“Fighting Mad Cow in Medicine and Veterinary”

Prof. Dr. Halil Resmi, a faculty member at the Faculty of Medicine of Cyprus International University, shared detailed information about Mad Cow Disease and how it spreads.

Stating that the disease, scientifically known as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), is closely monitored due to its potential to be transmitted from animals to humans and its lack of treatment, Resmi explained, “Mad Cow Disease is a fatal illness seen in cattle that damages the central nervous system.” Emphasizing that the cause of the disease is not a bacterium or virus, but rather a faulty protein called a “prion,” Resmi continued, “A prion is a protein found in the body, and the problem arises when it is misfolded and becomes resistant to degradation. Once this faulty prion enters the body, it induces normal prion proteins to misfold in the same way. This accumulates particularly in brain cells and causes irreversible damage.”

Resmi also highlighted the different types of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), noting that sporadic (sCJD), familial or genetic CJD, and variant CJD (vCJD) types have been observed. He explained, “The main cause of Sporadic CJD (sCJD) is mutations that lead to the formation of PrPSc. These mutations are not passed on to future generations. Familial or genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, similar to thalassemia, involves a faulty gene that can be inherited from one generation to the next. The inheritance pattern is autosomal dominant, meaning that if either parent carries the mutation, each child has a 50% chance of developing the disease. Variant CJD (vCJD) is linked to BSE in cattle. In this case, the disease-causing protein is transmitted to humans through the consumption of contaminated animal products.”

Prof. Dr. Resmi also noted that a similar prion disease was once observed in New Guinea. “In one tribe there, a cultural ritual involved consuming the brains of deceased relatives, which led to the spread of the disease within that community. This is a striking example showing how the disease can spread rapidly under uncontrolled conditions,” he said.

Emphasizing that combating this disease concerns not only the field of medicine but also veterinary science, Resmi stated, “Strict controls on animal health, adherence to hygiene and traceability regulations during slaughter and production processes are critically important for public health. For this reason, it is recommended to avoid consuming animal products of unknown origin, especially organs such as the brain.”