No Part of Mad Cow is Safe to Eat
Dr. Thomas Blythe, Earthtimes.org
Mad Cow Disease Triggered by Inflammation
Mad Cow
disease, which was thought to spread in humans only if they consume
infected brain or intestinal tissues of infected cows, may have other
routes of entry. If the study done on mice by a group of researchers
led by Adriano Aguzzi at the University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland
holds true then BSE/CJD testing programmers will have to change their
ways and practices in what could turn into another major problem for
the beef industry.
Since
earlier screening showed Prions, that cause BSE, are present only in
specific organs like brain and intestines, “the assumption has been
that other parts are safe to eat,” says Aguzzi.
“People
in countries with BSE still eat steak because the authorities say if
you stay away from the brain and lymphoid tissue, you should be safe.
However, most Prion testing has been done in healthy animals. If you
have a sick cow, these rules may no longer apply.”
Aguzzi’s
study showed inflammation can let the disease causing protein Prion to
be replicated (produced) in other parts of the animal body which were
earlier thought to be safe for consumption. The mice used in the study
were having inflammation due to several reasons including kidney and
liver diseases. It was seen in all the cases that chronic inflammation
leads to a build up of prion proteins in organs that are usually Prion
free.
“The organ transforms itself into a bioreactor for Prions,” says Aguzzi.
The mice
having inflammation due to diabetes had its pancreas full of the Prions
while the organ in healthy mice was left unaffected.
Researchers
have not yet worked out how exactly inflammation leads to Prion
production and the spread of deadly protein in other parts of the body.
However, they feel that it has got something to do with the cells
playing a role in the immune system. These cells produce a substance
called lymphotoxin to fight invading pathogens. Aguzzi feels that the
lymphotoxin starts a reaction that turns a normal cell into a prion
producing bioreactor. They have observed that mice lacking the
lymphotoxin receptors lack prion disease in inflamed organs.
(Source)
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