Abstract: Provided is a novel method for detecting Transmissible Spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). The method comprises: selecting a body fluid sample from a subject to determine whether the subject has transmissible spongiform encephalopathy; and detecting antibodies that immune react with Spiroplasma proteins in the sample. The method detects antibodies in the individual sera samples that react with recombinant Spiroplasma-specific Hsp60 by standard ELISA methodology. This method provides for rapid detection of TSE by determination of presence of antibodies in test samples showing associated Spiroplasma infection that has become consistent with presence of TSE. The method provides a mechanism to detect presence of TSE without invasive techniques currently needed to make diagnosis using brain tissues for prion detection. This method provides means of detection of TSE in the live patient without need for using necropsy tissues.

Abstract: Provided is a novel method for detecting Transmissible Spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). The method comprises: selecting a sera sample from a subject to determine whether the subject has transmissible spongiform encephalopathy; and detecting antibodies that immune react with Spiroplasma proteins in the sample. The method detects antibodies in the individual sera samples that react with recombinant Spiroplasma-specific Hsp60 by standard ELISA methodology. This method provides for rapid detection of TSE by determination of presence of antibodies in test sera showing associated Spiroplasma infection that has become consistent with presence of TSE. The method provides a mechanism to detect presence of TSE without invasive techniques currently needed to make diagnosis using brain tissues for prion detection. This method provides means of detection of TSE in the live patient without need for using necropsy tissues.

Abstract: Provided is a method of detecting transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. The method comprises: selecting a sample from a subject to determine whether the subject has a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy; and detecting spiroplasma-specific 16S rDNA indicative of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in the sample. The spiroplasma-specific 16S rDNA is preferably detected by contacting the sample with a pair of oligonucleotide primers under polymerase chain reaction conditions and detecting the resulting polymerase chain reaction product, wherein each of the pair of the oligonucleotide primers is complementary to spiroplasma-specific 16S rDNA indicative of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.