[Transmissible animal spongiform encephalopathies]

Scrapie in sheep and goats was the first animal spongiform encephalopathy diagnosed. It has since been described in a large number of species (cattle, wild and exotic ruminants, mink, cat). They form an original group of diseases because they are transmissible by a specific pathogen and they depend on the genetic predisposition of the recipient animal. Transmission between species and the possibility of oral transmission underline the need to assess the risk to Man.