Reference

Prion diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), are transmissible through several routes:

1. Consumption of Contaminated Meat: Variant CJD (vCJD) has been linked to consumption of beef contaminated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease. This is a notable example of a prion disease transmitted from animals to humans.

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2. Invasive Medical Procedures: Prions can be transmitted through medical procedures that involve exposure to infected brain tissue. This includes surgical instruments that have not been adequately sterilized.

   • UC Davis Health on Prion Diseases Transmission

3. Genetic Factors: Some forms of CJD are hereditary and can be passed from parent to child if the prion protein gene is mutated.

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4. Blood Transfusions: There have been identified cases where prion diseases, particularly vCJD, have been transmitted through blood transfusions.

   • UCSF Memory and Aging Center on Blood Transmission

5. Contact with Contaminated Tissue: Exposure to contaminated tissues, such as those from corneal transplants or injections of human growth hormone derived from prion-infected human tissues, can also transmit prion diseases.

   • Mayo Clinic on Contaminated Tissue Exposure
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For more information, you can visit the resources provided, which elaborate on various transmission methods and other details about prion diseases.