Which other species are affected by transmissible spongiform encephalopathies?

Which other species are affected by transmissible spongiform encephalopathies?

• A. Dogs, tigers, horses, sheep
• B. Cats, goats, mink, pigs
• C. Cats, mink, sheep, deer
• D. Cats, dogs, mink, pigs

Answer: (C)

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are prion diseases that occur in several species where natural infections have been documented. The animals with well-established TSEs include sheep (scrapie), domestic cats (feline spongiform encephalopathy), farmed mink (mink encephalopathy), and deer/elk (chronic wasting disease). These cases show that TSEs can affect both domesticated and wild species across different mammalian groups. Other animals like dogs or pigs have not shown the same clear, naturally occurring TSE patterns in the classic literature, which is why they aren’t listed among the typical affected species. Therefore, the set that fits best is cats, mink, sheep, and deer.

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are prion diseases that occur in several species where natural infections have been documented. The animals with well-established TSEs include sheep (scrapie), domestic cats (feline spongiform encephalopathy), farmed mink (mink encephalopathy), and deer/elk (chronic wasting disease). These cases show that TSEs can affect both domesticated and wild species across different mammalian groups. Other animals like dogs or pigs have not shown the same clear, naturally occurring TSE patterns in the classic literature, which is why they aren’t listed among the typical affected species. Therefore, the set that fits best is cats, mink, sheep, and deer.