Bovine spongiform encephalopathy – Definition & Meaning

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects cattle. The disease is also known as “mad cow disease” due to the characteristic behavior of infected animals. BSE is caused by an abnormal protein called a prion, which damages the brain and nervous system of infected animals.

Definitions

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy is a transmissible, degenerative, and fatal disease of the central nervous system of cattle. The disease is characterized by the accumulation of an abnormal protein called a prion in the brain and nervous system of infected animals.

Origin

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy was first identified in the United Kingdom in the 1980s. The disease was traced back to the use of contaminated animal feed, which contained the remains of infected animals. The practice of feeding animal protein to cattle has since been banned in many countries to prevent the spread of the disease.

Meaning in different dictionaries

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, bovine spongiform encephalopathy is “a fatal disease of cattle that is caused by a prion and is characterized by spongy degeneration of the brain and spinal cord.”

The Oxford English Dictionary defines bovine spongiform encephalopathy as “a disease of cattle characterized by spongy degeneration of the brain and spinal cord, caused by a prion.”

Associations

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy is associated with the consumption of contaminated beef products, which can lead to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. The disease has also had a significant impact on the beef industry, leading to the destruction of millions of cattle and causing economic losses.

Synonyms

Some synonyms of bovine spongiform encephalopathy include mad cow disease, BSE, and bovine encephalopathy.

Antonyms

There are no direct antonyms of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, as it is a specific disease with no opposite or opposing condition.

The same root words

The root words of bovine spongiform encephalopathy include bovine, which refers to cattle, and encephalopathy, which refers to a disease or disorder of the brain.

Example Sentences

  • The outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy had a devastating impact on the beef industry.
  • Scientists are working to develop a vaccine to prevent bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
  • The consumption of contaminated beef products has been linked to cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which is caused by the same prion as bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
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