Project Number: 5348-32000-019-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Oct 01, 2001
End Date: Sep 30, 2006

Objective:
The project has 4 objectives: (1) Validate diagnostic and surveillance tests for ovine scrapie and cervid chronic wasting disease. (2) Define transmission routes of ovine scrapie through the reproductive tract, placenta, and associated blood supply. (3) Induce type 1 immune responses to SRLV by immunization. (4) Identify MHC haplotypes that promote type 1 responses to SRLV challenge.

Approach:
This project has produced a live animal test for scrapie, preclinical diagnostic methods for TSE of sheep, deer, and elk, information on transmission of scrapie through the uterus and placenta, and the framework for ovine scrapie control through genetic selection. The current proposal addresses validation of cost-effective diagnostic and genetic tests and studies to identify mechanisms of scrapie transmission through reproductive tract/placenta and associated blood supply. Maedi/visna virus and caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus cause multi-organ inflammatory diseases in sheep and goats, principally progressive pneumonia, mastitis and arthritis. A variable and unpredictable percentage of infected animals progress to clinical disease with increased risk of transmission. This project has produced a serologic test for infection. The current project addresses host immune responses and MHC class II haplotypes associated with disease progression. BSL-1; 9-04-01. Formerly 5348-32000-015-00D (10/01)

Project Team

Alverson, Janet Herrmann, Lynn Knowles, Donald - Don O'Rourke, Katherine

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002

Related National Programs

Animal Health (103)

Related Projects

IMMUNE CONTROL OF SMALL RUMINANT LENTIVIRUSES    SCRAPIE CONTROL THROUGH PRP GENETICS: PRODUCTION TRAITS AND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS    ERADICATION OF OVINE SCRAPIE TSE THROUGH SELECTIVE GENETICS USING A TWO-FLOCK MODEL