USDA announced the identification of the fourth case of BSE in the USA. The cow was found dead on a dairy farm in central California and tested for BSE before the carcass would be released for rendering. Initial test results were inconclusive, but retesting by USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, using immunohistochemistry and western blots confirmed atypical BSE.
The carcass was never presented for slaughter for human consumption and will be destroyed.
To learn more about atypical scrapie and atypical BSE see the TAFS forum position paper on this topic.
The TAFS forum is seeking new members. If you are interested, please contact us and describe what you might be able to contribute to the TAFS forum. We look forward to hearing from you.
