BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY AND CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB-DISEASE - IMPLICATIONS FOR PHYSICIANS

The appearance of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) followed by n ew spongiform encephalopathies and variant Creuzfeldt-Jakob disease (C JD) in the United Kingdom indicates that these diseases may be linked. To give an understanding of this risk, the authors review the literat ure on the pathogenesis of CJD and BSE and the current findings on how these diseases are transmitted. They also discuss the implications fo r Canada's food and blood supply and outline previously published reco mmendations for disease prevention.