BSE Meaning and
Definition
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BSE stands for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy. It is a degenerative and fatal neurological disease found in cattle. BSE belongs to a group of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), which affect the brain and nervous system.
The main characteristic of BSE is the build-up of abnormal proteins, called prions, in the brain. These prions cause the death of brain cells, leading to the development of microscopic holes throughout the brain tissue, giving it a spongy appearance.
BSE is thought to be caused by feeding cattle with meat and bone meal (MBM) derived from infected animals. The disease initially presents with subtle signs, such as changes in behavior, decreased milk production, or difficulty in coordination. As it progresses, affected animals show more severe symptoms, including nervousness, aggression, difficulty in movement, and weight loss. The disease is ultimately fatal.
BSE gained significant public attention in the 1990s when a variant of the disease called vCJD (variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) was identified as a risk to human health. Consuming beef products contaminated with BSE prions was linked to the development of vCJD in humans.
To combat the spread of BSE, strict regulations have been implemented in many countries to ban the feeding of ruminant-derived protein to cattle and to control the movement and slaughter of infected animals. These measures aim to protect both animal and human health.
Common Misspellings for BSE
Etymology of BSE
The acronym "BSE" stands for "Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy". The word "bovine" refers to cattle, "spongiform" describes the appearance of the infected brain tissue under a microscope, and "encephalopathy" refers to a disease or abnormality in the brain. Therefore, the etymology of the term "BSE" comes from the combination of these medical and scientific terms to describe a specific neurological disease affecting cows.
Similar spelling word for BSE
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