Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy and Cattle in Enugu State of Nigeria

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is the Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) found in cattle. The disease can be transmitted by ingestion of prion infected beef. The aim of this study is to determine whether the beef consumed in Enugu area of Nigeria can transmit TSE to humans and animals. Apparently healthy cattle from abattoir of Enugu State Main Market, numbering eighty, were used in this research work. The cattle were slaughtered and their brain tissues collected and stored in 10% phosphate buffered saline respectively for tissue preservation, shortly before assay. Part of each cattle’s brain tissue was homogenized and subjected to prion protein (PrP) extraction procedure. Aliquots of the PrP extract and commercial positive PrPc control were treated with proteinase K solution to eliminate proteinase K labile proteins, especially cellular prion protein (PrPc). An aliquot of the proteinase K treated extract was further treated with 26.8% Sodium sulfate solution and ethyl ether to remove any immunoglobulin protein which may be present thereby leaving the remnant solution with abnormal prion protein (PrPres) if present. Aliquots of the protein extract and control without proteinase K treatment, the ones that were treated with proteinase K, the other that was treated with 26.8% Sodium sulfate solution and ethyl ether were assayed respectively for proteins using biuret method. The results showed the presence of prion protein in the aliquots without proteinase K treatment, trace of protein in the aliquot of protein extract treated with proteinase K and no prion protein in the PrPc control treated with proteinase K. The aliquot that was treated with both proteinase K and 26.8% Sodium sulfate solution / ethyl ether showed zero protein. The results suggest that there was no abnormal PrP in the eighty samples of brain tissues of cattle used for this work and they did not have BSE.