Sheep with scrapie and mastitis transmit infectious prions through the milk

J Virol. 2011 Jan;85(2):1136-9. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02022-10. Epub 2010 Nov 17.

Abstract

Prions are misfolded proteins that are infectious and naturally transmitted, causing a fatal neurological disease in humans and animals. Prion shedding routes have been shown to be modified by inflammation in excretory organs, such as the kidney. Here, we show that sheep with scrapie and lentiviral mastitis secrete prions into the milk and infect nearly 90% of naïve suckling lambs. Thus, lentiviruses may enhance prion transmission, conceivably sustaining prion infections in flocks for generations. This study also indicates a risk of prion spread to sheep and potentially to other animals through dietary exposure to pooled sheep milk or milk products.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
  • Lentivirus Infections / complications
  • Lentivirus Infections / veterinary*
  • Mammary Glands, Animal / pathology
  • Mastitis / complications*
  • Mastitis / virology
  • Microscopy
  • Milk / chemistry*
  • Prions / isolation & purification*
  • Scrapie / complications*
  • Scrapie / transmission*
  • Sheep
  • Sheep Diseases / virology*
  • Visna-maedi virus / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Prions