Bovine natural killer cells

Natural killer (NK) cells have received much attention due to their cytotoxic abilities, often with a focus on their implications for cancer and transplantation. But despite their name, NK cells are also potent producers of cytokines like interferon-gamma. Recent discoveries of their interplay with dendritic cells and T-cells have shown that NK cells participate significantly in the onset and shaping of adaptive cellular immune responses, and increasingly these cells have become associated with protection from viral, bacterial and parasitic infections. Furthermore, they are substantially present in the placenta, apparently participating in the establishment of normal pregnancy. Consequently, NK cells have entered arenas of particular relevance in veterinary immunology. Limited data still exist on these cells in domestic animal species, much due to the lack of specific markers. However, bovine NK cells can be identified as NKp46 (CD335) expressing, CD3(−) lymphocytes. Recent studies have indicated a role for NK cells in important infectious diseases of cattle, and identified important bovine NK receptor families, including multiple KIRs and a single Ly49. In this review we will briefly summarize the current understanding of general NK cell biology, and then present the knowledge obtained thus far in the bovine species.     

Estimation of sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of two serologic tests for the detection of antibodies against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 in the absence of a reference test (gold standard)

Latent-class models were used to determine the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of a polyclonal blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a modified complement-fixation test (CFT) when there was no reference test. The tests were used for detection of antibodies against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 in a survey of respiratory diseases in Danish finishing pigs. The estimates were obtained by maximum-likelihood and also by a Bayesian method (implemented with Gibbs sampling). Possible dependence of diagnostic errors was investigated by comparing models where independence was assumed to models allowing for conditional dependence, given the true disease status.No strong evidence of conditional dependence in either test sensitivity or specificity was found. Assuming independence, maximum-likelihood estimates and 95% confidence intervals of the sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA were 100% and 92.8% (90.1–95.5%) and the corresponding values of the CFT were 90.6% (85.8–95.4%) and 98.6% (98.0–99.3%), respectively. Bayesian estimates and posterior 95% credible intervals of the sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA were 99.7% (98.7–100%) and 92.7% (89.9–95.3%) and of the CFT were 90.6% (86.0–95.3%) and 98.7% (98.0–99.3%). The sensitivity and specificity of a combined test, where the CFT is subsequently applied to the pig sera that test positive in the ELISA, were estimated at 90.2% (85.6–95.0%) and 99.9% (99.8–100%), respectively. The cost of the combined test was less than the cost of the use of the CFT alone, at prevalences <54%. Prevalences and predictive values and their 95% limits were estimated in six sub-samples of data. The estimates of sensitivity and specificity obtained in the present investigation generally validate those reported from other sources.     

Heavy metals (cadmium, copper, lead and mercury) in common eiders (Somateria mollissima) from Denmark

In an examination of 50 Danish common eiders, the liver and kidney content of cadmium, copper, lead and mercury was determined. Eiders were chosen for analysis, because this species feed almost exclusively on the common mussel (Mytilus edulis), which is known to accumulate heavy metals. The concentrations recorded of cadmium, copper, and mercury were lower than what is usually regarded as toxic for birds, except for one eider which carried more than 2000 mg copper/kg liver tissue (dry weight). Of the 42 eiders analysed for lead, four had toxic levels, i.e., more than 7 mg per kg liver wet weight, and two other had increased levels, i.e., 3-7 mg lead per kg liver wet weight. The mean Cd concentration was 3.3 mg/kg liver (ww). This means that by consumption of ab. 160 gram liver from the common eider, the weekly tolerable intake of cadmium suggested by FAO/WHO would be exceeded.     

Pyridyl terpenoid ethers with high juvenile hormone activity

Pyridyl terpenoid ethers have outstanding juvenile hormone activity in Tenebrio molitor compared with their phenyl analogues (6,7-epoxy-3,7-dimethyloct-2-enyl 6-ethyl-3-pyridyl ether and 7-ethoxy-3,7-dimethyloct-2-enyl 6-ethyl-3-pyridyl ether are active at 100 pg/larva). The compounds were also active in Galteria mellonella and Culex pipiens.     

A case-control study of risk factors in light Taenia saginata cysticercosis in Danish cattle.

Risk factors in light T. saginata cysticercosis in cattle herds were investigated in a case-control study. The case group consisted of farms from which cattle with low-grade cysticercosis had been detected at slaughter. The control group consisted of farms where no cases were detected during the same period. The major risk factor identified was allowing cattle access to drink from streams carrying effluent from sewage treatment plants (odds ratio = 3.6). Spreading of septic tank sludge through deliberate or accidental mixing with animal slurry, deposition of sewage sludge, and proximity to railways, camping sites or sewage treatment plants seemed to be of minor importance.     

Nursing sickness in lactating mink (Mustela vison). I. Epidemiological and pathological observations.

In a retrospective survey, the epidemiological characteristics of nursing sickness in Standard Black and Pastel mink (Mustela vison) were examined in a Danish fur research farm. Based on the clinical diagnosis of the disease, the overall morbidity in a total of 1774 lactating females amounted to 14.4% and the case fatality rate to 7.8%. Apparently healthy females weaned an average of 5.0 kits per litter, while dams suffering from nursing sickness raised and weaned an average of 5.4 kits per litter (p less than 0.01). Based on logistic regression analysis, the increasing age of the lactating dam, followed by littersize and female weight loss, appeared to be major determinants for the development of nursing sickness. The impact of additional covariates such as litter weight gain and female color type were remarkably low. At weaning (day 43) the mean individual live weight of the kits of either sex did not differ between healthy and sick dams. In Standard Black, the total biomass of the offspring raised by sick dams was significantly larger than that of the healthy controls (p less than 0.01). During the final two weeks of lactation, apparently healthy dams lost on average 14% of their body mass, whereas those affected by nursing sickness had a mean weight loss of about 31% (p less than 0.001). Postmortem examination of 25 dams with severe nursing sickness verified the clinical findings of progressive dehydration and emaciation. The gastrointestinal tract was empty and gastric ulcers and melaena were frequently present. Other common findings included small livers,enlarged adrenals and pitted kidneys.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The cox regression model applied to risk factor analysis of infections in the breeding and multiplying herds in the Danish SPF system

The Cox regression model is discussed with emphasis on model examination and selection. The model is applied in a multivariate risk factor analysis of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (MH) infections in the breeding and multiplying herds in the Danish specific pathogen-free (SPF) pig production system. The analysis showed that the pattern of infections was in agreement with the theory that both airborne transmission and spread through trade in subclinically infected animals are major causes of MH infections.