British goat may also have contracted BSE, scientists say

LONDON, Feb 8 (AFP) - A goat, which died in Britain 15 years ago, may have been suffering from so-called "mad cow" disease, scientists said Tuesday in the second report of the condition being seen in another species.
The animal, which passed away in Scotland in 1990, was diagnosed at the time as suffering from scrapie, a relatively common disease of the nervous system that affects goats and sheep.
However, new testing showed the goat "may have had" bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), which previously only afflicted cows, Britain's Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said.
BSE is blamed for variant Creutzfelt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in humans, which causes brain-wasting, personality change and ultimately death. A total of 148 people have died of vCJD in Britain.
The new tests were carried out following the announcement late last month that a goat slaughtered in France in 2002 had tested positive for BSE, the first case ever seen outside cows.
The British tests were carried out by scientists from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, a Defra statement said.
"More sensitive testing methods have found the sample had traits similar to samples from goats experimentally infected with BSE. Further tests will now be carried out."

02/08/2005 15:36 GMT - AFP