Mad Cows and Cannibals, A Guide to the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (Booklet)

by Spencer, Charlotte A.

• ISBN13: 9780131423398
• ISBN10: 0131423398
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-04-22
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

Mad Cows and Cannibalsguides readers through the complex world of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs)bizarre, degenerative brain diseases that affect both animals and humans. In clear and accessible language, it provides basic explanations of the science and issues surrounding Mad Cow Disease and related conditions.It begins with stories of ritualistic cannibalism in the highlands of New Guinea, and leads to the modern agricultural feeding practices that triggered the Mad Cow Disease epidemic in Great Britain, and to recent outbreaks of Chronic Wasting Disease in North America. It explains the biology of TSEs and explores how political and social actions can contribute to their spread, answering important questions about how TSEs affect the safety of our food supply, blood supply, and medical procedures.This book will be of interest to the general public and the media, as it provides basic explanations of the science and issues surrounding TSEs. Also useful as a reference work for those in health care, medical-legal professions, and genetics industry.

Table of Contents

Preface	v
Introduction	1	(4)
The Biology of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies	5	(9)
What Are TSEs?	5	(1)
The Human TSEs	5	(3)
What Causes TSEs?	8	(1)
How Can Infectious Proteins Cause Disease?	8	(6)
The Prion Hypothesis	8	(2)
Evidence to Support the Protein-Only Prion Hypothesis	10	(2)
Other Important Features of TSEs and Prions	12	(1)
Prion Strains	12	(1)
The Prion Species Barrier	12	(1)
Leaping the Species Barrier	12	(1)
Mutations and Inherited TSEs	13	(1)
Genetic Variation and TSE Susceptibility	13	(1)
Questions About TSEs and Their Transmission	14	(5)
How Do Prions Get Into the Brain?	14	(1)
Do Surgical and Dental Instruments Spread TSEs?	14	(2)
Can TSEs Be Spread Through Blood Transfusions or Blood Products?	16	(1)
What About Organ Transplants?	16	(1)
Are Vaccines Safe?	17	(1)
Are There Diagnostic Tests for TSEs?	18	(1)
Are There Treatments for TSEs?	18	(1)
Questions About Mad Cow Disease and nvCJD	19	(9)
Why Did BSE Suddenly Appear in British Cattle in the 1980s and Why Did It Become an Epidemic?	19	(1)
Why Is BSE Still Present in British Cattle?	20	(1)
Which Countries Have BSE-Infected Cattle, and How Did the Disease Get There?	21	(1)
Is It Safe to Eat Beef in the United Kingdom and Europe?	22	(3)
How Many People Have Died From nvCJD and How Many Will Develop the Disease?	25	(1)
Does Mad Cow Disease or nvCJD Occur in North America?	26	(2)
Questions About Chronic Wasting Disease: The North American Mad Cow Disease?	28	(5)
What Is CWD?	28	(1)
Where Did CWD Come From?	28	(1)
How Is CWD Related to BSE and nvCJD?	29	(1)
How Is CWD Spread From Animal to Animal?	29	(1)
Can Humans Get CWD?	30	(1)
Is There an Epidemic of CWD, and if so, Can It Be Stopped?	30	(3)
TSE Perspectives	33	(3)
How Stringent Should We Make Government Regulations When the Risks of Transmitting a TSE Are Unknown?	33	(1)
Should People at Risk for Contracting nvCJD Be Informed When the Risk of Infection Is Unknown and the Disease Is Incurable?	34	(1)
Could Prions of an Entirely New TSE Enter Our Food Supply, Causing Disease in Humans?	35	(1)
References and Resources	36

Excerpts

The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) may be the most bizarre and mysterious diseases in nature. They are unlike any other infectious diseases, are not caused by viruses or bacteria, and they challenge the accepted dogmas of molecular biology. These fatal neurodegenerative diseases are terrifying, appear to strike in a random manner, and have no cure. Most scientists now accept the idea that TSEs are caused by rogue protein molecules that convert normal proteins into abnormal ones; however, this concept is still controversial.In the mid-1990s, the spread of Mad Cow Disease to humans triggered panic in Europe, crippled Britain's beef industry, and helped topple the Conservative government in the United Kingdom. In 2003, the discovery of a case of Mad Cow Disease in a single cow in Alberta, Canada led to bans on the export of Canadian beef, and raised questions about the extent of Mad Cow Disease in North America. In addition, concerns about the safety of the blood supply, vaccines, and surgical instruments keep Mad Cow Disease in the news around he world. In North America, an epidemic of chronic wasting disease currently threatens wild and domesticated deer and elk populations and has depressed some economies that rely on hunting. So little is known about TSEs that reliable screening tests and effective treatments still do not exist.To comprehend the threat that TSEs pose to human health and to assess whether regulatory measures are sufficient to control their spread, we need to understand as much as possible about these diseases. The goals of this booklet are: to describe the nature of TSEs -- their biology, history, and epidemiology; to address a number of specific questions about TSEs and human health with an emphasis on two recently emerged diseases -- Mad Cow Disease and Chronic Wasting Disease; to pose some of the ethical questions that surround TSEs; to provide resources for further study.We have attempted to present the most current and accurate information possible, derived primarily from scientific literature, the media, and government sources. As research is progressing rapidly and TSE epidemics are changing daily, readers are encouraged to refer to scientific journals and the Web sites listed in the References and Resources section for the nest developments.