Prions

Question 1

Prion diseases

Answer 1

transmissible spongiform encephalopathies

Question 2

Important characteristics of prions

Answer 2

long incubation time, gradual increase in sx severity, no host immune response, neuro-patho findings

Question 3

Infectious prion disease etiology

Answer 3

exposure to exogenous PRPsc from eating infected beef, cannibalism, or contaminated surgical instruments

Question 4

Inherited prion disease etiology

Answer 4

mutation in PrPc gene favors spontaneous misfolded protein structure

Question 5

Prion dz sxs

Answer 5

dementia, ataxia, myoclonic jerks, death

Question 6

Specified risk material associated with prion disease

Answer 6

lymphatic and neural tissue