Survey of laboratory findings in suspected cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Denmark from 1990 to 2000

A survey of the laboratory findings in suspected cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Denmark from 1 June 1990 to 31 December 2000 is presented. During this period BSE was a notifiable disease, and the heads of suspected cases were submitted according to the legislation on BSE. A total of 176 submissions were made, mostly from bovines with neurological disorders and mainly during the last 3 years of this period. Lesions or other laboratory findings consistent with severe neurological disorders were found in 115 cases. The most frequent diagnosis was encephalic listeriosis (35.8% of submissions) followed by other forms of inflammatory lesions. A wide range of lesions were diagnosed less prevalent. BSE was diagnosed twice. The first case occurred in an imported cow in 1992, while the second confirmed case was diagnosed in a native cow in February 2000. A marked increase in the number of submissions occurred following the detection of BSE in February 2000.