The Relationship between New Variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob Disease and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

Abstract

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) has been transmitted in the laboratory and also by iatrogenic accident. However, research has failed to find evidence that its most common form (sporadic CJD) is a natural infection and, in particular, that there is a causal link with scrapie. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) probably resulted from scrapie infection in cattle food. In the wake of the BSE epidemic, a novel clinico-pathological form of CJD has been recognized: new variant CJD (nvCJD). This paper reviews the relationship between nvCJD and BSE and presents the accumulated evidence supporting the view that nvCJD resulted from BSE contamination of human food.

Sensory features of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

“…Evidence suggests that the disease was transmitted by exposure to the bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) agent, probably through ingestion of contaminated foodstuffs [2]. To date there have been 83 deaths due to vCJD within the UK (75 definite and 8 probable according to National CJD Surveillance Unit (NCJDSU) criteria) [3].…”

Variant CJD: the present position and future possibilities

“…It is believed to be due to BSE contamination of food [8]. One hundred and twenty-six cases have been confirmed in the UK (as of August 2002), with six cases in France, one in the Republic of Ireland, one in Italy, one in the USA and one in Canada.…”

“…The epidemiological evidence strongly supports the view that the agent passed from cattle to man and there is no reasonable alternative theory. The means of infection is highly likely to be food contamination and probably mostly by spinal cord remnants in mechanically recovered meat (MRM) added to cheaper pre-prepared products [8]. There Variant CJD: the present position and future possibilities S83 is, however, no real proof of this at present.…”

Clinical features of variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease

“…It is thought that the agent passed from cattle to man via food. Although the evidence for this is circumstantial and lacks formal scientific proof, potentially infected material did enter the human food chain and no other plausible alternative is apparent at present [8].…”