The USDA’s chief veterinarian, John Clifford, has confirmed a case of BSE in a dairy cow in central California.
“Samples from the animal in question were tested at USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. Confirmatory results using immunohistochemistry and western blot tests confirmed the animal was positive for atypical BSE, a very rare form of the disease not generally associated with an animal consuming infected feed,” Clifford said in a news release.
“We are sharing our laboratory results with international animal health reference laboratories in Canada and England, which have official World Animal Health (OIE) reference labs. These labs have extensive experience diagnosing atypical BSE and will review our confirmation of this form of the disease.”
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Clifford said the carcass of the animal is being held at a rendering facility, and that no part of the animal would ever have entered the food suply. He also pointed out milk does not transmit BSE.
“This detection in no way affects the United States’ BSE status as determined by the OIE,” added Clifford. “The United States has in place all of the elements of a system that OIE has determined ensures that beef and beef products are safe for human consumption: a mammalian feed ban, removal of specified risk materials, and vigorous surveillance.
“Consequently, this detection should not affect U.S. trade.”
