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Two regulatory region polymorphisms in the prion gene of cattle have been reported to have an association with resistance to classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). However, it is not known if this association also applies to other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) in cattle. In this report, we compare the relationship between these 2 polymorphisms and resistance in cattle affected with naturally occurring atypical BSE as well as in cattle experimentally inoculated with either scrapie, chronic wasting disease, or transmissible mink encephalopathy. Our analysis revealed no association between genotype and resistance to atypical BSE or experimentally inoculated TSE. This indicates the promoter polymorphism correlation is specific to classical BSE and that atypical BSE and experimentally inoculated TSE are bypassing the site of influence of the polymorphisms. This genetic discrepancy demonstrates that atypical BSE progresses differently in the host relative to classical BSE. These results are consistent with the notion that atypical BSE originates spontaneously in cattle.

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