title: Polymorphisms at codons 141 and 154 in the ovine prion protein gene are associated with scrapie Nor98 cases.
abstract: Until June 2004, thirty-eight scrapie cases with unusual features, designated Nor98, have been diagnosed in Norway. This study investigated the distribution of PrP genotypes among Nor98 cases, their flock-mates and a random sample of Norwegian slaughtered sheep. The PrP genotype distribution of Nor98 cases differed markedly from that of previous cases of classical scrapie. A leucine/phenylalanine polymorphism at codon 141 with hitherto unknown significance to scrapie was strongly associated with Nor98 cases. Twenty of 38 (52.6 %) cases were either homozygous or heterozygous for phenylalanine at codon 141. In contrast, this allele was present in only 10.5 % of the flock-mates and 4.5 % of the random sample of slaughtered sheep. Moreover, the H(154) allele was represented in 24 of 38 (63.2 %) of Nor98 cases, as opposed to 27.0 % of Nor98 flock-mates and 17.0 % of the slaughtered sheep.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Kyrkjevegen 332-334, N-4325 Sandnes, Norway.
authors.forename: Truls
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moum
authors.affiliation: Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, PO Box 8146 Dep., N-0033 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Olsaker
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Institute, PO Box 8156 Dep., N-0033 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Petter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hopp
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Institute, PO Box 8156 Dep., N-0033 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Torfinn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moldal
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Institute, PO Box 8156 Dep., N-0033 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valheim
authors.affiliation: University of Oslo, Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, PO Box 1111, N-0317 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Torbjørn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moum
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Institute, PO Box 8156 Dep., N-0033 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Sylvie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Benestad
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011328:Prions / Q000235:genetics*; D012608:Scrapie / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D003062:Codon; D011328:Prions