Prions are proteinaceous infectious particles which are sub-viral that can trigger the normal protein present in the brain to fold abnormally. They cause neurodegenerative disease in both humans and animals.
The diseases caused by Prions are:-
1. Kuru Disease: In this disease the cerebellum part of the brain is infected. In this disease, the person has difficulty walking, swallowing and grasping objects. They have frequent mood swings, slurred speeches, dementia, random compulsive laughing or crying, also muscle twitching and tremors are some of the common symptoms of this neurological disease. It has been found that kuru Disease is seen among people from New Guinea who practiced a form of cannibalism in which they eat the brain of the dead individual as a form of funeral ritual. This disease is rare and was seen last time in the year 2005.
2. Mad Cow Disease: Also called as BSE, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy. It again is a neurological disorder seen in cattles which can also transfer to humans through eating diseased meat. In this disease, the cow has difficulty walking and getting up. The cow also gets very violent and nervous hence the name. When transfered to humans it’s called CJD (cruedzfeldt-Jakob disease) which leads to dementia and death ultimately. CJD is quite rare.
3. Scrapie Disease: This is again fatal neurological disease caused by Prions which is found in sheep and goat. In this, the sheep/goat shows symptoms like twitching, intense itching, excitability, malnutrition, weakness, excessive thirst and ultimately paralysis.
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