| Contamination | Neural tissue from infected cattle entered the food chain |
| Risk materials | Brain, spinal cord, and other neural tissues are most infectious |
| Meat products | Burgers, sausages, and other processed meats posed higher risk |
| Cooking | Normal cooking does not inactivate the prion |
| Species barrier | Usually prevents efficient transmission between species |
| BSE to humans | The BSE prion was able to infect humans efficiently |
| Genetic factors | PRNP polymorphisms may influence susceptibility |
| Dosing | Massive exposure in the food supply overcame the barrier |
| Variability | Ranges from 5 to over 30 years |
| Exposure timing | Most cases likely exposed in the late 1980s or early 1990s |
| Genetics | PRNP 129 genotype influences incubation period |
| Future cases | Individuals exposed may develop disease for decades |
| Databases | OMIMOrphanetClinicalTrialsPubMed |