2008 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) The objective of this cooperative research project is to obtain material from an oral bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) pathogenesis study performed at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA)-Weybridge in the United Kingdom. These BSE materials will be used to identify PrPd tissue distribution and migration in BSE infected cattle. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) We will obtain various materials from the bovine spongiform encephalophathy (BSE) oral pathogenesis study. These materials will be used to identify PrPd tissue distribution and migration employing validated and non-validated PrPd detecting methods developed at the NADC for use with CWD and scrapie. At necropsy, approximately 80 samples were taken from the animals at various time points post infection. This study also included ante mortem sampling of body fluids like blood, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, saliva, nasal secretions, feces and milk at determined intervals. 3.Progress Report Materials from an oral Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) pathogenesis study performed at the VLA-Weybridge in the United Kingdom were imported to the NADC for the purpose of identifying PrPres tissue distribution and migration in BSE-infected cattle. Samples include milk, placenta, serum, bone marrow, and frozen and paraffin embedded brain tissues. Technical difficulties with the PMCA assay in our lab have resulted in us suspending our research on these tissues until better techniques become available. Additional funds remain in the agreement and plans are being made to request additional samples from visual system and other tissues that tie in with work currently underway with non-BSE Transmissible spongiform encephelopathies (TSEs) here at the NADC. Methods for monitoring this project are primarily e-mail with periodic phone calls; however, since the remaining research to be conducted is our portion of the SCA, fewer contacts will be needed until such time we begin preparing manuscripts. This project addresses NP 103, component 8.