scholarly journals The epidemiology of kuru: monitoring the epidemic from its peak to its end

2008 ◽  
Vol 363 (1510) ◽  
pp. 3707-3713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P Alpers
Keyword(s):  
Human Genetics ◽  
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Mortuary Practices ◽  
Epidemiological Surveillance ◽  
Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Remote Region ◽  
Mortuary Practice ◽  
The Past ◽  
Incubation Periods ◽  
Eastern Highlands

Kuru is a fatal transmissible spongiform encephalopathy restricted to the Fore people and their neighbours in a remote region of the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. When first investigated in 1957 it was found to be present in epidemic proportions, with approximately 1000 deaths in the first 5 years, 1957–1961. The changing epidemiological patterns and other significant findings such as the transmissibility of kuru are described in their historical progression. Monitoring the progress of the epidemic has been carried out by epidemiological surveillance in the field for 50 years. From its peak, the number of deaths from kuru declined to 2 in the last 5 years, indicating that the epidemic is approaching its end. The mode of transmission of the prion agent of kuru was the local mortuary practice of transumption. The prohibition of this practice in the 1950s led to the decline in the epidemic, which has been prolonged into the present century by incubation periods that may exceed 50 years. Currently, the epidemiological surveillance is being maintained and further studies on human genetics and the past mortuary practices are being conducted in the kuru-affected region and in communities beyond it.

scholarly journals Clinical, neuropathological and immunohistochemical features of sporadic and variant forms of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus)

2007 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 688-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence Williams ◽  
Paul Brown ◽  
James Ironside ◽  
Susan Gibson ◽  
Robert Will ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Squirrel Monkey ◽  
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Clinicopathological Characteristics ◽  
Saimiri Sciureus ◽  
Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Lymphoid Tissues ◽  
Incubation Periods ◽  
Clinical Surveillance ◽  
Jakob Disease ◽  
Different Strains

The squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) has been shown to be nearly as susceptible as the chimpanzee to experimentally induced Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD), and has been used extensively in diagnostic and pathogenetic studies. However, no information is available concerning the clinicopathological characteristics of different strains of human transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) in this species, in particular, strains of sporadic and variant CJD (sCJD and vCJD, respectively). Brain homogenates from patients with sCJD or vCJD were inoculated intracerebrally at dilutions of 10−1 or 10−3 into the left frontal cortex of squirrel monkeys. Animals were kept under continuous clinical surveillance during the preclinical and clinical phases of disease, and regularly underwent standardized behavioural testing. Brains from three animals in the sCJD and vCJD groups were examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically for the presence of pathognomonic misfolded protein (PrPTSE). Overall, incubation periods and durations of illness were slightly shorter in monkeys infected with sCJD than in those infected with vCJD, but the earliest signs of illness (ataxia and tremors) were the same in both groups. Clinical disease in the sCJD monkeys was somewhat more severe and of shorter duration. Post-mortem examinations revealed distinctive patterns of spongiform change and PrPTSE distribution in the brains of sCJD and vCJD animals, similar to those seen in humans except that amyloid plaques were not present. PrPTSE was uniformly absent from peripheral lymphoid tissues in both groups of animals. Human strains of sCJD and vCJD cause distinguishable clinicopathological features in the squirrel monkey that can provide a baseline for the evaluation of future therapeutic studies.

scholarly journals Transmission and Adaptation of Chronic Wasting Disease to Hamsters and Transgenic Mice: Evidence for Strains

2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (8) ◽  
pp. 4305-4314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory J. Raymond ◽  
Lynne D. Raymond ◽  
Kimberly D. Meade-White ◽  
Andrew G. Hughson ◽  
Cynthia Favara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Prion Protein ◽  
Chronic Wasting Disease ◽  
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Wild Type Mouse ◽  
Mouse Strains ◽  
Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Wasting Disease ◽  
Incubation Periods

ABSTRACT In vitro screening using the cell-free prion protein conversion system indicated that certain rodents may be susceptible to chronic wasting disease (CWD). Therefore, CWD isolates from mule deer, white-tailed deer, and elk were inoculated intracerebrally into various rodent species to assess the rodents' susceptibility and to develop new rodent models of CWD. The species inoculated were Syrian golden, Djungarian, Chinese, Siberian, and Armenian hamsters, transgenic mice expressing the Syrian golden hamster prion protein, and RML Swiss and C57BL10 wild-type mice. The transgenic mice and the Syrian golden, Chinese, Siberian, and Armenian hamsters had limited susceptibility to certain of the CWD inocula, as evidenced by incomplete attack rates and long incubation periods. For serial passages of CWD isolates in Syrian golden hamsters, incubation periods rapidly stabilized, with isolates having either short (85 to 89 days) or long (408 to 544 days) mean incubation periods and distinct neuropathological patterns. In contrast, wild-type mouse strains and Djungarian hamsters were not susceptible to CWD. These results show that CWD can be transmitted and adapted to some species of rodents and suggest that the cervid-derived CWD inocula may have contained or diverged into at least two distinct transmissible spongiform encephalopathy strains.

scholarly journals Thermostability of mouse-passaged BSE and scrapie is independent of host PrP genotype: implications for the nature of the causal agents

2002 ◽  
Vol 83 (12) ◽  
pp. 3199-3204 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Taylor ◽  
Karen Fernie ◽  
Philip J. Steele ◽  
Irene McConnell ◽  
Robert A. Somerville
Keyword(s):  
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Independent Molecule ◽  
Phenotypic Properties ◽  
Heated Sample ◽  
Incubation Periods ◽  
Covalent Structure ◽  
Mice Brain

Five experimentally maintained strains of scrapie and BSE agents have been passaged in two PrP genotypes of mice. Brain macerates were autoclaved at 126 °C and the levels of surviving infectivity were measured by titration. There was a large difference in the survival properties of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) infectivity between TSE strains. PrP genotype had little effect. Phenotypic properties of the TSE strains were not affected with the exception that with one strain (ME7), incubation periods of the heated sample were longer than the controls given equivalent doses. It is concluded that PrP is probably not responsible for differences in thermostability between strains. More likely, a host-independent molecule which differs in covalent structure between strains accounts for these properties.

scholarly journals Chronic Wasting Disease in Cervids: Implications for Prion Transmission to Humans and Other Animal Species

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T. Osterholm ◽  
Cory J. Anderson ◽  
Mark D. Zabel ◽  
Joni M. Scheftel ◽  
Kristine A. Moore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sika Deer ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Chronic Wasting Disease ◽  
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Wasting Disease ◽  
The Past ◽  
Notable Increase ◽  
Canadian Provinces ◽  
Prion Transmission

ABSTRACT Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion-related transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of cervids, including deer, elk, reindeer, sika deer, and moose. CWD has been confirmed in at least 26 U.S. states, three Canadian provinces, South Korea, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, with a notable increase in the past 5 years. The continued geographic spread of this disease increases the frequency of exposure to CWD prions among cervids, humans, and other animal species. Since CWD is now an established wildlife disease in North America, proactive steps, where possible, should be taken to limit transmission of CWD among animals and reduce the potential for human exposure.

scholarly journals Second Passage of Sheep Scrapie and Transmissible Mink Encephalopathy (TME) Agents in Raccoons (Procyon lotor)

2005 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 844-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N. Hamir ◽  
R. A. Kunkle ◽  
J. M. Miller ◽  
J. A. Richt
Keyword(s):  
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Distinct Pattern ◽  
Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Wasting Disease ◽  
Incubation Periods ◽  
Anatomic Distribution ◽  
Gross Lesions ◽  
Transmissible Mink Encephalopathy ◽  
Sheep Scrapie

To determine the transmissibility and pathogenicity of sheep scrapie and transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME) agents derived from raccoons (first passage), raccoon kits were inoculated intracerebrally with either TME (one source) or scrapie (two sources—each in separate groups of raccoons). Two uninoculated raccoon kits served as controls. All animals in the TME-inoculated group developed clinical signs of neurologic dysfunction and were euthanatized between postinoculation month (PIM) 6 and 8. Raccoons in the two scrapie-inoculated groups manifested similar clinical signs of disease, but such signs were observed much later and the animals were euthanized between PIM 12 and 18. Necropsy revealed no gross lesions in any of the raccoons. Spongiform encephalopathy was observed by use of light microscopy, and the presence of protease-resistant prion protein (PrPres) was detected by use of immunohistochemical (IHC) and Western blot analytic techniques. Results of IHC analysis indicated a distinct pattern of anatomic distribution of PrPres in the TME- and scrapie-inoculated raccoons. These findings confirm that TME and sheep scrapie are experimentally transmissible to raccoons and that the incubation periods and IHC distribution for both agents are distinct. Therefore, it may be possible to use raccoons for differentiating unknown transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) agents. Further studies, with regard to the incubation period and the pattern of PrPres deposition by use of IHC analysis in bovine spongiform encephalopathy and for other isolates of scrapie, chronic wasting disease, and TME in raccoons are needed before the model can be further characterized for differentiation of TSE agents.

western zhou Rites and Mortuary Practice (Inscriptions and Texts)

2020 ◽  
pp. 435-450
Author(s):  
Constance A. Cook
Keyword(s):  
Political Power ◽  
Mortuary Practices ◽  
Ancient China ◽  
Mortuary Practice ◽  
Archaeological Evidence ◽  
Ancestor Worship ◽  
The Past ◽  
Western Zhou ◽  
Bronze Inscriptions ◽  
Definition Of

This chapter presents an evaluation of Zhou ritual from the standpoint of modern archaeological evidence and excavated texts. While there is some continuity with the definition of Zhou ritual in transmitted texts, the differences with and gaps in the transmitted records are striking. The chapter explores rites and mortuary practices in detail, and it presents several examples of Western Zhou bronze inscriptions related to ancient rituals and practices for conferring political power and for ancestor worship. The chapter analyzes several inscriptions providing examples of early ceremonies and also discusses the sixty-day ritual calendar that governed ritual life during this period. The use of ritual to preserve the past led to the rise of literature and history in ancient China.

scholarly journals The past and present of pandemic management: health diplomacy, international epidemiological surveillance, and COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Flavio D’Abramo
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Epidemiological Surveillance ◽  
Health Diplomacy ◽  
The Past ◽  
Colonial Expansion ◽  
Administrative Systems

AbstractThe establishment of international sanitary institutions, which took place in the context of rivalry among the great European powers and their colonial expansion in Asia, allowed for the development of administrative systems of international epidemiological surveillance as a response to the cholera epidemics at the end of the nineteenth century. In this note, I reflect on how a historical analysis of the inception of international epidemiological surveillance and pandemic management helps us to understand what is happening in the COVID-19 pandemic today.

scholarly journals Humanized Transgenic Mice Are Resistant to Chronic Wasting Disease Prions From Norwegian Reindeer and Moose

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan D F Wadsworth ◽  
Susan Joiner ◽  
Jacqueline M Linehan ◽  
Kezia Jack ◽  
Huda Al-Doujaily ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Chronic Wasting Disease ◽  
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Spongiform Encephalopathy ◽  
Zoonotic Potential ◽  
Wasting Disease ◽  
Human Prion Protein ◽  
Prion Transmission ◽  
Wild Reindeer

Abstract Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy or prion disease affecting cervids. In 2016, the first cases of CWD were reported in Europe in Norwegian wild reindeer and moose. The origin and zoonotic potential of these new prion isolates remain unknown. In this study to investigate zoonotic potential we inoculated brain tissue from CWD-infected Norwegian reindeer and moose into transgenic mice overexpressing human prion protein. After prolonged postinoculation survival periods no evidence for prion transmission was seen, suggesting that the zoonotic potential of these isolates is low.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document