Rapid chromatographic immunoassay study of brain PrPsc distribution in classical scrapie.

ABSTRACT

In the current study, a rapid chromatographic immunoassay submitted for registration in Europe was used to analyze PrP(sc) in 13 different areas of brain from 10 confirmed classical scrapie cases. The levels of PrP(sc) in the different areas of brain were plotted to draw a brain PrP(sc) distribution curve. This curve was compared with the brain PrP(sc) distribution curve obtained from immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry tests on the same samples. The distribution of PrP(sc) in different areas of the brain was similar, irrespective of the test applied, indicating that any of the 3 tests could be used for the characterization of classical cases of scrapie.