Quantitative analysis indicates differences in infected cattle urine

Cattle infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) can be identified based on quantitative analysis of the proteins present in their urine, according to researchers.

Writing in Proteome Science, scientists from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, GE Healthcare and University of Manitoba suggest that urine is a useful source of data on cattle infection.

In particular, it can be collected without causing injury and as many times as is required, providing for repeated quantitative analysis of its content.

Recent years have raised the profile of BSE as a concern, due to its incurable nature and ability to spread from one species to another - such as from cattle to humans.

However, the researchers report two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis uncovered disease-specific variations in protein abundance, even in light of other factors relating to age, gender and breed, which could serve as a means of identifying infection in the future.

Proteome Science addresses all aspects of both structural and functional proteomics.