PRECLINICAL LESIONS AND THEIR PROGRESSION IN EXPERIMENTAL SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHIES (KURU AND CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB DISEASE) IN PRIMATES

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and kuru were studied in experimental primates. Eight animals with clinical disease lasting from 1/2-12 1/2 mo. were evaluated for histological evidence of progression of the pathological triad of neuronal vacuolation, neuronal loss and fibrous astrocytosis. The 1st change to appear was neuronal vacuolation in the body of neurones and the neuropil. Fibrous astrocytosis was found subsequent to neuronal damage and necrosis. Neuronal loss was apparent when clinical signs were present. As the clinical disease progressed, so did the severity of neuronal loss and astrocytosis. Five animals inoculated intracerebrally developed histological evidence of neuronal vacuolation and astrocytosis within 1 1/2-10 1/2 mo. post inoculation, prior to any clinical disease signs.