Epigenetic transmission of feline infectious peritonitis

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (F.I.P.) was diagnosed in the kittens of two successive litters born to a female presumed also infected.At the same time, the two fathers and the other subjects of the cattery remained asymptomatic of F.I.P.The clinical observations, supported by electrophoretic data, suggest the possibility of a direct transmission of the disease by the mother to her offspring, either by the transplacentary pathway (epigenetic transmission) or via the milk.     

The relationship between the feline coronavirus antibody titre and the age, breed, gender and health status of Australian cats

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between Feline Coronavirus (FCoV) antibody titres and age, breed, gender and health status of Australian cats DESIGN: Retrospective study PROCEDURE: Results from two serological tests that measure FCoV antibody levels, the Coronase test and the 7B Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) test, were recorded over a 2-year period, with patient signalment, history, presenting complaint and the reason for ordering the test (as available). Results from each antibody test were related to four explanatory variables (breed, age, gender and health status at the time of blood collection) using univariate ordinal logistic regression analyses, Mann Whitney U tests, one-sample sign tests or Kruskal-Wallis analyses, as appropriate. RESULTS: Results from 637 Coronase and 191 7B FIP antibody tests were recorded. There were significant differences in median Coronase antibody titres between breeds of cats (P < 0.0005). Specifically, the median Coronase antibody titres of Siamese, Persians, Domestic Shorthairs and Bengal cats (100) were significantly lower than that of British Shorthairs, Cornish Rex and Burmese cats (400, P < 0.0005). There was no statistical relationship between the Coronase or 7B FIP antibody titres and age, gender or overall health status, even when considering only those cats in which clinical signs suggestive of FIP were present. CONCLUSION: This study reinforces the complexity of interpreting serological tests for FCoV in both healthy cats and patients with signs compatible with FIR Unique to this study is the detection of a significant relationship between breed and median FCoV antibody titre. This supports the theory that breed related differences exist in response to FCoV infection. The distribution of median Coronase antibody titres by breed was very similar to the pattern of breed predisposition to FIP recently reported in Sydney.     

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic analysis of Feline Coronavirus sequences from Portugal

The distribution of FCoV Types I and II in a Portuguese cat population was studied by a RT-PCR assay targeting the 3′-end of the viral RNA. For a period of 3 years, 120 samples were collected and 57 were found positive for FCoV RNA. Within the positive samples the presence of FCoV Type I was found in 79%. Type II was only detected in 3.5% in animals with Feline Infectious Peritonitis. The remaining 17.5% could not be differentiated. These viral sequences, comprising a region within gene S were further subjected to a heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA) detecting the presence of viral quasispecies in 17% of the samples. Phylogenetic analysis for FCoV Type I revealed high genetic diversity between the Portuguese sequences and other previously characterized strains, while Type II tree showed a higher genetic homogeneity. This study confirmed the presence of FCoV Types I and II circulating in Portugal and detected high genetic diversity between circulating strains suggesting that the virus persists within the host as mixed viral populations.     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article:
Treating tortoises: Veterinary Management of Tortoises and Turtles By, Stuart McArthur.
Infectious diseases of cats and dogs: Feline and Canine Infectious Diseases By, R. M. Gaskell and M. Bennett.     

Isolation of Feline Herpesvirus 1 from the Trigeminal Ganglia of Acutely and Chronically Infected Cats

Feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1) is one of the most common viral infections of domestic cats worldwide, estimated to cause 50% of all respiratory infections in this species. Feline herpesvirus 1 is also an important ocular pathogen of cats, causing conjunctivitis, epithelial and stromal keratitis, symblepharon formation, keratocon-junctivitis sicca, and corneal sequestration. Despite the importance of this viral disease, major questions remain unanswered concerning the pathogenesis of its most important manifestation, the recrudescent infection. Although the taxonomic classification of FHV-1 as an alpha herpesvirus implies the ability of FHV-1 to establish neural latency, attempts at recovering the virus from the trigeminal ganglia of latently infected cats have typically yielded negative results. This failure has stimulated speculation that neural tissue is not an important site for latent FHV-1. However, in the most successful of such studies, FHV-1 was isolated from the trigeminal ganglia of 3 of 17 cats using an explant technique. In the present study, we describe the successful isolation of FHV-1 from the trigeminal ganglia of cats using a similar tissue culture method.     

H9N2亚型禽流感病毒与其他病原混合感染的研究进展

H9N2亚型禽流感病毒（Avian influenza virus,AIV）属于低致病性AIV,但因其分布广泛、传播迅速,可引起感染家禽生产性能下降,给家禽业带来了极大的经济损失。H9N2亚型AIV在感染家禽过程中可引起严重的免疫抑制,使家禽极易继发上呼吸道细菌、消化道细菌等感染,从而导致H9N2亚型AIV致病力增强,细菌黏附定植能力增强,家禽死亡率显著升高。另外,H9N2亚型AIV还能与禽传染性支气管炎病毒、禽传染性法氏囊病病毒、新城疫病毒等发生混合感染,病毒入侵时有可能出现协同作用或颉颃作用,从而相互促进或抑制病毒的复制和排毒;H9N2亚型AIV还极易发生突变或与其他亚型流感病毒在混合感染时发生基因重组产生感染人的新亚型毒株,给人类健康和公共卫生安全带来重大威胁。作者综述了H9N2亚型AIV与其他病原混合感染的研究进展,通过阐述H9N2亚型AIV与细菌或病毒混合感染的协同或颉颃作用,以期为临床上H9N2亚型AIV混合感染的防治提供参考。     

山羊传染性胸膜肺炎的诊断与治疗试验

山羊传染性胸膜肺炎是由支原体引起的一种高度接触性传染病，以高热、频繁咳嗽为特征。典型病例可通过临床表现、病理变化及实验室检查来进行诊断。根据药敏试验和对比治疗试验，筛选出了自拟中药配方，并结合西医疗法，治愈率达90％以上。     

A survey of FIV antibodies and FeLV antigens in free-roaming cats in the capital area of Finland.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was first isolated and identified in 1986. Since then it has been shown to have a worldwide distribution, and the infection generally appears to have reached a state of endemicity. This is the 1st study of FIV-prevalence in Finland. Serum samples of 196 free-roaming cats were tested for antibodies to FIV and FeLV antigens (Feline leukemia virus). With a combined enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), 13 of the cats (6.6%) turned out to be positive for FIV and 2 for FeLV (1.0%). Adult male cats in the capital area of Finland had a FIV prevalence of 24%, a relative proportion 4.7 times higher than that for females.     

猫泛白细胞减少症疫苗的研究进展

猫泛白细胞减少症是一种由猫泛白细胞减少症病毒引起的,猫科动物常见的接触性传染病,临床发病率和死亡率均较高,疫苗免疫接种是预防和控制该病最经济、最直接的措施.然而,国内几无商业化宠物疫苗,特别是猫用疫苗,国外疫苗进口困难,亟需开发新型宠物用高效疫苗.对国内外猫泛白细胞减少症疫苗现状及不同类型疫苗(灭活疫苗、减毒活疫苗等)...     

鸡传染性支气管炎病毒分子变异的研究进展

鸡传染性支所管炎病毒（IBV）具有高度的变异性,血清型众多,且有继续增加的趋势。文章从IBV的基因组、结构蛋白及复制进行分析,阐述了病毒分子的变异及机制,并为鸡传染性支气管炎（IB）的免疫预防奠定了基础。     

反向遗传技术在传染性法氏囊病病毒研究中的应用

传染性法氏囊病是鸡的最严重疾病之一,其病原是鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒(IBDV),IBDV基因组为两片段双链RNA,变异株和超强毒株的出现,给传统的疫苗免疫带来了新的挑战,因此,加强对IBDV的基础研究是控制该病的关键.RNA的结构不稳定成为阻碍RNA病毒研究的主要障碍,近年来兴起的反向遗传技术将RNA病毒的基因组转化为cDNA,从而使RNA病毒的基因操作成为可能,也使RNA病毒的研究获得了快速的发展.文章就传染性法氏囊病病毒反向遗传操作研究的意义、方法、概况及相关分子生物学进行了全面综述.     

Feline calicivirus VP2 is involved in the self-assembly of the capsid protein into virus-like particles

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is considered the most common upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) associated pathogen in cats. We previously expressed FCV VP1 capsid protein in insect cells by baculovirus system and we observed that this protein self-assemble into virus-like particles (VLPs) different in size and lacking the typical cup-like depressions of caliciviruses. In the present study, VP1 and the small basic structural protein VP2 of FCV were individually expressed by baculovirus system. Coinfection of insect cells with both recombinant viruses resulted in VP1 and VP2 self-assembly to form depressions similar to native capsids in size and appearance, demonstrating that VP2 interacts with the VP1 protein in the formation of VLPs.     

猫牛痘病毒感染研究进展

猫牛痘病毒感染是由牛痘病毒引起的猫及其他猫科动物的病毒性传染病,可引起猫的皮肤结块、口腔溃疡、系统性疾病或坏死性肺炎,偶尔还可引起人的皮肤损伤和淋巴炎。文章就猫牛痘病毒感染的病原学、流行病学、临床症状、诊断和治疗作一综述,以期为该病的研究和防制提供资料。     

猫传染性腹膜炎研究进展

猫传染性腹膜炎是一种全身性、致死性的病毒性疾病,为幼猫和青年猫死亡的主要原因之一。近年来,该病在世界各地广泛流行,并呈一定的上升趋势。越来越多的学者对其进行了研究与探索,但其致病与免疫机制仍未完全清楚。本文从病原学、发病机制、流行病学、临床症状、诊断与治疗以及免疫与预防等方面对猫传染性腹膜炎进行全面的阐述,为该病的科学诊治与防控提供参考和指导。     

An update on aspects of viral gastrointestinal diseases of dogs and cats

Viruses commonly cause gastrointestinal illnesses in dogs and cats that range in severity from mild diarrhoea to malignant neoplasia. Perpetual evolution of viruses is reflected in changing disease patterns, so that familiar viruses are sometimes discovered to cause new or unexpected diseases. For example, canine parvovirus (CPV) has regained the ability to infect felids and cause a panleucopenia-like illness. Feline panleucopenia virus (FPV) has been shown to cause fading in young kittens and has recently been implicated as a possible cause of feline idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Molecular scrutiny of viral diseases sometimes permits deeper understanding of pathogenesis and epizootiology. Feline gastrointestinal lymphomas have not, in the past, been strongly associated with retroviral infections, yet some of these tumours harbour retroviral proviruses. Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) may play a role in lymphomagenesis, even in cats diagnosed as uninfected using conventional criteria. There is strong evidence that feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) can also be oncogenic. The variant feline coronaviruses that cause invariably-fatal feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) arise by sporadic mutation of an ubiquitous and only mildly pathogenic feline enteric coronavirus (FECV); a finding that has substantial management implications for cat breeders and veterinarians. Conversely, canine enteric coronavirus (CECV) shows considerable genetic and antigenic diversity but causes only mild, self-limiting diarrhoea in puppies. Routine vaccination against this virus is not recommended. Although parvoviruses, coronaviruses and retroviruses are the most important known viral causes of canine and feline gastrointestinal disease, other viruses play a role. Feline and canine rotaviruses have combined with human rotaviruses to produce new, reassortant, zoonotic viruses. Some companion animal rotaviruses can infect humans directly. Undoubtedly, further viral causes of canine and feline gastrointestinal disease await discovery.     

牛传染性鼻气管炎流行与防控策略

牛传染性鼻气管炎主要由牛疱疹病毒 1 型引起的病毒性呼吸道疾病。目前除少数地区未有资料报道牛传染性鼻气管炎外,几乎遍及全国均有省份报道,尤其在高原地区牦牛种群中持续流行。本文总结了牛疱疹病毒 1 型在国内外的流行现状、传播的关键要素、相关的防控策略等,为牛传染性鼻气管炎的有效防控提供借鉴,为实践提供策略。     

Frequencies of feline blood types in Hungary

Feline blood group determination is done as a routine diagnostic method in numerous countries. Blood transfusion reactions and feline neonatal isoerythrolysis (FNI) can be avoided with the identification of different feline blood groups. The present study is the first investigation in Hungary during which 100 cats have been examined from all over the country. These cats were out of six breeds: European domestic shorthair, Persian mix, Persian, Abyssinian, Siamese and British shorthair. In the Hungarian feline population European domestic shorthair are most common but other breeds also occur. European domestic shorthair, Persian mix, Abyssianian, Siamese and British shorthair individuals all belonged to blood type A (100%). Blood type B was found very rarely and only in Persian cats. One-third of the Persian cats were categorised into blood type B, whilst type AB was not found during the study.     

牛传染性鼻气管炎诊断方法的研究进展

牛传染性鼻气管炎是由牛传染性鼻气管炎病毒引起的一种牛的热性、急性、接触性传染病。该病是世界动物卫生组织(OIE)规定的必须上报的疾病之一,在我国也被列为二类疫病。牛传染性鼻气管炎可降低牛的肥育率、繁殖率和产奶量,给养牛业造成了重大经济损失。从病毒的分离鉴定、血清学以及分子生物学等方面对该病的诊断方法进行综述,以期为牛传染性鼻气管炎的检测和防控提供参考。