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Science 21 February 1975:
Vol. 187. no. 4177, p. 656
DOI: 10.1126/science.803711
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Articles

Science, Vol 187, Issue 4177, 656-656
Copyright © 1975 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Transmissible mink encephalopathy: infectivity of corneal epithelium

RF Marsh and RP Hanson

Corneal epithelium from hamsters dying of transmissible mink encephalopathy contained a virus titer of 10-4.8 times the 50 percent lethal dose (10-4.8 LD50) per 0.05 milliliter when assayed as a cell suspension derived directly from the infected animal. After one passage in tissue culture, an equivalent concentration of cells contained only 10-0.8 LD50 per 0.05 milliliter.. It is concluded that corneal tissues are infectious; the infectivity may be mainly associated with free nerve endings. However, the most important immediate inference is that corneas from human beings affected with Creuzfeldt-Jakob disease are likely to be lethal if transplanted to healthy recipients.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Retention of corneal epithelial cells following Goldmann tonometry: implications for CJD risk.
R Lim, B Dhillon, K M Kurian, P A Aspinall, K Fernie, and J W Ironside (2003)
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 87, 583-586
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The sclera, the prion, and the ophthalmologist.
J S Mehta and W A Franks (2002)
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 86, 587-592
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Transplanted Infections: Donor-to-Host Transmission with the Allograft.
K. M. Gottesdiener (1989)
Ann Intern Med 110, 1001-1016
   Abstract »    PDF »


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