Download Mad Cow Disease

Mad Cow Disease
Britta Kratz pd. 7
What Is It?
 Slowly progressive nervous system
disease
 Slowly wears away the central nervous
system
 Fatal
 Found in adult cows
Causes
An infectious protein called a
prion
Feeding cows contaminated feed
Genetics may also play a role
Symptoms
 Neurological problems (staggering,
motor control loss, dementia)
 Weakness and weight loss
 Decreased milk production
Prevention
 Ban on feeding cows cow parts/blood
Ban on feeding cows chicken litter
*very rare that humans can contract a
human form of mad cow disease*
Sources
 http://www.webmd.com/brain/mad-cow-disease-basics
 http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/diseasesandconditions/f
/FAQ_madcow2.htm
 http://www.nature.com/news/2004/040128/full/news040
126-9.html