Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE): how to spot and report the disease

Introduction

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a fatal brain disease that affects cattle.

It occurs in adult animals in both sexes, typically in four and or five years olds, but cases have been discovered in younger cattle.

The disease usually lasts for several weeks and is characteristically progressive and fatal.

Clinical Signs

Affected cattle do not usually show signs of BSE until they are at least four or five years old.

Cattle with BSE may slowly develop some of the following signs over a period of weeks or months:

• change in behaviour
• apprehension or nervousness (flighty)
• repeated, exaggerated reactions to touch or sound
• weakness or high stepping of the legs, particularly the hind legs
• reluctance to cross concrete or drains, turn corners or enter yards or go through doorways
• aggression towards humans or towards other cattle
• manic kicking during milking or reluctance to allow milking
• head held low
• difficulty in rising, progressing to recumbency (downer cows)
• tremors under the skin
• loss of body condition, weight or milk yield
• excessive nose licking

Human health implications

In March 1996, scientists linked BSE to a new form of Creutzfeld-Jakob disease a progressive, fatal, brain disease of humans. BSE has also had a serious impact on the livestock industry. Everything possible should be done to eradicate BSE in cattle. Although the disease is declining rapidly, it is essential that all animals showing signs of BSE are reported and that feed stores are cleaned out regularly to remove any potentially contaminated feed.

Biosecurity

Biosecurity is a set of management practices that collectively reduce the potential for the introduction or spread of animal disease-causing organisms on to and between farms.

Read more about:

• Biosecurity practices for animal health: general guidance
• Biosecurity practices: guidance for public bodies staff