The following year, tests revealed that the brain had been eroded by a myriad of small vacuoles, producing the sponge-like appearance that inspired the disease’s scientific name: bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Within a few months, cases began appearing throughout the country.
苏黎世—最终导致370万头牛被扑杀、重创英国畜牧业的疯牛病爆发极为隐秘。1986年，一头英国母牛染上了一种未知的脑病。一年后，检查表明这头牛的大脑被大量小液泡腐蚀，形成海绵状的形态，于是这种病的学名被称为牛海绵状脑病。几个月之内，这种病开始在全英国出现。