Experimental H-type bovine spongiform encephalopathy characterized by plaques and glial- and stellate-type prion protein deposits

• Main Authors: Okada Hiroyuki, Iwamaru Yoshifumi, Imamura Morikazu, Masujin Kentaro, Matsuura Yuichi, Shimizu Yoshihisa, Kasai Kazuo, Mohri Shirou, Yokoyama Takashi, Czub Stefanie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2011-06-01
• Series: Veterinary Research
• Online Access: http://www.veterinaryresearch.org/content/42/1/79

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has recently been identified in Europe, North America, and Japan. It is classified as H-type and L-type BSE according to the molecular mass of the disease-associated prion protein (PrP^Sc). To investigate the topographical distribution and deposition patterns of immunolabeled PrP^Sc, H-type BSE isolate was inoculated intracerebrally into cattle. H-type BSE was successfully transmitted to 3 calves, with incubation periods between 500 and 600 days. Moderate to severe spongiform changes were detected in the cerebral and cerebellar cortices, basal ganglia, thalamus, and brainstem. H-type BSE was characterized by the presence of PrP-immunopositive amyloid plaques in the white matter of the cerebrum, basal ganglia, and thalamus. Moreover, intraglial-type immunolabeled PrP^Scwas prominent throughout the brain. Stellate-type immunolabeled PrP^Scwas conspicuous in the gray matter of the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, and thalamus, but not in the brainstem. In addition, PrP^Scaccumulation was detected in the peripheral nervous tissues, such as trigeminal ganglia, dorsal root ganglia, optic nerve, retina, and neurohypophysis. Cattle are susceptible to H-type BSE with a shorter incubation period, showing distinct and distinguishable phenotypes of PrP^Scaccumulation.</p>