Diseases such as scrapie in sheep,"mad cow" disease in cattle,and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans are known as
A)viroids.
B)viruses.
C)retroviruses.
D)TSEs (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies).
E)emerging viruses,for example Ebola.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

These diseases are caused by prions, which are misfolded proteins that can cause other normal proteins to misfold and aggregate in the brain, leading to neurological symptoms and ultimately death. TSEs (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies) are the group of diseases caused by prions. Viroids, viruses, and retroviruses are not responsible for these diseases, although emerging viruses like Ebola can cause similar symptoms.

Diseases Such as Scrapie in Sheep,"mad Cow" Disease in Cattle,and