Award details

Epidemiology of scrapie in sheep

Reference	BS309857
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Angela McLean
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Christopher Bostock
Institution	The Pirbright Institute
Department	Div of Molecular Biology
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	1,356,561
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	02/02/1998
End date	02/02/2002
Duration	48 months

Abstract

Attempts to control and eradicate scrapie are hampered by a lack of understanding of the aetiology, pathogenesis and epidemiology of the disease, particularly in relation to strains of agent and variation in PrP genotype. With the knowledge of the influence of the ovine PrP gene on the incidence of natural and experimental scrapie and the power of current biomathematical approaches to the study of infectious diseases, there is tremendous scientific opportunity to undertake detailed and integrated epidemiological and pathogenetic studies to gain a full insight into this increasingly important disease of sheep. The specific objectives of this research programme are:1) to describe the epidemiological patterns for scrapie in the UK and elsewhere and to identify risk factors and routes of transmission in the field2) to carry out demographic analysis of the national sheep flock3) to collect data on the distribution of PrP genotypes in sheep and to develop population genetics models for changes in genotype frequency4) to develop mathematical models for the dynamics of scrapie in individual flocks and in the national flock using parameter estimates obtained from pathogenesis research5) to use the models as aids to the design of scrapie control or eradication programmes(This programme interacts closely with 201/TSE09722, Pathogenesis of scrapie in sheep).

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	Biology of Spongiform Encephalopathies - Phase 3 (BS3) [1996-1997]
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

I accept the terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)

export PDF file

back to list new search