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Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

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Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), widely referred to as “mad cow disease,”

is a progressive and fatal disease of the nervous system in cattle. It results from

infection by a "prion," an abnormal cellular protein found mostly in the brain. BSE is

not contagious. Cattle become infected by eating prion-contaminated feed.

BSE is rare, occurring at a rate of less than one case per million cattle worldwide.

However, it's a reportable animal disease. It also presents a public health concern

because of its link to cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in people.

The World Organisation for Animal Health classifies the United States as "negligible

risk" for BSE. This is based on our country’s history with the disease (only six cases

from 2003 to 2018), control measures in place, and robust BSE surveillance system.
What To Look For

Cattle affected by BSE experience progressive degeneration of the nervous system.

Signs usually don't appear until about 3–6 years after initial infection.

Here's what to look for:

Changes in temperament (nervousness or aggression)

Abnormal posture

Coordination problems and difficulty in rising

Weight loss

Decreased milk production

Loss of condition without noticeable loss of appetite

After signs appear, the animal’s condition deteriorates until it dies. This usually

takes anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months.

How To Prevent This Disease

BSE exists in two forms: classical (C-type) and atypical (L-type or H-type). They don't

spread through casual contact between animals.

Classical BSE spreads via feed that contains meat-and-bone meal or other proteins

from infected cattle. Standard rendering processes don't completely inactivate the

prion, an infectious, abnormally formed cellular protein.

The United States has regulations in place that prohibit the feeding of most animal

proteins to cattle and other ruminants (hoofed animals). We also prohibit all

specified risk material, which could harbor BSE, from being included in animal feed.

Specified risk material includes brains and spinal cords from animals 30 months of

age or older. These feed bans are the most important measure to prevent BSE

transmission.

Atypical BSE isn't associated with contaminated feed. In 2015, the World

Organisation for Animal Health determined that it occurs spontaneously at a low rate

in all cattle populations and would be excluded for BSE risk. Of the six U.S. cases
from 2003 to 2018, the first was a case of classical BSE that was imported from

Canada; the rest were atypical BSE.

How It Is Treated

There's no vaccine or treatment for BSE.

Report Signs of Animal Disease

Producers or owners who suspect an animal disease should contact their

veterinarian to evaluate the animal or herd. Find an accredited veterinarian.

Animal health professionals (veterinarians; diagnostic laboratories; public health,

zoo, or wildlife personnel; and others) report diagnosed or suspected cases of

nationally listed reportable animal diseases to APHIS District Offices and to the State

animal health official as applicable under State reporting regulations. 

Controlling Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

Current Status

The only classical BSE case identified in the United States was in 2003 in a cow

imported from Canada. Since then, five cases of atypical BSE have been found. The

last one was in 2018.

APHIS' Response

The United States has strong measures in place to protect animal health and public

health from BSE. APHIS works with USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service and

the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to maintain these measures. They include:

Prohibiting mammalian meat-and-bone meal from being included in animal feed

Banning specified risk materials (brain and spinal cord tissues) from our food

supply, animal feed, or other products

Destroying animals that show signs of BSE and other animals at high risk of

developing the disease
Banning cattle that can't stand or walk from the human food chain

Prohibiting air-injection stunning of slaughter cattle

Requiring additional process controls in advanced meat-recovery systems

Forbidding the use of mechanically separated meat in human food

We also maintain trade restrictions that prevent BSE from entering the United States

through imports. Our regulations are consistent with World Organisation for Animal

Health guidelines and allow safe trade in many bovine commodities, including meat.

Lastly, we have a robust BSE surveillance program. This program has been in place

for decades. It targets cattle populations with the highest probability of BSE

detection: animals with symptoms of BSE and cattle 30 months of age or older that

are non-ambulatory, recumbent, or unable to rise or walk without assistance.

Information for Veterinarians

Surveillance Testing

Samples collected on the farm from cattle showing symptoms of central nervous

system disease are especially valuable to the BSE surveillance program. Accredited

veterinarians with proper training can play a key role in sampling these animals.

For more information, please contact your nearest APHIS Veterinary Services office.

Carcass Disposal

The preferred method for disposing of BSE-infected carcasses is alkaline digestion or

complete, high-temperature incineration. Under no circumstances should BSE

suspects be used for human or animal consumption.

Etiology

BSE belongs to a family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform

encephalopathies that includes, among others, scrapie in sheep and goats; chronic

wasting disease in deer, elk, and moose; and classic and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob

disease in people.

Information for Cooperators

Canadian Food Inspection Agency: BSE Enhanced Surveillance Program
Spread the Word

BSE Factsheet