[Jacob-list] Voluntary Scrapie Program/Scrapie Tests

[Jacobflock at aol.com]

For more facts on Scrapie go to www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/scrapie or stop before 
the /vs and navigate around.  The site desribes scrapie, the Voluntary 
Scrapie Program, and the Interstate Movement Restrictions for Sheep and Goats.

Before this goes too far, BOTH rams and ewes CAN get scrapie.  WOOL sheep can 
get scrapie.  It is a disease that can be transmitted ... and there seems to 
be a genetic susceptibility to it.

The Voluntary Scrapie Program is not a TEST for scrapie; it is a program to 
monitor a source flock if scrapie is found.

However, there are currently TWO "tests" for scrapie susceptibility: (1) the 
"third eyelid" test in Pullman Washington (Catherine ORourke is the expert on 
third eyelid tests),  I sent her a couple of eyelids and they didn't get 
there in usable condition. (2) DNA tests at codons 136, 154 and 171.  
GeneCheck in Ft.Collins checks codons as well as Genemark and Infogen.  Most 
North Americans check ony codon 171 for at least one R ... the code for the 
amino acid arginine.   The majority of tests are for Suffolk rams... for an R 
at 171... an indicator but not insurance.

There have not been any confirmed tests of scrapie in Jacobs in the US.  The 
Jacob in England were tested at 136,154,171 and only 4 of the 47 tested did 
not carry at least one R at 171.  There is actually an absence of DOCUMENTED 
cases of scrapie in Jacobs in England but vets have "heard stories" of its 
occurance.

Various breeds have varying susceptibility based on their genotype; but not 
all breeds have been DOCUMENTED for scrapie and its associated genotype.

Because the Jacob is in some 'minds' a primitive breed it is thought to be 
disease  resistant and threrefore scrapie resistant.  The Soay genotype  (a 
primitive sheep) are  commonly ARQ/ARQ at codons 136, 154, and 171; and Q's 
(amino acid called glutimine) at codon 171 are supposed to be highly 
genetically susceptible.


Fred Horak