NR AOYJ
AU Roman-Ross,G.; Eychenne,F.; Chapron,Y.; Charlet,L.
TI Environmental factors and development of prion diseases in a highly infected Romanov flock
QU International Conference - Prion diseases: from basic research to intervention concepts - TSE-Forum, 08.10.-10.10.2003, Gasteig, München - Poster session - BR-79
PT Konferenz-Poster
AB
In the framework of the FATEPRIDE project (Environmental factors that affect the development of prion diseases) financed by the EU, we attempt to know whether there is a sound link between the environment and prion disease. Central to the study is the hypothesis that high Mn/Cu levels in soils, feed or supplements may be a risk factor in the onset of prion diseases. Scrapie is linked directly to specific regions, e.g. in Iceland where the localization has been described in detail. Some farms are known to be high risk for scrapie and others being scrapie-free but the susceptibility is not linked with the genotype of the sheep (Thorgeirsdottir et al., 1999). This increased frequency of scrapie in some area is associated with manganese rich pollution from ferro-manganese plants, resulting in increased manganese in the bodies of people in these regions (Purdey, 2000). In the present study we investigated the Agricultural Science Research Center (INRA-Langlade, France) where scrapie development has been followed since April 1993. At that time a closed flock of 600 Romanov ewes was introduced in the experimental farm. More than 300 animals died within 3.5 years. The experimental farm is located on a former swamp area which has been drained in the 60's. The soil is very rich in clay minerals (up to 600g/kg). Among exchangeable cations, Mn2+ is present as 2 to 4 cmolc/kg clay Twice as much manganese is present as reducible manganese and copper availability is low. A map of Cu2+ and Mn2+ availability in soils and hay will be presented and interpreted in correlation with epidemic development. Indeed exchange of these two cations in the prion chelate position has been shown to lead to transformations of PrPc to pathogenic PrPres (Brown et al., 2000).
References:
S. Thorgeirsdottir et al., A. J. Gen. Virol. 80, 2527-2534 (1999).
M. Purdey, M. Med. Hypoth. 54, 278-306 (2000).
D. R. Brown et al., J. EMBO J. 19, 1180-1186 (2002).
AD G. Roman-Ross, L. Charlet, Environmental Geochemistry Group, LGIT, University Joseph Fourier, France; F. Eychenne, INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique), France; Y. Chapron, Alpine Institute of Environmental Dynamics, France
SP englisch
PO Deutschland