Naturally occurring scrapie in Southdown sheep

The purpose of this study was to characterize naturally occurring scrapie in the Southdown breed of sheep. Experimental subjects included 4 Southdown ewes admitted to the University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine Large Animal Clinic. All 4 sheep had signs compatible with clinical scrapi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of veterinary internal medicine 1999-05, Vol.13 (3), p.213-216
Main Authors: Tyler, J.W, Weaver, D.M, Turk, J.R, O'Rourke, K.I, Harrington, M.G, Taylor, W, Jenny, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
14-3-3 protein
14-3-3 Proteins
Animals
brain
Brain - pathology
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Cerebrospinal Fluid - cytology
Codon - genetics
codons
disease course
disease diagnosis
Enzyme Inhibitors - analysis
Female
Genetic Predisposition to Disease - veterinary
Glutamine - genetics
histopathology
immunoassays
Immunohistochemistry
necropsy
Pedigree
Prion
prions
Prions - genetics
Proteins - analysis
scrapie
Scrapie - genetics
Sheep
Southdown
Spongiform encephalopathy
Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
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Summary:The purpose of this study was to characterize naturally occurring scrapie in the Southdown breed of sheep. Experimental subjects included 4 Southdown ewes admitted to the University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine Large Animal Clinic. All 4 sheep had signs compatible with clinical scrapie. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cell counts ranged from a low of 1 nucleated cell/mL to high of 4 cells/mL with a median of 3 cells/mL. Cerebrospinal protein concentrations ranged from 26 to 78 mg/dL with a median of 53 mg/dL. Immunoassay of the CSF for the 14–3–3 protein yielded positive results in 3 of the 4 sheep. Sequencing of the prion protein (PrP) gene revealed that all 4 sheep were homozygous for glutamine at codon 171 and, hence, were of the QQ genotype. Histopathologic examination of brain stem tissue sections revealed intracytoplasmic neuronal vacuolation and mild spongiform changes in the gray matter neuropil in all 4 ewes. The diagnosis of scrapie was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining for the abnormal PrP. Our results suggest that the genetics of scrapie susceptibility are probably similar in Suffolk and Southdown sheep. Positive immunoassay results for the 14–3–3 protein were observed in 3 of the 4 sheep.
ISSN:0891-6640
1939-1676
DOI:10.1111/j.1939-1676.1999.tb02181.x