Secretory antibody responses in cattle infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Antibody responses in serum, saliva, nasal secretions, or esophageal-pharyngeal fluid of foot-and-mouth disease virus-infected steers were examined by single radial immunodiffusion and mouse-neutralization tests. In steers infected with type O foot-and-mouth disease virus, high serum antibody titers were detected within 10 days after infection. Antibody was first detected in saliva at 30 days and gradually increased to a plateau at about 90 days. Small amounts of antibody continued to be secreted in saliva and in nasal secretions for at least 6 months. Antibody was not detected in esophageal-pharyngeal fluid. The major antibody activity in secretions was due to secretory immunoglobulin A as revealed by radioimmunoelectrophoresis.     

Stimulation by heterotypic antigens of foot-and-mouth disease virus antibodies in vaccinated cattle

Immunisation of cattle with foot-and-mouth disease virus failed to raise a level of antibody that provides protection against heterotypic challenge. Further the 12S substructure, produced from the 146S particle, was ineffective in providing protection against challenge by homotypic virus. These findings suggest considerable antigenic differences in the virus serotypes and between the virus and its substructure. Inoculation of homologous 12S and heterologous 1246S and 12S antigens into vaccinated cattle, however, revealed antigenic relationship between different serotypes, and between serotypes and their substructures.     

Detection of foot-and-mouth disease virus infected cattle using infrared thermography

In this study, infrared thermography (IRT) was assessed as a means of detecting foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV)-infected cattle before and after the development of clinical signs. Preliminary IRT imaging demonstrated that foot temperatures increased in FMDV-infected animals. The maximum foot temperatures of healthy (n = 53), directly inoculated (DI) (n = 12), contact (CT) (n = 6), and vaccine trial (VT) (n = 21) cattle were measured over the course of FMD infection. A cut-off value was established at 34.4 °C (sensitivity = 61.1%, specificity = 87.7%) with the aim of detecting FMDV-infected animals both before and after clinical signs were observed. Seven of 12 (58%) DI and 3/6 (50%) CT animals showed maximum foot temperatures exceeding the 34.4 °C cut-off before the development of foot vesicles. In contrast, only 5/21 (24%) VT animals displayed pre-clinical foot temperatures above this cut-off possibly indicating partial vaccine protection of this group. These results show IRT as a promising screening technology to quickly identify potentially infected animals for confirmatory diagnostic testing during FMD outbreaks. Further evaluation of this technology is needed to determine the value of IRT in detecting animals with mild clinical signs or sub-clinical infections.     

Enhanced mucosal immune response in cattle persistently infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus

The mucosal immune response to foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) type Asia 1 was examined in experimentally infected cattle by assaying antibodies by the virus-neutralizing test (VNT) and IgA ELISA in two secretory fluids, oesophageal pharyngeal fluid (OPF) and oro-nasal fluid (ONF). Out of 17 animals infected by the intradermo-lingual route, 12 became persistently infected (carriers), as defined by positive antigen capture RT-PCR reactions for FMDV RNA in OPF samples collected at 28 days or later after exposure. This proportion of carriers (71%) with FMDV Asia 1 is comparable to other serotypes of the virus. When the two groups were examined, the carriers and non-carriers showed no difference in the serum antibody titre until the end of the experiment at 182 days post-infection (DPI). However, despite an initial similarity significantly higher neutralizing antibody titres and FMDV-specific IgA response were detected among the carriers than the non-carriers in both of the secretory fluids. The response was higher and more stable in ONF compared to OPF. Thus, mucosal antibody assays have the potential to be used as a means of differentiating carrier from non-carrier cattle. Furthermore, the findings are consistent with the higher mucosal antibody response in carriers being an effect of persistent infection rather than the cause.     

Estimation of the transmission of foot-and-mouth disease virus from infected sheep to cattle

The quantitative role of sheep in the transmission of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is not well known. To estimate the role of sheep in the transmission of FMDV, a direct contact transmission experiment with 10 groups of animals each consisting of 2 infected lambs and 1 contact calf was performed. Secretions and excretions (oral swabs, blood, urine, faeces and probang samples) from all animals were tested for the presence of FMDV by virus isolation (VI) and/or RT-PCR. Serum was tested for the presence of antibodies against FMDV. To estimate FMDV transmission, the VI, RT-PCR and serology results were used. The partial reproduction ratio R₀^p i.e. the average number of new infections caused by one infected sheep introduced into a population of susceptible cattle, was estimated using either data of the whole infection chain of the experimental epidemics (the transient state method) or the final sizes of the experimental epidemics (the final size method). Using the transient state method, R₀^p was estimated as 1.0 (95% CI 0.2 - 6.0) using virus isolation results and 1.4 (95% CI 0.3 - 8.0) using RT-PCR results. Using the final size method, R₀^p was estimated as 0.9 (95% CI 0.2 - 3.0). Finally, R₀^p was compared to the R₀’s obtained in previous transmission studies with sheep or cattle only. This comparison showed that the infectivity of sheep is lower than that of cattle and that sheep and cattle are similarly susceptible to FMD. These results indicate that in a mixed population of sheep and cattle, sheep play a more limited role in the transmission of FMDV than cattle.     

Presence of antibodies to non-structural proteins of foot-and-mouth disease virus in repeatedly vaccinated cattle

For the purpose of removing infected animals by detecting humoral immune responses to non-structural proteins of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus, antibodies induced by contaminated residual non-structural proteins contained in less pure FMD vaccine can be problematic for serological screening. The aim of the present study was to measure the possible presence of antibodies against these non-structural proteins in repeatedly vaccinated calves and beef cattle. Five imported FMD vaccines were examined using two commercial ELISA kits, UBI FMDV NS EIA and Ceditest FMDV-NS, for serological testing. After five doses of vaccination, the serum of one calf tested positive, and two vaccines induced a significant increase in anti-3ABC antibodies in calves. This finding demonstrated that a positive reaction to non-structural proteins due to impurities in the FMD vaccine was detectable using commercial tests. A low percentage of field sera sampled from beef cattle in Kinmen also tested positive, but the key factor resulting in the positive reactions could not be positively identified based on our data.     

O型口蹄疫病毒单克隆抗体的制备及生物学特性分析

以纯化的O型口蹄疫泛亚毒株O/YS/CHA/05抗原免疫BALB/c小鼠,在加强免疫3 d后,取脾细胞与SP2/0骨髓瘤细胞进行融合,经间接ELISA法和间接免疫荧光法(IFA)筛选, 获得2株稳定分泌单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,命名为4A8和1F6,同时确定二者均为O型口蹄疫病毒特异性单克隆抗体.中和试验和Western-blot分析结果表明,4A8和1F6均识别线性表位,无中和活性.亚类鉴定结果显示:4A8和1F6重链类型分别为IgG1和IgG2b;轻链类型均为κ.相加ELISA分析结果表明,两者针对的抗原位点相同或相近.     

Residual foot-and-mouth disease virus antibodies in French cattle and sheep six years after the vaccination ban

A serological survey was carried out on French cattle to establish a reference pattern of residual vaccine antibodies and non-specific reactions against the foot-and-mouth disease virus 6 years after the ban on vaccination and in the absence of any foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Most of the multi-vaccinated cattle still displayed high titres of antibodies and up to 50% of those which had received a single injection still had antibodies. Non-specific reactors were also recorded among animals born during and after 1991. Most of them displayed low titres close to the threshold. Sheep were also tested and, as for cattle, 4.6% of non-specific reactors were recorded, with titres close to the threshold for two-thirds of them. As part of these animals have been resampled and retested, sera revealed negative confirming that these animals are true non-specific reactors. Serological testing as a mean of FMD control should take these facts into account.     

Novel purification method for recombinant 3AB1 nonstructural protein of foot-and-mouth disease virus for use in differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals.

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for differentiation of animals infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) from vaccinated animals. The test was based on a highly pure and concentrated preparation of recombinant 3AB1 protein obtained by expression in a prokaryotic system, protein separation by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and electro elution. Experimental- and field-serum samples from naive, vaccinated, and infected cattle were tested for anti3AB1 antibody using the ELISA. A cutoff level was set at 35% of the maximum absorbance obtained with a positive control serum (FMDV-infected animal, 21 days postinfection [dpi]). This assay could detect antibodies from sera of animals experimentally infected by contact (n = 118) with a sensitivity of 97.5%. The specificity was 100%, based on negative test results obtained on 109 sera from naive animals. Remarkably, all sera from animals vaccinated either once (n = 102) or twice (n = 30) were negative. In addition, this 3AB1-ELISA could detect seroconversion at 7 dpi in animals inoculated intradermolingually. This assay constitutes an important tool for the rapid detection of FMDV outbreaks in a vaccinated population. In addition, it presents a reliable, economical, and simple method for testing large numbers of serum samples.     

口蹄疫病毒非结构蛋白3AB单克隆抗体的制备及其对应表位区分析

为鉴定口蹄疫病毒(FMDV)的非结构蛋白3AB的抗原表位,本研究以原核表达并纯化的FMDV 3AB重组蛋白免疫BALB/c小鼠,采用淋巴细胞杂交瘤技术制备杂交瘤细胞,通过间接ELISA进行筛选,获得6株能够稳定分泌抗3AB蛋白特异性单克隆抗体(MAb)的杂交瘤细胞.这6株MAbs亚类鉴定均为IgG1型,轻链均为K链.间接免疫荧光试验结果表明,这6株MAbs均能够识别FMDV 3AB蛋白.采用制备的MAb对分段表达的3AB蛋白进行western blot分析,结合位点分别位于3AB的第aa 55～aa 70、aa 64～aa 79、aa130～aa145区段.该结果为进一步探索3AB蛋白的结构和功能以及建立诊断方法奠定了基础.     

Detection of foot-and-mouth disease virus infection in vaccinated cattle

The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of commercially available kits for the detection of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus infection in vaccinated cattle. The cattle were vaccinated with a commercial aqueous FMD vaccine type A24 and subsequently challenged 28 days post vaccination with homologous FMD virus. Seven of eight animals were protected from clinical disease and all became carriers. They were bled sequentially for up to 130 days post infection and samples of sera were tested with three ELISA kits: CHEKIT FMD-3ABC, Ceditest FMDV-NS and SVANOIR FMDV 3ABC-Ab ELISA. The Ceditest kit appears to be relatively higher sensitive than the others. When examined with this ELISA, all cattle developed of FMDV nonstructural proteins (NSPs) antibodies and remained positive throughout the period of the experiment. The response of antibodies against 3ABC antigen delayed in two cattle challenged with FMDV A24 virus. One of the cattle reacted negatively in Svanoir ELISA kit and sera from two animals were found negative in CHEKIT ELISA. It can be concluded that all tested kits can be a promising tool for FMD control and eradication campaigns in situation where emergency vaccination was applied.     

Type I interferon production in cattle infected with 2 strains of foot-and-mouth disease virus, as determined by in situ hybridization.

Four calves were exposed via aerosol to 1 of 2 strains of foot-and-mouth disease virus. Two animals received virus derived from an infectious clone virus (A12-IC) and 2 received virus derived from the same clone but which lacked the leader coding region (A12-LLV2) that codes for a protein responsible for turning off host protein synthesis. Animals were euthanized at 24 and 72 h post exposure. Cattle receiving A12-IC had a rapid course of disease with more virus in tissues while A12-LLV2-infected cattle did not develop clinical signs of disease. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections were probed with digoxigenin-labeled riboprobes corresponding to the coding sequence for bovine interferon (IFN) alpha and IFNbeta. Staining for IFNalpha mRNA was noted in mononuclear cells of the lungs of all animals and in respiratory lymph nodes of cattle receiving A12-IC. Staining for IFNbeta mRNA was confined to bronchiolar epithelium and present only in the animals infected with A12-IC. Inability of the A12-LLV2 virus to achieve levels of spread seen with A12-IC may be related to translation of IFNalpha in A12-LLV2-infected cells, which renders adjacent cells less susceptible to productive infection.     

4种ELISA检测奶牛O型口蹄疫免疫抗体的比较试验

口蹄疫(FMD)是由口蹄疫病毒引起的以感染偶蹄动物为主的急性、热性、高度传染性疫病,世界动物卫生组织(OIE)将其列为必须报告的动物疫病.我国规定为一类动物疫病.我国奶牛口蹄疫的防控,以免疫接种措施为核心,实行强制免疫政策,要求O型和Asia Ⅰ型疫苗免疫密度必须达100%,通过牛群整体免疫水平的提高来预防口蹄疫的感染和流行[1].     

牛口蹄疫病毒VP2结构蛋白抗体间接ELISA方法的建立

为建立牛口蹄疫(FMD)抗体的检测方法,本研究将口蹄疫病毒(FMDV)的VP2基因,通过pPROEXTM HTb表达载体在大肠杆菌DH5α中表达,获得大小为35ku的重组VP2蛋白(rVP2),western blot证实rVP2可与FMDV5种血清型的牛阳性血清发生特异性反应。以纯化复性的rVP2为抗原建立了FMDVrVP2间接ELISA方法。重复性试验证实批内、批间变异系数均小于10%。特异性交叉试验表明,该抗原不与常见的其他7种牛病阳性血清发生交叉反应。检测非免疫无口蹄疫国家牛阴性血清的特异性为100%;检测感染血清敏感性为97.3%;检测O-AsiaⅠ的二价苗免疫牛血清,与4种商品化试剂盒比较,其符合率分别为69.0%、95.0%、90.4%和86.8%。实验结果表明建立的ELISA方法可以用于口蹄疫感染和免疫抗体检测。     

Reaginic antibody in cattle hypersensitised by foot-and-mouth disease vaccine.

The passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test (PCAT) in calves and goats was used to demonstrate reaginic antibody in the sera of cattle which had shown anaphylaxis following injection with foot-and-mouth disease vaccine. A period of two or three days between the intracutaneous injection of test sera and the intracutaneous or intravenous challenge with components of vaccine was found to be satisfactory. Positive reactions were obtained in calves for up to 49 days but many goats failed to react after eight days. The PCAT had a high degree of reproducibility within any one test animal, but a marked variation was found between individual test animals.