Microbiology and Immunology

WORLD OF MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY BSE and CJD: Ethical issues and socio-economic impact

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optometrists and opthamologists—hard lenses that are “steril-

ized” between patient use in clinics that fit contact lenses. The

eye has a direct neural link with the brain and is one of the most

highly infectious organs of the body in CJD and vCJD, after the

brain and spinal cord. There is concern that these lenses could

spread iatrogenic vCJD. Additionally “touch” tonometry has

been banned in the UK, only the “air puff” method is allowed

now. And, of course, ophthalmological surgery could be a

prime candidate for this as well. However, nothing is being

done in this regard in the U.S. to screen U.K. patients, or U.S.

patients who have lived abroad.

A new fear is that blood supplies may be contaminated

with prions and that Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) will join

hepatitisand AIDSin the public and medical consciousness as

the next infectious disease epidemic which may be contracted

through donated blood and tissue. In view of the theoretical

risk of blood-borne transmission of CJD, some experts recom-

mend that the following groups of people not donate blood: all

people with CJD; first-degree relatives of CJD patients with

Computer model of the protein molecule responsible for plaques in the brain.

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