title: Histopathological and immunohistochemical features of natural goat scrapie.
abstract: Histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations were performed on the brain and spinal cord of 37 goats from two Greek herds in which scrapie had been reported. Of the 37 animals, 18 were from a herd consisting only of goats and 19 were from a herd of goats mixed with sheep. The goats studied were grouped on the basis of the presence or absence of clinical signs. Distinctive lesions and PrP(sc) (PrP, prion protein) deposition were found in the central nervous system (CNS) of eight clinically affected animals and six symptomless animals. The lesion profile and PrP(sc) distribution varied both between and within groups, variation being particularly pronounced in the symptomless goats. The results concerning the latter group suggested a poor correlation between the intensity of lesions, the amount of PrP(sc) in the CNS, and the manifestation of clinical signs. Immunohistochemical examination revealed 10 different PrP(sc) types, four of which are reported for the first time in goats. All scrapie-affected animals carried the VV(21)II(142)HH(143)RR(154) genotype, with the exception of two goats that carried the HR(143) dimorphism and had detectable PrP(sc) deposits. The results suggest that the histopathological and immunohistochemical profile of the natural disease in goats is influenced by the PrP genotype and age of the animals but may not be directly associated with the presence or otherwise of clinical signs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathology and.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sofianidis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathology and.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Psychas
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Trikalon 224, 43100 Karditsa.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Billinis
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Production, Technological Educational Institution, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Spyrou
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Productive Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Argyroudis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathology and.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papaioannou
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathology and. Electronic address: ivlemmas@vet.auth.gr.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vlemmas
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006041:Goats; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018620:PrPSc Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012608:Scrapie / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D018620:PrPSc Proteins