To estimate the effect of the variability of prion disease onset on primary bovine spongiform encephalopathy transmission to humans, we studied 6 cynomolgus macaques. The preclinical incubation period was significantly prolonged in 2 animals, implying that onset of variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease in humans could be more diverse than previously expected.
Keywords: BSE; Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; Macaca fascicularis; Prion disease transmission; bovine spongiform encephalopathy; prions.