Scrapie:
It has been known for some years that the development of clinical scrapie is under genetic control. Some sheep are genetically ‘susceptible’ to the scrapie agent and if infected will at some point in their lives succumb to the disease, usually between 2 and 4 years of age. Others are genetically ‘resistant’ and even if in close contact with infected sheep will not develop clinical disease.
It is possible to determine the susceptibility or resistance of individual sheep by looking for the relevant genetic markers in their blood. There are genetic markers at 3 significant positions, or Codons, which are known by their numbers - 136, 154 and 171.
Not all breeds of sheep require all of the tests to determine resistance, so the testing is offered in 3 forms:
3 codons (131, 154 and 171) - £24 per test
2 codons (131 and 176) - £17.00 per test
1 codon (171 only) - £16.00 per test
For further information on scrapie testing, please click on this link: http://www.sac.ac.uk/consultancy/sghs/schemes/scrapiegenotype
The National Scrapie Plan
In 2000, in an effort to breed a national flock that is more resistant to scrapie, the government introduced the National Scrapie Plan. For more information on this, go to the Sheep Veterinary Society page on: http://svs.mri.sari.ac.uk/nsp.htm
Larkmead can offer advice on the control of scrapie in flocks and the National Scrapie Plan. We can take blood samples from selected sheep for genotyping and submit these for testing. Chris Trower can also offer expert advice on the results and help to formulate a breeding policy to maintain freedom from this insidious disease.
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Last Updated : 29 January 2008 (C) Larkmead Veterinary Group Ltd.