Meat market BSE inspection

Since the first cow with BSE was found in Japan in September 2001, BSE screening tests have been conducted for all cattle since October 18, the same year, and it was confirmed that the products sold and distributed were not infected. , A certificate of inspection has been issued.

It is called Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, BSE) because the brain of an infected cow vacuole in a sponge shape. When a cow is infected, it becomes sick after 2 to 8 years asymptomatic, and shows symptoms such as abnormal behavior. He died about 2 weeks to 6 months after onset. It is transmitted from feeds containing "abnormal prion", which is an infection factor smaller than the virus.

Originally, "normal prion" is a protein found in the nerves of all mammals. An abnormal prion is an abnormal prion that the structure of the "normal prion" is abnormal, and when it becomes infected, "normal prions" are changed one after another, causing the brain nerves.