Interactions of porcine alveolar macrophages and bone marrow cells with African swine fever virus and virus-infected cells

Virus yields from porcine alveolar macrophages (AM) infected with African swine fever virus (ASFV) were greater and were achieved more rapidly, when inoculated at a high multiplicity of infection (MOI) than at low MOI. The difference was related to a lower percentage of cells becoming infected after low MOI inoculation. The reduced yields after low MOI were not caused by prolongation of the culture time, by bacterial endotoxins or by production of inhibitory substances by infected AM. Virus-infected AM were not susceptible to lysis in antibody-dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) assays and this was apparently due to a paucity of viral antigen expressed on the cell surface. Uninfected AM did not act as effectors in ADCC.Porcine bone marrow (PBM) cells were effective in mediation of ADCC and their activity was reduced after ASFV infection. Cells separated into adherent and non-adherent populations, depleted by carbonyl iron treatment or separated by Ficoll-Hypaque centrifugation, all showed effector activity in ADCC. The effector cells were not mature neutrophils or lymphocytes and were probably granulocytic precursors.     

The effect of age of host in resistance expressed at the gut level in rats infected with Fasciola hepatica

The development of oral and intraperitoneal infections with Fasciola hepatica in young and old rats showed that the gut was involved in the expression of age resistance. The role of the gut was assessed by comparison of the number of flukes recovered 4 and 10 weeks after oral or intraperitoneal infection of 2-, 6-, 15-, and 35-week-old male Wistar rats and 6- and 15-week-old male DA rats with encysted metacarcariae of F. hepatica.Rats of both strains behaved similarly in their response to F. hepatica infection. For both routes of infection the number of flukes recovered decreased as host age increased. In 22- and 6-week-old rats equal numbers of flukes were recovered at 4 and 10 weeks after oral or intraperitoneal infection. In 15-week-old rats, fluke burdens 4 weeks after infection were significantly greater following intraperitoneal infection than oral infection. A significant loss of flukes from the intraperitoneal infection of 15-week-old Wistar rats occured between 4 and 10 weeks after infection. In 35-week-old Wistar rats there was no significant effect for route or age of infection.As intraperitoneal infection (to by-pass rejection at the gut level) only partially eliminates the age response, additional age related mechanism(s), able to reject flukes at some time after they have entered the peritoneal cavity, must be operative in the peritoneal cavity and/or the liver.     

The immune system of cyprinid fish. Oxytetracycline and the regulation of humoral immunity in carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The antibiotic oxytetracycline (oxyTC) was administered either by mixing with food or by intraperitoneal injections. In oxyTC treated animals decreased serum immunoglobulin levels were found. The primary anti-sheep red blood cell (SRBC) response was measured by enumerating plaque forming cells (PFC). It was observed that the PFC response was depressed by 80–95% in oxyTC treated animals. When an anti-SRBC serum was injected together with SRBC the immunosuppressive effect of oxyTC was absent. A secondary anti-SRBC response was not inhibited by oxyTC. On base of the results a model for antigen presentation and the interaction between macrophages, T- and B-like cells during primary and secondary responses in fish is proposed. In primary responses cellular interaction is needed to develop a proper immune response whereas after a high antigen dose challenge SRBC might behave as a T-independent antigen.     

The role of specific immunoglobulins in antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity assays during Babesia bovis infection

A stabilate prepared from Babesia bovis-infected Boophilus microplus ticks was used to infect intact adult cattle. Whole sera and immunoglobulin fractions from representative sera were tested by complement fixation (CF), indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA), and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) assays. The last test utilized 51Cr-labeled chicken erythrocytes coated with Babesia bovis antigen as targets. Mononuclear cell preparations, obtained from peripheral blood of normal donors and consisting of lymphocytes with 2--6% large monocytes, were used as the source of effector cells. Antibody activity was detected by all tests between 14 and 16 days following infection. Specific IgM and IgG1 were reactive in both CF and IFA tests, although the development of high titers was attributable to IgG, alone. The ADCC activity was restricted to IgG1 fractions and was greater in those sera or fractions with greater CF activity. No activity was demonstrated in IgG2 fractions by any test used.     

新城疫病毒融合蛋白裂解位点基因的分离克隆及在原核细胞中的表达

用ＳＰＦ鸡胚繁殖新城疫病毒（ＮＤＶ）Ｆ４６Ｅ９株（强毒）、ＬａＳｏｔａＥ４株（弱毒），对病毒进行纯化，抽提ＲＮＡ。用１对均为２７个碱基的引物进行ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ，扩增出了２个毒株的融合蛋白裂解位点（Ｆｃ）基因。将Ｆｃ基因定向克隆入ｐＵＣ１８的ＥｃｏＲＩ和ＳａｌⅠ位点之间，获得２个毒株Ｆｃ基因克隆ｐＵＣＦ４６Ｆｃ和ｐＵＣＬａＦｃ，用ＥｃｏＲＩ／ＳａｌⅠ双酶切法、ＰｓｔⅠ单酶切法、ＰＣＲ法和核酸探针法对其进行了鉴定。将鉴定好的ＬａＳｏｔａＥ４Ｆｃ基因定向导入表达载体质粒ｐＢＶ２２１，获得重组子ｐＢＶＬａＦｃ。ＰＣＲ和内切酶酶切法鉴定表明，Ｆｃ插入的位置和方向都正确无误。用Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉＤＨ５α通过热诱导法进行了表达。用ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ和Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ－ｂｌｏｔ法检测了表达产物。结果表明，有１条能够与ＮＤＶ多抗反应的特异条带，分子量约１５７００，与预期大小一致，说明是Ｆｃ基因的表达产物     

Study on the pathogenicity of ostertagiosis due to Ostertagia circumcincta in sheep,in Iraq

The response of Awassi sheep to Ostertagia circumcincta, the most prevalent ovine strongylid species in Iraq, was studied.A dose of 100000 larvae of O. circumcincta (Iraqi strain) induced moderate clinical symptoms of ostertagiosis. These symptoms were correlated with elevated pH of the abomasal fluid and increased plasma pepsinogen levels. There was no evidence of larval inhibition since the majority of the fourth stage larvae (L₄) continued their development. No appreciable loss of worm population was observed and most of the parasites survived and exhibited a prolific egg-laying potential six moths after initial infection. Assessments of the pathophysiological changes were performed and correlated with parasitological and clinical observations.The Awassi breed of sheep, the most prevalent in the Arab Middle East, seems to be more susceptible to ostertagiosis than other breeds and there was no spontaneous self-cure in this breed.     

The recreational and commercial importance of feral swine in Florida: Relevance to the possible introduction of African swine fever into the U.S.A.

Florida has the largest population of feral swine in the U.S.A. Feral swine have recreational and economic importance to hunters, trappers, taxidermists, and also to dealers who sell feral swine to hunting clubs. Hunters spent over 522 00 man-days hunting feral swine during the 1980–1981 hunting year. They killed nearly 103 000 hogs which they valued at over $58 each, for a total value of nearly $6 million. Trappers caught 25 000 head valued at about $ 700 000, and landowners collected about $1.2 million in hunting lease fees. Taxidermists received about $389 000 in gross income from mounting feral swine. Sales of feral swine to hunting clubs amounted to about $81 000.

Sales of feral swine through commercial livestock auctions were limited to 1620 head valued at only $16 800 in 1980. Thus, feral swine are important to Florida from a recreational standpoint, but not from the perspective of commercial agriculture.

If African swine fever were to enter Florida, there are many socio-economic factors associated with feral swine that must be carefully evaluated for eradication to be successful.     

Effect of suckling intensity on human growth hormone binding, biochemical composition and histological characteristics of ovine mammary glands

Suckling both, or only one contralateral mammary gland during 15 days postpartum was utilized to study lactogenic hormone binding to mammary microsomal membranes and quantitative mammary morphology in ewes. Binding of radiolabeled human growth hormone was specific for lactogenic hormones. Non-radiolabeled human growth hormone, ovine and bovine prolactin and human placental lactogen effectively competed with radiolabeled human growth hormone for binding sites but ovine and bovine growth hormone were completely ineffective. Specific binding of radiolabeled human growth hormone to 600 μg of membrane protein averaged 23 ± 3% in all lactating glands. Neither days postpartum nor treatment of contralateral mammary glands substantially altered hormone binding in lactating glands. Specific human growth hormone binding (6 ± 0.5%) in non-suckled glands (15 days postpartum both udder halves) was significantly lower (P<0.01) than in lactating tissue but only a moderate and variable reduction in specific binding was measured in membranes from glands non-suckled for 15 days but contralateral to a suckled gland (14 ± 4%). Specific binding was approximately doubled in assays with 600 compared with 300 μg of membrane protein and the pattern of binding among variously suckled glands was not changed by treatment of membranes with 4 M MgCl₂ prior to assay. Most secretory cells from all lactating glands had rounded, basally displaced nuclei, apical fat globules, secretory vesicles and abundant densely stained basal cytoplasm (ergastoplasm). Alveolar lumenal area was maximal (50% of tissue area) and stromal tissue area was minimal. After 15 days of non-suckling (both udder halves) mammary cells were engorged with lipid, ergastoplasm was reduced and nuclei were irregularly shaped and randomly displaced compared with lactating tissue. In addition, lumenal area was reduced and stromal tissue more evident. Lack of suckling for 5 days had little apparent effect on mammary cytology. Like lactogenic hormone binding, mammary tissue morphology was only moderately altered by 15 days of non-suckling when the remaining gland was suckled. RNA concentration was lowest (2.1 ± 0.3 mg/g) in mammary tissue from ewes in which neither gland was suckled for 15 days postpartum but non-suckling interval had no significant effect when contralateral glands were suckled. DNA concentration was not significantly influenced by suckling treatments. Relative lactogenic hormone binding closely corresponded to changes in cytological and biochemical indices of secretory cell function.