Scrapie in goats in Cyprus

Ovine scrapie was first recorded in Cyprus in 1985. Subsequently four dairy goats kept in two mixed flocks with affected sheep developed characteristic clinical signs similar to those seen in sheep. Fifteen goats from the two flocks were examined histologically and neurological lesions consistent with a diagnosis of scrapie were found in the four animals and in three others which had subsequently developed early neurological signs. These lesions were similar to those of naturally-affected sheep although neuronal degeneration and vacuolation were more severe in some cases.     

Scrapie in Cyprus

Scrapie was first recorded in Cyprus in 1985 in two flocks of sheep and subsequently the disease was diagnosed in dairy goats kept in mixed flocks with affected sheep. By 1989 scrapie had been diagnosed in 23 flocks. Epidemiological data presented in the present study are essentially from clinicopathological investigations between 1985 and 1989. A total of 356 out of 957 sheep and 10 out of 30 goats examined from flocks in Nicosia, Larnaca and Limassol districts showed histopathological lesions consistent with a diagnosis of scrapie.     

PrP gene polymorphisms in Cyprus goats and their association with resistance or susceptibility to natural scrapie

In contrast to scrapie in sheep, the genetic basis of susceptibility to scrapie in goats is not well understood. To study the association of prion protein (PrP) alleles with susceptibility to scrapie in goats in Cyprus, the coding sequence of the caprine PrP gene was determined in 717 goats, including 218 scrapie positive animals. Several novel polymorphisms were detected, such as a novel octarepeat variant and a stop codon mutation. Amino acids at codons 146 and 154 were associated with susceptibility to goat scrapie. Animals heterozygous for serine (S) and aspartate (D) at codon 146 were significantly under-represented in scrapie positive animals and no positive animals were found that were homozygous for these amino acids at codon 146. These results might provide the basis for genetic control of scrapie in Cypriot goats.     

羊痒病研究进展

牛的海绵状脑病（BSE）的爆发让人们意识到要控制传染性海绵状脑病（TSE）的流行来保护人和动物的健康。羊痒病是世界上传播最广的传染性海绵状脑病,为此,不同国家的兽医当局都有针对痒病的根除计划,除了增强对动物的监管外,还要培育对痒病有抗性的羊。笔者主要综述了当前羊痒病的研究进展。     

羊痒病研究进展

痒病是一类引起绵羊和山羊的神经退行性脑病,是目前世界上研究的热点问题之一。引起该病的病原是一种朊蛋白,它与宿主自身的正常朊蛋白在一级结构上是相同的,只是二级结构的构象有所不同。论文针对目前人们研究中发现羊痒病的病毒存在不同的毒株型,以及不同毒株型的分子特性做一综述。