Virus spread pattern within infected chicken farms using regression model: the 2003-2004 HPAI epidemic in the Republic of Korea

During the 2003-2004 epidemic in Korea, the infection time and within-farm spread pattern of virus were analysed for the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak on chicken farms using regression models based on epidemiological data. Mortality observed on a given day had a positive linear association with time after initial infection. HPAI spread more rapidly on farms managed by employees and on farms with larger numbers of chicken houses in use. The disease spread more rapidly among layer chickens than among broilers. Using statistical model, we found that farmers recognize the abnormally high mortality resulting from HPAI approximately 5 days after infection. Without any intervention, entire flocks would die within 12 days of introduction of the HPAI virus to the infected farm.     

Epidemic patterns of encephalitis, hemorrhagic fever and rabies in Korea (1979–1988)

In 1983, 1197 human cases (3.04/10 000 population) of epidemic encephalitis were reported, but practically no further cases of this condition have been reported since 1984. Human cases of encephalitis occurred primarily among those younger than 19 years in rice-field regions in the autumn. The mean number of patients registered annually with hemorrhagic fever from 1979 to 1988 was 46.5 (0.19/10 000 population), being highest in 1979 (73 cases, 0.19/10 000) and lowest in 1982 (32 cases, 0.08/10 000). Hemorrhagic fever occurred among adults mainly in autumn in mountain regions. Two cases of rabies in human and dog were reported in 1984.     

VP2‐segment Sequence Analysis of Some Isolates of Bluetongue Virus Recovered in the Mediterranean Basin During the 1998–2003 Outbreak

The complete nucleotide sequences of the VP2 segments of bluetongue virus (BTV) isolates recovered from Italy, Greece and Israel, from 1998 to 2003, were determined. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences, those from related viruses and the South African vaccine strains, were used to determine the probable geographic origin of BTV incursions into Italy. Results indicated that viruses from each of the four serotypes isolated in Italy (2, 4, 9 and 16) possibly had a different origin. Analysis of the bluetongue virus serotype 2 (BTV‐2) isolates gave evidence that this serotype probably moved from Tunisia. BTV‐4 results showed probable incursion from the southwest and not from Greece or Israel. BTV‐9 isolates clearly have an eastern origin (most probably Greece), whereas BTV‐16 isolates are indistinguishable from the BTV‐16 live attenuated vaccine strain. The phylogenetic findings were supported by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) analysis of the complete amplified genome of each isolate except for BTV‐16 Italian field isolate, which showed a slightly different PAGE profile. A combination of the complete VP2 sequencing and PAGE analysis of complete genomes, allowed not only phylogenetic analysis, but also vaccine detection and assessment of reassortment events.     

Seroprevalance and Identification of Influenza A Virus Infection from Migratory Wild Waterfowl in China (2004–2005)

Outbreaks of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) were reported in birds in more than eight Asian countries. We sought to identify the origin of this infection, and herein report the results of serological and virological monitoring of migrant wild waterfowl in mainland China. From a total of 493 serum samples, collected from 15 migratory wild waterfowl species for 9 months (from June 2004 to May 2005) in mainland China, we detected only low‐level antibodies against influenza subtypes H2, H9 and H10 in the relict gull, little egret, black‐crowned night heron, bar‐tailed godwit, whimbrel and the common greenshank. No virus was identified from the 1052 cloacal and oropharyngeal swabs except dead bar‐headed geese. These data show that the influenza type A virus subtypes H2–H13 did not circulate at detectable levels within the sampled population.     

Investigation on the Production Performance of gE Antibody Positive Sows in Pig Farms Infected with Wild Type Pseudorabies Virus

Pseudorabies (PR) is caused by the Pseudorabies virus (PRV). It is an acute and hot highly contagious disease infecting livestock and a wide range of wild animals. In order to investigate the relationship between latent infection of Pseudorabies virus and sow production performance,this study collected production parameters of first-parity sows with wild virus gE positive and negtive in a Pseudorabies positive stable intensive farm, including total litter size, healthy litter size, weak litter size, stillbirths, mummified fetus, litter weight, number of weaning live, number of weaning qualified and weaning weight. And compared the production performance of PRV gE antibody negative and positive sows in the same intensive pig farm. The study showed that each PRV gE antibody negative sow could produce 11.96 live piglets per parity. Additionally, PRV gE antibody negative sow could provide more alive, weaning and weaning qualified piglets per parity than infection sows, which were 0.63, 0.18 and 0.28, respectively. Although the average birth weight and average weaning weight of piglets produced by PRV gE antibody positive sows were higher than those produced by negative sows, the weaning qualified rate of antibody negative sows was higher than that of antibody positive sows, indicating that the weaning live piglets produced by antibody negative sows had higher uniformity. In summary, the production performance of PRV gE antibody positive sows was lower than that of the negative sows. Eradication of PR can bring higher profit to the pig farm. Pig farm should actively eradicate the PR.     

伪狂犬病病毒野毒感染猪场的gE抗体阳性头胎母猪生产成绩调查

伪狂犬病（Pseudorabies,PR）是由伪狂犬病病毒（Pseudorabies virus,PRV）感染多种野生动物及家畜引起的急性、热性的高度接触性传染病。为掌握PRV隐性感染对头胎母猪生产成绩的影响,本研究跟踪调查某一PRV野毒阳性稳定万头母猪场中野毒gE抗体阴性和阳性的头胎母猪总产仔数、健仔数、弱仔数、死胎数、木乃伊胎数、仔猪初生窝重以及断奶活仔数、断奶合格仔数、仔猪断奶重等不同生产成绩指标,探索相同饲养条件下伪狂犬病对头胎母猪各生产指标的影响。结果发现,每头PRV野毒gE抗体阴性头胎母猪每窝平均可产11.96头活仔猪,比gE抗体阳性母猪每胎次多产活仔0.63头,以及每胎次可多提供0.18头断奶活仔,每胎次多提供0.28头断奶合格仔。虽然PRV野毒gE抗体阳性母猪所产仔猪初生均重及断奶均重均高于gE抗体阴性母猪所产仔猪,但gE抗体阴性母猪所产仔猪断奶合格率高于gE抗体阳性母猪,表明其断奶活仔整齐度更高。综上,PRV野毒gE抗体阳性的头胎母猪生产成绩低于gE抗体阴性母猪,伪狂犬病的净化可为猪场带来更高的经济效益,表明伪狂犬病的净化至关重要。     

Severe blunt trauma in dogs: 235 cases (1997–2003)

Objective – To evaluate population characteristics, injuries, emergency diagnostic testing, and outcome of dogs with blunt trauma requiring intensive care in an urban hospital. Design – Retrospective study 1997–2003. Setting – All data obtained from the University of Pennsylvania – Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital. Animals – Dogs admitted to the intensive care unit for treatment following blunt trauma. Interventions – None. Measurements and Main results – Of the 235 dogs that met inclusion criteria, 206 (88%) survived and 29 (12%) did not survive. Blunt vehicular trauma accounted for 91.1% of cases. Mild hyperglycemia and hyperlactatemia was common in both survivors and nonsurvivors. The chest was the most common region traumatized and the prevalence of polytrauma was 72.3%. Initial weight, vital signs, PCV, total plasma protein, BUN, glucose, lactate, acid‐base status, and electrolytes did not differ between survivors and nonsurvivors. Nonsurvivors were significantly more likely to have had head trauma (P=0.008), cranium fractures (P<0.001), recumbency at admission (P<0.001), development of hematochezia (P<0.001), clinical suspicion of acute respiratory distress syndrome (P<0.001), disseminated intravascular coagulation (P<0.001), multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (P<0.001), development of pneumonia (P<0.001), positive‐pressure ventilation (P<0.001), vasopressor use (P<0.001), and cardiopulmonary arrest (P<0.001). Conclusions – Outcome of severe blunt trauma in dogs treated with intensive care is very good. Despite the high survival rate, several features associated with poor outcome were identified. Neither admission lactate nor glucose was able to predict outcome.     

Detection of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus Infected Cattle – Testing Tissue Samples Derived from Ear Tagging Using an Erns Capture ELISA

A new diagnostic approach testing tissue samples derived from cattle ear tagging for bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) antigen in a commercially available antigen capture enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ACE) was developed. To validate this method, 99 positive and 469 negative samples were tested. With those samples the assay yielded a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of ≥99.6%. Serum and ear tissue samples from 11 persistently infected (PI) BVDV calves were tested. While serum samples were negative after intake of colostrum, the ear tissue samples could be detected positive for BVDV all the time. Testing multiple samples derived from the same ear from PI cattle yielded positive results and low variation. Using cattle ear tags combining the ear tag application with sampling of a small ear tissue plug and testing those tissue samples with an ACE could be a reliable and economic way of BVDV testing.     

Maxillary odontogenic myxoma in young horses: Six cases (2003–2011)

Six young horses presented with a rapidly expanding maxillary mass with concurrent nasal discharge. All horses had a nonpainful firm unilateral facial swelling centred over the maxillary sinuses, accompanied by mucopurulent nasal discharge. Diagnostic imaging revealed an infiltrative nasomaxillary mass with cheek tooth involvement, diagnosed as odontogenic myxoma. The tooth involvement included missing, malformed and/or displaced dental precursors or unerupted teeth. Due to the rapid expansion and extent of the masses, and the poor prognosis reported for surgical excision, euthanasia was recommended and performed in all cases. Macroscopically, a soft oedematous tissue with a grey to green colour was seen in the regions of missing, malformed or displaced dental precursors or unerupted teeth. Histologically, this tissue consisted of spindle shaped cells surrounded by an abundant homogenous pale stroma, rich in acid mucopolysaccharides. Immunohistochemistry was positive for actin and the mesenchymal marker vimentin. The cheek tooth involvement identified in the described cases resembled what is previously reported in odontogenic myxoma in children and young adults. Even in man, maxillary odontogenic myxoma represents a therapeutic challenge due to the invasiveness of the lesions and radical surgical excision is recommended. Treatment is further complicated by sinonasal involvement. Surgery was not attempted in the cases presented here due to the extent of the lesions and the risk of recurrence. Clinicians should be aware of this rare condition when presented with young horses with sinonasal neoplasia.     

复方中药对感染NIB鸡红细胞免疫功能的影响

为了探明由熟地等组成的复方中药对人工感染NIB雏鸡红细胞免疫功能的影响规律,将雏鸡随机分为5组（空白对照组,攻毒对照组,复方中药低剂量、中剂量、高剂量治疗组）,分别于给药后3、6、9、14、19 d采集血样,测定RBC-CR1花环率与RBC-IC花环率。结果显示,该复方中药可以使人工感染NIB雏鸡RBC-CR1花环率显著回升,并恢复到正常水平;同时使人工感染NIB雏鸡RBC-IC花环率显著升高,然后再恢复到正常水平。该复方中药的作用呈现剂量效应。该复方中药可以提高人工感染NIB雏鸡红细胞的免疫功能。     

Bacterial pneumonia and pleuropneumonia in sport horses: 17 cases (2001–2003)

Seventeen racehorses were referred with a history of poor performance, recurrent fever, coughing and/or nasal discharge. All patients underwent a thorough diagnostic procedure, including physical examination, complete blood count, plasma fibrinogen estimation, arterial blood gas analysis, thoracic radiology and ultrasonography, endoscopy, tracheal aspiration with cytological and cultural evaluation, including sensitivity test. According to these procedures, bacterial pneumonia was diagnosed in 14 horses and bacterial pleuropneumonia in 3 horses. Streptococcus spp. were isolated in 11 cases (61.2%), Rhodococcus equi in 3 cases (16.6%), Klebsiella pneumoniae in 3 cases (16.6%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in one case (5.6%).     

Genetic Analysis of Dobrava–Belgrade Virus from Western Serbia – A Newly Detected Focus in the Balkan Peninsula

Dobrava–Belgrade virus (DOBV) is a hantavirus species that causes the most severe form of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Europe. DOBV has been detected in three Apodemus rodents: A. flavicollis, A. agrarius and A. ponticus. These emerging viruses appear throughout the Balkan Peninsula including Serbia as its central part. In this study, we examined the seroprevalence, molecular epidemiology and phylogenetics of DOBV from A. flavicollis captured at six Serbian localities. Furthermore, we applied microsatellite typing of host animal genome to analyse the role of host kinship in DOBV animal transmission. The overall IgG seropositivity rate over 3 years (2008–2010) was 11.9% (22/185). All seropositive samples were subjected to RT‐PCR and DNA sequencing for S and L genome segments (pos. 291–1079 nt and 2999–3316 nt, respectively). DOBV was genetically detected in three samples from mountain Tara in western Serbia, a newly detected DOBV focus in the Balkans. No sequence data from human cases from Serbia are available for the studied period. However, collected DOBV isolates in this work phylogenetically clustered together with isolates from Serbian human cases dating from 2002, with 1.9% nucleotide divergence. We determined the level of kinship between seropositive and seronegative animal groups and found no significant difference, suggesting that horizontal virus transmission in the studied population was the same within and among the hatches. Our findings are the first genetic detection of DOBV in rodents in Serbia. We confirm wide and continuous hantavirus presence in the examined parts of the Balkans, underlying the necessity of continual monitoring of hantavirus circulation in A. flavicollis.