US researchers confirm BSE-linked mutation

A group of US researchers has found the first case of mad cow disease which was caused by genetic mutation.A research group of the US Department of Agriculture released the finding in the Public Library of Science journal PloS Pathogens on Friday.The group examined a 10-year-old cow in Alabama that had mad cow disease, or BSE, and found a genetic mutation of the prion protein that causes BSE.The researchers say the pattern of the genetic mutation is similar to that found in patients who contracted brain-destroying Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.It is widely known that BSE arises by eating feed containing the prion protein, but this is the first time that genetic mutation has been identified as another cause of the disease.The research group says the rate of genetic occurrence of BSE is very low. However, the report is expected to raise controversy on preventive measures as it suggests that it is hard to completely control BSE only by removing contaminated feed.

(From NHK)