PARIS – A single case of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) recently was reported in Germany, according to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

The cow was born on March 23, 2007, without clinical signs of the disease. The 14-year-old cow was tested at a regional BSE laboratory in Bavaria as part of the German targeted BSE surveillance system. Testing returned a positive result on Sept. 29, and a brainstem sample was sent to the NRL (Friedrich Loeffler Institute). Results from immunoblot tests at the Friedrich Loeffler Institute confirmed the animal was positive for atypical BSE.

“The animal’s carcass was destroyed,” the OIE said. “The identified animal did not enter food supply channels, and so at no time did it present any risk to human health. Epidemiological investigations are still ongoing.”

The last occurrence of atypical BSE was in 2014.