Accidental discovery of a new test for scrapie<a</a
Scientists at Iowa State University have discovered a way to detect scrapie in sheep using fluorescence spectroscopy. The eyes of sheep infected with scrapie return an intense, almost-white glow when they're illuminated with blue excitation light, says Jacob Petrich.
The accidental discovery occurred while Petrich and his collaborators were developing a fluorescence spectroscopy device used in slaughterhouses to test livestock carcasses for possible E. coli contamination.
The findings suggest technologies and techniques can be developed to quickly and non-invasively test for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Petrich, in fact, is working to develop a testing device.
Petrich and a team of researchers began studying the feasibility of a fluorescence test. The researchers collected 140 eyeballs from 73 sheep. Thirty five of those sheep were infected with scrapie; 38 were not. The researchers took fluorescence readings from various parts of the eyes of all the sheep. "The bottom line is the scrapie-positive retinas fluoresced like crazy," Petrich said. "And the scrapie-negative ones did not.�
A previously published study reported that the function and structure of retinas are altered in cattle infected with transmissible mink encephalopathy. Other studies have reported that lipofuscin, an intracellular fluorescent pigment, accumulates in the eyes of animals infected with neurological diseases.
Source: OptoIQ.com
Editor’s note: According to Dr. Petrich, the test can be done on live, sedated animals, as well as intact carcasses. It should also work with goats.
Scientists at Iowa State University have discovered a way to detect scrapie in sheep using fluorescence spectroscopy. The eyes of sheep infected with scrapie return an intense, almost-white glow when they're illuminated with blue excitation light, says Jacob Petrich.
The accidental discovery occurred while Petrich and his collaborators were developing a fluorescence spectroscopy device used in slaughterhouses to test livestock carcasses for possible E. coli contamination.
Petrich and a team of researchers began studying the feasibility of a fluorescence test. The researchers collected 140 eyeballs from 73 sheep. Thirty five of those sheep were infected with scrapie; 38 were not. The researchers took fluorescence readings from various parts of the eyes of all the sheep. "The bottom line is the scrapie-positive retinas fluoresced like crazy," Petrich said. "And the scrapie-negative ones did not.�
A previously published study reported that the function and structure of retinas are altered in cattle infected with transmissible mink encephalopathy. Other studies have reported that lipofuscin, an intracellular fluorescent pigment, accumulates in the eyes of animals infected with neurological diseases.
Source: OptoIQ.com
Editor’s note: According to Dr. Petrich, the test can be done on live, sedated animals, as well as intact carcasses. It should also work with goats.
