UNCONVENTIONAL AGENTS - A RISK FOR ANIMAL S AND HUMAN HEALTH

The occurrence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Great Brit ain in 1985/86, has focused again the public concern as well as scient ific interest to the Scrapie disease of sheep and goat known more than 150 years. The agents of scrapie and BSE are characterized by unusual biological and physical-chemical properties, especially their high te nacity. Therefore, they are also designated ''unconventional agents of viruses''. Different theories have been proposed about their infectio us characteristics - especially because of the apparent or real missin g of a agent-specific nucleic acid - which are named Virinos, Prions o r Nemavirus. The broad host range of Scrapie respective BSE, which inc ludes domestic and wild ruminants, suidae, felidae, mustelidae, small rodents, birds and non-primates, has created some concern since there might be an aetiological correlation between the transmissible spongif orm encephalopathies of man (Creutz-feld-Jakob- and Gerstmann-Straussl er-Scheinker-Disease) and that of animals. Although at present neither epidemiological nor molecularbiological evidence whatsoever was prove d, the hypothesis cannot be completely disproved. The probability of i nfection through digestive tract seems to be rather unlikely but speci al precautions should be taken as far as production, investigation and application of human medicine drugs of animal origin. Furthermore, re search about the aetiology of ''unconventional agents'' and pathogenes is of resulting diseases is necessary and should be intensified in Ger many. Finally, only an early intra vitam-Diagnose and in vitro detecti on can avoid an further spread of this new category of diseases.