S306 Scrapie Susceptibility – Goat

The disease known as Scrapie is a TSE that affects goats and sheep. Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are slowly progressive, fatal neurodegenerative diseases which affect a variety of mammalian species. In addition to causing neurodegeneration, they are characterized by formation and accumulation of protease-resistant prion protein mainly in the central nervous system.

In goats, several studies have shown associations between mutations in the caprine PRNP gene and increased susceptibility to scrapie. However, no complete resistance against scrapie infection has been identified in goats to date.