Rapid chromatographic immunoassay study of brain PrPsc distribution in classical scrapie

Abstract

In the current study, a rapid chromatographic immunoassay submitted for registration in Europe was used to analyze PrPsc in 13 different areas of brain from 10 confirmed classical scrapie cases. The levels of PrPsc in the different areas of brain were plotted to draw a brain PrPsc distribution curve. This curve was compared with the brain PrPsc distribution curve obtained from immunoblotting and immunohisto- chemistry tests on the same samples. The distribution of PrPsc in different areas of the brain was similar, irrespective of the test applied, indicating that any of the 3 tests could be used for the characterization of classical cases of scrapie.