[ noun ] a fatal disease of sheep characterized by chronic itching and loss of muscular control and progressive degeneration of the central nervous system <noun.state>
A sheep disease called scrapie that most resembles BSE has been known for 200 years and is still not identified.
Scientists believe the disease was transmitted to cattle in Britain through feed containing meat of sheep infected with scrapie, and spread when sheep bones were ground into cattle feed as a protein supplement.