title: Bovine spongiform encephalopathy: case-control studies of calf feeding practices and meat and bonemeal inclusion in proprietary concentrates.
abstract: Following the identification of meat and bonemeal as the most likely source of exposure for the occurrence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Great Britain case-control studies were initiated to investigate this hypothesis. These involved a comparison of the consumption of specific proprietary calf feedstuffs, and whether or not meat and bonemeal had been included, between animals born in 1983-84 in BSE-unaffected herds and confirmed cases of BSE also born in 1983-84. The feeding of proprietary concentrates containing meat and bonemeal was found to be a statistically significant risk factor for the occurrence of BSE. These studies therefore support the initial hypothesis that BSE occurred as a result of exposure to a scrapie-like agent via meat and bonemeal.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Wilesmith
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Hueston
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002417:Cattle; D016643:Encephalopathy, Bovine Spongiform / Q000209:etiology*; D008460:Meat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires