position: Post Doctoral Fellow | Atypical BSE in Cattle
Closing date: December 24, 2009
Anticipated start date: January/February 2010
Employer: Canadian and OIE Reference Laboratories for BSE CFIA Lethbridge Laboratory, Lethbridge/Alberta
The Canadian and OIE reference laboratories for BSE are extensively involved in prion diseases diagnosis and research. With a recent increase in research activities and funding, the laboratory is looking to fill two post doctoral fellow positions. Both positions will be located at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Lethbridge Laboratory which offers biosaftey level 3 (BSL3) and BSL2 laboratory space and is well equipped for molecular and morphologic prion research. The facility also has a BSL3 large animal housing wing and a state of the art post mortem room certified for prion work. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to visit other laboratories to cooperate in various aspects of the projects and to be trained in new techniques and acquire new skills. With a recent increase in prion disease expertise and research in Alberta and Canada, these positions will offer significant exposure to cutting edge prion science via videoconferencing, meetings, workshops and conferences. These interactions will also provide a valuable opportunity to present research findings and discuss potential future work opportunities and collaborations with other Canadian and international research groups.
Atypical BSE in Cattle
BSE has been linked to the human disease variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vCJD). The known exposure pathways for humans contracting vCJD are through the consumption of beef and beef products contaminated by the BSE agent and through blood transfusions. However, recent scientific evidence suggests that the BSE agent may play a role in the development of other forms of human prion diseases as well. These studies suggest that classical type of BSE may cause type 2 sporadic CJD and that H-type atypical BSE is connected with a familial form of CJD.
To date the OIE/WAHO assumes that the human and animal health standards set out in the BSE chapter for classical BSE (C-Type) applies to all forms of BSE which include the H-type and L-type atypical forms. This assumption is scientifically not completely justified and accumulating evidence suggests that this may in fact not be the case. Molecular characterization and the spatial distribution pattern of histopathologic lesions and immunohistochemistry (IHC) signals are used to identify and characterize atypical BSE. Both the L-type and H-type atypical cases display significant differences in the conformation and spatial accumulation of the disease associated prion protein (PrPSc) in brains of afflicted cattle. Transmission studies in bovine transgenic and wild type mouse models support that the atypical BSE types might be unique strains because they have different incubation times and lesion profiles when compared to C-type BSE. When L-type BSE was inoculated into ovine transgenic mice and Syrian hamster the resulting molecular fingerprint had changed, either in the first or a subsequent passage, from L-type into C-type BSE. In addition, non-human primates are specifically susceptible for atypical BSE as demonstrated by an approximately 50% shortened incubation time for L-type BSE as compared to C-type. Considering the current scientific information available, it cannot be assumed that these different BSE types pose the same human health risks as C-type BSE or that these risks are mitigated by the same protective measures.
This study will contribute to a correct definition of specified risk material (SRM) in atypical BSE. The incumbent of this position will develop new and transfer existing, ultra-sensitive methods for the detection of atypical BSE in tissue of experimentally infected cattle.
Responsibilities include:
Driving research at the National and OIE BSE reference lab to ensure project milestones are met successfully. Contributing to the preparation of project progress reports. Directing technical staff working on the project. Communicating and discussing results, progress and future direction with project principle investigator(s). Communicating with collaborative project partners. Qualifications:
Successful completion of a PhD degree in an area focusing on or related to prion diseases. Extensive experience with molecular and/or morphologic techniques used in studying prion diseases and/or other protein misfolding disorders. Ability to think independently and contribute new ideas. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to multitask, prioritize, and meet challenges in a timely manner. Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Word, PowerPoint and Excel. How to apply:
Please send your application and/or inquiry to: Dr. Stefanie Czub, DVM, Ph.D. Head, National and OIE BSE Reference Laboratory Canadian Food Inspection Agency Lethbridge Laboratory P.O. Box 640, Township Road 9-1 Lethbridge, AB, T1J 3Z4 Canada
phone: +1-403-382-5500 +1-403-382-5500 ext. 5549 email: [email protected]
Contact Info:
http://www.prionetcanada.ca/detail.aspx?menu=5&dt=293380&app=93&cat1=387&tp=20&lk=no&cat2
The scoop on changes to how CFIA reports BSE
The last case of BSE certainly caused a flap in the industry, even though it’s not unexpected to find additional cases of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy as Canada’s effective control measures eliminate the disease from the national herd. What was different this time around was the way the Feb. 25 event was announced, as it was the first case to fall under a new reporting policy announced by the CFIA last August.
The CFIA revised how it reports online for disease detections in farmed animals to provide a more comprehensive view of Canada’s animal health status. The intent was to standardize the agency’s approach to BSE with other federally reportable diseases, said George Shaw, vice-president of public affairs, CFIA.
There are about 30 reportable diseases and the CFIA doesn’t issue a release on any of those in real time unless there is a significant human or animal health risk, so the agency wanted to put BSE in the same category as the other ones, he said.
The new reporting process still sees key trading partners, governments and some industry stakeholders notified in real time of confirmed cases of BSE and moves the public notification to a new, animal health disease report updated monthly on the agency website.
Although an information bulletin explaining why the agency was moving in this direction and what changes it would entail was posted on the CFIA website last August, it wasn’t until Feb. 25 that the new process was put to the test.
It’s a given that there will be hiccups when implementing new systems and this new policy was no exception. While trading partners, including the appropriate authorities in Korea, were notified right away, industry notification on Feb. 25 seemingly wasn’t as broad as it had been under the former process. The result was that many in the industry were left out of the loop while those unaware of the reporting changes assumed the CFIA would post a notification on their website as per usual. R-Calf, meanwhile, issued a release flinging accusations that Canada was hiding BSE cases.
Looking back on the Feb. 25 experience, the CFIA said that some fine-tuning needs to happen around what information is shared and when. Back in 2003, the process involved the agency issuing a release, which later evolved into a short notice that would go up on its website, a document shared with industry and trading partners to give them a heads-up.
The agency didn’t do that on Feb. 25 because the public piece was moved to the new monthly report that captures all animal health diseases in one spot.
Going forward, the agency will continue to fine tune its new reporting policy. When future cases of BSE are confirmed the CFIA will still issue a short summary with all the pertinent details of the case in real time to key trading partners and governments, and intends to alert a broader base of industry stakeholders than reached on Feb. 25. The factual paragraph is intended to ensure governments, trading partners and industry stakeholders have the same information.
If industry gets a call from media or stakeholders in the interim, they will be equipped with the information to deal with it.
Notification to the OIE is done on a six-month reporting cycle. Shaw said Canada has reached a point of credibility under the controlled-risk scenario that its not obliged to do immediate reporting on incidents of BSE.
One of the recommendations to come out of the National Beef Value Chain Roundtable in Calgary March 16-17 was that the Government of Canada announce all future cases of BSE in a timely fashion with appropriate information.
http://www.cattle.ca/action-news/03-29-10-email.html
Damn shame Canada is now going to take pages from the books of the USDA. reminds me of that mad cow testing bungle in Texas, the 48 hour BSE testing turn around that took 7+ months and finally an act of Congress OIG and the Honorable Fong to finally get that cow confirmed. all the while another suspect specimen was sitting on a shelf cooling off to for some 4 months for some kind of BSe reasons, all the while the USDA and the OIE were putting the final touches on the BSE MRR policy to override the BSE GBR risk assessments and policy there from ;
TRADE JUNK SCIENCE TO FOLLOW ;
snip...
The most recent assessments (and reassessments) were published in June 2005 (Table I; 18), and included the categorisation of Canada, the USA, and Mexico as GBR III. Although only Canada and the USA have reported cases, the historically open system of trade in North America suggests that it is likely that BSE is present also in Mexico.
http://www.oie.int/boutique/extrait/06heim937950.pdf
IN A NUT SHELL ;
(Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 23 May 2006)
11. Information published by the OIE is derived from appropriate declarations made by the official Veterinary Services of Member Countries. The OIE is not responsible for inaccurate publication of country disease status based on inaccurate information or changes in epidemiological status or other significant events that were not promptly reported to the Central Bureau,
http://www.oie.int/eng/Session2007/RF2006.pdf
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
U.S. Emergency Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Response Plan Summary and BSE Red Book Date: February 14, 2000 at 8:56 am PST
WHERE did we go wrong $$$
http://madcowtesting.blogspot.com/2009/07/us-emergency-bovine-spongiform.html
SEE FULL TEXT OF ALL THIS HERE ;
2009 UPDATE ON ALABAMA AND TEXAS MAD COWS 2005 and 2006
http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2006/08/bse-atypical-texas-and-alabama-update.html
BSE MRR BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BY YOUR LOCAL CATTLE DEALER I.E. USDA ET AL !
Japan had better hold tight to the '20 months or younger' rule. Australia better hold tight period, and Korea and Taiwan, they had better keep a keen eye as well, In 2010 highly suspect banned mad cow protein is still in commerce, and very young humans are dying from CJD, of long duration, with psychotic symptoms. WHY has this case been kept secret ?
>>> Up until about 6 years ago, the pt worked at Tyson foods where she worked on the assembly line, slaughtering cattle and preparing them for packaging. She was exposed to brain and spinal cord matter when she would euthanize the cattle. Monday, March 29, 2010 Irma Linda Andablo CJD Victim, she died at 38 years old on February 6, 2010 in Mesquite Texas <<<
You can be assured they are squirming behind closed doors, and that they are doing there best to squirm right out of this one. they will come up with something, international travel long ago, or some strange PRNP mutation that they might say like sporadic ffi ??? or a case of atypical case of inherited Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) ??? they will make up something. but it will be anything but BSE related here in the USA, in my opinion. sporadic FFI, or sporadic GSS, or sporadic inherited CJD is an oxymoron. it's either familial or not. or even this new novel human disease known as Protease-Sensitive Prionopathy (PSPr), they might come up with that. if they cannot do this, it will be an occupational TSE infection, whether they want to admit it or not. and they don't admit those to often, the cover them up. just like that Spanish Doctor that handled cjd infected tissue. but we never heard nothing about that one either. Most Countries (NOT including the USA) know what the O.I.E. is really all about, and that's nothing by trade, governed by junk science (Trade Science$). Just ask the Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Stanley Prusiner, who was quoted as saying about trade and BSE that 'NOTHING ELSE MATTERED', 'THEY DON'T WANT TO KNOW'. It's really sad, USDA et al while boasting about the O.I.E 'United States ultimately seeks a protocol that is compliant with OIE guidelines', these guidelines were pushed through by dehaven et al, with the soul intentions of weakening the already flawed OIE BSE protocols, because most every country that went by the old O.I.E. guidelines all came down with BSE. So you see, we went from a terribly flawed BSE protocols, to even weaker BSE protocols with the BSE MRR junk science. This did not happened until the USA finally accidently documented a BSE/TSE in it's cattle. They may as well just say to hell with this and open up the borders without any protocols, because that is just about what this BSE MRR policy is about. USDA et al have even done away with all trading protocols with any atypical Scrapie i.e. Nor-98, without any scientific justification, ATYPICAL SCRAPIE IS A LEGAL COMMIDITY NOW, even though Nor-98 atypical Scrapie will in fact consistently transmit within AHQ homozygous sheep, and the disease phenotype is preserved on sub-passage. So in fact USDA, the OIE are making policy that risk human health. there is already reams of scientific data that show not only the atypical Scrapie, but also typical scrapie is a risk to human health. again, even Professor Stanley Prusiner states this. I can supply reference to any of these studies and facts if need be. ...
CJD TEXAS 38 YEAR OLD FEMALE WORKED SLAUGHTERING CATTLE EXPOSED TO BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD MATTER
http://cjdtexas.blogspot.com/2010/03/cjd-texas-38-year-old-female-worked.html
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/
Terry S. Singeltary Sr. P.O. Box 42 Bacliff, Texas USA 77518
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Atypical BSE in Cattle / position: Post Doctoral Fellow
http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2010/03/atypical-bse-in-cattle-position-post.html
Closing date: December 24, 2009
Anticipated start date: January/February 2010
Employer: Canadian and OIE Reference Laboratories for BSE CFIA Lethbridge Laboratory, Lethbridge/Alberta
The Canadian and OIE reference laboratories for BSE are extensively involved in prion diseases diagnosis and research. With a recent increase in research activities and funding, the laboratory is looking to fill two post doctoral fellow positions. Both positions will be located at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Lethbridge Laboratory which offers biosaftey level 3 (BSL3) and BSL2 laboratory space and is well equipped for molecular and morphologic prion research. The facility also has a BSL3 large animal housing wing and a state of the art post mortem room certified for prion work. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to visit other laboratories to cooperate in various aspects of the projects and to be trained in new techniques and acquire new skills. With a recent increase in prion disease expertise and research in Alberta and Canada, these positions will offer significant exposure to cutting edge prion science via videoconferencing, meetings, workshops and conferences. These interactions will also provide a valuable opportunity to present research findings and discuss potential future work opportunities and collaborations with other Canadian and international research groups.
Atypical BSE in Cattle
BSE has been linked to the human disease variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vCJD). The known exposure pathways for humans contracting vCJD are through the consumption of beef and beef products contaminated by the BSE agent and through blood transfusions. However, recent scientific evidence suggests that the BSE agent may play a role in the development of other forms of human prion diseases as well. These studies suggest that classical type of BSE may cause type 2 sporadic CJD and that H-type atypical BSE is connected with a familial form of CJD.
To date the OIE/WAHO assumes that the human and animal health standards set out in the BSE chapter for classical BSE (C-Type) applies to all forms of BSE which include the H-type and L-type atypical forms. This assumption is scientifically not completely justified and accumulating evidence suggests that this may in fact not be the case. Molecular characterization and the spatial distribution pattern of histopathologic lesions and immunohistochemistry (IHC) signals are used to identify and characterize atypical BSE. Both the L-type and H-type atypical cases display significant differences in the conformation and spatial accumulation of the disease associated prion protein (PrPSc) in brains of afflicted cattle. Transmission studies in bovine transgenic and wild type mouse models support that the atypical BSE types might be unique strains because they have different incubation times and lesion profiles when compared to C-type BSE. When L-type BSE was inoculated into ovine transgenic mice and Syrian hamster the resulting molecular fingerprint had changed, either in the first or a subsequent passage, from L-type into C-type BSE. In addition, non-human primates are specifically susceptible for atypical BSE as demonstrated by an approximately 50% shortened incubation time for L-type BSE as compared to C-type. Considering the current scientific information available, it cannot be assumed that these different BSE types pose the same human health risks as C-type BSE or that these risks are mitigated by the same protective measures.
This study will contribute to a correct definition of specified risk material (SRM) in atypical BSE. The incumbent of this position will develop new and transfer existing, ultra-sensitive methods for the detection of atypical BSE in tissue of experimentally infected cattle.
Responsibilities include:
Driving research at the National and OIE BSE reference lab to ensure project milestones are met successfully. Contributing to the preparation of project progress reports. Directing technical staff working on the project. Communicating and discussing results, progress and future direction with project principle investigator(s). Communicating with collaborative project partners. Qualifications:
Successful completion of a PhD degree in an area focusing on or related to prion diseases. Extensive experience with molecular and/or morphologic techniques used in studying prion diseases and/or other protein misfolding disorders. Ability to think independently and contribute new ideas. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to multitask, prioritize, and meet challenges in a timely manner. Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Word, PowerPoint and Excel. How to apply:
Please send your application and/or inquiry to: Dr. Stefanie Czub, DVM, Ph.D. Head, National and OIE BSE Reference Laboratory Canadian Food Inspection Agency Lethbridge Laboratory P.O. Box 640, Township Road 9-1 Lethbridge, AB, T1J 3Z4 Canada
phone: +1-403-382-5500 +1-403-382-5500 ext. 5549 email: [email protected]
Contact Info:
http://www.prionetcanada.ca/detail.aspx?menu=5&dt=293380&app=93&cat1=387&tp=20&lk=no&cat2
The scoop on changes to how CFIA reports BSE
The last case of BSE certainly caused a flap in the industry, even though it’s not unexpected to find additional cases of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy as Canada’s effective control measures eliminate the disease from the national herd. What was different this time around was the way the Feb. 25 event was announced, as it was the first case to fall under a new reporting policy announced by the CFIA last August.
The CFIA revised how it reports online for disease detections in farmed animals to provide a more comprehensive view of Canada’s animal health status. The intent was to standardize the agency’s approach to BSE with other federally reportable diseases, said George Shaw, vice-president of public affairs, CFIA.
There are about 30 reportable diseases and the CFIA doesn’t issue a release on any of those in real time unless there is a significant human or animal health risk, so the agency wanted to put BSE in the same category as the other ones, he said.
The new reporting process still sees key trading partners, governments and some industry stakeholders notified in real time of confirmed cases of BSE and moves the public notification to a new, animal health disease report updated monthly on the agency website.
Although an information bulletin explaining why the agency was moving in this direction and what changes it would entail was posted on the CFIA website last August, it wasn’t until Feb. 25 that the new process was put to the test.
It’s a given that there will be hiccups when implementing new systems and this new policy was no exception. While trading partners, including the appropriate authorities in Korea, were notified right away, industry notification on Feb. 25 seemingly wasn’t as broad as it had been under the former process. The result was that many in the industry were left out of the loop while those unaware of the reporting changes assumed the CFIA would post a notification on their website as per usual. R-Calf, meanwhile, issued a release flinging accusations that Canada was hiding BSE cases.
Looking back on the Feb. 25 experience, the CFIA said that some fine-tuning needs to happen around what information is shared and when. Back in 2003, the process involved the agency issuing a release, which later evolved into a short notice that would go up on its website, a document shared with industry and trading partners to give them a heads-up.
The agency didn’t do that on Feb. 25 because the public piece was moved to the new monthly report that captures all animal health diseases in one spot.
Going forward, the agency will continue to fine tune its new reporting policy. When future cases of BSE are confirmed the CFIA will still issue a short summary with all the pertinent details of the case in real time to key trading partners and governments, and intends to alert a broader base of industry stakeholders than reached on Feb. 25. The factual paragraph is intended to ensure governments, trading partners and industry stakeholders have the same information.
If industry gets a call from media or stakeholders in the interim, they will be equipped with the information to deal with it.
Notification to the OIE is done on a six-month reporting cycle. Shaw said Canada has reached a point of credibility under the controlled-risk scenario that its not obliged to do immediate reporting on incidents of BSE.
One of the recommendations to come out of the National Beef Value Chain Roundtable in Calgary March 16-17 was that the Government of Canada announce all future cases of BSE in a timely fashion with appropriate information.
http://www.cattle.ca/action-news/03-29-10-email.html
Damn shame Canada is now going to take pages from the books of the USDA. reminds me of that mad cow testing bungle in Texas, the 48 hour BSE testing turn around that took 7+ months and finally an act of Congress OIG and the Honorable Fong to finally get that cow confirmed. all the while another suspect specimen was sitting on a shelf cooling off to for some 4 months for some kind of BSe reasons, all the while the USDA and the OIE were putting the final touches on the BSE MRR policy to override the BSE GBR risk assessments and policy there from ;
TRADE JUNK SCIENCE TO FOLLOW ;
snip...
The most recent assessments (and reassessments) were published in June 2005 (Table I; 18), and included the categorisation of Canada, the USA, and Mexico as GBR III. Although only Canada and the USA have reported cases, the historically open system of trade in North America suggests that it is likely that BSE is present also in Mexico.
http://www.oie.int/boutique/extrait/06heim937950.pdf
IN A NUT SHELL ;
(Adopted by the International Committee of the OIE on 23 May 2006)
11. Information published by the OIE is derived from appropriate declarations made by the official Veterinary Services of Member Countries. The OIE is not responsible for inaccurate publication of country disease status based on inaccurate information or changes in epidemiological status or other significant events that were not promptly reported to the Central Bureau,
http://www.oie.int/eng/Session2007/RF2006.pdf
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
U.S. Emergency Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Response Plan Summary and BSE Red Book Date: February 14, 2000 at 8:56 am PST
WHERE did we go wrong $$$
http://madcowtesting.blogspot.com/2009/07/us-emergency-bovine-spongiform.html
SEE FULL TEXT OF ALL THIS HERE ;
2009 UPDATE ON ALABAMA AND TEXAS MAD COWS 2005 and 2006
http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2006/08/bse-atypical-texas-and-alabama-update.html
BSE MRR BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BY YOUR LOCAL CATTLE DEALER I.E. USDA ET AL !
Japan had better hold tight to the '20 months or younger' rule. Australia better hold tight period, and Korea and Taiwan, they had better keep a keen eye as well, In 2010 highly suspect banned mad cow protein is still in commerce, and very young humans are dying from CJD, of long duration, with psychotic symptoms. WHY has this case been kept secret ?
>>> Up until about 6 years ago, the pt worked at Tyson foods where she worked on the assembly line, slaughtering cattle and preparing them for packaging. She was exposed to brain and spinal cord matter when she would euthanize the cattle. Monday, March 29, 2010 Irma Linda Andablo CJD Victim, she died at 38 years old on February 6, 2010 in Mesquite Texas <<<
You can be assured they are squirming behind closed doors, and that they are doing there best to squirm right out of this one. they will come up with something, international travel long ago, or some strange PRNP mutation that they might say like sporadic ffi ??? or a case of atypical case of inherited Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) ??? they will make up something. but it will be anything but BSE related here in the USA, in my opinion. sporadic FFI, or sporadic GSS, or sporadic inherited CJD is an oxymoron. it's either familial or not. or even this new novel human disease known as Protease-Sensitive Prionopathy (PSPr), they might come up with that. if they cannot do this, it will be an occupational TSE infection, whether they want to admit it or not. and they don't admit those to often, the cover them up. just like that Spanish Doctor that handled cjd infected tissue. but we never heard nothing about that one either. Most Countries (NOT including the USA) know what the O.I.E. is really all about, and that's nothing by trade, governed by junk science (Trade Science$). Just ask the Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Stanley Prusiner, who was quoted as saying about trade and BSE that 'NOTHING ELSE MATTERED', 'THEY DON'T WANT TO KNOW'. It's really sad, USDA et al while boasting about the O.I.E 'United States ultimately seeks a protocol that is compliant with OIE guidelines', these guidelines were pushed through by dehaven et al, with the soul intentions of weakening the already flawed OIE BSE protocols, because most every country that went by the old O.I.E. guidelines all came down with BSE. So you see, we went from a terribly flawed BSE protocols, to even weaker BSE protocols with the BSE MRR junk science. This did not happened until the USA finally accidently documented a BSE/TSE in it's cattle. They may as well just say to hell with this and open up the borders without any protocols, because that is just about what this BSE MRR policy is about. USDA et al have even done away with all trading protocols with any atypical Scrapie i.e. Nor-98, without any scientific justification, ATYPICAL SCRAPIE IS A LEGAL COMMIDITY NOW, even though Nor-98 atypical Scrapie will in fact consistently transmit within AHQ homozygous sheep, and the disease phenotype is preserved on sub-passage. So in fact USDA, the OIE are making policy that risk human health. there is already reams of scientific data that show not only the atypical Scrapie, but also typical scrapie is a risk to human health. again, even Professor Stanley Prusiner states this. I can supply reference to any of these studies and facts if need be. ...
CJD TEXAS 38 YEAR OLD FEMALE WORKED SLAUGHTERING CATTLE EXPOSED TO BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD MATTER
http://cjdtexas.blogspot.com/2010/03/cjd-texas-38-year-old-female-worked.html
http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/
Terry S. Singeltary Sr. P.O. Box 42 Bacliff, Texas USA 77518
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Atypical BSE in Cattle / position: Post Doctoral Fellow
http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2010/03/atypical-bse-in-cattle-position-post.html