Investigation of an outbreak of scrapie in Palestine

ABSTRACT

This study documents an outbreak of scrapie in adult sheep [East-Friesian Breed] in Palestine with high morbidity rate 21.5%. The clinical findings of the disease were abnormal behavior, ataxia, tremor, incoordination of locomotion pruritus, loss of wool, nibbling, recumbency and hyperaesthesia to noise, movement of touch. The clinical diagnosis is supported by histophatological lesions and immune-detection of prion proteins in central nervous system by immunohistochemistry using a reference specific staining monoclonal antibody RIDA Mab L42