About the Authors

Martin Jeffrey

Affiliation Animal and Plant Health Agency, Lasswade Veterinary Laboratory, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland

Pedro Piccardo

Affiliation Laboratory of Bacterial and TSE-agents, Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America

Diane L. Ritchie

Affiliation National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

James W. Ironside

Affiliation National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Alison J. E. Green

Affiliation National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Gillian McGovern

gillian.mcgovern@apha.gsi.gov.uk

Affiliation Animal and Plant Health Agency, Lasswade Veterinary Laboratory, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland

Competing Interests

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Author Contributions

Performed the experiments: MJ JWI PP AJEG DLR GM. Analyzed the data: MJ JWI PP AJEG DLR GM. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: MJ DLR GM. Wrote the paper: MJ JWI PP AJEG DLR GM. Designed the primary study, examined and interpreted histology and electron microscopy: MJ. Contributed to the experimental design, and interpreted results: PP JWI AJEG. Performed the histology, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting and assisted with examination and interpretation: GM DLR. Wrote the paper with significant contributions from each co-author: MJ.