Rapid test for the preclinical postmortem diagnosis of BSE in central nervous system tissue

The efficacy of a rapid test for detecting PrPSc in central nervous system tissue was evaluated for the postmortem diagnosis of BSE at different times during the course of the disease. Ones hundred and six samples of brain, a t the level of the medulla oblongata, and spinal cord, derived from the exp erimental study of the pathogenesis of BSE carried out in Great Britain bet ween 1991 and 1995, were examined. PrPSc was detected in the samples from m ost of the exposed animals killed 32 months or more after they had been exp osed to the agent, and before the onset Of clinical signs which were first recorded at 35 months. Comparisons with the results of histology, fibril de tection, PrP immunohistochemistry and mouse bioassay indicated that the rap id test is at least as sensitive as these conventional confirmatory diagnos tic methods and its result can be obtained more quickly.