Monday, August 13, 2012

Summary results of the second national survey of abnormal prion prevalence in archived appendix specimens August 2012

Summary results of the second national survey of abnormal prion prevalence in archived appendix specimens
In April 2008, the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) considered available prevalence data for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) in the British population and advised that a second appendix survey, using the same approach as a previous appendix tissue survey [1] on samples from the 1941 to 1985 birth cohort, be undertaken to further refine the estimate for the prevalence of subclinical infection [2].The second unlinked anonymous survey of the prevalence of abnormal prion protein in archived appendix tissues has now been completed and this summary provides an update to the interim results published in September 2011 [3,4].

The survey examined appendices by immunohistochemistry from operations conducted between 2000 and 2012 and collected from 41 hospitals throughout England. Abnormal prion accumulation was detected within the follicular dendritic cells of 16 appendices out of 32,441 suitable samples examined. None of the positive appendices have come from the 176 known vCJD cases in the UK. In line with the interim findings, the final overall prevalence estimate, 493 per million (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 282 to 801 per million), remained statistically consistent with results from the earlier appendix survey (237 per million, 95%CI 49 to 692 per million) which examined samples from operations performed between 1995 and 1999 [1]. The prevalence estimates by birth cohort were 733 per million (95% CI: 269 to 1596 per million) in those born between 1941 and 1960 and 412 per million (95% CI: 198 to 758 per million) in those born between 1961 and 1985: these results were also in line with the interim findings [3,4].

The survey was conducted by a collaboration of the HPA, the Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases at the UCL Institute of Neurology, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, the National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Research and Surveillance Unit, the Histopathology Department of Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, and the MRC Prion Unit.

The final survey results have been considered by the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Risk Assessment Sub-Group of the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens, the successor to SEAC [5]. In summary, the estimated prevalence range largely overlaps that from the first survey, but is narrower with a higher central estimate (around 1 in 2000 compared with around 1 in 4000). The new survey also demonstrates the presence of prion protein across a wider birth cohort than previously.
The hypothesis that the prevalence of abnormal prions found in both appendix surveys to date is linked to the epidemic of BSE in cattle in Britain can be tested directly by studying further appendix samples archived prior to the BSE outbreak and samples from those born in 1996 or later by which time measures had been put in place to protect the food chain [5].

References

1. Hilton DA, Ghani AC, Conyers L, Edwards P, McCardle L, Ritchie D, et al. Prevalence of lymphoreticular prion protein accumulation in UK tissue samples. J Pathol 2004; 203: 733-9.
2. Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC). Position Statement. Prevalence of subclinical variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease infections. August 2008. SEAC position statement.
3. HPA. Interim data from the current national survey of abnormal prion prevalence in archived appendix specimens. September 2011. Health Protection Report 5(36). Available at: http://www.hpa.org.uk/hpr/archives/2011/news3611.htm#cjd.

4. HPA. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) biannual update (2012/1). February 2012. Health Protection Report 6(6). Available at: http://www.hpa.org.uk/hpr/archives/2012/hpr0612.pdf.
5. Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) TSE Risk Assessment Subgroup. Position Statement on occurrence of vCJD and prevalence of infection in the UK population. July 2012. Available at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/ab/ACDP/TSEguidance/DH_125868.
 
 
1 in 2,000 is huge.
considering this study was only looking at the appendix, was only using immunohistochemistry, this study tells little, and may even be giving false hope.
in my opinion, everyone in the U.K., back in the worse days of the mad cow epidemic, that consumed beef, would have had to have been exposed to BSE, how many there from that are sub-clinical, that is another question, one this study does not answer in full.


TSS
 
 
 
 
Survey underlines need for minimizing secondary human exposure to prions
 
 
16 August 2012
 
 
Official publications
 
 
Tags: TSE, vCJD
 
 
 
Source: Health Protection Agenca/ ACDP
 
 
 
The Health Protection Agency of the UK has released its summary results of the second national survey of abnormal prion prevalence in archived appendix specimens. The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) TSE Risk Assessment Subgroup published a comment on the these results in a position paper.
 
 
 
The position paper concludes amongst other things that (highlighting by USP):
 
 
 
- While fundamental research into prion diseases continues, it is essential to ensure that consistent, long-term surveillance of the population continues. This should include development of methods to characterise the disease and if appropriate differentiate between strains.
 
 
 
- Despite the welcome fall in vCJD diagnoses, the indication of relatively widespread, albeit “silent”, vCJD infection necessitates continued attention to the risks of secondary, person-to-person transmission, and for applied research to support the development and implementation of risk management strategies.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Published Date: 2011-11-07 19:37:21
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Prion disease update 2011 (10) Archive Number: 20111107.3317
 
 
PRION DISEASE UPDATE 2011 (10)
 
 
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05 Oct 2010 14:46
 
 
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North America has NO surveillance system for iatrogenic CJD. a few mishaps of late ;
 
 
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11 patients may have been exposed to fatal disease Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease CJD Greenville Memorial Hospital
 
 
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CJD case in Saint John prompts letter to patients Canada CJD case in Saint John prompts letter to patients
 
 
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Alzheimer’s disease and Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy prion disease, Iatrogenic, what if ?

Proposal ID: 29403
 
 
 
layperson

TSS