Outbreak of rabbit hemorrhagic disease in domestic lagomorphs

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) was diagnosed in domestic lagomorphs on a rabbit farm in Illinois. Clinical signs of RHD in affected rabbits included signs of depression, anorexia, fever, paddling, convulsions, and sudden death. Findings of necropsies and histologic evaluations of specimens of liver and spleen were indicative of RHD. In liver specimens obtained from dead rabbits, RHD viral antigen was detected via hemagglutination assay and viral antigen-detection ELISA. The source of the outbreak was traced to a rabbitry in Utah. As the disease spread, the outbreak involved rabbits in various regions of the United States; > 4,800 rabbits were euthanatized and buried as a result of the depopulation effort in several states. The economic impact of the disease can be considerable; if the disease is suspected, it is imperative that the appropriate state or federal veterinarian's office be contacted immediately.     

Hemagglutination and antigenic comparison of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus

The hemagglutinating activity and serological properties of three strains of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus, Chinese, Korean and Shizuoka, which was first isolated in Japan, were examined by hemagglutination (HA) and cross hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test with human erythrocytes. Similar results were observed between the Chinese and Korean strains, both of which gave positive HA at 4 degrees C with O, A, B and AB, and at 22 degrees C with B and AB blood groups. In the Shizuoka strain, positive HA was observed at 4 degrees C with O, A, B and AB, at 22 degrees C with A, B And AB, and at 37 degrees C with B blood group. In experimentally infected rabbits, HI antibody in these animals showed a titer of 16,384 or 32,768 at 4 weeks after inoculation. No serological difference was observed in three strains by cross HI test.     

兔巴氏杆菌铝胶苗生产工艺的改进

通过改进兔瘟、兔巴氏杆菌二联铝胶苗生产工艺，使其中的兔巴氏杆菌部分的免疫攻毒保护率大大提高。采用新工艺生产的13批疫苗，有7批4／4保护，6批3／4保护，达到不低于2／4保护的标准，大大提高了产品质量。     

兔出血症病毒西藏野毒分离株的鉴定

对西藏农牧学院分离的一株兔出血症病毒(RHDV)西藏野毒进行血凝性、特异性和致病性进行鉴定。结果表明,此株RHDV野毒血凝价高达10240以上;RHDV抗血清可特异性抑制该株病毒对人“O”型红细胞的凝集;西藏株RHDV的最小致死量为10^-5／mL,是一株具有高致病力的RHDV强毒株。     

Impairment of renal function and electrolyte balance in rabbit hemorrhagic disease

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) induced viral fulminant hepatitis in adult rabbits. We investigated the damage of renal function and electrolyte balance in experimentally infected rabbit by measuring the related serum parameters to elucidate the pathogenesis of RHDV as an index for medical treatment. Nineteen New Zealand White rabbits, ten females and nine males, were each intramuscularly inoculated with 0.5 ml 50% rabbit lethal dose (RLD(50)) rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus. Blood samples were collected at 0 hr post inoculation (HPI) and every 6 hr from 18 HPI repeatedly through 66 HPI. After virus inoculation, serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CREA) and sodium (Na(+)) were elevated to a highly significant level (p<0.0001), whereas serum potassium (K(+)) was moderately elevated to a significant level (p<0.05). Hypoglycemia developed highly significantly (p<0.0001). Serum chloride ion (Cl(-)) was the only parameter which did not change significantly (p=0.077). No significant sexual difference was observed among these parameters. Renal insufficiency progressed from 36 hr, as indicated by the increases in BUN and CREA; significant changes in electrolytes resulting in the increased osmolality of extracellular fluid that induced flow disturbance which consequently destroy the homeostasis in cells. Therefore, the later impairments in renal function and electrolyte balance might be an important threat for rabbits which might have survived from acute fulminant hepatitis in RHD.     

Single dose adenovirus vectored vaccine induces a potent and long-lasting immune response against rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus after parenteral or mucosal administration

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is the etiological agent of a lethal and contagious disease of rabbits that remains as a serious problem worldwide. As this virus does not replicate in cell culture systems, the capsid protein gene has been expressed in heterologous hosts or inserted in replication-competent viruses in order to obtain non-conventional RHDV vaccines. However, due to technological or safety issues, current RHDV vaccines are still prepared from organs of infected rabbits. In this work, two human type 5 derived replication-defective adenoviruses encoding the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus VP60 capsid protein were constructed. The recombinant protein was expressed as a multimer in mouse and rabbit cell lines at levels that ranged from approximately 120 to 160 mg/L of culture. Mice intravenously or subcutaneously inoculated with a single 10(8) gene transfer units (GTU) dose of the AdVP60 vector (designed for VP60 intracellular expression) seroconverted at days 7 and 14 post-immunization, respectively. This vector generated a stronger response than that obtained with a second vector (AdVP60sec) designed for VP60 secretion. Rabbits were then immunized by parenteral or mucosal routes with a single 10(9)GTU dose of the AdVP60 and the antibody response was evaluated using a competition ELISA specific for RHDV or RHDVa. Protective hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers were also promptly detected and IgG antibodies corresponding with inhibition percentages over 85% persisted up to one year in all rabbits, independently of the immunization route employed. These levels were similar to those elicited with inactivated RHDV or with VP60 obtained from yeast or insect cells. IgA specific antibodies were only found in saliva of rabbits immunized by intranasal instillation. The feasibility of VP60 production and vaccination of rabbits with replication-defective adenoviral vectors was demonstrated.     

Hematological parameters and visceral lesions relationships in rabbit viral hemorrhagic disease.

Twenty rabbits were inoculated with a suspension of Viral Hemorrhagic Disease virus. Hemostatic functions were assessed every sixth hour from 6 to 60 hours post-inoculation. Tissue samples obtained at the same intervals allowed the study of the development of lesions throughout the experiment. Biological signs of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) were detected on and after 30 h post-inoculation and consisted of prolonged One Stage Prothrombin Time and Activated Partial Thrombin Time, the decrease of factors V, VII, and X and high levels of soluble fibrin monomer complexes and D-dimers. A reduction of thrombocyte numbers, heterophils and lymphocytes was associated. The close association of DIC and necrotizing hepatitis lesions suggested the hepatic lesions to be the most important DIC triggering factor. Other mechanisms are discussed.     

在豚鼠体内筛选兔出血症病毒“通用型”T细胞表位

为筛选兔出血症病毒T细胞表位,应用纯化的病毒与佐剂联合免疫6周龄豚鼠,三免后10 d采集血液和淋巴细胞,通过T淋巴细胞增殖试验(WST)、酶联免疫斑点(ELISPOT)、ELISA方法检测淋巴细胞增值、IFN-γ和IL-2变化,评价多肽的抗原性。结果显示,多肽P2、P7、P10、P16、P21和P22能刺激动物产生细胞免疫应答,淋巴细胞增殖、IFN-γ分泌和IL-2水平显著高于其他多肽和对照组。这表明,筛选的多肽P2、P7、P10、P16、P21和P22具有抗原特性,为多表位疫苗的构建和应用提供科学的依据。     

云南省楚雄州部分地区猪瘟血清学调查

为了解楚雄州部分地区的猪瘟免疫情况,利用酶联免疫法(ELISA)对楚雄市、南华县和禄丰县随机采取的393份血清进行猪瘟抗体检测,并对各县(市)的调查数据加以比较,了解猪瘟在楚雄州部分地区的免疫情况。结果显示,楚雄州部分地区均有较高的猪瘟抗体阳性率,各县(市)的猪瘟抗体阳性率都在80%以上,有的县(市)猪瘟抗体甚至达到了100%。说明楚雄州部分地区的猪瘟免疫效果较好,猪瘟免疫成功。     

兔出血症病毒衣壳蛋白VP60与兔肝脏细胞中相互作用蛋白的初步筛选

为鉴定兔出血症病毒(RHDV)在感染兔肝脏过程中与肝细胞膜表面相互作用的靶蛋白,本研究利用SMART文库构建技术构建了兔肝脏细胞的真核表达cDNA重组质粒文库,将其转染SP2/0细胞,经嘌呤霉素筛选表达兔肝细胞蛋白的阳性SP2/0细胞.以RHDV-VP60蛋白作为固相包被抗原,经筛选,获得能够与VP60蛋白相互结合的表达性阳性SP2/0细胞克隆.测序表明26个克隆与兔的一些功能性蛋白有较高的同源性,其中包括代谢酶类13个、免疫信号通路受体蛋白5个以及其他细胞膜蛋白等.本研究鉴定的与RHDV VP60具有结合性的细胞蛋白为RHDV感染机制的研究奠定了基础.     

Hemorrhagic septicemia of rabbits (rabbit hemorrhagic disease, RHD)--quantitative antigen detection]

The efficiency of a vaccine of inactivated virus is influenced to a great deal by the mass of antigen per dose of application. Therefore it is essential to known the concentration of the antigen. We tested a physical method for quantification of the RHD-Virus. It implies a centrifugation of the prepurified, if necessary, preconcentrated infectious or inactivated virus in a gentle sucrose gradient. It is followed by analysis in a sensitive UV flow-through photometer with a computer calculated virus mass. The extinction coefficient (optical density) of the virus (175S-component) at 254 nm is 3.9 cm2/mg. The haemagglutination test and the ELISA were used to prove the virus specificity of the optical peak and partial for comparing them with the method mentioned above.     

ELISA验证兔铁蛋白重链与RHDV VP60相互作用

为验证本实验室前期实验中初步鉴定的兔铁蛋白重链(FTH)与兔出血症病毒(RHDV)衣壳蛋白(VP60)具有相互作用关系,本研究采用RT-PCR技术从兔肝脏扩增编码FTH基因,并将其克隆至pET-32a(+)中转化大肠杆菌BL21 (DE3)pLysS中进行表达.重组FTH蛋白(rFTH)经IPTG诱导获得表达,采用Ni-NTA Agarose纯化rFTH.利用纯化的VP60作为ELISA包被抗原检测FTH与VP60的相互作用.结果表明,ELISA检测的OD490nm值与FTH蛋白量呈正相关.本研究进一步验证了FTH与VP60具有相互作用关系.     

兔出血症病毒VP60蛋白的原核表达及检测方法初步应用

VP60是免出血症病毒（RHDV）的主要结构蛋白，也是免疫原性蛋白，与诱导抗病毒免疫反应直接相关，因而也是检测用首选抗原。本实验在原核系统pPRoEX^TMHTa中表达了VP60基因，经SDS—PAGE电泳中可见表达带。Western blot鉴定结果表明，重组蛋白可被RHD阳性血清特异性识别，具有相应的抗原性。将表达蛋白经SDS—PAGE电泳切胶纯化后免疫BALB／c小鼠，免疫血清经全病毒ELISA检测，效价可达1：3200-1：6400，经琼脂扩散试验检测效价为1：16。重组蛋白纯化、复性后，作为包被抗原初步建立了间接ELISA方法，并检测了48份免血清样品，与全病毒间接ELSIA试剂盒检测结果相同。实验结果表明．用原核系统表达的VP60蛋白．可以作为RHD新型诊断试剂的候选抗原。     

兔出血症病毒TP株VP60基因DNA免疫小鼠的实验研究

为评价兔出血症病毒(RHDV)VP60基因在小鼠体内诱导产生体液免疫和细胞免疫情况,本研究构建了RHDV VP60基因的真核表达质粒pcDNA-VP60,并将其免疫小鼠。利用ELISA方法检测特异性抗体和小鼠外周血细胞因子水平,MTT法和流式细胞术(FACS)检测小鼠外周血T淋巴细胞增殖情况和T淋巴细胞亚群的动态变化。抗体检测结果显示,重组质粒免疫组抗体水平在免疫后5周～6周达到峰值,而且与对照组比较差异显著(p<0.05);细胞因子检测结果显示,重组质粒免疫组血清中IFN-γ、IL-2、IL-4因子水平随免疫时间延长而升高,并且能够维持较高水平,与对照组比较差异显著(p<0.05);T淋巴细胞检测结果显示,重组质粒免疫组T淋巴细胞明显增殖,CD4+T淋巴细胞数量免疫后明显增高,与对照组比较差异显著(p<0.05);所有检测指标显示重组质粒免疫组和灭活苗免疫组比较均无显著差异(p>0.05)。以上结果表明pcDNA-VP60重组质粒可以诱导小鼠产生特异性体液免疫和细胞免疫,为研制预防兔病毒性出血症的候选DNA疫苗提供了实验依据。     

兔出血症病毒JL株分离鉴定及VP60基因主要抗原表位分析

采用血凝试验、电镜观察、RT－PCR方法分离鉴定了1株JL株兔出血症病毒（RHDV）,扩增衣壳蛋白VP60基因,将扩增片段克隆到pMDl8－T载体上,经酶切鉴定后测序。结果显示,VP60基因全长1740bp,编码580个氨基酸;JL株与其他RHDV分离株比较,核苷酸同源性为93．7％－99．2％,氨基酸同源性在97．3％－99．5％,在VP606个区中,A、B、D、F是稳定区,氨基酸变异多发生在衣壳蛋白C、E区,表明毒株具有高度保守性;将JL株与国内外标准株蛋白氨基酸变畀及其亲水性、柔性区、抗原区和表面结构进行比较分析,预测RHDV VP60细胞表位。     

Concomitant turkey herpesvirus-infectious bursal disease vector vaccine and oil-adjuvanted inactivated Newcastle disease vaccine administration: consequences for vaccine intake and protection

Hatchery vaccination protocols in day-old chicks are designed to provide early priming and protection against several poultry diseases including, but not limited to, Marek's disease (MD), infectious bursal disease (IBD), and Newcastle disease (ND). The constraint of concomitant administration of live MD and IBD vaccines plus ND inactivated oil-adjuvanted vaccines (IOAVs) requires improvements in vaccine technology. Single-needle concomitant subcutaneous (SC) application of IBD/MDV and killed NDV vaccine and the use of viral vectors for expression of immunogenic proteins are a current trend in the industry. The objective of this work was to assess the compatibility of a turkey herpesvirus (HVT)-infectious bursal disease (vHVT-IBD) vector vaccine applied simultaneously with IOAV and to evaluate the consequences for vaccine intake, the need for additional immunizations with the respective vaccines, and protection. Five separate trials were performed using double- and/or single-needle injectors. The levels and persistence of vaccine intake, serologic response, vHVT-IBD virus combination with the MD Rispens strain, and/or live NDV vaccination were also assessed. Histopathology and PCR at injection sites showed adequate vaccine intake detected up to 44 days postvaccination. Serologic evidence of vaccine priming was observed, and all vaccinated groups differed (P < 0.05) from the control at different time points. MD, NDV, and IBD protection results after concomitant double-shot single-needle vaccination were near 85%, 95%, and 100%, respectively. Taken together the results indicate no deleterious effects on the efficacy of the vHVT-IBD vaccine monitored by vaccine intake, serologic and challenge results, and combinations after concomitant live/killed vaccination, suggesting the suitability of its use in hatchery vaccination. All types of injectors used as well as injection techniques, vaccines injected separately or together, gave the same results.     

Efficacy of an oral live vaccine for veterinary use against pseudotuberculosis

Pseudotuberculosis, an infection caused by the ubiquitous enteropathogenic bacterium Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, is a recurrent veterinary problem in livestock and zoo animals. The only vaccine currently available in zoos is Pseudovac (a mixture of killed strains of various serotypes), but its efficacy is not well established. We show here that Pseudovac does not protect guinea pigs against a severe Y. pseudotuberculosis infection. We thus evaluated the possibility of using a live attenuated Y. pseudotuberculosis strain (IP32680) as an oral vaccine against animal pseudotuberculosis. We report that IP32680 is avirulent for guinea pigs and induces a strong IgG response against various serotypes of Y. pseudotuberculosis. One and two oral inoculations of IP32680 provided 50% and 83% protection, respectively against a severe infection with a highly pathogenic strain. The avirulent Y. pseudotuberculosis IP32680 is therefore much more protective than Pseudovac and may represent a valuable oral vaccine against pseudotuberculosis in zoo animals.