Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as "mad cow disease," is a progressive neurological disorder affecting cattle. It is caused by misfolded proteins called prions, which lead to brain damage and characteristic sponge-like changes in the brain tissue. Infected cattle may show symptoms such as changes in behavior, coordination problems, and difficulty walking. BSE can be transmitted to humans through the consumption of infected beef products, leading to a variant form of the disease known as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). This has raised significant public health concerns, prompting strict regulations in the beef industry to prevent the spread of the disease.