Monitoring of chronic wasting disease using real-time quaking-induced conversion assay in Japan

There has been no report on Chronic wasting disease (CWD) cases in Japan to date; however, there is concern about the geographic spread of CWD. To clarify the CWD status in Japan, we conducted CWD monitoring using real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assay which can detect the low level of CWD prions. A total of 690 obex samples collected from sika deer and Reeves’s muntjac in Hokkaido and Honshu was tested for CWD prions. No CWD-positive cases were found, suggesting that CWD is nonexistent in Japan. Our results also indicate that RT-QuIC assay is useful for continuous monitoring of CWD. Furthermore, nucleotide sequence analysis of the PrP gene revealed sika deer in Japan harbor CWD susceptible allele.     

梅花鹿朊蛋白基因(PRNP)的克隆及序列分析

根据GenBank中鹿朊蛋白基因序列设计特异性扩增引物，采用PCR方法从中国梅花鹿基因组中扩增得到梅花鹿的朊蛋白基因，采用PCR产物直接测序，并将其克隆到pGEM—TEasy载体中测序进行进一步确认，通过分析表明所克隆的梅花鹿朊蛋白基因的ORF基因片段包含771bp，编码256个氨基酸的前体蛋白，相对分子质量约为28200。与已报道的其他品种鹿朊蛋白基因序列进行对比分析，核苷酸及氨基酸序列的同源性均在98％以上。本试验为进一步研究中国梅花鹿朊蛋白的多态性提供了数据。     

Abundant PrP(CWD) in tonsil from mule deer with preclinical chronic wasting disease.

A monoclonal antibody dot-blot assay was used to evaluate detergent lysates of tonsil tissue from mule deer to detect PrP(CWD), the marker for the cervid transmissible spongiform encephalopathy chronic wasting disease (CWD). Samples of formalin-fixed brain and tonsil tissues from mule deer were examined for PrP(CWD) using immunohistochemistry (IHC) with Mab F99/97.6.1, the gold standard for diagnosis of preclinical CWD. The contralateral tonsil from each of the 143 deer was prepared for confirmatory IHC and as a 10% (wt/vol) detergent lysate without purification or enrichment steps for monoclonal antibody dot-blot assay. PrP(CWD) was detected by dot-blot assay in 49 of 50 samples considered positive by IHC. Forty-eight of the positive samples were evaluated with a quantitative dot-blot assay calibrated with recombinant PrP. Tonsillar PrP(CWD) concentrations ranged from 34 to 1,188 ng per 0.5 mg starting wet weight of tissue. The abundant PrP(CWD) in mule deer tonsil will facilitate development and validation of high-throughput screening tests for CWD in large populations of free-ranging deer.     

Comparison of retropharyngeal lymph node and obex region of the brainstem in detection of chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Wisconsin was first identified in February 2002. By April 2005, medial retropharyngeal lymph node (RLN) tissues had been examined from over 75,000 white-tailed deer for the presence of CWD by either immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for the prion protein associated with CWD (PrP(res)) or by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays with confirmation of positives by IHC staining and had been detected in 469 animals. Obex tissue was also available from 438 of the CWD-positive animals and was CWD positive by IHC staining in 355 (81%). To verify whether false-negative results were possible examining only RLN, both obex and RLN samples were examined for CWD by IHC staining from 4,430 of the white-tailed deer harvested from an area in Wisconsin where the overall deer CWD prevalence was approximately 6.2%. Two hundred and fourteen of the 269 positive deer (79.6%) had deposits of PrP(res) in both obex and lymphoid tissues, 55 (20.4%) had deposits only in lymphoid tissue, and there were no deer that had deposits only in obex.     

Determination of nucleotide sequence of SRY gene in sika deer (Cervus nippon)

The aim of the present study was to determine the whole nucleotide sequence of the open reading frame of the sex‐determining region Y (SRY‐ORF) in wild sika deer. The SRY gene of wild sika deer was obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with DNA from blood samples. The whole nucleotide sequence of the SRY‐ORF in wild sika deer consisted of 687 bp and encoded 229 deduced amino acids. In comparison with the bovine SRY gene, the percentage of nucleotide sequence homology was 91.0% in the overall ORF, and those of the N‐terminal, high mobility group (HMG) box, and C‐terminal regions within ORF were 88.9%, 96.2% and 87.9%, respectively. The nucleotide sequences of sika deer SRY‐ORF characterized in the present study can be used for phylogenetic analysis or sexing in wild sika deer.     

Validation of monoclonal antibody F99/97.6.1 for immunohistochemical staining of brain and tonsil in mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) with chronic wasting disease.

A new monoclonal antibody (MAb), F99/97.6.1, that has been used to demonstrate scrapie-associated prion protein PrP(Sc) in brain and lymphoid tissues of domestic sheep with scrapie was used in an immunohistochemistry assay for diagnosis of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). The MAb F99/97.6.1 immunohistochemistry assay was evaluated in brain and tonsil tissue from 100 mule deer that had spongiform encephalopathy compatible with CWD and from 1,050 mule deer outside the CWD-endemic area. This MAb demonstrated abnormal protease-resistant prion protein (PrP(res)) in brains of all of the 100 mule deer and in 99 of the 100 tonsil samples. No immunostaining was seen in samples collected from deer outside the endemic area. MAb F99/97.6.1 demonstrated excellent properties for detection of PrP(res) in fresh, frozen, or mildly to moderately autolytic samples of brain and tonsil. This immunohistochemistry assay is a sensitive, specific, readily standardized diagnostic test for CWD in deer.     

Occurrence of two distinct Theileria lineages in sika deer (Cervus nippon) of Iwate Prefecture, Japan

In the present study, we tried to detect protozoan blood parasites from the liver or blood of 141 Japanese sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Iwate Prefecture of Japan by polymerase chain reaction. Approximately 500-bp amplicons were obtained in 76 (53.9%) of 141 samples by amplification for V4 hyper-variable regions of the 18S rRNA gene, and the amplicons were considered to be DNA of Theileria species. The complete nucleotide sequences (1701-bp) of the 18S rRNA gene were determined in 25 samples and were divided into 8 genotypes that were phylogenetically separated into two distinct lineages showing a monophyletic relation. The two lineages of Theileria were detected in different rates (12 and 88%) from sika deer in Iwate Prefecture.     

基于SRY基因分析梅花鹿的遗传多样性及父系类型

试验旨在研究梅花鹿SRY基因的遗传多样性及其父系类型。选取东北亚种、北海道亚种、本州亚种、指名亚种、屋久岛亚种5个亚种的144个个体,利用试剂盒和传统酚/仿(1∶1)法进行DNA的提取,采用PCR扩增和直接测序法分析梅花鹿的核苷酸多样性(Pi)、单倍型多样性(Hd)、遗传距离及系统进化关系。结果显示,试验所获序列长度为1 613bp,在第47、62、602、1 148、1 569、1 604bp处共检测到6个SNPs多态位点,占核苷酸总数的0.3%,碱基替换以碱基转换为主。通过6个SNPs多态位点确立了6种单倍型:Hap-1、Hap-2、Hap-3、Hap-4、Hap-5和Hap-6,其中Hap-4、Hap-5和Hap-6为新发现单倍型。遗传多样性由高至低依次为:指名亚种、屋久岛亚种、东北亚种、本州亚种、北海道亚种。各亚种间遗传距离最小为北海道亚种与本州亚种的距离(0.000056),最大为东北亚种与指名亚种的距离(0.001733)。基于单倍型利用邻接法构建系统进化树,结果显示,与日本梅花鹿相比,东北亚种与马鹿关系更近,东北亚种存在两大分支,日本梅花鹿各亚种间无明显分支,其他单倍型均是由Hap-3进化而来,单倍型最小跨度网络图与系统进化树一致。结果表明,东北梅花鹿存在两大父系类型,日本梅花鹿存在一个父系类型,单倍型Hap-3是日本梅花鹿的原始单倍型。     

一例梅花鹿布氏杆菌和日本乙型脑炎混合感染的诊断

2018年3月17日,贵州省某梅花鹿场的梅花鹿(Cervus nippon)出现关节肿大、下颌肿大、睾丸单侧肿胀,还伴有严重的跛行等症状。采集4份该发病梅花鹿的血样送检。检测结果表明,通过虎红平板凝集试验2份血样检测出了布氏杆菌感染,4份血样经RT-PCR均扩增出了JEV NS1部分基因的特异性条带,PCR产物测序结果分析显示,4份梅花鹿血样的JEV NS1基因(GZ-015、GZ-019、GZ-022、GZ-039)间的核苷酸同源性分别为99. 9%、99. 3%、99. 4%,与强毒株SA-14、国内外的疫苗株及四川、吉林等地的JEV分离株之间核苷酸同源性为99%以上,GZ-015、GZ-019、GZ-022、GZ-039与强毒株SA-14、弱毒株、国内外的疫苗株及四川、吉林等地的JEV分离株处于同一个较大的遗传进化分支。     

Divergence of p33/34 gene of Theileria found in Cervus nippon in Japan

The 18S rRNA gene and the piroplasm major immunodominant protein gene (p33/34) of Theileria from various subspecies of sika deer in 8 different locations of Japan were analyzed. The similarity between 633 bp partial sequences of the 18S rRNA gene among various subspecies of sika deer was found to be between 99.7% and 100%. While the percent identities of the 412 bp partial p33/34 gene sequence and deduced amino acid sequences between Theileria of sika deer from Yamaguchi Prefecture and those found in deer from other Prefectures, were comparatively low, 68.7% to 70.1% and 64.1% to 70.0% respectively. These findings suggest that there are at least two genetically distinct strains of Theileria of sika deer in Japan.     

梅花鹿MSRB3基因多态性及其与茸重性状的关联分析

【目的】 本研究旨在探索梅花鹿甲硫氨酸亚砜还原酶B3（methionine sulfoxide reductase B3，MSRB3）基因多态性及其与茸重性状的关联性。【方法】 选取高、低产茸量的梅花鹿各8只，应用DNA直接测序法检测基因变异位点。采用MassARRAY^® SNP分型技术对314头24月龄梅花鹿MSRB3基因进行基因分型，并结合梅花鹿茸重性状数据进行了关联分析和单倍型分析。【结果】 在梅花鹿MSRB3基因中共发现6个SNPs位点，其中2个SNPs位点位于外显子区域，且突变均未引起氨基酸改变，属于同义突变，其余4个SNPs位点均存在于内含子区域。分型结果显示4个样本未分型成功，其余310个样本进行后续分析。各位点观测杂合度和期望杂合度基本一致，g.44455582 T>C、g.44455759 C>T、g.44414424 T>C、g.44350306 T>C及g.44340836 G>A等5个位点的杂合度较高，均属于中度多态（0.25<PIC<0.5），g.44340734 G>C位点杂合度较低，属于低度多态（PIC<0.25）。卡方检验结果表明，g.44455759 C>T位点偏离Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态（P<0.05），其他5个位点均处于Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态（P>0.05）。对6个SNPs位点的不同基因型与梅花鹿茸重的关联分析结果表明，g.44455582 T>C位点的TT基因型个体茸重极显著高于CC和TC基因型（P<0.01）。单倍型分析结果显示，g.44340734 G>C和g.44350306 T>C、g.44455582 T>C和g.44455759 C>T位点存在强连锁，各产生3种单倍型，在Block 2区块中单倍型TC茸重显著高于单倍型CT （P<0.05）。【结论】 MSRB3基因与梅花鹿茸重性状密切相关，g.44455582 T>C位点和单倍型TC可作为筛选高产梅花鹿的分子标记。     

Experimental transmission of chronic wasting disease agent from mule deer to cattle by the intracerebral route.

This communication reports final observations on experimental transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) from mule deer to cattle by the intracerebral route. Thirteen calves were inoculated intracerebrally with brain suspension from mule deer naturally affected with CWD. Three other calves were kept as uninoculated controls. The experiment was terminated 6 years after inoculation. During that time, abnormal prion protein (PrP(res)) was demonstrated in the central nervous system (CNS) of 5 cattle by both immunohistochemistry and Western blot. However, microscopic lesions suggestive of spongiform encephalopathy (SE) in the brains of these PrP(res)-positive animals were subtle in 3 cases and absent in 2 cases. Analysis of the gene encoding bovine PRNP revealed homozygosity for alleles encoding 6 octapeptide repeats, serine (S) at codon 46, and S at codon 146 in all samples. Findings of this study show that although PrP(res) amplification occurred after direct inoculation into the brain, none of the affected animals had classic histopathologic lesions of SE. Furthermore, only 38% of the inoculated cattle demonstrated amplification of PrP(res). Although intracerebral inoculation is an unnatural route of exposure, this experiment shows that CWD transmission in cattle could have long incubation periods (up to 5 years). This finding suggests that oral exposure of cattle to CWD agent, a more natural potential route of exposure, would require not only a much larger dose of inoculum but also may not result in amplification of PrP(res) within CNS tissues during the normal lifespan of cattle.     

动物组织中GLUD1基因表达与GDH蛋白结构分析

[目的]研究动物不同组织中GLUD1基因的表达情况,比较不同物种中GDH蛋白的结构差异,明晰GLUD1基因的表达模式与GDH蛋白的功能。[方法]分别采集大鼠、绵羊、梅花鹿的肝脏、肾脏、皮肤、脂肪和肌肉5种新鲜组织样品。以β-actin为内参基因,采用荧光定量PCR法（qRT-PCR）分析3种动物不同组织中GLUD1基因的表达情况;利用无重复双因素分析方法表征GLUD1基因在不同组织中的表达量差异。比较人、小鼠、大鼠、山羊、绵羊、牛和猪7个物种GDH蛋白氨基酸序列,模拟这7个物种的GDH蛋白三维空间结构。[结果]GLUD1基因在大鼠、绵羊和梅花鹿的5个组织中均有表达,在肝脏中的表达量均高于其他组织;该基因在大鼠和梅花鹿肝脏组织中的表达量极显著（P<0.01）高于绵羊肝脏组织中的表达量,在大鼠肾脏组织中的表达量极显著（P<0.01）高于梅花鹿肾脏组织中的表达量。人GDH蛋白的氨基酸序列与猪、牛、山羊和绵羊的序列相似度较高,而大鼠与小鼠GDH蛋白的氨基酸序列相似度达到99.10%。大鼠、人、猪的GDH蛋白氨基酸序列中分别存在2个（第8位丙氨酸→缬氨酸、第40位丙氨酸→缬氨酸）、1个（第23位丙氨酸→丝氨酸）、2个（第33位丙氨酸→苏氨酸、第39位丙氨酸→苏氨酸）物种特异性突变位点。小鼠、大鼠、人的GDH蛋白预测为三聚体结构,山羊、绵羊、牛和猪的GDH蛋白预测为同源六聚体结构。[结论]GLUD1基因在大鼠、绵羊、梅花鹿不同组织中的表达量存在差异,在肝脏中都有较高水平的表达。不同物种GDH蛋白的氨基酸序列相似度较高,但依旧存在一定的序列差异性,并且存在数个对应物种特异性的氨基酸突变位点。     

Phylogenetic analysis of Theileria sp. from sika deer, Cervus nippon, in Japan

The 18S rRNA genes of Theileria species detected in sika deer, Cervus nippon centralis in Yamaguchi and Cervus nippon yesoensis in Hokkaido, were analyzed. The percent identities of the nucleotide sequences of Theileria from Cervus nippon centralis and Cervus nippon yesoensis were more than 99%. The percent identities of the Theileria sp. from sika deer and Theileria sergenti, Theileria buffeli and Theileria cervi were 97, 96 and 95%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the gene sequences also revealed that Theileria sp. detected from sika deer comprise a clade that is clearly distinct from the clade comprised of Theileria from cattle.     

Chronic wasting disease in a Wisconsin white-tailed deer farm

In September 2002, chronic wasting disease (CWD), a prion disorder of captive and wild cervids, was diagnosed in a white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from a captive farm in Wisconsin. The facility was subsequently quarantined, and in January 2006 the remaining 76 deer were depopulated. Sixty animals (79%) were found to be positive by immunohistochemical staining for the abnormal prion protein (PrP(CWD)) in at least one tissue; the prevalence of positive staining was high even in young deer. Although none of the deer displayed clinical signs suggestive of CWD at depopulation, 49 deer had considerable accumulation of the abnormal prion in the medulla at the level of the obex. Extraneural accumulation of the abnormal protein was observed in 59 deer, with accumulation in the retropharyngeal lymph node in 58 of 59 (98%), in the tonsil in 56 of 59 (95%), and in the rectal mucosal lymphoid tissue in 48 of 58 (83%). The retina was positive in 4 deer, all with marked accumulation of prion in the obex. One deer was considered positive for PrP(CWD) in the brain but not in the extraneural tissue, a novel observation in white-tailed deer. The infection rate in captive deer was 20-fold higher than in wild deer. Although weakly related to infection rates in extraneural tissues, prion genotype was strongly linked to progression of prion accumulation in the obex. Antemortem testing by biopsy of recto-anal mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (or other peripheral lymphoid tissue) may be a useful adjunct to tonsil biopsy for surveillance in captive herds at risk for CWD infection.     

Experimental transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) of elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) to white-tailed deer by intracerebral route

To compare clinical and pathologic findings of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a natural host, 3 groups (n = 5) of white-tailed deer (WTD) fawns were intracerebrally inoculated with a CWD prion of WTD, mule deer, or elk origin. Three other uninoculated fawns served as controls. Approximately 10 months postinoculation (MPI), 1 deer from each of the 3 inoculated groups was necropsied and their tissues were examined for lesions of spongiform encephalopathy (SE) and for the presence of abnormal prion protein (PrP(d)) by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot (WB). The remaining deer were allowed to live until they developed clinical signs of the disease which began approximately 18 MPI. By 26 MPI, all deer were euthanatized on humane grounds. Obvious differences in clinical signs or the incubation periods were not observed between the 3 groups of deer given CWD. In 1 of 3 nonclinical deer euthanatized at 10 MPI, minimal microscopic lesions of SE were seen in the central nervous system (CNS) tissues, and PrP(d) was observed by IHC in tissues of all 3 deer. In the clinical deer, CNS lesions of SE and PrP(d) accumulations were more severe and extensive. It is concluded that the 3 sources of CWD prion did not induce significant differences in time to clinical disease or qualitative differences in signs or lesions in WTD. However, this observation does not imply that these CWD agents would necessarily behave similarly in other recipient species.     

Experimental transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) from elk and white-tailed deer to fallow deer by intracerebral route: final report

Final observations on experimental transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) from elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to fallow deer (Dama dama) are reported herein. During the 5-year study, 13 fawns were inoculated intracerebrally with CWD-infected brain material from white-tailed deer (n = 7; Group A) or elk (n = 6; Group B), and 3 other fawns were kept as uninoculated controls (Group C). As described previously, 3 CWD-inoculated deer were euthanized at 7.6 mo post-inoculation (MPI). None revealed presence of abnormal prion protein (PrP(d)) in their tissues. At 24 (Group A) and 26 (Group B) MPI, 2 deer were necropsied. Both animals had a small focal accumulation of PrP(d) in their midbrains. Between 29 and 37 MPI, 3 other deer (all from Group A) were euthanized. The 5 remaining deer became sick and were euthanized between 51 and 60 MPI (1 from Group A and 4 from Group B). Microscopic lesions of spongiform encephalopathy (SE) were observed in only these 5 animals; however, PrP(d) was detected in tissues of the central nervous system by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and by commercial rapid test in all animals that survived beyond 24 MPI. This study demonstrates that intracerebrally inoculated fallow deer not only amplify CWD prions, but also develop lesions of spongiform encephalopathy.     

带血和排血梅花鹿茸骨片氨基酸、总磷脂、钙和磷含量的比较分析

为探讨两种梅花鹿茸片内在质量存在的差异 ,对 6对样品氨基酸、总磷脂、钙和磷的含量进行了测定。结果表明 ,水解氨基酸总量、总磷脂、钙和磷的含量在带血梅花鹿茸片中分别为 4 4 4 7%、1 0 4 8%、6 6 2 5 %和 6 6 6 1% ;在排血梅花鹿茸片中分别为 4 2 6 7%、1 0 2 7%、7 394 %和 7 347% ,两种梅花鹿茸骨片的总氨基酸、总磷脂、Ca和P的含量差异不显著 (P >0 0 5 )。     

梅花鹿血与发酵梅花鹿血酒氨基酸含量的比较分析

利用 8 35 50型氨基酸分析仪对梅花鹿血及发酵梅花鹿血酒的氨基酸含量进行了分析测定 ,结果表明 ,二者均含有 1 7种氨基酸 ,总氨基酸含量梅花鹿血高于发酵梅花鹿血酒 ,而各种游离氨基酸的含量 ,却是后者高于前者 ,且后者是前者的 3～ 1 0 3倍。     

东北梅花鹿、猪和牛血粉氨基酸、胆固醇、钙和磷含量的比较分析

选用氨基酸、胆固醇、钙、磷作为检测指标,对冻干法加工的东北梅花鹿血粉、猪血粉、牛血粉进行了比较分析。通过三者的内在质量差异,探讨评定东北梅花鹿血粉的质量依据。结果表明：东北梅花鹿血粉中的氨基酸总量显著高于其他2种动物血粉（P〈0．05）,胆固醇含量显著低于牛血粉（P〈0．05）、猪血粉（P〈0．05）,因此,冻干法加工的鹿血粉是较理想的氨基酸含量高、胆固醇含量低的保健食品和药品。