Thursday, February 13, 2014

HSUS VS USDA ET AL BAN DOWNER CALVES FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION (*veal) and potential BSE risk factor there from

HSUS VS USDA ET AL BAN DOWNER CALVES FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION (*veal)

 
BEFORE THE UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE

THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES

Petitioner.

v.

HONORABLE TOM VILSACK, SECRETARY,

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

JEROLD R. MANDE DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY FOR FOOD SAFETY

Respondent.

Gina Tomaselli Peter A. Brandt The Humane Society of the United States 2100 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20037 Telephone: (202) 452-1100 Facsimile: (202) 778-6132

I. INTRODUCTION

This petition is submitted on behalf of The Humane Society of the United States ("The HSUS") to request closure of a regulatory loophole that facilitates the cruel mistreatment of calves too weak, sick or injured to stand and walk.1 Specifically, Petitioner requests that the United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA), repeal a provision in section 309.13(b) of the Code of Federal Regulations that allows veal calves who are unable to rise from a recumbent position because they are thought to be "tired or cold" to be "set apart and held" for treatment and potential slaughter for human consumption.

Although USDA has repeatedly made clear the need for an absolute, unqualified prohibition against the slaughter of non-ambulatory “downer” cattle,2 the current regulations undermine that humane policy with a regulatory exemption that allows establishments to “set aside” and later slaughter veal calves who are deemed too tired or cold to rise or walk.3 This provision directly contravenes both USDA’s publicly stated goal of

1 Requirements for the Disposition of Cattle that Become Non-Ambulatory Disabled Following Ante-Mortem Inspection, 74 Fed. Reg. 11,463 (March 18, 2009) (to becodified at 9 C.F.R. pt. 309) (“The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act of 1978 (HMSA) (Section 1901, 1902, and 1906) requires that livestock, including non-ambulatory disabled cattle, be humanely handled in connection with slaughter. Because the HMSA and regulations require that non-ambulatory disabled cattle be humanely handled, FSIS has determined that it is not necessary to amend this regulation because humane handling requires that such cattle be promptly euthanized.”)(emphasis added) (hereinafter 2009 Final Rule). 2 See Press release, United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture SecretaryEd Schafer Announces Plan to End Exceptions to Animal Handling Rule (May 20,2008), available at http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2008/05/0131.xml (last visited Oct. 21, 2009) (hereinafter Schafer Press Release);see generally, 2009 Final Rule, 74 Fed. Reg. at 11,463. 3 9 C.F.R. § 309.13(b).

 1

eliminating all exceptions to the downer cattle rule,4 and the overarching purposes of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA),5 which USDA has specifically interpreted to require “prompt[] euthan[asia]” of all non-ambulatory cattle.6

As explained below, USDA has ample legal authority under the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA)7 to include veal calves within the prohibition against the slaughter for human consumption of non-ambulatory cattle and to require that they be promptly euthanized.

As graphically demonstrated by a recent investigation into practices at the Bushway Packing plant in Grand Isle, Vermont, veal calves too sick, weak or injured to stand at slaughterhouses endure horrific abuse. Non-ambulatory calves were regularly and repeatedly kicked and shocked in their necks, faces, and torsos in an effort to force them to move off arriving trucks, to holding pens, or to the slaughter line. Moreover, this egregious cruelty took place in front a Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) inspector, who routinely failed to take any remedial action or halt the abuse. Both the conduct of the slaughterhouse employees and the inaction on the part of the inspector were facilitated by USDA regulations, which, as explained below, are confusing and burdensome. Moreover, these regulations inadvertently incentivize slaughterhouses to move downed calves by inhumane methods

and allow these calves, who likely suffer from illness, injury, or debilitating

and irreversible weakness, to be kept alive and in agony indefinitely.8

The HMSA clearly states that “handling in connection with

slaughtering” does not “comply with the public policy of the United States

unless it is humane.”9 Because USDA has interpreted that Act as mandating

prompt euthanasia for mature cattle too sick or injured to stand, and because

the same humane-spirited reasons and the same legal standard apply to

calves, Petitioner respectfully requests that the agency grant this petition

and require that prone immobilized calves, as well as mature cattle, be

humanely and immediately euthanized.

4 See generally, Schafer Press Release, supra note 2.

5 7 U.S.C. §1901 et seq. (2006).

6 2009 Final Rule, 74 Fed. Reg. 11,463, 11,464-65 (emphasis added).

7 21 U.S.C. 601 et. seq. (2006).

2

II. INTERESTS OF THE PETITIONERS

Petitioner The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is a nonprofit

organization that promotes the protection of all animals. The HSUS

maintains its headquarters in Washington, DC and is the largest animal

protection organization in the United States, with more than eleven million

members and constituents. The HSUS actively advocates against practices

8 The regulation that allows non-ambulatory calves to be “set apart” and “held” provides no time frame for how long the calves may be kept alive nor does it have any requirement that after a certain amount of time they must be killed if they cannotrise or walk. See 9 C.F.R. § 309.13(b). This is especially problematic asnoncompliance reports reveal that such calves are regularly denied water, contrary to USDA regulation 9 C.F.R. § 313.2(e), thus subjecting them to further unnecessarysuffering. See, e.g., United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Noncompliance Record No. 25-2002-2775 (Nov. 21, 2002) (noting failure to provide water and that “some feeble attempts have been made at providing water to the outside pen. None of them assure there is water accessible at all times.”) (see Attach. 1); NR No. 0011-2005-5699 (June 30, 2005) (observing that calves who had no access to water in 90 degree weather were “foaming at the mouth and gaspingfor breath”) (see Attach. 2); NR No. 0005-2003-2775 (Feb. 19, 2003) (see Attach. 3);NR No. 0012-2006-6525 (March 9, 2006) (calves, cattle and 150 goats either had empty water containers or frozen solid water) (see Attach. 4); NR No. 3-2004-3564 (Feb. 23, 2004) (see Attach. 5). 9 7 U.S.C. § 1902 (see Attach. 6).

3

that injure or abuse farm animals and promotes more humane slaughter of animals killed for human consumption. Furthermore, The HSUS offers information regarding the inhumane treatment of animals on a wide spectrum of topics, including the effects of the stress and inhumane treatment that occur in slaughterhouses.

III. ACTION REQUESTED

Pursuant to the Right to Petition Government Clause contained in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution,10 the Administrative Procedure Act,11 and USDA’s implementing regulations,12 Petitioner submits this petition for rulemaking under the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act requesting that the Secretary take action to comply with the express intent of Congress to protect the welfare of all livestock held at slaughterhouses. The requested relief is also appropriate under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, which requires the Secretary to maintain the safety of our nation’s meat supply.13 Specifically, Petitioner requests that USDA:

1. Remove the exemption allowing non-ambulatory veal calves to be set aside and eventually slaughtered for human consumption; and

2. Require that all non-ambulatory veal calves be immediately and humanely euthanized.

10 U.S. Const. amend. I. 11 5 U.S.C. § 553(e). 12 7 C.F.R. §1.28. 13 21 U.S.C. § 601 et. seq.

4

snip...

Although USDA has determined that cattle younger than 30 months do not present a serious risk of BSE,137 calves in fact pose a greater threat of diseases like E. coli and Salmonella. Studies have shown that fecal samples from calves are more likely to test positive for Shiga-like-toxin-producing E. coli such as E. coli O157:H7 than adult cows.138 In one study, 8% of adult cows and 19% of heifers and calves tested positive.139 Other research revealed that the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in calves can be up to 20.0% prior to weaning, and often increases after weaning.140 Shedding of E. coli O157:H7 in fecal material also lasts longer in calves than in adults.141 When E. coli

endotoxin was experimentally administered to calves, they became recumbent within 15-25 minutes,142 highlighting the correlation between disease and a calf’s non-ambulatory status.

Separation and Direct Plating Methods, 74 Applied and Envtl. Microbiology 6,289,

(2008) (see Attach. 33).

133 KD Childs et al., Molecular Characterization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Hide

Contamination Routes: Feedlot to Harvest, 69 J. of Food Prot. 1,240 (2006) (see

Attach. 34).

134 McDonough, supra note 87.

135 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Questions & Answers: Sickness

Caused by E. coli (Dec. 10, 2006), available at

http://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/qa_ecoli_sickness.htm (last visited Oct. 22, 2009).

136 S Razzaq, Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: An Emerging Health Risk, 74 Am. Fam.

Phys. 991, 991 (Sept. 15, 2006), available at

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20060915/991.pdf (last visited Oct. 20, 2009).

137 2004 Interim Final Rule, 69 Fed. Reg. 1862.

138 See, e.g., JG Wells et al, Isolation of Escherichia Coli Serotype O157:H7 and Other

Shiga-like-toxin-producing E. Coli from Dairy Cattle, 29 J. of Clinical Microbiology

985 (1991) (see Attach. 35).

139 Id.

140 EFSA Scientific Report, supra note 100, at 65.

141 WC Cray, Jr. & HW Moon, Experimental Infection of Calves and Adult Cattle with

Escherichia Coli O157:H7, 61 Applied Envt’l Microbiology 1586 (1995) (see Attach.

36).

 29

snip...

VII. CONCLUSION

Petitioner urges USDA to initiate rulemaking to remove this exemption and require that all cattle—including veal calves—who are or become non-ambulatory be euthanized promptly and humanely. The HMSA’s humane handling goals, the FMIA’s food safety goals, and USDA’s own policies and conclusions regarding non-ambulatory cattle demand the removal of the exemption. Allowing calves who are too sick or injured to stand or walk to be kept alive indefinitely and forced or dragged through the slaughter line is extremely inhumane, wastes public resources, reduces confidence in USDA’s inspection system, and is ultimately detrimental to the veal industry itself.

The primary justification for USDA’s decision to remove the re-inspection provision following the Hallmark scandal was to “ensure effective implementation of …humane handling requirements.”257 It would thus be arbitrary and capricious for USDA, after having determined that the case-bycase reinspection provision for mature cattle was ineffective, diverted agency resources, and encouraged inhumane treatment, to fail to remove the veal calf set aside provision, which similarly is inefficient, incentivizes abuse, and, if complied with, wastes an inordinate amount of time and resources.

257 2008 Proposed Rule, 73 Fed. Reg. at 50,891; see also 2009 Final Rule, 74 Fed. Reg. at 11,464 (asserting that “a change in the regulation [was] needed to ensure more effective and efficient implementation of inspection procedure and compliance withhumane handling requirements.”).

66

__________________

____________________

 
Respectfully submitted,

/s/

Gina Tomaselli Litigation FellowThe Humane Society of the United States 2100 L St. N.W. Washington, DC 20037

/s/

Peter A. Brandt Senior Attorney, Farm Animals The Humane Society of the United States 2100 L St. N.W. Washington, DC 20037



USDA et al are wrong about BSE TSE PRION aka mad cow disease. ignoring the other strains of the BSE TSE prion, the other strains of TSE prion in other species, ignoring the transmission studies, it all changed after December 2003. it was like turning the light on and off. it’s all about trade$$$ mad cow is out of the barn. body count still not high enough. incubation time still fooling. mutation of strains, and different virulence there from will catch up. science is show this now.
 

the BSE TSE junk science the USDA et al should be a warning to Countries all around the world. but, as long as the OIE is in bed with the USDA et al, the Countries around the world will have to eat what you get, and hope for the best there from. my opinion. with that said, regardless, it is a good thing that these Government officials have come forward and ask to ban downer veal calves. I must say, when they banned downer cows, I thought that included downer calves too. I should have known better. stupid me. ...tss


Tuesday, February 11, 2014

*** California Firm Recalls Various Meat Products Produced Without the Benefit of Full Inspection Class I Recall 002-2014 and 013-2014 Health Risk: High Jan 13, 2014 and Feb 8, 2014


 
 
>>> Although USDA has determined that cattle younger than 30 months do not present a serious risk of BSE,137

 

Monday, May 12, 2008

 

BSE YOUNGEST AGE STATISTICS UNDER 30 MONTHS

 

We can confirm that of the 100 cases, 49 were under 30 months of age, of these the youngest case was 20 months old.

 


 

BSE Youngest Japan 21 months, 23 months

 


 

The implications of the Swiss result for Britain, which has had the most BSE, are complex. Only cattle aged 30 months or younger are eaten in Britain, on the assumption, based on feeding trials, that cattle of that age, even if they were infected as calves, have not yet accumulated enough prions to be infectious. But the youngest cow to develop BSE on record in Britain was 20 months old, showing some are fast incubators. Models predict that 200-300 cattle under 30 months per year are infected with BSE and enter the food chain currently in Britain. Of these 3-5 could be fast incubators and carrying detectable quantities of prion.

 


 

 

YOUNGEST AND OLDEST CASES BY YEAR OF ONSET (FOR PASSIVE SURVEILLANCE CASES)

AND BY YEAR OF SLAUGHTER (FOR ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE CASES) - GREAT BRITAIN ONLY.

 

NB The last case in an animal aged 30 months or less was in 1996

 

Year of onset Age (mths) youngest case (n) Age (mths) 2nd youngest case (n) Age (yrs.mths) 2nd oldest case (n) Age (yrs.mths) oldest case (n)

 

 

1986 30 33 5.03 5.07

 

1987 30 31 9.09 10

 

1988 24 27 10.02 11.01(2)

 

1989 21 24(4) 12(2) 15.04

 

1990 24(2) 26 13.03 14

 

1991 24 26(3) 14.02 17.05

 

1992 20 26 15.02 16.02

 

1993 29 30(3) 14.1 18.1

 

1994 30(2) 31(2) 14.05 16.07

 

1995 24 32 14.09 15.04

 

1996 29 30 15.07 17.02

 

1997 37(7) 38(3) 14.09 15.01

 

1998 34 36 14.07 15.05

 

1999 39(2) 41 13.07 13.1

 

2000 40 42 17.08 19.09

 

2001 45 48 16.01 20.08

 

2002 47 48(2) 18.04 22.07

 

2003 46 49 18.07(2) 20.06

 

2004 49 52 17.04 22.07

 

2005 36 38 18.01 19.04

 

2006 48 58 17.05 19.09

 

2007 62 66(2) 17.03 19

 

2008 65 69 19.04 20.07

 

2009 72 86 16.08 18.03

 

2010 64 72 16.05 17

 

2011 135 143 12.07 17.11

 

2012 75 N/A N/A 20.9

 

2013 77 138 11.06 12.10

 

Data valid to 31 January 2014

 

Figures in brackets indicate the number of cases of that age (if more than one).

6 of

 

 

see full text ;

 


 



I applaud the great efforts of the HSUS on their undercover work on this and other cases, but in my opinion, USDA ET AL are wrong on the science of BSE and risk factor there from from young animals, especially with veal (*** see BSE Inquiry CJD report on veal and BSE), and the department of justice missed the boat on the NSLP deadstock downer cow program, where for 4 years, the NSLP fed deadstock downer cows to our children all across the Nation, the most high risk cattle for mad cow disease and other deadly pathogens, then hid this fact under a recall for animal abuse...these are the sad facts as I have come to know them...who will watch our children for the next 50 years $$$

 

============================================================================================================

 

*** Individuals reported to eat veal on average at least once a year appear to be at 13 TIMES THE RISK of individuals who have never eaten veal.

*** There is, however, a very wide confidence interval around this estimate. There is no strong evidence that eating veal less than once per year is associated with increased risk of CJD (p = 0.51).

*** The association between venison eating and risk of CJD shows similar pattern, with regular venison eating associated with a 9 FOLD INCREASE IN RISK OF CJD (p = 0.04).

*** There is some evidence that risk of CJD INCREASES WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY OF LAMB EATING (p = 0.02).

 

*** In conclusion, an analysis of dietary histories revealed statistical associations between various meats/animal products and INCREASED RISK OF CJD. When some account was taken of possible confounding, the association between VEAL EATING AND RISK OF CJD EMERGED AS THE STRONGEST OF THESE ASSOCIATIONS STATISTICALLY. ...


=============================================================================================================

 

CREUTZFELDT JAKOB DISEASE SURVEILLANCE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM THIRD ANNUAL REPORT AUGUST 1994

Consumption of venison and veal was much less widespread among both cases and controls. For both of these meats there was evidence of a trend with increasing frequency of consumption being associated with increasing risk of CJD. (not nvCJD, but sporadic CJD...tss) These associations were largely unchanged when attention was restricted to pairs with data obtained from relatives. ...

Table 9 presents the results of an analysis of these data.

*** There is STRONG evidence of an association between ‘’regular’’ veal eating and risk of CJD (p = .0.01).

*** Individuals reported to eat veal on average at least once a year appear to be at 13 TIMES THE RISK of individuals who have never eaten veal.

There is, however, a very wide confidence interval around this estimate. There is no strong evidence that eating veal less than once per year is associated with increased risk of CJD (p = 0.51).

The association between venison eating and risk of CJD shows similar pattern, with regular venison eating associated with a 9 FOLD INCREASE IN RISK OF CJD (p = 0.04).

There is some evidence that risk of CJD INCREASES WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY OF LAMB EATING (p = 0.02).

The evidence for such an association between beef eating and CJD is weaker (p = 0.14). When only controls for whom a relative was interviewed are included, this evidence becomes a little STRONGER (p = 0.08).

snip...

It was found that when veal was included in the model with another exposure, the association between veal and CJD remained statistically significant (p = < 0.05 for all exposures), while the other exposures ceased to be statistically significant (p = > 0.05).

snip...

In conclusion, an analysis of dietary histories revealed statistical associations between various meats/animal products and INCREASED RISK OF CJD. When some account was taken of possible confounding, the association between VEAL EATING AND RISK OF CJD EMERGED AS THE STRONGEST OF THESE ASSOCIATIONS STATISTICALLY. ...

snip...

In the study in the USA, a range of foodstuffs were associated with an increased risk of CJD, including liver consumption which was associated with an apparent SIX-FOLD INCREASE IN THE RISK OF CJD. By comparing the data from 3 studies in relation to this particular dietary factor, the risk of liver consumption became non-significant with an odds ratio of 1.2 (PERSONAL COMMUNICATION, PROFESSOR A. HOFMAN. ERASMUS UNIVERSITY, ROTTERDAM). (???...TSS)

snip...see full report ;

 

 

Thursday, October 10, 2013

*** CJD REPORT 1994 increased risk for consumption of veal and venison and lamb

http://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/2013/10/cjd-report-1994-increased-risk-for.html


Thursday, November 28, 2013


Department of Justice Former Suppliers of Beef to National School Lunch Program Settle Allegations of Improper Practices and Mistreating Cows



 

seems USDA NSLP et al thought that it would be alright, to feed our children all across the USA, via the NSLP, DEAD STOCK DOWNER COWS, the most high risk cattle for mad cow type disease, and other dangerous pathogens, and they did this for 4 years, that was documented, then hid what they did by having a recall, one of the largest recalls ever, and they made this recall and masked the reason for the recall due to animal abuse (I do not condone animal abuse), not for the reason of the potential for these animals to have mad cow BSE type disease (or other dangerous and deadly pathogens). these TSE prion disease can lay dormant for 5, 10, 20 years, or longer, WHO WILL WATCH OUR CHILDREN FOR THE NEXT 5 DECADES FOR CJD ???

 

Saturday, September 21, 2013

 

Westland/Hallmark: 2008 Beef Recall A Case Study by The Food Industry Center January 2010 THE FLIM-FLAM REPORT

 


 

DID YOUR CHILD CONSUME SOME OF THESE DEAD STOCK DOWNER COWS, THE MOST HIGH RISK FOR MAD COW DISEASE ???

 

this recall was not for the welfare of the animals. ...tss

 

you can check and see here ;

 

(link now dead, does not work...tss)

 


 

try this link ;

 


 

Sunday, November 13, 2011
 

California BSE mad cow beef recall, QFC, CJD, and dead stock downer livestock

 

 

and I applaud HSUS work to save the chimps...

 

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Chimpanzees Released After 30 Years Of Testing, Brace Yourself For Smiles

http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2013/04/chimpanzees-released-after-30-years-of.html

 

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

 

*** USDA/APHIS NOTICE: Final Rule Regarding Imports and BSE Effective March 4, 2014

 

LOL $$$

 


 

 

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

 


 

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

 


 

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

 

*** California Firm Recalls Various Meat Products Produced Without the Benefit of Full Inspection Class I Recall 002-2014 and 013-2014 Health Risk: High Jan 13, 2014 and Feb 8, 2014

 


 

Sunday, February 2, 2014

 

*** The Presence of Disease-Associated Prion Protein in Skeletal Muscle of Cattle Infected with Classical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

 

NOTE Pathology

 


 

Monday, February 10, 2014

 

Enhanced Virulence of Sheep-Passaged Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Agent Is Revealed by Decreased Polymorphism Barriers in Prion Protein Conversion Studies

 


 

Monday, February 3, 2014

 

Evaluation of the zoonotic potential of transmissible mink encephalopathy TSE Prion disease

 

Research Project: TRANSMISSION, DIFFERENTIATION, AND PATHOBIOLOGY OF TRANSMISSIBLE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHIES

 


 

Sunday, February 2, 2014

 

The Presence of Disease-Associated Prion Protein in Skeletal Muscle of Cattle Infected with Classical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

 

NOTE Pathology

 


 

Saturday, December 21, 2013

 

**** Complementary studies detecting classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy infectivity in jejunum, ileum and ileocaecal junction in incubating cattle ****

 


 

 

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, August 14, 2010

 

***BSE Case Associated with Prion Protein Gene Mutation (g-h-BSEalabama) and VPSPr PRIONPATHY

 

*** (see mad cow feed in COMMERCE IN ALABAMA...TSS)

 


 

However, a BSE expert said that consumption of infected material is the only known way that cattle get the disease under natural conditons.

 

***“In view of what we know about BSE after almost 20 years experience, contaminated feed has been the source of the epidemic,” said Paul Brown, a scientist retired from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke.

 

BSE is not caused by a microbe. It is caused by the misfolding of the so-called “prion protein” that is a normal constituent of brain and other tissues. If a diseased version of the protein enters the brain somehow, it can slowly cause all the normal versions to become misfolded. It is possible the disease could arise spontaneously, though such an event has never been recorded, Brown said.

 


 

*** What irks many scientists is the USDA’s April 25 statement that the rare disease is “not generally associated with an animal consuming infected feed.”

 

The USDA’s conclusion is a “gross oversimplification,” said Dr. Paul Brown, one of the world’s experts on this type of disease who retired recently from the National Institutes of Health. "(The agency) has no foundation on which to base that statement.”

 


 

However, a BSE expert said that consumption of infected material is the only known way that cattle get the disease under natural conditons.

 

“In view of what we know about BSE after almost 20 years experience, contaminated feed has been the source of the epidemic,” said Paul Brown, a scientist retired from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke.

 

BSE is not caused by a microbe. It is caused by the misfolding of the so-called “prion protein” that is a normal constituent of brain and other tissues. If a diseased version of the protein enters the brain somehow, it can slowly cause all the normal versions to become misfolded. It is possible the disease could arise spontaneously, though such an event has never been recorded, Brown said.

 


 

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

 

*** Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; Importation of Bovines and Bovine Products; Final Rule Federal Register / Vol. 78 , No. 233 /

 

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

 


 

Saturday, November 2, 2013

 

*** APHIS Finalizes Bovine Import Regulations in Line with International Animal Health Standards while enhancing the spread of BSE TSE prion mad cow type disease around the Globe

 


 

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

 

Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations BSE TSE PRION 2013

 


 

Monday, September 02, 2013

 

Atypical BSE: role of the E211K prion polymorphism

 

Research Project: TRANSMISSION, DIFFERENTIATION, AND PATHOBIOLOGY OF TRANSMISSIBLE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHIES

 

Location: Virus and Prion Research Unit

 


 

Tuesday, March 05, 2013

 

A closer look at prion strains Characterization and important implications Prion

 

7:2, 99–108; March/April 2013; © 2013 Landes Bioscience

 


 

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

 

World Organization for Animal Health Recommends United States' BSE Risk Status Be Upgraded

 

Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack:

 


 

Thursday, February 14, 2013

 

The Many Faces of Mad Cow Disease Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy BSE and TSE prion disease

 


 

Thursday, February 14, 2013

 

Unique Properties of the Classical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Strain and Its Emergence From H-Type Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Substantiated by VM Transmission Studies

 


 

Monday, February 11, 2013

 

APHIS USDA Letter to Stakeholders: Trade Accomplishments and failures (BSE, SCRAPIE, TSE, PRION, AKA MAD COW TYPE DISEASE)

 


 

Comments on technical aspects of the risk assessment were then submitted to FSIS.

 

Comments were received from Food and Water Watch, Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT), Farm Sanctuary, R-CALF USA, Linda A Detwiler, and Terry S. Singeltary.

 

This document provides itemized replies to the public comments received on the 2005 updated Harvard BSE risk assessment. Please bear the following points in mind:

 


 

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

 


 

FSIS, USDA, REPLY TO SINGELTARY

 


 

U.S.A. 50 STATE BSE MAD COW CONFERENCE CALL Jan. 9, 2001

 


 


 

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

 

INTERPRETING RESULTS OF FSIS VERIFICATION SAMPLING OF DOMESTIC BEEF PRODUCT DERIVED FROM ADVANCED MEAT RECOVERY SYSTEMS (AMR01/FAMR01) FSIS Notice 38-12

 


 

Thursday, May 30, 2013

 

World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has upgraded the United States' risk classification for mad cow disease to "negligible" from "controlled", and risk further exposing the globe to the TSE prion mad cow type disease

 

U.S. gets top mad-cow rating from international group and risk further exposing the globe to the TSE prion mad cow type disease

 


 


 

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

 

O.I.E. BSE, CWD, SCRAPIE, TSE PRION DISEASE Final Report of the 80th General Session, 20 - 25 May 2012

 


 

IN SHORT, AND IN A NUT SHELL ;

 

(Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 23 May 2006)

 

11. Information published by the OIE is derived from appropriate declarations made by the official Veterinary Services of Member Countries. The OIE is not responsible for inaccurate publication of country disease status based on inaccurate information or changes in epidemiological status or other significant events that were not promptly reported to the Central Bureau,

 


 

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

 


 

Sunday, January 19, 2014

 

*** National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center Cases Examined1 as of January 8, 2014 ***

 


 

*** Saturday, November 2, 2013 ***

 

Exploring the risks of a putative transmission of BSE to new species

 


 

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

 

Presence of subclinical infection in gene-targeted human prion protein transgenic mice exposed to atypical BSE

 


 

I ask Professor Kong ; Thursday, December 04, 2008 3:37 PM

 

Subject: RE: re--Chronic Wating Disease (CWD) and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathies (BSE): Public Health Risk Assessment ''IS the h-BSE more virulent than typical BSE as well, or the same as cBSE, or less virulent than cBSE? just curious.....'' Professor Kong reply ;

 

.....snip

 

''As to the H-BSE, we do not have sufficient data to say one way or another, but we have found that H-BSE can infect humans. I hope we could publish these data once the study is complete. Thanks for your interest.''

 

Best regards, Qingzhong Kong, PhD Associate Professor Department of Pathology Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH 44106 USA END...TSS

 

Thursday, December 04, 2008 2:37 PM

 

"we have found that H-BSE can infect humans."

 

personal communication with Professor Kong. ...TSS

 

BSE-H is also transmissible in our humanized Tg mice. The possibility of more than two atypical BSE strains will be discussed.

 

Supported by NINDS NS052319, NIA AG14359, and NIH AI 77774.

 


 


 

please see below from PRION2013 ;

 

*** This study imply the possibility that the novel BSE prions with high virulence in cattle will be emerged during intraspecies transmission.

 

AD.56: The emergence of novel BSE prions by serial passages of H-type BSE in bovinized mice

 

Kentaro Masujin, Naoko Tabeta, Ritsuko Miwa, Kohtaro Miyazawa, Hiroyuki Okada, Shirou Mohri and Takashi Yokoyama National Institute of Animal Health; Tsukuba, Japan

 

H-type bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is an atypical form of BSE, and has been detected in several European countries, and North America. Transmission studies of H-type BSE led to the emergence of the classical BSE (C-BSE) phenotypes during passages in inbred wild type and bovinized PrP-overexpressing transgenic mice. In this study, we conducted serial passages of Canadian H-type BSE isolate in bovinized PrP-overexpressing transgenic mice (TgBoPrP). H-type BSE isolate was transmitted to TgBoPrP with incubation periods of 320 ± 12.2 d at primary passage. The incubation period of 2nd and 3rd passage were constant (~= 220 d), no clear differences were observed in their biological and biochemical properties. However, at the forth passage, 2 different BSE phenotypes were confirmed; one is shorter survival times (109 ± 4 d) and the other is longer survival times. TgBoPrP mice with longer incubation period showed the H-type phenotype of PrPsc profile and pathology. However, those of shorter incubation period were different phenotypes from previously existed BSE prions (C-BSE, L-type BSE, and H-type BSE).

 

*** This study imply the possibility that the novel BSE prions with high virulence in cattle will be emerged during intraspecies transmission.

 


 


 

please see ;

 

Thursday, August 15, 2013

 

The emergence of novel BSE prions by serial passages of H-type BSE in bovinized mice

 


 

Sunday, September 1, 2013

 

*** Evaluation of the Zoonotic Potential of Transmissible Mink Encephalopathy

 

We previously described the biochemical similarities between PrPres derived from L-BSE infected macaque and cortical MM2 sporadic CJD: those observations suggest a link between these two uncommon prion phenotypes in a primate model (it is to note that such a link has not been observed in other models less relevant from the human situation as hamsters or transgenic mice overexpressing ovine PrP [28]). We speculate that a group of related animal prion strains (L-BSE, c-BSE and TME) would have a zoonotic potential and lead to prion diseases in humans with a type 2 PrPres molecular signature (and more specifically type 2B for vCJD)

 

snip...

 

Together with previous experiments performed in ovinized and bovinized transgenic mice and hamsters [8,9] indicating similarities between TME and L-BSE, the data support the hypothesis that L-BSE could be the origin of the TME outbreaks in North America and Europe during the mid-1900s.

 


 

Monday, October 10, 2011

 

EFSA Journal 2011 The European Response to BSE: A Success Story

 

snip...

 

EFSA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recently delivered a scientific opinion on any possible epidemiological or molecular association between TSEs in animals and humans (EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) and ECDC, 2011). This opinion confirmed Classical BSE prions as the only TSE agents demonstrated to be zoonotic so far ***but the possibility that a small proportion of human cases so far classified as "sporadic" CJD are of zoonotic origin could not be excluded. Moreover, transmission experiments to non-human primates suggest that some TSE agents in addition to Classical BSE prions in cattle (namely L-type Atypical BSE, Classical BSE in sheep, transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME) and chronic wasting disease (CWD) agents) might have zoonotic potential.

 

snip...

 


 


 

see follow-up here about North America BSE Mad Cow TSE prion risk factors, and the ever emerging strains of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy in many species here in the USA, including humans ;

 


 

Thursday, August 12, 2010

 

Seven main threats for the future linked to prions

 

First threat

 

The TSE road map defining the evolution of European policy for protection against prion diseases is based on a certain numbers of hypotheses some of which may turn out to be erroneous. In particular, a form of BSE (called atypical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy), recently identified by systematic testing in aged cattle without clinical signs, may be the origin of classical BSE and thus potentially constitute a reservoir, which may be impossible to eradicate if a sporadic origin is confirmed.

 

***Also, a link is suspected between atypical BSE and some apparently sporadic cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. These atypical BSE cases constitute an unforeseen first threat that could sharply modify the European approach to prion diseases.

 

Second threat

 

snip...

 


 

Thursday, January 23, 2014

 

Medical Devices Containing Materials Derived from Animal Sources (Except for In Vitro Diagnostic Devices) [Docket No. FDA–2013–D–1574]

 


 

Monday, February 03, 2014

CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE T.S.E. PRION U.K. UPDATE As at 3rd February 2014

http://vcjd.blogspot.com/2014/02/creutzfeldt-jakob-disease-tse-prion-uk.html

 

Saturday, February 01, 2014

vCJD With Extremely Low Lymphoreticular Deposition of Prion Protein MAY NOT HAVE BEEN DETECTABLE

http://vcjd.blogspot.com/2014/02/vcjd-with-extremely-low-lymphoreticular.html

 

Thursday, January 2, 2014

*** CWD TSE Prion in cervids to hTGmice, Heidenhain Variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease MM1 genotype, and iatrogenic CJD ???

http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2014/01/cwd-tse-prion-in-cervids-to-htgmice.html

 

Friday, January 10, 2014

*** vpspr, sgss, sffi, TSE, an iatrogenic by-product of gss, ffi, familial type prion disease, what it ???

 http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2014/01/vpspr-sgss-sffi-tse-iatrogenic-by.html

 

Monday, January 13, 2014

*** Prions in Variably Protease-Sensitive Prionopathy: An Update Pathogens 2013

Pathogens 2013, 2, 457-471; doi:10.3390/pathogens2030457

http://prionopathy.blogspot.com/2014/01/prions-in-variably-protease-sensitive.html

 

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

http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2014/01/infection-prevention-and-control-of-cjd.html

 

Monday, December 02, 2013

*** A parliamentary inquiry has been launched today into the safety of blood, tissue and organ screening following fears that vCJD – the human form of ‘mad cow’ disease – may be being spread by medical procedures

http://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-parliamentary-inquiry-has-been.html

 


=================================================================

 

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

*** Detection of Infectivity in Blood of Persons with Variant and ***Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease ***

 


 


 

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Tuesday, October 29, 2013

*** VARIANT CJD PRESENTS DIFFERENTLY IN OLDER PATIENTS

http://creutzfeldt-jakob-disease.blogspot.com/2013/10/variant-cjd-presents-differently-in.html

 

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

http://vcjd.blogspot.com/2014/02/commons-science-and-technology.html


Tuesday, February 11, 2014

 

*** Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center Information on potential CJD exposure

 


 

 

layperson

 

Terry S. Singeltary Sr.

 

just made a promise to mom, never forget, and never let them forget. mom DOD 12/14/97 confirmed hvCJD. ...TSS

 

 
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