The effect of sampling time and sample handling on the detection of Staphylococcus aureus in milk from quarters with subclinical mastitis

Staphylococcus aureus mastitis is an important cause of economic loss for the dairy industry. Control programs rely on the timely and accurate identification of positive quarters. The effects of sampling time and sample handling were examined in an attempt to improve the accuracy of detection of S. aureus. Premilking and postmilking milk samples were collected from 55 lactating quarters with subclinical S. aureus infection. Each sample was divided into 2 aliquots; one of which was cultured fresh, the other was frozen at -20 degrees C for 14 days before being cultured. Analysis of variance was used to determine the effect of sampling time (premilking vs postmilking) and sample handling (fresh vs frozen) on the detection of S. aureus, as measured by the mean category for colony-forming units per millilitre (cfu/mL). A stratified analysis was required, due to interaction between sampling time and sample handling. Only a fresh postmilking sample was inferior, yielding a lower mean category for cfu/mL (P < 0.05). The ability to detect S. aureus in quarters with subclinical intramammary infection, as measured by the mean category of cfu/mL, was maximized in fresh or frozen premilking samples and in frozen postmilking samples.     

Evaluation of two herd-level diagnostic tests for Streptococcus agalactiae using a latent class approach

Streptococcus agalactiae mastitis persists as a significant economic problem for the dairy industry in many countries. In Denmark, the annual surveillance programme for this mastitis pathogen initially based only on bacteriological culture of bulk tank milk (BTM) samples, has recently incorporated the use of the real-time PathoProof Mastitis PCR assay with the goal of improving detection of infected herds. The objective of our study was to estimate the herd sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of both tests of BTM samples using latent class models in a Bayesian analysis while evaluating the effect of herd-level covariates on the Se and Sp of the tests. BTM samples were collected from all 4258 Danish dairy herds in 2009 and screened for the presence of S. agalactiae using both tests. The highest Se of PCR was realized at a cycle threshold (Ct) cut-off value of 40. At this cut-off, the Se of the PCR was significantly higher (95.2; 95% posterior credibility interval [PCI] [88.2; 99.8]) than that of bacteriological culture (68.0; 95% PCI [55.1; 90.0]). However, culture had higher Sp (99.7; 95% PCI [99.3; 100.0]) compared to PCR (98.8; 95% PCI [97.2; 99.9]). The accuracy of the tests was unaffected by the herd-level covariates. We propose that screenings of BTM samples for S. agalactiae be based on the PCR assay with Ct readings of <40 considered as positive. However, for higher Ct values, confirmation of PCR test positive herds by bacteriological culture is advisable especially when the between-herd prevalence of S. agalactiae is low.     

The clinical effectiveness of a post milking teat disinfection method with a foaming iodophor teat dip

The effect of postmilking teat dipping with a foaming iodophor agent on incidence of intramammary infections (IMI), incidence of clinical mastitis, somatic cell count and the characteristics of udder tissue and teat was investigated in a positively controlled field study. Two groups of animals were compared. Teats were dipped with a foaming iodophor in the treatment group (TG, 122 animals) while teats in the control group (CG, 121 animals) were dipped with a conventional iodophor teat dip with the same iodine content. A bacteriological examination of quarter milk samples divided the study period in two parts. The incidence of new IMI did not differ between the groups (1st part of trial: TG vs. CG: 6.84% vs. 9.16%, 2nd part of trial: 7.78% vs. 7.82%). There were no differences between the treatment groups regarding incidence of clinical mastitis. We detected 0.64 clinical cases per 100 days in the treatment group vs. 0.50 in the control group. The development of SCC was comparable in both groups. Teat skin and teat duct conditions showed variation during the study period. Clinical efficacy of postmilking teat disinfection with a foaming iodophor was comparable to the treatment with a conventional iodophor product.     

羊痘病毒G蛋白偶联趋化因子受体基因序列分析及其在鉴别病毒种属上的作用

为明确G蛋白偶联趋化因子受体(GpCR)基因在羊痘病毒种属鉴别中的作用,本实验对3株绵羊痘病毒(SPV)和2株山羊痘病毒(GPV)弱毒疫苗株的GpCR进行了克隆测序,并与GenBank中登录的21个羊痘病毒属成员相关序列进行了比对。核酸同源性分析表明SPV不同毒株之间同源性达到99.5%～99.8%;GPV之间同源性达到98.8%～99.8%;GenBank上公布的疙瘩皮肤病病毒(LSDV)之间同源性达到100%。而GPV、SPV和皮肤疙瘩病毒两两比对的同源性仅达到94.2%～95.9%。对GpCR的系统进化树分析可以看出GPV、SPV和LSDV分别位于不同的进化分枝上,而GPV与LSDV具有更近的亲缘关系。GpCR基因在鉴别GPV属和流行病学分析中具有重要价值。     

4株猪圆环病毒2型凉山州分离株全基因组进化分析

为了解猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)凉山州分离株的基因型,本研究采用PCR方法对采自凉山州3个发病猪场的4个PCV2阳性样品进行全基因组序列的扩增、克隆、测序分析,并绘制遗传进化树.结果显示:4个PCV2凉山州分离株全基因组序列长度均为1767 bp,核苷酸同源性为99.4％～99.8％,与国内外101株PCV2参考毒株核...     

陕西省部分地区猪流行性腹泻病毒S、M和N基因的遗传变异分析

为了解陕西省部分地区猪流行性腹泻病毒(PEDV)的遗传和变异情况,采集陕西省部分地区规模化猪场的5份疑似PEDV感染的猪小肠内容物,进行PEDV S、M和N基因的RT-PCR扩增,并对扩增产物进行序列测定和遗传变异分析。结果表明,5份病料均能扩增出PEDV S、M和N基因,5株病毒分别命名为SXSL、SX-BJ、SX-YL、SX-WN和SX-HZ株。序列分析表明,5株毒株之间的S、M和N基因核苷酸序列的同源性分别为96.7%~99.8%、98.4%~100%和97.2%~99.9%;氨基酸序列的同源性分别为97.4%~99.9%、98.2%~100%和98.2%~100%。该5株病毒与中国疫苗株CV777的S、M和N基因核苷酸序列的同源性分别为93.9%~99.8%、98.1%~100%和95.3%~99.9%,氨基酸序列的同源性为93.6%~99.9%、96.2%~100%和98.2%~100%。遗传进化分析结果显示,5个陕西分离株的S基因与中国疫苗株CV777亲缘关系较远,与近年来中国株、日本株以及韩国株亲缘关系较近。SX-SL株、SX-BJ株和SX-YL株的M和N基因与中国疫苗株CV777亲缘关系较近,且与中国株CHGD-01亲缘关系密切。SX-WN株和SX-HZ株的M和N基因与中国疫苗株CV777亲缘关系较远。该5株病毒的S基因以及SX-WN株和SX-HZ株的M基因和N基因变异程度较大,而SX-SL株、SX-BJ株和SX-YL株三个流行株均与中国株CHGD-01亲缘关系密切,并且与近年在陕西省流行的PEDV也不完全相同。     

不同来源柔嫩艾美耳球虫虫株微线体3基因的克隆和序列分析

以8株不同来源柔嫩艾美耳球虫分离株为研究对象,对其艾美耳球虫微线体3(Eimeria tenella microneme protein,EtMIC3)基因进行了RT-PCR扩增、测序及序列分析,并与GenBank上已发表的柔嫩艾美尔球虫相关序列进行比较,研究EtMIC3基因遗传变异情况。结果获得2976 bp的目的片段,各株与FJ374765.1 CDs的序列相似性在99.8%~99.9%之间,各株之间的序列相似性为99.9%~100.0%,各株编码的氨基酸序列与GenBank登记的柔嫩艾美耳球虫EtMIC3蛋白(ACJ11219)相似性在99.6%~99.9%之间,不同地理来源或耐药性虫株之间没有明显差异。本研究首次对中国EtMIC3基因进行了序列分析,结果显示不同来源株EtMIC3基因高度保守,为有效的疫苗候选因子,为进一步进行柔嫩艾美耳球虫基因工程疫苗构建的研究奠定了基础。     

山羊腹泻粪便中奇异变形杆菌的分离鉴定及系统发育分析

该研究从四川成都某羊场腹泻简阳大耳山羊粪便中分离鉴定出奇异变形杆菌（14/20）,随机选取5个菌株腹腔注射小鼠,5×10^8 CFU/只,小鼠于接种后12 h内全部死亡。PCR扩增分离株的16S rRNA序列,测序结果显示其与GenBank中奇异变形杆菌的序列同源性为99%～100%,分离菌株间的同源性为99.8%～100%;系统发育分析结果显示,分离菌株与不同宿主源奇异变形杆菌共聚为2个分支,存在一定的多样性,但其进化不存在显著的地域及宿主相关性。本研究结果表明,奇异变形杆菌与山羊腹泻密切相关,对养羊业的危害及公共卫生学意义值得关注。     

Evaluation of indirect and avidin-biotin enzyme linked immunosorbent assays for detection of anti-listeriolysin O antibodies in bovine milk samples

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that causes a wide spectrum of diseases in humans and animals. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) [indirect and avidin-biotin (A-B)] for detecting L. monocytogenes antibodies in bovine milk samples (n = 2060) were standardized and evaluated by comparison with bacteriological examination. The tests were standardized by checker board titration. Highly purified listeriolysin O (LLO) was used as an antigen. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to decide the cut-off values. The ROC analysis revealed the sensitivities of indirect and A-B ELISA as 100% and specificities as 97.1 and 99.9% respectively. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from 105 (5.1%) milk samples collected from 52 farms. Anti-LLO IgG antibodies were detected from 137 and 112 milk samples when tested by indirect and A-B ELISA respectively. Of the 52 farms screened, 28 (53.8%) yielded one or more isolates of L. monocytogenes and 33 (63.5%) of the farms had one or more animals simultaneously positive by one or both the assays for anti-LLO antibodies.     

Detection of antibodies to Hypoderma lineatum in cattle by Western blotting with recombinant hypodermin C antigen

A study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of doramectin administered intramuscularly at a dose rate of 200 microg/kg to sheep harbouring naturally acquired infections of gastrointestinal nematodes and Oestrus ovis in the southwestern region of France. On day 0, 24 sheep were selected on the basis of positive faecal egg counts (>100 EPG) and positive assessment of O. ovis infection (including positive O. ovis antibody level and positive clinical score). The sheep were randomly allocated to a non-medicated control group (T1) or a doramectin-treated group (T2) of 12 animals each. On day 0, sheep in group T2 received a single intramuscular injection of doramectin (200 microg/kg), whereas those in group T1 received an intramuscular injection of saline solution (sodium chloride, 0.02ml/kg). Individual faecal egg counts were performed on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 14. Between days 14 and 16, all sheep were slaughtered, and worm and O. ovis burdens were determined. In doramectin-treated sheep, faecal egg counts had decreased to zero by day 4 for all recovered types of nematode eggs: strongyles, Nematodirus sp., Trichuris sp., and Rhabditidae sp. For strongyles, Nematodirus sp., and Rhabditidae, the percentage reductions in faecal egg counts (geometric means) of doramectin-treated sheep, compared to the non-medicated control sheep were 100% from days 4-7. For Trichuris sp., they were 100, 99.7, 99.9, and 100% on days 4, 5, 6, and 7, respectively. On day 14, percentage reductions were 100% for Nematodirus sp. and Rhabditidae, and 99.8 and 99.1% for strongyles and Trichuris sp., respectively. At necropsy, only adult nematodes and mainly first-stage O. ovis larvae were recovered. Doramectin was highly efficacious against the adult stages of Teladorsagia circumcincta (100%), Nematodirus battus (100%), Nematodirus filicollis (99.9%), Oesophagostomum venulosum (99.8%), and Trichuris sp. (99.3%). It was also 100% efficacious against first-stage larvae of O. ovis. No abnormal clinical signs or adverse reactions in any of the sheep treated with doramectin were observed.     

青海省海西地区山羊和绵羊犬新孢子虫病的血清学调查

用犬新孢子虫的重组蛋白GST-NcSAG1t作为ELISA诊断抗原,进行了青海省海西地区山羊和绵羊群中犬新孢子虫病的血清学调查。经过对所收集的120份绵羊血清和531份山羊血清抗体的检测,共检出绵羊阳性血清10份,山羊阳性血清36份,其阳性率分别为8.33%和6.78%。说明青海省海西地区的绵羊和山羊群中存在犬新孢子虫的感染。     

Detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in bovine fecal samples: comparison of three polymerase chain reaction-based diagnostic tests with a conventional culture method.

Three commercially available assays, designed to specifically detect the presence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in fecal samples by IS900-PCR, were compared with a conventional culture method. Fecal samples from 100 dairy cows were tested. Fifty-four (67.5%) of 80 culture-positive samples were positive for an assay that detects MAP DNA by dot spot hybridization of polymerase chain reaction products (kit A), 48 (60%) were positive by an assay using ethidium bromide staining for agar gel visualization of amplification products (kit B), and 49 (61.3%) were positive by an assay in which amplified products are detected by a colorimetric detection system (kit C). Relative sensitivity of all tests increased in proportion to the presence of MAP in fecal samples. Specificity was 100% based on results from 20 culture-negative samples from an MAP-free herd.     

Cell count and Schalm test results of milk from dairy sheep with healthy udders during the course of a complete lactation

The somatic cell count (SCC) was determined in 28 milk sheep with normal udder health using the California Mastitis Test (CMT) and a fluoro-opto-electronic cell counter (Partec Counter). The examinations were made at two week intervals throughout the lactation period. 92% of the premilking samples had a negative CMT reaction and in 0.5% of the samples the reaction was distinctly positive. In 95% of the premilking samples the SCC showed less than 200,000/ml and in 95% of the individual total milkings it was less than 350,000/ml. Elevated SCC were common towards the end of lactation when milk yield was low.     

Fluorescence polarization assay for the detection of antibodies to Mycobacterium bovis in bovine sera

The performance of a fluorescence polarization assay (FPA) that detects antibodies to Mycobacterium bovis in bovine sera is described. The FPA reported here is a direct binding primary screening assay using a small polypeptide derived from the M. bovis MPB70 protein. A secondary inhibition assay confirms suspect or presumed positive samples. Specificity studies involved five different veterinary laboratories testing 4461 presumed negative bovine samples. FPA specificity was 99.9%. The FPA was used to identify herd status as either M. bovis infected or non-infected. Herd surveillance studies (nine herds) were performed in Mexico and South Africa. The FPA had a specificity of 100% (two negative herds), and correctly identified six of seven infected herds. Finally, sera from 105 slaughter animals that had gross lesions in lymph nodes similar to those seen with bovine tuberculosis were tested by the FPA. Thin sections from the associated formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of lymph nodes were stained using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) for morphologic examination and using the Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) method for detection of acid-fast bacilli. Of the 105 animals, 78 were classified as TB suspect based on lesion morphology, 21 were positive by ZN, 9 were positive by FPA and 13 were positive by PCR for the tuberculosis group of Mycobacterium. Among the 21 ZN positives, 11 (52.4%) were PCR positive. Among the 9 FPA positives, 8 (88.9%) were PCR positive. For the 13 PCR positives, 8 (61.5%) were FPA positive and 11 (84.6%) were ZN positives. These results show that use of the FPA for detection of M. bovis infection of cattle has value for bovine disease surveillance programs.     

2019-2021年鸭坦布苏病毒广西流行毒株遗传多样性分析

【目的】研究鸭坦布苏病毒(Duck Tembusu virus,DTMUV)广西毒株分子遗传特征,以期了解、掌握DTMUV广西毒株流行新特点,为及时调整、制定有效防控措施提供数据支持。【方法】采集2019-2021年广西各地的鸭组织病料,采用已建立的实时荧光定量RT-PCR方法检测DTMUV,根据毒株检测年限和来源地选取部分阳性样品进行DTMUV全序列扩增及测序,并进行序列相似性、重要蛋白关键氨基酸位点、系统发育、全序列重组及遗传进化速率分析。【结果】共获得8株DTMUV全序列,基因组全长为10 992 bp,为广西毒株。广西毒株之间开放阅读框(ORF)及E、NS5基因的核苷酸序列相似性分别为97.9%~99.8%、97.0%~99.9%和97.8%~99.9%,氨基酸序列相似性分别为99.1%~99.9%、99.0%~100%和99.3%~99.9%;与国内外参考毒株的核苷酸序列相似性分别为86.4%~99.3%、85.8%~99.5%和87.1%~99.2%,氨基酸序列相似性分别为96.0%~99.8%、94.8%~100%和97.5%~99.9%,且与水禽源TMUV相似性高于其他宿主源。与疫苗株FX2010相比,DTMUV广西毒株E蛋白共有11个氨基酸位点发生变异,其中第43、150、153、326、403、464及487位为广西毒株独特的氨基酸突变。ORF遗传进化分析结果显示,广西毒株均分布于2.1亚群,而源自广西的GX2011和GX2015株隶属于2.2亚群,表明DTMUV广西流行毒株进化趋势不完全一致;E、NS5基因系统发育趋势与ORF相似。重组分析结果表明,GXBH01-2019、GXZS02-2020、ziYY150901及HB2016株检测有重组信号。E、NS5基因的遗传进化速率估算分别为1.31×10^-3和1.30×10^-3替换/(位点·年),表明二者进化较为同步。【结论】当前DTMUV广西流行毒株表现为与主要流行毒株亲缘性较近,E蛋白发生特有氨基酸突变,进化趋势不一致,存在重组现象等分子特征,结果为制定有效防控措施提供了基础数据。     

Comparative sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene of Pasteurella multocida serogroup B isolates from different animal species

The phylogenetic relationships of five isolates of Pasteurella multocida serotype B:2 belonging to buffalo, cattle, pig, sheep and goat were investigated by comparative sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene. The 1468bp fragment of 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison showed that the isolates of cattle (PM75), pig (PM49) and sheep (PM82) shared 99.9% homology with the buffalo isolate (vaccine strain P52) whereas, the goat isolate (PM86) shared 99.8% homology with the vaccine strain. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of these isolates were also found monophyletic with type B reference strain NCTC 10323 of P. multocida subsp. multocida. The present study indicated the close relationships of haemorrhagic septicaemia causing P. multocida serotype B:2 isolates of buffalo and cattle with other uncommon hosts (pig, sheep and goat).     

Evaluation of a PCR test for the diagnosis of Brucella ovis infection in semen samples from rams

The sensitivity and specificity of a PCR assay with primers derived from the insertion sequence IS6501 was compared with that of bacteriological culture and serological tests for the diagnosis of Brucella ovis infection in rams. No amplifications were detected with DNAs from the strains phylogenetically related to Brucella and from the seven bacterial species considered as the main etiologic agents of epididymitis in rams. In addition, the specificity of the PCR was 100% when testing semen samples from Brucella-free rams. The comparison of the semen culture and PCR results from 192 semen samples tested, showed a proportion of agreement of 0.91 between both tests. The PCR-based test described has sensitivity similar to that of semen culture and could be used as a complementary test for the direct diagnosis of Brucella ovis in semen samples of rams.     

Isolation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella melitensis</Emphasis> from a RB51-vaccinated seronegative goat

The purpose of this study is to determine the etiology of abortions presented in a goat herd declared as free of brucellosis and vaccinated with RB51 located in Mexico. The serological diagnosis of brucellosis in 33 animals was performed. The study included three goats that aborted in the last third of gestation and 15 goats that gave birth normally; samples of milk and vaginal exudate were subjected to bacteriological study. All animals were negative for serological diagnosis, and isolation of Brucella melitensis was achieved in a single goat from vaginal exudate. However, the particularity is that this goat was negative to the card, indirect ELISA, and radial immunodiffusion tests. Isolation of a field strain was confirmed by biochemical test resistance to rifampicin and PCR. It is concluded that a goat which aborted in the last third of gestation was found spreading B. melitensis through vaginal discharge despite being vaccinated with RB51 and seronegative for brucellosis.     

羊弓形虫病间接ELISA诊断方法的建立

为比较5种弓形虫抗原的诊断效果,建立实用的羊弓形虫病诊断方法,本研究制备了弓形虫速殖子全虫抗原和4个重组蛋白(GRA1、MIC3、MAG、BAG1),正交试验比较其免疫反应性,从中筛选出相对优势抗原并建立羊弓形虫病间接ELISA(iELISA)诊断方法,用于检测弓形虫特异的IgG抗体。研究结果表明：除BAG1外上述4种抗原均具有较好的免疫反应性,综合考虑选择致密颗粒蛋白1(GRA1)作为诊断抗原建立了GRA1-iELISA,其检测弓形虫抗体灵敏度大于1∶100(血清稀释度),且不与羊莫氏巴贝斯虫、吕氏泰勒虫、捻转血毛线虫阳性血清发生交叉反应,特异性良好;运用建立的方法和改良凝集试验分别对采自山羊屠宰场的80份血清样品进行检测,测得的弓形虫感染阳性率分别为28.75%(23/80)和31.25%(25/80),二者总符合率为82.5%。本研究建立的ELISA检测方法对羊弓形虫病的诊断以及商业化试剂盒的开发具有重要参考价值。