Mad cow in 2000 a British carrier would ... - Maxisciences

A study published this week found that about one in 2,000 Columbia would be carrying the prion responsible for the human form of mad cow. However, it is impossible to predict how many carriers will develop the disease one day.

mad cow disease is a degenerative disease that attacks the central nervous system via a prion accumulates in the body. There is currently no treatment to cure the disease that eventually leads to the death of people who are carriers. Also known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in terms of its human form, this disease from cattle appeared in Britain in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

She then caused widespread health crisis that led to a collapse in consumption of beef. Currently, there are 236 people who showed close to those of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy symptoms (BSE). Namely, impaired balance, sensitivity as well as dementia. These victims included 177 British and 27 French. In France, all but the last reported case in 2012, died, according to the latest report of 30 September 2013 taken by AFP.

1 Columbia on 2000 carrier

However, these figures are quite low when you consider that millions of people were exposed to abnormal prion protein (PrP), the protein that triggers the disease. This was revealed several studies following the mad cow crisis. Work had thus estimated that in the UK, one in 4000 were infected with prions.

But a new study by British researchers and published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) revises this figure upwards. To get there, Sebastian Brandner and his colleagues analyzed more than 32,000 appendices from patients of all ages made in 41 hospitals in Britain between 2000 and 2012. In total, 16 samples tested positive for abnormal prion.

Extrapolating these results, so the researchers estimate that one in 2000 carries the prion PrP UK. Based on scientific observations, the presence of abnormal prion was independent of age, location or genetic profile.

profiles more favorable to the development of the disease

However, the team also looked at the genetic profiles of people. Indeed, several previous studies have shown that the genetic profile plays a crucial role in the transmission of prion. PrP protein is composed of many amino acids. However, the amino acid located at position 129 may vary: it may be a methionine (M) or valine (V).

this protein, there are three possibilities for genetic profile: MM, MV or VV. So far, the confirmed cases of the disease, all had the same genetic profile “MM”. A found in 43% of the population profile. But the authors of the new study say positive cases also involve other genetic profiles, “VV” or “MV”, representing 13% and 45% of the population respectively, explains the AFP.

Some outstanding issues

This raises many questions. For now, researchers do not know whether subjects with a “V” component will develop the disease one day after a very long incubation or if they are protected. Similarly, they do not know why so few subjects “MM” carriers, yet considered more vulnerable vis-à-vis the disease have developed.

It is currently impossible to predict how holders of PrP are actually likely to have the disease actually develop one day. According to the researchers, it is possible that the life expectancy of the holders of certain forms are shorter than the incubation period can be spread over several years.

Given these results, the authors believe that despite the many precautions taken today to avoid contamination, remain vigilant.

Like our content

Receive free news and the best video of the day, and enjoy the Consogazette tips to improve your purchasing power