1. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Mad Cow
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
By Krislyn Dull

2. Symptoms In Cattle Changes in temperament
Aggression, Nervousness, etc.
Abnormal posture or stance
Lack of Coordination
Difficulty in rising
Decreased Milk Production
Lose of weight
Despite continued appetite

3. Symptoms In Humans
Loss of bodily movements or spasmodic jerky movements
Difficulty walking,
Dementia
Loss of memory and confusion
Depression

4. Symptoms In Other Animals
Symptoms in other animals are very similar to those experienced by cattle and humans.
For example, cats suffer ataxia
Cats are the only common household pet able to contract this disease, however no cat has been reported with BSE in the U.S.A

5. Transmission
This disease is believed to not be caused by a virus or bacteria, but rather a prion
A prion is an abnormal, harmful protein.
An animal’s body cannot detect a prion, therefore has no immune defenses
It spread by the consumption of prion contaminated meat
The brain, and spinal cord are most likely to contain prions
It may also be spread via blood transfusions

6. Incubation Period Typically, 4 - 6 years for cattle
On average, 8 years for humans
Incubation period could last for 50+ years
Most cattle never display symptoms before butcher due to long incubation period
Most symptoms are therefore witnessed in dairy cattle, and/or in cattle infected before the age of 1
Live cattle cannot be tested for BSE

7. Treatment
There is no current treatment for Mad Cow disease in cattle, humans, or other species.
While symptoms can be eased, the disease is fatal and results in death.

8. Prevention
Eliminating the practice of mixing leftover bovine meat into the feed of cattle
Elimination of of high-risk bovine meat (such as spinal cord, brain) in pet food products
Not allowing high-risk individuals to donate blood
Banning imported meat from high risk countries/regions
For example, The United Kingdom
Testing for BSE in butchered cattle
Strictly tracking cattle
Prions can survive extremely high temperatures
Cooking infected meat does not make it safe

9. vCJD Statistics (Humans):
Since 1996
United Kingdom - 178
France - 27
Canada - 2
United States - 4