Emerg Infect DisEIDEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-6059Centers for Disease Control and Prevention21192855320463610-089110.3201/eid1701.100891ResearchMolecular Typing of Protease-Resistant Prion Protein in Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies of Small Ruminants, France, 2002–2009VulinJohannBiacabeAnne-GaëlleCazeauGéraldineCalavasDidierBaronThierryAuthor affiliation: Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire, Lyon, FranceAddress for correspondence: Thierry Baron, Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire, Unité ATNC, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France; email: thierry.baron@anses.fr120111715563

The agent that causes bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) may be infecting small ruminants, which could have serious implications for human health. To distinguish BSE from scrapie and to examine the molecular characteristics of the protease-resistant prion protein (PrPres), we used a specifically designed Western blot method to test isolates from 648 sheep and 53 goats. During 2002–2009, classical non-Nor98 transmissible spongiform encephalopathy had been confirmed among ≈1.7 million small ruminants in France. Five sheep and 2 goats that showed a PrPres pattern consistent with BSE, or with the CH1641 experimental scrapie source, were identified. Later, bioassays confirmed infection by the BSE agent in 1 of the 2 goats. Western blot testing of the 6 other isolates showed an additional C-terminally cleaved PrPres product, with an unglycosylated band at ≈14 kDa, similar to that found in the CH1641 experimental scrapie isolate and different from the BSE isolate.

Keywords: PrionBSETSECH1641scrapiesheepgoatmolecular typingFranceresearch

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are a group of fatal neurodegenerative diseases that include scrapie in sheep and goats, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans (1,2). TSEs are characterized by accumulation in the brain of a disease-associated isoform (PrPd) of a host-encoded cellular prion protein (PrPc) (3). PrPd, in comparison with the normal prion protein PrPc, clearly differs in secondary and tertiary structures (4,5) and in biochemical characteristics (6). Proteinase K (PK) digestion destroys PrPc, but in PrPd it generates a protease-resistant fragment known as PrPres. Most TSE diagnostic methods (e.g., ELISA and Western blot tests) are based on detection of PrPres (7).

The transmissible agent involved in BSE in cattle is known to cause prion diseases in other species under natural conditions (8). BSE can also be experimentally transmitted to sheep and goats, including after oral challenge to test for transmission (9). Because BSE-contaminated meat and bone meal may have been fed to small ruminants, BSE may have been transmitted to sheep or goats. Also, the Scientific Steering Committee of the European Commission has hypothesized that the BSE agent might have originated from a scrapie agent in sheep or goats and that these animals may represent a reservoir (10). In view of these data, the European Commission defined a strategy to investigate the possible presence of BSE in sheep and goats under natural conditions (11).

The standard for strain typing TSE agents is based on analysis of the phenotypic characteristics of the disease after transmission in laboratory rodents. Biological characterization of the BSE agent in inbred wild-type mice appeared to be reliable, because it showed uniform features in mice (8). However, this approach is time-consuming and costly. The identification of uniform molecular features of PrPres by Western blot in human variant CJD paved the way to a similar approach for detecting possible BSE in small ruminants (12). The molecular criteria defined in these studies included electrophoretic mobilities, glycosylation characteristics, and immunolabeling with different monoclonal antibodies (13). The last criteria enabled mapping of the protease cleavage site of the PrP protein fragment obtained after PK digestion (14). More recently, the identification of additional C-terminal PrPres products may contribute to discrimination of the different types of CJD (15) or of different scrapie and BSE sources (16,17). Discriminant molecular features of the prion protein can also be investigated by immunohistochemical analysis (18) or ELISA (19). In all of these studies, it was assumed that the strain information was closely associated with the structural features of PrPd.

The Western blot method enabled discrimination of experimental BSE in sheep from most scrapie-affected animals (12,13,2024). Nevertheless, discrimination was more difficult with the CH1641 experimental scrapie isolate (21,25), which otherwise clearly differs from BSE by its absence of transmissibility to wild-type mice (26). Similar molecular features to those of CH1641 have been described in a few natural scrapie cases in France (27) and in the United Kingdom (24). We describe the molecular findings obtained for a large series of TSE infections in France identified in small ruminants by active surveillance during 2002–2009 and for CH1641-like isolates in sheep and in 1 goat.

Materials and MethodsAnimals and Tissues

Two samples of BSE in small ruminants were used as controls, 1 (SB1) from a sheep experimentally infected by BSE with a brain homogenate from a BSE-affected cow from France (21), and the other (CH41x76) from a goat that had been intracerebrally inoculated with a brain homogenate from cattle BSE from Britain (28).

Two experimental scrapie sources in sheep (provided by N. Hunter, Institute for Animal Health, Edinburgh, UK) were also studied. These were the SSBP/1 scrapie isolate, experimentally maintained by serial passages in sheep (29), and CH1641 that was derived from a Cheviot sheep and then maintained by serial passages in sheep (26).

Natural TSE isolates in small ruminants (Table) were mainly obtained through an active surveillance program in France. In operation since 2002, this program involves the random selection and testing of samples from rendering plants and slaughterhouses (30). Some samples originated from the passive surveillance program, which involves collecting samples from animals showing suspected clinical signs of the disease. Brain stems from all selected animals are subjected to a rapid test, and all reactive samples are then retested in the National Reference Laboratory by confirmatory methods based on Western blot (31). When a sample is confirmed as TSE positive, it is classified as similar, or not similar, to Nor98 (atypical scrapie), according to the PrPres molecular profile, which in atypical scrapie shows 5 major bands (31). Samples that are not similar to Nor98 (classical TSE), i.e, showing a 3-band pattern between 19–30 kDa, are then studied by using a Western blot discriminatory method to identify possible similarities with BSE (11).

Results of TSE diagnostic tests and molecular characterization for sheep and goats, France, 2002–2009*
Year
Species
No. animals tested by rapid tests
Confirmed TSE cases
Nor98-like isolates
Molecular characterization
Not analyzed
Not defined
Scrapie
BSE-like
2002
Ovine68,580153150161220
Caprine
27,087
14
1
0
3
9
1
2003
Ovine63,2071172807811
Caprine
23,161
10
2
0
2
6
0
2004
Ovine24,63958730480
Caprine
5,730
3
0
0
0
3
0
2005†
Ovine34,290749191441
Caprine
148,338
16
4
2
1
9
0
2006‡
Ovine492,023382182161903
Caprine
165,606
10
1
0
1
8
0
2007§
Ovine327,89426417314860
Caprine
183,498
7
4
0
2
1
0
2008¶
Ovine86,269714500260
Caprine
79.966
12
8
0
0
3
1
2009
Ovine55,163342201110
Caprine
52,248
6
3
0
0
3
0
TotalOvine1,152,0651,15348124356085
Caprine685,634782329422

*TSE, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy; BSE, bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
†January 2005, beginning of exhaustive testing of goats in abattoir and rendering plant.
‡First quarter 2006, beginning of exhaustive testing of sheep in abattoir and rendering plant.
§January 2007, end of exhaustive testing of sheep in abattoir.
¶February 2008, end of exhaustive testing of goats in abattoir and sheep in rendering plant.

Western Blot

All confirmed classical TSE (non–Nor98-like) cases were analyzed to determine whether the PrPres looked similar to that found in bovine BSE (i.e., showed a lower molecular mass than that found in bovine BSE) or, on the contrary, was similar as in most scrapie cases. PrPres extracts were obtained from animal brains by using Bio-Rad protocol (the TeSeE Western Blot kit, ref: 355 1169; Bio-Rad, Marnes-la-Coquette, France), which is used to confirm suspected TSE-positive samples and includes PK digestion and rapid protein precipitation steps. Denatured samples were then loaded on two 15% bis-polyacrylamide gels with the same gel plan. After electrophoresis (200 volts for 80 min), the proteins were transferred onto a nitrocellulose membrane (R-Biopharm, St. Didier au Mont d’Or, France). Blocking was performed for 1 h in 5% (wt/vol) milk powder in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing 0.1 % (vol/vol) Tween-20 (PBS-T) for the membrane to be treated with monoclonal antibody Bar233 (1/5000) (144-FGNDYEDRYYRE-155 ovine PrP sequence) (provided by J. Grassi, C.E.A., Saclay, France) or in 3% (wt/vol) bovine serum albumin solution (Sigma, St. Quentin-Fallavier, France) in PBS-T for the membrane to be treated with monoclonal antibody P4 (0.2 mg/mL) (93-WGQGGSH-99 ovine PrPsequence) (R-Biopharm).

Both antibodies were incubated on the membranes for 30 min at room temperature. The membranes were then washed for 20 min in PBS-T and incubated with a solution of streptavidine-peroxidase–conjugated antimouse immunoglobulin (Southern Biotech distributed by Clinisciences, Montrouge, France) in PBS-T for 20 min at room temperature. The membranes were then washed for 30 min in PBS-T and for 5 min in PBS before detection by use of enhanced chemiluminescent substrate (Amersham Biosciences, Orsay, France). The signals were identified on autoradiographic films (Amersham) after a 3-min exposure. Quantitative studies were performed by using Quantity One software (Bio-Rad), and the apparent molecular masses were determined by comparing the positions of the PrPres bands with a biotinylated marker (B2787) (Sigma). All samples were compared, during molecular characterization of field isolates, by expressing the molecular mass of the unglycosylated band in terms of differential molecular mass (dmm). The dmm corresponds to the difference measured between the test sample and the control cattle BSE sample always loaded beside it.

The possible presence of additional C-terminal PrPres products (PrPres #2) (17) was detected and quantified by deglycosylation by using peptide N-glycosidase F (PNGase) (kit P07043; BioLabs distributed by Ozyme, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France) as described (17). The deglycosylated PrPres was detected with SAF84 (0.6 mg/mL) (167-RPVDQY-172 ovine PrP sequence) (SPI-Bio, Montigny le Bretonneux, France) mouse monoclonal antibody. The respective proportions of ≈14- and ≈19-kDa bands, observed after PNGase deglycosylation, were quantified by using Quantity One software (Bio-Rad).

ResultsActive Surveillance Findings during 2002–2009

Since active surveillance of TSEs in small ruminants began in France in 2002, a total of 1,231 small ruminant (1,153 sheep and 78 goats) samples have been confirmed as TSE-positive by Western blot using Sha 31 antibody; >1.7 million animals have been tested by rapid tests (1,152,065 sheep and 685,634 goats) (Table). Nearly half of the positive isolates (504) have been identified as Nor98 scrapie isolates, on the basis of detection of 5 major bands, including a prominent ≈10–12 kDa band detected by Western blot (32). After confirmatory Western blot, insufficient quantities of brain tissue were available for Western blot discriminatory testing in 26 samples, which are shown in the Table as samples not analyzed.

The other classical TSE cases, i.e., non–Nor98 cases (648 sheep and 53 goats), which typically showed a 3-band pattern between 19–30 kDa, have been further characterized by applying a discriminatory Western blot method, described as the Agence française de sécurité sanitaire des aliments (French Food Safety Agency) discriminatory method in the Technical Handbook for National Reference Laboratories (33). This method enables rapid identification of PrPres patterns similar to those found in experimental ovine BSE and is essentially based on comparison of the PrPres molecular mass with that of cattle BSE, and comparative labeling with 2 antibodies, P4 and Bar233, against either the N terminal end or core part of the PrPres protein, respectively.

Molecular Characterization of Experimental Isolates

We first analyzed 4 reference experimental isolates in small ruminants: a sheep and a goat with BSE, 2 sheep infected with SSBP/1 or CH1641 scrapie sources, and a bovid with classical BSE. The mean molecular masses of the diglycosylated (H), monoglycosylated (L), and unglycosylated (U) PrPres bands (using Bar233 antibody) and the P4/Bar233 differential labeling, as well as the proportions of glycoforms, are shown in Figure 1 and in Figure 2, panel A. These analyses show the lower molecular mass of the unglycosylated PrPres in BSE in sheep (–0.6 kDa) and 1 goat (–0.5 kDa), and in CH1641 scrapie (–0.8 kDa), compared with the cattle BSE (Figure 1; Figure 2, panel A). In contrast, SSBP/1 showed a higher apparent molecular mass (+0.6 kDa). The molecular masses of the 3 bands obtained for CH1641 (H: –0.8 kDa, L: –0.3 kDa and U: –0.2 kDa) were lower than in BSE in sheep or goats. Differential labeling by Bar233 and P4 antibodies was correlated with the molecular masses of the protease-resistant cores, with high and low Bar233/P4 ratios in SSBP/1 and BSE in sheep, respectively (Figure 1). Like BSE in sheep, CH1641 showed a decreased signal with P4 compared with Bar 233. bovine BSE showed no labeling with P4 antibody.

Immunoblots obtained for reference brain samples by discriminatory Western blot method. The first membrane (A, B) was probed with Bar233 antibody. The second membrane (C, D) was probed with monoclonal antibody P4. The 2 immunoblots were loaded with a natural classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) isolate (lane 1); an isolate from a sheep experimentally infected with classical BSE 4 (SB1, lanes 2, 6); 2 sheep-passaged scrapie isolates (SSBP/1, lanes 3, 5; CH1641, lane 4); and an isolate from a goat experimentally infected with classical BSE (CH41x76, lane 7).

Molecular mass obtained for the di-, mono-, and unglycosylated protein bands (A–C) and the glycoform proportions (D–F) between the diglycosylated band and the monoglycosylated band of the protease-resistant prion protein of the reference transmissible spongiform encephalopathies isolates (A, D), CH1641-like isolates in sheep (B, E), and unusual isolates in goats (C, F). Results were obtained from immunoblots detected by Bar233 antibody. BSE, bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Comparison of the proportions of diglycosylated and monoglycosylated bands showed the highest levels of diglycosylated PrPres in experimental BSE in sheep (75 ± 9%/18 ± 4%) and goats (71 ± 7%/20 ± 4%), even compared with cattle BSE (64 ± 10%/27 ± 4%) (Figure 2, panel D). On the contrary, SSBP/1 showed much lower levels of diglycosylated PrPres (46 ± 6%/32 ± 3%), whereas CH1641 was close to cattle BSE (62 ± 9%/29 ± 5%).

Experimental BSE in a goat showed the same molecular features as those observed in experimental BSE in sheep. Both molecular masses, P4 immunolabeling and glycoforms proportions, were involved (Figure 1; Figure 2, panels A, D).

Molecular Characterization of Natural TSE Sheep and Goat Isolates

We then compared the cattle BSE control with the 701 classical samples available for further analyses (648 sheep and 53 goats). Most of the isolates tested (657) were PrPres positive by discriminatory Western blot using Bar233 core antibody and showed a 3-band pattern, whereas the signal was weaker in 44 samples, preventing the identification and characterization of the unglycosylated band.

We chose to express the molecular masses measures as dmm, which corresponds to the difference of molecular masses measured between the tested sample and the control cattle BSE always loaded beside it. Most (650) samples showed a positive dmm (Figure 3) and strong labeling with P4 antibody, as previously described for SSBP/1. However, large variations in molecular mass (1.2 kDa) were observed among these samples, a possible clue pointing to biological diversity among scrapie sources; in contrast, only small variations were observed after repeated measures of a same sample with the Western blot method, as shown by the small standard deviations during repeated analysis of reference samples (Figure 2). A minority of the samples (12) showed similar molecular masses to bovine BSE (dmm <0.1 kDa difference). Stronger P4 labeling compared with Bar 233 antibody was observed in all these samples and in the 44 (not defined) samples for which the dmm could not be measured with Bar233 antibody because quantities of extracted PrPres were too low.

Differences in molecular mass observed between protease-resistant prion protein in cattle bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and usual transmissible spongiform encephalopathy cases in small ruminants. Differential molecular mass was obtained by subtracting the molecular mass of the unglycosylated band of the cattle BSE control to that of the natural small ruminant isolate from an immunoblot detected by Bar233 antibody.

A few samples (5 sheep and 2 goats) showed a lower PrPres molecular mass than the bovine BSE control, i.e., a negative dmm (black bar in Figure 3), combined with poor labeling by P4 antibody, as described for BSE in small ruminants and CH1641 scrapie. These samples were suspected to represent BSE in small ruminants and were thus further characterized by repeated Western blot analyses in comparison with experimental controls.

Molecular Studies of TSE Isolates with Low Molecular Mass PrP<sup>res</sup>

These experiments allowed repeated measures of PrPres molecular masses and P4/Bar233 differential labeling and estimation of the proportions of PrPres glycoforms. Western blot analyses were also performed with the C-terminal SAF84 antibody to identify possible additional C-terminal PrPres cleavage products, as described for the CH1641 experimental isolate (17).

The 3 PrPres glycoforms of the 5 sheep isolates showed similar molecular masses close to BSE in sheep or CH1641 scrapie (Figure 2, panel B; Figure 4, panel A). These similarities of PrPres migration were associated with intermediate labeling with P4 but nevertheless varied considerably (up to 3×) according to the isolate (data not shown). Analyses of the glycoform proportions showed lower proportions of the diglycosylated band, compared with BSE in sheep, and also similarity to CH1641 in this respect (Figure 2, panel E). All 5 isolates showed an additional ≈14 kDa PrPres band, after use of the SAF84 antibody (Figure 4, panel C), that in 4 isolates represented 30 ± 7% to 34 ± 7% of the total signal after repeated analyses and PNGase deglycosylation. Among these sheep isolates, the 06-412 sample showed higher molecular masses and proportion of diglycosylated band. Nevertheless, the 5 natural isolates thus appeared similar to the CH1641 experimental scrapie isolate.

Western blot analysis of protease-resistant prion protein in 2 CH1641-like sheep isolates (06-017, lane 3; 06-287, lane 4) detected by Bar233 (A), P4 (B), and SAF84 (C) antibodies. These samples were compared with 2 sheep-passaged scrapie isolates (SSBP/1, lane 1; CH1641, lane 5) and an isolate from a sheep experimentally infected with classical spongiform encephalopathy (SB1, lane 2). Samples in panel C were deglycosylated with peptide N-glycosidase F before Western blot analysis.

For the 2 goat samples with low molecular mass PrPres, the molecular characteristics of the CH636 isolate were indistinguishable from BSE in goat (CH41x76), with regard to PrPres molecular masses (Figure 5, panel A) and the respective proportions of the diglycosylated/monoglycosylated bands (70 ± 9%/22 ± 6% and 71 ± 8%/20 ± 4%, respectively) (Figure 2, panel F) when Bar233 antibody was used, and reduced labeling by P4 antibody compared with Bar233 (Figure 5, panel B). A similar pattern was observed with the other goat sample 08-357, but the levels of the diglycosylated band were even higher (83 ± 2%). However, Western blot analyses with SAF84 antibody showed that these 2 goat samples clearly differed and had an additional ≈14 kDa PrPres band only in the 08-357 isolate, as in the CH1641 experimental scrapie isolate. This ≈14 kDa PrPres band was represented in the same proportions as in the CH1641-like sheep isolates. This sample could not be clearly distinguished from BSE in goat according to other molecular criteria.

Western blot analysis of protease-resistant prion protein in 2 goat isolates (CH636, lane 3; 08-357, lane 4) detected by Bar233 (A), P4 (B), and SAF84 (C) antibodies. These samples were compared with an isolate from a goat naturally infected with scrapie (lane 1); an isolate from a goat experimentally infected with classical BSE (CH41x76, lane 2); and a sheep-passaged scrapie isolate (CH1641, lane 5). Samples in panel C were deglycosylated with peptide N-glycosidase F before Western blot analysis.

Discussion

We investigated the PrPres molecular features of one of the largest series of natural TSE isolates from sheep and goats analyzed so far in Europe. Approximately 1.7 million small ruminants were subjected to a rapid test; among these, 1,153 sheep and 78 goats originating from 992 flocks were confirmed as TSE-positive on the basis of identification of PrPres in the brain stem. Another large study using 1,247 sheep originating from 450 flocks in Great Britain has been reported (24). Similar studies have been conducted in other European countries such as Germany (34), the Netherlands (14,) and Italy (23), but fewer TSE-positive animals were reported. In our series, animals with classical cases represented 53% of the TSE-affected animals.

The molecular features of most of these isolates (99%) were comparable to those previously described for most scrapie cases, in studies in Europe or France (21). In all of these cases, PrPres from sheep and goats showed clearly distinct features from BSE, based on the identification of a higher molecular mass of unglycosylated PrPres, associated with strong labeling by the P4 antibody that recognizes the N terminal end of the protein. However, our observation of large individual variations in this PrPres molecular mass implies that a possible relationship with the biologic diversity of TSE agents, which has been described after transmission of scrapie to inbred wild-type mice (35), would be questionable. Only a few animals (5 sheep and 2 goats) in this large series of TSE-affected animals showed molecular characteristics that, in comparison with the usual features of scrapie, could be consistent with the known BSE signature in small ruminants. These samples represented all the suspected isolates that were identified by official surveillance in France during 2002–2009.

An essential molecular criterion defined from the observation of PrPres BSE compared with scrapie was the low molecular mass of the unglycosylated band in PrPres BSE, associated with a decreased PrPres signal lower with an N terminal antibody than with a core antibody (13,22,36). After identification of these molecular features in a few small ruminants, only 1 (CH636) of the 2 cases here described in goats, identified as TSE positive in 2002, has been shown to be infected by the BSE agent after bioassays in mice (37). Another goat in the United Kingdom identified by an immunohistochemical discriminatory method as TSE-positive in 1990 showed characteristics that were indistinguishable from BSE (18). These results clearly indicate that in a situation characterized by a decrease in the number of cases in cattle in all countries in Europe, the possibility of finding BSE in small ruminants is now remote.

The other unusual isolates showed molecular characteristics that were partly similar, not only to BSE in small ruminants with a low molecular mass of PrPres and faint labeling with P4 antibody, but also to the CH1641 experimental scrapie isolate. However, detailed immunohistochemical investigations of CH1641 showed subtle differences in the cleavage site of the protein compared with BSE in sheep (38). As previously described, after transmission in ovine transgenic mice (17), the slightly lower PrPres molecular mass in CH1641-like isolates, as recognized in the CH1641 experimental isolate (13),was confirmed by Western blot, at least in sheep (Figure 2, panel B). However, these differences in molecular mass are more easily identified on the diglycosylated band. Compared with BSE in small ruminants, lower proportions of this diglycosylated band were found in sheep, whereas the 08-357 goat sample showed very high levels of this diglycosylated band, which would be consistent with BSE. Experimental transmissions of BSE in sheep have shown that, to a certain extent, the PrPres molecular features could be influenced by different factors, such as serial passages in sheep (39) or sheep genotypes (36), although slight variability did not compromise the discrimination with scrapie. Furthermore, all these CH1641-like natural isolates in sheep and goats clearly differed from BSE by the presence of an additional, C-terminally cleaved, PrPres product specifically recognized by a C-terminal antibody (SAF84), as previously described for the CH1641 experimental scrapie isolate (17). Baron et al. described bioassays of 3 of 20 CH1641-like sheep isolates (17), which are also being conducted for the other isolates.

These 6 CH1641-like isolates were identified among 1,153 sheep and 78 goats with confirmed TSE, and the goat case represents, to our knowledge, a spreading of the known species range for natural CH1641 infection. At least in sheep, for which 4.34 cases per million sheep tested were identified in this study, the frequency of CH1641-like scrapie was notably higher compared with other rare TSEs in ruminants such as atypical BSEs, which showed a frequency of 0.76 per million cattle tested during 2001–2007 (40). Thus, large-scale testing of animals would be required to identify these rare TSE isolates. Similar isolates were only identified in sheep in the other large series reported from 450 flocks in Great Britain (2 cases in 1 flock) (23) and in a previous study of 214 TSE-infected sheep in France (2 cases in 1 flock) (27). However, an underestimation of the frequency of such cases cannot be fully excluded. PrPres features are assessed by analyzing a single homogenate prepared from a brain fragment from the animal. Stack et al. described a case in sheep that appeared as CH1641-like after repeated Western blot analysis of a brain stem sample, whereas previous analysis of the caudal medulla at the time of submission had shown the usual scrapie profile (24). Immunohistochemical testing of 2 CH1641-like cases in sheep showed, that unlike BSE, PrPd could be clearly identified by using P4 antibody in some of the brain stem nuclei and in lymphoid tissues (27). Finally, on the basis of identification of low levels of C-terminal PrPres product in ovine transgenic mice infected with usual scrapie isolates, we hypothesized that a CH1641-like component might be present as a minor component in these scrapie cases that showed usual molecular features (17). All these data raise the question of the existence of possible mixtures of TSE agents in these particular CH1641-like isolates.

Suggested citation for this article: Vulin J, Biacabe A-G, Cazeau G, Calavas D, Baron T. Molecular typing of protease-resistant prion protein in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies of small ruminants, France, 2002–2009. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2011 Jan [date cited]. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1701.100891

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Jeremy Verchère, Michele Lavoine, and Claire Aufauvre for their contributions in the Western blot experiments.

Mr Vulin is a PhD candidate at the Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire, Lyon, France. His research focuses on studies of prion diseases of ruminants, including characterization of the disease-associated prion protein, with particular emphasis on unusual forms of these diseases.

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