Isolation of two distinct prion strains from a scrapie-affected sheep.
We performed a transmission study using mice to clarify the characteristics of the most recent case of scrapie in Japan. The mice that were inoculated with the brain homogenate from a scrapie-affected sheep developed progressive neurological disease, and one of the scrapie-affected mice showed unique clinical signs during primary transmission. This mouse developed obesity, polydipsia, and polyuria. In contrast, the other affected mice exhibited weight loss and hypokinesia. In subsequent passages, the mice showed distinct characteristic scrapie phenotypes. This finding may prove that different prion strains coexist in a naturally affected sheep with scrapie.
Masujin
Kentaro
K
Prion Disease Research Center, National Institute of Animal Health, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Shu
Yujing
Y
Okada
Hiroyuki
H
Matsuura
Yuichi
Y
Iwamaru
Yoshifumi
Y
Imamura
Morikazu
M
Mohri
Shirou
S
Yokoyama
Takashi
T
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007564:Japan; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D018620:PrPSc Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011328:Prions / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012608:Scrapie / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000635:transmission; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000635:transmission; D013045:Species Specificity; D015431:Weight Loss
D018620:PrPSc Proteins; D011328:Prions