Scrapie in Eastern Libya: Case Report in Sheep

Abdalla, Fawzia F.; Sharif, Monier A.

doi:10.54172/mjsc.v37i1.622

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The results of this study demonstrate the autochthonous circulation of classical scrapie in sheep in Tunisia. This finding, along with the recent report of scrapie cases from Libya [26] and the description of a novel prion disease in dromedary in Algeria [53] suggest the need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance and improve the diagnostic capacity for animal prion diseases in North African countries.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 86%

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Characterization of the First Case of Classical Scrapie in a Sheep in Tunisia

Amara,

Elmehatli,

Di Bari

et al. 2023

Transboundary and Emerging Diseases

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Classical scrapie is a contagious prion disease of sheep and goats. It is endemic in many countries in Europe, North America, and Asia. In Africa, imported scrapie cases have been described in South Africa and Kenia in the past. More recently, several cases have been reported from different regions of Libya, based on clinical signs and histological lesions. Here, we report the results of thorough investigations carried out on a suspect case of scrapie in a 6-year-old Barbarine sheep, born, and bred in Tunisia, showing behavioral changes, weight loss, itching, skin lesions, wool loss, and motor incoordination. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry revealed spongiform change in several brain areas with associated pathological prion protein deposition. Western blotting confirmed the diagnosis and showed a classical scrapie-like molecular pattern of PrPres, different from atypical scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in small ruminants. Sequence analysis of the prion protein gene showed that the animal carried the ARQ/ARQ genotype, one of the most susceptible to classical scrapie. The inoculation of sheep brain homogenate in a susceptible rodent model proved the experimental transmissibility of the disease. These results demonstrate the circulation of classical scrapie in Tunisia and confirm its presence in North Africa, indicating the need to improve epidemiological surveillance and diagnostic capacity for prion diseases in the region.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…In Libya, scrapie was reported in 2014 to the WOAH [25]. In 2022, nine out fourteen sheep older than 2 years, with neurological signs and originating from several regions of Libya were diagnosed with scrapie based on the spongiform change detected by brain histopathology [26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of the First Case of Classical Scrapie in a Sheep in Tunisia

Amara,

Elmehatli,

Di Bari

et al. 2023

Transboundary and Emerging Diseases

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“…Spongiform encephalopathies are a fatal neurogenerative disease ( Prusiner, 1982 ; Prusiner, 1998 ) that include Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease and Kuru in humans, scrapie in domestic sheep and goats, chronic wasting disease (CWD) in cervids, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), transmissible mink encephalopathy, feline spongiform encephalopathy, among others ( Abdalla & Sharif, 2022 ; Aguzzi & Polymenidou, 2004 ; Collinge & Clarke, 2007 ; Davenport et al, 2015 ; Greenlee & Greenlee, 2015 ). Spongiform encephalopathies can be contracted through a variety of means: (1) consumption of infected flesh or contact with bodily fluids (transmissible, Collins, Lawson & Masters, 2004 ; Haywood, 1997 ; Weissmann, 1999 ), (2) genetic transfer of a mutated prion gene from one or both parents to offspring (familial, Nitrini et al, 1997 ; Riek et al, 1998 ), or (3) spontaneous production of an alternative prion protein (sporadic, Brown et al, 2006 ; Casalone et al, 2004 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic characterization of the prion protein gene in camels (Camelus) with comments on the evolutionary history of prion disease in Cetartiodactyla

Wright,

Reddock,

Roberts

et al. 2024

PeerJ

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Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are a fatal neurogenerative disease that include Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease in humans, scrapie in sheep and goats, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and several others as well as the recently described camel prion disease (CPD). CPD originally was documented in 3.1% of camels examined during an antemortem slaughterhouse inspection in the Ouargla region of Algeria. Of three individuals confirmed for CPD, two were sequenced for the exon 3 of the prion protein gene (PRNP) and were identical to sequences previously reported for Camelus dromedarius. Given that other TSEs, such as BSE, are known to be capable of cross–species transmission and that there is household consumption of meat and milk from Camelus, regulations to ensure camel and human health should be a One Health priority in exporting countries. Although the interspecies transmissibility of CPD currently is unknown, genotypic characterization of Camelus PRNP may be used for predictability of predisposition and potential susceptibility to CPD. Herein, eight breeds of dromedary camels from a previous genetic (mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites) and morphological study were genotyped for PRNP and compared to genotypes from CPD–positive Algerian camels. Sequence data from PRNP indicated that Ethiopian camels possessed 100% sequence identity to CPD–positive camels from Algeria. In addition, the camel PRNP genotype is unique compared to other members of the Orders Cetartiodactyla and Perissodactyla and provides an in–depth phylogenetic analysis of families within Cetartiodactyla and Perissodactyla that was used to infer the evolutionary history of the PRNP gene.

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Scrapie in Eastern Libya: Case Report in Sheep

Cited by 2 publications

References 15 publications

Characterization of the First Case of Classical Scrapie in a Sheep in Tunisia

Characterization of the First Case of Classical Scrapie in a Sheep in Tunisia

Genetic characterization of the prion protein gene in camels (Camelus) with comments on the evolutionary history of prion disease in Cetartiodactyla

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