Prions

Prions are

• circular RNA

• enveloped DNA viruses

• defective RNA viruses

• Protozoans

• misfolded brain proteins

Prions cause all of the following disease except

• Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

• Scrapie

• Kuru

• Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

• Lymphedema

Prions are infectious because they

• cause other prions proteins to misfold

• reproduce asexually

• reproduce inside host cells

• can be transferred in respiratory droplets

The incubation period for prion disease is

• 1-3 days

• 2-4 months

• 3-6 months

• several months-several years

The main reservoir for prion disease is

• brain and spinal cord tissue (animals and humans)

• soil

• water

• bats

• ticks

A virulence factor of prions is

• resistance to destruction

• glycoprotein spikes

• a neurotoxin

• fimbraie

Prions can be spread by

• eating meat or other foods contaminated with brain and spinal cord tissue containing prions

• sharing needles

• contaminated surgical equipment

• contact with blood

Signs and symptoms of prion disease include

• Fatigue

• Muscle stiffness

• Hallucinations

• Swollen lymph nodes

• High fever

How can Prion disease be prevented?

• Destroy infected feed animals

• Remove brain, spinal cords, and placentas from meat products

• A toxoid vaccine

• Chloroquine

• Broad spectrum antibiotics including tetracycline

Prion disease can be treated and is not always fatal.

• True

• False