Immunohistochemical detection of chlamydiae in formalin-fixed tissue sections: comparison of a monoclonal antibody with yolk derived antibodies (IgY)

Immunohistological detection of chlamydiae in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections of various organs from several species is described. In a retrospective study, two antisera, a commercially available monoclonal murine antibody (IgMur) and vitelline immunoglobulins (IgY), extracted from the egg yolk of immunized hens, were compared and tested for their applicability under routine condition. Both antisera were applied to tissues from which chlamydiae had been isolated or in which the presence of chlamydiae had been suspected in specially stained sections. Antigen labelling was optimal with the monoclonal antibody. Vitelline immunoglobulins produced some unspecific reactions, especially in lung tissue sections. Because of the antigenic relationship between the vitelline antibodies and tissues of birds, IgY are not suitable for the detection of psittacosis on avian substrates, when using an indirect immunological method. Staining in other tissues e.g. intestine or placenta was of equal quality as that attained with monoclonal antibodies. Depending on the advantages and disadvantages in every individual case, one of the two antibodies may be chosen for further studies. Vitelline antibodies should be preferred with respect to animal welfare.     

Antibodies against Crandell Rees Feline Kidney (CRFK) Cell Line Antigens, α‐Enolase,and Annexin A2 in Vaccinated and CRFK Hyperinoculated Cats

Background: Cats inoculated with feline herpesvirus 1, calicivirus, and panleukopenia (FVRCP) vaccines grown on the Crandell Rees feline kidney (CRFK) cell line have been shown to develop anti‐CRFK antibodies. The identities of common CRFK antigens are unknown. Hypothesis: Cats inoculated with CRFK lysates and FVRCP vaccines will develop autoantibodies measurable by Western blot immunoassay. Antigens associated with these antibodies can be isolated for further study. Animals: One CRFK hyperinoculated rabbit, 44 age‐matched unvaccinated kittens purchased from a commercial vendor. Methods: Commonly recognized CRFK antigens were identified by comparison of Western blot immunoassays using sera from a hyperinoculated rabbit and kittens inoculated with CRFK lysate or 1 of 4 commercially available FVRCP vaccines. Antigens were purified from CRFK lysates and sequenced. Antigen recognition was confirmed by Western blot immunoassay and indirect ELISA for 2 proteins using sera from CRFK and FVRCP inoculated kittens. Results: CRFK antigens 47, 40, and 38 kD in size were identified. Protein isolation and sequencing identified 3 CRFK proteins as α‐enolase, annexin A2, and macrophage capping protein (MCP). Sera from FVRCP and CRFK inoculated cats were confirmed to recognize annexin A2 and α‐enolase by Western blot immunoassay and indirect ELISA. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: This study validated the use of Western blot immunoassay for detection of antibodies against CRFK proteins and identified 3 CRFK antigens. In humans, α‐enolase antibodies are nephritogenic; α‐enolase and annexin A2 antibodies have been associated with autoimmune diseases. Further research will be necessary to determine the clinical relevance of these findings.     

Use of a Japanese quail fibrosarcoma cell line (QT-35) in serologic assays to determine the antigenic relationship of avian metapneumoviruses.

The ability of a Japanese quail fibrosarcoma cell line (QT-35) to support the replication of avian metapneumoviruses belonging to the 3 subgroups A (14/1 virus), B (Colorado virus), and C (Hungary virus) enabled the development of assays for the detection and evaluation of virus-specific antibodies. On the basis of the results of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), plaque reduction neutralization assay (PRNA), immunofluorescent assay (IFA), and Western blot analysis, some degree of antigenic cross-reactivity was observed between prototype viruses belonging to each of the 3 subgroups A, B, and C. The antigen produced in QT-35 cells was found to be superior with respect to its reactivity with virus-specific antibodies, as determined when used in ELISA and IFA. Standardization of both the input virus and the virus-specific antibodies in PRNA enabled a more detailed analysis of the antigenic relationship between these viruses. Specifically, it was observed that 14/1 virus shared more neutralizing regions with Hungary and Colorado viruses than did either of these viruses with 14/1 virus. In addition, Hungary virus shared comparatively fewer neutralizing epitopes with the Colorado virus than did 14/1 virus. Western blot analysis of the reactivity patterns of virus antigen, produced in QT-35 cells, with subgroup-specific antibodies identified a cross-reactive protein migrating at approximately 18 kD. These assays and the information from the Western blot will enable further analysis of avian metapneumovirus isolates to determine antigenic relationships.     

禽白血病病毒ELISA检测方法的建立与初步应用

本研究以在毕赤酵母系统中表达并纯化的p27重组蛋白为包被抗原,HRP标记的兔抗鸡IgY为酶标二抗,建立了一种快速有效的禽蛋白血病病毒ELISA检测方法,并对其反应条件进行优化。结果显示,该方法具有良好的特异性和重复性;与市售商品试剂盒相比,符合率为96.92%,且更为敏感。应用建立的ELISA方法检测来自吉林省内鸡场314份疑似样品,阳性检出率为75.15%。本研究为禽白血病病毒的检测与诊断提供了一种简便、有效的检测方法。     

禽腺病毒血清4型Fiber2蛋白单克隆抗体制备及其抗原表位鉴定

旨在制备禽腺病毒血清4型（FAdV-4）纤突蛋白（Fiber2）的特异性单克隆抗体（MAb）,本研究将原核表达的可溶性重组蛋白NusA-Fiber2作为免疫原免疫BALB/c雌鼠,筛选获得3株能稳定分泌抗FAdV-4 Fiber2蛋白MAb的杂交瘤细胞株2G5、2G8、4C2,取细胞株2G5制备腹水并纯化,利用间接免疫荧光试验（immunofluorescence assay,IFA）和Western blot鉴定该单抗的特异性。用制备的单抗包被酶标板,通过一系列的优化,建立了FAdV-4 Fiber2双抗夹心ELISA检测方法。通过逐步截短分析鉴定出单克隆抗体识别的抗原表位区域。结果表明：成功获取3株单克隆细胞株2G5、2G8、4C2。MAb 2G5可与原核表达纯化的Fiber2蛋白及FAdV-4特异性反应。建立的双抗夹心ELISA检测方法具有很好的特异性、灵敏性和重复性。该MAb识别的表位序列是N端aa1—33。本研究成功制备了具有良好Western blot和IFA反应原性的单克隆抗体,为Fiber2蛋白功能研究和FAdV-4新型表位疫苗商品化研发奠定了基础。     

Influence of enrofloxacin and chloramphenicol on the level of IgY in serum and egg yolk after immunostimulation of hens with Salmonella enteritidis antigens

In the chicken, maternal antibodies are transferred into the egg and subsequently transported into the developing embryo. IgG (called IgY) is the primary immunoglobulin isotype of the egg yolk. Their level in serum depends on the correct function of immunological system in laying hens. Many factors have a direct or indirect influence on antibody level in fowl. One of them is a commonly used antibiotic, but its influence on avian immune system is still unknown. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of enrofloxacin and chloramphenicol on the level of IgY antibody in serum and egg yolk after immunostimulation of hens with living cells of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis and lipopolisaccharide. Forty adult egg-laying Arbor Acres and Isa 215 hens (32 and 50 weeks old) from the reproductive flocks and 1640 of their eggs were used for the investigation. No clinical symptoms of any diseases were observed in birds during the entire breeding period. Additionally the birds were checked as free from Salmonella spp. in the beginning of the experiment. The birds were divided into 6 experimental and 2 control groups (5 birds in one group). The hens in the experimental groups were immunized with S. Enteritidis antigens: living bacteria and lipopolisaccharide and treated with enrofloxacin or chloramphenicol. Antibiotics were administered in drinking water for 10 days (from 3rd to 13th day of experiment). To indicate anti-S. Enteritidis, antibodies in sera and egg yolk were used indirectly on ELISA based on lipopolisaccharide from S. Enteritidis. As conjugate these were applied anti-chicken IgY with horseradish peroxidase and ABTS with H2O2 as obtained. Additionally, to detect antibody in serum, a rapid slide test was used with Pullognost and Enterognost standard antigens made in the laboratory. The study revealed that both antibiotics tested decreased the level of specific IgY in laying hens immunized with living bacteria and lipopolisaccharide. It seems that antibiotics have a suppressive effect on the immunological system. The strongest immunosuppressive effect was exerted by chloramphenicol.     

Expression of iron-regulated outer membrane proteins by porcine strains of Pasteurella multocida.

The outer membrane protein (OMP) profiles of two strains of capsular type A Pasteurella multocida isolated from the lungs of pigs with enzootic pneumonia were studied. Sarkosyl extracted OMPs from P. multocida grown under iron-restricted and iron-replete conditions were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis. Results showed that the iron-regulated outer membrane proteins (IROMPs) with molecular masses of 74 kDa, 94 kDa, 99 kDa and 109 kDa were expressed by strain A52, while 74 kDa, 82 kDa, 94 kDa and 99 kDa IROMPs were expressed by strain B80. Swine immune sera, obtained from pigs which were first immunized with a polyvalent P. multocida type A and type D bacterin and subsequently challenged with type A strain of P. multocida, contained antibodies against the IROMPs. These antibodies cross-reacted with the IROMPs expressed by avian strain P1059 of P. multocida. Convalescent-phase serum obtained from turkeys which survived fowl cholera, also cross-reacted with the IROMPs from porcine strains of P. multocida. These results suggested that IROMPs from porcine and avian strains of P. multocida may share common epitopes that were recognized by swine immune serum as well as turkey convalescent-phase serum.     

A dominant antigenic epitope on SARS-CoV spike protein identified by an avian single-chain variable fragment (scFv)-expressing phage

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a newly emergent human disease, which requires rapid diagnosis and effective therapy. Among antibody sources, immunoglobulin Y (IgY) is the major antibody found in chicken eggs and can be used as an alternative to mammalian antibodies normally used in research and immunotherapy. In this study, phage-expressing chicken monoclonal scFv antibody was chosen and characterized with phage display antibody technology. Truncated fragments of SARS-CoV spike protein were cloned in pET-21 vector and expressed in BL-21 Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells. After purification, the purity of these recombinant spike proteins was examined on SDS-PAGE and their identity verified with Western blot analysis using anti-his antibodies and sera from convalescent stage SARS-CoV-infected patients. Using these bacteria-derived proteins to immunize chickens, it was found that polyclonal IgY antibodies in the egg yolk and sera were highly reactive to the immunogens, as shown by Western blot and immunocytochemical staining analysis. A phage displaying scFv library was also established from spleen B cells of immunized chicken with 5 x 10(7) clones. After four panning cycles, the eluted phage titer showed a 10-fold increase. In sequence analysis with chicken germline gene, five phage clones reacted, with large dissimilarities of between 31 and 62%, in the complementarity-determining regions, one dominant phage 4S1 had strong binding to fragment Se-e, located between amino acid residues 456-650 of the spike protein and this particular phage had significantly strong binding to SARS-CoV-infected Vero E6 cells. Based on the results, we conclude that generating specific scFv-expressing phage binders with the phage display system can be successfully achieved and that this knowledge can be applied in clinical or academic research.     

Evaluation of a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Borrelia burgdorferi exposure in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a commercially available ELISA kit for detecting antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi in dogs. SAMPLE POPULATION: Banked sera from 440 military working dogs were used for serologic analyses. PROCEDURE: Serum samples were analyzed for antibodies against B burgdorferi by use of a commercially available ELISA and subsequently by western blot analysis as a confirmatory test. RESULTS: Results from the ELISA indicated that 89 (20%) samples were positive for exposure to B burgdorferi or canine Lyme disease vaccine, and 351 (80%) were negative. Follow-up testing by western blot analysis indicated that results for 109 (25%) samples were positive and 331 (75%) were negative for exposure. All samples that had positive results on the ELISA also had positive results on western blot analysis (true positives). Of the 351 samples that had negative results on the ELISA, only 331 had negative results on western blot analysis (true negatives). The remaining 20 samples had positive results on western blot analysis. By use of a standard 2 x 2 table, it was determined that the ELISA had a sensitivity of 82%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 94%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The commercial ELISA kit evaluated in this study appeared to lack adequate sensitivity for detecting all potential cases of borreliosis in dogs. The ELISA was also unable to discriminate natural exposure from exposure attributable to vaccination, which could complicate interpretation of positive results and treatment of dogs with clinical signs.     

Improvement of western blot test specificity for detecting equine serum antibodies to Sarcocystis neurona.

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a neurological disease of horses and ponies caused by the apicomplexan protozoan parasite Sarcocystis neurona. The purposes of this study were to develop the most stringent criteria possible for a positive test result, to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of the EPM Western blot antibody test, and to assess the ability of bovine antibodies to Sarcocystis cruzi to act as a blocking agent to minimize false-positive results in the western blot test for S. neurona. Sarcocystis neurona merozoites harvested from equine dermal cell culture were heat denatured, and the proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in a 12-20% linear gradient gel. Separated proteins were electrophoretically transferred to polyvinylidene fluoride membranes and blocked in 1% bovine serum albumin and 0.5% Tween-Tris-buffered saline. Serum samples from 6 horses with S. neurona infections (confirmed by culture from neural tissue) and 57 horses without infections (horses from the Eastern Hemisphere, where S. neurona does not exist) were tested by Western blot. Horses from both groups had reactivity to the 62-, 30-, 16-, 13-, 11-, 10.5-, and 10-kD bands. Testing was repeated with another step. Blots were treated with bovine S. cruzi antibodies prior to loading the equine samples. After this modification of the Western blot test, positive infection status was significantly associated with reactivity to the 30- and 16-kD bands (P<0.001, Fisher's exact test). The S. cruzi antibody-blocked Western blot had a sample sensitivity of 100% and sample specificity of 98%. It is concluded that the specificity of the Western blot test is improved by blocking proteins not specific to S. neurona and using reactivity to the 30- and 16-kD bands as the criterion for a positive test.     

Serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in cats by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using recombinant SAG1

The gene encoding surface antigen 1 (SAG1, P30) of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) was cloned into the plasmid pGEX-4T-3 and subsequently expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) as a glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion protein. The recombinant SAG1 (rSAG1) was refolded using 8M urea solution followed by dialysis and thereafter evaluated in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serological diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. The test sera were adsorbed with GST to block non-specific reactivity to the GST-SAG1 fusion protein. The ELISA with rSAG1 was able to differentiate very clearly between sera from cats or mice experimentally infected with T. gondii and sera from normal cats or mice. The ELISA detected no cross-reactivity with sera from mice experimentally infected with the closely related parasite Neospora caninum (N. caninum). Some 193 cat sera were tested for antibodies to T. gondii, out of which 40 (20.7%) reacted positively by ELISA with the rSAG1 while another 79.3% cats reacted negative to the assay. Both positive and negative sera were confirmed by Western blot analysis. The results of ELISA were in agreement with those of a commercially available latex agglutination test (LAT) kit, although the former had higher titers than the latter.     

鸡产蛋下降综合症病毒快速纯化及其抗血清制备

为研制鸡产蛋下降综合症病毒（ EDS-76）检测用标准抗原及标准多抗血清,以EDS-76国际通用毒株AV-127株为抗原,进行了EDS-76病毒抗原纯化及多抗血清制备。研究表明,经氯仿抽提,并经PEG浓缩处理病毒的尿囊液可获得良好的纯化效果,纯化病毒背景干净,血凝效价达19Log2。以此研制出的鸡抗 EDS-76多抗血清血凝抑制效价达13Log2,间接免疫荧光效价达1∶2000,Western-blot试验分析表明该多抗血清可以识别两个分子大小在50 kD至85 kD之间的蛋白抗原,HI及IFA 试验发现所制备的特异性,多抗血清与12种常见禽病病原（ NDV、AIV-A、ALV-J、ALV、GPV、REV、MDV、IBV、CAV、IBDV、TMUV、REOV）均不反应。本研究建立的快速简便的EDS-76病毒纯化方法以及获得的抗EDS-76多抗血清,为进一步研制EDS-76标准抗原以及标准多抗血清提供了有效的方法与材料。     

CHO细胞表达牛病毒性腹泻病毒E2蛋白及免疫原性分析

旨在利用悬浮培养CHO细胞表达系统制备牛病毒性腹泻病毒(bovine viral diarrhea virus,BVDV) E2蛋白,并鉴定纯化E2蛋白的免疫原性。本研究以BVDV-1 NADL株基因序列为基础,构建BVDV E2蛋白的重组真核表达质粒pcDNA3.1-BVDV-E2,转染经悬浮培养的CHO细胞进行分泌表达,收集细胞培养上清,进行亲和层析法纯化,SDS-PAGE电泳鉴定蛋白表达和纯化,Western blot鉴定与His抗体和BVDV阳性血清反应性,利用纯化蛋白免疫新西兰大白兔,用细胞间接免疫荧光(IFA)和ELISA鉴定E2蛋白的反应活性。纯化E2蛋白经BCA蛋白定量试剂盒检测后表达量高达1.228 mg·mL^-1;Western blot结果显示,利用His抗体和BVDV阳性血清均可检测到目的蛋白的特异性条带;新西兰大白兔一免后第7天利用间接ELISA可检测到血清抗体阳性,并持续至免疫后第28天,血清抗体效价水平达到1∶1 024 000;IFA试验结果显示,该血清抗体可检测到BVDV感染MDBK细胞中E2蛋白的表达,进一步证实纯化的E2蛋白具有良好的免疫原性和特异性。本研究成功利用CHO悬浮培养真核表达系统制备了纯化的BVDV E2蛋白,该蛋白具有良好的免疫原性,为BVDV的诊断方法及其新型亚单位疫苗研制奠定了基础。     

Preparation and characterization of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against Lawsonia intracellularis.

Proliferative enteropathy is an intestinal infectious disease caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Lawsonia intracellularis. Immunohistochemistry staining has superior sensitivity over hematoxylin and eosin and silver staining for detecting L. intracellularis in histological sections. A L. intracellularis-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) produced in the UK (IG4 MAb) has been described in the literature. However, no monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies are commercially available. Therefore, the objective of this study was to produce and characterize new polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against L. intracellularis that are suitable for diagnostic use. The new monoclonal (2001 MAb) and polyclonal antibodies (1999 PAb) were compared with the IG4 MAb using Western blot analysis of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of 6 L. intracellularis isolates, Bilophila wadsworthia and Brachyspira hyodysenteriae and using immunohistochemistry of known positive and negative histologic samples and pure cultures of L. intracellularis, B. wadsworthia, B. hyodysenteriae, Salmonella choleraesuis, S. typhimurium, and Escherichia coli K88. Immunogold staining using 2001 MAb was performed to show the specificity of the antibody against an L. intracellularis surface protein. Western blot analysis showed that the 2001 MAb targeted an OMP of 77 kD, which made it different from the IG4 MAb that targeted an 18-kD OMP. The immunogold stain demonstrated the specificity of the 2001 MAb to a surface protein of L. intracellularis. The polyclonal antibody (1999 PAb) targeted 5 OMPs (77, 69, 54, 42, and 36 kD). Both the 2001 MAb and 1999 PAb stained known positive, but not negative, histologic samples. Both the 2001 MAb and 1999 PAb reacted with a pure culture of L. intracellularis but not with any other common enteric pathogens. These two new antibodies will be useful for immunodiagnosis of L. intracellularis.     

禽致病性大肠杆菌cOmpT单克隆抗体的研制及其识别抗原表位的鉴定

旨在制备禽致病性大肠杆菌（APEC）染色体编码外膜蛋白（cOmpT）的特异性单克隆抗体，本研究利用实验室已构建的APEC cOmpT重组表达质粒pET-28a-compT，经IPTG诱导表达后，获得以包涵体形式存在的约36 ku的重组蛋白cOmpT，利用尿素浓度梯度透析复性获得纯化蛋白cOmpT，并以此免疫BALB/c小鼠。建立间接ELISA检测方法，最适抗原包被浓度为0.625 μg·mL^-1，最适血清稀释度为1：6 400。4次免疫后取小鼠脾进行细胞融合，采用有限稀释法多轮筛选后得到3株能稳定分泌针对cOmpT蛋白的单克隆抗体，分别命名为1G8、2C3和2G3，均为IgG2b亚类。3株杂交瘤细胞上清ELISA抗体效价分别为1：200、1：3 200和1：3 200。Western blot结果显示，3株单抗均能与cOmpT发生特异性反应，而不与其他受检菌发生交叉反应。运用原核表达系统对compT基因进行截短表达，对单克隆抗体针对的cOmpT抗原表位进行鉴定，结果显示单抗1G8、2C3和2G3识别的抗原表位分别是⁸³DQDWMDS⁸⁹、⁹⁰SNPGTW⁹⁵和¹⁹⁷TFKYSGW²⁰³。本研究成功制备了3株抗cOmpT蛋白的单克隆抗体，并对其识别的抗原表位进行了鉴定，为cOmpT蛋白功能研究和APEC新型表位疫苗研发奠定了基础。     

Development of Monoclonal Antibodies against the cOmpT Protein of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli and Identification of Epitopes Recognized by Monoclonal Antibodies

To development monoclonal antibodies against cOmpT of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), the recombinant cOmpT of APEC origin expression plasmid pET-28a-compT was employed, and cOmpT protein with a molecular weight about 36 kD in the form of inclusion bodies was obtained after induction with IPTG, and then renatured by urea gradient dialysis. BALB/c mice were immunized with the purified cOmpT. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) was developed, the optimal coating concentration of the antigen was 0.625 μg·mL^-1 and the optimal serum dilution was 1:6 400. After the fourth immunization, the spleen of immunized mice was collected for cell fusion, three monoclonal hybridomas that can secrete antibody specific to cOmpT were obtained after multiple screenings, named 1G8, 2C3 and 2G3 respectively. And all of their immunoglobulin subclasses were IgG2b. The titers of monoclonal antibodies in the cell culture supernatant were 1:200, 1:3 200 and 1:3 200 determined by iELISA, respectively. All three monoclonal antibodies were confirmed to react with cOmpT in Western blot, without cross reaction with other tested bacteria. The antigenic epitopes recognized by the three monoclonal antibodies were identified by using a series of E. coli strains harboring expression plasmids recombined with truncated fragments from compT gene. The results revealed that the antigenic epitope required for reactivity with the 1G8 was ⁸³DQDWMDS⁸⁹, and ⁹⁰SNPGTW⁹⁵, ¹⁹⁷TFKYSGW²⁰³were recognized by 2C3 and 2G3, respectively. In this study, three monoclonal antibodies against cOmpT were successfully developed and the antigenic epitopes recognized by the antibodies were identified. The cOmpT specific monoclonal antibodies obtained in this study are potentially useful tools for both the functional study of cOmpT and the development of APEC epitope vaccines.     

Toxinotypes of Clostridium perfringens isolated from sick and healthy avian species.

Currently, the factors/toxins responsible for Clostridium perfringens-associated avian enteritis are not well understood. To assess whether specific C. perfringens' toxinotypes are associated with avian enteritis, the isolates of C. perfringens from 31 cases of avian necrotic or ulcerative enteritis submitted between 1997 and 2005 were selected for retrospective analysis using multiplex PCR. C. perfringens was isolated from chickens, turkeys, quail, and psittacines. The toxinotypes of isolates from diseased birds were compared against the toxinotype of 19 C. perfringens isolates from avian cases with no evidence of clostridial enteritis. All C. perfringens isolates were classified as type A regardless of species or disease history. Although many isolates (from all avian groups) had the gene encoding the C. perfirngens beta2 toxin, only 54% produced the toxin in vitro when measured using Western blot analysis. Surprisingly, a large number of healthy birds (90%) carried CPB2-producing isolates, whereas over half of the cpb2-positive isolates from diseased birds failed to produce CPB2. These data from this investigation do not suggest a causal relationship between beta2 toxin and necrotic enteritis in birds.     

Seroprevalence of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in cats

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether cats in the northeastern United States develop serum antibodies against antigens of Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum and whether coinfection with the 2 organisms occurs. SAMPLE POPULATION: Serum samples from 84 healthy cats and 9 cats with lameness, fever, anorexia, or fatigue. PROCEDURE: Serum antibodies against B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum were measured with an ELISA incorporating a whole-cell preparation or purified recombinant antigens, by means of Western blot analysis, or indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) staining. RESULTS: ELISA results indicated that 44 of 93 (47%) sera contained antibodies against > or = 3 B. burgdorferi antigens, whereas 43 (46%) were reactive to whole-cell B. burgdorferi. Serum reactivity to protein 35, VlsE, and outer surface proteins A and F was most common. Seropositivity to > or = 3 antigens occurred at the same rate (5/9) in the 9 ill cats as in the 84 healthy cats (46% [39/84]). Of 13 sera reactive to recombinant antigens, 9 were seropositive as measured by Western blot testing with whole-cell antigen. Seropositivity rates of 30% and 38% were detected for antibodies against A phagocytophilum via IFA and ELISA testing, respectively. Fifteen (16%) sera had antibodies against both pathogens. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Cats living in areas infested by Ixodes scapularis ticks are exposed to B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum and, in some instances, may be coinfected. Most cats appeared healthy. An ELISA incorporating specific recombinant antigens may be used adjunctively with Western blot and other assays to confirm B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum infection in cats.     

Seroprevalence of brucellosis, tularemia, and yersiniosis in wild boars (Sus scrofa) from north-eastern Germany

Brucellosis and tularemia are classical zoonotic diseases transmitted from an animal reservoir to humans. Both, wildlife and domestic animals, contribute to the spreading of these zoonoses. The surveillance of the animal health status is strictly regulated for domestic animals, whereas systematic disease monitoring in wildlife does not exist. The aim of the present study was to provide data on the prevalence of anti-Brucella, anti-Francisella and anti-Yersinia antibodies in wild boars from North-Eastern Germany to assess public health risks. A total of 763 sera of wild boars from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania hunted in 1995/1996 were tested using a commercially available Brucella suis ELISA, an in-house lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-based Francisella ELISA, and commercially available Western blot kits for the detection of anti-Francisella and anti-Yersinia antibodies. The Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 LPS is able to induce serological cross-reactions indistinguishable from brucellosis due to a similar immunodominant epitope in the Brucella O-polysaccharide. The Yersinia Western blot assay was, therefore, based on five recombinant Yersinia outer proteins which have been proved to be specific for the serodiagnosis of yersiniosis. Anti-Brucella, anti-Francisella and anti-Yersinia antibodies were detected in 22.0%, 3.1%, and 62.6% of the wild boars, respectively. The high seroprevalence of tularemia and brucellosis in wild boars indicates that natural foci of these zoonoses are present in wildlife in Germany. However, the impact of transmission of zoonotic pathogens from wildlife to livestock is unknown. Only careful and systematic monitoring will help to prevent the (re)emergence of these zoonotic diseases in domestic animals and consequently human infection.