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Transmissible mink encephalopathy: infectivity of corneal epithelium
Abstract:
Corneal epithelium from hamsters dying of transmissible mink encephalopathy contained a virus titer of 10-4.8 times the 50 percent lethal dose (10-4.8 LD50) per 0.05 milliliter when assayed as a cell suspension derived directly from the infected animal. After one passage in tissue culture, an equivalent concentration of cells contained only 10-0.8 LD50 per 0.05 milliliter.. It is concluded that corneal tissues are infectious; the infectivity may be mainly associated with free nerve endings. However, the most important immediate inference is that corneas from human beings affected with Creuzfeldt-Jakob disease are likely to be lethal if transplanted to healthy recipients.
Insights
Corneal tissues from animals with transmissible mink encephalopathy are infectious. Transplantation of corneas from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease patients may be lethal to recipients, highlighting a significant risk.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Ophthalmology
- Virology
Background:
- Transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME) is a fatal prion disease.
- Corneal involvement in prion diseases is not well understood.
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a human prion disease with potential for iatrogenic transmission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the infectivity of corneal tissues in TME.
- To assess the potential risk of corneal transplantation in prion diseases.
Main Methods:
- Assay of virus titer in corneal epithelium from TME-affected hamsters.
- Comparison of infectivity in direct tissue suspension versus tissue culture.
Main Results:
- Corneal epithelium from TME hamsters showed high infectivity (10-4.8 LD50/0.05 mL).
- Infectivity significantly decreased after one passage in tissue culture (10-0.8 LD50/0.05 mL).
- Infectivity is likely associated with corneal free nerve endings.
Conclusions:
- Corneal tissues are infectious and pose a risk.
- Corneal transplantation from CJD patients to healthy recipients may be lethal.
- Further research is needed to understand prion transmission routes via ocular tissues.