Detection of Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica in a European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) in Thuringia, Germany

The isolation of Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica biovar II (strain 06T0001) from a European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) from Thuringia, Germany, is described for the first time. Identification of the microorganism was carried out by phenotypic characterisation, partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and specific PCR using the primers TUL4-435/TUL4-863 and FtC1/FtC4. The epidemiology of tularemia in Germany is discussed and a risk assessment for humans is made.     

Causes of death, zoonoses, and reproduction in the European brown hare in Switzerland

To elucidate the importance of different causes of mortality which could explain the downward trend of the hare populations in Switzerland and for monitoring selected zoonoses, the health and reproductive status of 167 perished brown hares (Lepus europaeus) was assessed. Concerning causes of mortality, traumas were by far the most frequent diagnosis, 80% of the hares dying because of injuries. Animals killed by road traffic were highly represented. Predators (such as dogs, domestic cats, lynx, martens, buzzards, and golden eagles) killed 16% of the analysed animals. In juveniles, predation was significantly more frequent than in adults. Infectious diseases led to death in 15% of the animals, and cases of pasteurellosis, brucellosis, pseudotuberculosis, tularaemia, listeriosis, and toxoplasmosis were diagnosed. In 5% of the hares, the cause of death pertained to other categories or remained unclear. Reproductive performance was judged to be normal, since mean litter size was 2.5 per female and pregnancy rate in March-June was 74%. We conclude that neither a specific infectious disease, for which adult hares are particularly susceptible, nor an insufficient reproductive performance are responsible for the decline of brown hare populations in Switzerland. This phenomenon is rather a cause of a reduced survival rate in leverets.     

A spontaneous and fatal jejunal intussusception in a European brown hare associated with Eimeria leporis

A recently dead adult female European brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas) was found in the wild with no evidence of trauma or external injury. Necropsy revealed symptoms consistent with endotoxic shock and a haemorrhagic jejuno-jejunal intussusception with a necrotic intussusceptum. Small, unattached nodules were present extensively in the jejunal lumen and within the intussuscipiens. These nodules proved to be masses of unsporulated Eimeria leporis oocysts. Review of the literature reveals E. leporis to be a common parasite of wild hares, with protracted pathogenic potential under some circumstances. This is the first report of intussusception in this species and the most severe lesion seen associated with E. leporis. This case suggests that E. leporis may be more harmful to the wild European brown hare population than previously supposed.     

Preliminary reference values for electrocardiography,echocardiography and myocardial morphometry in the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus)

The study aimed at defining reference values for electrocardiographic (ECG) and echocardiographic parameters as well as macroscopic dimensions of the heart and microscopic dimensions of cardiomyocytes in the European brown hare. The studies were conducted on 30 adult, clinically healthy hares of either sex caught in Poland. ECG and echocardiography were performed supravitally on anaesthetized hares. After euthanasia, gross and microscopic myocardial and cardiomyocyte dimensions were determined. Heart rate amounted to 140 ± 37.5 beats/min, the leading rhythm involved the sinus rhythm. P wave time was 26 ± 5 ms, PQ time was 80 ms, QRS time was 29 ± 3.5 ms, and ST was 97.5 ± 7 ms. Echocardiography determined a left ventricular wall end-diastolic diameter of 8.6 ± 2.0 mm and an intraventricular septum end-diastolic diameter of 5.75 ± 1.0 mm. The thickness of the interventricular septum corresponded to that of the free wall of the left ventricle, a finding consistent with physiological hypertrophy. Preliminary reference values were established for echocardiography. The findings were similar to those obtained at necropsy. The ECG and echocardiographic studies represent the first supravital examination of cardiac function in the hare. The obtained results illustrate adaptation of hare''s myocardium to its mode of life. The cardiac findings resemble the athlete''s heart syndrome described in humans. The findings may prove useful in further studies on the physiology of the cardio-vascular system in the hare.     

First detection of Kashmir bee virus in Hesse, Germany

We gathered dead bees of 56 Hessian bee colonies following a sudden collapse during winter 2002/03. Viral RNA was purified from ten dead bees per sample. Kashmir bee virus (KBV) was detected by use of a RT-PCR protocol. 13 samples were positive for KBV. The PCR amplicon was sequenced. A BLAST GenBank search clearly identified the Hessian amplicon as a KBV fragment. Similarities of more than 85% were found. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close genetic relationship of the Hessian isolate to an isolate from New Zealand. The Northamerican, the Russian and Australian notations listed in GenBank did not cluster round with the Hessian isolate. This is the first documented detection of KBV in Middle Europe.     

狂犬病毒实验室检测方法综述

狂犬病是迄今为止人类病死率最高的急性传染病,一旦发病,死亡率几达100%。狂犬病毒感染的早期诊断,为有效预防和控制狂犬病提供基础。本文就几种敏感有效的狂犬病实验室诊断方法进行综述。     

多重PCR检测猪伪狂犬病病毒、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒和猪流感病毒

应用Primer3.0和Omega2.0,根据猪伪狂犬病毒(PRV)、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)和猪流感病毒(SIV)保守基因设计了3对多重PCR引物,建立PRRSV,SIV和PRV单项PCR检测方法,并在优化单项PCR反应条件(引物浓度、Mg2 浓度、退火温度等)基础上,初步建立了PRRSV-PRV-SIV多重PCR检测方法,并分别用多重PCR和单项PCR/RT-PCR检测10份临床病料,两者符合率为96.6%,表明该多重PCR检测方法有较高的敏感度,可以用于临床病料的检测。     

阿拉善鹅观草,大鹅观草及大丛鹅观草杂种的细胞学研究

阿拉善鹅观草、大耸鹅观草及大鹅观草是分布于我困中的多年生四倍体植物,将其与纤毛鹅观草等三个种进行了种、属间杂交。幼胚离体培养,合成远缘杂种,对各杂种Ｆ１及亲本花粉母细胞减数分裂中期１染色体配对行为进行了分析。结果表明,大鹅观草与Ｅ．ｌａｎｃｅｏｌａｔｕｓ、鹅观草所含的Ｓｔ染色体组间存在较大的同源性分化;阿拉善鹅观草、大丛鹅观草与纤毛鹅观草间至少有一个染色体组具有较高的同源性,其很可能即为Ｓｔ染色体     

Prevalence of anti-Yersinia antibodies in European brown hares in North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany

Yersinia (Y.) pseudotuberculosis infections may lead to significant lethality in European brown hare (Lepus europaeus, Pallas) populations especially during the cold and wet seasons. In recent decades, also Y. enterocolitica was isolated from hares found dead. Consequently, a Western-blot technique proved to be valuable for the detection of antibodies against all pathogenic Yersinia isolates was applied to monitor the prevalence of antibodies in hare populations in North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany. A total of 89.6% of the 230 animals tested was seropositive. Further investigations should be performed to elucidate the role of subclinical yersiniosis in the decline of European brown hare populations in Germany.     

Detection of avian rotaviruses of groups A, D, F and G in diseased chickens and turkeys from Europe and Bangladesh

Avian rotaviruses (AvRVs) represent a diverse group of intestinal viruses, which are suspected as the cause of several diseases in poultry with symptoms of diarrhoea, growth retardation or runting and stunting syndrome (RSS). To assess the distribution of AvRVs in chickens and turkeys, we have developed specific PCR protocols. These protocols were applied in two field studies investigating faecal samples or intestinal contents of diseased birds derived from several European countries and Bangladesh. In the first study, samples of 166 chickens and 33 turkeys collected between 2005 and 2008 were tested by PAGE and conventional RT-PCR and AvRVs were detected in 46.2%. In detail, 16.1% and 39.2% were positive for AvRVs of groups A or D, respectively. 11.1% of the samples contained both of them and only four samples (2.0%) contained rotaviruses showing a PAGE pattern typical for groups F and G. In the second study, samples from 375 chickens and 18 turkeys collected between 2009 and 2010 were analyzed using a more sensitive group A-specific and a new group D-specific real-time RT-PCR. In this survey, 85.0% were AvRV-positive, 58.8% for group A AvRVs, 65.9% for group D AvRVs and 38.9% for both of them. Although geographical differences exist, the results generally indicate a very high prevalence of group A and D rotaviruses in chicken and turkey flocks with cases of diarrhoea, growth retardation or RSS. The newly developed diagnostic tools will help to investigate the epidemiology and clinical significance of AvRV infections in poultry.     

Experimental maedi infection in sheep. 1. Detection of virus, clinical course, histopathology

Eight sheep were inoculated with Icelandic maedi strain M 88; 2 sheep served as control sheep and were in close contact with the inoculated ones. Four of the sheep were inoculated via the respiratory tract with 7×10⁶ TGID50 of strain M88 and the other 4 intracerebrally with 5×10⁵ TGID50 of the same strain.Maedi M88 strain was isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes of all inoculated sheep. There was a striking difference between the 2 groups in the appearance of demonstrable viremia after inoculation. Viremia could be demonstrated in the intrapulmonarily inoculated sheep within 2–6 months but not until 8–11 months after inoculation in the intracerebrally inoculated ones. This finding is thought most probably to reflect a weak neurotropism of the strain used. After the first demonstration of viremia, maedi virus has been recovered quite reqularly in peripheral leukocytes of all intrapulmonarily inoculated sheep, but less regularly in the intracerebrally inoculated ones. Maedi virus was isolated from 1 of the uninoculated control sheep 15 months after inoculation.The first clinical case with a clinical appearance suggesting combined involvement of maedi and visna was found among the intrapulmonarily inoculated sheep, 8% months after inoculation. Histopathological examination and virus isolation confirmed maedi. The cause of paraplegia could not be confirmed. No histopathological changes were found and no virus isolation was made from the central nervous system of this animal.One of the intracerebrally inoculated sheep died suddenly without any observed clinical signs 11 months after inoculation. Histopathological examination revealed pulmonary lesions of maedi, but no visna lesions in the central nervous system, although maedi virus was isolated from various parts of brain.None of the other experimental sheep displayed clinical signs of maedi or visna during the observation period of 18 months.