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Bovine
spongiform encephalopathy infectivity in greater
kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros).
Institute of
Zoology, Regent's Park, London, United Kingdom.
A.Cunningham@ioz.ac.uk
Of all the species exposed naturally to the
bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent,
the greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), a
nondomesticated bovine from Africa, appears to
be the most susceptible to the disease. We
present the results of mouse bioassay studies to
show that, contrary to findings in cattle with
BSE in which the tissue distribution of
infectivity is the most limited recorded for any
of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies
(TSE), infectivity in greater kudu with BSE is
distributed in as wide a range of tissues as
occurs in any TSE. BSE agent was also detected
in skin, conjunctiva, and salivary gland,
tissues in which infectivity has not previously
been reported in any naturally occurring TSE.
The distribution of infectivity in greater kudu
with BSE suggests possible routes for
transmission of the disease and highlights the
need for further research into the distribution
of TSE infectious agents in other host species.
PMID: 15207051 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]