Scrapie

Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease that affects the nervous system of sheep and goats. It is caused by abnormal proteins called prions, which damage brain and spinal cord tissue, leading to symptoms like itching, grabbing at wool, weakness, and behavioral changes. Unlike bacteria or viruses, prions are misfolded proteins that induce other proteins to also misfold, spreading the disease without involving DNA or RNA. Scrapie is contagious and can be transmitted through contact with infected animals or their environment. There is no cure, so management focuses on identification, culling infected animals, and preventing spread to healthy populations.