What is Mad Cow Disease?
Mad Cow disease is a fatal disease that affects the central nervous system of an adult cattle.
When the adult cattle has this disease it is difficult for the cow to stand up.
Mad Cow disease is also known as BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy).
This disease can also be found in humans because most of Americans eat meat, therefore we are in danger of being infected with vCJD, which is not cow disease but similar because it comes from eating meat of an infected cow.
When the adult cattle has this disease it is difficult for the cow to stand up.
Mad Cow disease is also known as BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy).
This disease can also be found in humans because most of Americans eat meat, therefore we are in danger of being infected with vCJD, which is not cow disease but similar because it comes from eating meat of an infected cow.
What causes it?
Mad cow disease is cause by an infectious agent called prion which is an abnormal version of a protein, that is usually found on cell surfaces. Like commented above since the protein becomes altered causing the destruction of the nervous system tissues that affects the brain and spinal cord, which is the reason for why the cow isn't able to stand well.
Mad Cow Disease 101
In this ruffly about 1 minute video you will get a quick overview of Mad Cow disease.