Development of a dot blot assay for the rapid detection of central nervous system tissue on meat and contact surfaces.

As a potential transmitter of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), tissue from bovine central nervous system (CNS) is not accepted in meat and meat products. Western blot analysis of the CNS marker myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) detects CNS contamination selectively and sensitively. In this study, a rapid dot blot assay using an anti-PLP antibody was developed to screen CNS contamination of meat and contact surfaces.

Myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) as a marker antigen of central nervous system contaminations for routine food control.

Spreading transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) have been widely attributed to transmission by ingestion of mammalian central nervous system (CNS) tissue. Reliable exclusion of this epidemiological important route of transmission relies on an effective surveillance of food contamination. Here, myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) is identified as a specific and largely heat-resistant marker for detection of food contaminations by CNS tissue.