Prions and Tumor Viruses Flashcards
What are prions?
infectious proteinaceous particles without nucleic acid
What is the incubation period associated with prions?
long
What are the neuropathological changes associated with prions?
vacuolation of neurons
Prions are abnormal ________ of normal _________
folding
glycoprotein
What is the native protein of a prion and what is its structure
PrPc
a-helical structure
What cells are prions present in?
normal cells including lymphocytes and neurons
When PrPc interacts with PrPsc what is its conformation?
B-sheet
PrPsc accumulates where? What does this accumulation lead to?
neurons
leads to vacuolation and development of neurologic signs
What are the 3 ways in which transmissible spongiform encephalopathy can arise?
Transmissible in external sources
sporadic conversion
familial mutation
What is scrapie and what species does it affect?
fatal neurologic disease of adult sheep and goats
Why is scrapie usually seen in breeding aged sheep?
due to long incubation period
What are the typical clinical signs of scrapie?
restlessness/nervousness
pruritis leading to loss of wool
emaciation
death within 6 months
What would you see histologically in a scrapie case?
no inflammation only vacuolation of neurons
True or false: Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is not considered species specific
TRUE
What was the BSE epidemic attributed to?
feeding meat and bone meal of sheep to cattle
What led to a decline in BSE? What are the control measures in the US?
banning of ruminant-derived meat and bone meal
control measures include incarceration of small ruminant carcasses and brains and spinal cords of cattle older than 30 months
What are the clinical signs of BSE?
ataxia, hypermetria, tendency to fall
Is there horizontal transmission of BSE?
NO
What is chronic wasting disease (CWD)
TSE of elk, mule, deer, and moose
What are clinical signs of CWD?
chronic weight loss, behavioral changes, ataxia, tremors