Researchers have demonstrated that protein levels in urine samples can indicate both the presence and progress of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle. Publishing their findings in BioMed Central's open-access journal Proteome Science, the scientists hope their discovery might lead to the development of a urine-based test that could prevent the precautionary slaughter of many animals that now occurs when the disease is detected.
Diagnostic testing currently involves the detection of misfolded "infectious" proteins, or prions, in post-mortem brain tissue. If a simple and accurate urine test can be developed from this new knowledge, it could be performed on live animals and, therefore, may provide an alternative to current BSE surveillance procedures. It could also allow for assessing the health of breeding stock where post-mortem testing is not an option.
"We are hopeful that the knowledge we've gained from this study will eventually lead to a live test," said Dr. David Knox, a researcher at the Public Health Agency of Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, Man. "It may be possible to develop similar tests for other species as well."
Source: Feedstuffs
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