EXPERIMENTAL TRANSMISSION OF CREUTZFELDT‐JAKOB DISEASE

Abstract

Tissues taken from 10 patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) were inoculated into many species of small rodents and primates. Successful transmission was obtained from 9 patients after different incubation periods. After the 2nd passage, the incidence became high and incubation periods were reduced to .apprx. 4 mo. in mice. Squirrel monkeys needed the longest incubation period. Intracerebral inoculation was the fastest route of transmission followed by other parenteral and oral routes. Spongiform change and gliosis in the CNS were common pathological changes, although their distribution was peculiar to each animal species. The distribution in mice differed with each inoculated material taken from the patients, suggesting the multiplicity of CJD agents. Unconventional properties of the causative agent disclosed through this animal model were discussed.