Rapid and discriminatory diagnosis of scrapie and BSE in retro-pharyngeal lymph nodes of sheep

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diagnosis based on prion detection in lymph nodes of sheep and goats can improve active surveillance for scrapie and, if it were circulating, for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). With sizes that allow repetitive testing and a...

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Main Authors: van Zijderveld Fred G, Bossers Alex, Erkens Jo HF, Jacobs Jorg G, Langeveld Jan PM, van Keulen Lucien JM
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2006-06-01
Series:BMC Veterinary Research
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/2/19
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author van Zijderveld Fred G
Bossers Alex
Erkens Jo HF
Jacobs Jorg G
Langeveld Jan PM
van Keulen Lucien JM
author_facet van Zijderveld Fred G
Bossers Alex
Erkens Jo HF
Jacobs Jorg G
Langeveld Jan PM
van Keulen Lucien JM
author_sort van Zijderveld Fred G
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diagnosis based on prion detection in lymph nodes of sheep and goats can improve active surveillance for scrapie and, if it were circulating, for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). With sizes that allow repetitive testing and a location that is easily accessible at slaughter, retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RLN) are considered suitable organs for testing. Western blotting (WB) of brain homogenates is, in principle, a technique well suited to both detect and discriminate between scrapie and BSE. In this report, WB is developed for rapid diagnosis in RLN and to study biochemical characteristics of PrP<sup>res</sup>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Optimal PrP<sup>res </sup>detection in RLN by WB was achieved by proper tissue processing, antibody choice and inclusion of a step for PrP<sup>res</sup>concentration. The analyses were performed on three different sheep sources. Firstly, in a study with preclinical scrapie cases, WB of RLN from infected sheep of VRQ/VRQ genotype – VRQ represents, respectively, polymorphic PrP amino acids 136, 154, and 171 – allowed a diagnosis 14 mo earlier compared to WB of brain stem. Secondly, samples collected from sheep with confirmed scrapie in the course of passive and active surveillance programmes in the period 2002–2003 yielded positive results depending on genotype: all sheep with genotypes ARH/VRQ, VRQ/VRQ, and ARQ/VRQ scored positive for PrP<sup>res</sup>, but ARQ/ARQ and ARR/VRQ were not all positive. Thirdly, in an experimental BSE study, detection of PrP<sup>res </sup>in all 11 ARQ/ARQ sheep, including 7 preclinical cases, was possible. In all instances, WB and IHC were almost as sensitive. Moreover, BSE infection could be discriminated from scrapie infection by faster electrophoretic migration of the PrP<sup>res </sup>bands. Using dual antibody staining with selected monoclonal antibodies like 12B2 and L42, these differences in migration could be employed for an unequivocal differentiation between BSE and scrapie. With respect to glycosylation of PrP<sup>res</sup>, BSE cases exhibited a greater diglycosylated fraction than scrapie cases. Furthermore, a slight time dependent increase of diglycosylated PrP<sup>res </sup>was noted between individual sheep, which was remarkable in that it occurred in both scrapie and BSE study.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present data indicate that, used in conjunction with testing in brain, WB of RLN can be a sensitive tool for improving surveillance of scrapie and BSE, allowing early detection of BSE and scrapie and thereby ensuring safer sheep and goat products.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-001c36672e3e463095fcedfb427dcf332022-12-21T18:27:40ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482006-06-01211910.1186/1746-6148-2-19Rapid and discriminatory diagnosis of scrapie and BSE in retro-pharyngeal lymph nodes of sheepvan Zijderveld Fred GBossers AlexErkens Jo HFJacobs Jorg GLangeveld Jan PMvan Keulen Lucien JM<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diagnosis based on prion detection in lymph nodes of sheep and goats can improve active surveillance for scrapie and, if it were circulating, for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). With sizes that allow repetitive testing and a location that is easily accessible at slaughter, retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RLN) are considered suitable organs for testing. Western blotting (WB) of brain homogenates is, in principle, a technique well suited to both detect and discriminate between scrapie and BSE. In this report, WB is developed for rapid diagnosis in RLN and to study biochemical characteristics of PrP<sup>res</sup>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Optimal PrP<sup>res </sup>detection in RLN by WB was achieved by proper tissue processing, antibody choice and inclusion of a step for PrP<sup>res</sup>concentration. The analyses were performed on three different sheep sources. Firstly, in a study with preclinical scrapie cases, WB of RLN from infected sheep of VRQ/VRQ genotype – VRQ represents, respectively, polymorphic PrP amino acids 136, 154, and 171 – allowed a diagnosis 14 mo earlier compared to WB of brain stem. Secondly, samples collected from sheep with confirmed scrapie in the course of passive and active surveillance programmes in the period 2002–2003 yielded positive results depending on genotype: all sheep with genotypes ARH/VRQ, VRQ/VRQ, and ARQ/VRQ scored positive for PrP<sup>res</sup>, but ARQ/ARQ and ARR/VRQ were not all positive. Thirdly, in an experimental BSE study, detection of PrP<sup>res </sup>in all 11 ARQ/ARQ sheep, including 7 preclinical cases, was possible. In all instances, WB and IHC were almost as sensitive. Moreover, BSE infection could be discriminated from scrapie infection by faster electrophoretic migration of the PrP<sup>res </sup>bands. Using dual antibody staining with selected monoclonal antibodies like 12B2 and L42, these differences in migration could be employed for an unequivocal differentiation between BSE and scrapie. With respect to glycosylation of PrP<sup>res</sup>, BSE cases exhibited a greater diglycosylated fraction than scrapie cases. Furthermore, a slight time dependent increase of diglycosylated PrP<sup>res </sup>was noted between individual sheep, which was remarkable in that it occurred in both scrapie and BSE study.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present data indicate that, used in conjunction with testing in brain, WB of RLN can be a sensitive tool for improving surveillance of scrapie and BSE, allowing early detection of BSE and scrapie and thereby ensuring safer sheep and goat products.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/2/19
spellingShingle van Zijderveld Fred G
Bossers Alex
Erkens Jo HF
Jacobs Jorg G
Langeveld Jan PM
van Keulen Lucien JM
Rapid and discriminatory diagnosis of scrapie and BSE in retro-pharyngeal lymph nodes of sheep
BMC Veterinary Research
title Rapid and discriminatory diagnosis of scrapie and BSE in retro-pharyngeal lymph nodes of sheep
title_full Rapid and discriminatory diagnosis of scrapie and BSE in retro-pharyngeal lymph nodes of sheep
title_fullStr Rapid and discriminatory diagnosis of scrapie and BSE in retro-pharyngeal lymph nodes of sheep
title_full_unstemmed Rapid and discriminatory diagnosis of scrapie and BSE in retro-pharyngeal lymph nodes of sheep
title_short Rapid and discriminatory diagnosis of scrapie and BSE in retro-pharyngeal lymph nodes of sheep
title_sort rapid and discriminatory diagnosis of scrapie and bse in retro pharyngeal lymph nodes of sheep
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/2/19
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