Improving Clinical Diagnosis of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies in Sheep: Which Signs Are Important?

ABSTRACT: Scrapie is a notifiable transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) in sheep that relies on clinical examinations for reporting suspects. A short examination protocol was used in 1002 sheep to define clinical markers suggestive of scrapie. Sheep were naturally or experimentally exposed to a classical, atypical scrapie or bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent; 312 were positive for a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) by brain examination and included non-exposed controls. Assessed signs were posture, behaviour, menace, scratch and blindfolding response, wool loss and skin changes, body condition, incoordination and tremor. First, the combined occurrence of two or more clinical signs was compared between TSE-positive and negative sheep. Second, the importance of clinical marke

SUBMITTER: Konold T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12539656 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature