[Consequences of BSE/TSE for the clinical diagnostic in cattle and sheep]

The first case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in Germany induced a profound irritation not only of the consumers but also of the farmers and the veterinarians in Germany. The following BSE-crisis accelerated the structural changes in Beef and Dairy industries. The analysis of the detected BSE-cases of the last years in Germany and Switzerland shows that the sensitivity of BSE-tests is much higher in clinically preselected BSE-suspected cases compared to BSE-tests in normal slaughter cattle. Therefore it is necessary for an effective battle against BSE that clinical cases of CNS-diseases and disturbances of the locomotion especially in cows around partus should be clarified etiologically. If intra vitam the etiology of the disease can not be diagnosed by clinical and laboratory investigation of blood, urine and liquor samples and the therapy induces no improvement, the case has to be notified at the local veterinary officer. In the same way cases of Scrapie in sheep have to be handled. In sheep genotyping gives the opportunity to select for Scrapie resistance. In contrary to cattle with BSE Scrapie can be diagnosed intra vitam already before clinical symptoms occur by immunohistochemical investigations for Scrapie prion protein of tonsillar biopsies. These two diagnostic tools open new ways for fighting against Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies in sheep.