NR AOUI
AU Ingrosso,L.; Lu,M.; Bevivino,S.; Sbriccoli,M.; Vetrugno,V.; Aranguren,R.; Novoa,B.; Figueras,A.; Bolis,C.G.; Pocchiari,M.
TI Residual scrapie Infectivity in force fed fish
QU International Conference - Prion diseases: from basic research to intervention concepts - TSE-Forum, 08.10.-10.10.2003, Gasteig, München - Poster session - PG-27
PT Konferenz-Poster
AB
The BSE outbreak and the consequent arise of variant CJD in UK raised concern about the risk of BSE passage to other animal species intended for intensive rearing through the exposition to ruminant-derived meat and bone meal. The discovery of a prion protein gene in fish and the widespread use of meat and bone meal containing feedstuffs in fish farming industry urged us to address the issue of fish safety in the framework of an EU-granted project.
The major objective of this study was to assess the presence of scrapie infectivity in various fish tissues (brain, muscle and intestine) sampled at different times after force feeding with the 139A scrapie strain. Trout and Turbot were the species chosen for this experiment given their large use in human consumption. Detection of scrapie infectivity in fish tissues was performed by bioassay. 139A-susceptible C57/Bl mice were intracerebrally inoculated with fish tissues homogenates and scored for clinical signs of scrapie disease until sacrificed 18 months after inoculation. Scrapie diagnosis was performed by Western Blot detection of PrPres in the cerebral tissue. Results from the residual infectivity assay showed that only 1 out of the 241 mice inoculated with various turbot and trout tissues taken at different time point after force feeding (1, 15, 30. 60, 90 days ) have developed scrapie disease. The single scrapie-positive mouse belonged to the group inoculated with trout intestine taken 1 day after force feeding.
The output of this quite large experiment suggest that an extremely low level of TSE infectivity sporadically persist in the intestine of fish fed with a high single dose of scrapie. These data, together with the lack of evidence of an active replication of scrapie infectivity in the very same experimental model, suggest that the risk of TSE transmission related to comsumption of TSE infected fish is quite negligible.
AD L. Ingrosso, M. Lu, S. Bevivino, M. Sbriccoli, V. Vetrugno, M. Pocchiari, Istituto Superiore di Sanita', ItalyI; R. Aranguren, B. Novoa, A. Figueras, Instituto Investigaciones Marinas, Spain; C.G. Bolis, Universita' di Milano, Italy
SP englisch
PO Deutschland