Finally, p62 did not correlate with PrPSc deposition or neuronal vacuolation but displayed a relatively strong correlation with neuropil spongiosis in all animals (Spearman ρ = 0.756, P < 0.001) and weaker correlation within scrapie animals (Spearman ρ = 0.344, P < 0.05). Here, SQSTM1 is linked to scrapie.