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 Home » Animal Health Status » Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs)

TSEs in animals are a class of rare brain diseases that are associated with the accumulation of abnormal prion protein in the brain. TSEs are incurable central nervous system illnesses that have been detected in a number of species, including humans. Scrapie is a TSE that affects sheep and goats, while bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a TSE that affects cattle.  Australia is free of all animal TSEs.

BSE

BSE afflicts cattle. This brain wasting disease causes neurological disease, exhibited by changes in animal behaviour, (increased nervousness and aggression), abnormal posture, coordination problems, difficulty walking and loss of body weight (despite continued appetite). more

Scrapie

Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats. more

What is Australia doing to remain disease free

Australia is free from BSE and scrapie. Australian quarantine controls are strictly enforced to maintain this disease-free status. Being an island continent, our quarantine laws are assisted by Australia's built-in natural defence. more
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