Epidemiology of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)

Basic epidemiological characteristics of a new transmissible disease of cattle, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, are described in the present paper. The most probable theories of the origin of etiological agent and its characteristics an summarized. A brief survey of the occurrence of bovine spongiform encephalitis in Great Britain and throughout the world is presented. The reservoir and routes of infection transmission are described as well as the expected incubation period, infectivity period, followed by measures taken to protect people's and animal health.