Experimental transmission of BSE and scrapie to the common marmoset
Baker, H.F.; Ridley, R.M.; Wells, G.A.
Veterinary Record 132(16): 403-406
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 8488658 Document Number: 406835
Two young male common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) were injected intracerebrally and intraperitoneally with a crude brain homogenate prepared from a cow with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Two other marmosets were similarly injected with brain homogenate from a sheep with natural scrapie. The two animals injected with scrapie material developed neurological signs 38 and 42 months after injection and the 2 animals injected with BSE material developed neurological signs after 46 and 47 months. PM examination of the brains revealed spongiform encephalopathy especially in the basal nuclei and diencephalon of all the animals and, in addition, involvement of the cerebral cortex of the marmosets injected with scrapie material. The experiment extends the host range of experimental BSE to include a primate species. Transmission after intracerebral and intraperitoneal injection of BSE material to two young common marmosets resulted in neurological damage and spongiform encephalopathy. The results extend the host range of experimental BSE to include a primate species. D.W. FitzSimons.