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Prions and the human transmissible spongiform encephalopathies
Crispian Scully1, Andrew J Smith, Jeremy Bagg
1Eastman Dental Institute for Oral Health Care Sciences, University of London, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8LD, England, UK. Scully.C@eastman.ucl.ac.uk
Dental Clinics of North America
|July 10, 2003
Summary
New prion diseases, like variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), pose risks for dental transmission. Enhanced decontamination of dental instruments is crucial to prevent the spread of prions and other infectious agents.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Emergence of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) linked to prions.
- Prions detected in various tissues, including neural and extraneural organs.
- Limited human data on prion presence in oral tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate potential prion transmission routes via dental procedures.
- Highlight implications for infection control in dentistry.
- Emphasize the need for improved decontamination protocols.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on prion diseases and vCJD.
- Analysis of prion infectivity in animal models and human tissues.
- Assessment of current dental instrument decontamination practices.
Main Results:
- Animal models show prions in neural, gingival, pulpal, and salivary tissues.
- Significant infectivity titers found in extraneural organs, including lymphoreticular tissues in vCJD.
- Potential for prion transmission through the dental route identified.
Conclusions:
- Prion diseases present a potential risk for dental transmission.
- Strict adherence to decontamination standards for dental instruments is essential.
- Collaboration between clinicians and manufacturers is needed for safer instruments and protocols.