More infections with Creutzfeld-Jakob pathogen

Creutzfeld-Jakob pathogen in the UK apparently more widespread

15/10/2013

The causative agent of the fatal Creutzfeld-Jakob disease is apparently more widespread than previously thought. This is the conclusion reached by British scientists. According to the study, one out of 2,000 citizens in the UK has been infected by the virus - but most of them have not developed any disease yet.

One of 2000 British affected
Apparently in the UK far more people are affected by the dangerous new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) than previously thought. This finding came now British researchers, after they had examined more than 32,000 tissue samples as a result of an appendectomy and extrapolated the results to the population of Great Britain. It showed that in the UK „one of 2000 citizens carries the pathogen“ - even if few have developed the disease so far, the researchers said in a recent article in the "British Medical Journal".

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease can also occur years after infection
The new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease is a fatal disease which, according to current research, most likely results from the consumption of BSE-contaminated beef. BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) or so-called "mad cow disease" is thereby caused by atypical proteins (prions), which lead to a destruction of the brain. But this deadly brain disease affects not only cattle, instead, the pathogens in humans also ensure that the brain dissolves like sponges and BSE-like symptoms occur. The treacherous thing about it: even decades after the infection, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease can still occur. So far, 177 fatal illnesses have been recorded in the UK - but as the current study shows, millions of other citizens in the UK could possibly carry the virus.

32.441 tissue samples were examined after appendix withdrawals
As part of their study, Prof. Sebastian Brandner and his team from the „National Hospital For Neurology and Neurosurgery Queen Square London“ a total of 32,441 tissue samples were examined after appendectomy withdrawals from 41 different clinics. The result: In 16 samples, the scientists found the pathogens of the new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which means almost 2,000 affected persons. These were significantly more than suspected, because before the study had been considered that „just“ About every 4,000 Britons were affected by the pathogen. According to the expert Dr. Roland Salmon show the new study, „Although we know a great deal about these fascinating but terrible diseases, there are still many important questions to be answered - in terms of the characteristics of the disease, but also to what extent other animal prion diseases could be transmitted to humans“, the article in the "British Medical Journal". Here sees Dr. Roland Salmon, however, good chances for a success, because „Thanks to existing capacities, British prion research is well placed to answer such questions.“ (No)