Bovine spongiform encephalopathy is a disease caused by prions in

Options

A. sheep
B. cow
C. potato
D. man

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE):**
- Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as "mad cow disease," is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects cattle.

2. **Identifying the Cause:**
- The disease is caused by prions, which are misfolded proteins that induce abnormal folding of normal cellular proteins in the brain, leading to brain damage.

3. **Recognizing Symptoms:**
- Symptoms of BSE include abnormal behavior, difficulty walking, and weight loss. These symptoms indicate severe neurological impairment.

4. **Incubation Period:**
- The incubation period for BSE is typically 4 to 5 years, meaning it can take several years after infection for symptoms to appear.

5. **Determining the Correct Answer:**
- The question asks which organism BSE is associated with. The options given are sheep, cow, potato, and man.
- Since BSE is a disease that primarily affects cattle, the correct answer is "cow."

6. **Clarifying Misconceptions:**
- While prions can also affect humans, leading to a condition known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), this is not the primary association of BSE. BSE is specifically a disease in cows.

7. **Final Answer:**
- Therefore, the correct answer to the question is "cow."

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