From Bob Jasper
I understand that cattle eating the rendered remains of other infected
cattle contract BSE. Since the test you describe works by detecting the BSE
prion in urine
(21 July, p 10),
cattle must be depositing the prion on pasture
grass. Subsequently, other cattle will eat this grass and presumably contract
BSE. Is this not another vector for the transmission of this disease?
I presume that the researchers who developed the test have made this
connection and can reassure us that, for whatever reason, this does not happen.
Let’s hope so. However, if the prion is present on pasture grass, and retains
its ability to survive normal sterilisation methods, one must assume that there
is a major problem lurking in the fields of this country, and that BSE has the
potential to remain with us for a very long time.
Stourbridge, West Midlands
