Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease surveillance in Australia: update to 31 December 2019

Authors

  • Christiane Stehmann Coordinator, Australian National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Registry (ANCJDR); The Florey Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
  • Matteo Senesi Research Fellow, ANCJDR; The Florey Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
  • Shannon Sarros Research Assistant, ANCJDR; Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
  • Amelia McGlade Research Assistant, ANCJDR; Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
  • Marion Simpson Neurologist, ANCJDR; Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
  • Genevieve Klug Research Assistant, ANCJDR; Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
  • Catriona McLean Neuropathologist, ANCJDR; The Florey Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia; The Alfred Hospital, Department of Anatomical Pathology, 55 Commercial Rd, Melbourne Vic 3004 Australia
  • Colin L Masters Director, ANCJDR; The Florey Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
  • Steven Collins Director, ANCJDR; Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2020.44.56

Keywords:

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, prion disease, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, disease surveillance

Abstract

Nationwide surveillance of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and other human prion diseases is performed by the Australian National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Registry (ANCJDR). National surveillance encompasses the period since 1 January 1970, with prospective surveillance occurring from 1 October 1993. Over this prospective surveillance period, considerable developments have occurred in pre-mortem diagnostics; in the delineation of new disease subtypes; and in a heightened awareness of prion diseases in healthcare settings. Surveillance practices of the ANCJDR have evolved and adapted accordingly. This report summarises the activities of the ANCJDR during 2019.
Since the ANCJDR began offering diagnostic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 14-3-3 protein testing in Australia in September 1997, the annual number of referrals has steadily increased. In 2019, 513 domestic CSF specimens were referred for 14-3-3 protein testing and 85 persons with suspected human prion disease were formally added to the national register. As of 31 December 2019, just under half (42 cases) of the 85 suspect case notifications remain classified as ‘incomplete’; 16 cases were excluded through either detailed clinical follow-up (3 cases) or neuropathological examination (13 cases); 20 cases were classified as ‘definite’ and seven as ‘probable’ prion disease. For 2019, sixty-three percent of all suspected human prion disease related deaths in Australia underwent neuropathological examination. No cases of variant or iatrogenic CJD were identified. Two possibly causal novel prion protein gene (PRNP) sequence variations were identified.

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References

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Published

15/07/20

How to Cite

Stehmann, Christiane, Matteo Senesi, Shannon Sarros, Amelia McGlade, Marion Simpson, Genevieve Klug, Catriona McLean, Colin L Masters, and Steven Collins. 2020. “Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance in Australia: Update to 31 December 2019”. Communicable Diseases Intelligence 44 (July). https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2020.44.56.

Issue

Vol. 44 (2020)

Section

Annual report

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