Use of a preclinical test in the control of classical scrapie

Boden, L. A., Houston, F., Fryer, H. R. and Kao, R. R. (2010) Use of a preclinical test in the control of classical scrapie. Journal of General Virology, 91(10), pp. 2642-2650. (doi: 10.1099/vir.0.022566-0)

Abstract

Scrapie control in Great Britain (GB) was originally based on the National Scrape Plan's Ram Genotyping scheme aimed at reducing the susceptibility of the national flock The current official strategy to control scrapie in the national flock involves culling susceptible genotypes in individual, known affected flocks (compulsory scrapie flock scheme or CSFS) However, the recent development of preclinical test candidates means that a strategy based on disease detection may now be feasible. Here, a deterministic within-flock model was used to demonstrate that only large flocks with many home-bred ewes are likely to be a significant risk for flock-to-flock transmission of scrapie. For most other flocks, it was found that the CSFS could be replaced by a strategy using a currently available live test without excessive risk to other farmers, even if the proportion of susceptible genotypes in the flock is unusually large Even for flocks that represent a high risk of harbouring a high prevalence of infection, there would be limited probability of onward transmission if scrapie is detected soon after disease introduction (typically less than 5 years) However, if detection of disease is delayed, the existing CSFS strategy may be the most appropriate control measure in these cases

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kao, Professor Rowland and Houston, Dr Fiona and Boden, Dr Lisa
• Authors: Boden, L. A., Houston, F., Fryer, H. R., and Kao, R. R.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Journal of General Virology
• Publisher: Society for General Microbiology
• ISSN: 0022-1317
• ISSN (Online): 1465-2099