PrPSc distribution in the organism of scrapie incubating animals.

Groups of 4 ARQ/VRQ and 4 VRQ/VRQ sheep (named a-b-c-d) were killed at different time of the incubation period. Clinical signs occurred at 20 months in VRQ/VRQ animals and at 32 months in ARQ/VRQ. A systematic PrPSc detection was realized using immunohistochemistry (8G8 antibody) in a large panel of the collected sheep tissues. PrPSc accumulation level was scored according to a semi-quantitative scale: (−) no PrPSc, (+) minimal PrPSc deposits, (++), (+++) moderate PrPSc deposits and (++++) strong PrPSc deposits.LN: Lymph Node; MLN: Mesenteric Lymph Node; PP: Peyer's Patches; ENS: Enteric Nervous System.