BEEF products could soon be labelled "BSE free" due to a new diagnostic test for BSE (dubbed "mad cow disease") which has been developed by scientists at University College Dublin.
The news of the test comes amid growing concern among meat eaters in Britain that animals which have BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) but which do not show any obvious symptoms are ending up on the dinner plate. In Britain, some 150,000 animals with BSE have been slaughtered since the disease was first identified in 1987.
One of the biggest problems with BSE and the other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) like scrapie in sheep and Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease in humans - is that it is difficult to diagnose. Currently the diseases can only be diagnosed during a post mortem by a highly trained expert who knows what to look for and by examining brain tissue under a microscope.
TSEs are thought to be caused by a mutant form of a naturally occurring protein, prion. The mutant form can accumulate in cells, leading to cell death. In the brain, this disrupts the nervous: system and results in the characteristic spongey appearance that gives the diseases their generic: name.
The new test has been developed by a UCD team, led by Dr: Mark Rogers, in collaboration with a British biotechnology firm: Proteus. It uses antibodies to detect the presence of the rogue form of the prion protein. The test, as it exists, is still performed on brain tissue after an animal has been slaughtered, but it no longer needs the trained eye of an expert, making it simpler to use and more user friendly. The developers say it as effective as the conventional test.
Ultimately, Proteus hopes to be able to develop a test that could be used with a blood sample, making it possible to detect the disease before an animal is slaughtered. However, it says this could take some time to perfect.
Meanwhile, Proteus is trying to interest the British beef industry in setting up an independent laboratory to test carcases for BSE. One complication is that the carcases would have to be stored for the 48 hours it takes for the test to be carried out.
However, Mr Peter Swift, project manager with Proteus, told The Irish Times there has been considerable interest from a number of firms which make specialised products using only a few carcases. These include a baby foods manufacturer and a company which produces protein products. "These firms have had to move away from using UK beef and that's increased their costs, so they're very keen to be able to use British beef and say that it's BSE free."
The new test has been jointly patented by UCD ancd Proteus. Dr Rogers is now studying the incidence of scrapie in Ireland, especially among flocks of Suffolk sheep.