prion diseases are also called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies or TSEs

[Autoclave.Guru]

Prion Diseases

These diseases

• are transmissible — from host to host of a single species and, sometimes, even from one species to another (such as a laboratory animal)
• destroy brain tissue giving it a spongy appearance

For these reasons, prion diseases are also called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies or TSEs.