Dangers Mad Cow Disease

Mad cow disease is one disease that attacks the central nervous system in cattle in the form of degeneration of nerve cells of adult cattle to brain tissue spongy change. Mad cow disease is not transmitted directly by the cow to other livestock. the spread of this disease by eating or consuming cow feed ingredients that contain the seeds of disease / prion. Which is a protein molecule that the body has changed its configuration, the mark with the change of temperament, may appear in the form of fear or aggression, loss of coordination, not able to get up, and eventually causes death of animals mad cow disease.

Mad Cow Disease

Mad cow disease was originally thought to be caused by a slow virus agent, then in 1982, then known as the term prion (proteinaceous infectious particles). This disease is also known as transmissible spongiform encelopathy, as previously thought to have come from the feed containing protein from cattle, and because the disease is not known then is named TSE. Prions themselves are the cause of this disease is an infectious protein particle, does not contain nucleic acid, or a compound resistant to factors that damage nucleic acids, such as radiation, ultraviolet rays.

Mad Cow disease (mad cow) systematically attacking the central nervous, this will lead to the degeneration of nerve cells, and vacuoles are formed vacuoles, formed up like a sponge. Besides affecting the brain, other parts are also thought to be the target of the spinal cord, tonsils, thymus, spleen and intestines. Body tissues are not allowed to be consumed in the event of an outbreak of BSE. On postmortem examination of cattle with natural infection, which previously provided evidence of clinical symptoms and a bio-assay in mice, it is evident that the infectious agent is only found in the tissue / organ targets such as brain, spinal cord at the neck, the tip of the spinal cord, and retina. With the process of nerve cell degeneration causes incoordination, until that looked like a mad cow.

Cattle showing symptoms of mad cow disease as mentioned above, especially if there is ever the case in the area of ​​contracting, or imported from infected areas, should be suspected cattle suffering from BSE or mad cow. precise diagnosis can be established among others, based on anatomic pathology findings of the target organs such as brain and other tissues. Laboratory tests by bio-assay of a variety of tissue fluid in mice can be performed in the laboratory for use as a reference. As a differential diagnosis to consider also some of the diseases associated with nerve incoordination, such as inflammation of the brain and membranes, and even rabies disease surra disease especially in endemic areas.

If there is suspicion of mad cow disease is so, shall immediately notify the local agency authorized, and immediately ask for professional help to confirm the diagnosis in the laboratory. Although no definite link between BSE with a prion disease in humans, food intake such as the import of meat, milk and other processed animal products must be closely monitored. Given the very high resistance of prions, the handling of material after post-death investigation should be made very tight. It should be noted that the new prion is true in an inactive state when it's done in the form of disinfection incineration (burning), inserted autoclaf 132 degrees C for 2 h, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution, or sodium hydroxide solution so as to avoid mad cow disease.