housing on the premises has been carried out following destocking’.
 
Issues around cleaning and disinfection are common in prion prevention recommendations, but relevant authorities, veterinarians and farmers may have difficulties in finding the specific protocol which applies. The European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA ) published a detailed report about the efficacy of certain biocides, such as sodium hydroxide, sodium hypochlorite, guanidine and even a formulation of copper or iron metal ions in combination with hydrogen peroxide, against prions (EFSA 2009). The report was based on scientific evidence (Fichet and others 2004, Lemmer and others 2004, Gao and others 2006, Solassol and others 2006) but unfortunately the decontamination measures were not assessed under outbreak conditions.
 
The EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards recently published its conclusions on the scrapie situation in the EU after 10 years of monitoring and control of the disease in sheep and goats (EFSA 2014), and one of the most interesting findings was the Icelandic experience regarding the effect of disinfection in scrapie control. The Icelandic plan consisted of: culling scrapie-affected sheep or the whole flock in newly diagnosed outbreaks; deep cleaning and disinfection of stables, sheds, barns and equipment with high pressure washing followed by cleaning with 500 parts per million of hypochlorite; drying and treatment with 300 ppm of iodophor; and restocking was not permitted for at least two years. Even when all of these measures were implemented, scrapie recurred on several farms, indicating that the infectious agent survived for years in the environment, even as many as 16 years after restocking (Georgsson and others 2006).
 
In the rest of the countries considered in the EFSA (2014) report, recommendations for disinfection measures were not specifically defined at the government level. In the report, the only recommendation that is made for sheep is repopulation with sheep with scrapie-resistant genotypes. This reduces the risk of scrapie recurrence but it is difficult to know its effect on the infection.
 
Until the EFSA was established (in May 2003), scientific opinions about TSE s were provided by the Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) of the EC, whose advice regarding inactivation procedures focused on treating animal waste at high temperatures (150°C for three hours) and high pressure alkaline hydrolysis (SSC 2003). At the same time, the TSE Risk Management Subgroup of the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) in the UK published guidance on safe working and the prevention of TSE infection. Annex C of the ACDP report established that sodium hypochlorite was considered to be effective, but only if 20,000 ppm of available chlorine was present for at least one hour, which has practical limitations such as the release of chlorine gas, corrosion, incompatibility with formaldehyde, alcohols and acids, rapid inactivation of its active chemicals and the stability of dilutions (ACDP 2009).
 
In an international context, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) does not recommend a specific disinfection protocol for prion agents in its Terrestrial Code or Manual. Chapter 4.13 of the Terrestrial Code, General recommendations on disinfection and disinsection (OIE 2014), focuses on foot-and-mouth disease virus, mycobacteria and Bacillus anthracis, but not on prion disinfection. Nevertheless, the last update published by the OIE on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (OIE 2012) indicates that few effective decontamination techniques are available to inactivate the agent on surfaces, and recommends the removal of all organic material and the use of sodium hydroxide, or a sodium hypochlorite solution containing 2 per cent available chlorine, for more than one hour at 20ºC.
 
The World Health Organization outlines guidelines for the control of TSE s, and also emphasises the importance of mechanically cleaning surfaces before disinfection with sodium hydroxide or sodium hypochlorite for one hour (WHO 1999).
 
Finally, the relevant agencies in both Canada and the USA suggest that the best treatments for surfaces potentially contaminated with prions are sodium hydroxide or sodium hypochlorite at 20,000 ppm. This is a 2 per cent solution, while most commercial household bleaches contain 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite. It is therefore recommended to dilute one part 5.25 per cent bleach with 1.5 parts water (CDC 2009, Canadian Food Inspection Agency 2013).
 
So what should we do about disinfection against prions? First, it is suggested that a single protocol be created by international authorities to homogenise inactivation procedures and enable their application in all scrapie-affected countries. Sodium hypochlorite with 20,000 ppm of available chlorine seems to be the procedure used in most countries, as noted in a paper summarised on p 99 of this issue of Veterinary Record (Hawkins and others 2015). But are we totally sure of its effectiveness as a preventive measure in a scrapie outbreak? Would an in-depth study of the recurrence of scrapie disease be needed?
 
What we can conclude is that, if we want to fight prion diseases, and specifically classical scrapie, we must focus on the accuracy of diagnosis, monitoring and surveillance; appropriate animal identification and control of movements; and, in the end, have homogeneous and suitable protocols to decontaminate and disinfect lambing barns, sheds and equipment available to veterinarians and farmers. Finally, further investigations into the resistance of prion proteins in the diversity of environmental surfaces are required.
 
References
 
snip...
 
98 | Veterinary Record | January 24, 2015
 
 
*** These results suggest that AA fibrils are relatively heat stable and that similar to prions, autoclaving at 135 °C is required to destroy the pathogenicity of AA fibrils.
 
*** These findings may contribute to the prevention of AA fibril transmission through food materials to different animals and especially to humans.
 
New studies on the heat resistance of hamster-adapted scrapie agent: Threshold survival after ashing at 600°C suggests an inorganic template of replication
 
The infectious agents responsible for transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) are notoriously resistant to most physical and chemical methods used for inactivating pathogens, including heat. It has long been recognized, for example, that boiling is ineffective and that higher temperatures are most efficient when combined with steam under pressure (i.e., autoclaving). As a means of decontamination, dry heat is used only at the extremely high temperatures achieved during incineration, usually in excess of 600°C. It has been assumed, without proof, that incineration totally inactivates the agents of TSE, whether of human or animal origin.
 
 
Prion Infected Meat-and-Bone Meal Is Still Infectious after Biodiesel Production
 
Histochemical analysis of hamster brains inoculated with the solid residue showed typical spongiform degeneration and vacuolation. Re-inoculation of these brains into a new cohort of hamsters led to onset of clinical scrapie symptoms within 75 days, suggesting that the specific infectivity of the prion protein was not changed during the biodiesel process. The biodiesel reaction cannot be considered a viable prion decontamination method for MBM, although we observed increased survival time of hamsters and reduced infectivity greater than 6 log orders in the solid MBM residue. Furthermore, results from our study compare for the first time prion detection by Western Blot versus an infectivity bioassay for analysis of biodiesel reaction products. We could show that biochemical analysis alone is insufficient for detection of prion infectivity after a biodiesel process.
 
 
Detection of protease-resistant cervid prion protein in water from a CWD-endemic area
 
The data presented here demonstrate that sPMCA can detect low levels of PrPCWD in the environment, corroborate previous biological and experimental data suggesting long term persistence of prions in the environment2,3 and imply that PrPCWD accumulation over time may contribute to transmission of CWD in areas where it has been endemic for decades. This work demonstrates the utility of sPMCA to evaluate other environmental water sources for PrPCWD, including smaller bodies of water such as vernal pools and wallows, where large numbers of cervids congregate and into which prions from infected animals may be shed and concentrated to infectious levels.
 
 
A Quantitative Assessment of the Amount of Prion Diverted to Category 1 Materials and Wastewater During Processing
 
Keywords:Abattoir;bovine spongiform encephalopathy;QRA;scrapie;TSE
 
In this article the development and parameterization of a quantitative assessment is described that estimates the amount of TSE infectivity that is present in a whole animal carcass (bovine spongiform encephalopathy [BSE] for cattle and classical/atypical scrapie for sheep and lambs) and the amounts that subsequently fall to the floor during processing at facilities that handle specified risk material (SRM). BSE in cattle was found to contain the most oral doses, with a mean of 9864 BO ID50s (310, 38840) in a whole carcass compared to a mean of 1851 OO ID50s (600, 4070) and 614 OO ID50s (155, 1509) for a sheep infected with classical and atypical scrapie, respectively. Lambs contained the least infectivity with a mean of 251 OO ID50s (83, 548) for classical scrapie and 1 OO ID50s (0.2, 2) for atypical scrapie. The highest amounts of infectivity falling to the floor and entering the drains from slaughtering a whole carcass at SRM facilities were found to be from cattle infected with BSE at rendering and large incineration facilities with 7.4 BO ID50s (0.1, 29), intermediate plants and small incinerators with a mean of 4.5 BO ID50s (0.1, 18), and collection centers, 3.6 BO ID50s (0.1, 14). The lowest amounts entering drains are from lambs infected with classical and atypical scrapie at intermediate plants and atypical scrapie at collection centers with a mean of 3 × 10−7 OO ID50s (2 × 10−8, 1 × 10−6) per carcass. The results of this model provide key inputs for the model in the companion paper published here.
 
 
*** Infectious agent of sheep scrapie may persist in the environment for at least 16 years ***
 
Gudmundur Georgsson1, Sigurdur Sigurdarson2 and Paul Brown3
 
 
PL1
 
Using in vitro prion replication for high sensitive detection of prions and prionlike proteins and for understanding mechanisms of transmission.
 
Claudio Soto
 
Mitchell Center for Alzheimer's diseases and related Brain disorders, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston.
 
Prion and prion-like proteins are misfolded protein aggregates with the ability to selfpropagate to spread disease between cells, organs and in some cases across individuals. I n T r a n s m i s s i b l e s p o n g i f o r m encephalopathies (TSEs), prions are mostly composed by a misfolded form of the prion protein (PrPSc), which propagates by transmitting its misfolding to the normal prion protein (PrPC). The availability of a procedure to replicate prions in the laboratory may be important to study the mechanism of prion and prion-like spreading and to develop high sensitive detection of small quantities of misfolded proteins in biological fluids, tissues and environmental samples. Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification (PMCA) is a simple, fast and efficient methodology to mimic prion replication in the test tube. PMCA is a platform technology that may enable amplification of any prion-like misfolded protein aggregating through a seeding/nucleation process. In TSEs, PMCA is able to detect the equivalent of one single molecule of infectious PrPSc and propagate prions that maintain high infectivity, strain properties and species specificity. Using PMCA we have been able to detect PrPSc in blood and urine of experimentally infected animals and humans affected by vCJD with high sensitivity and specificity. Recently, we have expanded the principles of PMCA to amplify amyloid-beta (Aβ) and alphasynuclein (α-syn) aggregates implicated in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, respectively. Experiments are ongoing to study the utility of this technology to detect Aβ and α-syn aggregates in samples of CSF and blood from patients affected by these diseases.
 
=========================
 
***Recently, we have been using PMCA to study the role of environmental prion contamination on the horizontal spreading of TSEs. These experiments have focused on the study of the interaction of prions with plants and environmentally relevant surfaces. Our results show that plants (both leaves and roots) bind tightly to prions present in brain extracts and excreta (urine and feces) and retain even small quantities of PrPSc for long periods of time. Strikingly, ingestion of prioncontaminated leaves and roots produced disease with a 100% attack rate and an incubation period not substantially longer than feeding animals directly with scrapie brain homogenate. Furthermore, plants can uptake prions from contaminated soil and transport them to different parts of the plant tissue (stem and leaves). Similarly, prions bind tightly to a variety of environmentally relevant surfaces, including stones, wood, metals, plastic, glass, cement, etc. Prion contaminated surfaces efficiently transmit prion disease when these materials were directly injected into the brain of animals and strikingly when the contaminated surfaces were just placed in the animal cage. These findings demonstrate that environmental materials can efficiently bind infectious prions and act as carriers of infectivity, suggesting that they may play an important role in the horizontal transmission of the disease.
 
========================
 
Since its invention 13 years ago, PMCA has helped to answer fundamental questions of prion propagation and has broad applications in research areas including the food industry, blood bank safety and human and veterinary disease diagnosis.
 
 
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
 
Objects in contact with classical scrapie sheep act as a reservoir for scrapie transmission
 
Objects in contact with classical scrapie sheep act as a reservoir for scrapie transmission
 
Timm Konold1*, Stephen A. C. Hawkins2, Lisa C. Thurston3, Ben C. Maddison4, Kevin C. Gough5, Anthony Duarte1 and Hugh A. Simmons1
 
1 Animal Sciences Unit, Animal and Plant Health Agency Weybridge, Addlestone, UK, 2 Pathology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency Weybridge, Addlestone, UK, 3 Surveillance and Laboratory Services, Animal and Plant Health Agency Penrith, Penrith, UK, 4 ADAS UK, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK, 5 School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
 
Classical scrapie is an environmentally transmissible prion disease of sheep and goats. Prions can persist and remain potentially infectious in the environment for many years and thus pose a risk of infecting animals after re-stocking. In vitro studies using serial protein misfolding cyclic amplification (sPMCA) have suggested that objects on a scrapie affected sheep farm could contribute to disease transmission. This in vivo study aimed to determine the role of field furniture (water troughs, feeding troughs, fencing, and other objects that sheep may rub against) used by a scrapie-infected sheep flock as a vector for disease transmission to scrapie-free lambs with the prion protein genotype VRQ/VRQ, which is associated with high susceptibility to classical scrapie. When the field furniture was placed in clean accommodation, sheep became infected when exposed to either a water trough (four out of five) or to objects used for rubbing (four out of seven). This field furniture had been used by the scrapie-infected flock 8 weeks earlier and had previously been shown to harbor scrapie prions by sPMCA. Sheep also became infected (20 out of 23) through exposure to contaminated field furniture placed within pasture not used by scrapie-infected sheep for 40 months, even though swabs from this furniture tested negative by PMCA. This infection rate decreased (1 out of 12) on the same paddock after replacement with clean field furniture. Twelve grazing sheep exposed to field furniture not in contact with scrapie-infected sheep for 18 months remained scrapie free. The findings of this study highlight the role of field furniture used by scrapie-infected sheep to act as a reservoir for disease re-introduction although infectivity declines considerably if the field furniture has not been in contact with scrapie-infected sheep for several months. PMCA may not be as sensitive as VRQ/VRQ sheep to test for environmental contamination.
 
snip...
 
Discussion
 
Classical scrapie is an environmentally transmissible disease because it has been reported in naïve, supposedly previously unexposed sheep placed in pastures formerly occupied by scrapie-infected sheep (4, 19, 20). Although the vector for disease transmission is not known, soil is likely to be an important reservoir for prions (2) where – based on studies in rodents – prions can adhere to minerals as a biologically active form (21) and remain infectious for more than 2 years (22). Similarly, chronic wasting disease (CWD) has re-occurred in mule deer housed in paddocks used by infected deer 2 years earlier, which was assumed to be through foraging and soil consumption (23).
 
Our study suggested that the risk of acquiring scrapie infection was greater through exposure to contaminated wooden, plastic, and metal surfaces via water or food troughs, fencing, and hurdles than through grazing. Drinking from a water trough used by the scrapie flock was sufficient to cause infection in sheep in a clean building. Exposure to fences and other objects used for rubbing also led to infection, which supported the hypothesis that skin may be a vector for disease transmission (9). The risk of these objects to cause infection was further demonstrated when 87% of 23 sheep presented with PrPSc in lymphoid tissue after grazing on one of the paddocks, which contained metal hurdles, a metal lamb creep and a water trough in contact with the scrapie flock up to 8 weeks earlier, whereas no infection had been demonstrated previously in sheep grazing on this paddock, when equipped with new fencing and field furniture. When the contaminated furniture and fencing were removed, the infection rate dropped significantly to 8% of 12 sheep, with soil of the paddock as the most likely source of infection caused by shedding of prions from the scrapie-infected sheep in this paddock up to a week earlier.
 
This study also indicated that the level of contamination of field furniture sufficient to cause infection was dependent on two factors: stage of incubation period and time of last use by scrapie-infected sheep. Drinking from a water trough that had been used by scrapie sheep in the predominantly pre-clinical phase did not appear to cause infection, whereas infection was shown in sheep drinking from the water trough used by scrapie sheep in the later stage of the disease. It is possible that contamination occurred through shedding of prions in saliva, which may have contaminated the surface of the water trough and subsequently the water when it was refilled. Contamination appeared to be sufficient to cause infection only if the trough was in contact with sheep that included clinical cases. Indeed, there is an increased risk of bodily fluid infectivity with disease progression in scrapie (24) and CWD (25) based on PrPSc detection by sPMCA. Although ultraviolet light and heat under natural conditions do not inactivate prions (26), furniture in contact with the scrapie flock, which was assumed to be sufficiently contaminated to cause infection, did not act as vector for disease if not used for 18 months, which suggest that the weathering process alone was sufficient to inactivate prions.
 
PrPSc detection by sPMCA is increasingly used as a surrogate for infectivity measurements by bioassay in sheep or mice. In this reported study, however, the levels of PrPSc present in the environment were below the limit of detection of the sPMCA method, yet were still sufficient to cause infection of in-contact animals. In the present study, the outdoor objects were removed from the infected flock 8 weeks prior to sampling and were positive by sPMCA at very low levels (2 out of 37 reactions). As this sPMCA assay also yielded 2 positive reactions out of 139 in samples from the scrapie-free farm, the sPMCA assay could not detect PrPSc on any of the objects above the background of the assay. False positive reactions with sPMCA at a low frequency associated with de novo formation of infectious prions have been reported (27, 28). This is in contrast to our previous study where we demonstrated that outdoor objects that had been in contact with the scrapie-infected flock up to 20 days prior to sampling harbored PrPSc that was detectable by sPMCA analysis [4 out of 15 reactions (12)] and was significantly more positive by the assay compared to analogous samples from the scrapie-free farm. This discrepancy could be due to the use of a different sPMCA substrate between the studies that may alter the efficiency of amplification of the environmental PrPSc. In addition, the present study had a longer timeframe between the objects being in contact with the infected flock and sampling, which may affect the levels of extractable PrPSc. Alternatively, there may be potentially patchy contamination of this furniture with PrPSc, which may have been missed by swabbing. The failure of sPMCA to detect CWD-associated PrP in saliva from clinically affected deer despite confirmation of infectivity in saliva-inoculated transgenic mice was associated with as yet unidentified inhibitors in saliva (29), and it is possible that the sensitivity of sPMCA is affected by other substances in the tested material. In addition, sampling of amplifiable PrPSc and subsequent detection by sPMCA may be more difficult from furniture exposed to weather, which is supported by the observation that PrPSc was detected by sPMCA more frequently in indoor than outdoor furniture (12). A recent experimental study has demonstrated that repeated cycles of drying and wetting of prion-contaminated soil, equivalent to what is expected under natural weathering conditions, could reduce PMCA amplification efficiency and extend the incubation period in hamsters inoculated with soil samples (30). This seems to apply also to this study even though the reduction in infectivity was more dramatic in the sPMCA assays than in the sheep model. Sheep were not kept until clinical end-point, which would have enabled us to compare incubation periods, but the lack of infection in sheep exposed to furniture that had not been in contact with scrapie sheep for a longer time period supports the hypothesis that prion degradation and subsequent loss of infectivity occurs even under natural conditions.
 
In conclusion, the results in the current study indicate that removal of furniture that had been in contact with scrapie-infected animals should be recommended, particularly since cleaning and decontamination may not effectively remove scrapie infectivity (31), even though infectivity declines considerably if the pasture and the field furniture have not been in contact with scrapie-infected sheep for several months. As sPMCA failed to detect PrPSc in furniture that was subjected to weathering, even though exposure led to infection in sheep, this method may not always be reliable in predicting the risk of scrapie infection through environmental contamination. These results suggest that the VRQ/VRQ sheep model may be more sensitive than sPMCA for the detection of environmentally associated scrapie, and suggest that extremely low levels of scrapie contamination are able to cause infection in susceptible sheep genotypes.
 
Keywords: classical scrapie, prion, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, sheep, field furniture, reservoir, serial protein misfolding cyclic amplification
 
 
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
 
*** Objects in contact with classical scrapie sheep act as a reservoir for scrapie transmission
 
 
Monday, January 4, 2016
 
Long live the OIE, or time to close the doors on a failed entity?
 
 
Saturday, December 12, 2015
 
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CWD TSE PRION REPORT DECEMBER 14, 2015
 
 
TEXAS MONTHLY CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CWD JANUARY 2016 DEER BREEDERS STILL DON'T GET IT $
 
Chronic Wasting Unease
 
The emergence of a deadly disease has wildlife officials and deer breeders eyeing each other suspiciously.
 
 
Subject: Bayesian Modeling of Prion Disease Dynamics in Mule Deer Using Population Monitoring and Capture-Recapture Data
 
To date, we are unaware of a study that documents a decrease in CWD prevalence over time in mule deer, white-tailed deer or elk. We briefly consider three plausible explanations for our findings: a) that natural oscillations occur in CWD outbreaks; b) that the outbreak has peaked and is declining to a lower endemic level; or c) that previous management actions were more successful at suppressing the outbreak than originally believed.
 
Sharp & Pastor [41] illustrated that CWD outbreaks may play out as a series of reoccurring epidemics characterized by either stable limit cycles or oscillations that may dampen or amplify as a function of deer density. If this is the case, we would expect today’s declining deer population to feedback on conditions–lowering transmission rates leading to reduced CWD effects and a growing population. Increasing abundance would support higher transmission rates, deer decline, and oscillations of CWD prevalence and deer. Alternatively, Almberg et al. [21] (see also [22–24,41,42]) suggested that CWD outbreaks could reach endemic equilibrium characterized by coexistence of a smaller deer population and CWD. Under these scenarios, population prevalence would reach a lower, constant level after a period of high prevalence and deer decline.
 
Although neither of the foregoing scenarios can be dismissed completely, invoking them ignores the extensive management of this deer population that occurred in the years between the two time points we chose as the basis for our analyses. Management aimed to reduce CWD transmission between 2000 and 2005, which included a combination of (crude and unpopular) focal culling and a broader increase in female harvest, decreased overall deer abundance by about 25%. Analyses carried out shortly after suggested that reductions in deer density had made little impact on CWD prevalence [10]. However, our current findings suggest that these management actions may indeed have attenuated the outbreak. Observed dynamics over the last decade closely approximate those predicted from models by Wild et al. [42] that included a substantial amount of selective predation on CWD-infected individuals. That harvest could be a source of selective mortality is supported by an early notion that CWD-infected deer might be more vulnerable to harvest [43], just as infected deer also appear to be more vulnerable to vehicle collisions and predation [20,33,44]. This offers the possibility that hunting could be used as a more tightly controlled substitute for predation in studies of system responses with CWD and perhaps other similar diseases.
 
The protracted time-scale of the CWD outbreak is much longer than the timespan of our research, which limits our ability to identify the true explanation of our findings. Nonetheless, our research suggests that, at least for the foreseeable future (e.g., decades), mule deer populations sharing the overall survival and infection probabilities estimated from our analyses may persist but likely will not thrive where CWD becomes established as an endemic infectious disease.
 
 
‘’Nonetheless, our research suggests that, at least for the foreseeable future (e.g., decades), mule deer populations sharing the overall survival and infection probabilities estimated from our analyses may persist but likely will not thrive where CWD becomes established as an endemic infectious disease. ‘’
 
*** Bayesian Modeling of Prion Disease Dynamics in Mule Deer Using Population Monitoring and Capture-Recapture Data
 
‘’Mountain lions prey selectively on CWD infected deer [33] and CWD could result in an abundance of vulnerable prey, thereby enhancing mountain lion survival and reproduction [20].’’
 
please see ;
 
‘’preliminary results suggesting that bobcats (Lynx rufus) may be susceptible to white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) chronic wasting disease agent.’’
 
references on Feline Spongiform Encephalopathy FSE toward the bottom, see ;
 
Assessing Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Species Barriers with an In Vitro Prion Protein Conversion Assay
 
Friday, January 01, 2016
 
Bayesian Modeling of Prion Disease Dynamics in Mule Deer Using Population Monitoring and Capture-Recapture Data
 
 
Saturday, December 12, 2015
 
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CWD TSE PRION REPORT DECEMBER 14, 2015
 
 
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
 
Michigan Deer suspected positive for CWD found in Watertown Township; Jan. 12 public meeting set
 
 
TEXAS MONTHLY CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CWD JANUARY 2016 DEER BREEDERS STILL DON'T GET IT $
 
Chronic Wasting Unease
 
The emergence of a deadly disease has wildlife officials and deer breeders eyeing each other suspiciously.
 
 
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
 
Objects in contact with classical scrapie sheep act as a reservoir for scrapie transmission
 
 
LOL!
 
time and time and time again, the USDA is a failed entity, just like the OIE. God protect the industry at all cost, including human and animal health.
 
how many GAO reports, year after year after year, from the GAO, addressing these same failures with TSE Prion disease, before something is done?
 
I was disgusted and very disturbed that in this report, Report to the Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives December 2015 GAO-16-132, Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy TSE Prion was not even mentioned. very, very, disturbing. like it or not, the TSE prion, this dangerous pathogen has not gone anywhere. ...TSS
 
Research article
 
Transmission of sheep-bovine spongiform encephalopathy to pigs
 
Carlos Hedman1, Rosa Bolea1*, Belén Marín1, Fabien Cobrière4, Hicham Filali1, Francisco Vazquez2, José Luis Pitarch1, Antonia Vargas1, Cristina Acín1, Bernardino Moreno1, Martí Pumarola3, Olivier Andreoletti4 and Juan José Badiola1
 
* Corresponding author: Rosa Bolea rbolea@unizar.es
 
Author Affiliations
 
1 Veterinary Faculty, Centro de Investigación en Encefalopatías y Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes (CIEETE), Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain
 
2 Veterinary Hospital, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain
 
3 Veterinary Faculty, Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08193, Spain
 
4 UMR INRA ENVT 1225, Interactions Hôtes Agents Pathogènes, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, 31076, France
 
For all author emails, please log on.
 
Veterinary Research 2016, 47:14 doi:10.1186/s13567-015-0295-8
 
The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.veterinaryresearch.org/content/47/1/14
 
Received: 15 May 2015 Accepted: 21 September 2015 Published: 7 January 2016
 
© 2016 Hedman et al.
 
Open Access
 
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
 
Abstract
 
Experimental transmission of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent has been successfully reported in pigs inoculated via three simultaneous distinct routes (intracerebral, intraperitoneal and intravenous). Sheep derived BSE (Sh-BSE) is transmitted more efficiently than the original cattle-BSE isolate in a transgenic mouse model expressing porcine prion protein. However, the neuropathology and distribution of Sh-BSE in pigs as natural hosts, and susceptibility to this agent, is unknown. In the present study, seven pigs were intracerebrally inoculated with Sh-BSE prions. One pig was euthanized for analysis in the preclinical disease stage. The remaining six pigs developed neurological signs and histopathology revealed severe spongiform changes accompanied by astrogliosis and microgliosis throughout the central nervous system. Intracellular and neuropil-associated pathological prion protein (PrP Sc ) deposition was consistently observed in different brain sections and corroborated by Western blot. PrP Sc was detected by immunohistochemistry and enzyme immunoassay in the following tissues in at least one animal: lymphoid tissues, peripheral nerves, gastrointestinal tract, skeletal muscle, adrenal gland and pancreas. PrP Sc deposition was revealed by immunohistochemistry alone in the retina, optic nerve and kidney. These results demonstrate the efficient transmission of Sh-BSE in pigs and show for the first time that in this species propagation of bovine PrP Sc in a wide range of peripheral tissues is possible. These results provide important insight into the distribution and detection of prions in non-ruminant animals.
 
Introduction Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) are chronic neurodegenerative disorders that affect humans and animals and are associated with the accumulation of an abnormal isoform (PrP Sc ) of the cellular prion protein (PrP C ) in the central nervous system (CNS) [1]. TSE are characterized by spongiform changes in the grey matter accompanied by astrocytosis and microgliosis [2]–[4]. The new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (nvCJD) in humans [5] has been linked with the consumption of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) contaminated meat or meat products during the BSE epidemic in the UK and elsewhere. Moreover, one BSE natural case in a goat in France [6] and another one in the UK [7], [8] have been reported. Sheep and goats can also be experimentally infected using homogenized brain from affected animals as inocula [9]–[11]. While BSE infection is largely restricted to the nervous system in cattle [12], [13], PrP Sc is widely distributed in the lymphoid tissues of sheep experimentally infected with BSE [10], [14], suggesting that infected sheep could constitute a secondary and more dangerous source of BSE infection for other species, including humans [15]–[17].
 
TSE has not been reported in natural conditions in pigs [18], and there is no evidence of BSE transmission between pigs fed with brain material from cattle [19]. However, despite the existence of a strong transmission barrier, signs of TSE have been reported in pigs challenged simultaneously with BSE-derived material via intraperitoneal, intravenous and intracerebral administration [20]–[22]. Those studies demonstrated pathological changes and PrP Sc deposition in the CNS, but reported no evidence of PrP Sc distribution in other organs. Given the possible lifting of the European Union’s ban on feeding pigs and poultry with animal meal, it is vital that TSE transmission be studied in supposedly resistant species, such as swine, that form part of the human food chain. Pigs are the source of a wide range of food products, and pork is one of the most widely eaten meats in the world. Blood is frequently collected during slaughter for blood sausage production and natural sausage casings are almost exclusively prepared from different parts of the alimentary tract of pigs. The use of pigs as graft donors is also a cause for concern, given a reported case of CJD type 1 in a recipient of a porcine dura-mater graft [23]. It has also been demonstrated that BSE experimentally passaged in sheep (Sh-BSE) homozygous for the A 136 R 154 Q 171 allele of ovine prion protein (PrP) exhibits altered pathobiological properties due to a decreased polymorphism barrier [24]. The virulence of Sh-BSE in transgenic mice expressing porcine [15] and human PrP [16], [25] is enhanced with respect to the original cattle BSE prion isolate.
 
This study is the first to describe the tissue distribution of PrP Sc in pigs experimentally infected with BSE previously passaged in sheep, as well as the clinical and neuropathological consequences.
 
snip...
 
Discussion This study was aimed at investigating the susceptibility and neuropathological features of pigs intracerebrally inoculated with the BSE agent after passage in sheep, as well as describing the PrP Sc distribution in peripheral tissues in this species.
 
In the present study, seven pigs were intracerebrally inoculated with 0.5 mL of 10% Sh-BSE homogenate. Except in one animal (P-7), which was euthanized for preclinical analysis, the transmission rate was 100%, with an incubation period range of 77–109 wpi. Two previous studies in which bovine BSE has been transmitted to pigs, reported 87.5% and 20% of rate attacks, with incubation period ranges of 74–163 and 148–175 wpi, respectively [19], [20]. Sh-BSE infected pigs show slightly shorter incubation periods. However, it is not possible to compare the incubation period of our inoculated pigs with respect to the incubation period found in the studies mentioned above, due to the lack of titration of the original inoculum. Moreover, the incubation period could also be modified in TSE due to the species barrier, which is modulated by specific polymorphisms of the PRNP gene and plays a key role in susceptibility to prion disease in other species such as sheep [35], [36], and goats [37]. Although some studies show that there are no differences in the sequence of the porcine PRNP gene [38]–[40], the possibility of changes in other regions of the gene or the involvement of other genes in the incubation periods of BSE in pigs should not be excluded. In addition, the restricted number of animals used does not allow comparing difference on rate attacks in previous studies with the present report. However, transmissible studies in porcine PRNP transgenic mice (Tgpo) has demonstrated that the Sh-BSE agent reached rate attack of 100% and lower survival time when compared to the original bovine BSE (19%) and other BSE isolates at first passage [15]. At two subsequent passages, the transmission rate of both Sh-BSE and bovine BSE was reported to be similar (100%) but always with a lower survival time of the Sh-BSE infected mice [15]. Recent studies have demonstrated an increase in the PrP-converting potency of Sh-BSE caused by decreases in polymorphism barriers [24] and other specific cellular factors [25], allowing Sh-BSE to be transmitted more efficiently than cattle BSE to other species [16], [17] including supposedly less susceptible hosts such as pigs [15]. The current study was in agreement with previous reports [20]–[22] involving intracerebral inoculation of BSE prions to pigs demonstrating that this species is susceptible to BSE. However, it is still unknown if pigs can succumb to BSE after oral exposure which is the most likely route of inoculation under natural conditions.
 
The clinical signs observed in the present study were similar to those described in BSE-infected pigs [20]. Animals initially showed progressive confusion, followed by motor deficits [19]. The behavioral and sensory changes were also consistent with those observed in cattle infected naturally [41] and experimentally with BSE [12]. The minimal neuropil vacuoles found in the control pig are in total agreement with previous studies [21] and apparently does not represent a clinical significant change [20]. The main pathological changes observed were neuropil spongiosis, intraneuronal vacuolation and PrP Sc deposition, all of which are characteristic of TSE [41]. The lesion distribution pattern resembled that described previously in experimentally BSE- infected pigs [21] and cattle [12]; the thalamus was the most affected area, followed by the cerebellar and cerebral cortices, with the mildest effect observed in the spinal cord. PrP Sc deposits were identified in the CNS of all clinically affected pigs. PrP Sc deposits were typically associated with lesions in the fourth and fifth layers of the cerebral cortex. Intracellular (ITNR, ITAS and ITMG) and particulate/coalescing type PrP Sc deposition were the most commonly observed patterns in the different CNS samples, in line with previous findings in sheep [29], [30] and pigs [21] experimentally infected with BSE. Similarities in the PrP Sc deposition types and distribution pattern could be explained by the high stability of the BSE agent reported for different breeds and different genotypes of the prion protein gene (PRNP) in sheep [30]. In addition, the porcine PRNP gene has been described to be very homogenous [38]–[40].
 
The glial reaction in all affected pigs was characterized by marked astrocytosis and microgliosis. Astrocytosis was diffusely distributed throughout the brain of affected pigs, perhaps caused by the accumulation of PrP Sc or by cytokines secreted from astroglial or microglial cells [42]. Microgliosis was present in the deeper layers of the gray matter in the cerebral cortex, which also showed vacuolation and PrP Sc deposition, in accordance with previous findings in mice [43]. The most extreme microglial activation was observed in the hippocampus of all affected pigs, as previously described for CJD [44]. Numerous astrocytic processes and reactive microglia have been described in pigs experimentally infected with BSE [45]. Our results suggest that astrogliosis and microgliosis are common neuropathological features of Sh-BSE infection in pigs, as described for TSE in other species [28], [43], [45]–[47].
 
Histopathological changes indicative of retinal degeneration were observed in all clinically affected pigs. This has not been previously described in pigs experimentally infected with BSE. Neuronal vacuolation in the GCL and disorganization in the plexiform and nuclear layers have been reported in both experimental [48] and natural scrapie infections in sheep [49] and goats [50], chronic wasting disease (CWD) in mule deer [51] and in CJD-infected mice [52]. IHC revealed higher levels of PrP Sc in the retina than in the optic nerve, where staining was less intense and more irregularly distributed, as described in both sCJD and nvCJD [53]. The presence of PrP Sc in the optic nerve and retina is consistent with the centrifugal spread of the agent from the brain, presumably via the optic nerve [52]. This may indicate the existence of other routes of PrP Sc migration to the retina (e.g., via the extracellular space [54], the ad-axonal route along the optic nerve, or both [55]). Other authors have suggested that the spread occurs from the subarachnoid space into the perineural space of the optic nerve, and from there to the epichoroidal and episcleral tissues of the eyeball [56]. Alternatively, the increased presence of PrP Sc in the retina more than in the optic nerve could be attributed to the higher presence of PrP c in the membranes of retinal neurons. Our detection of PrP Sc in different retinal layers is in accordance with previous observations in TSE in mice [52], feline spongiform encephalopathy (FSE) [57], scrapie [49], CWD [51], BSE [56] and in patients with sporadic and nvCJD [53].
 
Western blot revealed a characteristic 3-band pattern that clearly differed from the original inoculum, with a predominant monoclycosylated band. This finding is consistent with previous Western blot findings in BSE-infected pigs [58]. Our results reinforce the hypothesis that this particular signature is associated with the porcine PrP c properties described in Tgpo mice [15].
 
The IDEXX enzyme immunoassay, which is not validated for PrP sc in pigs, detected PrP Sc in samples that tested positive in other postmortem assays, but detected no PrP sc in negative control tissues. Analysis of peripheral tissues revealed widespread dissemination of PrP Sc in many organs other than the CNS. This finding suggests that unlike in cattle where BSE is confined mainly in the nervous system, in the pig, BSE prions can propagate in peripheral tissues as reported in sheep [59]–[61]. However, it is not possible to ascertain that the peripheral distribution of the agent is due to centrifugal dissemination from the brain through the nerves as it is also probable that during an ic challenge part of the inoculum enters into the blood circulation and can be disseminated to the periphery where it can propagate in target tissues [62].
 
PrP Sc deposition in brachial and sciatic nerves has also been described in cattle experimentally infected with L-type BSE [63] and in BSE-infected sheep [64].
 
Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the presence of PrP Sc in the lymphoreticular system of our Sh-BSE infected pigs. The assay revealed sporadic intracytoplasmic accumulation within the tingible body macrophages in some lymph nodes, findings that were subsequently corroborated by IDEXX, in good agreement with previous findings in sheep experimentally infected with BSE [64]. In contrast to our findings, previous studies reported no infectivity of lymphoid tissues in BSE-infected pigs [19]. No PrP Sc was detected in the spleen or GALT of our pigs, in line with previous studies of BSE-infected cattle [65] and FSE [57].
 
PrP Sc accumulation in the gastrointestinal tract of Sh-BSE infected pigs has not been described in similar experiments using this species. We observed PrP Sc deposition in the myenteric plexi without apparent morphological alterations of the enteric neurons, as seen in cattle experimentally infected with BSE [65]. This finding is indicative of a potential centrifugal spread of the Sh-BSE agent from the CNS via the vagus nerve to the peripheral nervous system, and may account for the large deposits of PrP Sc observed in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve in the medulla oblongata.
 
We observed PrP Sc deposition in nerve fibers of the oculomotor muscle in two pigs. In cattle naturally infected with BSE [66], PrP Sc has been detected in intramuscular nerve fibers and muscle spindles. Although we found no PrP Sc in the oculomotor muscle of any other clinically affected pigs, positive labeling was observed in the oculomotor nuclei in the mesencephalon of all clinically affected pigs.
 
Pancreatic PrP Sc staining was observed in 5 pigs. Analysis of pancreatic nervous tissue has revealed PrP Sc deposition in the islets of Langerhans in natural scrapie [34]. In natural BSE [56], PrP Sc deposition has been documented in the nerve fibers of the adrenal gland. In agreement with previous findings in natural scrapie [34], one pig showed PrP Sc immunolabeling in the medullary region of the adrenal gland, associated with chromaffin cells, which are considered modified sympathetic postganglionic neurons. Similarly, the presence of PrP Sc within the epithelial tubular cells of the convoluted tubules and the collecting ducts in the kidney in one pig has been described in FSE [67], suggesting possible prionuria.
 
In addition to the large amount of PrP Sc observed in the CNS of Sh-BSE-infected pigs, PrP Sc was widely distributed in the peripheral tissues, although the extent of this distribution varied between animals. This variation may be related to the distribution of PrP Sc within individual organs, the exact anatomical location points at which samples were collected, and the detection limits of the techniques used. More sensitive studies, such as in vitro protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) and mouse bioassays will be needed to clarify the distribution and infectivity of PrP Sc in peripheral tissues of Sh-BSE infected pigs. These assays will most likely indicate a higher number of PrP Sc -positive peripheral organs.
 
Comparison with previous studies of cattle-BSE in pigs revealed that the incubation period of Sh-BSE in our pigs was generally shorter [20], [21] and that PrP Sc was present in more peripheral tissue types [19]. We believe that these differences may be due to a modification in the pathogenicity of the cattle-BSE agent caused by its prior passage in sheep, as previously described in TgPo mice [15]. However, studies of natural routes of transmission (e.g., oral) will be required to determine the real susceptibility of pigs to the Sh-BSE agent.
 
 
Saturday, January 9, 2016
 
Transmission of sheep-bovine spongiform encephalopathy to pigs
 
Research article
 
 
Thursday, February 19, 2015
 
Inspections Circumvented for Condemned Cows STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE PHYLLIS K. FONG INSPECTOR GENERAL
 
 
Evidence That Transmissible Mink Encephalopathy Results from Feeding Infected Cattle
 
Over the next 8-10 weeks, approximately 40% of all the adult mink on the farm died from TME.
 
snip...
 
The rancher was a ''dead stock'' feeder using mostly (>95%) downer or dead dairy cattle...
 
 
In Confidence - Perceptions of unconventional slow virus diseases of animals in the USA - APRIL-MAY 1989 - G A H Wells
 
3. Prof. A. Robertson gave a brief account of BSE. The US approach was to accord it a very low profile indeed. Dr. A Thiermann showed the picture in the ''Independent'' with cattle being incinerated and thought this was a fanatical incident to be avoided in the US at all costs. ...
 
 
snip...see full text ;
 
Thursday, October 22, 2015
 
Former Ag Secretary Ann Veneman talks women in agriculture and we talk mad cow disease USDA and what really happened
 
 
Comments on technical aspects of the risk assessment were then submitted to FSIS.
 
Comments were received from Food and Water Watch, Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT), Farm Sanctuary, R-CALF USA, Linda A Detwiler, and Terry S. Singeltary.
 
This document provides itemized replies to the public comments received on the 2005 updated Harvard BSE risk assessment. Please bear the following points in mind:
 
 
Owens, Julie
 
From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr. [flounder9@verizon.net]
 
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 1:09 PM
 
To: FSIS RegulationsComments
 
Subject: [Docket No. FSIS-2006-0011] FSIS Harvard Risk Assessment of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
 
Page 1 of 98
 
 
FSIS, USDA, REPLY TO SINGELTARY
 
 
Singeltary to APHIS FDA USDA et al ;
 
 
 
To: agsec@usda.gov Cc: john.clifford@aphis.usda.gov; usaha@usaha.org; jmeng@cpfbeef.com;LAVET22@aol.com Phyllis.Fong@usda.gov
 
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 2:07 PM
 
Subject: USDA VS CREEKSTONE BSE/BASE/TSE TESTING Civil Action No. 06-0544 (JR) May 27, 2007 Honorable Michael Johanns Secretary of Agriculture U.S. Department of Agriculture Room 200 Jamie Whitten Federal Building Washington, D.C. 20250 CC Honorable Judge James Robertson U.S. District Court 333 Constitution Ave. North West Washington, D. C. 20001 Subject: Request to let the Creekstone vs. USDA court decision stand. Ref: Letter from United States Animal Health Association, dated May 22, 2007
 
Dear Mr. Secretary et al :
 
I am requesting that you allow the court decision in the Creekstone vs. USDA to stand so that Creekstone may begin testing the beef they process for BSE and or BASE and or any other TSE phenotype there of. WE must let them test since the USDA et al refuse to do so properly. This is not to say that there should be no strict TSE testing protocols. IF testing is to take place privately, there must be strict TSE testing protocol to assure the most up to date, sensitive, and validated tests are used, and used properly. These tests must be announced to the public in a timely manner at every step of the way, validated and confirmed by the federal government, Weybridge, and an independent third party consumer organization and there TSE expert of choice, in my opinion. My mother died from a exceedingly rare strain of sporadic CJD i.e. the Heidenhain Variant of CJD. My neighbors mother also lost his mother to a form of sporadic CJD exactly one year previously from the day my mother died. BOTH cases were confirmed by autopsy. There is new data out about the BASE atypical BSE, which pathologically is more related to a phenotype of sporadic CJD, than the nvCJD in humans from the UK. To continue to ignore these scientific findings with the old UKBSEnvCJD only theory is not justified by science anymore. It is not logical. The logic behind the reasons not to let test for TSE in the USA because of The Virus Serum Toxin Act of 1913 and or because of the recent letter from the USAHA (see letter below) bring forth, are totally bogus. NO one could screw the testing up any worse than the USDA has done in the past. The OIG and the GAO has shown this time and time again. The 2004 Enhanced BSE surveillance program where some 275,000+ cattle were tested for BSE was proven to be terribly flawed from the beginning. This documented time and time again. Even Paul Brown, known and respected TSE scientist, former TSE expert for the CDC said he had ''absolutely no confidence in USDA tests before one year ago'', and this was on March 15, 2006 ; "The fact the Texas cow showed up fairly clearly implied the existence of other undetected cases," Dr. Paul Brown, former medical director of the National Institutes of Health's Laboratory for Central Nervous System Studies and an expert on mad cow-like diseases, told United Press International. "The question was, 'How many?' and we still can't answer that." Brown, who is preparing a scientific paper based on the latest two mad cow cases to estimate the maximum number of infected cows that occurred in the United States, said he has "absolutely no confidence in USDA tests before one year ago" because of the agency's reluctance to retest the Texas cow that initially tested positive. USDA officials finally retested the cow and confirmed it was infected seven months later, but only at the insistence of the agency's inspector general. "Everything they did on the Texas cow makes everything USDA did before 2005 suspect," Brown said. ...
 
snip...end
 
 
CDC - Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and Variant Creutzfeldt ... Dr. Paul Brown is Senior Research Scientist in the Laboratory of Central Nervous System ... Address for correspondence: Paul Brown, Building 36, Room 4A-05, ... http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no1/brown.htm
 
PAUL BROWN COMMENT TO ME ON THIS ISSUE Tuesday, September 12, 2006 11:10 AM "Actually, Terry, I have been critical of the USDA handling of the mad cow issue for some years, and with Linda Detwiler and others sent lengthy detailed critiques and recommendations to both the USDA and the Canadian Food Agency." OR, what the Honorable Phyllis Fong of the OIG found ; Audit Report Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Surveillance Program ­ Phase II and Food Safety and Inspection Service Controls Over BSE Sampling, Specified Risk Materials, and Advanced Meat Recovery Products - Phase III Report No. 50601-10-KC January 2006 Finding 2 Inherent Challenges in Identifying and Testing High-Risk Cattle Still Remain
 
 
Mr. Johanns, The August 4, 1997 FDA BSE ruminant to ruminant feed ban was nothing more than ink on paper. In 2007 alone, 10 MILLION plus pounds of banned blood laced MBM has already gone out into commerce for the feeding of banned product to cattle. yes, were still feeding cows banned BSE/BASE product in 2007, almost 10 years after the voluntary ban was put in place. guess what, it aint working.
 
YOU and this Administration have failed terribly in protecting not only the consumer, but your precious commodity that you speak so highly of i.e. the beef industry. In your continued efforts to cover up the real mad cow problem in the USA, you have in fact only amplified it and continued it's spread, and in doing so, you have needlessly exposed millions to the TSE agent, from many different proven routes and sources. The only saving grace you have is the incubation period has been on your side. It will catch up. When it does, when the people finally figure all this out, when some of the millions you have needlessly exposed to this agent become clinical in the future, rest assured I will stand in line to see that you and your administration are convicted for murder. What you and this administration have done over the past 8 years is criminal, in my opinion. I have watched not only you, but the Bush administration thumb there nose to science for almost 8 years, all to protect the beef industry. The science was there, but you chose to ignore it, and even manipulated science with the bogus BSE MRR policy, all the while your were implementing that, you were covering up another mad cow in Texas. But thanks to the Honorable Phyllis Fong of the OIG, and an act of Congress, that mad cow was finally proven positive, unlike the other stumbling and staggering mad cow that was rendered without any test at all in Texas, but by then you had succeeded in the BSE MRR policy, the legal trading of all strains of TSE globally. You and this administration have done the same thing the UK did when they poisoned the globe with there exporting of BSE, except you made it legal now with the BSE MRR policy, and now we are dealing with BASE, a strain that is more virulent to humans. what happens when it mutates again? When cwd deer and elk and there different phenotypes have all been rendered into feed, along with scrapie infected sheep in the USA, and a few TME to top that off, it will be a most interesting recipe will it not, and an interesting case study for humans for decades to come. sadly though, with the recent pet food scandal, and the deaths there of, we have learned a few things. one, that the elderly are expendable, but cats, dogs, and adolescents are not. and that the problem of our feeding of food producing animals has been tainted for decades. and with the melamine scandal, as with the mad cow feed scandal, it's the same old song and dance by you and the Bush administration, everything is o.k., will not hurt you, cover-up and protect the industry at all cost, and this will be another part of your sad legacy in History Sir. To not allow BSE/TSE testing in the USA, testing that will find, only proves our point, you have and will continue to cover up the real mad cow problem in the USA. and the world knows this. ...
 
Terry S. Singeltary Sr. P.O. Box 42 Bacliff, Texas USA 77518
 
UNITED STATES ANIMAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION 8100 Three Chopt Road, Suite 203 P. O. BOX K227 RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23288 804- 285-3210 FAX 804-285-3367 E-Mail: usaha@usaha.org Web Site: www.usaha.org May 22, 2007 Honorable Michael Johanns Secretary of Agriculture U.S. Department of Agriculture Room 200 Jamie Whitten Federal Building Washington, D.C. 20250
 
Dear Mr. Secretary: The United States Animal Health Association (USAHA), wishes to express its encouragement to you and the Department of Agriculture to appeal the litigation surrounding private testing for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy. We hope you will strongly consider this as you work with the Office of General Counsel on this suit. To support this appeal, we offer that this sets a detrimental precedence on USDA's ability to regulate disease and testing processes in animal agriculture. As we appreciate the entrepreneurial spirit of Creekstone, the larger scale implications could lead to devastating impacts for food animal production in this country as itrelates to animal health. We do feel that private testing could hamper animal health officials' ability to locate disease occurrences, and exercise proper practices to trace, control and eliminate them. As you are aware, there are a number of factors that raise concern among animal health leaders and diagnosticians. We encourage you to thoroughly consider those upon your decision to appeal. We do recognize this is now a matter of the courts, and trust that our ability to safeguard animal health is not compromised as a result of this litigation. Please let us know if there is any further support we can provide. Sincerely, Lee M. Myers President, U.S. Animal Health Association Cc: Dr. John Clifford
 
===============================
 
USA MAD COW STRAIN MORE VIRULENT TO HUMANS THAN UK STRAIN 18 January 2007 - Draft minutes of the SEAC 95 meeting (426 KB) held on 7 December 2006 are now available.
 
snip...
 
64. A member noted that at the recent Neuroprion meeting, a study was presented showing that in transgenic mice BSE passaged in sheep may be more virulent and infectious to a wider range of species than bovine derived BSE. Other work presented suggested that BSE and bovine amyloidotic spongiform encephalopathy (BASE) MAY BE RELATED. A mutation had been identified in the prion protein gene in an AMERICAN BASE CASE THAT WAS SIMILAR IN NATURE TO A MUTATION FOUND IN CASES OF SPORADIC CJD.
 
snip...
 
 
3:30 Transmission of the Italian Atypical BSE (BASE) in Humanized Mouse Models Qingzhong Kong, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Pathology, Case Western Reserve University Bovine Amyloid Spongiform Encephalopathy (BASE) is an atypical BSE strain discovered recently in Italy, and similar or different atypical BSE cases were also reported in other countries. The infectivity and phenotypes of these atypical BSE strains in humans are unknown. In collaboration with Pierluigi Gambetti, as well as Maria Caramelli and her co-workers, we have inoculated transgenic mice expressing human prion protein with brain homogenates from BASE or BSE infected cattle. Our data shows that about half of the BASE-inoculated mice became infected with an average incubation time of about 19 months; in contrast, none of the BSE-inoculated mice appear to be infected after more than 2 years.
 
***These results indicate that BASE is transmissible to humans and suggest that BASE is more virulent than classical BSE in humans.***
 
6:30 Close of Day One
 
 
IN A NUT SHELL ;
 
(Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 23 May 2006)
 
11. Information published by the OIE is derived from appropriate declarations made by the official Veterinary Services of Member Countries. The OIE is not responsible for inaccurate publication of country disease status based on inaccurate information or changes in epidemiological status or other significant events that were not promptly reported to then Central Bureau............
 
 
Audit Report Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Surveillance Program ­ Phase II and Food Safety and Inspection Service
 
Controls Over BSE Sampling, Specified Risk Materials, and Advanced Meat Recovery Products - Phase III
 
Report No. 50601-10-KC January 2006
 
Finding 2 Inherent Challenges in Identifying and Testing High-Risk Cattle Still Remain
 
 
Report to Congressional Requesters: February 2005: Mad Cow Disease:
 
FDA's Management of the Feed Ban Has Improved, but Oversight Weaknesses Continue to Limit Program Effectiveness:
 
 
 
 
January 2002 MAD COW DISEASE Improvements in the Animal Feed Ban and Other Regulatory Areas Would Strengthen U.S. Prevention Efforts GAO-02-183
 
 
February 2005 MAD COW DISEASE
 
FDA’s Management of
 
the Feed Ban Has
 
Improved, but
 
Oversight Weaknesses
 
Continue to Limit
 
Program Effectiveness
 
GAO-05-101
 
What GAO Found
 
United States Government Accountability Office
 
Why GAO Did This Study
 
Highlights
 
Accountability Integrity Reliability
 
www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-101.
 
To view the full product, including the scope
 
and methodology, click on the link above.
 
For more information, contact Robert A.
 
Robinson at (202) 512-3841 or
 
robinsonr@gao.gov.
 
Highlights of GAO-05-101, a report to
 
congressional requesters
 
February 2005
 
MAD COW DISEASE
 
FDA’s Management of the Feed Ban Has
 
Improved, but Oversight Weaknesses
 
Continue to Limit Program Effectiveness
 
FDA has made needed improvements to its management and oversight of the
 
feed-ban rule in response to GAO’s 2002 report, but program weaknesses
 
continue to limit the effectiveness of the ban and place U.S. cattle at risk of
 
spreading BSE. Improvements made include FDA establishing a uniform
 
method of conducting compliance inspections and training FDA inspectors,
 
as well as state inspectors who carry out inspections under agreements with
 
FDA, on the new method. FDA also implemented new data-entry procedures
 
that are designed to more reliably track feed-ban inspection results.
 
Consequently, FDA has a better management tool for overseeing compliance
 
with the feed-ban rule and a data system that better conforms to standard
 
database management practices. However, various program weaknesses
 
continue to undermine the nation’s firewall against BSE. For example:
 
• FDA acknowledges that there are more feed manufacturers and
 
transporters, on-farm mixers, and other feed industry businesses that are
 
subject to the feed ban than the approximately 14,800 firms inspected to
 
date; however, it has no uniform approach for identifying additional
 
firms.
 
• FDA has not reinspected approximately 2,800, or about 19 percent, of
 
those businesses, in 5 or more years; several hundred are potentially
 
high risk. FDA does not know whether those businesses now use
 
prohibited material in their feed.
 
• FDA’s feed-ban inspection guidance does not include instructions to
 
routinely sample cattle feed to test for potentially prohibited material as
 
part of the compliance inspection. Instead, it includes guidance for
 
inspectors to visually examine facilities and equipment and review
 
invoices and other documents.
 
• Feed intended for export is not required to carry a caution label "Do not
 
feed to cattle or other ruminants," when the label would be required if
 
the feed were sold domestically. Without that statement, feed containing
 
prohibited material could be inadvertently or intentionally diverted back
 
to U.S. cattle or given to foreign cattle.
 
• FDA has not always alerted USDA and states when it learned that cattle
 
may have been given feed that contained prohibited material. This lapse
 
has been occurring even though FDA’s guidance calls for such
 
communication.
 
• Although research suggests that cattle can get BSE from ingesting even a
 
small amount of infected material, inspectors do not routinely inspect or
 
review cleanout procedures for vehicles used to haul cattle feed.
 
More than 5 million cattle across
 
Europe have been killed to stop the
 
spread of bovine spongiform
 
encephalopathy (BSE), commonly
 
called mad cow disease. Found in
 
26 countries, including Canada and
 
the United States, BSE is believed
 
to spread through animal feed that
 
contains protein from BSE-infected
 
animals. Consuming meat from
 
infected cattle has also been linked
 
to the deaths of about 150 people
 
worldwide. In 1997, the Food and
 
Drug Administration (FDA) issued
 
a feed-ban rule prohibiting certain
 
animal protein (prohibited
 
material) in feed for cattle and
 
other ruminant animals. FDA and
 
38 states inspect firms in the feed
 
industry to enforce this critical
 
firewall against BSE. In 2002, GAO
 
reported a number of weaknesses
 
in FDA’s enforcement of the feed
 
ban and recommended corrective
 
actions. This report looks at FDA’s
 
efforts since 2002 to ensure
 
industry compliance with the feed
 
ban and protect U.S. cattle.
 
What GAO Recommends
 
GAO recommends FDA, among
 
other things, develop procedures
 
for finding additional firms subject
 
to the feed-ban and using tests to
 
augment inspections. FDA said the
 
study was thorough but disagreed
 
on four of nine recommendations.
 
GAO continues to believe that,
 
given the discovery of BSE in North
 
America and the oversight gaps
 
described in the report, the
 
recommended actions are needed
 
to protect U.S. cattle from BSE.
 
snip...full text ;
 
 
What GAO Found United States Government Accountability Office Why GAO Did This Study Highlights Accountability Integrity Reliability www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-549T. To view the full product, including the scope and methodology, click on the link above. For more information, contact Robert A. Robinson at (202) 512-3841 or robinsonr@gao.gov. Highlights of GAO-05-549T, a testimony to the Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce and Agency Organization, Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives
 
May 17, 2005 OVERSEEING THE U.S. FOOD SUPPLY
 
Steps Should Be Taken to Reduce Overlapping Federal Inspections and Related Activities
 
USDA and FDA have primary responsibility for overseeing the safety of the U.S. food supply; the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Marine Fisheries Service also play key roles. In carrying out their responsibilities, these agencies spend resources on a number of overlapping activities, particularly inspection/enforcement, training, research, and rulemaking, for both domestic and imported food. For example, both USDA and FDA conduct similar inspections at 1,451 dual jurisdiction establishments—facilities that produce foods regulated by both agencies, as shown below. To better manage the fragmented federal system, these agencies have entered into at least 71 interagency agreements—about a third of them highlight the need to reduce duplication and overlap or make efficient and effective use of resources. The agencies do not take full advantage of these agreements because they do not have adequate mechanisms for tracking them and, in some cases, do not fully implement them. Selected industry associations, food companies, consumer groups, and academic experts disagree on the extent of overlap, on how best to improve the federal system, and on whether to consolidate food safety-related functions into a single agency. However, they agreed that laws and regulations should be modernized to more effectively and efficiently control food safety hazards. As GAO recently reported, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom also had fragmented systems. These countries took steps to consolidate food safety functions— each country modified its food safety laws and established a single agency to lead food safety management or enforcement of food safety legislation.
 
GAO has issued many reports documenting problems resulting from the fragmented nature of the federal food safety system—a system based on 30 primary laws. This testimony summarizes GAO’s most recent work on the federal system for ensuring the safety of the U.S. food supply. It provides (1) an overview of food safety functions, (2) examples of overlapping and duplicative inspection and training activities, and (3) observations on efforts to better manage the system through interagency agreements. It also provides information on other countries’ experiences with consolidation and the views of key stakeholders on possible consolidation in the United States. What GAO Recommends In the past, GAO has recommended that the Congress consider fundamental restructuring to ensure the effective use of scarce government resources. In the report that the Subcommittee is releasing today, GAO recognizes that, short of reorganization, other improvements can be made to help reduce overlap and duplication and to leverage existing resources. For example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could use existing authority to commission U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspections of dual jurisdiction establishments.
 
 
snip...full text below
 
 
-------- Original Message --------
 
Subject: GAO September 2004 EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASE Review of State and Federal Disease Surveillance Efforts GAO-04-877
 
Date: Mon, 01 Nov 2004 14:24:33 –0600
 
From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr."
 
To: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy , NelliganJ@gao.gov, JarmonG@gao.gov
 
CC: cjdvoice@yahoogroups.com
 
Report to the Chairman, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Committee on Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate United States Government Accountability Office GAO September 2004 EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES Review of State and Federal Disease Surveillance Efforts GAO-04-877
 
snip...
 
Description of U.S. List of Nationally Notifiable Infectious Diseases, 2004 (no human TSE was listed...TSS)
 
snip...
 
Selected Worldwide Emerging Infectious Diseases
 
Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) is a rare, degenerative, fatal brain disorder in humans. It is believed that vCJD is contracted through the consumption of cattle products contaminated with the agent of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease a slowly progressive, degenerative, fatal disease affecting the central nervous system of adult cattle. There is no known treatment of vCJD.
 
snip...end
 
1. Emerging Infectious Diseases: Review of State and Federal Disease Surveillance Efforts. GAO-04-877, September 30. http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-877
 
www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-877.
 
To view the full product, including the scope and methodology, click on the link above. For more information, contact Majorie Kanof at (202) 512-7119. Highlights of GAO-04-877, a report to the Chairman, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Committee on Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate September 2004 EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES Review of State and Federal Disease Surveillance Efforts The threat posed by infectious diseases has grown. New diseases, unknown in the United States just a decade ago, such as West Nile virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), have emerged. To detect cases of infectious diseases, especially before they develop into widespread outbreaks, local, state, and federal public health officials as well as international organizations conduct disease surveillance. Disease surveillance is the process of reporting, collecting, analyzing, and exchanging information related to cases of infectious diseases. In this report GAO was asked to examine disease surveillance efforts in the United States. Specifically, GAO described (1) how state and federal public health officials conduct surveillance for infectious diseases and (2) initiatives intended to enhance disease surveillance. GAO reviewed documents, such as policy manuals and reports related to disease surveillance, and interviewed officials from selected federal departments and agencies, including the Departments of Defense (DOD), Agriculture (USDA), and Homeland Security (DHS) as well as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). GAO conducted structured interviews of state public health officials from 11 states. Surveillance for infectious diseases in the United States comprises a variety of efforts at the state and federal levels. At the state level, state health departments collect and analyze data on cases of infectious diseases. These data are required to be reported by health care providers and others to the state. State public health departments verify reported cases of diseases, monitor disease incidence, identify possible outbreaks within their state, and report this information to CDC. At the federal level, agencies and departments collect and analyze disease surveillance data and maintain disease surveillance systems. For example, CDC uses the reports of diseases from the states to monitor national health trends, formulate and implement prevention strategies, and evaluate state and federal disease prevention efforts. FDA analyzes information on outbreaks of infectious diseases that originate from foods that the agency regulates. Some federal agencies and departments also fund and operate their own disease surveillance systems and laboratory networks and have several means of sharing surveillance information with local, state, and international public health partners. State and federal public health officials have implemented a number of initiatives intended to enhance disease surveillance, but challenges remain. For example, officials have implemented and expanded syndromic surveillance systems, which monitor the frequency and distribution of health-related symptoms among people within a specific geographic area. Although syndromic surveillance systems are used by federal agencies and departments and in all of the states whose officials GAO interviewed, concerns have been raised about this approach to surveillance. Specifically, syndromic surveillance systems are relatively costly to maintain compared to other types of surveillance and are still largely untested. Public health officials are also implementing initiatives designed to enhance public health communications and disease reporting. For example, CDC is working to increase the number of participants using its public health communication systems. In addition, state public health departments and CDC are implementing an initiative designed to make electronic disease reporting more timely, accurate, and complete. However, the implementation of this initiative is incomplete. Finally, federal public health officials have enhanced federal coordination on disease surveillance and expanded training programs for epidemiologists and other public health experts. In commenting on a draft of this report, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the report captures many important issues in surveillance. HHS also provided suggestions to clarify the discussion.
 
 
Greetings GAO,
 
I am deeply disturbed by the fact that not only the USDA/FDA/CDC/APHIS, BUT most dirturbing the GAO refuse to acknowledge ALL Human/Animal TSEs. With not only BSE in cattle, you now have BASE in cattle, showing up in more and more countries and we now have another atypical TSE, not sheep now, but a GOAT, that is indistinguishable from BSE. THERE are atypical TSEs showing up in humans, being documented as sporadic CJD, while we have a new TSE in CATTLE 'BASE' and the title of the study speaks for itself;
 
Medical Sciences
 
Identification of a second bovine amyloidotic spongiform encephalopathy: Molecular similarities with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
 
 
TO pour more gas on the fire we have other atyical TSEs that are going ignored, and this is what got us in this mess. Please do not continue to make the same mistakes. sporadic CJD does have routes and sources. THIS is why all Human/Animal TSEs must be made reportable across the board. THERE is no other answer...
 
How can you have this ;
 
> A notifiable disease is an infectious disease for which regular, > frequent, and timely information on individual cases is considered > necessary for the prevention and control of the disease...
 
THEN have this;
 
> The diseases that must be reported vary by state...
 
AND at the same time stop the spread of human/animal TSEs across the board?
 
answer: you can't, and the agent continues to spread.
 
you must not continue to ignore the obvious; ...snip...end
 
OIG same old song and dance until 2008 ;
 
Safety and Security: Increasingly we have all come to realize that the world
 
presents greater threats to our well being as individuals and a citizenry in terms
 
of health and resources. Challenges such as those related to maintaining a safe
 
food supply and protecting America’s plants and animals from invasive pests are
 
critical. Thus, we have established as a strategic goal
 
"Support USDA in the
 
enhancement of safety and security measures to protect USDA and
 
agricultural resources and in related public health concerns." ...
 
 
•GAO-05-51 October 2004 FOOD SAFETY (over 500 customers receiving potentially BSE contaminated beef)
 
-------- Original Message --------
 
Subject: USDA and FDA Need to Better Ensure Prompt and Complete Recalls of Potentially Unsafe Food GAO-05-51
 
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 13:40:01 -0500 From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr."
 
To: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy CC: cjdvoice@yahoogroups.com
 
October 2004 FOOD SAFETY USDA and FDA Need to Better Ensure Prompt and Complete Recalls of Potentially Unsafe Food
 
snip...
 
Page 38 GAO-05-51 Food Recall Programs
 
To examine the voluntary recall of beef products associated with the December 2003 discovery of an animal infected with BSE, we analyzed the distribution lists USDA collected from companies and the verification checks it conducted to develop a diagram illustrating the location and volume of recalled beef that reached different levels of the distribution chain. We compared the distribution lists and verification checks to identify how many customers listed on the distribution lists did not receive the recalled beef and the number of customers not listed on distribution lists that received the recalled beef. We interviewed USDA and FDA staff involved with the recall to understand the timing of recall actions and the challenges encountered during the recall.
 
To develop information on the 2002 recall of ground beef by a ConAgra plant in Greeley, Colorado, we reviewed USDA’s recall file and other documents on the recall. We also met with the department’s Office of Inspector General and reviewed the Inspector General’s September 2003 report.1
 
We conducted our review from May 2003 through August 2004 in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. 1U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, Great Plains Region Audit Report: Food Safety and Inspection Service: Oversight of Production Process and Recall at ConAgra Plant (Establishment 969), Report No. 24601-2-KC (September 2003).
 
Page 39 GAO-05-51 Food Recall Programs
 
Appendix II
 
Federal Actions Associated with the Discovery of an Animal in the United States Infected with BSE Appendix II
 
On December 23, 2003, USDA announced that a cow in the state of Washington had tested positive for BSE—commonly referred to as mad cow disease. This appendix describes the actions USDA took to recall the meat and the actions FDA took with respect to FDA-regulated products, such as animal feed and cosmetics, made from rendered parts of the animal.
 
Beef Recall Was Triggered by a BSE Positive Sample from One Cow On December 9, 2003, the recalling company slaughtered 23 cows. USDA, in accordance with its BSE surveillance policy at the time, took a sample of 1 cow that was unable to walk, although the condition of the tested cow is now disputed. USDA did not process the sample in its Ames, Iowa National Veterinary Services Laboratory in an expedited manner because the cow did not show symptoms of neurological disorder. USDA test results indicated a presumptive positive for BSE on December 23, 2003. Recall Begun in December 2003 Was Completed in March 2004
 
On December 23, 2003, after learning about the positive BSE test, USDA headquarters notified the Boulder District Office, which is the field office with jurisdiction over the recalling firm. The Boulder District began gathering information about the recalling company’s product distribution. Field staff telephoned the recalling company and were on-site at 7:00 p.m. The Boulder District initially thought 3 days of the recalling company’s production would have to be recalled, but further examination of facility cleanup and shipping records revealed that it was only necessary to recall 1 day of production. USDA recall staff convened at 9:15 p.m. and discussed the science related to BSE and whether the recalling company’s cleanup practices were sufficient to limit the recall to 1 day of production. Following USDA’s determination to conduct a Class II recall—that is, the beef posed a remote possibility of adverse health consequences—USDA contacted the recalling company to discuss recall details and the press release. The press release and Recall Notification Report were released that evening.
 
On December 24, 2003, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) sent inspectors to the recalling company’s primary customers to obtain secondary customer distribution lists and product shipping records. USDA conducted 100 percent verification checks for this recall—it contacted every customer that received the recalled meat. This level of verification checks is well above the percentage of checks conducted by USDA district offices for the Class I recalls we reviewed.
 
Appendix II
 
Federal Actions Associated with the Discovery of an Animal in the United States Infected with BSE
 
Page 40 GAO-05-51 Food Recall Programs
 
On December 26, 2003, USDA began checking the primary and secondary customers of the recalling company that it was aware of, although the entire product distribution chain was unknown. During the checks, USDA tried to determine if the product was further distributed, and it used verification checks to acquire distribution lists for secondary and tertiary customers of the recalling company.
 
Verification checks continued until February 25, 2004. Three USDA districts conducted these verification checks. The Boulder District coordinated the checks and assigned checks to the Minneapolis District Office for customers in Montana and to the Alameda District Office for customers in California. USDA required that 100 percent of the primary checks, 50 percent of the secondary checks, and 20 percent of the tertiary checks be conducted on-site. According to USDA, more than 50 percent of the secondary checks were actually conducted on-site. FDA officials helped conduct verification checks. According to USDA, the recall took a long time to complete because USDA contacted each customer at least twice. USDA first contacted each customer to conduct the check and again to verify product disposition.
 
On February 25, 2004, the Boulder District concluded that the recall was conducted in an effective manner. On March 1, 2004, USDA’s Recall Management Division recommended that the agency terminate the recall, and USDA sent a letter to the recalling company to document that USDA considered the recall to be complete.
 
Recall Was Complicated by Inaccurate Distribution Lists and Mixing of Potentially Contaminated and Noncontaminated Beef
 
USDA used distribution lists and shipping records to piece together where the recalled product was distributed. According to USDA, one of the recalling company’s three primary customers was slow in providing its customer list. USDA could not begin verification activities for that primary customer without this list. Furthermore, some customers of the recalling company provided USDA with imprecise lists that did not specify which customers received the recalled product. As a consequence, USDA could not quickly determine the scope of product distribution and had to take time conducting extra research using shipping invoices to determine which specific customers received the product.
 
Even when USDA determined the amount and location of beef, the agency still had trouble tracking the beef in certain types of establishments, such as grocery store distributors. USDA could not easily track the individual stores where those distributors sent the beef because of product mixing
 
Appendix II
 
Federal Actions Associated with the Discovery of an Animal in the United States Infected with BSE Page 41 GAO-05-51 Food Recall Programs
 
and the distributors’ record-keeping practices. Generally, distributors purchase beef from multiple sources, mix it in their inventory, and lose track of the source of the beef they send to the stores that they supply. To deal with this problem, USDA first identified the dates when recalled beef was shipped to the distributors and then asked for a list of the stores that were shipped any beef after those dates. Consequently, some stores were included in the recall that may never have received recalled beef.
 
The recall was also complicated by repeated mixing of recalled beef with nonrecalled beef, thereby increasing the amount of meat involved in the recall. The recalling company slaughtered 23 cows on December 9, 2003, and shipped those and 20 other carcasses to a primary customer on December 10, 2003. The recalling company’s carcasses were tagged to identify the slaughter date and the individual cow. The primary customer removed the identification tags and mixed the 23 recalled carcasses with the 20 nonrecalled carcasses. Because the carcasses could not be distinguished, the recall included all 43 carcasses at the primary customer. After one round of processing at the primary customer, the meat from the carcasses was shipped to two other processing facilities. Both establishments further mixed the recalled meat from the 43 carcasses with meat from other sources. In all, the mixing of beef from 1 BSE-positive cow resulted in over 500 customers receiving potentially contaminated beef. Imprecise distribution lists and the mixing of recalled beef combined to complicate USDA’s identification of where the product went. Specifically, on December 23, 2003, USDA’s initial press release stated that the recalling company was located in Washington State. Three days later, on December 26, 2003, USDA announced that the recalled beef was distributed within Washington and Oregon. On December 27, 2003, USDA determined that one of the primary customers of the recalling firm distributed beef to facilities in California and Nevada, in addition to Washington and Oregon, for a total of four states. On December 28, 2003, USDA announced that some of the secondary customers of the recalling company may also have distributed the product to Alaska, Montana, Hawaii, Idaho, and Guam, for a total of eight states and one territory.
 
On January 6, 2004, over 2 weeks from recall initiation, USDA determined that the beef went to only six states—Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, and Montana—and that no beef went to Alaska, Hawaii, or Guam. To reach that conclusion, USDA used the distribution lists, shipping records, and sales invoices that it received from companies to piece together exactly where the recalled beef may have been sent. The lists
 
Appendix II
 
Federal Actions Associated with the Discovery of an Animal in the United States Infected with BSE Page 42 GAO-05-51 Food Recall Programs
 
showed that 713 customers may have received the recalled beef; 6 of those may have received beef from more than one source. USDA determined that 176 customers on the lists did not actually receive recalled beef, including the customers in Guam and Hawaii. USDA’s review also indicated that recalled beef was probably not shipped to Alaska or Utah, and USDA checked 2 retailers in Alaska and 3 retailers in Utah to confirm that was the case. In total, USDA conducted verification checks on 537 of the 713 customers on the lists. USDA’s initial checks identified an additional 45 customers that may have received the recalled beef that were not included on the distribution lists, for a total of 582 verification checks. Figure 4 summarizes USDA’s verification efforts during the recall.
 
Appendix II
 
Federal Actions Associated with the Discovery of an Animal in the United States Infected with BSE Page 43 GAO-05-51 Food Recall Programs
 
Figure 4: USDA’s Recall Verification Checks by Location and Customer Type for Meat Associated with the Animal Infected with BSE
 
Note: USDA checked 15 primary, 40 secondary, and 526 tertiary customers plus the recalling company, for a total of 582 verification checks. USDA’s press release stated that the recall involved 10,410 pounds of beef products, and the USDA recall coordinator for this recall told us that downstream processors mixed the recalled beef with nonrecalled beef, for a total of more than 38,000 pounds of beef that was distributed at the secondary customer level. According to USDA officials involved with the
 
D = Distributor R = Retailer SF = Storage facility P = Processor Primary customers (15 total) Recalling slaughterhouse (WA) 1 R (OR) 1 P (WA) 1 P (OR) 1 P (OR) 11 R (WA) Secondary customers (40 total) Tertiary customers (526 total) 1 R (OR) 1 SF (OR) 3 D (OR) 3 D (WA) 2 dual D (OR) 59 R (OR) 79 R (WA) 5 R (ID) 3 R (UT) 4 R (MT) 161 R (WA) 8 R (ID) 15 R (OR) 2 R (AK) 31 R (OR) 8 R (WA) 10 R (NV) 5 R (ID) 10 R (CA) 2 R (CA) 17 R (OR) 5 R (WA) 1 D (NV) 11 R (CA) 85 R (NV) 3 D (OR) 11 R (OR) 2 D (CA) 26 R (CA) 2 R (WA)
 
( ) Acronyms in parentheses are postal abbreviations for each state. Source: GAO analysis of USDA verification check documents.
 
Appendix II
 
Federal Actions Associated with the Discovery of an Animal in the United States Infected with BSE
 
Page 44 GAO-05-51 Food Recall Programs
 
recall, the precise amount of meat that was sold at the retail level is unknown because retailers at the tertiary level further mixed nonrecalled meat with potentially contaminated meat. USDA told us that more than 64,000 pounds of beef was ultimately returned or destroyed by customers, and that, because of the mixing, it was not able to determine how much of the original 10,410 pounds of recalled beef was contained in the 64,000 pounds that were recovered.
 
FDA’s Role in USDA’s Recall
 
Parts of the BSE-infected animal slaughtered on December 9, 2003, were not used for food, but they were sent to renderers to be separated into raw materials, such as proteins and blood. Rendered materials are used for many purposes, including cosmetics and vaccines. FDA has jurisdiction over renderers.
 
When USDA learned of the BSE-infected cow on December 23, 2003, the agency immediately notified FDA. On December 24, 2003, FDA sent an inspection team to a renderer that handled materials from the BSE cow. Inspectors confirmed that the parts of the slaughtered BSE positive cow were on the premises. FDA later identified a second company that potentially rendered material from the slaughtered BSE cow. Both renderers agreed to voluntarily hold all product processed from the diseased cow and dispose of the product as directed by FDA and local authorities.
 
On January 7, 2004, 15 containers of potentially contaminated, rendered material (meat and bone meal) were inadvertently loaded on a ship, and on January 8, 2004, the ship left Seattle, Washington, for Asia. The renderer initiated steps to recover the shipped material, so it could be disposed of as directed by FDA and local authorities. The ship carrying the material returned to the United States on February 24, 2004, and the material was disposed of in a landfill on March 2, 2004. On January 12, 2004, FDA asked both renderers to expand their voluntary holds to rendered materials processed from December 23, 2003, through January 9, 2004, because they may have rendered some recalled meat or trim that was recovered from retail establishments. Both renderers agreed to the expanded product hold. In total, FDA requested that renderers voluntarily hold approximately 2,000 tons of rendered material. FDA confirmed that none of the potentially contaminated, rendered material entered commerce, because FDA accounted for all rendered material. FDA
 
Appendix II
 
Federal Actions Associated with the Discovery of an Animal in the United States Infected with BSE Page 45 GAO-05-51 Food Recall Programs
 
reported that no recall was necessary because no product was distributed commercially by the rendering companies.
 
USDA and FDA Worked Together on the Recall USDA and FDA worked together in two ways. First, both agencies notified each other if their investigations yielded any information about products within the jurisdiction of the other agency. For instance, when conducting the second round of verification checks, USDA tracked the disposition of the product to renderers and landfills and notified FDA when the product went to renderers. Second, FDA officials helped conduct verification checks. FDA conducted 32 of the 582 verification checks (approximately 5 percent) for the USDA recall. Officials from both agencies indicated they regularly interacted and shared information. Table 3 outlines the agencies’ actions.
 
Table 3: Detailed Timeline of USDA, FDA, and Company Actions Related to the Discovery of an Animal Infected with BSE Date USDA recall actions FDA actions Company actions 12/9/03 • USDA samples cow for BSE. • BSE cow is slaughtered. 12/11/03 • Sample is sent to Ames, Iowa, for BSE testing. • Recalling company sends carcasses to primary customer for processing. 12/12/03 • Primary customer sends meat products to two other primary customers for further processing. 12/12 - 12/23/03 • Other primary customers distribute recalled product to secondary customers. • Secondary customers distribute recalled product to tertiary customers. 12/23/03 • BSE test results are presumptively positive. • Recall meeting. • Initiation of voluntary recall. • Press release. • FDA notified of BSE test results. • FDA dispatches investigation teams. 12/24/03 • FDA inspects Renderer 1. • FDA determines some rendered material from Renderer 1 is intended for Indonesia. • FDA discovers some material may have been sent to Renderer 2. • Renderer 1 agrees to hold remaining rendered material. • Recalling company contacts primary customers. • Primary customers contact their customers. Appendix II Federal Actions Associated with the Discovery of an Animal in the United States Infected with BSE Page 46 GAO-05-51 Food Recall Programs 12/25/03 • USDA receives confirmation from reference lab in England that cow in question is BSE positive. 12/26/03 • Verification checks begin • USDA announces recalled product in Washington State and Oregon. • FDA begins process of comparing records to ensure all products from Renderers 1 and 2 are accounted for. • Renderer 2 agrees to hold all material that may have been derived from BSE cow. None of the rendered material has been distributed. 12/27/03 • USDA announces recalled product was distributed in Washington State, Oregon, California, and Nevada. • FDA issues statement confirming that the rendering plants that processed all of the nonedible material from the BSE cow have placed a voluntary hold on all of the potentially infectious product, none of which had left the control of the companies and entered commercial distribution. 12/28/03 • USDA announces recalled product was distributed in Washington State, Oregon, California, Nevada, Montana, Idaho, Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam. 12/29/03 • Food Safety and Inspection Service determines that the recalled meat products were distributed to 42 locations, with 80 percent of the products distributed to stores in Oregon and Washington State. 12/31/03 • FDA offers assistance to USDA to complete recall verification checks. 1/6/04 • USDA determines recalled product was only distributed in Washington State, Oregon, California, Nevada, Montana, and Idaho. 1/8/04 • FDA is notified by the renderer that some of the rendered material on hold from Renderer 1 was inadvertently shipped to Asia. Renderer 1 commits to isolate and return the rendered material. • Rendering company notifies FDA of shipment of product on hold. (Continued From Previous Page) Date USDA recall actions FDA actions Company actions Appendix II Federal Actions Associated with the Discovery of an Animal in the United States Infected with BSE Page 47 GAO-05-51 Food Recall Programs Source: GAO analysis of USDA and FDA information. 1/12/04 • FDA advises Renderers 1 and 2 that they may have rendered meat or trim subject to recall from retail stores. • FDA requests Renderers 1 and 2 to place all rendered material from December 23 to January 9 on hold. • FDA determines neither renderer had shipped rendered material manufactured after December 23, 2003. 2/9/04 • All rendered material was disposed of in landfill, except material shipped to Asia. 2/24/04 • Ship carrying rendered material returns to U.S. port. 2/25/04 • Verification checks complete. • USDA Boulder District Office concludes recall is effective. 3/1/04 • Recall is closed. 3/2/04 • FDA observes disposal in landfill of remaining rendered material...
 
snip...
 
REPORTS
 
1. Food Safety: USDA and FDA Need to Better Ensure Prompt and Complete Recalls of Potentially Unsafe Food. GAO-05-51, October 7.tss http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-51 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d0551high.pdf
 
Texas
 
FDA Statement
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Statement May 4, 2004
 
Media Inquiries: 301-827-6242 Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
 
Statement on Texas Cow With Central Nervous System Symptoms
 
On Friday, April 30 th , the Food and Drug Administration learned that a cow with central nervous system symptoms had been killed and shipped to a processor for rendering into animal protein for use in animal feed.
 
FDA, which is responsible for the safety of animal feed, immediately began an investigation. On Friday and throughout the weekend, FDA investigators inspected the slaughterhouse, the rendering facility, the farm where the animal came from, and the processor that initially received the cow from the slaughterhouse.
 
FDA's investigation showed that the animal in question had already been rendered into "meat and bone meal" (a type of protein animal feed). Over the weekend FDA was able to track down all the implicated material. That material is being held by the firm, which is cooperating fully with FDA.
 
Cattle with central nervous system symptoms are of particular interest because cattle with bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE, also known as "mad cow disease," can exhibit such symptoms. In this case, there is no way now to test for BSE. But even if the cow had BSE, FDA's animal feed rule would prohibit the feeding of its rendered protein to other ruminant animals (e.g., cows, goats, sheep, bison).
 
FDA is sending a letter to the firm summarizing its findings and informing the firm that FDA will not object to use of this material in swine feed only. If it is not used in swine feed, this material will be destroyed. Pigs have been shown not to be susceptible to BSE. If the firm agrees to use the material for swine feed only, FDA will track the material all the way through the supply chain from the processor to the farm to ensure that the feed is properly monitored and used only as feed for pigs.
 
To protect the U.S. against BSE, FDA works to keep certain mammalian protein out of animal feed for cattle and other ruminant animals. FDA established its animal feed rule in 1997 after the BSE epidemic in the U.K. showed that the disease spreads by feeding infected ruminant protein to cattle.
 
Under the current regulation, the material from this Texas cow is not allowed in feed for cattle or other ruminant animals. FDA's action specifying that the material go only into swine feed means also that it will not be fed to poultry.
 
FDA is committed to protecting the U.S. from BSE and collaborates closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on all BSE issues. The animal feed rule provides crucial protection against the spread of BSE, but it is only one of several such firewalls. FDA will soon be improving the animal feed rule, to make this strong system even stronger.
 
####
 
rule
 
 
Terry S. Singeltary Sr. wrote:
 
THAT ONE TEXAS MAD COW IS ONLY TIP OF ICE BURG;
 
No mad cow results for nearly 500 cows
 
By Steve Mitchell United Press International Published 8/11/2004 11:23 AM
 
WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture failed to test for mad cow disease or collect the correct portion of the brain on nearly 500 suspect cows over the past two years -- including some in categories considered most likely to be infected -- according to agency records obtained by United Press International.
 
The testing problems mean it may never be known with certainty whether these animals were infected with the deadly disease. Department officials said these animals were not included in the agency's final tally of mad cow tests, but the records, obtained by UPI under the Freedom of Information Act, indicate at least some of them were counted...
 
snip...
 
--
 
Steve Mitchell is UPI's Medical Correspondent. E-mail sciencemail@upi.com Copyright © 2001-2004 United Press International
 
 
HERE IS THE TEXAS MAD COW THAT WENT TO THE RENDER WITHOUT BEING TESTED AND OTHER MULTIPLE FLAWS IN THE SYSTEM;
 
July 13, 2004
 
IG Audit Finds Multiple Flaws in Mad Cow Surveillance Plan Rep. Waxman raises questions about the effectiveness and credibility of USDA's response to mad cow disease, citing an audit by the USDA Inspector General that finds systemic deficiencies in the Department's surveillance plan and new evidence that USDA misled the public in the wake of the detection of an infected cow in Washington State.
 
- Letter to USDA
 
 
 
IG Draft Audit
 
 
 
May 13, 2004
 
Failure To Test Staggering Cow May Reflect Wider Problems Rep. Waxman raises concerns that the recent failure of USDA to test an impaired cow for BSE may not be an isolated incident, citing the failure of USDA to monitor whether cows condemned for central nervous system symptoms are actually tested for mad cow disease.
 
- Letter to USDA
 
 
 
=============================================== TSS
 
BIO-RAD BSE TEST POLITICAL REPLY TO TSS
 
Subject: FSIS NOTICE SAMPLE COLLECTION FROM CATTLE UNDER THE BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE) ONGOING SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr." Reply-To: Sustainable Agriculture Network Discussion Group Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2007 17:32:58 -0600
 
Subject: Re: USDA/APHIS JUNE 2004 'ENHANCED' BSE/TSE COVER UP UPDATE DECEMBER 19, 2004 USA Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 12:27:06 -0600 From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
 
BSE-L
 
snip...
 
> > OH, i did ask Bio-Rad about this with NO reply to date; > >
 
> -------- Original Message --------
 
> Subject: USA BIO-RADs INCONCLUSIVEs
 
> Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 15:37:28 –0600
 
> From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr."
 
> To: susan_berg@bio-rad.com
 
> > > > Hello Susan and Bio-Rad,
 
> > Happy Holidays!
 
> > I wish to ask a question about Bio-Rad and USDA BSE/TSE testing
 
> and there inconclusive. IS the Bio-Rad test for BSE/TSE that complicated,
 
> or is there most likely some human error we are seeing here?
 
> > HOW can Japan have 2 positive cows with
 
> No clinical signs WB+, IHC-, HP- ,
 
> BUT in the USA, these cows are considered 'negative'?
 
> > IS there more politics working here than science in the USA?
 
> > What am I missing?
 
> > >
 
> -------- Original Message --------
 
> Subject: Re: USDA: More mad cow testing will demonstrate beef's safety
 
> Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 09:26:19 –0600
 
> From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr." > snip...end > >
 
> Experts doubt USDA's mad cow results
 
snip...END
 
WELL, someone did call me from Bio-Rad about this, however it was not Susan Berg. but i had to just about take a blood oath not to reveal there name. IN fact they did not want me to even mention this, but i feel it is much much to important. I have omitted any I.D. of this person, but thought I must document this ;
 
Bio-Rad, TSS phone conversation 12/28/04
 
Finally spoke with ;
 
Bio-Rad Laboratories 2000 Alfred Nobel Drive Hercules, CA 94547 Ph: 510-741-6720 Fax: 510-741-5630 Email: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
at approx. 14:00 hours 12/28/04, I had a very pleasant phone conversation with XXXX XXXXX about the USDA and the inconclusive BSE testing problems they seem to keep having. X was very very cautious as to speak directly about USDA and it's policy of not using WB. X was very concerned as a Bio-Rad official of retaliation of some sort. X would only speak of what other countries do, and that i should take that as an answer. I told X I understood that it was a very loaded question and X agreed several times over and even said a political one.
 
my question;
 
Does Bio-Rad believe USDA's final determination of False positive, without WB, and considering the new atypical TSEs not showing positive with -IHC and -HP ???
 
ask if i was a reporter. i said no, i was with CJD Watch and that i had lost my mother to hvCJD. X did not want any of this recorded or repeated.
 
again, very nervous, will not answer directly about USDA for fear of retaliation, but again said X tell me what other countries are doing and finding, and that i should take it from there. "very difficult to answer"
 
"very political"
 
"very loaded question"
 
outside USA and Canada, they use many different confirmatory tech. in house WB, SAF, along with IHC, HP, several times etc. you should see at several talks meetings (TSE) of late Paris Dec 2, that IHC- DOES NOT MEAN IT IS NEGATIVE. again, look what the rest of the world is doing. said something about Dr. Houston stating; any screening assay, always a chance for human error. but with so many errors (i am assuming X meant inconclusive), why are there no investigations, just false positives? said something about ''just look at the sheep that tested IHC- but were positive''. ...
 
TSS
 
-------- Original Message --------
 
Subject: Your questions
 
Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2004 15:58:11 –0800
 
From: To: flounder@wt.net
 
Hi Terry:
 
............................................snip
 
Let me know your phone number so I can talk to you about the Bio-Rad BSE test. Thank you
 
Regards
 
Bio-Rad Laboratories 2000 Alfred Nobel Drive Hercules, CA 94547 Ph: 510-741-6720 Fax: 510-741-5630 Email:
 
=================================
 
Saturday, August 14, 2010
 
BSE Case Associated with Prion Protein Gene Mutation (g-h-BSEalabama) and VPSPr PRIONPATHY
 
(see COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF mad cow feed in COMMERCE IN ALABAMA...TSS)
 
 
Texas BSE Investigation Final Epidemiology Report August 2005
 
 
State-Federal Team Responds to Texas BSE Case
 
JUNE 30, 2005
 
(please note 7+ month delay in final confirmation so the BSE MRR policy could be set in stone first. $$$...tss)
 
 
 
*** SEE ATTEMPTED COVER-UP BEFORE THE END AROUND BY FONG ET AL OF THE O.I.G
 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed June 29 that genetic testing had verified bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) in a 12-year-old cow that was born and raised in a Texas beef cattle herd.
 
Subsequent epidemiological investigations resulted in the culling and testing of 67 adult animals from the index herd. Bio-Rad tests for BSE were conducted on all 67 animals by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa. All tests were negative.
 
On July 12, Texas officials lifted the quarantine on the source herd. At press time, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service was tracing animals of the same age that had left the ranch.
 
Timeline
 
The BSE-positive animal was a Brahman-cross cow born and raised in a single Texas herd. The location of the ranch was not disclosed.
 
On Nov. 11, 2004, the 12-year-old cow was taken to a Texas auction market. Because of its condition, the cow was sent to Champion Pet Foods in Waco, Texas. The company produces several blends of dog food, primarily for the greyhound industry.
 
On Nov. 15, the animal arrived dead at Champion. Under procedures established by USDA's intensive surveillance program, a sample was sent to the USDA-approved Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Testing Laboratory (TVMDL) at Texas A&M University.
 
Between June 1, 2004, and June 1, 2005, TVMDL tested nearly 34,000 samples from Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas and Louisiana. They tested the sample from Champion on Nov. 19 using a Bio-Rad ELISA rapid test for BSE. Initial results were inconclusive.
 
Because of the inconclusive results, a representative from USDA took the entire carcass to TVMDL where it was incinerated. USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) began tracing the animal and herd.
 
The sample was then sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory for further testing. Two Immunohistochemistry (IHC) tests were conducted and both were negative for BSE. At that point APHIS stopped their trace.
 
USDA scientists also ran an additional, experimental IHC "rapid" tissue fixation test for academic purposes. This test has not been approved internationally.
 
Some abnormalities were noted in the experimental test, but because the two approved tests came back negative, the results were not reported beyond the laboratory.
 
Monitoring by OIG
 
USDA's Office of Inspector General (OIG) has been monitoring implementation of the BSE expanded surveillance program and evaluating the following:
 
* Effectiveness of the surveillance program;
 
* Performance of BSE laboratories in complying with policies and procedures for conducting tests and reporting results;
 
* Enforcement of the ban on specified risk materials in meat products;
 
* Controls to prevent central nervous system tissue in advanced meat recovery products;
 
* Ante mortem condemnation procedures; and
 
* Procedures for obtaining brain tissue samples from condemned cattle.
 
While reviewing voluminous records, OIG auditors noticed conflicting test results on one sample-rapid inconclusive, IHC negative, experimental reactive.
 
Sample retested
 
At the recommendation of the Inspector General, the sample was retested during the week of June 5 with a second confirmatory test, the Western Blot. The results were reactive.
 
USDA scientists then conducted an additional IHC confirmatory test, using different antibodies from the November 2004 test. On Friday, June 10, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns publicly announced the results as a "weak positive."
 
On June 16 an official with USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratory hand-carried samples for further testing to the Veterinary Laboratory Agency (VLA) in Weybridge, England. Since 1991, the VLA has been a BSE reference laboratory for the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
 
Experts from the Weybridge lab confirmed the accuracy of the results of USDA's November confirmatory IHC test, concurring that the case could not have been confirmed on the basis of this sample. They also examined the November experimental IHC test and interpreted the results to be positive.
 
Weybridge also conducted additional tests, including IHC, OIE-prescribed Western Blot, NaTTA Western Blot and Prionics Western Blot tests.
 
To better understand the conflicting results, USDA also conducted Bio-Rad and IDEXX rapid screening tests, IHC and OIE-prescribed Western Blot. USDA also used DNA sequencing to determine the prion protein gene sequence of the animal.
 
 
Texas even had a 'secret' test that showed that mad cow positive; experimental IHC test results, because the test was not a validated procedure, and because the two approved IHC tests came back negative, the results were not considered to be of regulatory significance and therefore were not reported beyond the laboratory. . A Western blot test conducted the week of June 5, 2005, returned positive for BSE.
 
 
48 hr BSE confirmation turnaround took 7+ months to confirm this case, so the BSE MRR policy could be put into place. ...TSS
 
*** -------- Original Message --------***
 
***Subject: re-USDA's surveillance plan for BSE aka mad cow disease
 
Date: Mon, 02 May 2005 16:59:07 -0500
 
From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr."
 
To: paffairs@oig.hhs.gov, HHSTips@oig.hhs.gov, contactOIG@hhsc.state.tx.us
 
Greetings Honorable Paul Feeney, Keith Arnold, and William Busbyet al at OIG, ...............
 
snip...
 
There will be several more emails of my research to follow. I respectfully request a full inquiry into the cover-up of TSEs in the United States of America over the past 30 years. I would be happy to testify...
 
Thank you, I am sincerely, Terry S. Singeltary Sr. P.O. Box 42 Bacliff, Texas USA 77518 xxx xxx xxxx
 
Date: June 14, 2005 at 1:46 pm PST
 
In Reply to:
 
Re: Transcript Ag. Secretary Mike Johanns and Dr. John Clifford, Regarding further analysis of BSE Inconclusive Test Results
 
posted by TSS on June 13, 2005 at 7:33 pm:
 
Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman resigns Nov 15 2004, three days later inclusive Mad Cow is announced. June 7th 2005 Bill Hawks Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs resigns. Three days later same mad cow found in November turns out to be positive. Both resignation are unexpected. just pondering... TSS
 
MAD COW IN TEXAS NOVEMBER 2004. ...TSS
 
-------- Original Message --------
 
Subject: Re: BSE 'INCONCLUSIVE' COW from TEXAS ???
 
Date: Mon, 22 Nov 2004 17:12:15 -0600
 
From: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr."
 
To: Carla EverettReferences: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask] ;
 
Greetings Carla, still hear a rumor;
 
Texas single beef cow not born in Canada no beef entered the food chain?
 
and i see the TEXAS department of animal health is ramping up for something, but they forgot a url for update?
 
I HAVE NO ACTUAL CONFIRMATION YET...
 
can you confirm??? terry
 
============================================================
 
-------- Original Message --------
 
Subject: Re: BSE 'INCONCLUSIVE' COW from TEXAS ???
 
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 2004 11:38:21 -0600
 
From: Carla Everett
 
To: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr."References;[log in to unmask];
 
The USDA has made a statement, and we are referring all callers to the USDA web site. We have no information about the animal being in Texas.
 
Carla
 
At 09:44 AM 11/19/2004, you wrote:
 
Greetings Carla,
 
i am getting unsubstantiated claims of this BSE 'inconclusive' cow is from
 
TEXAS. can you comment on this either way please?
 
thank you,
 
Terry S. Singeltary Sr
 
======================================
 
-------- Original Message --------
 
Subject: Re: BSE 'INCONCLUSIVE' COW from TEXAS ???
 
Date: Mon, 22 Nov 2004 18:33:20 -0600
 
From: Carla Everett
 
To: "Terry S. Singeltary Sr."References: <[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask] us><[log in to unmask]> <[log in to unmask]us> <[log in to unmask]>
 
our computer department was working on a place holder we could post USDA's announcement of any results. There are no results to be announced tonight by NVSL, so we are back in a waiting mode and will post the USDA announcement when we hear something.
 
At 06:05 PM 11/22/2004,
 
you wrote:
 
why was the announcement on your TAHC site removed?
 
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy:
 
November 22: Press Release title here
 
star image More BSE information
 
terry
 
Carla Everett wrote:
 
no confirmation on the U.S.'inconclusive test...
 
no confirmation on location of animal. ;
 
FROM HERE, IT TOOK 7 MONTHS TO CONFIRM THIS MAD COW, while the BSE MRR policy was being bought and sold...(in my opinion...tss)
 
 
 
Saturday, August 16, 2008
 
Qualitative Analysis of BSE Risk Factors in the United States February 13, 2000 at 3:37 pm PST (BSE red book)
 
 
TEXAS OFFICIALS DEAD WRONG ON AMOUNT OF INFECTIVITY TO CAUSE A TSE PRION DISEASE ;
 
"FDA has determined that each animal could have consumed, at most and in total, five-and-one-half grams – approximately a quarter ounce — of prohibited material. These animals weigh approximately 600 pounds."
 
5.5 GRAMS OF INFECTIOUS PROHIBITED MAD COW FEED FOR EACH OF THE 1,222 ANIMALS (5.5 GRAMS X 1,222 ANIMALS) IS ENOUGH INFECTIOUS MAD COW FEED TO KILL A SMALL HERD OF COWS...TSS
 
U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA News | Today the Food and Drug Administ…U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA News
 
Today the Food and Drug Administration announced the results of tests taken on feed used at a Texas feedlot that was suspected of containing meat and bone meal from other domestic cattle — a violation of FDA’s 1997 prohibition on using ruminant material in feed for other ruminants. Results indicate that a very low level of prohibited material was found in the feed fed to cattle.
 
FDA has determined that each animal could have consumed, at most and in total, five-and-one-half grams – approximately a quarter ounce — of prohibited material. These animals weigh approximately 600 pounds.
 
It is important to note that the prohibited material was domestic in origin (therefore not likely to contain infected material because there is no evidence of BSE in U.S. cattle), fed at a very low level, and fed only once. The potential risk of BSE to such cattle is therefore exceedingly low, even if the feed were contaminated.
 
According to Dr. Bernard Schwetz, FDA’s Acting Principal Deputy Commissioner, “The challenge to regulators and industry is to keep this disease out of the United States. One important defense is to prohibit the use of any ruminant animal materials in feed for other ruminant animals. Combined with other steps, like U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) ban on the importation of live ruminant animals from affected countries, these steps represent a series of protections, to keep American cattle free of BSE.”
 
Despite this negligible risk, Purina Mills, Inc., is nonetheless announcing that it is voluntarily purchasing all 1,222 of the animals held in Texas and mistakenly fed the animal feed containing the prohibited material. Therefore, meat from those animals will not enter the human food supply. FDA believes any cattle that did not consume feed containing the prohibited material are unaffected by this incident, and should be handled in the beef supply clearance process as usual.
 
FDA believes that Purina Mills has behaved responsibly by first reporting the human error that resulted in the misformulation of the animal feed supplement and then by working closely with State and Federal authorities.
 
This episode indicates that the multi-layered safeguard system put into place is essential for protecting the food supply and that continued vigilance needs to be taken, by all concerned, to ensure these rules are followed routinely.
 
FDA will continue working with USDA as well as State and local officials to ensure that companies and individuals comply with all laws and regulations designed to protect the U.S. food supply.
 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE P01-05 January 30, 2001 Print Media: 301-827-6242 Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
 
FDA ANNOUNCES TEST RESULTS FROM TEXAS FEED LOT
 
Today the Food and Drug Administration announced the results of tests taken on feed used at a Texas feedlot that was suspected of containing meat and bone meal from other domestic cattle -- a violation of FDA's 1997 prohibition on using ruminant material in feed for other ruminants. Results indicate that a very low level of prohibited material was found in the feed fed to cattle.
 
FDA has determined that each animal could have consumed, at most and in total, five-and-one-half grams - approximately a quarter ounce -- of prohibited material. These animals weigh approximately 600 pounds.
 
It is important to note that the prohibited material was domestic in origin (therefore not likely to contain infected material because there is no evidence of BSE in U.S. cattle), fed at a very low level, and fed only once. The potential risk of BSE to such cattle is therefore exceedingly low, even if the feed were contaminated.
 
According to Dr. Bernard Schwetz, FDA's Acting Principal Deputy Commissioner, "The challenge to regulators and industry is to keep this disease out of the United States. One important defense is to prohibit the use of any ruminant animal materials in feed for other ruminant animals. Combined with other steps, like U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) ban on the importation of live ruminant animals from affected countries, these steps represent a series of protections, to keep American cattle free of BSE."
 
Despite this negligible risk, Purina Mills, Inc., is nonetheless announcing that it is voluntarily purchasing all 1,222 of the animals held in Texas and mistakenly fed the animal feed containing the prohibited material. Therefore, meat from those animals will not enter the human food supply. FDA believes any cattle that did not consume feed containing the prohibited material are unaffected by this incident, and should be handled in the beef supply clearance process as usual.
 
FDA believes that Purina Mills has behaved responsibly by first reporting the human error that resulted in the misformulation of the animal feed supplement and then by working closely with State and Federal authorities.
 
This episode indicates that the multi-layered safeguard system put into place is essential for protecting the food supply and that continued vigilance needs to be taken, by all concerned, to ensure these rules are followed routinely.
 
FDA will continue working with USDA as well as State and local officials to ensure that companies and individuals comply with all laws and regulations designed to protect the U.S. food supply.
 
 
PRION 2009 CONGRESS BOOK OF ABSTRACTS
 
O.4.3
 
Spread of BSE prions in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) after oral transmission
 
Edgar Holznagel1, Walter Schulz-Schaeffer2, Barbara Yutzy1, Gerhard Hunsmann3, Johannes Loewer1 1Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Federal Institute for Sera and Vaccines, Germany; 2Department of Neuropathology, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany, 3Department of Virology and Immunology, German Primate Centre, Göttingen, Germany
 
Background: BSE-infected cynomolgus monkeys represent a relevant animal model to study the pathogenesis of variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (vCJD).
 
Objectives: To study the spread of BSE prions during the asymptomatic phase of infection in a simian animal model.
 
Methods: Orally BSE-dosed macaques (n=10) were sacrificed at defined time points during the incubation period and 7 orally BSE-dosed macaques were sacrificed after the onset of clinical signs. Neuronal and non-neuronal tissues were tested for the presence of proteinase-K-resistant prion protein (PrPres) by western immunoblot and by paraffin-embedded tissue (PET) blot technique.
 
Results: In clinically diseased macaques (5 years p.i. + 6 mo.), PrPres deposits were widely spread in neuronal tissues (including the peripheral sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system) and in lymphoid tissues including tonsils. In asymptomatic disease carriers, PrPres deposits could be detected in intestinal lymph nodes as early as 1 year p.i., but CNS tissues were negative until 3 – 4 years p.i. Lumbal/sacral segments of the spinal cord and medulla oblongata were PrPres positive as early as 4.1 years p.i., whereas sympathetic trunk and all thoracic/cervical segments of the spinal cord were still negative for PrPres. However, tonsil samples were negative in all asymptomatic cases.
 
Discussion: There is evidence for an early spread of BSE to the CNS via autonomic fibres of the splanchnic and vagus nerves indicating that trans-synaptical spread may be a time-limiting factor for neuroinvasion. Tonsils were predominantly negative during the main part of the incubation period indicating that epidemiological vCJD screening results based on the detection of PrPres in tonsil biopsies may mostly tend to underestimate the prevalence of vCJD among humans.
 
 
P04.27
 
Experimental BSE Infection of Non-human Primates: Efficacy of the Oral Route
 
Holznagel, E1; Yutzy, B1; Deslys, J-P2; Lasmézas, C2; Pocchiari, M3; Ingrosso, L3; Bierke, P4; Schulz-Schaeffer, W5; Motzkus, D6; Hunsmann, G6; Löwer, J1 1Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Germany; 2Commissariat à l´Energie Atomique, France; 3Instituto Superiore di Sanità, Italy; 4Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease control, Sweden; 5Georg August University, Germany; 6German Primate Center, Germany
 
Background:
 
In 2001, a study was initiated in primates to assess the risk for humans to contract BSE through contaminated food. For this purpose, BSE brain was titrated in cynomolgus monkeys.
 
Aims:
 
The primary objective is the determination of the minimal infectious dose (MID50) for oral exposure to BSE in a simian model, and, by in doing this, to assess the risk for humans. Secondly, we aimed at examining the course of the disease to identify possible biomarkers.
 
Methods:
 
Groups with six monkeys each were orally dosed with lowering amounts of BSE brain: 16g, 5g, 0.5g, 0.05g, and 0.005g. In a second titration study, animals were intracerebrally (i.c.) dosed (50, 5, 0.5, 0.05, and 0.005 mg).
 
Results:
 
In an ongoing study, a considerable number of high-dosed macaques already developed simian vCJD upon oral or intracerebral exposure or are at the onset of the clinical phase. However, there are differences in the clinical course between orally and intracerebrally infected animals that may influence the detection of biomarkers.
 
Conclusions:
 
Simian vCJD can be easily triggered in cynomolgus monkeys on the oral route using less than 5 g BSE brain homogenate. The difference in the incubation period between 5 g oral and 5 mg i.c. is only 1 year (5 years versus 4 years). However, there are rapid progressors among orally dosed monkeys that develop simian v CJD as fast as intracerebrally inoculated animals.
 
The work referenced was performed in partial fulfillment of the study “BSE in primates“ supported by the EU (QLK1-2002-01096).
 
 
Simian vCJD can be easily triggered in cynomolgus monkeys on the oral route using less than 5 g BSE brain homogenate.
 
 
look at the table and you'll see that as little as 1 mg (or 0.001 gm) caused 7% (1 of 14) of the cows to come down with BSE;
 
Risk of oral infection with bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent in primates
 
Corinne Ida Lasmézas, Emmanuel Comoy, Stephen Hawkins, Christian Herzog, Franck Mouthon, Timm Konold, Frédéric Auvré, Evelyne Correia, Nathalie Lescoutra-Etchegaray, Nicole Salès, Gerald Wells, Paul Brown, Jean-Philippe Deslys Summary The uncertain extent of human exposure to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)--which can lead to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD)--is compounded by incomplete knowledge about the efficiency of oral infection and the magnitude of any bovine-to-human biological barrier to transmission. We therefore investigated oral transmission of BSE to non-human primates. We gave two macaques a 5 g oral dose of brain homogenate from a BSE-infected cow. One macaque developed vCJD-like neurological disease 60 months after exposure, whereas the other remained free of disease at 76 months. On the basis of these findings and data from other studies, we made a preliminary estimate of the food exposure risk for man, which provides additional assurance that existing public health measures can prevent transmission of BSE to man.
 
snip...
 
BSE bovine brain inoculum
 
100 g 10 g 5 g 1 g 100 mg 10 mg 1 mg 0·1 mg 0·01 mg
 
Primate (oral route)* 1/2 (50%)
 
Cattle (oral route)* 10/10 (100%) 7/9 (78%) 7/10 (70%) 3/15 (20%) 1/15 (7%) 1/15 (7%)
 
RIII mice (ic ip route)* 17/18 (94%) 15/17 (88%) 1/14 (7%)
 
PrPres biochemical detection
 
The comparison is made on the basis of calibration of the bovine inoculum used in our study with primates against a bovine brain inoculum with a similar PrPres concentration that was
 
inoculated into mice and cattle.8 *Data are number of animals positive/number of animals surviving at the time of clinical onset of disease in the first positive animal (%). The accuracy of
 
bioassays is generally judged to be about plus or minus 1 log. ic ip=intracerebral and intraperitoneal.
 
Table 1: Comparison of transmission rates in primates and cattle infected orally with similar BSE brain inocula
 
Published online January 27, 2005
 
 
Calves were challenged by mouth with homogenised brain from confirmed cases of BSE. Some received 300g (3 doses of 100g), some 100g, 10g or 1g. They were then left to develop BSE, but were not subjected to the normal stresses that they might have encountered in a dairy herd. Animals in all four groups developed BSE. There has been a considerable spread of incubation period in some of the groups, but it appears as if those in the 1 and 10g challenge groups most closely fit the picture of incubation periods seen in the epidemic. Experiments in progress indicate that oral infection can occur in some animals with doses as low as 0.01g and 0.001g. .........
 
 
It is clear that the designing scientists must also have shared Mr Bradley's surprise at the results because all the dose levels right down to 1 gram triggered infection.
 
 
6. It also appears to me that Mr Bradley's answer (that it would take less than say 100 grams) was probably given with the benefit of hindsight; particularly if one considers that later in the same answer Mr Bradley expresses his surprise that it could take as little of 1 gram of brain to cause BSE by the oral route within the same species. This information did not become available until the "attack rate" experiment had been completed in 1995/96. This was a titration experiment designed to ascertain the infective dose. A range of dosages was used to ensure that the actual result was within both a lower and an upper limit within the study and the designing scientists would not have expected all the dose levels to trigger infection. The dose ranges chosen by the most informed scientists at that time ranged from 1 gram to three times one hundred grams. It is clear that the designing scientists must have also shared Mr Bradley's surprise at the results because all the dose levels right down to 1 gram triggered infection.
 
 
FULL 130 LASHINGS TO USDA BY OIG again
 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Statement May 4, 2004 Media Inquiries: 301-827-6242 Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
 
Statement on Texas Cow With Central Nervous System Symptoms On Friday, April 30 th , the Food and Drug Administration learned that a cow with central nervous system symptoms had been killed and shipped to a processor for rendering into animal protein for use in animal feed.
 
FDA, which is responsible for the safety of animal feed, immediately began an investigation. On Friday and throughout the weekend, FDA investigators inspected the slaughterhouse, the rendering facility, the farm where the animal came from, and the processor that initially received the cow from the slaughterhouse.
 
FDA's investigation showed that the animal in question had already been rendered into "meat and bone meal" (a type of protein animal feed). Over the weekend FDA was able to track down all the implicated material. That material is being held by the firm, which is cooperating fully with FDA.
 
Cattle with central nervous system symptoms are of particular interest because cattle with bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE, also known as "mad cow disease," can exhibit such symptoms. In this case, there is no way now to test for BSE. But even if the cow had BSE, FDA's animal feed rule would prohibit the feeding of its rendered protein to other ruminant animals (e.g., cows, goats, sheep, bison).
 
FDA is sending a letter to the firm summarizing its findings and informing the firm that FDA will not object to use of this material in swine feed only. If it is not used in swine feed, this material will be destroyed. Pigs have been shown not to be susceptible to BSE. If the firm agrees to use the material for swine feed only, FDA will track the material all the way through the supply chain from the processor to the farm to ensure that the feed is properly monitored and used only as feed for pigs.
 
To protect the U.S. against BSE, FDA works to keep certain mammalian protein out of animal feed for cattle and other ruminant animals. FDA established its animal feed rule in 1997 after the BSE epidemic in the U.K. showed that the disease spreads by feeding infected ruminant protein to cattle.
 
Under the current regulation, the material from this Texas cow is not allowed in feed for cattle or other ruminant animals. FDA's action specifying that the material go only into swine feed means also that it will not be fed to poultry.
 
FDA is committed to protecting the U.S. from BSE and collaborates closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on all BSE issues. The animal feed rule provides crucial protection against the spread of BSE, but it is only one of several such firewalls. FDA will soon be improving the animal feed rule, to make this strong system even stronger.
 
####
 
 
*** 2009 UPDATE ON ALABAMA AND TEXAS MAD COWS 2005 and 2006 ***
 
 
ALABAMA MAD COW CASE
 
 
 
CJDIBSE (aka madcow) Human/Animal TSE’s--U.S.--Submission To Scientific Advisors and Consultants Staff January 2001 Meeting (short version)
 
PDF]Freas, William TSS SUBMISSION
 
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat -
 
Page 1. J Freas, William From: Sent: To: Subject: Terry S. Singeltary
 
Sr. [flounder@wt.net] Monday, January 08,2001 3:03 PM freas ...
 
 
BSE; MRR; IMPORTATION OF LIVE BOVINES AND PRODUCTS DERIVED FROM BOVINES [Docket No. APHIS-2006-0041] RIN 0579-AC01
 
Date: January 9, 2007 at 9:08 am PST
 
 
2015
 
I strenuously once again urge the FDA and its industry constituents, to make it MANDATORY that all ruminant feed be banned to all ruminants, and this should include all cervids as soon as possible for the following reasons...
 
======
 
In the USA, under the Food and Drug Administrations BSE Feed Regulation (21 CFR 589.2000) most material (exceptions include milk, tallow, and gelatin) from deer and elk is prohibited for use in feed for ruminant animals. With regards to feed for non-ruminant animals, under FDA law, CWD positive deer may not be used for any animal feed or feed ingredients. For elk and deer considered at high risk for CWD, the FDA recommends that these animals do not enter the animal feed system.
 
***However, this recommendation is guidance and not a requirement by law.
 
======
 
31 Jan 2015 at 20:14 GMT
 
*** Ruminant feed ban for cervids in the United States? ***
 
31 Jan 2015 at 20:14 GMT
 
 
*** Singeltary reply ; Molecular, Biochemical and Genetic Characteristics of BSE in Canada Singeltary reply ;
 
 
It is clear that the designing scientists must also have shared Mr Bradleys surprise at the results because all the dose levels right down to 1 gram triggered infection.
 
 
it is clear that the designing scientists must have also shared Mr Bradleys surprise at the results because all the dose levels right down to 1 gram triggered infection.
 
 
Evidence That Transmissible Mink Encephalopathy Results from Feeding Infected Cattle
 
Over the next 8-10 weeks, approximately 40% of all the adult mink on the farm died from TME.
 
snip...
 
The rancher was a ''dead stock'' feeder using mostly (>95%) downer or dead dairy cattle...
 
 
In Confidence - Perceptions of unconventional slow virus diseases of animals in the USA - APRIL-MAY 1989 - G A H Wells
 
3. Prof. A. Robertson gave a brief account of BSE. The US approach was to accord it a very low profile indeed. Dr. A Thiermann showed the picture in the ''Independent'' with cattle being incinerated and thought this was a fanatical incident to be avoided in the US at all costs. ...
 
 
 
10 years post mad cow feed ban August 1997
 
10,000,000+ LBS. of PROHIBITED BANNED MAD COW FEED I.E. BLOOD LACED MBM IN COMMERCE USA 2007
 
Date: March 21, 2007 at 2:27 pm PST
 
RECALLS AND FIELD CORRECTIONS: VETERINARY MEDICINES -- CLASS II
 
PRODUCT
 
Bulk cattle feed made with recalled Darling's 85% Blood Meal, Flash Dried, Recall # V-024-2007
 
CODE
 
Cattle feed delivered between 01/12/2007 and 01/26/2007
 
RECALLING FIRM/MANUFACTURER
 
Pfeiffer, Arno, Inc, Greenbush, WI. by conversation on February 5, 2007.
 
Firm initiated recall is ongoing.
 
REASON
 
Blood meal used to make cattle feed was recalled because it was cross- contaminated with prohibited bovine meat and bone meal that had been manufactured on common equipment and labeling did not bear cautionary BSE statement.
 
VOLUME OF PRODUCT IN COMMERCE
 
42,090 lbs.
 
DISTRIBUTION
 
WI
 
___________________________________
 
PRODUCT
 
Custom dairy premix products: MNM ALL PURPOSE Pellet, HILLSIDE/CDL Prot- Buffer Meal, LEE, M.-CLOSE UP PX Pellet, HIGH DESERT/ GHC LACT Meal, TATARKA, M CUST PROT Meal, SUNRIDGE/CDL PROTEIN Blend, LOURENZO, K PVM DAIRY Meal, DOUBLE B DAIRY/GHC LAC Mineral, WEST PIONT/GHC CLOSEUP Mineral, WEST POINT/GHC LACT Meal, JENKS, J/COMPASS PROTEIN Meal, COPPINI - 8# SPECIAL DAIRY Mix, GULICK, L-LACT Meal (Bulk), TRIPLE J - PROTEIN/LACTATION, ROCK CREEK/GHC MILK Mineral, BETTENCOURT/GHC S.SIDE MK-MN, BETTENCOURT #1/GHC MILK MINR, V&C DAIRY/GHC LACT Meal, VEENSTRA, F/GHC LACT Meal, SMUTNY, A- BYPASS ML W/SMARTA, Recall # V-025-2007
 
CODE
 
The firm does not utilize a code - only shipping documentation with commodity and weights identified.
 
RECALLING FIRM/MANUFACTURER
 
Rangen, Inc, Buhl, ID, by letters on February 13 and 14, 2007. Firm initiated recall is complete.
 
REASON
 
Products manufactured from bulk feed containing blood meal that was cross contaminated with prohibited meat and bone meal and the labeling did not bear cautionary BSE statement.
 
VOLUME OF PRODUCT IN COMMERCE
 
9,997,976 lbs.
 
DISTRIBUTION
 
ID and NV
 
END OF ENFORCEMENT REPORT FOR MARCH 21, 2007
 
 
16 years post mad cow feed ban August 1997
 
2013
 
Sunday, December 15, 2013
 
FDA PART 589 -- SUBSTANCES PROHIBITED FROM USE IN ANIMAL FOOD OR FEED VIOLATIONS OFFICIAL ACTION INDICATED OIA UPDATE DECEMBER 2013 UPDATE
 
 
17 years post mad cow feed ban August 1997
 
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
 
FDA PART 589 -- SUBSTANCES PROHIBITED FROM USE IN ANIMAL FOOD OR FEED VIOLATIONS OFFICIAL ACTION INDICATED OAI UPDATE DECEMBER 2014 BSE TSE PRION
 
 
Sunday, June 14, 2015
 
Larry’s Custom Meats Inc. Recalls Beef Tongue Products That May Contain Specified Risk Materials BSE TSE Prion
 
 
*** Monday, October 26, 2015 ***
 
*** FDA PART 589 -- SUBSTANCES PROHIBITED FROM USE IN ANIMAL FOOD OR FEED VIOLATIONS OFFICIAL ACTION INDICATED OIA UPDATE October 2015 ***
 
 
Saturday, December 12, 2015
 
CREUTZFELDT JAKOB DISEASE CJD TSE PRION REPORT DECEMBER 14, 2015
 
 
MOM
 
Thursday, December 24, 2015
 
Revisiting the Heidenhain Variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: Evidence for Prion Type Variability Influencing Clinical Course and Laboratory Findings
 
Article type: Research Article
 
 
Evidence for human transmission of amyloid-β pathology and cerebral amyloid angiopathy
 
 
07 02:27 AM
 
Terry S. Singeltary Sr. said:
 
re-Evidence for human transmission of amyloid-? pathology and cerebral amyloid angiopathy
 
Nature 525, 247?250 (10 September 2015) doi:10.1038/nature15369 Received 26 April 2015 Accepted 14 August 2015 Published online 09 September 2015 Updated online 11 September 2015 Erratum (October, 2015)
 
 
*** I would kindly like to comment on the Nature Paper, the Lancet reply, and the newspaper articles.
 
snip...see full text ;
 
 
Subject: 1992 IN CONFIDENCE TRANSMISSION OF ALZHEIMER TYPE PLAQUES TO PRIMATES POSSIBILITY ON A TRANSMISSIBLE PRION REMAINS OPEN
 
BSE101/1 0136
 
IN CONFIDENCE
 
CMO
 
From: . Dr J S Metiers DCMO
 
4 November 1992
 
TRANSMISSION OF ALZHEIMER TYPE PLAQUES TO PRIMATES
 
1. Thank you for showing me Diana Dunstan's letter. I am glad that MRC have recognised the public sensitivity of these findings and intend to report them in their proper context. 'This hopefully will avoid misunderstanding and possible distortion by the media to portray the results as having more greater significance than the findings so far justify.
 
2. Using a highly unusual route of transmission (intra-cerebral injection) the researchers have demonstrated the transmission of a pathological process from two cases one of severe Alzheimer's disease the other of Gerstmann-Straussler disease to marmosets. However they have not demonstrated the transmission of either clinical condition as the "animals were behaving normally when killed". As the report emphasises the unanswered question is whether the disease condition would have revealed itself if the marmosets had lived longer. They are planning further research to see if the conditions, as opposed to the partial pathological process, is transmissible.
 
what are the implications for public health?
 
3. The route 'of transmission is very specific and in the natural state of things highly unusual. However it could be argued that the results reveal a potential risk, in that brain tissue from these two patients has been shown to transmit a pathological process. Should therefore brain tissue from such cases be regarded as potentially infective? Pathologists, morticians, neuro surgeons and those assisting at neuro surgical procedures and others coming into contact with "raw" human brain tissue could in theory be at risk. However, on a priori grounds given the highly specific route of transmission in these experiments that risk must be negligible if the usual precautions for handling brain tissue are observed.
 
1
 
92/11.4/1.1
 
BSE101/1 0137
 
4. The other dimension to consider is the public reaction. To some extent the GSS case demonstrates little more than the transmission of BSE to a pig by intra-cerebral injection. If other prion diseases can be transmitted in this way it is little surprise that some pathological findings observed in GSS were also transmissible to a marmoset. But the transmission of features of Alzheimer's pathology is a different matter, given the much greater frequency of this disease and raises the unanswered question whether some cases are the result of a transmissible prion. The only tenable public line will be that "more research is required’’ before that hypothesis could be evaluated. The possibility on a transmissible prion remains open. In the meantime MRC needs carefully to consider the range and sequence of studies needed to follow through from the preliminary observations in these two cases. Not a particularly comfortable message, but until we know more about the causation of Alzheimer's disease the total reassurance is not practical.
 
J S METTERS Room 509 Richmond House Pager No: 081-884 3344 Callsign: DOH 832 llllYc!eS 2 92/11.4/1.2
 
 
>>> The only tenable public line will be that "more research is required’’ <<<
 
>>> possibility on a transmissible prion remains open<<<
 
O.K., so it’s about 23 years later, so somebody please tell me, when is "more research is required’’ enough time for evaluation ?
 
Self-Propagative Replication of Ab Oligomers Suggests Potential Transmissibility in Alzheimer Disease
 
Received July 24, 2014; Accepted September 16, 2014; Published November 3, 2014
 
 
*** Singeltary comment PLoS ***
 
Alzheimer’s disease and Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy prion disease, Iatrogenic, what if ?
 
Posted by flounder on 05 Nov 2014 at 21:27 GMT
 
 
 
Research Project: Mitigating the Risk of Transmission and Environmental Contamination of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Location: Animal Diseases Research
 
2015 Annual Report
 
1a.Objectives (from AD-416): Objective 1: Determine whether goats are a transmission reservoir for ovine scrapie by developing and validating diagnostic methods for detecting goat scrapie. Determine the genetic predisposition and transmission route(s) of goat scrapie.
 
Subobjective 1.1: Improve eradication efforts by developing improved methods for antemortem scrapie diagnosis.
 
Subobjective 1.2: Determine if placenta and milk from goats are potential sources of scrapie to sheep.
 
Objective 2: Develop methods to mitigate infectivity of soil-associated prions by screening soil microbes for potential candidates for bioremediation.
 
1b.Approach (from AD-416): Scrapie is a complex and rare disorder affecting outbred farm animals held under a wide variety of husbandry conditions and exposed to an agent for which the transmissible and pathogenic events remain largely unknown. The work described in the research plan is an extension of the previous highly productive studies by this research group, addressing the need for implementation of federal regulations based on the best available science, often in the face of relatively small sample numbers in the natural host. The work includes development of specific management and diagnostic tools and is presented as an integrated series of research objectives. This approach was selected over a hypothesis based approach. After consulting Glass and Hall, the group determined that the work presented in the following plan was best represented by goal statements rather than hypotheses because the work increases the density of data necessary for progress and for support of current and proposed federal regulations. This project addresses only scrapie, the TSE of sheep and goats. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is the TSE of North America cervids (deer and elk). ***No live animal work with CWD is included in this project plan since CWD is not endemic in Washington State, the disease appears to be highly communicable, the modes of transmission are unknown, and we do not have suitable biocontainment facilities to conduct CWD studies in large animals.
 
3.Progress Report: The National Scrapie Eradication program in the U.S. is conducted by the state and federal animal disease health regulatory agencies, with research support by ARS and several land grant universities, in a joint endeavor with the sheep and goat industries. The comprehensive program of animal identification, surveillance and genetic selection has resulted in a decrease of scrapie prevalence by 88%. As prevalence falls, remaining potential sources of infection will be monitored. The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) project at the Animal Disease Research Unit, Pullman, Washington, includes an integrated examination of modes of transmission (both intraspecies and interspecies), diagnostic test development and refinement, and delineation of species-specific and genetically controlled differences in pathogenesis. In FY15, progress was reported in each of these research areas.
 
Objective 1: Transmission of scrapie by placenta, blood and milk. Exposure of the newborn lamb or kid to infectious prions shed by the postparturient ewe/doe is probably the most efficient route of transmission in the field. Our earlier work demonstrated the role of fetal genotype on transmission by the ovine placenta. In this Fiscal Year (FY), we completed a study demonstrating that the caprine placenta, while containing sparse amounts of detectable PrP-Sc, is infectious to lambs and kids by oral exposure. Experimental oral exposure of lambs and kids to milk from infected does during the first 2 to 3 days of life was performed last year and the recipient animals are monitored for evidence of disease. With an incubation period of 24-36 months, the study is expected to yield useful information in FY16. These studies of experimental disease are complemented by ongoing observations on transmission in our mixed herd of infected goats and sheep.
 
Objective 2: Diagnosis and genetics of the TSEs in ruminant animals: Gold standard testing of scrapie is performed by immunohistochemistry of formalin fixed tissues, using lymphoid tissue to detect early disease and brain tissue to detect advanced disease. Antemortem tissue based testing requires expertise in the field and in the laboratory. We are completing a study examining the effects of host and biopsy handling on lymphoid follicle frequency and detection of PrP-Sc. Similarly, immunohistochemistry has been applied to determine the effects of these factors on the frequency of observing two major cell types known to accumulate PrPSc in lymphoid tissues—namely, macrophages and follicular dendritic cells. These studies will be completed in FY16 and will provide information on any needed refinements in the antemortem testing of sheep and goats, with possible application to the evolving program of live animal testing of captive deer and elk.
 
Genetic variation among animals within each species affects disease resistance and incubation time: We have previously reported the effect of genotype on diagnostic accuracy in white tailed deer. We have now completed a study examining the role of a prion gene polymorphism at residue 127 in goats on incubation time (reported in accomplishments) and in FY16 will perform studies on diagnostic accuracy of the current testing modes in goats with this genotype.
 
Polymorphisms at additional sites (146 and 222) have been reported to be associated with reduced susceptibility to caprine scrapie. Goat kids were exposed to scrapie by the oral route on day 1 of life and are being monitored. Goats with the potentially resistant allele have remained clinically normal for more than 7 years after oral challenge; control goats lacking this allele developed disease at 2-3 years of age. We will continue to monitor the 222K goats for their natural lifespan and will perform extensive necropsy examinations upon termination to determine whether these animals are a benefit to the industry or represent a long lived source of prions in goat herds. The polymorphism at residue 222, while potentially conferring resistance to scrapie, also presents a diagnostic challenge. Residue 222 is included in the epitope recognized by the monoclonal antibody used in gold standard diagnostic testing in the U.S. We have reported the effect of this polymorphism on test sensitivity (reported in accomplishments). We have previously reported that this polymorphism is rare in U.S. goats, but in the current work, we presented some alternatives to testing should this genotype be selected by breeders in the future.
 
Examination of the prion distribution in fixed tissues is the basis for diagnostic testing. In addition, the distribution and intensity of the immunohistochemical staining are also useful indirect measures of disease progression. We have reported this effect in our studies of genetics and diagnosis of chronic wasting disease in white tailed deer. We have now extended those studies to include Rocky Mountain elk, which have a unique prion distribution pattern. We continue to work with state and federal agencies monitoring the effects of genotype on prion disease captive and free-ranging Rocky Mountain elk, as components of species-specific control programs.
 
While antemortem and postmortem tissue-based testing is sensitive and specific, collection of tissues is inconvenient and testing is expensive. Development of a blood based test might alleviate those problems. We are conducting a systematic examination of prion-bearing cell types in sheep and goats and have reported that all three major types of peripheral blood mononuclear cells—B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, and monocytes, can harbor prions and are thus reasonable targets on which to base development of a diagnostic platform for use during preclinical infection. We have recently reported that relatively small amounts of blood contain infectious prions and continue to examine methods for more sensitive and specific detection of PrP-Sc in circulating cells.
 
Objective 3: Introduction of disease by novel routes: While direct contact with prion-bearing tissues remains the most likely source of infection in sheep and goats, the introduction of disease through fomites or through contact with other species has not been ruled out. We originally intended to examine the role of soil or premise contamination with prions after removal of infected sheep. However, the success of the eradication program at reducing scrapie prevalence to nearly undetectable levels over a relatively short amount of time suggests that environmental routes are not highly efficient. ***However, prevalence of chronic wasting disease in farmed and free-ranging cervids continues to climb and as the disease is discovered in an increasing number of states and provinces, the threat of transmission to sheep remains under investigation. In conjunction with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, we are completing a study delineating methods for discriminating between a TSE of ovine and cervid origin in sheep, using both conventional in vitro prion characterization methods and in vivo studies with a panel of transgenic mice. The study will be concluded in FY16; preliminary findings show differences in incubation time and molecular folding patterns that may be useful in determining the origin of TSEs of sheep in the CWD endemic zones.
 
In a continued effort to reduce research dependence on bioassay, work continued on the creation of cultured cell lines with robust permissiveness to natural isolates of prions. Work continued on the immortalization of caprine microglia cell lines with different prion genotypes of interest. Studies also continued in the optimization of the scrapie permissiveness of a caprine prion protein-transfected rabbit kidney epithelial cell line. Factors associated with cellular permissiveness to infection were also determined in a study that compared the transcriptomes of clones from an immortalized ovine microglia cell line but that differ greatly in permissiveness to natural source isolates (i.e., hindbrain) of classical scrapie prions.
 
4.Accomplishments 1. The placenta of goats with scrapie is infectious to goat kids and lambs. The placenta of sheep is a highly infectious source of scrapie prions and is well known to play a major role in natural transmission. Goats, too, are a natural host of classical scrapie and are frequently raised with sheep, but the potential routes of natural transmission from goats to sheep have not been studied. ARS researchers at the Animal Disease Research Unit in Pullman, Washington, have now demonstrated that the placenta shed from a goat, despite its relatively sparse accumulation of the disease-associated form of the prion protein, is infectious to newborn lambs and goat kids by oral exposure. This accomplishment provides a scientific basis for regulatory and veterinary consideration as to the possible modes of transmission risk of scrapie from goats to sheep.
 
2. Prions were detected in small volume blood samples obtained from sheep with preclinical scrapie. Initial studies that demonstrated the potential for developing a blood-based live animal diagnostic test for classical scrapie in sheep were based on blood sample volumes many times more than routinely used in the practice of veterinary medicine. ARS researchers at the Animal Disease Research Unit in Pullman, Washington, have now demonstrated that infectious prions can be detected from much smaller blood sample volumes, even during preclinical infection. This study supports further development of a safe and highly efficient blood-based diagnostic test for preclinical scrapie infection in sheep. It demonstrates the utility of using the small blood sample volumes already routinely collected for diagnostic purposes.
 
3. A prion gene polymorphism that prolongs scrapie incubation in goats. Scrapie eradication in sheep is based in part on strong genetic resistance to classical scrapie infection. However, knowledge regarding the implications of differing genotypes in goats is incomplete. ARS researchers at the Animal Disease Research Unit in Pullman, Washington, have now demonstrated that the appearance of clinical signs associated with scrapie can be significantly delayed in goats with a prion gene polymorphism at codon 127. This accomplishment helps explain why goats with this polymorphism may be underrepresented in surveys of scrapie infected goat herds. Additionally, this accomplishment suggests that scrapie eradication programs might need to include longer trace-back histories when investigating scrapie-exposed goats of this genotype.
 
4. A prion gene polymorphism that reduces the sensitivity of some diagnostic tests for caprine scrapie. Gold standard diagnostic testing for caprine scrapie is performed by monoclonal antibody immunohistochemistry. While this assay is highly specific, the sensitivity of the assay is limited by the use of a single monoclonal antibody directed to a variable portion of the prion molecule. ARS researchers at the Animal Disease Research Unit in Pullman, Washington, have confirmed that the monoclonal antibody currently used for testing in the U.S. fails to detect prions in goats homozygous for a prion polymorphism at codon 222. The study was performed by developing a digital image segmentation and analysis algorithm to objectively measure spatially diverse PrPSc accumulation profiles in the hindbrain of goats with naturally acquired classical scrapie. Comparisons were also made under the standardized conditions and reagents currently utilized by regulatory agencies. This accomplishment provides the scientific basis for modification of the assay should this prion genotype become more prevalent in the U.S. goat herd.
 
***5. Delineation of the progression of abnormal prion accumulation in the brain of elk with chronic wasting disease. Diagnostic testing for the transmissible spongiform encephalophathies (TSE) of elk is performed by examination of a single section of brain, using a monoclonal antibody that detects the abnormal prion protein. Collaborative research including scientists from the Colorado State University Diagnostic Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal Health Inspection Service, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and the ARS Animal Disease Research Unit in Pullman, Washington, has demonstrated that the abnormal prion in this section of brain has a unique and relatively consistent pattern of accumulation as disease progresses. The study complements the earlier work performed by ARS and others on the effect of prion genotype on disease progression in elk and in white tailed deer. The scoring system described in these studies may be useful for estimating prion distribution throughout the infected animal and potentially for estimating the duration of infection, facilitating epidemiologic studies in infected herds.
 
Review Publications Schneider, D.A., Madsen-Bouterse, S.A., Zhuang, D., Truscott, T.C., Dassanayake, R.P., O'Rourke, K.I. 2015. The placenta shed from goats with classical scrapie is infectious to goat kids and lambs. Journal of General Virology. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.000151.
 
Munoz-Gutierrez, J.F., Schneider, D.A., Baszler, T.V., Dinkel, K.D., Greenlee, J.J., Nicholson, E.M., Stanton, J.J. 2015. hTERT-immortalized ovine microglia propagate natural scrapie isolates. Virus Research. 198:35-43.
 
Dassanayake, R.P., White, S.N., Madsen-Bouterse, S.A., Schneider, D.A., O'Rourke, K.I. 2015. Role of PRNP S127 allele in experimental goat infection with classical caprine scrapie. Animal Genetics. doi: 10.1111/age.12291.
 
Dassanayake, R.P., Truscott, T.C., Zhuang, D., Schneider, D.A., Madsen-Bouterse, S.A., Young, A.J., Stanton, J.B., Davis, W.C., O’Rourke, K.I. 2015. Classical natural ovine scrapie prions are detected in practical volumes of blood by lamb and transgenic mouse bioassay. Journal of Veterinary Science. 16(2):179-186.
 
Madsen-Bouterse, S.A., Schneider, D.A., Dassanayake, R.P., Truscott, T.C., Zhuang, D., Kumpula-Mcwhirter, N., O'Rourke, K.I. 2015. PRNP variants in goats reduce sensitivity of detection of PrPSc by immunoassay. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. 27(3):332-343.
 
Spraker, T.R., Gidlewski, T., Powers, J.G., Nichols, T., Balachandran, .A., Cummins, B., Wild, M.A., Vercauteren, K., O'Rourke, K. 2015. Progressive accumulation of the abnormal conformer of the prion protein and spongiform encephalopathy in the obex of nonsymptomatic and symptomatic Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) with chronic wasting disease. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. doi: 10.117/1040638715593368.
 
 
Research Project: TRANSMISSION, DIFFERENTIATION, AND PATHOBIOLOGY OF TRANSMISSIBLE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHIES Title: Antemortem detection of chronic wasting disease prions in nasal brush collections and rectal biopsies from white-tailed deer by real time quaking-induced conversion
 
Authors
 
item Haley, Nicholas - item Siepker, Chris - item Walter, W. David - item Thomsen, Bruce - item Greenlee, Justin item Lehmkuhl, Aaron - item Richt, Jürgen -
 
Submitted to: Journal of Clinical Microbiology Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: November 27, 2015 Publication Date: N/A
 
Interpretive Summary: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal neurodegenerative disease that occurs in farmed and wild cervids (deer and elk) of North America, is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). TSEs are caused by infectious proteins called prions that are resistant to various methods of decontamination and environmental degradation. Early diagnosis of CWD in wild and captive herds would be very helpful to controlling the spread of CWD, for which there are not yet any preventative or treatment measures available. The purpose of this study was to test a laboratory method of prion detection (real-time Quaking Induced Conversion; RT-QuIC) that has the potential to detect very low levels of infectious prions in samples collected from live animals against the gold standard diagnostic where abnormal prion in tissues is stained on a microscope slide. This study reports that RT-QuIC detects more cases of CWD than standard methods, but also can identify a small number of animals without CWD as being positive. In the case of CWD, where it is likely that large numbers of animals within a herd may be positive, misidentifying a negative as a positive may have less of an impact than in the case of other prion diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy considering that this test allows testing much larger numbers of samples with a faster turn around time than traditional methods. This information could have an impact on regulatory and wildlife officials developing plans to reduce or eliminate CWD and cervid farmers that want to ensure that their herd remains CWD-free. Technical Abstract: Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of cervids, was first documented nearly fifty years ago in Colorado and Wyoming and has since spread to cervids in 23 states, 2 Canadian provinces, and the Republic of Korea. The increasing expansion of this disease makes the development of sensitive diagnostic assays and antemortem sampling techniques crucial for the mitigation of spread; this is especially true in cases of relocation/reintroduction of farmed or free-ranging deer and elk, or surveillance studies in private or protected herds where depopulation may be contraindicated. This study sought to evaluate the sensitivity of the real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assay in samples collected antemortem. Antemortem findings were then compared to results from ante- and postmortem samples evaluated using the current gold standard diagnostic assay, immunohistochemistry (IHC). Recto-anal mucosal associated lymphoid tissue (RAMALT) biopsies and nasal brush collections from three separate herds of farmed white-tailed deer (n=409) were evaluated, along with standard postmortem microscopic analysis of brainstem at the level of the obex and retropharyngeal lymph nodes. We hypothesized the sensitivity of RT-QuIC would be comparable to IHC in antemortem tissues, and would correlate with both genotype and stage of clinical disease. ***Our results showed that RAMALT testing by RT-QuIC had the highest sensitivity (69.8%) when compared to postmortem testing. This data suggests that RT-QuIC, like IHC, is a fairly sensitive assay for detection of CWD prions in rectal biopsies and other antemortem samples, and with further investigation has potential for large scale and rapid automated testing for CWD diagnosis.
 
 
Research Project: Transmission, Differentiation, and Pathobiology of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies 2015 Annual Report
 
1a.Objectives (from AD-416): 1. Investigate the pathobiology of atypical transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in natural hosts. A. Investigate the pathobiology of atypical scrapie. B. Investigate the pathobiology of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). 2. Investigate the horizontal transmission of TSEs. A. Assess the horizontal transmission of sheep scrapie in the absence of lambing. B. Determine routes of transmission in chronic wasting disease (CWD) infected premises. C. Assess oral transmission of CWD in reindeer. 3. Investigate determinants of CWD persistence. A. Determine CWD host range using natural routes of transmission. B. Investigate the pathobiology of CWD.
 
1b.Approach (from AD-416): The studies will focus on three animal transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) agents found in the United States: bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE); scrapie of sheep and goats; and chronic wasting disease (CWD) of deer, elk, and moose. The research will address sites of accumulation, routes of infection, environmental persistence, and ante mortem diagnostics with an emphasis on controlled conditions and natural routes of infection. Techniques used will include clinical exams, histopathology, immunohistochemistry and biochemical analysis of proteins. The enhanced knowledge gained from this work will help mitigate the potential for unrecognized epidemic expansions of these diseases in populations of animals that could either directly or indirectly affect food animals.
 
3.Progress Report: Research efforts directed toward meeting objective 1 of our project plan include work in previous years starting with the inoculation of animals for studies designed to address the pathobiology of atypical scrapie, atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), as well as a genetic version of BSE. Post-mortem examination of the animals inoculated with atypical scrapie has been initiated and laboratory analysis of the tissues is ongoing. Atypical BSE animals have developed disease and evaluation of the samples is currently underway. Animals inoculated with a genetic version of BSE have developed disease with a manuscript reporting these results was published (2012), and additional laboratory comparisons of genetic BSE to atypical and classical BSE are ongoing. In addition, we have investigated the possibility that atypical scrapie was present earlier than previously detected in the national flock by analyzing archived field isolates using methods that were unavailable at the time of original diagnosis. Sample quality was sufficiently degraded that modern methods, beyond those applied to the tissues at the time the tissues were archived, were not suitable for evaluation. In research pertaining to objective 2, "Investigate the horizontal transmission of TSEs", we have initiated a study to determine if cohousing non-lambing scrapie inoculated sheep is sufficient to transmit scrapie to neonatal lambs. At this time, scrapie free ewes have lambed in the presence of scrapie inoculated animals and the lambs are cohoused with these inoculated animals.
 
4.Accomplishments 1. Changes in retinal function in cattle can be used to identify different types of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). BSE belongs to a group of fatal, transmissible protein misfolding diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Like other protein misfolding diseases including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, TSEs are generally not diagnosed until the onset of disease after the appearance of unequivocal clinical signs. As such, identification of the earliest clinical signs of disease may facilitate diagnosis. The retina is the most accessible part of the central nervous system. ARS scientist in Ames IA described antemortem changes in retinal function and thickness that are detectable in BSE inoculated animals up to 11 months prior to the appearance of any other signs of clinical disease. Differences in the severity of these clinical signs reflect the amount of PrPSc accumulation in the retina and the resulting inflammatory response of the tissue. These results are the earliest reported clinical signs associated with TSE infection and provide a basis for understanding the pathology and evaluating therapeutic interventions. Further, this work shows that High-type BSE and classical BSE can be differentiated by eye examination alone, the first time BSE strains have been differentiable in a live animal.
 
2. Sheep genetics influences the susceptibility of sheep to scrapie. Sheep scrapie is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy that can be transmitted between affected animals resulting in significant economic losses in affected flocks. The prion protein gene (PRNP) profoundly influences the susceptibility of sheep to the scrapie agent and the tissue levels and distribution of PrPSc in affected sheep. In this study, sheep of 3 different prion genetic types (denoted VRQ/VRQ, VRQ/ARR and ARQ/ARR) were inoculated and subsequently euthanized upon onset of disease. Disease aspects were uniform across genotypes and consistent with manifestations of classical scrapie. Mean survival time differences were associated with the genetic type such that VRQ/VRQ sheep survived 18 months, whereas VRQ/ARR and ARQ/ARR sheep survived 60 and 56 months, respectively. Microscopic evaluation revealed similar accumulations in central nervous system tissues regardless of host genetic type. PrPSc in lymphoid tissue was consistently abundant in VRQ/VRQ, present but confined to tonsil or retropharyngeal lymph node in 4/5 VRQ/ARR, and totally absent in ARQ/ARR sheep. The results of this study demonstrate the susceptibility of sheep with the ARQ/ARR genotype to scrapie by the intracranial inoculation route with PrPSc accumulation in CNS tissues, but prolonged incubation times and lack of PrPSc in lymphoid tissue. These results are important for science based policy with regard to testing of sheep for scrapie where some live animal testing is conducted using lymphoid tissues which would not detect scrapie in some specific genetic types which could limit the national scrapie eradication program.
 
Review Publications Greenlee J.J. 2014. The prion diseases of animals. In: McManus, L.M., Mitchell, R.N., editors. Pathobiology of Human Disease. San Diego: Elsevier. p. 1124-1133.
 
Greenlee, J.J., Kunkle, R.A., Richt, J.A., Nicholson, E.M., Hamir, A.N. 2014. Lack of prion accumulation in lymphoid tissues of PRNP ARQ/ARR sheep intracranially inoculated with the agent of scrapie. PLoS One. 9(9):e108029.
 
Greenlee, J.J., West Greenlee, M.,H. 2015. The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies of livestock. ILAR Journal. 56(1):7-25.
 
Munoz-Gutierrez, J.F., Schneider, D.A., Baszler, T.V., Dinkel, K.D., Greenlee, J.J., Nicholson, E.M., Stanton, J.J. 2015. hTERT-immortalized ovine microglia propagate natural scrapie isolates. Virus Research. 198:35-43.
 
Nicholson, E.M. 2015. Detection of the disease-associated form of the prion protein in biological samples. Bioanalysis. 7(2):253-261.
 
West Greenlee, M.H., Smith, J.D., Platt, E.M., Juarez, J.R., Timms, L.L, Greenlee, J.J. 2015. Changes in retinal function and morphology are early clinical signs of disease in cattle with bovine spongiform encephalopathy. PLoS ONE. 10(3):e0119431.
 
Comoy, E.E., Mikol, J., Luccantoni-Freire, S., Correia, E., Lescoutra-Etchegaray, N., Durand, V., Dehen, C., Andreoletti, O., Casalone, C., Richt, J.A., Greenlee, J.J., Baron, T., Benestad, S., Brown, P., Deslys, J. 2015. Transmission of scrapie prions to primate after an extended silent incubation period. Scientific Reports. 5:11573.
 
 
 
Terry S. Singeltary Sr.

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