重庆市禽白血病及禽网状内皮组织增生症的血清流行病学调查

禽白血病和禽网状内皮组织增生症均为禽的肿瘤性免疫抑制疾病,是危害养鸡业的两种非常重要的病毒性传染病。为调查重庆市肉鸡中禽白血病及禽网状内皮组织增生症的流行情况,在北碚区、涪陵区、开县、垫江县、潼南县五个区（县）的8个活禽交易市场采集260份血清样本,采用酶联免疫吸附试验检测了所有血清中禽白血病病毒（ALV）和禽网状内皮组织增生病毒（REV）的抗体。检测结果显示：禽白血病病毒和禽网状内皮组织增生病毒抗体阳性率分别为16.5%（43/260）和5%（13/260）,双抗体阳性率为4.61%（12/260）。与全国其他地区相比,重庆市肉鸡中这两种病原的感染率相对要低,但仍应重视这两种疾病的防控,以控制病原的进一步传播。     

Linking avian communities and avian influenza ecology in southern Africa using epidemiological functional groups

The ecology of pathogens, and particularly their emergence in multi-host systems, is complex. New approaches are needed to reduce superficial complexities to a level that still allows scientists to analyse underlying and more fundamental processes. One promising approach for simplification is to use an epidemiological-function classification to describe ecological diversity in a way that relates directly to pathogen dynamics. In this article, we develop and apply the epidemiological functional group (EFG) concept to explore the relationships between wild bird communities and avian influenza virus (AIV) in three ecosystems in southern Africa. Using a two year dataset that combined bird counts and bimonthly sampling for AIV, we allocated each bird species to a set of EFGs that captured two overarching epidemiological functions: the capacity of species to maintain AIV in the system, and their potential to introduce the virus. Comparing AIV prevalence between EFGs suggested that the hypothesis that anseriforms (ducks) and charadriiforms (waders) drive AIV epidemiology cannot entirely explain the high prevalence observed in some EFGs. If anseriforms do play an important role in AIV dynamics in each of the three ecosystems, the role of other species in the local maintenance of AIV cannot be ruled out. The EFG concept thus helped us to identify gaps in knowledge and to highlight understudied bird groups that might play a role in AIV epidemiology. In general, the use of EFGs has potential for generating a range of valuable insights in epidemiology, just as functional group approaches have done in ecology.     

Antiviral efficacy of oseltamivir against avian influenza virus in avian species

Avian influenza is one of the most contagious viral diseases in bird species and, increasingly, interspecies transmission to mammalian species has been reported. Prevention and eradication of avian influenza virus (AIV) infection in birds may require vaccines as part of a comprehensive program including biosecurity, culling, diagnostics, and surveillance. However, for valuable bird species in zoos, novel eradication strategies are needed, including antiviral treatments. The present study evaluated the anti-influenza efficacy of the potent neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir in avian species using the orders Galliformes (chickens) and Anseriformes (ducks). Viral replication of low pathogenic AIV was significantly reduced in the chicken model and completely reduced in the duck model. Anti-influenza drug administration to valuable bird species with an appropriate extrapolation approach could be useful for control of AIV in combination with active surveillance and vaccination strategies. Further, evaluation of oseltamivir against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) using avian models would be needed to optimize the oseltamivir application guideline for HPAI control.     

Lack of antigenic relationships between avian pneumovirus and four avian paramyxoviruses

Avian paramyxoviruses (PMVs) and avian pneumovirus (APV) belong to the family Paramyxoviridae. Antigenic relationships between PMVs were shown previously, hence, this study was designed to investigate possible antigenic relationships between APV and four avian PMVs (PMV-1, PMV-2, PMV-3, and PMV-7). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test, and virus neutralization (VN) test in chicken embryos and in Vero cells were used. The HI test was performed with the PMVs as antigens against the APV and PMVs antisera. The ELISA and VN test in chicken embryos were performed with PMVs and APV antigens and antisera. The VN test in vero cells was performed with the APV as an antigen against the PMV antisera. All the viruses were isolated in the United States or Canada. No antigenic relationships between APV and the PMVs were detected by the described tests.     

Putative human and avian risk factors for avian influenza virus infections in backyard poultry in Egypt

Highly pathogenic influenza A virus subtype H5N1 causes significant poultry mortality in the six countries where it is endemic and can also infect humans. Egypt has reported the third highest number of poultry outbreaks (n = 1084) globally. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to identify putative risk factors for H5N1 infections in backyard poultry in 16 villages in Damietta, El Gharbia, Fayoum, and Menofia governorates from 2010–2012. Cloacal and tracheal swabs and serum samples from domestic (n = 1242) and wild birds (n = 807) were tested for H5N1 via RT-PCR and hemagglutination inhibition, respectively. We measured poultry rearing practices with questionnaires (n = 306 households) and contact rates among domestic and wild bird species with scan sampling. Domestic birds (chickens, ducks, and geese, n = 51) in three governorates tested positive for H5N1 by PCR or serology. A regression model identified a significant correlation between H5N1 in poultry and the practice of disposing of dead poultry and poultry feces in the garbage (F = 15.7, p < 0.0001). In addition, contact between domestic and wild birds was more frequent in villages where we detected H5N1 in backyard flocks (F = 29.5, p < 0.0001).     

Diagnostic cytology in avian medicine

Diagnostic cytology in avian medicine provides a means for better disease definition in the avian patient, which allows for a more specific therapeutic regimen. It is important that cytologic specimens are from fresh sources, since cells degenerate rapidly following the death of the bird or the tissue. Cytologic evaluation is an adjunct to other diagnostic procedures. A definitive diagnosis often requires information from the clinical history, physical examination, evaluation of samples obtained from the bird, radiographs, surgical procedures, necropsy, and histopathology.     

DNA vaccination in the avian

The skin has long been recognized as a major producer of cytokines, but the keratinocyte as principal epidermal cell has received less attention as potential source and target of cytokines. Nevertheless, keratinocytes produce a plethora of cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1, -6, -7, -8, -10, -12, -15, -18, and -20, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF). The production by keratinocytes of pro-inflammatory (IL)-1, -6, -8, and TNF was recognized early and is well studied. Keratinocyte-derived IL-7 and -15 are considered to be significant in T-cell trafficking, possibly even in the pathogenesis of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Immunomodulatory IL-10 and -12 originating from keratinocytes are considered to be responsible for systemic effects, and IL-18 perhaps has a similar action. Keratinocytes were fairly recently recognized as being source or target of other IL-10 family members like IL-20 and IL-24 and the role of these cytokines in specific diseases is under investigation. In addition, a variety of cytokine receptors are present on keratinocytes like those for IL-4, -13, and -17 and to lesser degree IL-2. The ability to study the expression of cytokines by keratinocytes in vivo and in vitro using primary cells, immortalized cells or even organotypic culture systems offers many possibilities to further investigate the role of cytokine production in keratinocyte biology and disease.     

Molecular characteristics and pathogenicity of an avian leukosis virus isolated from avian neurofibrosarcoma

Peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs) are rare in chickens and their etiology remains to be elucidated. In this study, a naturally occurring PNST in a Japanese native fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus) was pathologically examined and the strain of avian leukosis virus (ALV) isolated from the neoplasm was characterized by molecular biological analysis. The fowl presented with a firm subcutaneous mass in the neck. The mass, connected to the adjacent spinal cord (C9-14), was microscopically composed of highly cellular tissue of spindle cells arranged in interlacing bundles, streams, and palisading patterns with Verocay bodies and less cellular tissue with abundant collagen. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells were divided into two types: perineurial cells positive for vimentin, glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), and claudin1; and Schwann cells positive for vimentin, occasionally positive for S-100 alpha/beta but negative for GLUT1. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of neurofibrosarcoma was made. The complete nucleotide sequence of an ALV strain, CTS_5371, isolated from the neoplasm was determined and phylogenetic analysis indicated that the strain was a novel recombinant virus from avian leukosis/sarcoma viruses previously reported. Additionally, experimental infection revealed that CTS_5371 induced the proliferation of Schwann cells and perineurial cells. These results suggest that this ALV strain has the ability to induce PNSTs in chickens.     

Enteritis and green diarrhoea in experimental avian spirochaetosis

Chickens infected with a virulent strain of Borrelia anserina showed acute enteritis, haemosiderosis in intestinal villi and green diarrhoea. Although spirochaetes in the intestine had begun to disintegrate 96 hours after infection, enteritis and green diarrhoea continued. It is suggested that the greenish discoloration may be a consequence of enteritis and haemosiderosis.