Sunday, February 9, 2014

California Firm Recalls Unwholesome Meat Products Produced Without the Benefit of Full Inspection, what about the BSE TSE prion disease ?

California Firm Recalls Unwholesome Meat Products Produced Without the Benefit of Full Inspection, what about the BSE TSE prion disease ?
 
 
From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
 
Sent: Saturday, February 08, 2014 8:53 PM
 
 
Subject: California Firm Recalls Unwholesome Meat Products Produced Without the Benefit of Full Inspection ?
 
Greetings,
 
question please,
 
>>> California Firm Recalls Unwholesome Meat Products Produced Without the Benefit of Full Inspection ?
 
‘’Without the Benefit of Full Inspection’’ ?
 
exactly what does this mean ?
 
I see this term in many recalls.
 
question please, could this include _any_ breaches that include _any_ potential risk factors for the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy TSE Prion disease when stipulated as ‘’Without the Benefit of Full Inspection’’ ?
 
kind regards, terry
 
 California Firm Recalls Unwholesome Meat Products Produced Without the Benefit of Full Inspection
 
Rancho Feeding Corporation, a Petaluma, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 8,742,700 pounds, because it processed diseased and unsound animals and carried out these activities without the benefit or full benefit of federal inspection.
 
News Release California Firm Recalls Unwholesome Meat Products Produced Without the Benefit of Full Inspection
 
Class I Recall 013-2014
 
Health Risk: High Feb 8, 2014
 
Congressional and Public Affairs Stacy Kish (202) 720-9113
 
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2014 – Rancho Feeding Corporation, a Petaluma, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 8,742,700 pounds, because it processed diseased and unsound animals and carried out these activities without the benefit or full benefit of federal inspection. Thus, the products are adulterated, because they are unsound, unwholesome or otherwise are unfit for human food and must be removed from commerce, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
 
The following Rancho Feeding Corporation products are subject to recall:
 
"Beef Carcasses” (wholesale and custom sales only)
 
2 per box "Beef (Market) Heads" (retail only)
 
4-gallons per box "Beef Blood" (wholesale only)
 
20-lb. boxes of “Beef Oxtail”
 
30-lb. boxes of “Beef Cheeks” 30-lb. boxes of " Beef Lips"
 
30-lb. boxes of "Beef Omasum" 30-lb. boxes of "Beef Tripas"
 
30-lb. boxes of "Mountain Oysters" 30-lb. boxes of "Sweet Breads”
 
30- and 60-lb. boxes of “Beef Liver” 30- and 60-lb. boxes of “Beef Tripe”
 
30- and 60-lb. boxes of “Beef Tongue”
 
30- and 60-lb. boxes of "Veal Cuts"
 
40-lb. boxes of "Veal Bones" 50-lb. boxes of “Beef Feet”
 
50-lb. boxes of “Beef Hearts”
 
60-lb. boxes of "Veal Trim" Beef carcasses and boxes bear the establishment number "EST. 527" inside the USDA mark of inspection. Each box bears the case code number ending in “3” or “4.” The products were produced Jan. 1, 2013 through Jan. 7, 2014 and shipped to distribution centers and retail establishments in California, Florida, Illinois and Texas.
 
FSIS has received no reports of illness due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.
 
FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify that recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that recalled product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at: www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.
 
Consumers and members of the media who have questions about the recall can contact the plant’s Quality Control manager, Scott Parks, at (707) 762-6651.
 
Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at askkaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.
 
USDA Recall Classifications Class I This is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death. Class II This is a health hazard situation where there is a remote probability of adverse health consequences from the use of the product. Class III This is a situation where the use of the product will not cause adverse health consequences.
 
Last Modified Feb 08, 2014
 
 
 
>>> California Firm Recalls Unwholesome Meat Products Produced Without the Benefit of Full Inspection ?
 
 
‘’Without the Benefit of Full Inspection’’ ?
 
exactly what does this mean ?
 
I see this term in many recalls.
 
question please, could this include _any_ breaches, that include _any_ potential risk factors for the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy TSE Prion disease when stipulated as ‘’Without the Benefit of Full Inspection’’ ?
 
kind regards, terry
 
Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
 
====================


*** UPDATE !!!


Retail List for Recall Number: 013-2014, Various beef products

 

List Current As Of: 10-Feb-14

 

Retailer Name Street Address City State

 

1 Brown's Valley Market 3263 Browns Valley Rd. Napa CA-California

 

2 La Morenita 2436 Jefferson Napa CA-California

 

3 Vallergas Market 2139 1st St. Napa CA-California

 

4 Apple Market 155 San Marin Dr. Novato CA-California

 

5 Buds Meats 7750 Petaluma Hill Rd. Penngrove CA-California

 

6 G & G 701 Sonoma Mtn. Pkwy Petaluma CA-California

 

7 Petaluma Mkt. 210 Western Ave. Petaluma CA-California

 

8 Azteca Market 802 4th St. San Rafael CA-California

 

9 Carniceria Coalcoman 1415 Maple Ave. Santa Rosa CA-California

 

10 Carniceria Contreras 1401 Todd Rd. Santa Rosa CA-California

 

11 Carolina Wild 5380 Aero Dr. Santa Rosa CA-California

 

12 G & G 1211 W. College Ave. Santa Rosa CA-California

 

13 Willowside Meats 3421 Guernville Rd. Santa Rosa CA-California

 

14 Sonoma Market 500 W. Napa Sonoma CA-California

 


 

 
 
 
 
ORAL PRION INFECTION VIA CRANIAL NERVES
 
Sponsoring Institution
 
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
 
Project Status
 
TERMINATED Funding Source
 
NRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
 
Reporting Frequency
 
Annual
 
Accession No.0205803 Grant No.2006-35201-16626 Project No.MONB00436 Proposal No.2005-01901 Multistate No.(N/A) Program Code32.0Project Start DateDec 1, 2005 Project End DateNov 30, 2009 Grant Year2006 Project Director Bessen, R. A. Recipient Organization MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY (N/A) BOZEMAN,MT 59717 Performing Department Immunology & Infectious Diseases Non Technical
 
Summary
 
Prion diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle, scrapie in sheep, and chronic wasting disease in deer and elk, are caused by novel infectious agents and results in a fatal degeneration of the central nervous system. The goal of this research is to define the pathway of prion agent infection of skeletal muscle following oral prion infection. Prion ingestion establishes infection of lymphoid and nervous system tissues in the gut prior to spread to the central nervous system. In this study, we will examine the ability of the prion agent to spread from the brain to the tongue and infect skeletal muscle and taste cells as well as the mechanism of prion agent entry into muscle cells and the nervous system. These studies can improve our understanding of how the prion agent spreads within a host in order to infect peripheral tissues such as muscle. The findings from this study will be relevant to U.S. agriculture by identifying 1) potential sites of prion agent infection in muscle and 2) the ability of prions to infect the tongue, which is a food product. Animal Health Component (N/A)Research Effort Categories Basic100%Applied(N/A)Developmental(N/A)Classification
 
Knowledge Area (KA) Subject of Investigation (SOI) Field of Science (FOS) Percent 311 3330 1103 25% 311 4099 1103 25% 712 3330 1103 25% 712 4099 1103 25%
 
Knowledge Area 311 - Animal Diseases; 712 - Protect Food from Contamination by Pathogenic Microorganisms, Parasites, and Naturally Occurring Toxins;
 
Subject Of Investigation 4099 - Microorganisms, general/other; 3330 - Other beef cattle products;
 
Field Of Science 1103 - Other microbiology;
 
Keywords
 
prion prion protein transmissible mink encephalopathy transmissible spongiform encephalopathy oral infection ingestion tongue;
 
Goals / Objectives To investigate the centrifugal spread of the prion agent from the brain stem to the tongue. To determine the route and mechanism of prion agent infection of skeletal muscle and taste buds in the tongue during prion disease. To examine the role of the neuromuscular junction in prion agent entry and spread in nerves and skeletal muscle in the tongue. Project Methods The chronological sequence of prion agent spread from the brainstem to the peripheral nervous system and tongue following oral prion infection will be determined. These studies will investigate the site(s) of prion agent replication after exiting the brainstem and spread to the tongue. Nervous system tissues, lymphoreticular tissues, and tongue will be collected each week and the initial sites of prion agent replication will be determined by PrPSc detection. To determine the route of prion entry into the tongue, prion infection will be established in cranial nerves to the tongue and the sites of prion agent deposition will be determined by PrPSc immunohistochemistry. To determine the role of the neuromuscular junction in prion agent entry into skeletal muscle and nerve fibers, unilateral axotomy of the hypoglossal nerve will be performed prior to prion agent inoculation into the tongue. Prion agent infection will be monitored over time in the tongue, ganglia and brainstem by PrPSc Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Confocal microscopy will be performed to determine the cellular and subcellular location of prion infection in the tongue of rodents and sheep with prion disease. The latter studies will be performed in collaboration with scientists at the National Animal Disease Center. Progress 12/01/08 to 11/30/09
 
Outputs The long-term goal of the proposed research is to define the route and mechanism of prion agent infection of skeletal muscle during prion diseases of livestock. The hypothesis to be tested is that prion neuroinvasion of the brainstem following oral ingestion of the prion agent leads to infection of one or more of the tongue-associated cranial nerves. In the past year we focused on the following areas: 1) to determine if the prion agent can infect epithelial cells at the mucosa and the route(s) of prion spread to epithelial mucosa, and 2) to investigate prion infection of tongue and nasal mucosa in ruminants with prion disease. We continued our studies on the presence of prion infection in tissues from the oral and nasal mucosa from ruminants with prion disease. Greater than 80% of these mucosa-associated tissues were positive for PrP-res in sheep with scrapie and deer and elk with chronic wasting disease. In cattle that were infected with chronic wasting disease and transmissible mink encephalopathy, PrP-res was not detected in tongue and nasal septal tissues. These findings indicate that prion infection is present in mucosal tissues in ruminant species in which horizontal transmission of prions (i.e., sheep and cervids) is a common pathway of spread, but is not in these mucosal tissues of cattle in which there is not an endemic prion disease. To measure prion infection in epithelial cells at the oral mucosa, PrP-res deposition was analyzed in the keratin layer of the stratified squamous epithelium (SSE) of fungiform papillae and in the SSE of filiform papillae, which rarely contains nerve fibers. Following infection of cranial nerves, we were able to detect PrP-res in both the keratin layer of the SSE and the SSE of filiform papillae. We were also able to demonstrate that PrP-res does colocalize with markers for nerve fibers in these locations in some instances, but is also deposited in areas without clear evidence of nerve fiber innervation. These studies strongly suggest that epithelial cells in the oral mucosa can support prion infection and shedding of the mucosa may be a source of prion infection in saliva.
 
Impacts The implication of these findings is that prion infection of muscle and epithelium represents a potential source of prion transmission via either consumption of meat products or from bodily fluids in contact with mucosal epithelium, respectively. Nerve fibers that transverse almost all food products are also a potential source of prion contamination of food. The prion distribution into these sites in the tongue is likely via centrifugal spread along motor and sensory fibers with subsequent transynatpic spread into muscle cells or epithelial cells, respectively. These findings suggest that the prion agent can use nerve fibers to spread to peripheral tissues and spread across peripheral synapses to infect mucosal epithelium. This is the first study to demonstrate prion spread via peripheral synapses into tissues. This conclusion is also supported by in vitro studies that demonstrate the prion infection of muscle cells in vitro required contact with neuronal cell lines and not non-neuronal cells lines suggesting that a NMJ is required for prion infection of muscle cells. Since the SSE of the tongue undergoes continual turnover, renewal, and shedding, these findings suggest that the prion agent could establish infection in epithelial cells and could be shed as these cells mature in the SSE, become the keratinized layer, and are sloughed into oral bodily fluids. Therefore, saliva may be one source of prions that is shed from a host and can infect a naive host through direct or indirect contact. The spread of prions into skeletal muscle cells via nerve fibers suggest that muscle tissue, and not just nerves that transverse muscle, are a potential source of prion exposure upon ingestion of food products containing meat.
 
Publications
 
Bessen, R.A., Martinka, S., Kelly, J., & Gonzalez, D. 2009. The role of the lymphoreticular system in prion neuroinvasion from the oral and nasal mucosa. Journal of Virology 83:6435-6445.
 
 Progress 12/01/05 to 11/30/09
 
Outputs Outputs: The long-term goal of the proposed research is to define the route and mechanism of prion agent infection of skeletal muscle during prion diseases of livestock. The goals of this project were 1) to investigate the role of peripheral synapses (e.g., neuromuscular junction) in prion infection of skeletal muscle cells; 2) to establish prion infection in muscle cells in vitro; 3) to determine if the prion agent can infect epithelial cells at the mucosa and the route(s) of prion spread to epithelial mucosa; and 4) to investigate prion infection of tongue and nasal mucosa in ruminants with prion disease. To investigate the role of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in prion entry into skeletal muscle, a spatiotemporal analysis was performed on the deposition of the disease-specific prion protein, PrP-res, in tongue following prion infection. Our findings indicate that PrP-res colocalized with the NMJ at the time of entry into skeletal muscle, but not later in the disease course. These findings indicate that at the initial time of prion entry into cells that PrP-res was linked to the NMJ, and suggests that this peripheral synapse acts as a route for prion agent entry into muscle clls. To determine if skeletal muscle cells can directly support prion infection, we attempted to establish prion infection in a muscle cell line (C2C12 cells) in vitro. Scrapie infection of murine C2C12 myoblasts and myotubes in vitro was established following co-culture with a scrapie-infected murine neuroblastoma cell line, but not following incubation with a non-neuronal cell line or a scrapie brain homogenate. These in vitro studies also suggest that in vivo prion infection of skeletal muscle requires contact with prion-infected neurons or, possibly, nerve terminals. To determine if the prion agent can directly infect epithelial cells at the tongue mucosa we analyzed the keratin layer of the stratified squamous epithelium (SSE). PrP-res was detected in both the keratin layer of the SSE and the SSE of filiform papillae. PrP-res did not always colocalize with markers for nerve fibers in these locations suggesting infection was present in epithelial cells. These studies strongly suggest that epithelial cells in the oral mucosa can support prion infection and shedding of the mucosa may be a source of prion infection in saliva. We investigated infection of tongue and nasal turbinates in over 80 ruminants infected with prion diseases. In prion-infected sheep, deer, and elk greater than 85% of tongue and nasal turbinates were PrP-res positive. Tongue and nasal turbinates from CWD or TME-infected cattle were examined from over 25 animals, but we were unable to detect PrP-res in any of these samples. These findings indicate that prion infection is present in mucosal tissues in ruminant species in which there is horizontal transmission of prions, but not in cattle in which there is not an endemic prion infection.
 
Impacts The implication from these findings is that the prion agent can spread away from the brain into mucosa tissues in the head, specifically the tongue and nasal cavity. Since these tissues have a mucosal surface, it may be possible that the prion agent is shed from the tongue or nasal cavity. In the tongue, the epithelium is continually undergoing terminal differentiation and shedding, and is then sloughed into saliva. In the nasal mucosa, olfactory neurons continually mature and turnover during adult life and prions may be shed from this mucosa into nasal secretions. Therefore, saliva and nasal secretions may be a potential source of prions that are shed from a host and can infect a naive host through direct or indirect contact. Another implication of these findings is that prion infection of ruminant muscle is a potential threat to animal and human food safety. The head of ruminants is banned for human or ruminant consumption with the exception of the tongue. Our findings indicate that prions undergo centrifugal spread from the brainstem to the tongue and can enter skeletal muscle cells via the neuromuscular junction and further replicate in muscle cells. These studies suggest that tongue should also be included in the specified risk materials in order to minimize exposure to tongue products containing prion agent.
 
Publications
 
DeJoia, C., Moreaux, B., O Connell, K. & Bessen, R.A. 2006. Prion infection of oral and nasal mucosa. Journal of Virology 80:4546-4556. Dlakic, W.M., Grigg, E. & Bessen, R.A. 2007. Prion infection of muscle cells in vitro. Journal of Virology 81:4615-4624. (Faculty of 1000 Biology selection.) Bessen, R.A., Martinka, S., Kelly, J., & Gonzalez, D. 2009. The role of the lymphoreticular system in prion neuroinvasion from the oral and nasal mucosa. Journal of Virology 83:6435-6445. Bessen, R.A., Shearin, H., Martinka, S., Boharski, R., Lowe, D., Wilham, J., Caughey, & Wiley, J. 2010. Prion shedding from olfactory neurons into nasal secretions. PLoS Pathogens 6:e1000837.
 
 Progress 12/01/07 to 11/30/08
 
Outputs The long-term goal of the proposed research is to define the route and mechanism of prion agent infection of skeletal muscle during prion diseases of livestock. Prion infection of skeletal muscle is a potential threat to animal and human food products. The hypothesis to be tested is that prion neuroinvasion of the brainstem following oral ingestion of the prion agent leads to infection of one or more of the tongue-associated cranial nerves. In the past year we focused on the following areas: 1) to investigate the role of peripheral synapses (i.e., neuromuscular junction) in prion infection of skeletal muscle cells, 2) to determine if the prion agent can infect epithelial cells at the mucosa and the route(s) of prion spread to epithelial mucosa, and 3) to investigate prion infection of tongue and nasal mucosa in ruminants with prion disease. To investigate prion infection of oronasal tissues, we investigated infection of tongue and nasal turbinates in >80 ruminant animals that were experimentally infected with prion diseases. In prion-infected sheep, deer, and elk greater than 85% of tongue and nasal turbinates were PrP-res positive. These findings indicate that prion infection is present in mucosal tissues in ruminant species in which there is horizontal transmission of prions (i.e., sheep and cervids). To measure prion infection in epithelial cells at the oral mucosa, PrP-res deposition was analyzed in tongue, specifically in the keratin layer of the stratified squamous epithelium (SSE) of fungiform papillae and in the SSE of filiform papillae, which rarely contains nerve fibers. Following infection of cranial nerves, we were able to detect PrP-res in both the keratin layer of the SSE and the SSE of filiform papillae. We demonstrated that PrP-res does colocalize with markers for nerve fibers in these locations in most instances, but is also located in the SSE in areas without clear evidence of nerve fiber innervation. These studies strongly suggest that prions can invade epithelial tissues via nerve fibers and may be able to enter or replicate in epithelial cells in the oral mucosa. Prion localization to the oral epithelium has the potential to result in the shedding of prions from the mucosa, which may be a source of prion infection in saliva. We also continued to define the pathway by which prions spread along cranial nerves of the tongue and the role of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in prion entry into skeletal muscle. We initiated a series of studies that examined prion infection of the hypoglossal nerve and performed a spatiotemporal analysis of prion agent entry into the brainstem and muscles of the tongue. Besides demonstating that prions likely enter the tongue via the NMJ, we established that prions likely spread in axons will being transported in organelles such as late endosomes, and can accumulate to high levels in skeletal muscle. We are further investigating the location of prions in axons in order to better understand how they move in the nervous system since axonal spreading is one of the main pathways of prion dissemination throughout the body of the host. These findings indicate that at the initial time of prion entry into cells that PrP-res is linked to the NMJ and suggests that this peripheral synapse acts as a route or prion agent entry into muscle cells. They also suggest that prions can spread along axons into peripheral tissues.
 
Impacts The implication of these findings is that prion infection of muscle and epithelium represents a potential source of prion transmission via either consumption of meat products or from bodily fluids in contact with mucosal epithelium, respectively. Nerve fibers transverse all bodily tissue and therefore, almost all food products from an animal with subclinical prion disease are a potential source of prion contamination of food. The prion distribution into these sites in the tongue is likely via centrifugal spread along motor and sensory fibers with subsequent transynatpic spread into muscle cells or epithelial cells, respectively. These findings suggest that the prion agent can use nerve fibers to spread to peripheral tissues and spread across peripheral synapses to infect mucosal epithelium. This is the first study to demonstrate prion spread via peripheral synapses into tissues. This conclusion is also supported by in vitro studies that demonstrate the prion infection of muscle cells in vitro required contact with neuronal cell lines and not non-neuronal cells lines suggesting that a NMJ is required for prion infection of muscle cells. Since the SSE of the tongue undergoes continual turnover, renewal, and shedding, these findings suggest that the prion agent could establish infection in epithelial cells and could be shed as these cells mature in the SSE, become the keratinized layer, and are sloughed into oral bodily fluids. Therefore, saliva may be one source of prions that is shed from a host and can infect a naive host through direct or indirect contact. The spread of prions into skeletal muscle cells via nerve fibers suggest that muscle tissue, and not just nerves that transverse muscle, are a potential source of prion exposure upon ingestion of food products containing meat.
 
Publications
 
 Progress 12/01/06 to 11/30/07
 
Outputs The long-term goal of the proposed research is to define the route and mechanism of prion agent infection of skeletal muscle during prion diseases of livestock. Prion infection of skeletal muscle is a potential threat to animal and human food products. The hypothesis to be tested is that prion neuroinvasion of the brainstem following oral ingestion of the prion agent leads to infection of one or more of the tongue-associated cranial nerves. In the past year we focused on the following areas: 1) to investigate the role of peripheral synapses (i.e., neuromuscular junction) in prion infection of skeletal muscle cells, 2) to determine if the prion agent can infect epithelial cells at the mucosa and the route(s) of prion spread to epithelial mucosa, and 3) to establish prion infection in muscle cells in vitro. To investigate the role of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in prion entry into skeletal muscle, the hypoglossal motor nerve was inoculated with prions and a spatiotemporal analysis was performed on the deposition of the disease-specific prion protein, PrP-res. To determine the role of the NMJ in prion agent entry into muscle cells, laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) was used to determine the co-localization of PrP-res with synaptophysin (a marker for the NMJ) at the initial time of entry into muscle versus at the time of onset of clinical symptoms. We have now demonstrated that PrP-res is statistically colocalized with the NMJ at the time of entry into muscle cells, but not at later times in the disease course when infection was widely distributed through muscle cells. These findings indicate that at the initial time of prion entry into cells that PrP-res is linked to the NMJ and suggests that this peripheral synapse acts as a route or prion agent entry into muscle cells. Currently, we are investigating prion movement in nerve bundles prior to entry into muscle cells to determine if this site is also important for prion replication. To determine if skeletal muscles cells can directly support prion infection, we have been able to establish prion infection in a muscle cell line (i.e., C2C12 cells) in vitro. Scrapie infection of murine C2C12 myoblasts and myotubes in vitro was established following co-culture with a scrapie-infected murine neuroblastoma (N2a) cell line but not following incubation with a non-neuronal cell line or a scrapie brain homogenate. These in vitro studies also suggest that in vivo prion infection of skeletal muscle requires contact with prion-infected neurons or, possibly, nerve terminals. This study has now been published. To further determine if the prion agent can directly infect epithelial cells at the tongue mucosa via cranial nerves, the prion agent was inoculated into the sensory nerves of the tongue. This resulted in early targeting of prion infection to the nerve fibers of the tongue. A high level of prion infection was found in the sensory fibers and taste cells in fungiform papillae of the tongue. We are currently investigating whether prions can infect the epithelium of the oral mucosa and preliminary findings are promising. These studies may suggest that epithelial cells in the oral mucosa can support prion infection and shedding of the mucosa may be a source of prion infection in saliva.
 
Impacts The implication of these findings is that prion infection of muscle and epithelium represents a potential source of prion transmission via either consumption of meat products or from bodily fluids in contact with mucosal epithelium, respectively. The prion distribution into these sites in the tongue is likely via centrifugal spread along motor and sensory fibers with subsequent transynatpic spread into muscle cells or epithelial cells, respectively. These findings suggest that the prion agent can use nerve fibers to spread to peripheral tissues and spread across peripheral synapses to infect mucosal epithelium. This is the first study to demonstrate prion spread via peripheral synapses into tissues. This conclusion is also supported by in vitro studies that demonstrate the prion infection of muscle cells in vitro required contact with neuronal cell lines and not non-neuronal cells lines suggesting that a NMJ is required for prion infection of muscle cells. Since the SSE of the tongue undergoes continual turnover, renewal, and shedding, these findings suggest that the prion agent could establish infection in epithelial cells and could be shed as these cells mature in the SSE, become the keratinized layer, and are sloughed into oral bodily fluids. Therefore, saliva may be one source of prions that is shed from a host and can infect a naive host through direct or indirect contact. The spread of prions into skeletal muscle cells via nerve fibers suggest that muscle tissue, and not just nerves that transverse muscle, are a potential source of prion exposure upon ingestion of food products containing meat.
 
Publications
 
Dlakic, W.M., Grigg, E. & Bessen, R.A. 2007. Prion infection of muscle cells in vitro. Journal of Virology 81:4615-4624.
 
 Progress 12/01/05 to 11/30/06
 
Outputs The long-term goal of the proposed research is to define the route and mechanism of prion agent infection of skeletal muscle during prion diseases of livestock. Prion infection of skeletal muscle is a potential threat to animal and human food products. The hypothesis to be tested is that prion neuroinvasion of the brainstem following oral ingestion of the prion agent leads to infection of one or more of the tongue-associated cranial nerves. In the past year we focused on the following aims: 1) to investigate the role of peripheral synapses (i.e., neuromuscular junction) in prion infection of skeletal muscle cells and 2) to establish prion infection in muscle cells in vitro. To investigate the role of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in prion entry into skeletal muscle, a spatiotemporal analysis was performed on the deposition of the disease-specific prion protein, PrP-res, in nerve fibers and muscle of the tongue, which we use as a model for prion infection of skeletal muscle. To determine the role of the NMJ in prion agent entry into muscle cells, laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) was used to determine the co-localization of PrP-res with synaptophysin (a marker for the NMJ) at the initial time of entry into muscle versus at the time of onset of clinical symptoms. Our early findings suggest that PrP-res is colocalized with the NMJ at the time of entry into muscle cells but not later in the disease course when PrP-res is widely distributed in skeletal muscle. These preliminary findings suggest that prion agent entry into cells is linked to the NMJ and suggests that this peripheral synapse acts as a route or prion agent entry into muscle cells. To determine if skeletal muscles cells can directly support prion infection, we attempted to establish prion infection in a muscle cell line (i.e., C2C12 cells) in vitro. Scrapie infection of murine C2C12 myoblasts and myotubes in vitro was established following co-culture with a scrapie-infected murine neuroblastoma (N2a) cell line but not following incubation with a non-neuronal cell line or a scrapie brain homogenate. These in vitro studies also suggest that in vivo prion infection of skeletal muscle requires contact with prion-infected neurons or, possibly, nerve terminals.
 
Impacts The implication of these findings is that prion infection of muscle represents a potential source of prion transmission via either consumption of meat products. The prion distribution into these sites in the tongue is likely via centrifugal spread along motor and sensory fibers with subsequent transynatpic spread into muscle cells or epithelial cells, respectively. These findings suggest that the prion agent can use nerve fibers to spread to peripheral tissues. Our conclusion is also supported by in vitro studies that demonstrate the prion infection of muscle cells in vitro required contact with neuronal cell lines and not non-neuronal cells lines suggesting that a NMJ is required for prion infection of muscle cells. The spread of prions into skeletal muscle cells via nerve fibers suggest that muscle tissue, and not just nerves that transverse muscle, are a potential source of prion exposure upon ingestion of food products containing meat.
 
Publications
 
 
 
Sunday, February 2, 2014
 
The Presence of Disease-Associated Prion Protein in Skeletal Muscle of Cattle Infected with Classical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
 
NOTE Pathology
 
 
 
SEE EXAMPLES OF TONGUE SRM TSE PRION
 
 
North Dakota Firm Recalls Whole Beef Head Products That Contain Prohibited Materials Recall Release CLASS II RECALL FSIS-RC-023-2010 HEALTH RISK: LOW
 
Congressional and Public Affairs (202) 720-9113 Catherine Cochran
 
WASHINGTON, April 5, 2010 - North American Bison Co-Op, a New Rockford, N.D., establishment is recalling approximately 25,000 pounds of whole beef heads containing tongues that may not have had the tonsils completely removed, which is not compliant with regulations that require the removal of tonsils from cattle of all ages, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
 
Tonsils are considered a specified risk material (SRM) and must be removed from cattle of all ages in accordance with FSIS regulations. SRMs are tissues that are known to contain the infective agent in cattle infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), as well as materials that are closely associated with these potentially infective tissues. Therefore, FSIS prohibits SRMs from use as human food to minimize potential human exposure to the BSE agent.
 
 
 
New York Firm Recalls Beef Carcass That Contains Prohibited Materials Recall Release CLASS II RECALL FSIS-RC-003-2010 HEALTH RISK: LOW
 
Congressional and Public Affairs (202) 720-9113 Atiya Khan
 
WASHINGTON, January 15, 2010 - Jerry Hayes Meats Inc., a Newark Valley, N.Y., establishment is recalling approximately 490 pounds of a beef carcass that may not have had the spinal column removed, which is not compliant with regulations that require the removal of spinal cord and vertebral column from cattle over 30 months of age, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
 
Spinal cord and vertebral column are considered a specified risk material (SRM) and must be removed from cattle over 30 months of age in accordance with FSIS regulations. SRMs are tissues that are known to contain the infective agent in cattle infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), as well as materials that are closely associated with these potentially infective tissues. Therefore, FSIS prohibits SRMs from use as human food to minimize potential human exposure to the BSE agent.
 
 
 
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
 
SPECIFIED RISK MATERIAL (SRM) CONTROL VERIFICATION TASK FSIS NOTICE 70-13 10/30/13
 
 
 
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
 
Use of Materials Derived From Cattle in Human Food and Cosmetics; Reopening of the Comment Period FDA-2004-N-0188-0051 (TSS SUBMISSION)
 
FDA believes current regulation protects the public from BSE but reopens comment period due to new studies
 
 
 
Minnesota Firm Recalls Bone-In Ribeye That May Contain Specified Risk Materials
 
Recall Release
 
CLASS II RECALL
 
FSIS-RC-024-2013 HEALTH RISK: LOW
 
Congressional and Public Affairs Atiya Khan (202) 720-9113
 
WASHINGTON, March 25, 2013 – Triple J Family Farms, a Buffalo Lake, Minn. establishment, is recalling approximately 15,270 pounds of bone-in ribeye products because the vertebral column may not have been completely removed, which is not compliant with regulations that require the removal of vertebral column in cattle 30 months of age or older, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
 
The products subject to recall are: [View Labels (PDF Only)]
 
Approx. 40-lb boxes of "BEEF B/I RIB," bearing any of the following case codes: "91-R109H-C," "91-R109H-S," "91-R109H-C-SB," or "91-R109H-S-SB."
 
The products subject to recall bear the establishment number "EST.17466" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced and packaged on various dates between Feb. 8, 2013, and March 21, 2013, and were distributed to an FSIS-inspected establishment in New York for further processing and distribution.
 
The problem was discovered by FSIS during a routine specified risk material (SRM) verification and may have occurred as a result of a recent change in the company's carcass separation practices. Vertebral column is considered a SRM and must be removed from cattle of 30 months of age or older in accordance with FSIS regulations. SRMs are tissues that may contain the infective agent in cattle infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), as well as materials that are closely associated with these potentially infective tissues. Therefore, FSIS prohibits SRMs from use as human food to minimize potential human exposure to the BSE agent. There is no indication that any of the cattle slaughtered displayed any signs of BSE.
 
FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.
 
Consumers with questions about the recall should contact the company's HR and Office Manager, Kendra Williams, at (320) 833-2001. Media with questions about the recall should contact the company's QA Manager, Russell Harris, at (320) 833-0107.
 
Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. "Ask Karen" live chat services are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/ Problems_With_Food_Products/index.asp
 
#
 
 
see labels ;
 
 
 
Monday, March 25, 2013
 
Minnesota Firm Recalls Bone-In Ribeye That May Contain Specified Risk Materials Recall Release CLASS II RECALL FSIS-RC-024-2013
 
 
 
Saturday, December 15, 2012
 
*** Bovine spongiform encephalopathy: the effect of oral exposure dose on attack rate and incubation period in cattle -- an update 5 December 2012
 
 
 
 Saturday, December 21, 2013
 
**** Complementary studies detecting classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy infectivity in jejunum, ileum and ileocaecal junction in incubating cattle ****
 
 
 
Saturday, November 10, 2012
 
Wisconsin Firm Recalls Beef Tongues That May Contain Specified Risk Materials Nov 9, 2012 WI Firm Recalls Beef Tongues
 
 
 
Saturday, July 23, 2011
 
CATTLE HEADS WITH TONSILS, BEEF TONGUES, SPINAL CORD, SPECIFIED RISK MATERIALS (SRM's) AND PRIONS, AKA MAD COW DISEASE
 
 
 
Sunday, October 18, 2009
 
Wisconsin Firm Recalls Beef Tongues That Contain Prohibited Materials SRM WASHINGTON, October 17, 2009
 
 
 
Thursday, October 15, 2009
 
Nebraska Firm Recalls Beef Tongues That Contain Prohibited Materials SRM WASHINGTON, Oct 15, 2009
 
 
 
Thursday, June 26, 2008
 
Texas Firm Recalls Cattle Heads That Contain Prohibited Materials
 
 
 
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
 
Missouri Firm Recalls Cattle Heads That Contain Prohibited Materials SRMs
 
 
 
Friday, August 8, 2008
 
Texas Firm Recalls Cattle Heads That Contain Prohibited Materials SRMs 941,271 pounds with tonsils not completely removed
 
 
 
Saturday, April 5, 2008
 
SRM MAD COW RECALL 406 THOUSAND POUNDS CATTLE HEADS WITH TONSILS KANSAS
 
 
 
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
 
Consumption of beef tongue: Human BSE risk associated with exposure to lymphoid tissue in bovine tongue in consideration of new research findings
 
 
 
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
 
Consumption of beef tongue: Human BSE risk associated with exposure to lymphoid tissue in bovine tongue in consideration of new research findings
 
 
 
Friday, October 15, 2010
 
BSE infectivity in the absence of detectable PrPSc accumulation in the tongue and nasal mucosa of terminally diseased cattle
 
 
 
SPECIFIED RISK MATERIALS SRMs
 
 
 
Saturday, July 23, 2011
 
CATTLE HEADS WITH TONSILS, BEEF TONGUES, SPINAL CORD, SPECIFIED RISK MATERIALS (SRM's) AND PRIONS, AKA MAD COW DISEASE
 
 
 
Saturday, November 6, 2010
 
TAFS1 Position Paper on Position Paper on Relaxation of the Feed Ban in the EU
 
Berne, 2010 TAFS INTERNATIONAL FORUM FOR TRANSMISSIBLE ANIMAL DISEASES AND FOOD SAFETY a non-profit Swiss Foundation
 
 
 
Archive Number 20101206.4364 Published Date 06-DEC-2010 Subject PRO/AH/EDR>
 
Prion disease update 2010 (11) PRION DISEASE UPDATE 2010 (11)
 
 
 
P.9.21 Molecular characterization of BSE in Canada
 
Jianmin Yang1, Sandor Dudas2, Catherine Graham2, Markus Czub3, Tim McAllister1, Stefanie Czub1 1Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre, Canada; 2National and OIE BSE Reference Laboratory, Canada; 3University of Calgary, Canada
 
Background: Three BSE types (classical and two atypical) have been identified on the basis of molecular characteristics of the misfolded protein associated with the disease. To date, each of these three types have been detected in Canadian cattle.
 
Objectives: This study was conducted to further characterize the 16 Canadian BSE cases based on the biochemical properties of there associated PrPres.
 
Methods: Immuno-reactivity, molecular weight, glycoform profiles and relative proteinase K sensitivity of the PrPres from each of the 16 confirmed Canadian BSE cases was determined using modified Western blot analysis. Results: Fourteen of the 16 Canadian BSE cases were C type, 1 was H type and 1 was L type. The Canadian H and L-type BSE cases exhibited size shifts and changes in glycosylation similar to other atypical BSE cases. PK digestion under mild and stringent conditions revealed a reduced protease resistance of the atypical cases compared to the C-type cases. N terminal- specific antibodies bound to PrPres from H type but not from C or L type. The C-terminal-specific antibodies resulted in a shift in the glycoform profile and detected a fourth band in the Canadian H-type BSE.
 
Discussion: The C, L and H type BSE cases in Canada exhibit molecular characteristics similar to those described for classical and atypical BSE cases from Europe and Japan. This supports the theory that the importation of BSE contaminated feedstuff is the source of C-type BSE in Canada.
 
*** It also suggests a similar cause or source for atypical BSE in these countries.
 
 
 
*** October 2009 O.11.3
 
*** Infectivity in skeletal muscle of BASE-infected cattle
 
Silvia Suardi1, Chiara Vimercati1, Fabio Moda1, Ruggerone Margherita1, Ilaria Campagnani1, Guerino Lombardi2, Daniela Gelmetti2, Martin H. Groschup3, Anne Buschmann3, Cristina Casalone4, Maria Caramelli4, Salvatore Monaco5, Gianluigi Zanusso5, Fabrizio Tagliavini1 1Carlo Besta" Neurological Institute,Italy; 2IZS Brescia, Italy; 33FLI Insel Riems, D, Germany; 4CEA-IZS Torino, Italy; 5University of Verona, Italy
 
Background: BASE is an atypical form of bovine spongiform encephalopathy caused by a prion strain distinct from that of BSE. Upon experimental transmission to cattle, BASE induces a previously unrecognized disease phenotype marked by mental dullness and progressive atrophy of hind limb musculature. Whether affected muscles contain infectivity is unknown. This is a critical issue since the BASE strain is readily transmissible to a variety of hosts including primates, suggesting that humans may be susceptible.
 
Objectives: To investigate the distribution of infectivity in peripheral tissues of cattle experimentally infected with BASE. Methods: Groups of Tg mice expressing bovine PrP (Tgbov XV, n= 7-15/group) were inoculated both i.c. and i.p. with 10% homogenates of a variety of tissues including brain, spleen, cervical lymph node, kidney and skeletal muscle (m. longissimus dorsi) from cattle intracerebrally infected with BASE. No PrPres was detectable in the peripheral tissues used for inoculation either by immunohistochemistry or Western blot.
 
Results: Mice inoculated with BASE-brain homogenates showed clinical signs of disease with incubation and survival times of 175±15 and 207±12 days. Five out of seven mice challenged with skeletal muscle developed a similar neurological disorder, with incubation and survival times of 380±11 and 410±12 days. At present (700 days after inoculation) mice challenged with the other peripheral tissues are still healthy. The neuropathological phenotype and PrPres type of the affected mice inoculated either with brain or muscle were indistinguishable and matched those of Tgbov XV mice infected with natural BASE.
 
Discussion: Our data indicate that the skeletal muscle of cattle experimentally infected with BASE contains significant amount of infectivity, at variance with BSE-affected cattle, raising the issue of intraspecies transmission and the potential risk for humans. Experiments are in progress to assess the presence of infectivity in skeletal muscles of natural BASE.
 
 
 
1: J Infect Dis 1980 Aug;142(2):205-8
 
*** Oral transmission of kuru, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and scrapie to nonhuman primates.
 
Gibbs CJ Jr, Amyx HL, Bacote A, Masters CL, Gajdusek DC.
 
Kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease of humans and scrapie disease of sheep and goats were transmitted to squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) that were exposed to the infectious agents only by their nonforced consumption of known infectious tissues. The asymptomatic incubation period in the one monkey exposed to the virus of kuru was 36 months; that in the two monkeys exposed to the virus of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was 23 and 27 months, respectively; and that in the two monkeys exposed to the virus of scrapie was 25 and 32 months, respectively. Careful physical examination of the buccal cavities of all of the monkeys failed to reveal signs or oral lesions. One additional monkey similarly exposed to kuru has remained asymptomatic during the 39 months that it has been under observation.
 
snip...
 
The successful transmission of kuru, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and scrapie by natural feeding to squirrel monkeys that we have reported provides further grounds for concern that scrapie-infected meat may occasionally give rise in humans to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
 
PMID: 6997404
 
 
 
BABY FOODS
 
There are 4 brands available for a quick survey - Boots, Cow & Gate, Heinz and Robinson.
 
None of the meat dishes included 'offal' in the ingredients.
 
Steak & Kidney and Beef and Oxtail did, however, include kidney and oxtail.....
 
snip...
 
 
 
About the only item it seems many remain to be decided next week is what if anything we say about offal in baby food. I enclose now in confidence the draft as it stands at present concerning this aspect. It might be that no action is recommened. On the other hand, the working party, PERSUADED BY THE ANIMAL EVIDENCE THAT IMMATURE ANIMALS ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO INFECTION WITH THE AGENTS OF SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY, may make some recommendations either about labelling or about banning offal in baby food.......
 
 
 
Heinz Baby Foods
 
WE guarantee that __________________ are free from offal OTHER THAN that which is named in any product description and in particular contain no thymus, brains, spinal chord, spleen, and intestine.
 
THE ONLY OFFALS USED IN __________________ ARE KIDNEY, LIVER, AND OXTAIL when they are always identified on the lable, both in the product description and in the list of ingredients.
 
PICTURE OF BABY FOOD JAR NAMED STEAK AND KIDNEY LUNCH
 
INGREDIENTS - WATER, BEEF, CARROTS, POTATOES, KIDNEY, MODIFIED CORN FLOUR, SPLIT GREEN PEAS, FLOUR, TOMATO PUREE, LIVER, .....
 
snip...
 
ANOTHER PICTURE OF BABY FOOD JAR NAMED BEEF AND OXTAIL DINNER
 
ingredients listed also, but difficult to read, name self explanitory, contains beef and OXTAIL...TSS
 
ANOTHER BABY FOOD JAR NAMED LIVER AND BACON DINNER, ingredients listed
 
ANOTHER BABY FOOD JAR NAMED STEAK AND KIDNEY DINNER, ingredients listed
 
ANOTHER BABY FOOD JAR NAMED BRAISED STEAK AND KIDNEY, ingredients listed
 
ANOTHER BABY FOOD JAR NAMED LAMB AND LIVER CASSEROLE, NO INGREDIENTS LISTED (WHAT ABOUT LAMB AND BSE ??? TSS)
 
 
 
2. The Southwood report recommended that baby foods manufactureres should not use ruminant offal and thymus in baby foods. This was interpreted as any offal listed in Schedule 2 Part 2 of the Meat Product Regulations. The Committee, in effect, are advising the Ministry that ANY offal which carries ANY risk of transmitting the BSE agent to baby foods should not be used in their manufacture. The offal listed in Part 2 Schedule 2 of the MPSFPR is by NO MEANS EXHAUSTIVE, and OTHER ORGANS EXIST e.g. ENDOCRINE AND PITUITARY GLANDS, which are HIGH 'RISK' from the point of view of the presence of BSE or Scrapie agent. Therefore I feel that any regulations should widen the scope of the definition of offal to include any of these organs NOT mentioned in Part 2...
 
snip...
 
5. I had some reservations about TAILMEAT because of its close association with the spinal cord.
 
 
 
They classify offals into two groups as follows:-
 
(i) Diaphragm, head meat (muscle only), heart, kideny, liver, pancreas, tail meat, thymus, tongue.
 
(ii) Brains, feet, intestine, lungs, oesophagus, rectum, spinal cord, spleen, stomach, texticles udder.
 
Group (i) can be used in ALL MEAT PRODUCTS AND CAN COUNT TOWARD THE MEAT CONTENT OF THOSE PRODUCTS
 
Group (ii) can only be used in cooked meat products and cannot count towards meat content.......
 
21 pages;
 
 
 
snip...see full text ;
 
Sunday, May 18, 2008
 
BSE, CJD, and Baby foods (the great debate 1999 to 2005)
 
 
 
CONFIDENTIAL
 
CONFIRMED CASE OF CJD IN DAIRY FARMER
 
 
 
3. Neither Dr Will nor the CJD surveillance unit intend to disclose the existence of this case or make any comment at present unless it attracts media attention.
 
snip...
 
HUMAN CASE DETAILS CONFIDENTIAL
 
snip...
 
6. CJD IN FARMERS
 
The second annual report on CJD surveillance in the UK, which is about to be published, gives occupational history details of 29 definite and probable CJD cases recorded in people who had a history of employment at any time in particular occupational groups of potential significance for the occurrence of the disease. The 29 cases were amongst 95 diagnosed over a 3 year period: the other 66 cases did not fall into such occupational groups.
 
These relevant details are:-
 
MEDICAL/PARAMEDICAL/DENTISTRY 7
 
ANIMAL LABORATORY 1
 
PHARMACEUTICAL LABORATORY 0
 
RESEARCH LABORATORY 0
 
FARMERS/VETERINARY SURGEONS 7
 
BUTCHERS/ABATTOIR WORKERS/OCCUPATION INVOLVING DIRECT CONTACT WITH ANIMAL OR CARCASES 5
 
OCCUPATION INVOLVING ANIMAL PRODUCTS 9
 
snip... full text ;
 
http://collections.europarchive.org/tna/20080102155201/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1993/07/19001001.pdf Rocky Mountain oysters, mountain oysters, prairie oysters, Montana tendergroin or swinging sirloin
 
 
POLICY IN CONFIDENCE
 
CJD AND FARMERS
 
1. The article in the Daily Mail of 12 August again raises the question of a CAUSATIVE LINK BETWEEN BSE AND CJD. This follows the death of a second farmer from CJD...
 
snip...
 
I am, however, concerned about how DH and MAFF would respont to public concern generated if there are further CJD cases among farmers.
 
snip...
 
4. Unwelcome, though it maybe to the Tyrrell Committee, I think they must be asked at their next meeting to give further thought to what they might advise the Department and MAFF if ANOTHER FARMER (or TWO) DEVELOPS CJD. OR, if a butcher or abattoir worker develops the disease.
 
5. Although the Committee were given plenty of advance warning about the second farmer, they may NOT BE SO FORTUNATE NEXT TIME ROUND. Some Contingency planning on the Committee's response to a further case of CJD in a farmer seems essential. At the same time the Committee should consider if there is SPECIAL RISK TO FARMERS, FOR EXAMPLE THEIR HISTORICAL HABIT OF CHEWING CATTLE NUTS, that might be implicated. .....(oh my GOD...tss)
 
 
 
Ministers will note from this that experts are of the view, that there is unlikely to be a direct link between the cases of BSE, and the occurance of CJD in the farmer.
 
(NOTE CJD increasing over 3 years. ...TSS)
 
 
 
'AGE AT ONSET' is therefore likely to be a reflection of particulary aetiological factors, about which, for sporadic CJD at least, much is yet unknown. IT has therefore been suggested that examination of the f/d i/p of other groups with TSE's, and comparison with that of CJD subsets might help to elucidate aetiological mechanisms for sporadic CJD in particular; i.e. ALMOST A REVERSAL OF THE ORIGINAL UNDERTAKING.
 
 
 
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO BSE AND CJD
 
2. The Tyrrell Committee met on 7 October and the significance of the two cases of CJD reported in dairy farmers who had BSE-affected animals on their farms was discussed at some length, AS WERE THE IMPLICATIONS OF A THIRD (OR FORTH) similar case.
 
3. The Committee were unable to identify any possible risk factors over and above those that they had already considered, both in general and with particular of TASTING THE FEED does continue but there was no consensus about the value of advising farmers to discontinue this practice. Feed currently in use does not pose a risk because of the ruminant-ruminant feed ban.
 
 
 

 
>>> Feed currently in use does not pose a risk because of the ruminant-ruminant feed ban. ...LOL Laughing out loud
 
 
From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr. Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2013 8:15 PM To: BSE-L@LISTS.AEGEE.ORG Subject: [BSE-L] FDA PART 589 -- SUBSTANCES PROHIBITED FROM USE IN ANIMAL FOOD OR FEED VIOLATIONS OFFICIAL ACTION INDICATED OIA UPDATE DECEMBER 2013 UPDATE
 
FDA PART 589 -- SUBSTANCES PROHIBITED FROM USE IN ANIMAL FOOD OR FEED VIOLATIONS OFFICIAL ACTION INDICATED OIA UPDATE DECEMBER 2013 UPDATE
 
 OAI 2012-2013
 
OAI (Official Action Indicated) when inspectors find significant objectionable conditions or practices and believe that regulatory sanctions are warranted to address the establishment’s lack of compliance with the regulation. An example of an OAI classification would be findings of manufacturing procedures insufficient to ensure that ruminant feed is not contaminated with prohibited material. Inspectors will promptly re-inspect facilities classified OAI after regulatory sanctions have been applied to determine whether the corrective actions are adequate to address the objectionable conditions.
 
 ATL-DO 1035703 Newberry Feed & Farm Ctr, Inc. 2431 Vincent St. Newberry SC 29108-0714 OPR DR, FL, FR, TH HP 9/9/2013 OAI Y
 
DET-DO 1824979 Hubbard Feeds, Inc. 135 Main, P.O. Box 156 Shipshewana IN 46565-0156 OPR DR, FL, OF DP 8/29/2013 OAI Y
 
ATL-DO 3001460882 Talley Farms Feed Mill Inc 6309 Talley Rd Stanfield NC 28163-7617 OPR FL, TH NP 7/17/2013 OAI N
 
NYK-DO 3010260624 Sherry Sammons 612 Stoner Trail Rd Fonda NY 12068-5007 OPR FR, OF NP 7/16/2013 OAI Y
 
DEN-DO 3008575486 Rocky Ford Pet Foods 21693 Highway 50 East Rocky Ford CO 81067 OPR RE, TH HP 2/27/2013 OAI N
 
CHI-DO 3007091297 Rancho Cantera 2866 N Sunnyside Rd Kent IL 61044-9605 OPR FR, OF HP 11/26/2012 OAI Y
 
*** DEN-DO 1713202 Weld County Bi Products, Inc. 1138 N 11th Ave Greeley CO 80631-9501 OPR RE, TH HP 10/12/2012 OAI N
 
Ruminant Feed Inspections Firms Inventory (excel format)
 
 
 
 PLEASE NOTE, the VAI violations were so numerous, and unorganized in dates posted, as in numerical order, you will have to sift through them for yourselves. ...tss
 
SNIP...SEE FULL TEXT ;
 
 
Sunday, December 15, 2013
 
FDA PART 589 -- SUBSTANCES PROHIBITED FROM USE IN ANIMAL FOOD OR FEED VIOLATIONS OFFICIAL ACTION INDICATED OIA UPDATE DECEMBER 2013 UPDATE
 
 
 
Monday, February 03, 2014
 
CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE T.S.E. PRION U.K. UPDATE As at 3rd February 2014
 
 
 
Friday, August 16, 2013
 
*** Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) biannual update August 2013 U.K. and Contaminated blood products induce a highly atypical prion disease devoid of PrPres in primates
 
 
 
WHAT about the sporadic CJD TSE proteins ?
 
WE now know that some cases of sporadic CJD are linked to atypical BSE and atypical Scrapie, so why are not MORE concerned about the sporadic CJD, and all it’s sub-types $$$
 
 
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease CJD cases rising North America updated report August 2013
 
*** Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease CJD cases rising North America with Canada seeing an extreme increase of 48% between 2008 and 2010 ***
 
 
 
Sunday, October 13, 2013
 
*** CJD TSE Prion Disease Cases in Texas by Year, 2003-2012
 
 
 
Thursday, January 2, 2014
 
*** CWD TSE Prion in cervids to hTGmice, Heidenhain Variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease MM1 genotype, and iatrogenic CJD ???
 
 
 
Friday, January 10, 2014
 
*** vpspr, sgss, sffi, TSE, an iatrogenic by-product of gss, ffi, familial type prion disease, what it ???
 
 
 
Monday, January 13, 2014
 
*** Prions in Variably Protease-Sensitive Prionopathy: An Update Pathogens 2013
 
Pathogens 2013, 2, 457-471; doi:10.3390/pathogens2030457
 
 
 
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
 
*** INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF CJD, VCJD AND OTHER HUMAN PRION DISEASES IN HEALTHCARE AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS Variably Protease-Sensitive Prionopathy (VPSPr) January 15, 2014
 
 
 
Sunday, January 19, 2014
 
*** National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center Cases Examined1 as of January 8, 2014 ***
 
 
 
Wednesday, October 09, 2013
 
WHY THE UKBSEnvCJD ONLY THEORY IS SO POPULAR IN IT'S FALLACY, £41,078,281 in compensation REVISED
 
 
 
Thursday, January 23, 2014
 
Medical Devices Containing Materials Derived from Animal Sources (Except for In Vitro Diagnostic Devices) [Docket No. FDA–2013–D–1574]
 
 
 
Thursday, February 06, 2014
 
Commons Science and Technology Committee announce new inquiry on blood, tissue and organ screening Parliament exposure vcjd and blood risk while still ignoring recent risks factors of sporadic CJD
 
 
 
Saturday, February 01, 2014
 
vCJD With Extremely Low Lymphoreticular Deposition of Prion Protein MAY NOT HAVE BEEN DETECTABLE
 
 
 
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
 
*** Detection of Infectivity in Blood of Persons with Variant and Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
 
 
 

PLEASE SEE ;

 

*** USDA Recall Classifications Class I This is a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death. ***

 

*** Class I Recall 013-2014 ***

 

***Health Risk: High ***

 

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2014 – Rancho Feeding Corporation, a Petaluma, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 8,742,700 pounds, because it processed diseased and unsound animals and carried out these activities without the benefit or full benefit of federal inspection. Thus, the products are adulterated, because they are unsound, unwholesome or otherwise are unfit for human food and must be removed from commerce, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. 

 


 

 

please see ;

 

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy BSE was only mentioned one time here in all this report ???

 

Foreign animal diseases include bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), foot and mouth disease, rinderpest, African swine fever, hog cholera, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, and Teschen's disease. In most cases, VS will want the animal held so they can examine it.

 

Abnormal Body Movement

 

Ante-mortem signs that indicate an animal may have a condition or disease referenced in the regulations can be associated with body movement and action, body position, condition, function, surfaces, discharges, and body odor. Some examples of the signs associated with body movement, action and position include:

 

1. Lameness or limping-sometimes the cause of lameness is rather obvious; sometimes not.

 

2. Stiffness and pain-lameness may be caused by arthritis in one or more joints.

 

3. Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases-certain diseases such as rabies and listeriosis can affect the brain and CNS. The animal may appear extremely nervous or restless, excessively anxious or upset, or stagger or circle.

 

4. Certain poisons and toxic residues that the animal has been exposed to may cause abnormal movement and action, such as staggering or circling.

 

5. Depression or disinterest may be a sign that the animal is in a dying or moribund state. A moribund animal may not respond to noises or other stimuli. Animals in a moribund condition are not eligible for slaughter.

 

6. It is possible that an animal that is depressed or fails to respond normally to stimuli could be under the influence of a tranquilizer. Tranquilized animals are not eligible for slaughter. Tranquilizers and other drugs have specific withdrawal periods that must elapse before the animal is eligible for slaughter.

 

7. An animal may be disoriented and run into things or butt its head against objects.

 

8. Animals may scratch excessively or rub their hide against objects. Scratching and rubbing associated with hair loss may indicate that the animal has lice or mange infestation. Scabies is a mange condition that is a reportable disease. The PHV must report this condition to other health agencies. These agencies may want to take skin scrapings from the animal to confirm the diagnosis.

 

9. Animals may have muscle tremors or shivering, hold their head to one side, or have any number of abnormal gaits.

 

10. Animals may strain and assume abnormal body positions. For example, urinary or intestinal disorders may cause straining and abnormal positions such as arching of the back, tucking in of the abdomen (stomach), and extending the neck and tail.

 

11. An animal may have difficulty in rising or be unable to get up at all or be standing but unable to walk (or ambulate). These animals may be recumbent non-ambulatory or standing non-ambulatory for a variety of reasons ranging from an injury to severe

 

Livestock Antemortem Inspection

 

3-21-13

 

Livestock Slaughter Inspection Training 12

 

illness or depression. All non-ambulatory livestock must be examined by the PHV. The PHV may choose to examine these animals where they are rather that move them to the U.S. Suspect pen to avoid unnecessary handling and pain or injury to the animal. All cattle that are non-ambulatory when presented for ante-mortem must be condemned.

 


 

 


 

 

What animals are USDA testing in the surveillance program? These are random samples at slaughter, aren't they? No. USDA's BSE surveillance program is specifically targeted to the population most likely to have the disease, if it is present. This population is NOT clinically healthy animals that would be presented for slaughter. Rather, it includes animals that have some type of abnormality, such as central nervous system signs; non-ambulatory, or a "downer"; emaciated; or died for unknown reasons. Because these animals would not pass the required ante-mortem inspection requirements at slaughter for human consumption, we collect the majority of our samples at facilities other than slaughter facilities - at rendering or salvage facilities, on-farm, at veterinary clinics or veterinary diagnostic laboratories. With this targeted approach, we can monitor the presence of disease in the US cattle population in a much more efficient and meaningful way. The key to surveillance is to look where the disease is going to occur.

 

 Does USDA need to increase surveillance in California after this finding? As USDA progresses with the epidemiological investigation, we will review any specific or unique risk factors that may be identified in California, and will review our overall surveillance efforts in light of any such findings. However, our current surveillance efforts have a good geographic representation across the regions of the country and are designed to monitor the presence of disease in the entire U.S. cattle population versus focusing on individual states or regions.

 

 KEY POINTS In addition to a stringent feed ban imposed by the Food and Drug Administration in 1997 as well as the removal of all specified risk material which could harbor BSE, USDA has a strong surveillance program in place to detect signs of BSE in cattle in the United States. In fact, we test for BSE at levels ten times greater than World Animal Health Organization standards. The program samples approximately 40,000 animals each year and targets cattle populations where the disease is most likely to be found. The targeted population for ongoing surveillance focuses on cattle exhibiting signs of central nervous disorders or any other signs that may be associated with BSE, including emaciation or injury, and dead cattle, as well as non-ambulatory animals. Samples from the targeted population are taken at farms, veterinary diagnostic laboratories, public health laboratories, slaughter facilities, veterinary clinics, and livestock markets. In addition, approximately 5,000 samples each year are collected from renderers and similar salvage facilities.

 


 

 

 2 Methodology

 

2.1 Changes to the Base Case

 

The base case was revised as follows:

 

• Antemortem inspection – FSIS decreased the assumed probability that animals with clinical signs of BSE would be detected at antemortem inspection (Section 2.1.1)

 

snip...

 

2.1.1 Antemortem Inspection

 

Table 1 summarizes changes made to assumptions related to antemortem inspection.

 

Assumption Old New

 

 value value

 

Probability of detecting BSE signs in animals that have 95% 50% reached the clinical stage of the disease – Ambulatory

 

Probability of detecting BSE signs in animals that have 85% 25% reached the clinical stage of the disease – Non-ambulatory

 

- 3

 

FSIS has also included the following sensitivity analyses:

 

• Sensitivity 5 – Antemortem inspection – We make the antemortem inspector less effective at identifying cattle with clinical BSE signs. The antemortem inspector detects none of animals, regardless of ambulatory status.

 

- 6

 


 

 

 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE

 

WASHINGTON, DC FSIS DIRECTIVE 10,400.1 4/11/13

 

SAMPLE COLLECTION FROM CATTLE UNDER THE BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE) ONGOING SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM

 

I. PURPOSE

 

This directive provides FSIS inspection program personnel (IPP) with instructions regarding the collection of brain samples for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) ongoing surveillance program. Most of the instructions in this directive were last issued in FSIS Notice 13-12. This directive includes new instructions for the Office of Program Evaluation, Enforcement and Review (OPEER) Regional Director, (RD) when he or she has been notified by the Office of Field Operations OFO) District Office (DO) of a Central Nervous System (CNS) condemned animal.

 

KEY POINTS:

 

• Sets out definition of collection procedures.

 

• Describes FSIS responsibilities related to approved alternative off-site sample collection.

 

• Provides FSIS sample collection for cattle displaying CNS symptoms.

 


 

 

 Friday, February 24, 2012

 

SAMPLE COLLECTION FROM CATTLE UNDER THE BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY (BSE) ONGOING SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM 2/14/12

 


 

 

 

Owens, Julie

 

From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr. [flounder9@verizon.net]

 

Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 1:09 PM

 

To: FSIS RegulationsComments

 

Subject: [Docket No. FSIS-2006-0011] FSIS Harvard Risk Assessment of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

 

Page 1 of 98

 

A policy

 

statement36 regarding BSE sampling of condemned cattle at slaughter plants provided that effective June 1, 2004, FSIS would collect BSE samples for testing: 1) from all cattle regardless of age condemned by FSIS upon ante mortem inspection for CNS impairment, and 2) from all cattle, with the exception of veal calves, condemned by FSIS upon ante mortem inspection for any other reason.

 

snip...

 

FSIS Notice 28-04, dated May 20, 2004, informed FSIS personnel that, “FSIS will be collecting brain samples from cattle at federally-inspected establishments for the purpose of BSE testing.” The notice further states that, “Cattle off-loaded from the transport vehicle onto the premises of the federally-inspected establishment (emphasis added), whether dead or alive, will be sampled by the FSIS Public Health Veterinarian (PHV) for BSE after the cattle have been condemned during ante mortem inspection. In addition, cattle passing ante mortem inspection but later found dead prior to slaughter will be condemned and be sampled by the FSIS PHV.” 34 FSIS regulations do not specifically address the designation of an establishment’s “official” boundaries; however, FSIS Notices 29-04 (dated May 27, 2004) and 40-04 (dated July 29, 2004) make it clear that FSIS inspection staff are not responsible for sampling dead cattle that are not part of the “official” premises. 35 APHIS’ area office personnel stated that it was their understanding that some establishments in the State were not presenting cattle that died or were down on the transport vehicle to FSIS for ante mortem inspection. The dead and down cattle were left in the vehicle, if possible. In rare circumstances, dead cattle may be removed from the trailer by plant personnel to facilitate the unloading of other animals. 36 A May 20, 2004, Memorandum between the Administrators of APHIS and FSIS.

 

USDA/OIG-A/50601-10-KC Page 24

 

APHIS has the responsibility for sampling dead cattle off-loaded onto plant-owned property that is adjoining to, but not considered part of, the “official premises.37 FSIS procedures38 provide that “Dead cattle that are off-loaded to facilitate the off-loading of live animals, but that will be re-loaded onto the transport vehicle, are not subject to sampling by FSIS.

 

snip...see full text ;

 


 

 

 FSIS, USDA, HARVARD REPLY TO SINGELTARY

 


 

 

From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr.

 

Sent: Saturday, February 08, 2014 8:53 PM

 


 

Subject: California Firm Recalls Unwholesome Meat Products Produced Without the Benefit of Full Inspection ?

 

Greetings,

 

question please,

 

>>> California Firm Recalls Unwholesome Meat Products Produced Without the Benefit of Full Inspection ?

 

‘’Without the Benefit of Full Inspection’’ ?

 

exactly what does this mean ?

 

I see this term in many recalls.

 

question please, could this include _any_ breaches that include _any_ potential risk factors for the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy TSE Prion disease when stipulated as ‘’Without the Benefit of Full Inspection’’ ?

 

kind regards, terry

 

California Firm Recalls Unwholesome Meat Products Produced Without the Benefit of Full Inspection

 

Rancho Feeding Corporation, a Petaluma, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 8,742,700 pounds, because it processed diseased and unsound animals and carried out these activities without the benefit or full benefit of federal inspection.

 

snip...see full text ;

 

 

Sunday, February 9, 2014
 
California Firm Recalls Unwholesome Meat Products Produced Without the Benefit of Full Inspection, what about the BSE TSE prion disease ?
 
 
 
kind regards,
terry
 

 
 
layperson...
 
Terry S. Singeltary Sr. P.O. Box 42 Bacliff, Texas USA 77518 flounder9@verizon.net
 
 

 

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