Changes

A preliminary diagnosis can be made on observation of the above clinical signs.  The disease is characterized by accumulation of prion protein in the medulla oblongata (obex) region of the brain, as well as other tissues (lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils, etc.) and can be confirmed on post mortem by the presence of the following histological changes in the brain:  bilateral symmetrical vacuolation in the grey matter of the brain, immunohistochemical demonstration of the accumulation of the disease specific PrP^sc, gliosis and hypertrophy of astrocytes, neuronal degeneration and cerebral amyloidosis.   

A preliminary diagnosis can be made on observation of the above clinical signs.  The disease is characterized by accumulation of prion protein in the medulla oblongata (obex) region of the brain, as well as other tissues (lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils, etc.) and can be confirmed on post mortem by the presence of the following histological changes in the brain:  bilateral symmetrical vacuolation in the grey matter of the brain, immunohistochemical demonstration of the accumulation of the disease specific PrP^sc, gliosis and hypertrophy of astrocytes, neuronal degeneration and cerebral amyloidosis.   

The absence of detectable immune responses in BSE precludes any serological test for the detection of antibodies.

The absence of detectable immune responses in BSE precludes any serological test for the detection of antibodies.

For surveillance, a number of rapid tests on brain samples have been developed and approved by the European Union. These include the Western Blot test,  Luminescence immunoassay, and Chemiluminescent ELISA test.

For surveillance, a number of rapid tests on brain samples have been developed and approved by the European Union. These include the Western Blot test (detection of PrP^res),  Luminescence immunoassay (detection of disease specific prion proteins), and Chemiluminescent ELISA test.

'''Differential diagnosis''': hypomagnesemia, nervous acetonemia, lead poisoning, intracranial tumours, and infectious diseases such as rabies, listeriosis , Aujeszky’s disease and cerebro-cortical-necrosis (CCN).

'''Differential diagnosis''': hypomagnesemia, nervous acetonemia, lead poisoning, intracranial tumours, and infectious diseases such as rabies, listeriosis , Aujeszky’s disease and cerebro-cortical-necrosis (CCN).