NR AXMF
AU Fernie,K.; Smith,A.; Somerville,R.
TI Environmental Persistence of TSE Infectivity: Field Studies
QU International Conference - Prion 2007 (26.-28.9.2007) Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK - Book of Abstracts: Epidemiology, Risk Assessment and Transmission P04.125
IA http://www.prion2007.com/pdf/Prion Book of Abstracts.pdf
PT Konferenz-Poster
AB
Background: There is concern about the consequences of contamination of the environment with TSE infectivity. Infectivity may enter the environment by various routes, persist in the ground and spread from the original source to contaminate an extended area and groundwater.
Aims: We are studying this problem by addressing the following questions: 1. Does infectivity with some containment (e.g. in a carcass) survive in the carcass over time; 2. Does infectivity without containment survive, and is it disseminated into the surrounding soil and water? 3. Do the environmental conditions, e.g. soil type and pH, affect the survival and/or transport of infectivity through soil?
Methods: To address these questions, we are performing two field experiments (with appropriate containment) each using two soil types. Air temperature, rainfall, soil temperature and moisture content are being monitored. In one experiment a series of 10 bovine heads have been spiked with the BSE derived TSE strain 301V and buried in the two soils, contained within individual lysimeters, for exhumation and analysis at yearly intervals. Rainwater flowing through and collected as groundwater is also being analysed. In the second experiment a bolus of infected brain is buried at the centre of two 3 meter diameter lysimeters and soil samples taken from them at regular intervals. Water flow-through is also analysed.
Results: To date, the first two bovine heads have been exhumed and the surrounding soil sampled. Both of the exhumed heads were apparently largely decomposed but on examination of the brain cavity were found to contain significant amounts of brain tissue. These have been sampled and are presently being analysed. The soil samples taken from around the heads and five sets of core samples taken from the soil surrounding the buried brain in the two large lysimeters are presently being analysed for PrPsc, the abnormal protein associated with the TSEs and for infectivity. Water samples have also been collected for analyses.
Discussion: We will use the acquired data to build a predictive model of TSE behaviour in the environment which will inform future risk assessments.
AD K. Fernie, A. Smith, R. Somerville, Neuropathogenesis Unit, Roslin Institute, UK
SP englisch
PO Schottland