Updated 10/13/08

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is one variety of a group of diseases known as "Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies" (TSEs). TSEs cause  microscopic holes in the brain, giving it a sponge-like appearance under a microscope. TSEs are always fatal and affect both humans and animals. 

BSE is the type of TSE that occurs in cattle. Scientists believe cattle are infected when they eat feed that contains remnants of infected animals.  FDA has feed rules to prevent the spread of BSE. 

The most common human TSE is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Scientists believe a new variant form of CJD is caused by consuming the brain and spinal cord of animals infected with BSE.