(JP) Infected brains on menu for BSE tests

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http://www.asahi.com/english/nation/TKY200404290142.html

 

Infected brains on menu for BSE tests

The Asahi Shimbun

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In an unappetizing experiment, health experts will

feed cattle the brains of cows infected with mad cow

disease to find an early detection method for the

brain-wasting disease, officials said.

 

The National Institute of Animal Health next month

will start a series of tests using live cattle to

combat possible outbreaks of bovine spongiform

encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease.

 

The forced cannibalism, which will artificially infect

the healthy herbivores with BSE, is also aimed at

learning how the disease develops.

 

The tests will be conducted in a tightly sealed

facility in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, that cost 7.1

billion yen to complete.

 

The National Institute of Animal Health, an

incorporated administrative agency under the

jurisdiction of the farm ministry, has invited local

residents to take a tour of the new facility today to

alleviate fears that the disease might leak out.

 

The new tests are needed, officials say, because of

deficiencies in the current BSE screening method. The

current test is conducted on the brain tissue of

cattle, meaning, obviously, that the cows are already

dead.

 

There are also limits to the current test's

sensitivity to abnormal prion proteins, leading to

difficulty in dealing with the disease.

 

To prevent abnormal prions from leaking during the

live cattle tests, the facility is equipped with air

and water purifiers. It also has a special

high-pressure, high-temperature system to safely

dispose of cattle parts after dissection.

 

The infected brains will be collected from the

Hokkaido Animal Research Center, where researchers

started raising infected calves in January by

injecting prions into their brains.

 

After the healthy cattle are fed the infected brain

matter, the Tsukuba institute researchers can try to

find a biochemical marker that indicates BSE infection

in the living animals, according to the officials.

 

Japan now tests all cattle slaughtered for consumption

for BSE. The mandatory testing started in October 2001

after Japan's first mad cow case was confirmed.

 

The facility's construction costs were earmarked in a

supplementary budget for fiscal 2001.

 

The institute has since provided explanations about

the facility to local residents, the officials

said.(IHT/Asahi: April 29,2004) (04/29)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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