Table 2.
Presence of selected TSE-like clinical signs or combination of signs observed at the pre-cull assessment
| Clinical signs | Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | A-B | B-C | B-D |
| Repeatable over-reactivity to menace testing | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | ns | ns | 0.0031 |
| Apprehension towards observer | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0.01 | 0.01 | ns |
| Repeatable over-reactivity to probing of the neck | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0.006 | 0.006 | 0.006 |
| Stiff gait | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0.033 | ns | 0.033 |
| Ataxia | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.0498 |
| Apprehension, over-reactivity & ataxia/stiff gait | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0108 | 0.0108 | 0.0108 |
| Apprehension & over-reactivity | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0108 | 0.0108 | 0.0108 |
| Apprehension & ataxia/stiff gait* | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0.0108 | 0.0108 | ns |
| Over-reactivity & ataxia/stiff gait* | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0.0001 | 0.0001 | 0.0001 |
The numbers in the first four columns (groups A-D) refer to the number of animals displaying this particular sign or combination of signs. Columns 5-7 list the P value by group comparison; ns = not significant (P > 0.05).
Group A = NZ brain, includes pig that was not inoculated (N = 10)
Group B = BSE (N = 9)
Group C = Pre-1996 group (N = 10)
Group D = Post-1996 group (N = 10)
* Signs associated with a prion disease; the one animal in group D with multiple abscesses is listed for completeness although a prion disease was not suspected (see text).