A transmissible disease that is caused by a protein that is able to induce abnormal folding of normal cellular proteins, leading to characteristic spongiform brain changes, which are associated with neuronal loss without an inflammatory response. Such disorders have typically long incubation periods, but are then generally rapidly progressive and are uniformly fatal. The disease is MONDO_0005429 (prion disease). Also known as: prion disease pathway, prion induced disorder, prion protein disease, spongiform encephalopathy.