June 6, 2006

Scientists probe possible new version of mad cow disease
 

Scientists across Europe and the United States are following the emergence of a new Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) in cattle that could be a new strain of mad cow disease  .

At an international conference on prion diseases in domestic livestock last week, scientists from France and Italy described how the disease had been detected in a small number of cattle ranging from five to 15 years old.

The strain differs from mad cow disease in that it has a longer incubation time and is thus present in older cattle.

The new strain differs slightly from mad cow disease in laboratory tests and was detected through surveillance of live animals rather than carcasses.

However, some scientists have cautioned that there is not yet sufficient evidence to suggest that the disease is a new strain of mad cow disease.