Classical natural ovine scrapie prions detected in practical volumes of blood by lamb and transgenic mouse bioassays.
10.4142/jvs.2015.16.2.179
- Author:
Rohana P DASSANAYAKE
1
;
Thomas C TRUSCOTT
;
Dongyue ZHUANG
;
David A SCHNEIDER
;
Sally A MADSEN-BOUTERSE
;
Alan J YOUNG
;
James B STANTON
;
William C DAVIS
;
Katherine I O'ROURKE
Author Information
1. Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6630, USA. rohana1@vetmed.wsu.edu
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
- Keywords:
B lymphocytes;
blood;
prions;
scrapie;
Tg338 mice
- MeSH:
Animals;
B-Lymphocytes/*pathology;
Biological Assay/*veterinary;
Mice;
Mice, Transgenic;
Prions/*blood;
Scrapie/blood/*diagnosis/transmission;
Sheep
- From:Journal of Veterinary Science
2015;16(2):179-186
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Scrapie is diagnosed antemortem in sheep by detecting misfolded isoforms of prion protein (PrP(Sc)) in lymphoid follicles of the rectal mucosa and nictitating membranes. Assay sensitivity is limited if (a) the biopsy is collected early during disease development, (b) an insufficient number of follicles is collected, or (c) peripheral accumulation of PrP(Sc) is reduced or delayed. A blood test would be convenient for mass live animal scrapie testing. Currently approved techniques, however, have their own detection limits. Novel detection methods may soon offer a non-animal-based, rapid platform with detection sensitivities that rival the prion bioassay. In anticipation, we sought to determine if diseased animals could be routinely identified with a bioassay using B lymphocytes isolated from blood sample volumes commonly collected for diagnostic purposes in small ruminants. Scrapie transmission was detected in five of six recipient lambs intravenously transfused with B lymphocytes isolated from 5~10 mL of blood from a naturally scrapie-infected sheep. Additionally, scrapie transmission was observed in 18 ovinized transgenic Tg338 mice intracerebrally inoculated with B lymphocytes isolated from 5~10 mL of blood from two naturally scrapie-infected sheep. Based on our findings, we anticipate that these blood sample volumes should be of diagnostic value.
