Epidemiological investigation of a single atypical BSE case in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland (RBSE 24/00006)
Epidemiological investigation of a single atypical BSE case in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland (RBSE 24/00006)
Details
In December 2024, Scotland’s Chief Veterinary Officer and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) confirmed a single case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a 19-year-old bovine in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
This report summarises the epidemiological investigations carried out to describe and understand this single case of BSE.
The detection of this case is evidence that the UK surveillance system for detecting and containing BSE is robust and effective. There is no threat to food safety, human health or animal health due to this case.
Published 23 May 2025
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bse-in-scotland-epidemiology-report-2025
Research and analysis
Epidemiological investigation of a single atypical BSE case in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland (RBSE 24/00006)
Published 23 May 2025
Applies to Scotland
Executive summary
In December 2024, Scotland’s Chief Veterinary Officer and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) confirmed a single case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a 19-year-old bovine in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Atypical BSE is a natural and spontaneously occurring form of BSE that is reported with extremely low frequency in countries with solid active BSE surveillance programs (in countries with less robust surveillance these naturally occurring cases might not be detected). To date, there is no evidence that atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is transmissible. There is no threat to food safety, to human health or to animal health as a consequence of this case.
This case was identified through the UK active surveillance system, as required by UK legislation. Confirmatory testing at Weybridge TSE National Reference Laboratory indicated that the molecular profile was different from classical or L- type BSE and it was indistinguishable from H- type BSE which is a form of atypical BSE (WOAH and national reference laboratories have established Western immunoblot methods to discriminate H- and L-type variants from classical BSE). The clinical presentation of the case matched the known features of atypical BSE cases.
The previous BSE atypical case in Great Britain (GB) was detected in March 2023. Over 186,333 cattle have been tested for BSE under the ongoing Active Surveillance programme between March 2023 and December 2024.
An epidemiological investigation was carried out in both the holding of birth and the holding of death of the positive bovine animal. All the evidence indicates that this was a spontaneous atypical BSE case. The investigations have not detected any cause for concern that statutory official controls for BSE have been breached at any point in relation to this case or its herd of origin.
The animal involved was humanely killed on farm and it was not destined to the food chain. Control measures were implemented including routine disposal of the entire carcass as category 1 animal by-product (ABP) material and identification and culling of the cohort and the offspring aged under 24 months of this atypical BSE case. BSE screening results for the cohort and offspring were negative.
This report summarises the epidemiological investigations carried out in order to describe this atypical BSE case.
Overview of atypical BSE
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), differentiates between classical and atypical forms of BSE:
Classical BSE occurs through the consumption of contaminated feed. While classical BSE was identified as a significant threat in the 90s, its incidence has markedly decreased over the past years, as a result of the successful implementation of effective official control measures. Atypical BSE refers to naturally and sporadically occurring forms, which are believed to occur in all bovine populations at a very low rate, and which have only been identified in older bovines when conducting intensive surveillance. To date there is no evidence that atypical BSE is transmissible. At the time of writing atypical BSE has not been directly associated with any human prion disease.
Atypical BSE is not a WOAH-listed disease. Nevertheless, for the purpose of official recognition and annual reconfirmation of BSE risk status, WOAH members need to provide evidence that any bovines detected with atypical BSE have been completely destroyed or disposed of to ensure that they do not enter the feed or food chain. While to date there is no evidence that atypical BSE is transmissible to humans, measures to manage exposure risk in the feed chain continue to be recommended as a precautionary measure.
The main clinical features of atypical BSE cases are:
atypical BSE is detected most frequently in bovines over 8 years of age based on experimental studies, disease progression is generally slow, ranging from weeks to months. An animal may also present with an apparent sudden onset of disease (for example, unable to get up) even though its behaviour or temperament may have changed weeks or months ago The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) publishes yearly summary reports on surveillance for the presence of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) (2021, 2022 and 2023).
These publications confirm that reporting of atypical BSE cases occurs in countries with solid active BSE surveillance programs.
The reports also present a time-series analysis carried out over the last 10-year period showing a significant decreasing trend in the occurrence of classical BSE, whereas no significant trend for the 2 atypical BSE forms was found, pointing to the natural spontaneous occurrence of atypical BSE.
The occurrence of further classical BSE cases in many countries has been prevented by prohibiting the inclusion of processed animal protein in ruminant feed and subsequently in livestock feed. The ban of processed animal protein in ruminant feed also prevents recycling of an atypical BSE agent in feedstuffs.
Case details
The case reference is RBSE 24/00006.
This case was identified through the UK active surveillance system, as required by UK legislation. Under this system, all fallen stock cattle (dead on farm not slaughtered for human consumption) aged over 48 months must be tested for BSE.
On 29/11/2024 the Eurofins Forensic Services TSE testing laboratory, Risley, detected a BSE positive sample through routine national TSE statutory surveillance and testing of fallen stock cattle aged over 48 months, using the IDEXX EIA TSE rapid test on a sample from a 19-year-old bovine fallen stock, originating in a holding in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
Confirmation and typing of this case were based on western blot (WB) at Weybridge TSE National Reference Laboratory concluding that the agent had a molecular profile that is different from classical or L- type BSE and was indistinguishable from H- type BSE, which is a form of atypical BSE (WOAH and national reference laboratories have established Western immunoblot methods to discriminate H- and L-type variants from classical BSE).
The index animal’s prion protein gene was sequenced, which did not identify any unusual polymorphisms that are not also seen in the normal cattle population.
Epidemiological investigation
The positive animal was born in 2005 in Perthshire, Scotland in a beef suckler herd. It was moved as a 2-year-old cow to another farm in Perthshire, where it resided until 2016. In 2016, the positive cow moved to a beef suckler herd in Dumfries and Galloway, where it remained until its death.
The index case had been isolated in a field on her own for the past year due to her declining health, which was believed to be caused by old age. No clinical signs of BSE were observed. On 25/11/2024 this 19-year-old bovine was humanely euthanised on farm due to age-related deterioration. This clinical presentation matches the known features of atypical BSE cases.
A BSE epidemiological questionnaire was completed for both the holding of birth and the holding of death of the positive bovine animal. No feed silos were or had been present in the holding of birth and where the case animal had spent the first 12 months of its life (period based on the scientific evidence, that classical BSE is transmitted via feed contaminated with prions given to a bovine animal during the first year of its life).
Historic data on BSE testing confirmed that active BSE surveillance had been carried out regularly on both holdings and that no previous BSE cases had been recorded in either holding. Furthermore, no irregularities were identified in either of the 2 holdings.
Control measures
The positive animal was not presented for slaughter and did not enter the food chain. The entire carcass was routinely disposed of as category 1 ABP material, in common with all fallen stock bovines.
The rearing and natal cohort, and the offspring aged under 24 months, of this atypical BSE case were identified. The surviving cohort consisted of one remaining live animal, and in addition there was one offspring aged under 24 months. These were placed under movement restrictions and subsequently culled. Brain samples were collected and screened for BSE. Both samples were found to be negative.
There was no threat to food safety or human health.
BSE testing and atypical cases in Great Britain
Between 2007 and 2024 over 4.91 million cattle have been tested for BSE in GB. The previous BSE atypical case in GB was detected in March 2023, with over 186,333 cattle tested between March 2023 and December 2024.
Concluding remarks
Atypical BSE is a naturally and sporadically occurring non-contagious disease, which is believed to occur in all cattle populations at a very low rate. Atypical BSE is distinct from classical BSE which is linked to infectious feed.
The detection of this case is evidence that the surveillance system for detecting and containing BSE is solid and effective.
The positive animal was detected through testing under the BSE fallen stock survey, part of the strict routine BSE official control and surveillance programme and was removed from the farm for disposal. This animal, as fallen stock, was not destined for the human food chain. There is no evidence that any TSE regulations have been breached in this case.
There is no threat to food safety or human health and no further actions are necessary as a result of this isolated case.
Annex 1: Summary of relevant TSE control measures
Feed ban
Feed controls were first introduced in the UK in 1988, when the cause of BSE was first epidemiologically linked to feed containing meat and bone meal. Since 1988 it has been prohibited to feed ruminant protein to ruminants in the UK. The 1 August 1996 is considered as the date of the effective reinforced feed ban when any animal protein was banned from all farm animal feed, with a few exceptions. A European Council Decision in 2000 (2000/76) extended the ban and provided harmonised BSE-related feed controls across all Member States. Current EU feed ban controls have been amended since then and are included in Regulation (EC) Number 999/2001. This Regulation has been assimilated in domestic legislation as it was on 1 January 2021.
Great Britain National Feed Audit
To confirm the effectiveness of the TSE feed ban controls in Great Britain, an inspection and sampling programme (the national feed audit) is undertaken throughout the animal feed chain.
This includes imported feeds, bulk storage, production at feed mills, blending plants, mobile mixers and on farm mixers using fishmeal in feed production and livestock farms including home compounders.
All incidents are rigorously investigated, and risk-based actions taken to prevent further marketing of contaminated feed into the feed chain and where necessary restriction of ruminant animals and removal of those animals from the food chain is carried out.
Disposing of specific risk material
Specific risk materials (SRM) are body parts of cattle or sheep that may contain significant amounts of prion in infected animals. Different animal parts are considered SRM, depending on whether they are of ovine or bovine origin and the age of the animal. SRM is banned from entering the food chain and is removed in abattoirs. The removal of SRM is confirmed at a post-mortem inspection.
Animals are also subject to an ante-mortem inspection on arrival at the abattoir.
In this case, the animal was culled on farm and was not destined to the food chain. As fallen stock, the entire carcass was category 1 animal by-product and was disposed of.
Testing cattle for BSE
The UK has a robust surveillance programme for BSE, which includes both active and passive surveillance.
Under the active surveillance programme approximately 100,000 BSE tests are undertaken annually in GB. Bovine animals are tested for BSE if they are born in the UK or in an EU country other than Romania or Bulgaria and:
the animal is aged over 48 months and showed signs of sickness when examined by a veterinarian before death (ante-mortem inspection) the animal is aged over 48 months and has been sent for emergency slaughter (for example, casualty animals which do not appear to be unwell, but have broken a leg or suffered some other injury) the animal is aged over 48 months and is fallen stock, that is, their death was not due to being slaughtered for human consumption the animal is older than 30 months and killed for the farmer’s private consumption. In addition, our active surveillance programme requires BSE testing of bovine animals:
slaughtered for human consumption at abattoir if they were born in Romania, Bulgaria, or any non-EU country and they were older than 30 months and healthy at the time of slaughter that are fallen stock, were sent for emergency slaughter or showed signs of sickness when examined by a veterinarian before death that were born in Romania, Bulgaria or any non-EU country and were older than 24 months at the time of death Under the passive surveillance programme all bovines suspected of having clinical BSE must be immediately reported for investigation to the competent authority. If the investigation determines that BSE cannot be ruled out, the animal is culled and samples are collected for testing.
Ban on on-farm burial of fallen stock
Since May 2003, it has been illegal to bury fallen stock (dead animals) on farms throughout the European Union (of which the UK was a member or continued to adhere to the specific regulations during ’the transition period’ until 31 December 2020) under the EU Animal By-Products Regulation. This prohibition has been assimilated in domestic legislation from 1 January 2021.
A derogation exists within remote areas for burial to occur, however the farm concerned is not within any derogated areas.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bse-in-scotland-epidemiology-report-2025/epidemiological-investigation-of-a-single-atypical-bse-case-in-dumfries-and-galloway-scotland-rbse-2400006
Previous studies have demonstrated that L-BSE can be orally transmitted to cattle (7) and might have caused prion disease in farm-raised minks (6), indicating that L-BSE could naturally affect various animal species. Our findings suggest that L-BSE can also be orally transmitted to macaques. Therefore, current control measures aimed at preventing primary C-BSE in cattle and humans may also need to consider the potential risk of spontaneous L-BSE transmission.
Volume 31, Number 5—May 2025
Dispatch
Administration of L-Type Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy to Macaques to Evaluate Zoonotic Potential
Morikazu Imamura1Comments to Author , Ken’ichi Hagiwara, Minoru Tobiume, Minako Ohno, Hiromi Iguchi, Hanae Takatsuki, Tsuyoshi Mori, Ryuichiro Atarashi, Hiroaki Shibata, and Fumiko Ono1 Author affiliation: University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan (M. Imamura, M. Ohno, H. Iguchi, H. Takatsuki, T. Mori, R. Atarashi); National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan (K. Hagiwara, M. Tobiume); The Corporation for Production and Research of Laboratory Primates, Tsukuba, Japan (H. Shibata); Okayama University of Science, Imabari, Japan (F. Ono) Cite This Article
Abstract
We administered L-type bovine spongiform encephalopathy prions to macaques to determine their potential for transmission to humans. After 75 months, no clinical symptoms appeared, and prions were undetectable in any tissue by Western blot or immunohistochemistry. Protein misfolding cyclic amplification, however, revealed prions in the nerve and lymphoid tissues.
Worldwide emergence of classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (C-BSE) is associated with variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans (1). Two other naturally occurring BSE variants have been identified, L-type (L-BSE) and H-type. Studies using transgenic mice expressing human normal prion protein (PrPC) (2) and primates (3–5) have demonstrated that L-BSE is more virulent than C-BSE. Although L-BSE is orally transmissible to minks (6), cattle (7), and mouse lemurs (5), transmissibility to cynomolgus macaques, a suitable model for investigating human susceptibility to prions, remains unclear. We orally inoculated cynomolgus macaques with L-BSE prions and explored the presence of abnormal prion proteins (PrPSc) in tissues using protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) along with Western blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). PMCA markedly accelerates prion replication in vitro, and its products retain the biochemical properties and transmissibility of seed prion strains (8).
The Study
Two macaques orally inoculated with L-BSE prions remained asymptomatic and healthy but were euthanized and autopsied at 75 months postinoculation. WB showed no PrPSc accumulation in any tissue (Table), IHC revealed no PrPSc accumulation, hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed no spongiform changes in brain sections, and pathologic examination revealed no abnormalities.
Snip…
Conclusion We noted no detectable evidence of PrPSc by WB or IHC in any tissues of L-BSE orally inoculated macaques. Nevertheless, PMCA successfully amplified PrPres from lymphatic and neural tissues. The PrPres exhibited electrophoretic patterns distinct from those detected by PMCA using L-BSE–affected cattle BH as the seed (Figure 3, panel C), indicating that the PrPSc used as the template for PrPres amplification in orally inoculated macaques did not originate from the bovine L-BSE prions used as inoculum. Instead, PrPSc were newly generated by the conversion of macaque PrPC by bovine L-BSE prions. Our results provide strong evidence that L-BSE can infect macaques via the oral route.
We found no evidence that PrPSc reached the brain in orally inoculated macaques; however, the macaques euthanized 6 years postinoculation might have been in the preclinical period. At low infection levels, lymph nodes play a vital role in prion spread to the central nervous system (11). Therefore, had the macaques been maintained for a longer period, they might have developed prion disease. Retrospective surveillance studies using the appendix and tonsil tissues suggested a considerable number of humans harboring vCJD in a carrier state (12). Thus, we cannot exclude that L-BSE orally inoculated macaques could similarly remain in a potentially infectious state.
The brain of L-BSE intracerebrally inoculated macaque accumulated prions with biochemical properties resembling bovine L-BSE prions (Figure 3, panel C; Appendix Figure 2); however, we observed no PrPSc accumulation in lymphoid tissues by WB or IHC (4). In contrast, macaques orally inoculated with C-BSE prions showed PrPSc accumulation in lymphoid tissues, including the spleen, tonsils, and mesenteric lymph nodes by WB and IHC (13). In our study, L-BSE orally inoculated macaques harbored C-BSE–like prions in their lymphoid and neural tissues. Interspecies transmission of L-BSE prions to ovine PrP transgenic mice can result in a shift toward C-BSE–like properties (14,15). Our data suggest that L-BSE prions may alter biophysical and biochemical properties, depending on interspecies transmission and inoculation route, acquiring traits similar to those of C-BSE prions. This transformation might result from structural changes in the L-BSE prion to C-BSE–like prions and other lymphotropic prions within lymphoid tissues or from the selective propagation of low-level lymphotropic substrains within the L-BSE prion population.
The first limitation of our study is that the oral inoculation experiment involved only 2 macaques and tissues collected at 6 years postinoculation, before disease onset. Consequently, subsequent progression of prion disease symptoms remains speculative. A larger sample size and extended observation periods are required to conclusively establish infection in orally inoculated macaques. Furthermore, we performed no bioassays for PMCA-positive samples, leaving the relationship between PMCA results and infectious titers undefined. Considering that PrPres amplifications from tissues from the orally inoculated macaque tissues required 2 rounds of PMCA, the PrPSc levels in positive tissues might have been extremely low and undetectable in the bioassay.
Previous studies have demonstrated that L-BSE can be orally transmitted to cattle (7) and might have caused prion disease in farm-raised minks (6), indicating that L-BSE could naturally affect various animal species. Our findings suggest that L-BSE can also be orally transmitted to macaques. Therefore, current control measures aimed at preventing primary C-BSE in cattle and humans may also need to consider the potential risk of spontaneous L-BSE transmission.
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Dr. Imamura is an associate professor in the Division of Microbiology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan. His research interests are focused on elucidating the mechanisms underlying prion formation.
TopExternal Link
Acknowledgment This study was supported by the Health Labor Sciences Research Grant (H29-Shokuhin-Ippan-004, 20KA1003, and 23KA1004).
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References…snip…end
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/5/24-1257_article#r5
Single case of atypical BSE confirmed on a farm in Essex
Press release
Single case of atypical BSE confirmed on a farm in Essex
A single case of atypical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) has been confirmed on a farm in Essex, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) confirmed today (Tuesday 20 May).
From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency Published 20 May 2025
The animal showed some clinical signs of BSE and was humanely culled on farm and tested as part of Defra’s routine surveillance programme. There is no risk to public health or food safety from this case and the animal, as fallen stock, was not destined to enter the food chain.
Atypical BSE is a naturally occurring, non-contagious disease in cattle which occurs spontaneously. It is distinct from classical BSE which is linked to contaminated feed.
Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said: “A single case of atypical BSE has been confirmed on a farm in Essex. The animal died on farm and was tested as part of our strict routine controls and surveillance regime.
“Atypical BSE is distinct from classical BSE and is a spontaneously and sporadically occurring, non-contagious disease which is believed to occur at a very low level in all cattle populations. This is proof that our surveillance system for detecting and containing this type of disease is working.”
Dr James Cooper, Deputy Director of Food Policy at the Food Standards Agency said: “There is no food safety risk. There are strict controls in place to protect consumers from the risk of BSE, including controls on animal feed, and removal of the parts of cattle most likely to carry BSE infectivity.
“Consumers can be reassured that these important protection measures remain in place and that Food Standards Agency Official Veterinarians and Meat Hygiene Inspectors working in all abattoirs in England will continue to ensure that the safety of consumers remains the top priority.”
Great Britain’s overall risk status for BSE remains at ‘controlled’ and there is no risk to food safety or public health.
The World Organisation for Animal Health and trading partners have been informed of the case. This does not affect the UK’s ability to export beef to other countries.
BSE is a notifiable animal disease. If you suspect it, you must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301. In Wales, contact 0300 303 8268. In Scotland, contact your local Field Services Office. Failure to do so is an offence. This applies to pet and small holder animals as well as commercial cattle.
ENDS
Notes to editors: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy is a chronic degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of cattle. It is not contagious, so it does not spread from animal to animal or between holdings.
Classical BSE was first diagnosed in the United Kingdom in 1986.
Atypical BSE is distinct from classical BSE and occurs at a very low level in all cattle populations. It is reported occasionally in countries with active BSE surveillance programmes.
The last case of atypical BSE in the UK was in December 2024 in Scotland. There has been a total of 4 cases since 2015 (including this latest case).
[The case was identified as a result of strict control measures we have in place. It was not destined for the human food chain and the Food Standards Agency have confirmed there is no risk to human health as a result of this isolated case.]
Published 20 May 2025
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/single-case-of-atypical-bseconfirmed-on-a-farm-in-essex
Atypical BSE in cattle
THE recent diagnosis of two atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) cases in Great Britain (March 2023 in Cornwall and December 2024 in Dumfries and Galloway) and one in the Republic of Ireland (in November 2023) warrants a reminder about this notifiable disease.
Since 2005, a total of 17 cases have been detected in Great Britain.1 Unlike classical BSE, which resulted in over 180,000 cases in Great Britain and was predominantly associated with the consumption of feed contaminated with the BSE agent, and where the last case was confirmed in Ayrshire in May 2024, atypical BSE is believed to be a spontaneous disease in cattle found in approximately one in 1,000,000 tested cattle based on French data,2 similar to the sporadic Creutzfeldt- Jakob disease in people. There is currently no evidence that atypical BSE causes a disease in people, although it can be transmitted experimentally to other species by intracerebral inoculation, including primates.3–5 The World Organisation for Animal Health does not include atypical BSE in its geographical BSE risk status assessment.
Despite differences in terms of epidemiological, molecular and biological phenotype compared with classical BSE, atypical BSE is currently treated as if it were classical BSE in accordance with EU and UK legislation: once a case is identified, all cohort animals born and reared with the affected animal during the first 12 months of its life, and all offspring born within 24 months of its clinical onset, are culled and tested for BSE, which does seem to be at odds with the hypothesis that it is a spontaneous disease. This is more a precautionary measure to maintain confidence in the beef trade and protect consumers while more knowledge about this disease is obtained.
Almost all current knowledge on atypical BSE is based on experimental infection because this spontaneous
VET RECORD | 29 March–12 April 2025
disease has generally only been found in aged downer cows, which is difficult to replicate experimentally in the host species. Intracerebral inoculation of brain tissue from an affected cow causes disease in cattle in less than two years, unlike the natural disease that usually occurs in animals over eight years of age.
The vast majority of cases have been identified by active monitoring of fallen stock or emergency slaughter of cattle, where only the brain sample of various stages of autolysis is generally available. Little is known of where the atypical BSE agent can be found in natural disease, other than in the brain, because all the cases confirmed have been identified after death through active surveillance, by which time most peripheral tissue has been disposed of. Limited material from a single case of a naturally affected cow was tested in Italy by mouse bioassay, which found infectivity in muscle.6 In experimental disease generated by intracerebral inoculation of cattle, infectivity can be detected in the brain and spinal cord, ganglia, peripheral nerves and skeletal muscles, similar to classical BSE, but not in peripheral lymphoid tissue.6–8
Early reporting of clinical suspects is needed so that the live animal or the whole carcase can be delivered to an APHA regional laboratory for tissue sampling. This is made more difficult due to the subtlety of clinical signs based on experimental disease. Clinical cases may not be as over- reactive or nervous as classical BSE cases; some may, in fact, be dull, but what most cases have in common is that they have difficulty getting up and eventually end up as downer cows, and only the clinical history may reveal some prior behavioural or locomotor changes. High creatinine kinase serum levels and nibbling in response to scratching the tail head or back were some features in experimental disease,8, 9 but it is not known whether this is also seen in natural disease.
In general, BSE should be considered as a differential diagnosis in all downer cows that do not respond to treatment, where the blood results do not support the presence of a metabolic disease and where the cause cannot be determined with confidence.
Since BSE is a notifiable disease, suspected cases of BSE in Great Britain must be reported to the local APHA office.
Changes are imminent in the reporting of fallen stock cattle, which will require the owner to state whether the animal displayed signs of changes in behaviour, sensation or locomotion before death, in addition to the likely cause of death or disease. This is to obtain a better profile of the clinical history, if cattle are retrospectively diagnosed as BSE cases, which has happened in all BSE cases confirmed since 2010: none has been reported as a clinical suspect.
“BSE should be considered as a differential diagnosis in all downer cows that do not respond to treatment”
Timm Konold, TSE lead scientist
Brenda Rajanayagam, workgroup leader for the data systems group
APHA Weybridge, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB email: timm.konold@apha.gov.uk
Keith Meldrum, former chief veterinary officer The Orchard, Swaynes Lane, Guildford, Surrey GU1 2XX
References
1 APHA. Cattle: TSE surveillance statistics. Overview of Great Britain statistics. 2025. https://bit.ly/4ho5Nds (accessed 19 March 2025)
Atypical BSE In Cattle
https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/vetr.5400?campaign=woletoc
Abstract for Prion 2023
Title: Transmission of atypical BSE: a possible origin of Classical BSE in cattle Authors: Sandor Dudas'
1, Samuel James Sharpe', Kristina Santiago-Mateo', Stefanie Czub', Waqas Tahirl,2, *
Affiliation: National and WOAH reference Laboratory for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, Canadian Food inspection Agency, Lethbridge Laboratory, Lethbridge, Canada. ?Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. *Corresponding and Presenting Author: waqas.tahir@inspection.gc.ca
Background: Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of cattle and is categorized into classical and atypical forms. Classical BSE (C-BSE) is linked to the consumption of BSE contaminated feed whereas atypical BSE is considered to be spontaneous in origin. The potential for oral transmission of atypical BSE is yet to be clearly defined. Aims: To assess the oral transmissibility of atypical BSE (H and L type) in cattle. Should transmission be successful, determine the biochemical characteristics and distribution of Prpso in the challenge cattle.
Material and Methods: For oral transmission, calves were fed with 100 g of either H (n=3) or L BSE (n=3) positive brain material. Two years post challenge, 1 calf from each of the H and L BSE challenge groups exhibited behavioural signs and were euthanized.
Various brain regions of both animals were tested by traditional and novel prion detection methods with inconclusive results. To detect infectivity, brain homogenates from these oral challenge animals (P1) were injected intra-cranially (IC) into steer calves. Upon clinical signs of BSE, 3/4 of IC challenged steer calves were euthanized and tested for Prpsc with ELISA, immunohistochemistry and immunoblot.
Results: After 6 years of incubation, 3/4 animals (2/2 steers IC challenged with brain from P1 L-BSE oral challenge and 1/2 steer IC challenged with brain from P1 H-BSE oral challenge) developed clinical disease. Analysis of these animals revealed high levels of Prpsc in their brains, having biochemical properties similar to that of Prps in C-BSE.
Conclusion: These results demonstrate the oral transmission potential of atypical BSE in cattle. Surprisingly, regardless of which atypical type of BSE was used for P1 oral challenge, Prpsc in the P2 animals acquired biochemical characteristics similar to that of Prps in C-BSE, suggesting atypical BSE as a possible origin of C-BSE in UK.
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Funded by: CFIA, Health Canada, Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency, Alberta Prion Research Institute
Grant Number: ALMA/APRI: 201400006, HC 414250
Atypical BSE cases in Ireland: neurological signs, brain histopathology and tissue distribution of PrPres
McElroy Sebastian Alessandro Mignacca, Ann Sharpe, Emma Curley, Semsa Omerovic, Cisca Kimbembe, Máire
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine - Pathology Division, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Aims: In Ireland, six atypical BSE cases, five H-type (H-1 to -5) and one L-type, have been confirmed up to May 2023.
Herein, the neurological characteristics, brain histopathology, topographical distribution, and signal intensity of Prpres are described.
Material and Methods:
All cases were identified through active surveillance. Clinical history was retrieved from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine archives. Whole brains/brainstems of H-type animals, and the L-type, and selected peripheral tissues of L-type were further studied by histopathology, immunohistochemistry (IHC - MAb F89) and immunoblotting (APHA BioRad TeSeE Hybrid). Investigations on Prpres distribution on the H-5 are in progress.
Results:
All animals were beef-breed females, aged between 11 - 18 years-old. They had vague clinical histories of depression, inappetence, incoordination, and recumbency, lasting 2-4 days. In the L-type and in H-5 intermittent signs lasted 2 and 6 weeks, respectively. H-2 was a healthy slaughtered animal.
Among the suitable obices for histopathology (H-1, -2 and -5), and the whole brain of H-5, vacuolation was only detected in H-5. Positive immunostaining was detected at the obex for H-1, in medulla, thalamus, cerebellum for H-2, and at all levels of the brain for H-3 and H-5. In the fallen H-type cases, immunoblot and Idexx ElA were consistently strong in all brain levels. In the healthy slaughter animal, Prpres levels were lower in cerebellum and cerebral cortex.
L-type showed inconclusive histopathological changes at obex, whilst neuropil vacuolation was most marked in thalamus and midbrain. Prpres was detected by IHC, immunoblotting and Idexx EIA at all levels of the brain and spinal cord, and immunoblotting only in the optic nerve and retina.
Conclusions:
Clinical courses were short and non-specific. Prpres intensity in all cases were generally high at all levels of the brain tested including the obex, the official target area for BSE surveillance. Acknowledgements: Colleagues in Regional Veterinary Laboratories for collecting the brain material. Colleagues in TSE Division and DVOs for clinical information on cases.
Given that cattle have been successfully infected by the oral route, at least for L-BSE, it is reasonable to conclude that atypical BSE is potentially capable of being recycled in a cattle population if cattle are exposed to contaminated feed. In addition, based on reports of atypical BSE from several countries that have not had C-BSE, it appears likely that atypical BSE would arise as a spontaneous disease in any country, albeit at a very low incidence in old cattle. In the presence of livestock industry practices that would allow it to be recycled in the cattle feed chain, it is likely that some level of exposure and transmission may occur. As a result, since atypical BSE can be reasonably considered to pose a potential background level of risk for any country with cattle, the recycling of both classical and atypical strains in the cattle and broader ruminant populations should be avoided.https://www.oie.int/fileadmin/SST/adhocreports/Bovine%20spongiform%20encephalopathy/AN/A_AhG_BSEsurv_RiskAss_Mar2019.pdf
Annex 7 (contd) AHG on BSE risk assessment and surveillance/March 2019
34 Scientific Commission/September 2019
3. Atypical BSE
The Group discussed and endorsed with minor revisions an overview of relevant literature on the risk of atypical BSE being recycled in a cattle population and its zoonotic potential that had been prepared ahead of the meeting by one expert from the Group. This overview is provided as Appendix IV and its main conclusions are outlined below. With regard to the risk of recycling of atypical BSE, recently published research confirmed that the L-type BSE prion (a type of atypical BSE prion) may be orally transmitted to calves1 . In light of this evidence, and the likelihood that atypical BSE could arise as a spontaneous disease in any country, albeit at a very low incidence, the Group was of the opinion that it would be reasonable to conclude that atypical BSE is potentially capable of being recycled in a cattle population if cattle were to be exposed to contaminated feed. Therefore, the recycling of atypical strains in cattle and broader ruminant populations should be avoided.
4. Definitions of meat-and-bone meal (MBM) and greaves
http://web.oie.int/downld/PROC2020/A_SCAD_Sept2019.pdf
Consumption of L-BSE–contaminated feed may pose a risk for oral transmission of the disease agent to cattle.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5324790/
Thus, it is imperative to maintain measures that prevent the entry of tissues from cattle possibly infected with the agent of L-BSE into the food chain.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3310119/
''H-TYPE BSE AGENT IS TRANSMISSIBLE BY THE ORONASAL ROUTE''
This study demonstrates that the H-type BSE agent is transmissible by the oronasal route. These results reinforce the need for ongoing surveillance for classical and atypical BSE to minimize the risk of potentially infectious tissues entering the animal or human food chains.
https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=353094
Scotland Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy BSE TSE Prion and scientific facts
Report on the epidemiological investigation of a BSE case in Scotland (RBSE24_00003) United Kingdom October 2024
Executive summary
On 9 May 2024, Scotland’s Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) confirmed a case of classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a 7.5-year-old cow on a beef suckler farm in Ayrshire, Scotland. This was the first case of classical BSE to be confirmed in the United Kingdom (UK) since 2021, and in Scotland since 2018. This report summarises the epidemiological investigations that have been carried out to describe and understand this single case of BSE.
The index case was a Simmental cross cow, born on 18 October 2016 in a holding in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It was purchased and introduced into the incident herd on 27 June 2018, where it resided until its death.
The index case died on farm on 26 April 2024. The farmer did not suspect notifiable disease and the carcass was collected by the fallen stock company on the same day. The carcass was tested for BSE as per the UK’s statutory BSE surveillance procedures due to the cow’s age and because she was fallen stock.
A preliminary positive result was received on 1 May 2024. A final positive result was confirmed on 9 May 2024 by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Weybridge. APHA Weybridge is the UK National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). It is also the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Reference Laboratory for BSE and scrapie.
Tracing investigations identified 2 offspring born in the 24 months prior to the clinical onset of disease and death of the index case (see also appendix 2, point (f)):
• The first one had a date of birth (DOB) of 13 May 2023. It was alive at the time of confirmation and placed under restrictions following BSE confirmation in the index case. It was transported alive to the NRL for TSEs in Weybridge for clinical observation. It was then euthanised and underwent a postmortem examination and BSE testing, with negative results.
• The second one had a DOB of 21 May 2022. It was already dead (slaughtered for human consumption and not eligible for BSE testing) when traced after the BSE case was confirmed.
Tracings investigations also identified 45 cohort animals born and/or reared with the index case during the relevant risk period (12 months either side of the date of birth of this case).
Of these, 43 were restricted and humanely culled on farm at their respective locations.
The carcasses were sampled for BSE testing and then disposed of as category 1 animal by products (ABP) at an approved ABP rendering facility. All the samples returned negative results for BSE.
The remaining 2 cohort animals were already dead when traced after the BSE case was confirmed. (They were slaughtered for human consumption and not tested for BSE as they were not eligible.)
2
Epidemiological investigations were undertaken at both the holding of birth and the holding of death of the positive BSE case. Following these investigations, the most likely source of infection remains undetermined. Four potential risk pathways were identified and assessed as very low likelihood events, all with high uncertainty. These 4 potential risk pathways were:
• accidental exposure to contaminated feed (possibly feed delivered before the reinforced feed ban that had remained attached to the side walls of a feed silo decommissioned in 2017) (see also appendix 2, point (b))
• maternal transmission
• environmental source 1: exposure to previous potential presence of the BSE agent on the natal farm via birth products
• environmental source 2: exposure to previous potential presence of the BSE agent on the natal farm from on farm or local cattle burials (when it was still legal to do so before 1 May 2003) via contaminated groundwater or other pathways (see also appendix 2, point (c))
The likelihood of any other potential risk pathways has been assessed as negligible. Any identified sources of infection have been effectively controlled through the following measures:
• The positive animal died on farm and was not destined to enter the food chain. As fallen stock, the entire carcass was category 1 ABP and was appropriately disposed of.
• Rearing cohorts and offspring cohorts were traced, culled and disposed of. All those culled cohorts and offspring were tested for BSE with negative results.
• Surveillance and testing of at-risk animals and fallen stock (see appendix 2, point D).
• Elimination of animal proteins from cattle feed as primary route of transmission (reinforced feed ban in effect since August 1996, see appendix 2, point B).
• Effective disposal of specified risk material (SRM) as per legislative requirements (see appendix 2, point E).
• Ban on burying fallen stock (dead animals) on farms since 1 May 2003 (see appendix 2, point C).
• The old feed silo was decommissioned in 2017.
The implementation of these control measures ensures that the risk of BSE agents being recycled within the bovine population has remained negligible. There is no evidence or other cause for concern that statutory official BSE or feed controls have been breached at any point in relation to this case or its herd of origin.
The detection of this case is evidence that the UK surveillance system for detecting and containing BSE is robust and effective. There is no threat to food safety, to human health or to animal health as a consequence of this case.
3
Introduction
snip...
K – Spontaneous origin
According to EFSA opinion, ‘the classification of a case as spontaneous is circumstantial and may change over time subject to additional information. It does not infer that there is no external cause; just that it could not be ascertained. A case of disease is classified as spontaneous by a process of elimination, excluding all other definable possibilities.’ (Ricci and others, 2017.)
As not all other pathways have been excluded, the likelihood of spontaneous origin is assessed as negligible.
Medium uncertainty reflects that the highest likelihood of any other pathways has been assessed as ‘very low, with high uncertainty’.
Pathway assessment Negligible likelihood, medium uncertainty.
snip...
Concluding remarks
Following an epidemiological investigation, 4 potential risk pathways have been identified as most likely source of infection. Each are assessed as a very low likelihood event, with high uncertainty.
1. Potential accidental exposure to contaminated feed concentrates at natal farm (old feed remnants of potentially contaminated feed – before the total feed ban in 1996– that might have remained in silo 1 and that could have accidentally been released in 2017).
2. Potential maternal transmission.
3. Environmental source
1: Potential exposure to previous potential presence of BSE on natal farm via birth products.
4. Environmental source
2: Potential exposure to previous potential presence of BSE on natal farm from on farm or local cattle burials via contaminated groundwater or other pathways.
The likelihood of any other potential risk pathways has been assessed as negligible.
The detection of this case is evidence that the surveillance system for detecting and containing BSE is solid and effective. There is no threat to food safety, to human health or to animal health as a consequence of this case. The implementation of control measures and continuous monitoring ensures that the risk of BSE agents being recycled within the bovine population has remained negligible. There is no evidence that any TSE regulations have been breached in this case. There is every reason to believe that current actions will contain any further potential exposure to cattle or the human food chain.
Acknowledgements
The views expressed in this report are those of the National Emergency Epidemiology Group (NEEG). We would like to express our thanks to the TSE experts within APHA, members of the One Health Team and the many other APHA colleagues who have assisted with this investigation. The NEEG is comprised of staff from APHA’s Veterinary, Operations and Science Directorates.
snip...see full report;
Report on the epidemiological investigation of a BSE case in Scotland (RBSE24_00003)
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67225af53ce5634f5f6ef578/bse-epidemiological-report-scotland-2024.pdf
Scotland Single case of disease confirmed in Dumfries and Galloway
Published 06 December 2024 12:45
Topic Farming and rural
Single case of disease confirmed in Dumfries and Galloway.
A case of atypical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) has been confirmed in a cow on a farm in Dumfries and Galloway.
Precautionary movement restrictions have been put in place at impacted premises and cover animals which have been in contact with the case. Further investigations to identify the origin of the disease are ongoing. This is standard procedure for a confirmed case of atypical BSE.
The case was identified as a result of our routine yet intensive BSE surveillance and stringent control measures are in place. Atypical BSE is not known to be a risk to public health and the animal did not enter the human food chain. Food Standards Scotland have confirmed there is no risk to human health as a result of this isolated case.
The owners of the affected animals are working with authorities on next steps.
Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said:
“Following confirmation of a case of atypical BSE in Dumfries and Galloway, the Scottish Government and other agencies took swift and robust action to protect the agriculture sector.
“The fact we identified this isolated case so quickly is proof that our surveillance system for detecting this type of disease is working effectively.
“I want to thank the animal’s owner for their diligence. Their decisive action has allowed us to identify and isolate the case at speed which has minimised its impact on the wider industry."
Chief Veterinary Officer Sheila Voas said:
“The fast detection of this case is proof that our surveillance system is doing its job.
“We are working closely with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, and other partners to identify where the disease came from.
“I want to reassure both farmers and the public that this is an isolated case and of the aytypical strain of BSE which is not transmissible and not connected to contaminated feed. But, if any farmers are concerned, I would urge them to seek veterinary advice."
Ian McWatt, Deputy Chief Executive of Food Standards Scotland said:
“There are strict controls in place to protect consumers from the risk of BSE and consumers can be reassured that these important protection measures remain in place and that Food Standards Scotland Official Veterinarians and Meat Hygiene Inspectors working in all abattoirs in Scotland will continue to ensure that in respect of BSE controls, the safety of consumers remains a priority.
“We will continue to work closely with Scottish Government, other agencies and industry at this time.”
Background
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE): how to spot and report the disease - gov.scot
The Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) is investigating the source of the disease.
All animals over four years of age that die on farm are routinely tested for BSE under our comprehensive surveillance system. Whilst the disease is not directly transmitted from animal to animal, its cohorts, including offspring, have been traced and isolated, and will be destroyed in line with our legal requirements.
In addition to the measures we have in place for fallen stock and animal feed, there is a strict control regime to protect consumers. This includes the removal of specified risk material such as the spinal column, brain and skull from carcasses destined for human consumption.
https://www.gov.scot/news/bse-2/
News BSE Published 10 May 2024 10:30
Topic Farming and rural Disease confirmed in Ayrshire.
A case of classical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) has been confirmed on a farm in Ayrshire.
Precautionary movement restrictions have been put in place at impacted premises and cover animals which have been in contact with the case. Further investigations to identify the origin of the disease are ongoing. This is standard procedure for a confirmed case of classical BSE.
The case was identified as a result of routine surveillance and stringent control measures. The animal did not enter the human food chain. Food Standards Scotland have confirmed there is no risk to human health as a result of this isolated case.
The owners of the affected animals are working with authorities on next steps.
Read more: BSE: how to spot and report the disease. Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said:
“Following confirmation of a case of classical BSE in Ayrshire, the Scottish Government and other agencies took swift and robust action to protect the agriculture sector. This included establishing a precautionary movement ban on the farm.
“The fact we identified this isolated case so quickly is proof that our surveillance system for detecting this type of disease is working effectively.
“I want to thank the animal’s owner for their diligence. Their decisive action has allowed us to identify and isolate the case at speed which has minimised its impact on the wider industry."
Chief Veterinary Officer Sheila Voas said:
“The fast detection of this case is proof that our surveillance system is doing its job.
“We are working closely with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, and other partners to identify where the disease came from.
“I want to reassure both farmers and the public that the risk associated with this isolated case is minimal. But, if any farmers are concerned, I would urge them to seek veterinary advice."
Ian McWatt, Deputy Chief Executive of Food Standards Scotland said:
“There are strict controls in place to protect consumers from the risk of BSE, including controls on animal feed, and removal of the parts of cattle most likely to carry BSE infectivity.
“Consumers can be reassured that these important protection measures remain in place and that Food Standards Scotland Official Veterinarians and Meat Hygiene Inspectors working in all abattoirs in Scotland will continue to ensure that in respect of BSE controls, the safety of consumers remains a priority.
“We will continue to work closely with Scottish Government, other agencies and industry at this time.”
Background
The Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) is investigating the source of the outbreak.
All animals over four years of age that die on farm are routinely tested for BSE under our comprehensive surveillance system. Whilst the disease is not directly transmitted from animal to animal, its cohorts, including offspring, have been traced and isolated, and will be destroyed in line with our legal requirements.
In addition to the measures we have in place for fallen stock and animal feed, there is a strict control regime to protect consumers. This includes the removal of specified risk material such as the spinal column, brain and skull from carcasses destined for human consumption.
Movement restrictions have also been put in place at three further farms – the farm of the animal’s origin and two more holdings where animals that have had access to the same feed are.
https://www.gov.scot/news/bse-1/
The European Union summary report on surveillance for the presence of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) in 2023
Published: 28 November 2024
Adopted: 29 October 2024
DOI https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9097
KEYWORDS atypical, BSE, classical, CWD, scrapie, surveillance, TSE
CONTACT biohaw@efsa.europa.eu
Abstract
This report presents the results of surveillance on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in cattle, sheep, goats, cervids and other species, and genotyping in sheep and goats, carried out in 2023 by 27 Member States (MS, EU27), the United Kingdom (in respect of Northern Ireland, (XI)) and other eight non‐EU reporting countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland (the data reported by Switzerland include those of Liechtenstein) and Türkiye. In total, 948,165 cattle were tested by EU27 and XI (−3%, compared with 2022), with five atypical BSE cases reported (four H‐type: two in Spain, one in France and one in Ireland; one L‐type in the Netherlands); and 46,096 cattle by eight non‐EU reporting countries with two atypical BSE cases reported by Switzerland. Three additional atypical BSE cases were reported by UK (1), USA (1) and Brazil (1). In total, 284,686 sheep and 102,646 goats were tested in the EU27 and XI (−3.5% and −5.9%, respectively, compared to 2022). In the other non‐EU reporting countries 26,047 sheep and 589 goats were tested. In sheep, 538 cases of scrapie were reported by 14 MS and XI: 462 classical scrapie (CS) by 4 MS (104 index cases (IC) with genotypes of susceptible groups in 93.4% of the cases), 76 atypical scrapie (AS) (76 IC) by 12 MS. In the other non‐EU reporting countries, Iceland reported 70 cases of CS while Norway reported 7 cases of ovine AS. Ovine random genotyping was reported by six MS and genotypes of susceptible groups accounted for 6.9%. In goats, 183 cases of scrapie were reported, all from EU MS: 176 CS (47 IC) by seven MS and 7 AS (7 IC) by five MS. Three cases in Cyprus and one in Spain were reported in goats carrying heterozygous alleles at codon 146 and 222, respectively. In total, 2096 cervids were tested for chronic wasting disease by ten MS, none tested positive. Norway tested 14,224 cervids with one European moose positive.
© European Food Safety Authority
https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/9097
See full report;
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9097
The European Union summary report on surveillance for the presence of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) in 2022
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
First published: 28 November 2023
https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8384
Approved: 19 October 2023 Abstract
This report presents the results of surveillance on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) in cattle, sheep, goats, cervids and other species, and genotyping in sheep and goats, carried out in 2022 by 27 Member States (MS, EU27), the United Kingdom (in respect of Northern Ireland [XI]) and other eight non-EU reporting countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland and Türkiye. In total, 977,008 cattle were tested by EU27 and XI (−4.3%, compared with 2021), and 52,395 cattle by eight non-EU reporting countries, with one case of H-BSE in France. In total, 295,145 sheep and 109,074 goats were tested in the EU27 and XI (−5.2% and −7.9%, respectively, compared to 2021). In the other non-EU reporting countries, 25,535 sheep and 633 goats were tested. In sheep, 557 cases of scrapie were reported by 17 MS and XI: 480 classical scrapie (CS) by five MS (93 index cases [IC] with genotypes of susceptible groups in 97.6% of the cases), 77 atypical scrapie (AS) (76 IC) by 14 MS and XI. In the other non-EU reporting countries, Norway reported 16 cases of ovine AS. Ovine random genotyping was reported by eight MS and genotypes of susceptible groups accounted for 7.3%. In goats, 224 cases of scrapie were reported, all from EU MS: 216 CS (42 IC) by six MS, and 8 AS (8 IC) by four MS. In Cyprus, two cases of CS were reported in goats carrying the heterozygous DN146 allele. In total, 3202 cervids were tested for chronic wasting disease by 10 MS. One wild European moose tested positive in Finland. Norway tested 17,583 cervids with two European moose, one reindeer and one red deer positive. In total, 154 animals from four other species tested negative in Finland.
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8384
https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/search?s=Transmissible%20spongiform%20encephalopathy%20&sort=computed_sort_date&order=desc
THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2025
Single case of atypical BSE confirmed on a farm in Essex
https://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2025/05/single-case-of-atypical-bseconfirmed-on.html
A case of classical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) has been confirmed on a farm in Ayrshire.
Precautionary movement restrictions have been put in place at impacted premises and cover animals which have been in contact with the case. Further investigations to identify the origin of the disease are ongoing. This is standard procedure for a confirmed case of classical BSE.
The case was identified as a result of routine surveillance and stringent control measures. The animal did not enter the human food chain. Food Standards Scotland have confirmed there is no risk to human health as a result of this isolated case.
The owners of the affected animals are working with authorities on next steps.
Read more: BSE: how to spot and report the disease. Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said:
“Following confirmation of a case of classical BSE in Ayrshire, the Scottish Government and other agencies took swift and robust action to protect the agriculture sector. This included establishing a precautionary movement ban on the farm.
“The fact we identified this isolated case so quickly is proof that our surveillance system for detecting this type of disease is working effectively.
“I want to thank the animal’s owner for their diligence. Their decisive action has allowed us to identify and isolate the case at speed which has minimised its impact on the wider industry."
Chief Veterinary Officer Sheila Voas said:
“The fast detection of this case is proof that our surveillance system is doing its job.
“We are working closely with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, and other partners to identify where the disease came from.
“I want to reassure both farmers and the public that the risk associated with this isolated case is minimal. But, if any farmers are concerned, I would urge them to seek veterinary advice."
Ian McWatt, Deputy Chief Executive of Food Standards Scotland said:
“There are strict controls in place to protect consumers from the risk of BSE, including controls on animal feed, and removal of the parts of cattle most likely to carry BSE infectivity.
“Consumers can be reassured that these important protection measures remain in place and that Food Standards Scotland Official Veterinarians and Meat Hygiene Inspectors working in all abattoirs in Scotland will continue to ensure that in respect of BSE controls, the safety of consumers remains a priority.
“We will continue to work closely with Scottish Government, other agencies and industry at this time.”
Background
The Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) is investigating the source of the outbreak.
All animals over four years of age that die on farm are routinely tested for BSE under our comprehensive surveillance system. Whilst the disease is not directly transmitted from animal to animal, its cohorts, including offspring, have been traced and isolated, and will be destroyed in line with our legal requirements.
In addition to the measures we have in place for fallen stock and animal feed, there is a strict control regime to protect consumers. This includes the removal of specified risk material such as the spinal column, brain and skull from carcasses destined for human consumption.
Movement restrictions have also been put in place at three further farms – the farm of the animal’s origin and two more holdings where animals that have had access to the same feed are.
https://www.gov.scot/news/bse-1/
The European Union summary report on surveillance for the presence of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) in 2023
Published: 28 November 2024
Adopted: 29 October 2024
DOI https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9097
KEYWORDS atypical, BSE, classical, CWD, scrapie, surveillance, TSE
CONTACT biohaw@efsa.europa.eu
Abstract
This report presents the results of surveillance on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in cattle, sheep, goats, cervids and other species, and genotyping in sheep and goats, carried out in 2023 by 27 Member States (MS, EU27), the United Kingdom (in respect of Northern Ireland, (XI)) and other eight non‐EU reporting countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland (the data reported by Switzerland include those of Liechtenstein) and Türkiye. In total, 948,165 cattle were tested by EU27 and XI (−3%, compared with 2022), with five atypical BSE cases reported (four H‐type: two in Spain, one in France and one in Ireland; one L‐type in the Netherlands); and 46,096 cattle by eight non‐EU reporting countries with two atypical BSE cases reported by Switzerland. Three additional atypical BSE cases were reported by UK (1), USA (1) and Brazil (1). In total, 284,686 sheep and 102,646 goats were tested in the EU27 and XI (−3.5% and −5.9%, respectively, compared to 2022). In the other non‐EU reporting countries 26,047 sheep and 589 goats were tested. In sheep, 538 cases of scrapie were reported by 14 MS and XI: 462 classical scrapie (CS) by 4 MS (104 index cases (IC) with genotypes of susceptible groups in 93.4% of the cases), 76 atypical scrapie (AS) (76 IC) by 12 MS. In the other non‐EU reporting countries, Iceland reported 70 cases of CS while Norway reported 7 cases of ovine AS. Ovine random genotyping was reported by six MS and genotypes of susceptible groups accounted for 6.9%. In goats, 183 cases of scrapie were reported, all from EU MS: 176 CS (47 IC) by seven MS and 7 AS (7 IC) by five MS. Three cases in Cyprus and one in Spain were reported in goats carrying heterozygous alleles at codon 146 and 222, respectively. In total, 2096 cervids were tested for chronic wasting disease by ten MS, none tested positive. Norway tested 14,224 cervids with one European moose positive.
© European Food Safety Authority
https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/9097
See full report;
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9097
The European Union summary report on surveillance for the presence of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) in 2022
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
First published: 28 November 2023
https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8384
Approved: 19 October 2023 Abstract
This report presents the results of surveillance on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) in cattle, sheep, goats, cervids and other species, and genotyping in sheep and goats, carried out in 2022 by 27 Member States (MS, EU27), the United Kingdom (in respect of Northern Ireland [XI]) and other eight non-EU reporting countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland and Türkiye. In total, 977,008 cattle were tested by EU27 and XI (−4.3%, compared with 2021), and 52,395 cattle by eight non-EU reporting countries, with one case of H-BSE in France. In total, 295,145 sheep and 109,074 goats were tested in the EU27 and XI (−5.2% and −7.9%, respectively, compared to 2021). In the other non-EU reporting countries, 25,535 sheep and 633 goats were tested. In sheep, 557 cases of scrapie were reported by 17 MS and XI: 480 classical scrapie (CS) by five MS (93 index cases [IC] with genotypes of susceptible groups in 97.6% of the cases), 77 atypical scrapie (AS) (76 IC) by 14 MS and XI. In the other non-EU reporting countries, Norway reported 16 cases of ovine AS. Ovine random genotyping was reported by eight MS and genotypes of susceptible groups accounted for 7.3%. In goats, 224 cases of scrapie were reported, all from EU MS: 216 CS (42 IC) by six MS, and 8 AS (8 IC) by four MS. In Cyprus, two cases of CS were reported in goats carrying the heterozygous DN146 allele. In total, 3202 cervids were tested for chronic wasting disease by 10 MS. One wild European moose tested positive in Finland. Norway tested 17,583 cervids with two European moose, one reindeer and one red deer positive. In total, 154 animals from four other species tested negative in Finland.
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8384
https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/search?s=Transmissible%20spongiform%20encephalopathy%20&sort=computed_sort_date&order=desc
THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2025
Single case of atypical BSE confirmed on a farm in Essex
https://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2025/05/single-case-of-atypical-bseconfirmed-on.html
THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2025
UK ministers may lift BSE-era ban on animal remains in chicken and pig feed
https://efsaopinionbseanimalprotein.blogspot.com/2025/01/uk-ministers-may-lift-bse-era-ban-on.html
Tennessee State Veterinarian Alerts Cattle Owners to Disease Detection Mad Cow atypical L-Type BSE
Friday, May 19, 2023 | 04:12pm NASHVILLE — The Tennessee State Veterinarian is confirming a case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a cow with ties to Tennessee.
The cow appeared unwell after arriving at a packing company in South Carolina. In alignment with the United States Department of Agriculture’s BSE surveillance program, the animal was isolated and euthanized. It did not enter the food supply. Preliminary investigation has determined the cow originated in southeast Tennessee.
“We are working closely with our federal partners and animal health officials in South Carolina for this response,” State Veterinarian Dr. Samantha Beaty said. “That includes determining prior owners and locations where the affected cow lived in Tennessee and tracing siblings and offspring for testing.”
BSE is a chronic degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of cattle. It is caused by an abnormal prion protein. The atypical form occurs spontaneously at very low levels in all cattle populations, particularly in older animals. Atypical BSE poses no known risk to human health. It is different from the classical form of BSE, which has not been detected in the U.S. since 2003.
BSE is not contagious and therefore is not spread through contact between cattle or with other species. There is no treatment for or vaccine to prevent BSE. The U.S. has a strong surveillance program in place for early detection and to prevent suspect cattle from entering the food supply chain.
Cattle owners are always advised to monitor their herds for health. Cattle affected by BSE may display changes in temperament, abnormal posture, poor coordination, decreased milk production, or loss of condition without noticeable loss of appetite. Owners should report any herd health concerns to their veterinarian or to the State Veterinarian’s office at 615-837-5120.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Animal Health Division is responsible for promoting animal health in Tennessee. The State Veterinarian’s office seeks to prevent the spread of disease through import and movement requirements, livestock traceability, disaster mitigation, and the services of the C.E. Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory. The division collaborates with other health-related stakeholders, academic institutions, and extension services to support One Health, an initiative to improve health for people and animals.
https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/news/2023/5/19/state-veterinarian-alerts-cattle-owners-to-disease-detection.html
USDA Announces Atypical L-Type Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy BSE Detection
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing an atypical case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), a neurologic disease of cattle, in an approximately five-year-old or older beef cow at a slaughter plant in South Carolina. This animal never entered slaughter channels and at no time presented a risk to the food supply or to human health in the United States. Given the United States’ negligible risk status for BSE, we do not expect any trade impacts as a result of this finding.
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed that this cow was positive for atypical L-type BSE. The animal was tested as part of APHIS’s routine surveillance of cattle that are deemed unsuitable for slaughter. The radio frequency identification tag present on the animal is associated with a herd in Tennessee. APHIS and veterinary officials in South Carolina and Tennessee are gathering more information during this ongoing investigation.
Atypical BSE generally occurs in older cattle and seems to arise rarely and spontaneously in all cattle populations.
This is the nation’s 7th detection of BSE. Of the six previous U.S. cases, the first, in 2003, was a case of classical BSE in a cow imported from Canada; the rest have been atypical (H- or L-type) BSE.
The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) recognizes the United States as negligible risk for BSE. As noted in the WOAH guidelines for determining this status, atypical BSE cases do not impact official BSE risk status recognition as this form of the disease is believed to occur spontaneously in all cattle populations at a very low rate. Therefore, this finding of an atypical case will not change the negligible risk status of the United States, and should not lead to any trade issues.
The United States has a longstanding system of interlocking safeguards against BSE that protects public and animal health in the United States, the most important of which is the removal of specified risk materials - or the parts of an animal that would contain BSE should an animal have the disease - from all animals presented for slaughter. The second safeguard is a strong feed ban that protects cattle from the disease. Another important component of our system - which led to this detection - is our ongoing BSE surveillance program that allows USDA to detect the disease if it exists at very low levels in the U.S. cattle population.
More information about this disease is available in the BSE factsheet.
#
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/sa_by_date/sa-2023/bse
May 2, 2023
Docket No. APHIS–2023–0027 Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; National Veterinary Services Laboratories; Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Surveillance Program Singeltary Submission
ONLY by the Grace of God, have we not had a documented BSE outbreak, that and the fact the USDA et al are only testing 25K cattle for BSE, a number too low to find mad cow disease from some 28.9 million beef cows in the United States as of Jan. 1, 2023, down 4% from last year. The number of milk cows in the United States increased to 9.40 million. U.S. calf crop was estimated at 34.5 million head, down 2% from 2021. Jan 31, 2023.
ALL it would take is one BSE positive, yet alone a handful of BSE cases, this is why the Enhanced BSE was shut down, and the BSE testing shut down to 25k, and the BSE GBRs were replaced with BSE MRRs, after the 2003 Christmas Mad cow, the cow that stole Christmas, making it legal to trade BSE, imo.
Document APHIS-2023-0027-0001 BSE Singeltary Comment Submission
https://www.regulations.gov/comment/APHIS-2023-0027-0002
see full submission;
https://downloads.regulations.gov/APHIS-2023-0027-0002/attachment_1.pdf
Bottom line, USA is testing so few cows for BSE (<25k tested annually)
BUT, even at those low testing figures, the USA did just confirm another case of BSE just here recently. Feed ban has failed terribly, and CWD is spreading in the USA, at an alarming rate. Recent transmission studies show oral transmission of CWD of Cervid to cattle. Studies also show links of sporadic CJD to BSE, Scrapie, and CWD. It’s a Whole new game of Prion poker now$$$
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
***> WAHIS, WOAH, OIE, United States of America Bovine spongiform encephalopathy Immediate notification
https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/5067
https://woahoie.blogspot.com/2023/05/wahis-woah-oie-united-states-of-america.html
https://prpsc.proboards.com/thread/125/wahis-woah-oie-immediate-notification
SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2023
***> Tennessee State Veterinarian Alerts Cattle Owners to Disease Detection Mad Cow atypical L-Type BSE
https://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2023/05/tennessee-state-veterinarian-alerts.html
https://prpsc.proboards.com/thread/123/tennessee-veterinarian-alerts-cattle-confirmed
MAY 19, 2023
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/sa_by_date/sa-2023/bse
2 weeks before the announcement of this recent mad cow case in the USA, i submitted this to the APHIS et al;
***> APPRX. 2 weeks before the recent mad cow case was confirmed in the USA, in Tennessee, atypical L-Type BSE, I submitted this to the APHIS et al;
Document APHIS-2023-0027-0001 BSE Singeltary Comment Submission May 2, 2023
''said 'burden' cost, will be a heavy burden to bear, if we fail with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy BSE TSE Prion disease, that is why this information collection is so critical''...
https://www.regulations.gov/comment/APHIS-2023-0027-0002
https://downloads.regulations.gov/APHIS-2023-0027-0002/attachment_1.pdf
1985
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...
https://web.archive.org/web/20090506002258/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/mb/m09/tab05.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20090506001031/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/mb/m09a/tab01.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20090506024922/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1987/06/10004001.pdf
Friday, October 4, 2024
another atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Ireland
https://woahoie.blogspot.com/2024/10/another-atypical-bovine-spongiform.html
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 08, 2023
Ireland Atypical BSE confirmed November 3 2023
https://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2023/11/ireland-atypical-bse-confirmed-november.html
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2023
Ireland Atypical BSE case, 3 progeny of case cow to be culled
https://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2023/11/ireland-atypical-bse-case-3-progeny-of.html
SUNDAY, JULY 16, 2023
Switzerland Atypical BSE detected in a cow in the canton of St. Gallen
https://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2023/07/switzerland-atypical-bse-detected-in.html
WAHIS, WOAH, OIE, REPORT Switzerland Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Atypical L-Type
Switzerland Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Atypical L-Type
Switzerland - Bovine spongiform encephalopathy - Immediate notification
https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/4962
https://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2020/02/switzerland-oie-bovine-spongiform.html
Monday, March 20, 2023
WAHIS, WOAH, OIE, REPORT United Kingdom Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Atypical H-Type
https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/4977
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/single-case-of-atypical-bse-confirmed-on-a-farm-in-cornwall
https://woahoie.blogspot.com/2023/03/wahis-woah-oie-report-united-kingdom.html
https://woahoie.blogspot.com/2023/03/wahis-woah-oie-report-united-kingdom.html
BRAZIL BSE START DATE 2023/01/18
BRAZIL BSE CONFIRMATION DATE 2023/02/22
BRAZIL BSE END DATE 2023/03/03
https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/4918
https://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2019/06/brazil-reports-another-cases-of-mad-cow.html
SPAIN BSE START DATE 2023/01/21
SPAIN BSE CONFIRMATION DATE 2023/02/03
SPAIN BSE END DATE 2023/02/06
https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/4888
https://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2023/02/spain-bovine-spongiform-encephalopathy.html
NETHERLANDS BSE START DATE 2023/02/01
NETHERLANDS BSE CONFIRMATION DATE 2023/02/01
NETHERLANDS BSE END DATE 2023/03/13
https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/4876
https://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2023/02/netherlands-bovine-spongiform.html
***> Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease CJD TSE Prion Cases Increasing March 2025
https://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/2025/03/creutzfeldt-jakob-disease-tse-prion.html
***> Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease CJD, BSE, CWD, TSE, Prion, December 14, 2024 Annual Update
https://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/2024/12/creutzfeldt-jacob-disease-cjd-bse-cwd.html
https://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/
Iatrogenic Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy TSE Prion
https://itseprion.blogspot.com/
UK ministers may lift BSE-era ban on animal remains in chicken and pig feed
https://efsaopinionbseanimalprotein.blogspot.com/2025/01/uk-ministers-may-lift-bse-era-ban-on.html
Tennessee State Veterinarian Alerts Cattle Owners to Disease Detection Mad Cow atypical L-Type BSE
Friday, May 19, 2023 | 04:12pm NASHVILLE — The Tennessee State Veterinarian is confirming a case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a cow with ties to Tennessee.
The cow appeared unwell after arriving at a packing company in South Carolina. In alignment with the United States Department of Agriculture’s BSE surveillance program, the animal was isolated and euthanized. It did not enter the food supply. Preliminary investigation has determined the cow originated in southeast Tennessee.
“We are working closely with our federal partners and animal health officials in South Carolina for this response,” State Veterinarian Dr. Samantha Beaty said. “That includes determining prior owners and locations where the affected cow lived in Tennessee and tracing siblings and offspring for testing.”
BSE is a chronic degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of cattle. It is caused by an abnormal prion protein. The atypical form occurs spontaneously at very low levels in all cattle populations, particularly in older animals. Atypical BSE poses no known risk to human health. It is different from the classical form of BSE, which has not been detected in the U.S. since 2003.
BSE is not contagious and therefore is not spread through contact between cattle or with other species. There is no treatment for or vaccine to prevent BSE. The U.S. has a strong surveillance program in place for early detection and to prevent suspect cattle from entering the food supply chain.
Cattle owners are always advised to monitor their herds for health. Cattle affected by BSE may display changes in temperament, abnormal posture, poor coordination, decreased milk production, or loss of condition without noticeable loss of appetite. Owners should report any herd health concerns to their veterinarian or to the State Veterinarian’s office at 615-837-5120.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Animal Health Division is responsible for promoting animal health in Tennessee. The State Veterinarian’s office seeks to prevent the spread of disease through import and movement requirements, livestock traceability, disaster mitigation, and the services of the C.E. Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory. The division collaborates with other health-related stakeholders, academic institutions, and extension services to support One Health, an initiative to improve health for people and animals.
https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/news/2023/5/19/state-veterinarian-alerts-cattle-owners-to-disease-detection.html
USDA Announces Atypical L-Type Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy BSE Detection
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing an atypical case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), a neurologic disease of cattle, in an approximately five-year-old or older beef cow at a slaughter plant in South Carolina. This animal never entered slaughter channels and at no time presented a risk to the food supply or to human health in the United States. Given the United States’ negligible risk status for BSE, we do not expect any trade impacts as a result of this finding.
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed that this cow was positive for atypical L-type BSE. The animal was tested as part of APHIS’s routine surveillance of cattle that are deemed unsuitable for slaughter. The radio frequency identification tag present on the animal is associated with a herd in Tennessee. APHIS and veterinary officials in South Carolina and Tennessee are gathering more information during this ongoing investigation.
Atypical BSE generally occurs in older cattle and seems to arise rarely and spontaneously in all cattle populations.
This is the nation’s 7th detection of BSE. Of the six previous U.S. cases, the first, in 2003, was a case of classical BSE in a cow imported from Canada; the rest have been atypical (H- or L-type) BSE.
The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) recognizes the United States as negligible risk for BSE. As noted in the WOAH guidelines for determining this status, atypical BSE cases do not impact official BSE risk status recognition as this form of the disease is believed to occur spontaneously in all cattle populations at a very low rate. Therefore, this finding of an atypical case will not change the negligible risk status of the United States, and should not lead to any trade issues.
The United States has a longstanding system of interlocking safeguards against BSE that protects public and animal health in the United States, the most important of which is the removal of specified risk materials - or the parts of an animal that would contain BSE should an animal have the disease - from all animals presented for slaughter. The second safeguard is a strong feed ban that protects cattle from the disease. Another important component of our system - which led to this detection - is our ongoing BSE surveillance program that allows USDA to detect the disease if it exists at very low levels in the U.S. cattle population.
More information about this disease is available in the BSE factsheet.
#
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/sa_by_date/sa-2023/bse
May 2, 2023
Docket No. APHIS–2023–0027 Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; National Veterinary Services Laboratories; Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Surveillance Program Singeltary Submission
ONLY by the Grace of God, have we not had a documented BSE outbreak, that and the fact the USDA et al are only testing 25K cattle for BSE, a number too low to find mad cow disease from some 28.9 million beef cows in the United States as of Jan. 1, 2023, down 4% from last year. The number of milk cows in the United States increased to 9.40 million. U.S. calf crop was estimated at 34.5 million head, down 2% from 2021. Jan 31, 2023.
ALL it would take is one BSE positive, yet alone a handful of BSE cases, this is why the Enhanced BSE was shut down, and the BSE testing shut down to 25k, and the BSE GBRs were replaced with BSE MRRs, after the 2003 Christmas Mad cow, the cow that stole Christmas, making it legal to trade BSE, imo.
Document APHIS-2023-0027-0001 BSE Singeltary Comment Submission
https://www.regulations.gov/comment/APHIS-2023-0027-0002
see full submission;
https://downloads.regulations.gov/APHIS-2023-0027-0002/attachment_1.pdf
Bottom line, USA is testing so few cows for BSE (<25k tested annually)
BUT, even at those low testing figures, the USA did just confirm another case of BSE just here recently. Feed ban has failed terribly, and CWD is spreading in the USA, at an alarming rate. Recent transmission studies show oral transmission of CWD of Cervid to cattle. Studies also show links of sporadic CJD to BSE, Scrapie, and CWD. It’s a Whole new game of Prion poker now$$$
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
***> WAHIS, WOAH, OIE, United States of America Bovine spongiform encephalopathy Immediate notification
https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/5067
https://woahoie.blogspot.com/2023/05/wahis-woah-oie-united-states-of-america.html
https://prpsc.proboards.com/thread/125/wahis-woah-oie-immediate-notification
SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2023
***> Tennessee State Veterinarian Alerts Cattle Owners to Disease Detection Mad Cow atypical L-Type BSE
https://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2023/05/tennessee-state-veterinarian-alerts.html
https://prpsc.proboards.com/thread/123/tennessee-veterinarian-alerts-cattle-confirmed
MAY 19, 2023
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/sa_by_date/sa-2023/bse
2 weeks before the announcement of this recent mad cow case in the USA, i submitted this to the APHIS et al;
***> APPRX. 2 weeks before the recent mad cow case was confirmed in the USA, in Tennessee, atypical L-Type BSE, I submitted this to the APHIS et al;
Document APHIS-2023-0027-0001 BSE Singeltary Comment Submission May 2, 2023
''said 'burden' cost, will be a heavy burden to bear, if we fail with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy BSE TSE Prion disease, that is why this information collection is so critical''...
https://www.regulations.gov/comment/APHIS-2023-0027-0002
https://downloads.regulations.gov/APHIS-2023-0027-0002/attachment_1.pdf
1985
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...
https://web.archive.org/web/20090506002258/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/mb/m09/tab05.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20090506001031/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/mb/m09a/tab01.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20090506024922/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1987/06/10004001.pdf
Friday, October 4, 2024
another atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Ireland
https://woahoie.blogspot.com/2024/10/another-atypical-bovine-spongiform.html
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 08, 2023
Ireland Atypical BSE confirmed November 3 2023
https://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2023/11/ireland-atypical-bse-confirmed-november.html
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2023
Ireland Atypical BSE case, 3 progeny of case cow to be culled
https://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2023/11/ireland-atypical-bse-case-3-progeny-of.html
SUNDAY, JULY 16, 2023
Switzerland Atypical BSE detected in a cow in the canton of St. Gallen
https://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2023/07/switzerland-atypical-bse-detected-in.html
WAHIS, WOAH, OIE, REPORT Switzerland Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Atypical L-Type
Switzerland Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Atypical L-Type
Switzerland - Bovine spongiform encephalopathy - Immediate notification
https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/4962
https://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2020/02/switzerland-oie-bovine-spongiform.html
Monday, March 20, 2023
WAHIS, WOAH, OIE, REPORT United Kingdom Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Atypical H-Type
https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/4977
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/single-case-of-atypical-bse-confirmed-on-a-farm-in-cornwall
https://woahoie.blogspot.com/2023/03/wahis-woah-oie-report-united-kingdom.html
https://woahoie.blogspot.com/2023/03/wahis-woah-oie-report-united-kingdom.html
BRAZIL BSE START DATE 2023/01/18
BRAZIL BSE CONFIRMATION DATE 2023/02/22
BRAZIL BSE END DATE 2023/03/03
https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/4918
https://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2019/06/brazil-reports-another-cases-of-mad-cow.html
SPAIN BSE START DATE 2023/01/21
SPAIN BSE CONFIRMATION DATE 2023/02/03
SPAIN BSE END DATE 2023/02/06
https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/4888
https://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2023/02/spain-bovine-spongiform-encephalopathy.html
NETHERLANDS BSE START DATE 2023/02/01
NETHERLANDS BSE CONFIRMATION DATE 2023/02/01
NETHERLANDS BSE END DATE 2023/03/13
https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/4876
https://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2023/02/netherlands-bovine-spongiform.html
***> Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease CJD TSE Prion Cases Increasing March 2025
https://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/2025/03/creutzfeldt-jakob-disease-tse-prion.html
***> Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease CJD, BSE, CWD, TSE, Prion, December 14, 2024 Annual Update
https://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/2024/12/creutzfeldt-jacob-disease-cjd-bse-cwd.html
https://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/
Iatrogenic Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy TSE Prion
https://itseprion.blogspot.com/
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