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- Validated an immunohistochemistry assay for the diagnosis of bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). This assay was used both in Canada
and the United States in diagnosis of the recent cases of BSE. This
test was licensed by a Washington based company, is commercially
available and is used in a number of the developing countries.
- Defining transmission efficiency among naturally occurring prion
diseases.
- Are defining the prion genetics of cattle breeds in the United States
with the intent of identifying potential sites of BSE resistance.
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Immunohistochemistry – Red is abnormal prion around a neuron
cell body |
Scrapie of Sheep
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Abnormal prion (red) in third
eyelid tissue of a sheep with scrapie |
- Provided research discoveries which are the basis for the National
Scrapie Eradication Program
- Defined the basis for genetic resistance of sheep to scrapie
- Developed and validated the first and currently only practical live
animal test for any TSE. This test is the third eyelid test.
- Defined the role of genetics in preventing scrapie transmission.
- Developed improved methods for sampling of the third eyelid for
scrapie diagnosis
- Defined the distribution of prion in goat scrapie. In order for the U.
S. to eventually be declared free of scrapie, the role of the goat in
scrapie transmission must be defined.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
- Determined the distribution of abnormal prion and disease changes in
free-ranging mule deer with chronic wasting disease.
- Developed and validated a monoclonal antibody (F99/97.6.1) for use in
the diagnosis of chronic wasting disease in mule deer.
- Demonstrated the presence of abnormal prion in the tonsil from mule
deer with chronic wasting disease and incorporated these findings into
a commercially available diagnostic test for CWD.
- Developed a preclinical assay for CWD in captive mule and white-tailed
deer.
- Assessing the role of prion genetics in resistance to CWD within elk
and white tailed and mule deer.
Publications
Caplazi PA, O’Rourke KI, Baszler TV: Resistance to Scrapie in PrP
171RQ heterozygous sheep is not caused by preferential allelic use.
J. Clin. Pathol. 57: 647-650, 2004
Caplazi PA, O’Rourke KI, Wolf C, Shaw B, Baszler TV: Biology of
PrPsc accumulation in two natural Scrapie-infected sheep flocks. J.
Vet. Diag. Invest. 16: 489-496, 2004
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