Factors affecting the accuracy of urine-based biomarkers of BSE

Table 1 Samples of the Known Set.

			MPI							Age of animal at terminal collection
Animal ID	Gender	Breed	6	11	17	23	29	35	41
ctl 3	male	Friesian/Holstein	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	4 years
ctl 8	male	Friesian/Holstein	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	5 years, 1 month
ctl 11	male	Friesian	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	4 years, 1 month
ctl 1822	male	Friesian/Holstein	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	4 years, 10 months
inf 5	male	Friesian	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	3 years, 11 months
inf 9	male	Friesian	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	3 years, 11 months
inf 22	male	Friesian	√	√	√	√	√	√	√	4 years, 2 months
inf 31	male	Friesian/Holstein	√	√	√	√	√	√	X	3 years, 5 months

The known set consisted of eight neutered males. Four were orally infected with 100 g of BSE infected brain homogenate. Urine samples were collected at 5-6 month intervals post infection from both the infected and age matched control steers. The breed of the steers is asymmetrically divided between the two groups. The infected group consists of three Friesians and one crossbred Friesian-Holstein. Conversely the control group consists of the crossbred Friesian-Holsteins and one Friesian.

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