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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
Clinical Examination Protocol to Detect Atypical and Classical Scrapie in Sheep
Published on: January 19, 2014
PrPSc in salivary glands of scrapie-affected sheep
Marta Vascellari1, Romolo Nonno, Franco Mutinelli
1Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy. mvascellari@izsvenezie.it
Abstract:
The salivary glands of scrapie-affected sheep and healthy controls were investigated for the presence of the pathological prion protein (PrP(Sc)). PrP(Sc) was detected in major (parotid and mandibular) and minor (buccal, labial, and palatine) salivary glands of naturally and experimentally infected sheep. Using Western blotting, the PrP(Sc) concentration in glands was estimated to be 0.02 to 0.005% of that in brain. Immunohistochemistry revealed intracellular depositions of PrP(Sc) in ductal and acinar epithelia and occasional labeling in the lumina of salivary ducts. The presence of PrP(Sc) in salivary glands highlights the possible role of saliva in the horizontal transmission of scrapie.
