PRNP and kuru: To date, although the neuropathology of kuru is well defined (Fowler & Robertson 1959; Klatzo et al. 1959; Neumann et al. 1964; Beck & Daniel 1965; Kakulas et al. 1967; Hainfellner et al. 1997; Lantos et al. 1997; McLean et al. 1998), there are few data concerning the distribution of abnormal PrP deposition or prion infectivity in peripheral tissues in kuru (Brown et al. 1994).