title: The Risk of Prion Infection through Bovine Grafting Materials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bovine-derived grafting materials are frequently used in a variety of bone augmentation techniques. The aim of this paper is to assess the unique safety issue of bovine-derived grafting materials that is rarely addressed in dental literature: risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
  
  
  METHODS
  The validity of the current BSE diagnostic methods, surveillance and epidemiological trends in affected countries, and BSE infectivity in bovine bone before and after manufacturing processing were reviewed and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prion screening has significant limits. Humans are not safe from the infection of prion disease of other species. Prions can and do break the species barrier. There is evidence there may be tens of thousands of infectious carriers in the western countries alone. This raises concern about the potential for perpetuation of infection via medical procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The limited ability to screen prions within the animal genome, along with a long latency period to manifestation of the disease (1 to over 50 years) in infected patients, provides a framework for discussing posible long-term risks of the xenografts that are used so extensively in dentistry. We suggest abolishing the use of bovine bone.
authors: Private practice, K-205, Banpodong 929, Sechogu, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Yeoungsug
authors: Y
authors: Kim
authors: Resident, Periodontology and Oral Biology Program, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University.
authors: Angel Emmanuel
authors: AE
authors: Rodriguez
authors: Private practice, 120 South Spalding Drive, Suite 201, Beverly Hills, CA, 90212, USA.
authors: Hessam
authors: H
authors: Nowzari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002417:Cattle; D016643:Encephalopathy, Bovine Spongiform / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000009:adverse effects
keywords: EU; FDA; IHC; PK-sensitive; PMCA; PrP 27-30; PrPC, PrPSc; SAF; WB; cCJD; sCJD