What is the Difference Between Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease and Mad Cow Disease?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and Mad Cow Disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, or BSE) are both transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), which are a group of rare diseases that affect the brain. However, there are several key differences between the two:
- Species affected: CJD is a disease that affects humans, while Mad Cow Disease (BSE) affects cattle.
- Causes: CJD is caused by a protein called a prion, which causes other proteins in the brain to fold into unusual shapes, causing the death of brain cells. Mad Cow Disease is believed to result from feeding cows BSE-contaminated feed.
- Transmission: CJD is not related to Mad Cow Disease, and there is no proof that prions are found in muscle meat (such as steak) or in milk. However, in rare cases, people may get a human form of Mad Cow Disease called Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), which is fatal.
In summary, CJD and Mad Cow Disease are both TSEs that affect the brain, but they are distinct diseases that affect different species and have different causes. While there is a rare human form of Mad Cow Disease called vCJD, it is not directly transmitted through consuming meat or milk from infected cattle.
Comparative Table: Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease vs Mad Cow Disease
Here is a table highlighting the differences between Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and Mad Cow Disease (also known as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or BSE):
| Feature | Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) | Mad Cow Disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, BSE) |
|---|---|---|
| Affected species | Humans | Cattle |
| Caused by | Prions (infectious proteins) | Prions (infectious proteins) |
| Transmission | Inheritance, sporadic cases, contaminated medical instruments, or hormone treatments | Consumption of contaminated beef from cattle infected with Mad Cow Disease |
| Symptoms | Dementia, early neurologic signs, increased glycoform ratio on immunoblot analysis of protease-resistant prion protein | Strangely acting cows, loss of ability to do normal things, abnormal brain and spinal cord |
| Duration | Rapid progression, usually fatal within one year of onset | Slowly destroys the brain and spinal cord in cattle |
| Related diseases | Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) is thought to be transmitted through the consumption of contaminated beef from cattle infected with Mad Cow Disease | Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) is related to BSE |
Please note that CJD and Mad Cow Disease are distinct conditions and not directly related. CJD affects humans, while Mad Cow Disease affects cattle.
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