Development of a nanoparticle-assisted PCR assay to distinguish canine coronaviruses I and II

Nanoparticle-assisted PCR (nanoPCR) is a novel method for the simple, rapid, and specific detection of viruses. We developed a nanoPCR method to detect and differentiate canine coronavirus I (CCoV I) and II (CCoV II). Primer pairs were designed against the M gene conserved region of CCoV I and CCoV II, producing specific fragments of 239 bp (CCoV I) and 105 bp (CCoV II). We optimized the annealing temperature and primer concentrations for the CCoV nanoPCR assay and assessed its sensitivity and specificity. Under optimized nanoPCR reaction conditions, the detection limits were 6.47 × 10¹ copies/μL for CCoV I and 6.91 × 10² copies/μL for CCoV II. No fragments were amplified using other canine viruses as templates. The sensitivity of the nanoPCR assay was 100-fold higher than that of a conventional RT-PCR assay. Among 60 clinical samples collected from Beijing, China, the assay detected 12% positive for CCoV I and 48% positive for CCoV II. Our nanoPCR method is an effective method to rapidly detect CCoV I and CCoV II alone, or as a mixed infection, in dogs.     

牛病毒性腹泻病毒RT-PCR检测方法的建立及应用

根据GenBank中登录的牛病毒性腹泻病毒(BVDV)基因序列,设计合成了1对特异性引物,建立了检测BVDV的RT-PCR方法。通过对该方法的特异性、敏感性和重复性进行试验,结果显示,该方法可从BVDV标准毒株Oregon C24V中扩增出471 bp的特异性片段,而对猪瘟病毒、牛传染性鼻气管炎病毒、牛呼吸道合胞体病毒、牛副流感病毒、MDBK正常细胞的扩增结果均为阴性。经对标准毒株的细胞毒进行检测,其敏感度达10^-1 TCID₅₀/mL。应用该方法对临床腹泻病牛各脏器样品进行检测,结果比病毒分离方法更为敏感,操作简便。表明建立的RT-PCR方法具有特异、灵敏、高效、快速的特点,可用于BVDV的临床检测及流行病学监测。     

Epidemiology and genetic characterization of BVDV,BHV-1, BHV-4, BHV-5 and Brucella spp. infections in cattle in Turkey

The aim of the study was to determine the epidemiological data of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1), bovine herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4), bovine herpesvirus-5 (BHV-5) and Brucella–associated cattle that were previously reported to have abortion and infertility problems in Ankara, Corum, Kirikkale and Yozgat provinces, Turkey. Whole blood and sera samples were obtained from 656 cattle, and antibodies against Brucella spp. were detected in 45 (6.86%) and 41 (6.25%) animals by Rose Bengal plate and serum tube agglutination tests, respectively. The seropositivity rates against BVDV, BHV-1 and BHV-4 were 70.89%, 41.3% and 28.78%, respectively. RT-PCR and PCR were performed to detect RNA and DNA viruses in blood samples, respectively. The BVDV 5′-untranslated region and BHV-1 gB gene detected in this study were phylogenetically analyzed. The BVDV strains analyzed in this study were closely related to those previously reported from Turkey. The nucleotide sequence from the BHV-1 strain detected in this study is the first nucleotide sequence of BHV-1 circulating in this area of Turkey deposited in the GenBank. The presence of Brucella spp. and prevalence of BHV-1, BHV-4 and BVDV in cattle should be further investigated throughout these regions.     

牛病毒性腹泻病毒一步法RT-PCR检测方法的建立

根据牛病毒性腹泻/粘膜病病毒5'端非结构蛋白基因序列,设计合成1对特异性引物,建立检测牛病毒性腹泻/粘膜病病毒244 bp片段的RT-PCR一步法。该方法对牛病毒性腹泻/粘膜病病毒NADL、OregonC24V和长春184毒株各标准毒株检测,结果均为阳性。对标准毒株的细胞毒进行检测,其敏感度达0.1 TCID50;而对牛传染性鼻气管炎病毒、猪瘟病毒、牛轮状病毒和牛冠状病毒的细胞培养物进行检测,结果均为阴性。检测460份不同样品,与病毒分离试验比较,符合率100%,证明该方法特异性强,敏感性高。初步结果表明所建立的一步法RT-PCR技术可用于牛病毒性腹泻/粘膜病的检测及流行病学调查。     

猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒和牛病毒性腹泻病毒双重RT-PCR检测方法的建立

根据牛病毒性腹泻病毒(BVDV)5'端非编码区基因序列,设计合成了1对特异性引物,参考本实验室针对猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)N蛋白设计的引物,经过PCR反应条件的优化,建立了BVDV和PRRSV双重RT-PCR的检测方法。对于PRRSV和BVDV的cDNA最低检测量分别为3.8×10-4 ng和7×10-4 ng,对于猪瘟病毒(CFSV)、脑心肌炎病毒(EMCV)和猪圆环病毒2型(PCV-2)的PCR扩增结果均为阴性;用该方法对江苏省不同地区采集的75份仔猪的肺脏、脾脏和淋巴结等病料进行了检测,结果PRRSV有55份阳性,BVDV有14份阳性,PRRSV和BVDV混合感染的有12份,与PRRSV和BVDV单一RT-PCR的检测结果符合率分别为89.3%和92%。证明建立的双重RT-PCR检测方法可用于临床样品中BVDV和PRRSV的检测。     

Genotyping of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Viruses Isolated from Cattle in Northern Italy

Following the first official report of a clinically severe outbreak of bovine viral diarrhoea disease occurring in a farm in northern Italy, which had originated from the use of a live vaccine contaminated with a strain of BVD genotype II virus, a retrospective study on the prevalence of BVDV genotypes in Italy became highly relevant. For this purpose, the genotype of 78 BVDV-positive specimens, obtained in 1998–1999 from dairy cattle in an area near to where the outbreak occurred, was characterized by PCR technology. Two sets of primers, spanning the 5 UTR of BVDV genome, were used sequentially in a first round of RT-PCR, performed on viral RNA extracted directly from 15 clinical samples and 63 BVDV-infected cell-culture fluids; a second PCR assay followed to selectively amplify only BVDV genotype II. All the viruses under study were characterized as BVDV genotype I. As well as contributing to a better understanding of the prevalence of BVDV genotypes in the field, the results of the present study illustrate the possibility that novel BVDV strains can emerge in susceptible animals through the use of contaminated immunobiological products for bovine use.     

Detection and characterization of Leptospira spp. in dogs diagnosed with kidney and/or liver disease in Selangor,Malaysia

Leptospirosis is a serious bacterial disease that affects both humans and animals. A wide range of symptoms have been described in humans; the disease in dogs is commonly associated with kidney and/or liver disease. In Malaysia, information about the common serovars infecting dogs is limited. Therefore, we investigated the occurrences of leptospirosis in 124 pet dogs diagnosed with kidney and/or liver disease. Blood, urine, abdominal effusion, and/or kidney and liver were collected from the dogs. Based on microscopic agglutination testing, 53 of 124 (42.7%) dogs were seropositive for leptospiral exposure. Sera were frequently positive to serovars Bataviae (n = 12), Javanica (n = 10), and Icterohaemorrhagiae (n = 10). Direct detection using PCR showed that 42 of 124 (33.9%) of the whole blood and 36 of 113 (31.9%) urine samples were positive for pathogenic Leptospira spp. By PCR, 2 of 23 (9.1%) kidney and 2 of 23 (9.1%) liver were positive for pathogenic Leptospira spp. Abdominal effusion from 4 dogs were PCR-positive for pathogenic Leptospira spp. The species detected were L. interrogans, L. borgpetersenii, L. kirschneri, and L. kmetyi by partial 16S rRNA sequencing. We further identified and characterized 11 Leptospira spp. isolates from 8 dogs as serovars Bataviae, Javanica, and Australis. The mortality rate of the Leptospira-infected dogs was high (18 of 53; 34%).     

1型、2型牛病毒性腹泻病毒通用RT-PCR检测方法的建立与应用

为建立一种快速检测1型、2型牛病毒性腹泻病毒(BVDV)的通用RT-PCR方法,根据GenBank上收录的64株1型、2型BVDV以及1株猪瘟病毒(CSFV)的全基因组序列,应用Primer 6.0软件设计针对5'-UTR区域的1型、2型BVDV特异性通用引物对,扩增目的片段,并对该方法进行特异性、敏感性、重复性试验及利用该方法开展临床样品检测。结果显示:扩增的目的片段长度约为302 bp;该方法的灵敏度为2.09×102 copies/μL,无非特异性扩增,且重复性良好。对采自山东省发病牛场的13份鼻腔棉拭子和9份牛血清临床样品进行检测,发现有8份鼻腔棉拭子和8份血清为BVDV阳性,随机抽取4份阳性样品送测序,发现3份样品毒株为1型BVDV,1份样品还需进一步鉴定。本研究建立的RT-PCR方法可实现对1型、2型BVDV核酸的特异性检测,也可用于该病的流行病学调查研究。     

Species-specific PCR assay for the detection of Babesia odocoilei

We developed a PCR assay for the detection of Babesia odocoilei based on the 18S rRNA gene. Multiple specimens of B. odocoilei were examined, and the assay consistently produced a small specific PCR product of 306 bp. The PCR assay was also challenged with DNA from 13 other Babesia species and 2 Theileria species, originating from 10 different host species; however, nonspecific DNA amplification and multiple banding patterns were observed, and the amplicon banding patterns varied between different isolates of the same species. Sensitivity was determined to be 6.4 pg of DNA, and an estimated 0.0001% parasitism. This assay can be utilized for species-specific differential detection of B. odocoilei.     

Challenges for bovine viral diarrhoea virus antibody detection in bulk milk by antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays due to changes in milk production levels

Background

Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) is considered eradicated from Denmark. Currently, very few (if any) Danish cattle herds could be infected with BVD virus (BVDV). The Danish antibody blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been successfully used during the Danish BVD eradication program, initiated in 1994. During the last decade, the cattle herd size has increased while the prevalence of BVDV has decreased. In this study, we investigated how these changes could affect the performance of the Danish blocking ELISA and of the SVANOVIR^®BVDV-Ab indirect ELISA. The latter has successfully been used to eradicate BVD in Sweden.Data (2003–2010) on changes in median herd size and milk production levels, occurrence of viremic animals and bulk milk surveillance were analysed. Additionally, the Danish blocking ELISA and the SVANOVIR ELISA were compared analyzing milk and serum samples. The prevalence of antibody positive milking cows that could be detected by each test was estimated, by diluting positive individual milk samples and making artificial milk pools.

Results

During the study period, the median herd size increased from 74 (2003) to 127 cows (2010), while the prevalence of BVDV infected herds decreased from 0.51 to 0.02 %. The daily milk yield contribution of a single seropositive cow to the entire daily bulk milk was reduced from 1.61 % in 2003 to 0.95 % in 2010 due to the increased herd size. It was observed that antibody levels in bulk milk decreased at national level. Moreover, we found that when testing bulk milk, the SVANOVIR^®BVDV-Ab can detect a lower prevalence of seropositive lactating cows, compared to the Danish blocking ELISA (0.78 % vs. 50 %). Values in the SVANOVIR^®BVDV-Ab better relate to low concentrations of antibody positive milk (R² = 94-98 %), than values in the blocking ELISA (R² = 23–75 %). For sera, the two ELISAs performed equally well.

Conclusions

The SVANOVIR ELISA is recommended for analysis of bulk milk samples in the current Danish situation, since infected dairy herds e.g. due to import of infected cattle can be detected shortly after BVDV introduction, when only few lactating cows have seroconverted. In sera, the two ELISAs can be used interchangeably.     

Aspects of bovine herpesvirus 1 and bovine viral diarrhoea virus herd-level seroprevalence and vaccination in dairy and beef herds in Northern Ireland

Background

Infections with bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) and bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus cause diseases of cattle with a worldwide distribution. The primary objective of the present study was to describe aspects of herd-level BoHV-1 and BVDV seroprevalence (based on testing of pooled sera) and control on farms in Northern Ireland, including vaccine usage.An indirect antibody ELISA test (SVANOVA, Biotech AB, Uppsala, Sweden) was applied to serum pools which were constructed from serum samples taken for a cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of 500 Northern Irish dairy and beef cow herds in 2010, for which vaccination status was determined by telephone survey. The herd-level seroprevalence of BoHV-1 and BVDV in Northern Ireland was estimated in non-vaccinating herds and associations between possible risk factors (herd type and herd size (quartiles)) and herd-level prevalence were determined using chi-squared analysis.

Results

The herd-level seroprevalence (of BoHV-1 and BVDV) in non-vaccinating herds was 77.3% (95% CI: 73.6–80.9%) and 98.4% (95% CI: 97.3–99.5%) respectively in the cross-sectional study. A significant difference existed in BoHV-1 herd-level seroprevalence between dairy and beef herds (74.7% vs 86.5% respectively; p < 0.02) though not for BVDV seroprevalence (98.5% vs 98.3% respectively; p > 0.91). A significant association was found between herd size (quartiles) and herd-level classification for BoHV-1 herd-level seroprevalence based on cut-off percentage positivity (COPP) (p < 0.01) while no such association was found for BVDV (p = 0.22).15.5% and 23.8% of farmers used BoHV-1 and BVDV vaccines, respectively. BoHV-1 vaccine was used in 30% of dairy herds and in 11% of beef herds, while BVDV vaccine was used in 46% and 16% of dairy and beef herds, respectively.

Conclusions

The results from this study indicate that the true herd-level seroprevalences to bovine herpesvirus 1 and bovine virus diarrhoea virus in non-vaccinating herds in Northern Northern Ireland are 77.3% (95% CI: 73.6–80.9%) and 98.4% (95% CI: 97.3–99.5%), respectively. The present study will assist in guiding regional policy development and establish a baseline against which the progress of current and future control and eradication programmes can be measured.     

猪源牛病毒性腹泻病毒JLS-01株的分离鉴定及致病性研究

为了解猪源牛病毒性腹泻病毒(bovine viral diarrhea virus,BVDV)的分子特征及致病性,本研究利用RT-PCR从吉林省某猪场出现严重腹泻症状的仔猪病料中检测到BVDV核酸阳性,将处理后的BVDV阳性样品接种于MDBK细胞,分离到1株病毒,命名为BVDV JLS-01。通过免疫荧光检测、5′UTR与Npro RT-PCR扩增对其分子进化特征进行分析。结果显示,该分离毒株在MDBK细胞上盲传至8代未出现细胞病变,在免疫荧光试验中呈阳性荧光信号。RT-PCR扩增获得大小分别为280和735bp的5′UTR和Npro片段。BVDV JLS-01株5′UTR与Npro序列遗传进化分析表明,其与LN-1和ZM-95亲缘性最近,与牛源毒株LN-1基因同源性达99.3%,提示该毒株可能来源于牛源毒株。将BVDV JLS-01株F8代细胞培养液人工感染BVDV和猪瘟病毒(CSFV)抗体阴性猪,感染猪未表现出明显的体温升高,但白细胞数量下降,并在感染猪的白细胞提取物中分离到该毒株,表明该毒株具有一定的致病性。该毒株的成功分离对进一步开展BVDV流行病学调查及致病机理等方面的研究具有重要意义。     

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in macrophages inversely correlates with parasitism of lymphoid tissues in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis

Background

There are only a few studies reporting the role of nitric oxide metabolites for controlling macrophage intracellular parasitism, and these are controversial. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the lymph nodes and spleen of dogs affected by visceral leishmaniasis through immunohistochemistry and to determine its correlation with tissue parasite burden and serum interferon (IFN)-γ levels. Twenty-eight dogs were selected and assigned to one of two groups, symptomatic (n = 18) and asymptomatic (n = 10), according to clinical status and laboratory evaluation. A negative control group (n = 6) from a non-endemic region for visceral leishmaniasis was included as well.

Results

Parasite density (amastigotes/mm²) was similar between clinical groups in the lymph nodes (P = 0.2401) and spleen (P = 0.8869). The density of iNOS⁺ cells was higher in infected dogs compared to controls (P < 0.05), without a significant difference in lymph node (P = 0.3257) and spleen (P = 0.5940) densities between symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs. A positive correlation was found between the number of iNOS⁺ cells in lymph nodes and interferon-γ levels (r = 0.3776; P = 0.0303), and there was a negative correlation between parasites and iNOS⁺ cell densities both in lymph nodes (r = −0.5341; P = 0.0034) and spleen (r = −0.4669; P = 0.0329).

Conclusion

The negative correlation observed between tissue parasitism and the expression of iNOS may be a reflection of NO acting on the control of parasites.     

Acute BVDV-2 infection in beef calves delays humoral responses to a non-infectious antigen challenge

Immunosuppressive effects of an intranasal challenge with non-cytopathic bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) 2a (strain 1373) were assessed through acquired and innate immune system responses to ovalbumin (OVA). Concurrent BVDV infection was hypothesized to delay and reduce the humoral response to ovalbumin (administered on days 3 and 15 post-inoculation). Infected animals followed the expected clinical course. BVDV titers, and anti-BVDV antibodies confirmed the course of infection and were not affected by the administration of OVA. Both the T-helper (CD4⁺) and B-cell (CD20⁺) compartments were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in infected animals, while the gamma-delta T-cell population (Workshop cluster 1+, WC1⁺) decreased slightly in numbers. Infection with BVDV delayed the increase in OVA IgG by approximately 3 d from day 12 through day 21 post-inoculation. Between days 25 and 37 post-inoculation following BVDV infection the IgM concentration in the BVDV− group decreased while the OVA IgM titer still was rising in the BVDV+ animals. Thus, active BVDV infection delays IgM and IgG responses to a novel, non-infectious antigen.     

山西一例牛病毒性腹泻病例病原分离鉴定及测序分析

为查找引起山西某牛场疑似牛病毒性腹泻病例的病因,对送检的9份牛鼻腔棉拭子样品,经处理后进行了多病原PCR或RT-PCR检测、病原分离、特征性细胞病变观察、效价测定、RT-PCR鉴定及基因测序分析.结果 显示:从9份样品中检出6份BVDV核酸阳性,IBRV、BRSV、BPIV3、支原体均阴性,病料上清接种MDBK细胞进行...     

牛病毒性腹泻病毒、牛呼吸道合胞体病毒和牛副流感病毒3型三重RT-PCR检测方法的建立及应用

根椐GenBank中牛病毒性腹泻病毒(bovine viral diarrhea virus,BVDV)、牛呼吸道合胞体病毒(bovine respiratory syncytial virus,BRSV)和牛副流感病毒3型(bovine parainfluenza virus type 3,BPIV-3)3种病毒基因序列,设计合成引物,建立3种病毒的三重RT-PCR方法。用这3对引物对同一样品中的BVDV、BRSV和BPIV-3核酸模板进行三重RT-PCR扩增,结果显示:可同时扩增BVDV的466 bp,BRSV的735 bp和BPIV-3的258 bp的特异性片段,而对其他4种病原的PCR扩增结果均为阴性;敏感性测定结果表明,该三重RT-PCR技术能检出10 pg的BVDV、1 pg的BPIV-3和10 pg的BRSV模板。用37份临床病料对本研究多重RT-PCR技术和单项RT-PCR技术进行对比验证,结果显示:两者的总符合率为100%。结果表明:建立的多重RT-PCR检测方法,具有特异、快速、准确的特点,可用于对这3种病毒的同时检测和鉴别诊断。