The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Tuesday confirmed the diagnosis of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in a 13-year-old beef cow from Alberta, noting that the agency has the animal's carcass under its control and no part of it entered the human food or animal feed systems.

The latest discovery marks the 11th case of BSE to befall Canada since its first in a native-born animal in May 2003, which prompted many export markets to ban Canadian beef.

In May of this year, the World Organization for Animal Health designated Canada as a controlled-risk country for BSE, acknowledging the effectiveness of its controls and effectively allowing the export of beef from Canadian cattle of any age.

"This case will not affect Canada's risk status," CFIA said in a news release.

The most recent BSE cases prior to this one included one reported May 2, 2007, in a dairy cow in British Columbia born in 2001 and one reported Feb. 7, 2007, in a bull from Alberta born in 2000. The animal involved in this latest case was born before Canada banned the use of specified risk materials in feed in 1997.

In July, Canada enhanced the 1997 feed ban, barring SRMs from all animal feed, pet food and fertilizer. (See Canada's enhanced feed ban takes effect on Meatingplace.com, July 13, 2007.)

An epidemiological investigation is underway to identify the animal's herdmates at the time of birth and the pathways by which it might have become infected.