Immunodiffusion reactions among porcine enteroviruses and other picornaviruses

Antisera raised in rabbits against the porcine enterovirus strains V13 and T80 produced two precipitin lines in immunodiffusion tests with the homologous crude antigens, and a single precipitin line with each of ten heterologous porcine enteroviruses which were tested, and with poliovirus type 1, coxsackievirus B4 and equine rhinovirus type 1, but not with a bovine rhinovirus. C and D antigens prepared from V13 virus by density gradient centrifugation produced single precipitin lines with V13 antiserum. A single precipitin line was also formed when the heated crude antigens of V13 and T80 viruses were reacted with the homologous antisera, indicating destruction of the D antigen, and these lines fused with those produced by the heterologous viruses. It was concluded that porcine enteroviruses contain C and D antigens, and that the C antigen is responsible for the serological cross-reactivity demonstrated among porcine enteroviruses and other picornaviruses by immunodiffusion.     

Effect of actinomycin D on the cytopathology and replication of porcine enteroviruses

Actinomycin D inhibited the cytopathic effects (CPE) of type II strains of porcine enteroviruses in PK-15 cells but had no consistent effect on viral replication. The maximum inhibition of CPE was observed when the antibiotic was present during the early stages of infection. No inhibition of the CPE induced by type I strains was observed. A correlation was found between the activation of lysosomal acid phosphatase and morphological changes in the infected cells and the release of progeny virus. Diffuse enzymatic activity was more pronounced in cells infected with type II strains. The activation of lysosomal acid phosphatase by type II strains was inhibited by actinomycin D, while that of type I strains remained unaffected.     

Isolation of a New Porcine Enterovirus in the United States

A cytopathogenic virus isolated from an Iowa farm pig with diarrhea was identified as a member of Group 5 of the porcine enteroviruses. Clinical signs observed in other pigs in the herd were diarrhea, debilitation and gauntness. Morbidity and mortality rates were approximately 50% and 3% respectively.

A Group 5 porcine enterovirus had not been previously isolated in North America according to the Western Hemisphere Committee on Animal Virus Characterization.

     

Full-length genome analysis of G2, G9 and G11 porcine group A rotaviruses

Group A rotaviruses with G2 and G9 VP7 specificity are common in humans, while G11 strains have been detected only sporadically. G2, G9 and G11 rotaviruses also circulate in pigs and swine rotaviruses have been suspected of interspecies and zoonotic transmissions in numerous studies. However, the complete gene constellation of G2 and G9 porcine rotaviruses has not yet been determined. In order to start filling this gap, the genomic make up of two G2, one G9 and one G11 porcine rotavirus strains, detected in Canada in 2005–2007, was determined. With the exception of a G2P[34] strain, with E9 NSP4 type and mixed I5 + I14 VP6 type, the constellation of genomic segments was rather conserved and were closely related to prototype porcine strains in the four viruses characterized (I5-R1-C1-M1-A8-N1-T7-E1-H1). Most notably, all the viruses displayed a rare NSP3 genotype, T7, which has also been identified in rare human reassortant strains and in the reference strain RVA/Cow-tc/GBR/UK/1973/G6P[5]. This study provides crucial genetic data on these complex viruses and will help understand the origin and ecological niche of gene segments and the role played by pigs in their evolution.     

Comparison of the pneumopathogenicity of two strains of bovine viral diarrhea virus

The pneumopathogenicity in calves of 2 strains of bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus, isolate 2724 (a noncytopathogenic virus) and isolate 72 (a cytopathogenic virus), was compared. All calves were inoculated endobronchially, using fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Two calves were given Pasteurella haemolytica, 2 calves were given the noncytopathogenic BVD virus, and 2 calves were given cytopathogenic BVD virus. Five calves were inoculated sequentially with BVD virus and, 5 days later, with P haemolytica. Two of these calves were inoculated with the noncytopathogenic BVD virus and the other 3 with the cytopathogenic strain. Both BVD virus strains caused marked respiratory tract disease in the calves sequentially inoculated with P haemolytica and also impaired pulmonary clearance of P haemolytica. However, the effect of the cytopathogenic strain was more severe than the noncytopathogenic strain, indicating that strains of BVD virus may vary in their pneumopathogenicity for calves.     

Protein profiles of dense-centered forms of five chlamydial strains of animal origin.

Purified dense-centered form of 1 bovine strain (LW613) and 3 ovine strains (B577, 034-EYE, and 047-EYE) of Chlamydia psittaci and 1 murine strain of Chlamydia trachomatis (MoPn) were dissociated in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 2-mercaptoethanol. The number of polypeptides detected in the 5 strains varied between 17 and 20, with a molecular weight range of 29,000 to 120,000. Two polypeptides predominated and comprised approximately a third of the total protein in each of the 5 strains. The average molecular weights of the 2 polypeptides were 89,000 and 85,250 for 4 of the strains, and the polypeptide molecular weights were 100,000 and 98,000 for the ovine abortion strain (B577). Molecular weights and proportional composition of the polypeptides permitted differentiation of the chlamydial strains. The 3 strains from naturally occurring conjunctivitis or polyarthritis (LW613, 034-EYE, and 047-EYE) had similar polypeptide profile in the 75,000 to 100,000 molecular weight range. The polypeptides of the ovine abortion strain (B577) differed significantly from these 3 strains. Eight of the polypeptides of this strain had a molecular weight of 100,000 or greater, and 3 of the predominant polypeptides were in excess of 100,000. In contrast, some of the polypeptides of the murine strain had lower molecular weights than the 4 other strains. Three predominant polypeptides had molecular weights below 50,000.     

Production and some properties of cytotoxins produced by Campylobacter species isolated from proliferative enteropathy in swine.

Cytotoxin production by Campylobacter species isolated from proliferative enteropathy in swine was examined. Twenty-one of 29 strains of C. hyointestinalis, 10 of 27 strains of C. mucosalis and 10 of 10 strains of C. coli were cytotoxin positive. By the gel filtration chromatography of C. hyointestinalis culture filtrate, cytotoxin activities were observed in two peaks (fraction I and fraction II). Most of the cytotoxic activities lay in fraction I, which is heat-labile, trypsin-sensitive and the molecular weight was estimated at 40,000. On the other hand, fraction II cytotoxin was heat-stable, trypsin-insusceptible and molecular weight was approximately 1,000.     

Genetic diversity and novel combinations of G4P[19] and G9P[19] porcine rotavirus strains in Thailand

Several epidemiological studies reported the detection of rotavirus strains bearing unusual combinations of genetic background of human and porcine rotaviruses. This observation supports the hypothesis of interspecies transmission of rotaviruses in humans and pigs. The aims of this study were to investigate the genotypes and molecular characteristics of rotaviruses in piglets with diarrhea in several farms from two provinces in Thailand. A total of 207 fecal specimens collected from diarrheic piglets were screened for the presence of groups A, B, and C rotaviruses. Group A rotaviruses were detected in 41 out of 207 (19.8%) fecal specimens tested. A wide variety of G-P combination rotavirus strains were detected in this study. The G4P[6] was identified as the most prevalent genotype (39.0%), followed by G4P[23] (12.2%), G3P[23] (7.3%), G4P[19] (7.3%), G3P[6] (4.9%), G3P[13] (4.9%), G3P[19] (4.9%), G9P[13] (4.9%), G9P[19] (4.9%), G5P[6], and G5P[13] each of 2.4%. Furthermore, G5 and G9 in combinations with P-nontypeable strains were also found at each consisting of 2.4% (n = 1) of the collection. It was interesting to note that among diversified porcine rotavirus strains, novel combinations of G4P[19] and G9P[19] strains were detected for the first time in this study. Nucleotide sequences of VP4 and VP7 of these strains were closely related to human rotaviruses reported previously. The data implies that these porcine rotaviruses were probably generated in nature from the reassortment between the viruses of human and porcine origin. This study provides valuable epidemiological information and molecular characteristics of porcine rotaviruses circulating in piglets with diarrhea in northern Thailand.     

Relation of serological- and CPE- classification of porcine enteroviruses to the classification by immunoperoxidase (IP) staining, and observation of CPE by IP staining method.

Characteristics of CPE produced by porcine enteroviruses (PEV) were examined by Immunoperoxidase (IP) staining method. Viral antigens were detected earlier than appearance of CPE. Distinctive characteristics of the three CPE types were clearly showed by the method. In cross reactions by IP staining, the titers of the staining were high (1:6,400 to 1:25,600), even though neutralizing titers of PEV with CPE II or III were low (1:200 to 1:400). The very close relationship was detected between PEV with the same CPE type, but the very low relationships were detected between PEV with the different CPE type. The relationships in CPE I group were various. The results by IP staining were more relative to CPE type than the serotype. Thus, IP staining is one method to classify PEV clearly.     

两株猪圆环病毒2型的分离及基因组序列分析

为比较猪圆环病毒2型毒株的遗传变异特性,从2009年河南郑州和山东东营的猪场疑似猪断奶后多系统衰弱综合征(PMMS)病料中分离到2株病毒,经PCR检测初步鉴定为猪圆环病毒2型,并对病毒全基因组进行扩增,用DNA Star对序列进行比较分析.结果表明,分离到的河南郑州和山东东营PCV-2毒株全基因组长度均为1 767 b...     

杂交野猪猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒分离及其ORF6、ORF7基因的序列分析

试验旨在研究杂交野猪猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, PRRSV) 辽宁分离株的遗传变异情况及分子生物学特征.用Marc-145细胞从辽宁某杂交野猪场疑似猪繁殖与呼吸综合征(porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, PRRS)病猪血液中分离到1株病毒,该分离毒株经Marc-145细胞6次传代后出现稳定的细胞病变,采用RT-PCR方法对分离病毒进行ORF6和ORF7基因的扩增、克隆和测序,并与已知序列毒株的相应片段进行同源性比对.结果表明,分离毒株的ORF6、ORF7基因与国内外美洲型毒株的核苷酸同源性分别为96.0%～100.0%、94.5%～99.4%;氨基酸同源性分别为89.6%～100.0%、87.3%～98.7%;与欧洲型代表毒株LV的ORF6、ORF7基因差异较大,核苷酸同源性分别为70.4%、70.1%,氨基酸同源性分别为48.8%、49.7%.推测辽宁杂交野猪体内分离毒株在基因型上属于美洲型毒株.     

Studies on the aetiology of non-suppurative encephalitis in pigs

Thirty-eight natural cases of aetiologically unclear non-suppurative encephalitis in pigs were studied retrospectively. Brain samples were examined for the presence of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2), porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine enteroviruses (PEVS), ovine herpesvirus type 2 (OvHV-2), Borna disease virus (BDV) and suid herpesvirus type 1 (SuHV-1) by molecular biological and immunohistochemical methods. Histological examination of the brains revealed variable degrees of lymphohistiocytic encephalitis or meningoencephalitis, characterised predominantly by perivascular mononuclear infiltrates. Two cases could be attributed to PCV-2 infection by in situ hybridisation: viral nucleic acid was found in the mesencephalon, the cerebellum and the medulla oblongata, mainly in the cytoplasm of macrophages, endothelial cells and some glial cells, which were predominantly found in the meninges and around blood vessels. Real-time PCR detected PCV-2 dna in brain samples from seven other pigs. There was no evidence of PRRSV, BDV, SuHV-1, PEVS or OvHV-2 in any of the brain samples examined.     

Serologic and molecular comparisons of several equine herpesvirus type 1 strains

The molecular and serologic relatedness of 2 recent respiratory tract isolates of equine herpesvirus type 1, designated T1 and T2, were compared with the Army 183, Kentucky-A hamster-adapted (KyA-ha), and L-M cell-adapted (KyA-LM) strains. Electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels revealed differences in virion structural proteins among 4 purified strains. Seven envelope glycoproteins (molecular weight of 93,000, 65,000, 62,000, 60,000, 36,000, 20,000, and 18,000) corresponding to virion proteins 13, 16, 17, 18, 23, 25, and 26a, respectively, found in both the Army 183 and KyA-ha strains had slightly different molecular weight counterparts in both the T1 and T2 isolates, which had identical structural protein profiles. virion protein 19 (58,000 daltons), a nonglycosylated protein, was present in reduced amounts in the respiratory tract isolates, whereas virion protein 8a (200,000 daltons) was absent. Virion protein 8a, an envelope glycoprotein, was only present in the KyA-ha strain. The T1 and T2 isolates were not neutralized by equine herpesvirus type 2 antiserum and revealed little cross-neutralizatio with the Army 183 and KyA-ha strains in plaque-reduction neutralization tests. Restriction endonuclease cleavage maps of viral DNA revealed a similar, but not identical, number and size of DNA fragments between T1 and T2 isolates. Likewise, DNa profiles of Army 183, KyA-ha, and KyA-LM were also similar to each other, but vastly different from the respiratory tract isolates.     

Genetic and enzymatic analyses of metalloprotease (aureolysin) from Staphylococcus aureus isolated from domestic animals.

The gene (aur) encoding the metalloprotease (aureolysin) of Staphylococcus aureus from domestic animals was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and sequencing. The aur gene was detected in all 74 isolates from cows, pigs and chickens by PCR amplification and was classified into types I and II by PCR-RFLP patterns. The type II aur gene was contained in 36 (94.7%) of 38 protease-positive isolates as judged by skim milk agar plate culture, while type I was contained in 28 (77.8%) of 36 protease-negative isolates. The deduced amino acid sequences of aureolysins from type I and II isolates were almost identical with those of the published data. Subsequently, the two aureolysins were purified from the culture supernatants of type I and II isolates. The molecular weights of purified type I and II aureolysins were both estimated at 34kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These aureolysins had maximum proteolytic activity at 30-50 degrees C and pH 7.0-8.0. Their activity was inhibited by metal- and zinc-specific inhibitors, such as EDTA, EGTA and 1,10-phenanthroline. Specific activity (activity/protein) of type II aureolysin was two times higher than that of type I. These results indicated that the aur gene is highly conserved with two allelic forms (types I and II) among bovine, porcine and avian isolates of S. aureus.     

Detection and molecular characterization of porcine type 3 orthoreoviruses circulating in South Korea

Orthoreoviruses infect virtually all mammalian species, causing systemic infections including mild gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses. However, little is known about the prevalence or genetic diversity of porcine orthoreoviruses in South Korea. We examined 237 diarrheic fecal samples collected from 78 pig farms around the country. RT-PCR utilizing primers specific for the L1 gene of mammalian orthoreoviruses showed that 45 (19.0%) samples were positive. The 10 strains isolated from orthoreovirus-positive samples formed typical perinuclear cytoplasmic inclusion bodies and had an atypical hemagglutination pattern; these are characteristics of type 3 orthoreovirus. Phylogenetic analysis of the S1 gene in these 10 Korean and other strains showed that type 3 orthoreoviruses could be divided into four lineages; the 10 Korean strains were included in porcine lineage IV, along with T3/porcine/Sichuan/2006. Sequence analysis showed that strains in lineage IV had nucleotide identities of 97.0-98.1% and deduced amino acid identities of 96.4-98.2%. Sequence analysis of the σ1 protein, a viral attachment protein, revealed that the amino acid sequences associated with neurotropism (amino acids 198-204, 249I, 350D, and 419E) were highly conserved among the Korean strains, confirming that neural tropism was present. In conclusion, our findings suggest that porcine orthoreovirus infections are endemic in pig farms in South Korea and that the 10 novel Korean porcine orthoreoviruses belong to porcine lineage IV of type 3 orthoreovirus. In addition, sequence analysis of S1 genes encoding the σ1 protein showed that the 9 of 10 Korean porcine orthoreoviruses exhibited neural tropism.     

M gene analysis of canine coronavirus strains detected in Korea

The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic features of canine coronavirus (CCV) strains detected in Korea. M gene sequences obtained for isolates from 22 dogs with enteritis over a 5-year period were evaluated. Sequence comparison revealed that the 22 Korean CCV strains had an 87.2 to 100% nucleotide homology. Comparing to the typical reference CCV strains (type II), the nucleotide sequence of Korean strains had homology ranged from 86.3% to 98.3% (89.1% to 99.2% for the amino acid sequence) and 87.7% to 97.8% (92.4% to 100% for the amino acid sequence) when compared to FCoV-like CCV strains (type I). Three amino acid variations in the M gene were characteristic for the Korean CCV strains. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the 22 Korean CCV strains belonged to four typical CCV clusters (i.e., a unique Korean CCV cluster, a type II and transmissible gastroenteritis virus cluster, an intermediate cluster between type I and II, and a type I cluster). This study was the first to identify genetic differences of the M gene from Korean CCV strains and provided a platform for molecular identification of different Korean CCV strains.     

Bovine viral diarrhea virus proteins: heterogeneity of cytopathogenic and non-cytopathogenic strains and evidence of a 53K glycoprotein neutralization epitope

Intracellular virus-induced polypeptides from 3 cytopathogenic and 2 non-cytopathogenic bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus reference strains were analyzed by radioimmunoprecipitation and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, using a specific bovine multivalent antiserum and a neutralizing BVD-virus monoclonal antibody. Electrophoretic patterns of major proteins demonstrate extensive variation between strains. Most notably, a major 80,000 (80K) polypeptide was present in all cytopathogenic strains but absent in both non-cytopathogenic strains. Furthermore, a neutralizing monoclonal antibody produced against the NADL strain immunoprecipitated a 53K glycoprotein indicating that this protein carries an important neutralization epitope that is not present in all strains tested.     

Genetic analysis of ORF5 of recent Korean porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses (PRRSVs) in viremic sera collected from MLV-vaccinating or non-vaccinating farms

The 23 open reading frame (ORF) 5 sequences of Korean type II porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) were collected from viremic sera from the (modified live vaccine) MLV-vaccinating and non-vaccinating farms from 2007 to 2008. The samples were phylogenetically analyzed with previous ORF5 sequences, including type I Korean PRRSV, and previously reported or collected sequences from 1997 to 2008. A MN184-like subgroup of type II Korean PRRSV was newly identified in the viremic sera collected from 2007 to 2008. And of the type I PRRSVs, one subgroup had 87.2~88.9% similarity with the Lelystad virus, showing a close relationship with the 27~2003 strain of Spain. The maximum parsimony tree of type II PRRSV from 1997 to 2008 showed that they had evolved to four lineages, subgroups 1, 2, 3 and 4. Most of the recently collected type II PRRSVs belonged to subgroup 4 (48%). The region of three B-cell epitopes and two T-cell epitopes of ORF5 amino acids sequences was considerably different from the MLV in subgroups 3 and 4. In conclusion, the existence of type I PRRSV, which was genetically different from Lelystad virus (Prototype of type I PRRSV), and heterologous type II PRRSVs of viremic pigs detected even in the MLV-vaccinating farms indicated the need for new vaccine approaches for the control of PRRSV in Korea.     

IBDV流行强毒HQ-b株与其细胞适应毒生物学特性比较及VP2、VP5基因序列分析

为了解IBDV流行强毒HQ-b株囊毒与其细胞适应毒间生物学特性差异及2毒株毒力变化与VP2、VP5基因变异的关系,对2毒株的细胞适应性、致病性等进行比较,同时对其VP2、VP5基因序列进行分析。结果表明,HQ-b株囊毒对CEF、CEK、CELi、DF-1和Vero均不适应,而细胞适应毒HQ株仅不能适应Vero细胞、且批内及批间毒价稳定。致病性结果显示HQ-b株对4周龄SPF鸡致死率高达80%,是真正的超强毒,而细胞适应毒致死率已降为0%。对VP2基因高变区研究表明,HQ-b株具备IBDV超强毒株的分子特征,即222A、256I、294I和299S;其细胞适应毒HQ株除222A→P、256I→V、294I→L和299S→N外,在VP2公认的毒力位点253(Q→H)、279(D→N)、284(A→T)位氨基酸也发生改变,导致细胞适应毒具备经典弱毒株的分子特征,即222P、256V、279N、284T、294L和299N。对VP5基因研究表明:流行强毒HQ-b株也具有IBDV超强毒株的分子特征;其细胞适应毒VP5基因有12个位点碱基突变并导致9处氨基酸变异,尤其是ORF区第2个碱基由"T"突变为"C"后,导致细胞适应毒VP5的N端丢失了4个氨基酸,这种突变与现有的疫苗毒完全一致。本研究提供了超强毒HQ-b培育、驯化后致病性和细胞适应性转变的分子机理,也丰富了IBDV分子流行病学的理论。     

Validation of rt-PCR assays for molecular characterization of porcine teschoviruses and enteroviruses

Porcine enteroviruses (PEVs) and teschoviruses (PTVs) are described as causative agents of neurological disorders, fertility disorders and dermal lesions of swine. Difficulties in the serological detection of these viruses may lead to a significant underestimation of infections with clinical symptoms. With the recent availability of genome sequence data for all the serotypes, molecular diagnosis is a possibility. The present study describes a new approach to molecular 'serotyping' of PTVs and PEV-B viruses, involving the amplification and sequencing of a genomic fragment of the VP1 coding region. A molecular characterization of Italian entero-teschovirus isolates was performed using a set of previously published and newly designed polymerase chain reaction primers. A total of 33 porcine isolates and 10 reference strains were analysed. Porcine enterovirus-B samples were first diagnosed as positive for enterovirus by amplification of the 5'-non-translated region. Samples were then typed by amplification and sequencing of a portion of the VP1 coding region. Porcine enterovirus-A and PTVs were detected by a published assay in the 5'-NC region that allows them to be differentiated according to the size of amplification product, using the same set of primers. For serotype characterization of PTV, we evaluated four different regions: the N terminus of the capsid protein VP2, the region encoding for RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and the capsid VP1 and VP4 regions. The newly designed primers in the VP1 region was proved to be broad in range and suitable for serotype assessment and therefore constitute a useful diagnostic tool for molecular diagnosis of porcine teschovirus/enterovirus strains and for the study of molecular epidemiology and evolution of these viruses.