Induction of porcine post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in pigs from PMWS unaffected herds following mingling with pigs from PMWS-affected herds

In this paper we present the results from two experimental studies (I and II) investigating whether post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) can be induced in pigs from PMWS unaffected herds by mingling with pigs from PMWS-affected herds and to observe whether transportation and/or mingling of healthy pigs from unaffected herds could induce PMWS.The studies comprised pigs from 12 different herds. Eight herds had PMWS while four were unaffected. All 12 herds were found to be infected with PCV2. Pigs from PMWS-affected herds were mingled with pigs from unaffected herds in four separate compartments in both study I and study II. In addition, in study II, four groups of pigs from unaffected herds were included. Two groups with pigs transported and mingled from unaffected herds and two groups with pigs which were only transported. The PMWS diagnoses on the individual pigs were based on lymphoid depletion, histiocytic proliferation and the presence of giant cells or inclusion bodies together with the demonstration of PCV2 in lymphoid tissue.Healthy pigs, in both studies, developed PMWS 4–5 weeks after mingling with pigs clinically affected with PMWS. None of the pigs from unaffected herds which had no contact with pigs from PMWS-affected herds developed clinical signs of PMWS. Transportation and mingling of pigs from PMWS unaffected herds in combination or alone was insufficient to provoke PMWS.     

Exploratory Study of Potato Cultivar Differences in Sensory and Hedonistic Applicability Tests

From a potato cultivar breeding database including 2,143 named cultivars and clones, 11 cultivars that spanned the major variation in cultivar quality were selected for subsequent sensory and hedonistic applicability tests. A tailor-made sensory profile of the cultivars was developed for four different cooking procedures: boiled, mashed, oven-fried and oven-cooked potatoes. A sensory profile consisted of the four to five most important sensory attributes, and the data was combined with the applicability data using multivariate data analysis. Ultimately, the variation in eating quality was evaluated in a hedonistic test with expert evaluation of applicability. Three gourmet chefs prepared the different cultivars as boiled potatoes, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes and oven-fried potatoes and evaluated the cultivars’ applicability, while a sensory panel consisting of nine judges evaluated the sensory quality. The multivariate data analysis revealed a significant diversity amongst the cultivars for the different cooking procedures. A single PCA bi-plot was able to provide a simple and clear overview of the gastronomic diversity and possible applications of the different potato cultivars.     

Effect of temperature variation during grain filling on wheat gluten resistance

The objective was to investigate effects of natural variation in temperature during grain filling on wheat (Triticum aestivum L) gluten quality. Seventeen field trials with four different varieties were conducted during the years 2005–2008. Temperature records were obtained from automatic weather stations located near the field trial sites. The period from heading to yellow ripeness was divided into 20 sub-phases of equal thermal time units, and a last sub-phase comprising the seven days after yellow ripeness. Partial Least Squares Regression was used to relate the temperature records of the different sub-phases to gluten quality analysed by the Kieffer Extensibility test and the SDS sedimentation test.     

Clinical and immunological heterogeneity of canine subepidermal blistering dermatoses with anti‐laminin‐332 (laminin‐5) auto‐antibodies

Laminin‐332 (laminin‐5) is a basement membrane heterotrimeric protein composed of alpha‐3, beta‐3 and gamma‐2 laminin chains. Laminin‐332 polypeptides are targeted by auto‐antibodies in human patients with mucous membrane (cicatricial) pemphigoid or, more rarely, subepidermal vesicular diseases that resemble epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) or bullous pemphigoid (BP). The objectives of this report were to characterize the clinical, histopathological and immunological characteristics of nine dogs with auto‐antibodies targeting laminin‐332. Immunological investigations consisted of direct immunofluorescence (IF), indirect IF with intact and salt‐split canine gingival, and salt‐split normal or laminin‐332‐deficient human skin, immunoblotting with purified human laminin‐332 and immunoblotting with recombinant NC1 domain of human collagen VII. All dogs exhibited varying degrees of skin blistering and ulceration associated with microscopic subepidermal vesiculation with or without inflammatory cells. Indirect IF established that circulating IgG auto‐antibodies bound the dermal side of salt‐split canine lip and human skin. In five dogs, IgG variably recognized the basement membrane of laminin‐332‐deficient human skin (three dogs negative, two dogs positive). In all nine dogs, IgG auto‐antibodies detected purified human laminin‐332 by immunoblotting. In two dogs, additional targeting of collagen VII‐NC1 was present. These observations establish laminin‐332 as a novel basement membrane antigen in dogs with autoimmune blistering diseases with variable clinical phenotypes. The names ‘acquired junctional epidermolysis bullosa’, ‘anti‐laminin‐332 mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP)’ and ‘mixed auto‐immune subepidermal blistering dermatosis’ are proposed for dogs with clinical signs reminiscent of EBA, MMP or BP respectively.     

Virucidal effects of various agents—including protease—against koi herpesvirus and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus

In a search for alternative, environmentally friendly and effective disinfecting agents, a commercially available protease—Neutrase^®—was tested in this work for inactivation of koi herpesvirus (KHV) and of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV). For comparison, the stability of these viral pathogens in similar configurations at various pH values and concentrations of peracetic acid or quicklime, typically used for disinfection, was tested. Therefore, virus suspensions were incubated with various concentrations of different agents for 24 hr and the titre of the remaining infectious particles was determined by virus titration. Furthermore, the treatment of both viruses, with the agents at concentrations that were previously appointed as effective, was also examined in the presence of solid material (quartz sand). All procedures investigated in this study, including the protease treatment, were able to reduce the titre of KHV and VHSV below the detection limit of the titration. Although further studies are necessary, this is the first report of the application of a protease for the inactivation of the selected fish pathogens, demonstrating the great potential of the latter for disinfection.     

Einfluss schwach wachsender Apfelunterlagen auf Wachstum, Ertrag und Fruchtgröße verschiedener Sorten – Teil III: ‘Jonagored’

From 2001 to 2005 the influence of the dwarfed apple rootstocks M 9 (clone: Burgmer 984), Fleuren 56, Supporter 1, P 16, P 22, J-TE-F, J-TE-E and M 27 on growth, yield and fruit size of the apple variety ‘Jonagored’ was investigated on the locations Auweiler, Dresden-Pillnitz, Osnabrück and Wurzen in Germany. All rootstocks induced a less vegetative growth as the rootstock M 9. In comparison with M 9 the crown volume of the trees ranged from 91% (Supporter 1) to 57% (M 27). The highest yield potential showed the rootstocks P 16 and M 9. The specific yield (kg/m³) of P 16 was 2% higher than the specific yield of M 9. J-TE-F produced the lowest specific yield.     

Einfluss schwach wachsender Apfelunterlagen auf Wachstum,Ertrag und Fruchtgröße verschiedener Sorten – Teil IV: Abschließende Bewertung

From 2001 to 2005 the influence of the dwarfed apple rootstocks M?9 (clone: Burgmer 984), Fleuren 56, Supporter 1, P?16, P?22, J-TE-F, J-TE-E and M?27 on growth, yield and fruit size of the apple varieties ‘Elstar, Elshof’, ‘Boskoop, Herr’ and ‘Jonagored’ was investigated on the locations Auweiler, Dresden-Pillnitz, Osnabrück and Wurzen in Germany.All rootstocks induced a less vegetative growth as the rootstock M?9. In comparison with M?9 the crown volume of the trees ranged from 92% (Supporter 1) to 52% (M?27). The highest yield potential showed the rootstock P?16. Her specific yield (kg/m³) was 17% higher than the specific yield of M?9. All rootstocks produced a lower individual fruit size as M?9. J-TE-E and J-TE-F produced the lowest specific yield.     

Intranasal peptide-induced peripheral tolerance: the role of IL-10 in regulatory T cell function within the context of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease commonly employed as a model for multiple sclerosis. Extensive studies have demonstrated that EAE may be prevented or ameliorated by the intranasal administration of soluble peptides representing encephalitogenic epitopes. There is increasing evidence that this peptide administration may function via the generation of regulatory cells. The mechanism of action of these cells remains controversial and it seems likely that it may vary between experimental models. At present the majority of work on regulatory cells has centred on characterising naturally occurring regulators, or those generated artificially ex vivo, and less is known about induced regulatory cells produced following peptide administration. This report aims to briefly outline the evidence for the existence of natural regulatory T cells and to introduce the sub-types of induced regulatory T cells now recognised.In several of these regulatory cell systems investigated to date, interleukin-10 (IL-10) has been shown to be important in cell function. This has not been directly investigated in a model employing peptide therapy to induce peripheral tolerance, hence the purpose of this study was to investigate the role of IL-10 in the generation of these regulatory cells. This work has employed both a TCR transgenic mouse system, for predominantly in vitro studies of cell function, and an IL-10 knock-out mouse strain to investigate in vivo disease protection. The results summarised in this report demonstrate that IL-10 is fundamentally important in the generation of disease protection following intranasal peptide therapy.     

Risk factors for infection of sow herds with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus

In 1992, the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) of European type (PRRSV-EU) was introduced in Denmark. By 1996, the virus had spread to approximately 25% of the Danish herds. In January 1996, a modified-live vaccine based on the American type of the virus (PRRSV-US) was used in replacement boars for Danish artificial insemination (AI) centres and from July 1996, the vaccine was used in PRRSV-EU infected herds for prevention of disease. Soon after vaccine introduction, PRRSV non-infected herds experienced outbreaks of disease due to infection with PRRSV-US. In this study, we investigated the risk factors (biosecurity level, animals, exposure from PRRSV-US-infected neighbour herds, semen, herd size, pig density and herd density) for infection with PRRSV-US in a cohort of 1071 sow herds; we used a nested case-control study. The retrospective observation period lasted from June 1996 (when they all were non-infected) to October 1997. Seventy-three non-vaccinated, closed sow herds became infected with the vaccine strain during this period. Each case herd was matched with two control herds from the cohort (controls had not been infected at the time of infection in the case herds). The data were analysed using a Cox-regression model. The hazard of infection increased significantly with exposure from PRRSV-US-infected neighbouring herds, purchase of animals from herds incubating PRRSV-US infection, increasing herd size and purchase of semen from boars at PRRSV-US-infected AI centres. The results are consistent with the modified-live vaccine strain spread to other herds by trade with animals and semen and by neighbour (area) transmission. We suggest that virus spread by aerosols was a frequent mode of transmission.