[Prion diseases as zoonosis].
Prion diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) have been recognized as zoonosis since the existence of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) was reported in 1996. BSE became a serious social problem even in Japan after the first BSE case was found in 2001. The incidence of BSE in EU and UK appears declining, and the vCJD incidence also shows a tendency to decrease. On the contrary, fears for the spread of BSE became actual problems: BSE occurrence outside of EU, transmission of vCJD by blood transfusion, and the first vCJD case in Japan. To prevent further spread and to reduce the risk of BSE, it is important to continue BSE screening/surveillance, removal of specified risk materials from food and feed chains, and effective feed regulation. For the disclosure and elimination of prion-contaminated blood, materials for medical and pharmaceutical products and so on, it is required to improve the sensitivity of prion detection methods. Furthermore, it is also important to establish therapeutics of human prion diseases.
Horiuchi
Motohiro
M
Laboratory of Prion Diseases, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. horiuchi@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010426:Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018620:PrPSc Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D011328:Prions / Q000276:immunology; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D015047:Zoonoses
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D018620:PrPSc Proteins; D011328:Prions; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D010426:Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester; D016264:Dextran Sulfate