spongiform encephalopathy
- spongiform encephalopathy
-
* * *
any one of a group of rapidly progressive degenerative neurological diseases that include scrapie in sheep, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (
BSE) in cattle, and
kuru,
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease,
and Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome in humans. In humans the spongiform encephalopathies are characterized by rapidly progressive dementia associated with myoclonic jerks (
see myoclonus); on pathological examination the brains of affected individuals show a characteristic cystic degeneration. The diseases are thought to be caused by unconventional transmissible agents (
see prion).
Medical dictionary.
2011.
Look at other dictionaries:
spongiform encephalopathy — ˈspənjəˌfȯrm noun Etymology: spongiform resembling a sponge, from spongi + form : any of a group of degenerative diseases of the brain that are characterized by development of brain tissue having a structure like that of a porous sponge and by… … Useful english dictionary
spongiform encephalopathy — noun Etymology: spongiform resembling a sponge, from Latin spongia + English iform Date: 1960 any of a group of degenerative diseases of the brain that are characterized by development of brain tissue having a structure like that of a porous… … New Collegiate Dictionary
spongiform encephalopathy — any one of a group of rapidly progressive degenerative neurological diseases that include scrapie in sheep, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle, and kuru, Creutzfeldt Jakob disease, and Gerstmann Straussler Scheinker syndrome in… … The new mediacal dictionary
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy — Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs, also known as prion diseases) are a group of progressive conditions that affect the brain and nervous system of animals. According to the most widespread hypothesis they are transmitted by prions,… … Wikipedia
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy — with BSE. A notable feature of such disease is the inability of the infected animal to stand.Source: APHIS] Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as Mad Cow Disease (MCD), is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease in cattle, that… … Wikipedia
Feline spongiform encephalopathy — is a disease that affects the brains and liversFact|date=January 2008 of felines. It is caused by proteins called prions.DiseaseFeline spongiform encephalopathy (FSE) is a prion disease thought to be related to Bovine spongiform encephalopathy… … Wikipedia
bovine spongiform encephalopathy — n a fatal spongiform encephalopathy of cattle affecting the nervous system, resembling or identical with scrapie of sheep and goats, and prob. caused by a prion transmitted by infected tissue in food abbr. BSE called also mad cow disease * * * a… … Medical dictionary
bovine spongiform encephalopathy — /spun jeuh fawrm / a fatal dementia of cattle, thought to be caused by the prion proteins implicated in Creutzfeldt Jakob disease. Also called mad cow disease. * * * ▪ pathology also called mad cow disease a fatal neurodegenerative… … Universalium
transmissible spongiform encephalopathy — n any of a group of spongiform encephalopathies (as Creutzfeldt Jakob disease, kuru, and scrapie) that are now usu. considered to be caused and transmitted by prions * * * (TSE) prion disease … Medical dictionary
bovine spongiform encephalopathy — noun Date: 1987 a fatal spongiform encephalopathy of cattle affecting the nervous system, resembling or identical with scrapie of sheep and goats, and probably caused by a prion transmitted by infected tissue in food abbreviation BSE; called also … New Collegiate Dictionary
