Canine distemper viral antigens and antibodies in dogs with rheumatoid arthritis

Dogs with canine rheumatoid arthritis had significantly elevated levels of antibodies to canine distemper virus. This increase was particularly seen in the synovial fluids, compared with paired sera, and was not found in dogs with infective arthropathies, osteoarthritis or in osteoarthritis secondary to rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament. Analysis of the immune complexes precipitated from synovial fluids showed immunoglobulins in all types of arthropathy. Western blotting analyses showed reactivity with anti-distemper antisera in immune complexes from dogs with rheumatoid arthritis, but not in immune complexes from dogs with other joint diseases. These results suggest that there are increased immune responses to distemper in canine arthritis and that these may be due to the presence of this paramyxovirus in affected joints. The implications for the role of a possible infectious agent in rheumatoid arthritis in the dog are considerable.     

The occurrence of antibodies to Borrelia in dogs

Using the method of indirect hemagglutination and an antigenic extract of Borrelia recurrentis the occurrence of antibodies to borrelias was investigated in 169 sera of dogs from two groups with different exposure to vectors. A significant difference in the serum positivity of dogs coming to Prague outpatient veterinary wards (53.7%) and of dogs coming from laboratory packs (20.9%) confirms the participation of dogs in the epidemiology of Lyme borreliosis, indicates the influence of the environment with free living vectors and the frequency of host exposure also in the town agglomeration. The highest occurrence of positivity in summer months--July-August) corresponds to the incidence of vectors, the great infestation of which along with the determined serological positivity is a precondition of the clinical manifestation of dog diseases in the CSSR territory.     

Clinicopathologic findings in dogs seroreactive to Bartonella henselae antigens

OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential clinical relevance of seroreactivity to Bartonella henselae antigens in dogs. ANIMALS: 40 dogs seroreactive to B henselae and 45 dogs that did not seroreact to B henselae. PROCEDURE: A case-control study was conducted. Clinical and clinicopathologic findings were extracted from medical records of each dog. RESULTS: Statistical differences were not detected between dogs seroreactive or nonseroreactive to B henselae when analyzed on the basis of disease category or results of hematologic, biochemical, urine, or cytologic analysis. However, seroreactivity to B henselae antigens was detected in 2 of 4 dogs with a clinical diagnosis of granulomatous meningoencephalitis, 3 of 4 dogs with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, 3 of 4 dogs with infective endocarditis, 2 of 3 dogs with lymphoid neoplasia, and 5 of 10 dogs with polyarthritis. Additionally, seroreactivity to B henselae antigens was detected in 18 of 34 thrombocytopenic dogs and 14 of 27 dogs with neutrophilia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Significant associations were not detected between seroreactivity to B henselae and various diseases. Prospective epidemiologic studies investigating specific diseases, such as meningoencephalitis or polyarthritis, and specific hematologic abnormalities, such as immunemediated hemolytic anemia or thrombocytopenia, should be conducted to further define the potential clinical relevance of antibodies against B henselae in dogs. IMPACT FOR HUMAN MEDICINE: Bartonella organisms are increasingly reported as pathogens that induce are increasingly reported as pathogens that induce chronic infections in humans and dogs. Dogs may serve as natural candidates for future study of the disease in humans.     

Duration of serologic response to five viral antigens in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether vaccinated dogs either remained seropositive or responded serologically to revaccination for 5 key viral antigens after extended periods since their last vaccination. DESIGN: Serologic survey. ANIMALS: 322 healthy client-owned dogs. PROCEDURE: Dogs were > or = 2 years old and vaccinated against canine distemper virus (CDV), canine adenovirus-1 (CAV-1), canine adenovirus-2 (CAV-2), canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV), and canine parvovirus (CPV). On day 0, dogs were revaccinated with a vaccine from the same vaccine line as they had historically received. Antibody titers were measured in sera collected at day 0 (prevaccination titer) and 5 to 7 days later (postvaccination titer). Dogs were considered to have responded serologically if they had a day-0 serum neutralization titer to CDV > or = 1:32; a serum neutralization titer to CAV-1, CAV-2, or CPIV > or = 1:16; a hemagglutination inhibition titer to CPV > or = 1:80; or a > or = 4-fold increase in antibody titer after revaccination. RESULTS: The percentage of dogs that had titers at or greater than the threshold values or responded to revaccination with a > or = 4-fold increase in titer was 98.1% for CDV, 98.4% for CAV-1, 99.0% for CAV-2, 100% for CPIV, and 98.1% for CPV. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In most dogs, vaccination induced a response that lasted up to and beyond 48 months for all 5 antigens. Although not equivalent to challenge-of-immunity studies as a demonstration of efficacy, results suggest that revaccination with the same vaccine provides adequate protection even when given less frequently than the traditional 1-year interval. The study provides valuable information for clinicians to help determine appropriate revaccination intervals.     

Seroprevalence of antibodies to Neospora caninum in Belgian dogs

Sera from 300 dogs from Ghent and Antwerp were tested for antibodies to Neospora caninurn using an Indirect fluorescent antibody test. Overall, 11 per cent (995 to 13 per cent; confidence interval of 95 per cent) of dogs were seropositive, at titres of 1:50 to 1:800. No sex or breed differences were detected, but there was an Increase In seropositivity with age.     

Analysis of swinepox virus antigens using monoclonal antibodies.

Seventeen monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against swinepox virus (SPV) were produced and characterized. These MAbs were classified into eight groups (A through H) on the basis of the molecular weight of the polypeptides which they recognized and the staining patterns of antigens in SPV-infected cells by the indirect immunofluorescent (IF) technique. The MAbs belonging to groups A, B, C and G recognized late antigens in cytoplasmic inclusion bodies with molecular weights of 97 kD, 65 kD, 48 kD and 15 kD, respectively. The MAbs belonging to groups D and H respectively recognized 35 kD and 12 kD late antigens, which first appeared in cytoplasmic inclusion bodies and spread to the cytoplasms and surface membranes of the infected cells. The MAb of group F recognized an 18 kD late antigen with granular distribution in the cytoplasm. The MAbs of group E recognized a 32 kD early antigen. Although all the MAbs belonging to the six groups (A, D through H) were specific for SPV, some of those belonging to groups B and C showed cross-reactivity with members of the other genera of poxviridae. An MAb in group B, SP14, cross-reacted with orf and rabbit fibroma viruses. Two MAbs in group C, SP24 and SP32, cross-reacted with vaccinia, cowpox, ectromelia, and rabbit fibroma viruses. These findings indicate that at least two SPV antigens contain cross-reactive epitopes with different genera of poxviridae.     

Microelisa test for detecting antibodies to rinderpest virus antigens

Summary A microplate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed which detected antibodies to a soluble antigen prepared from sonicated rinderpest virus-infected cells. The ELISA detected titres of antibody to the virus in the sera of cattle 3 weeks after immunisation with tissue culture rinderpest virus vaccine which were similar to those detected by the virus neutralisation test. The ELISA test shows potential as a rapid and economic technique for screening large numbers of sera for antibody to rinderpest virus.

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La Prueba Micro-Elisa Para Detectar Anticuerpos Producidos Por Antigenos Del Virus De Rinderpest

Resumen Se utilizó la prueba micro-ELISA para detectar anticuerpos producidos por un antígeno soluble preparado con células sonicadasinfectadas con el virus de rinderpest. La prueba ELISA detectó anticuerpos en el suero de bovinos, 3 semanas después de que éstos fueron inmunizados con la vacuna de rinderpest, preparada ésta en cultivos celulares. Los anticuerpos detectados fueron similares a los estudiados mediante la prueba de neutralización viral. La prueba ELISA se perfila como una técnica rápida y económica para trabajar un número apreciable de muestras de suero con el fin de detectar anticuerpos del virus de rinderpest.

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Un Micro-Test Elisa Pour Deceler Les Anticorps Specifiques Du Vir Us Bovipestique

Résumé Un test immuno-enzymatique (ELISA) a été mis au point déceler les anticorps correspondant à un antigène préparé par traitement aux ultra-sons de cellules infectées. Les titres sériques obtenus par cette méthode dans les sérums de bovins immunisés trois semaines auparavant avec du vaccin de culture cellulaire se sont révélés comparables à ceux obtenus par la méthode classique de séroneutralisation. Le test ELISA apparait comme un moyen rapide et économique pour rechercher les anticorps spécifiques du virus bovipestique dans des sérums en grand nombre.

     

Monoclonal antibodies to human antigens recognise feline myeloid cells

Immunological techniques have been used to study the expression of a series of cell surface antigens in cat haemopoietic tissues. Forty-two monoclonal antibodies raised against well-defined antigens of human origin were tested by indirect immunofluorescence on feline blood, bone marrow, spleen and thymus. Myeloid cells from all tissues reacted with antibodies to CD9, CD10 and CD18 antigens. No antibodies specific for T or B lymphocytes were found to react with cat lymphoid cells. Osteoclasts, isolated from juvenile bone marrow, were found to express the 23C6 human osteoclast-specific antigen. The potential use of such antibodies in experimental and diagnostic veterinary haematology are discussed.     

Analysis of various antigens in golden hamster testis by monoclonal antibodies.

A total of 38 hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was established by immunizing BALB/c mice with extracts of the golden hamster testis. Six mAbs stained the acrosome of developing spermatids by immunofluorescence. Two mAbs (1A11 and 4D8) reacted with spermatid components other than acrosome. The mAbs 1C9 and 4D3 recognized a 103 kilodalton (kDa) protein on immunoblots, and were reactive to spermatocytes and early spermatids, but not to late spermatids and spermatozoa. This finding suggests that the protein functions for meiosis or early spermiogenesis. Four mAbs (3G2, 2E5, 2G3, and 3F10) stained all stages of spermatogenic cells. The remaining 24 mAbs showed a positive reaction to the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubule. Two of them, 3D6 and 3E5, recognized approximately 150 kDa major proteins, indicating that the antigen is an extracellular matrix.     

Immunoglobulin E antibodies to pollens augmented in dogs by virus vaccines

An inbred "atopic dog colony" was established to study the effect of viruses on immunoregulation of immunoglobulin (Ig) E antibodies. Dogs were selected for high skin reactivity to grass and weed pollens. Their offspring were inoculated with pollen extracts in alum immediately after routine vaccinations (attenuated live-virus vaccines for canine distemper and infectious canine hepatitis, and a killed bacterin for Leptospira). Heat labile antipollen IgE antibodies were measured by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. Pups vaccinated for canine distemper before being given pollen extracts had many more IgE antibodies than did their control littermates who were not vaccinated until after the last pollen extract injection. This may be a natural example of the "allergic break-through phenomenon."     

A serological survey of antibodies to Leptospira species in dogs in South Africa

Leptospirosis, a disease more common in the tropics, can cause a life-threatening multisystemic syndrome in humans and animals. Immunity, whether natural or vaccine-induced, is serogroup-specific with the infecting serovars varying according to geographical locality. In South Africa, in spite of the fact that the bacterin vaccine for some Leptospira serovars is often used, there is no recent information on the incidence of canine leptospirosis as well as the infecting serovar/s. The aim of this study, which was undertaken on sera collected in 2008 and 2009 from both strays and owned dogs predominantly in the coastal regions of South Africa, was to determine the presence of leptospiral antibodies to 15 serovars known to infect dogs. Of the 530 samples tested, 25 tested positive to 7 different serovars with the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Nine of the 25 samples tested positive to more than one serovar. The 2 serovars most frequently represented were Canicola, which reacted to 17 sera, and Pyrogenes, which reacted to 10 sera. Currently the only vaccines available in South Africa in different combinations contain serovars Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pomona and Grippotyphosa. The results showed that the use of vaccines containing serovar Canicola is still justifiable in certain regions of the country. However, the presence of antibodies to serovar Pyrogenes in several dogs, pending a broader investigation, indicates that this serovar should also be included in the range of Leptospira vaccines for use in South Africa.     

Anticardiolipin antibodies in healthy and diseased dogs

The concentrations of anticardiolipin immunoglobulin G (IgG) were measured in 134 healthy dogs and 63 diseased dogs by an elisa. The mean (sd) concentration in the healthy dogs was 5.40 (2.60) IgG phospholipid (gpl) units, and concentrations greater than 11 gpl were considered as above the normal range. On this basis, 30 (47.6 per cent) of the diseased dogs were within the normal range, with a mean of 5.45 (3.07) gpl and the other 33 had levels above the normal range (P<0.001); 19 of them had a mean level of 22.2 (5.66) gpl, 10 had a mean level of 49.1 (11.2) gpl, and four had a mean level of 85.8 (9.64) gpl. Levels above the normal range were more frequent in females (59.4 per cent) than in males (45.1 per cent), but were higher in males (45.5 [34.71] v 42.91 [22.0] gpl). In addition, they were more frequent and higher in older dogs (66.7 per cent, 40.4 [24.0] gpl) than in younger dogs (33.3 per cent, 33.5 [21.4] gpl).     

Use of Echinococcus granulosus worm antigens for immunodiagnosis of E. granulosus infection in dogs.

Echinococcus granulosus worm excretory/secretory antigens (WES) were used in ELISA for diagnosis of E. granulosus infection in dogs and compared with protoscolex somatic antigens (PSM). Sera from 224 dogs were tested. There was no correlation between ELISA absorbance values and E. granulosus worm burdens using either antigen. There was a significant linear relationship between absorbance values of sera tested in the ELISA using WES (W-ELISA) and the ELISA using PSM (P-ELISA). However, there was a small but significant difference between the absorbance values of the sera tested against the two antigens. Western blot analysis of WES using sera from E. granulosus-infected and uninfected dogs revealed antigenic components of relative molecular mass (Mr) larger than 94,000, Mr 94,000-68,000 and Mr 43,000-39,000 in worms, and these were specific for E. granulosus and not identified in PSM; these antigenic differences may be responsible for differences in reactivity in ELISA. The sensitivities of W-ELISA and P-ELISA were 80.8% and 75.6%, respectively. The specificities of W-ELISA and P-ELISA were 93.7% and 97.9%, respectively. The reduced specificity in W-ELISA was mainly attributable to increased background reactivity of sera from Taenia hydatigena-infected dogs. Despite the reduction in specificity, both ELISAs are valuable epidemiological tools to determine the prevalence of antibody to E. granulosus in dog populations and to monitor the success of hydatid control campaigns.     

Cytotoxic antibodies against lymphocytic antigens of cattle

Typing reagents for the identification of bovine lymphocyte antigens were prepared. Sera obtained from cows killed in slaughterhouse were a good source of cytotoxic antibodies. Out of the 300 sera tested, 98 were cytotoxically active. The selected sera with a low reaction frequency were tested on a panel of 132 non-related animals. On the basis of the correlations between the sera, thirty of them could be included in four clusters. The sera within each cluster were closely associated; hence it can be assumed that a distinct specificity is represented by each of the clusters. It is suggested by correlation analysis and by the distribution of antigens in the population under study that the determined antigens fall within the same system and are genetically controlled by one or several closely associated loci.     

Serological survey for antibodies to Leptospira in dogs and raccoons in Washington State

A high number of reported canine leptospirosis cases occurred in Washington State from 2004 to 2006. This prompted a serosurvey of healthy dogs from around the state to determine the distribution of exposure risk and to provide insight into serovar epidemiology in the region. In addition, a convenience sample of sera from injured raccoons was also tested, and clinical serological data from the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory were examined. The proportion of dogs with an antibody titre (>or=1:100) to any serovar was 27/158 (17.1%, 95% CI 11.6-23.9), and that proportion among raccoons was 22/115 (19.1%, 95% CI 12.4-27.5) suggesting that the potential for exposure in Washington state is not uncommon. The most frequently detected serovars in healthy dogs were Autumnalis, Icterohemorrhagiae and Canicola, in clinical canine samples Autumnalis, Bratislava and Pomona were more frequent and in sick or injured raccoons Autumnalis, and Pomona were most frequently detected. Clinical canine serology demonstrated a late summer-fall seasonality that was consistent with other reports. An outbreak of canine leptospirosis occurred during 2004-2006 and was located primarily in western Washington counties, as were three reported human cases in 2005. Canine leptospirosis surveillance is an important tool for detecting human risk of exposure and may provide insights into which serovars are currently of clinical importance.