Incubation of ovine scrapie with environmental matrix results in biological and biochemical changes of PrPSc over time

Table 1 Main features of characterised strains identified in this study [4,6]

		Main PrP ^Sc characteristics
Strain	Incubation period (IP)*	Immunohistochemistry (IHC)	Western blot ^♯
G₃₃₈	78 ± 6	Granular deposits mainly in brain stem and thalamus	21 KDa
P₃₃₈	153 ± 8	Punctate and intraneuronal deposits mainly in brain stem and thalamus	19 KDa
Apl₃₃₈ii	249 ± 59	Aggregates and plaques. Midbrain is most affected area	21 KDa

*Incubation period (IP) values denote mean ± SD and indicate days post inoculation (dpi) after three serial passages. At first passage IP values of certain strains such as Apl₃₃₈ may be prolonged [6]. G₃₃₈ is an exceptional strain as shorter IP values can be observed at primary passage [21] with serial passages resulting in IP prolongation by approximately 12 dpi.
^♯Western blot values refer to the molecular mass of the unglycosylated band. Absolute values may differ depending on the western blot conditions. However, the P₃₃₈ unglycosylated band always migrates further indicating a 2 KDa lower molecular mass compared to G₃₃₈ and Apl₃₃₈ii.

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