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Volume 31, Number 12—December 2025

Dispatch

Abnormal Prion Protein in Nasal Swab Specimens of Macaques Infected with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Juraj Cervenak, Oksana Yakovleva, Cyrus Bett, Teresa Pilant, Kelly Rice, Lewis Shankle1, David M. Asher1, Luisa GregoriComments to Author , and Pedro Piccardo
Author affiliation: US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA (J. Cervenak, O. Yakovleva, C. Bett, T. Pilant, K. Rice, L. Shankle, D.M. Asher, L. Gregori, P. Piccardo); Unidad Académica de Neuropediátria, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay (P. Piccardo)

Main Article

Figure 1

Results of real-time quaking-induced conversion testing of tissue samples from a study of abnormal prion protein in nasal swabs of macaques infected with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Data based on nasal swab extracts and lymph nodes 1 and 2 from macaque 98CO19. Each line represents the change in fluorescent signal over time. We tested 1% and 0.1% homogenates; increase in fluorescent signal was observed only with 1% homogenates. PrP, prion protein.

Figure 1. Results of real-time quaking-induced conversion testing of tissue samples from a study of abnormal prion protein in nasal swabs of macaques infected with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Data based on nasal swab extracts and lymph nodes 1 and 2 from macaque 98CO19. Each line represents the change in fluorescent signal over time. We tested 1% and 0.1% homogenates; increase in fluorescent signal was observed only with 1% homogenates. PrP, prion protein.

Main Article

1Retired.

We transfused 4 macaques with blood of macaques previously infected with variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, resulting in disease transmittal to 2 macaques (1 demonstrating clinical signs). Nasal swab specimens from both infected macaques became positive for disease-associated prion protein during the preclinical stage. Such samples are suitable for antemortem diagnosis during long incubation periods.

Page created: December 13, 2025
Page updated: December 23, 2025
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