BSE in Sheep: Clinical Signs and Pruritus
Author Information
Author(s): Timm Konold, Gemma Bone, Alberto Vidal-Diez, Raul Tortosa, Andrew Davis, Glenda Dexter, Peter Hill, Martin Jeffrey, Marion M Simmons, Melanie J Chaplin, Susan J Bellworthy, Christine Berthelin-Baker
Primary Institution: Veterinary Laboratories Agency
Hypothesis
The study aimed to describe the clinical signs in sheep infected with the BSE agent throughout its clinical course to determine whether the clinical signs were as variable as described for classical scrapie in sheep.
Conclusion
BSE in sheep presents with relatively uniform clinical signs, primarily characterized by pruritus and behavioral changes as the disease progresses.
Supporting Evidence
- Pruritus was present in 41 (87%) BSE positive sheep.
- Testing of the response to scratching along the dorsum of a sheep proved to be a good indicator of clinical disease.
- Clinical signs displayed significantly earlier in BSE positive cases compared to negative cases.
Takeaway
When sheep get sick from BSE, they often scratch a lot and show changes in how they act, which helps us understand the disease better.
Methodology
The study involved monitoring clinical signs in 139 sheep, including 123 challenged sheep and 16 undosed controls, over a period of 16-20 weeks.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in clinical assessments due to the subjective nature of observations.
Limitations
The study was limited by the low number of BSE cases and the inability to monitor clinical progression in some culled sheep.
Participant Demographics
The study included various breeds of sheep, primarily Romney and Suffolk, with different genotypes.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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