Sampling of the ovine brainstem for TSE-Testing

Abstract :

Since 1 April 2002, the European Union has extended the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy testing in ruminants by including sheep and goats in the survey studies. Like for the bovine species, the diagnostic protocol is performed on a tissue sample of the brain stem collected at the level of the obex. Morphological differences of the brain stem of sheep and goats, in comparison with the bovine species, have required some adjustments to the sampling method and equipment. In this study, the technical aspects of sampling and a number of morphologic parameters of the ovine brain stem are described. The essential differences, compared to the bovine species, concern the dimensions and the more pronounced caudal narrowing of the brain stem.

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Contact person : annick.gabriel@ulg.ac.be