Prevalent abnormal prion protein in human appendixes after bovine spongiform encephalopathy epizootic: large scale survey.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To carry out a further survey of archived appendix samples to understand better the differences between existing estimates of the prevalence of subclinical infection with prions after the bovine spongiform encephalopathy epizootic and to see whether a broader birth cohort was affected, and to understand better the implications for the management of blood and blood products and for the handling of surgical instruments.

Design

Irreversibly unlinked and anonymised large scale survey of archived appendix samples.

Setting

Archived appendix samples from the pathology departments of 41 UK hospitals participating in the earlier survey, and additional hospitals in regions with lower levels of participation in that survey.

Sample

32,441 archived appendix sampl

SUBMITTER: Gill ON 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3805509 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature