What is BSE?
The acronym BSE stands for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, and is more commonly known as Mad-Cow Disease or MCD. BSE is a fatal neurodegenerative disease found in cattle, which causes the brain and spinal cord to degenerate and become ‘spongy.’ At a microscopic level, infected brain tissue appears to be pocketed with holes, which gives it the sponge-like appearance from which the name originates. Because BSE has a long incubation period (usually about four years) it can take a long time for the infection to become apparent. All breeds of cattle are equally susceptible to the disease.
- What is BSE?
- What causes BSE?
- How does the disease progress?
- What are the symptoms of BSE?
- Is there a test for BSE?
- When did the BSE outbreak occur?
- What was the epidemic caused by?
- How is the disease transmitted?
- Where did BSE originate?
- What has the Government done to reduce the risk of BSE?
- Can other animals suffer from BSE?
- Can humans suffer from BSE?