Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Surveillance Testing in Mature Cattle

The University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory will perform appropriate pathological evaluations on all dead cattle presented for necropsy and related testing as indicated in support of the national BSE surveillance program. Procedures shall include obtaining and reviewing the relevant clinical history for indications of altered neurological function. The brain shall be removed from all cattle, even those being extremely remote for the disease and examined macroscopically and microscopically for evidence of spongiform encephalopathy. A sample of brain stem that includes the obex shall be taken and submitted to the appropriate federal laboratory for the specific assay for BSE.