This study was carried out to evaluate the features of neurological dysfunction in experimentally induced bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)-infected cattle using brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP). The progressive prolongation of peak latency of waves III and V was observed right-and-left bilaterally at the onset of neurological symptoms. The peak latency of wave V and the I-V interpeak latency (IPL) in BSE cattle 22 and 24 months after intracerebral inoculation were significantly (P<0.05) prolonged compared with the control cattle. In addition, the amplitude of the BAEP waves of the BSE cattle were low compared with those of the control cattle. Hearing loss occurred in the BSE cattle that showed advanced neurological symptoms such as tremors. This BAEP data appears to reflect a functional disorder in the central auditory nerve pathways characteristic of experimentally induced BSE.
(Research Team for Production Diseases, TEL +81-29-838-7708)
Reference:
Arai, S., et al. (2009) Res. Vet. Sci. 87: 111-114.
