Real-time PCR investigation of feline leukemia virus proviral and viral RNA loads in leukocyte subsets

Cats exposed to feline leukemia virus (FeLV), a naturally occurring gammaretrovirus develop either progressive or regressive infection. Recent studies using analyses with enhanced sensitivity have correlated loads throughout FeLV with the clinical outcome, though remarkably, during the acute phase of infection, proviral and viral RNA burdens in the peripheral blood do not differ between groups. We hypothesized that viral loads in specific leukocyte subsets influence the infection outcome. Using a method established to determine the proviral and cell-associated viral RNA loads in specific leukocyte subsets, we evaluated viral loads in eleven FeLV-exposed specific pathogen-free (SPF) cats 2.5 years post-infection. Six cats had undergone regressive infection whereas five were persistently viremic. Aviremic cats had lower total proviral blood loads than the persistently infected cats and FeLV proviral DNA was shown to be integrated into genomic DNA in four out of four animals. Lymphocytes were predominantly infected vs. moncytes and granulocytes in aviremic cats. In contrast, persistently viremic cats were provirus-positive in all leukocyte subsets. The acute phase kinetics of FeLV infection were analyzed in two additional cats; an early lymphoreticular phase with productive infection in lymphocytes in both cats and in monocytes in one cat was followed by infection of the granulocytes; both cats became persistently infected. These results indicate that FeLV persistent viremia is associated with secondary viremia of bone marrow origin, whereas regressive cats only sustain a non-productive infection in low numbers of lymphocytes.     

Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus infections in cats in the Pisa district of Tuscany, and attempts to control FeLV infection in a colony of domestic cats by vaccination

The seroprevalence of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in 203 apparently healthy domestic cats living in the district of Pisa, central Italy, was 11.3 per cent, and the prevalence of feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) was 8.4 per cent. The prevalence of FIV depended significantly on the lifestyle and age of the cats; cats living outdoors were more likely to be FIV-positive than cats living indoors, and the proportion of FIV-positive cats increased with age. In contrast, there was no significant relationship between these variables and the prevalence of FeLV. There was no significant relationship between the cats' seropositivity for FIV and FeLV. The results of a five-year field study to control FeLV infection by vaccination in a colony of 30 domestic adult cats naturally exposed to the infection suggest that the vaccination was effective in FIV-negative cats, but failed to protect FIV-positive cats against FeLV.     

The kinetics of feline leukaemia virus shedding in experimentally infected cats are associated with infection outcome

Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) infection in felids results mainly from oronasal exposure to infectious saliva and nasal secretions, but the potential for viral transmission through faeces and urine has not been completely characterized. In order to assess and compare potential FeLV transmission routes, we determined the viral kinetics in plasma, saliva, faeces and urine during early experimental FeLV infection (up to week 15 post-exposure) in specific pathogen-free cats. In addition to monitoring p27 antigen levels measured by ELISA, we evaluated the presence of infectious particles by cell culture assays and quantified viral RNA loads by a quantitative real-time TaqMan polymerase chain reaction. RNA load was associated with infection outcome (high load-progressive infection; low load-regressive infection) not only in plasma, but also in saliva, faeces and urine. Infectious virus was isolated from the saliva, faeces and urine of infected cats with progressive infection as early as 3-6 weeks post-infection, but usually not in cats with regressive infection. In cats with progressive infection, therefore, not only saliva but also faeces and to some extent urine might represent potential FeLV transmission routes. These results should be taken into account when modelling FeLV-host interactions and assessing FeLV transmission risk. Moreover, during early FeLV infection, detection of viral RNA in saliva may be used as an indicator of recent virus exposure, even in cats without detectable antigenaemia/viraemia. To determine the clinically relevant outcome of FeLV infection in exposed cats, however, p27 antigen levels in the peripheral blood should be measured.     

Fate of feed plant DNA monitored in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

The effect of the digestion process in the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) of animal models on the fate and integrity of plant DNA has been widely evaluated since DNA availability and integrity is a key factor for hypothetical horizontal gene transfer of recombinant DNA from GM crop-derived feeds to animal and human gut microflora. In this study, plant DNA sequences from high and low copy number genes were monitored in GIT and tissues of buffaloes and rabbits. Using a real-time PCR approach to track plant DNA in animal samples, we demonstrated the persistence of fragmented plant DNA blood and tissues of buffaloes and rabbits raised with conventional feeding.     

Establishment of a Duplex TaqMan Real-time PCR Method for Detection of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Types 1 and 2

【Objective】 This study was aimed to establish a duplex TaqMan Real-time PCR method for rapid detection of Bovine viral diarrhea virus types 1(BVDV1) and 2(BVDV2).【Method】 Specific primers were designed based on the 5'-non-coding region of 95 strains of BVDV1 and BVDV2 in GenBank.The positive plasmids containing the target fragments of BVDV1 and BVDV2 were constructed.The reaction conditions were optimized, the standard curve was constructed, the specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility of the duplex TaqMan Real-time PCR method were tested, and the established duplex TaqMan Real-time PCR assay was used to detect the clinical samples collected from Jilin province.【Result】 The results showed that the optimal annealing temperature of the duplex TaqMan Real-time PCR was 57.0 ℃, the optimum primer concentration was 0.5 μmol/L, and the optimum probe concentration was 0.3 μmol/L.The standard curves of BVDV1 and BVDV2 were Y=-3.54X+37.36 (R²=0.990) and Y=-3.18X+35.95 (R²=0.997), respectively.There was no specific amplification of Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV), Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and Bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (BPIV3), with intra- and inter-batch CV less than 3%, and the lower limit of detection was 10 copies/μL.The results of clinical samples showed that the overall positive rate was 23.1% (36/156), of which 17.9% (28/156) were positive for BVDV1 and 5.1% (8/156) were positive for BVDV2.【Conclusion】 In this study, a duplex TaqMan Real-time PCR method was established, which could identify BVDV types 1 and 2 simultaneously, quickly and accurately, and provided technical support for the prevention, control and purification of BVDV.     

血清1型鸭甲型肝炎病毒实时定量PCR检测方法的建立与初步应用

为建立了一种可检测血清1型鸭甲型肝炎病毒（DHAV-1）的实时定量PCR方法,根据GenBank中DHAV-1 5,非编码区的保守区,设计合成1对引物和1条TaqMan探针,以构建的重组质粒作为标准品,绘制标准曲线,并对所建立方法进行了特异性、敏感性和可重复性试验以及临床病料检测初步应用。结果,该方法与血清3型鸭甲型肝炎病毒、鸭瘟病毒、新城疫病毒、禽流感病毒、呼肠孤病毒、传染性支气管炎病毒等无交叉反应性;最低可以检测到10copies/μL;组内和组间变异系数均小于3%;临床病料的检测结果与测序检测结果一致。结果表明,所建立的实时定量检测方法具有特异、敏感、稳定等优点,可用于DHAV-1的快速检测与定量分析。     

Differentiation of feline immunodeficiency virus vaccination, infection, or vaccination and infection in cats

BACKGROUND: Serodiagnosis of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is complicated by the use of a formalin-inactivated whole-virus FIV vaccine. Cats respond to immunization with antibodies indistinguishable from those produced during natural infection by currently available diagnostic tests, which are unable to distinguish cats that are vaccinated against FIV, infected with FIV, or both. HYPOTHESIS: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detecting antibodies against formalin-treated FIV whole virus and untreated transmembrane peptide will distinguish uninfected from infected cats, regardless of vaccination status. ANIMALS: Blood samples were evaluated from uninfected unvaccinated cats (n = 73 samples), uninfected FIV-vaccinated cats (n = 89), and FIV-infected cats (n = 102, including 3 from cats that were also vaccinated). METHODS: The true status of each sample was determined by virus isolation. Plasma samples were tested for FIV antibodies by a commercial FIV diagnostic assay and an experimental discriminant ELISA. RESULTS: All samples from uninfected cats were correctly identified by the discriminant ELISA (specificity 100%). Of the samples collected from FIV-infected cats, 99 were correctly identified as FIV-infected (sensitivity 97.1%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: With the exception of viral isolation, the discriminant ELISA is the most reliable assay for diagnosis of FIV. A practical strategy for the diagnosis of FIV infection would be to use existing commercial FIV antibody assays as screening tests. Negative results with commercial assays are highly reliable predictors for lack of infection. Positive results can be confirmed with the discriminant ELISA. If the discriminant ELISA is negative, the cat is probably vaccinated against FIV but not infected. Positive results are likely to represent infection.     

First molecular detection of Dirofilaria immitis (Spirurida: Onchocercidae) infection in dogs from Northern Algeria

Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens are mosquito-borne filarioid nematodes that affect dogs and other domestic and wild carnivores, causing heartworm disease and subcutaneous dirofilariosis, respectively. In Algeria, the data about the epidemiology of these infections is largely unknown. The present study was designed to establish the occurrence of D. immitis and D. repens in dogs in Algeria using molecular tools.In 2014 and 2015, a total of 209 dogs over one year of age of different breed and sex, living in Northern Algeria, were examined and blood samples were collected from each dog. The presence of D. immitis and D. repens in these samples was detected by real-time PCR followed by standard PCR and sequencing. Overall, the blood of 209 dogs from two departments was collected and only 3 (1.4%) of the blood samples were found positive for D. immitis DNA. Sequencing of the corresponding amplicon displayed a 99.8% identity to D. immitis, confirming the presence of this mosquito-borne nematode in Algeria. Furthermore, all tested samples were negative for D. repens.     

流产衣原体TaqMan实时荧光定量PCR 检测方法的建立及初步应用

流产衣原体是导致绵羊地方性流产的主要病原体，给全球畜牧业经济发展构成了巨大威胁。为建立一种灵敏、特异且快速的检测流产衣原体的实时荧光定量PCR方法，依据衣原体蛋白酶样活性因子的基因组序列设计了针对检测流产衣原体的引物和TaqMan探针，对反应体系和反应条件进行了优化，对方法的灵敏度、特异性及重复性进行了评价，并初步应用于临床样本检测。结果显示，该方法的最低检测限为26 copies/μL，灵敏度是普通PCR的10倍；与其他可以引起类似症状的病原体无交叉反应；组内和组间变异系数均小于3%；对156份流产羊拭子的基因组进行检测，检出率为78.21%。研究表明，该方法可以很好的应用于流产衣原体的大规模临床样本检测，为流产衣原体病的高通量检测和流行病学调查提供技术手段。     

Real—time PCR和PCR方法快速检测犬细小病毒

为适应出入境口岸对进出境宠物快速检疫的需要,本研究在建立PCR方法检测犬细小病毒(CPV)的基础上,进一步采用Taqman探针技术建立了快速检测CPV的Real-time PCR方法.通过灵敏度对比试验,证实Real-time PCR方法比PCR方法检测灵敏度显著提高.通过对大量不同采样部位样品的检测证实,本研究建立的Real-time PCR和PCR方法具有较高的可靠性,并可显著提高CPV的阳性检出率.     

A prospective epidemiological,clinical, and clinicopathologic study of feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus infection in 435 cats from Greece

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are retroviruses causing significant morbidity and mortality in cats. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and clinicopathologic aspects of FeLV and FIV infections in different populations of cats in Greece, including client-owned cats, stray cats and cats who live in catteries.A total of 435 cats were prospectively enrolled. Serological detection of FeLV antigen and FIV antibody was performed using a commercial in-house ELISA test kit.The results showed that 17 (3.9 %) and 40 (9.2 %) of the 435 cats were positive for FeLV antigen and FIV antibody, respectively, whereas 5 (1.1 %) had concurrent infection with FeLV and FIV. Factors that were associated with FeLV antigenemia, based on multivariate analysis, included vomiting, rhinitis, infection with FIV, neutropenia, decreased blood urea nitrogen and increased serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. Factors associated with FIV seropositivity included male gender, older age, outdoor access, weight loss, fever, gingivostomatitis, skin lesions and/or pruritus and hyperglobulinemia.Various clinical signs and laboratory abnormalities were found to be significantly associated with retroviral infections, suggesting that current guidelines to test all sick cats should be followed, taking into particular consideration the high-risk groups of cats found in this study.     

H1亚型猪流感病毒一步法实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测方法的建立及应用

为建立一种快速、简便、准确的方法以诊断和检测H1亚型猪流感病毒(swine influenza virus,SIV),试验根据H1亚型SIV血凝素(hemagglutinin,HA)基因保守序列,分别设计并合成1对特异性引物和1条TaqMan MGB探针,建立检测H1亚型SIV的一步法实时荧光定量RT-PCR技术。结果显示,该方法的敏感性可达10²拷贝/μL,除H1亚型SIV外,对H3N2亚型SIV、H9N1亚型SIV、猪瘟病毒、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒、猪流行性腹泻病毒、猪传染性胃肠炎病毒的检测均为阴性,且应用该方法对疑似猪流感样品进行检测,其结果与SPF鸡胚分离病毒方法结果的符合率为94%。本试验结果表明该方法特异性强、重复性好,有望成为一种特异、敏感、快速、定量检测H1亚型SIV的方法。     

H1、H3亚型猪流感病毒双重实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测方法的建立及应用

为建立一种快速、准确地检测H1和H3亚型猪流感病毒（swine influence virus,SIV）的方法,根据H1和H3亚型SIV血凝素（hemagglutinin,HA）基因保守序列,分别设计2对特异性引物和2条TaqMan探针,建立双重实时荧光定量RT-PCR方法。结果显示,该方法敏感性高,可检测到最低拷贝数为10²拷贝/μL;重复性良好,重复孔Ct值的变异系数均在5%以下;特异性好,除H1和H3亚型SIV外,H4、H5、H7、H9亚型SIV、猪瘟病毒、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒、口蹄疫病毒、伪狂犬病病毒检测均为阴性;在田间样品中成功检出1株H1和1株H3亚型SIV,检出率为1.16%。该方法准确、快速、灵敏、特异,可为H1、H3亚型SIV的快速鉴别检测及流行病学调查提供有效的技术手段。     

Development and Application of Duplex Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Detection of H1 and H3 Subtype Swine Influenza Viruses

To establish a rapid, accurate method to diagnose and detect H1 and H3 subtype swine influenza viruses (SIV) at the same time, the specific primers and TaqMan probes were designed according to the conserved region of the HA gene of H1 and H3 subtype SIV. A duplex Real-time RT-PCR assay was developed for detection of H1 and H3 subtype SIV. The results showed that the Real-time RT-PCR could detect 10² copies/μL of H1 and H3 subtype SIV, the sensibility was well. Coefficient of variation of Ct value between repeating groups were all below 5%, the repeatability was favorable. The results were negative for the detection of H4, H5, H7, H9 subtypes SIV, classical swine fever virus, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, foot and disease virus and pseudorabies virus, the specificity was fine. One sample was H1 subtype SIV, and one sample was H3 subtype SIV, by the established assay, the positive rate was 1.16%. The method was highly accurate, rapid, sensitive and specific, and could provide a method for rapid detection and epidemiological investigation of H1 and H3 subtype SIV.     

PDCoV与TGEV双重实时荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立及初步应用

试验旨在建立快捷、高效而准确的鉴别诊断猪德尔塔冠状病毒（Porcine deltacoronavirus,PDCoV）与传染性胃肠炎病毒（Transmissible gastroenteritis virus,TGEV）的双重实时荧光定量PCR方法。通过绘制双重实时荧光定量PCR的标准曲线,检验该方法的特异性、敏感性和重复性,并对临床样品进行检测。结果显示,双重实时荧光定量PCR方法的循环阈值与PDCoV和TGEV质粒拷贝数的对数之间存在良好的线性关系,且对应的相关系数分别为R_（P）²=0.9994和R_（T）²=0.996;能特异性地检测PDCoV和TGEV,而与PEDV、PRV、PRRSV、CSFV和RV无交叉反应,具有较强的特异性;检验PDCoV与TGEV质粒标准品的最低检测限度分别达到2和20拷贝/μL,且分别比常规RT-PCR高1 000和100倍,具有较高的敏感度;PDCoV与TGEV的批内和批间重复性检测的Ct均值基本相同,且变异系数（CV）均<2%,具有较好的重复性。用该方法对114份仔猪腹泻样品检测结果显示,PDCoV和TGEV的阳性率分别为5.6%（6/114）和8.8%（10/114）,混合感染检出率为4.6%（5/114）,比常规RT-PCR具有更高的检出率和敏感性。结果表明,本试验建立的双重实时荧光定量PCR方法具有特异性强、灵敏度高、重复性和稳定性好等优点,适用于病毒早期诊断和批量临床样品检测,为疾病防控、流行病学调查及相关性研究提供了技术支持及数据参考。     

鸭呼肠孤病毒TaqMan与SYBR Green荧光定量检测方法的建立及比较

本研究旨在针对新型鸭呼肠孤病毒(NDRV)建立两种快速、敏感、特异的荧光定量PCR诊断方法并对其临床实用性进行比较。试验根据呼肠孤病毒S1基因序列设计合成1对特异性引物和1条MGB探针,分别建立TaqMan和SYBR GreenⅠ两种荧光定量PCR检测方法,并对两种方法的特异性、灵敏性、重复性进行比较。结果显示,两种检测方法标准曲线的相关系数均为0.999,对鸭细小病毒(DPV)、A型鸭甲肝病毒(DHV-1)、C型鸭甲肝病毒(DHV-3)、鸭传染性支气管炎(IBV)、鸭坦布苏病毒(DTMUV)、鹅星状病毒(JSHV)的检测结果均为阴性,特异性良好。SYBR GreenⅠ法的最低检测限度为10⁰拷贝/μL,TaqMan法的最低检测限度为10¹拷贝/μL,前者的灵敏度比后者高10倍。SYBR GreenⅠ法和TaqMan法重复性试验的组内和组间变异系数均分别小于2.1%和1.8%。利用这两种方法对临床30份疑似病料进行检测,其中TaqMan法检出29份,SYBR GreenⅠ法检出30份,符合率为97%。综上,两种荧光定量方法均可用于临床NDRV...     

Serologic and molecular survey of horses to Coxiella burnetii in East of Iran a highly endemic area

There are few reports about Q fever in horse populations worldwide. This study aimed to detect the C. burnetii infection by serologic and molecular confirmation using commercial ELISA kit and real-time PCR in the East of Iran a region highly endemic. A total of 177 blood samples and 115 vaginal swabs were randomly collected from horses in East of Iran. The sera samples were analyzed for anti C.burnetii Ig G antibodies by a commercial ELISA kit and nucleic acid extraxted from vaginal samples were used to determine the C. burnetii DNA by real-time PCR assay. Antibodies were detected in 5.64 % (10/177) of sera samples and C. burnetii DNA was detected in 7.82 % (9/115) of horse vaginal samples. There was no significant difference in seroprevalence in different sex, age and breed groups. Our study showed that horses could be considered as a mild potential reservoir of C. burnetii which may be effective on horse health status. However, additional studies are needed to assess whether the horse could be considered as a relevant transmission risk indicator for Q fever.     

Establishment and Application of A Double TaqMan MGB Real-time PCR Assay for Detection of Canine Distemper Virus and Canine Parvovirus

This study was aimed to establish a double TaqMan MGB Real-time PCR assay to simultaneously and specifically detect canine distemper virus (CDV) and canine parvovirus (CPV) in one reaction.Two pairs of specific primers for CDV and CPV,along with two TaqMan MGB probes for each virus were designed in the assay basing on CDV H gene and CPV VP2 gene sequences.The specificity,sensitivity and repetition of the double TaqMan MGB Real-time PCR assay were tested,and 48 samples taken from clinic suspicious CDV and CPV infected canines had been testified by the established double TaqMan MGB Real-time PCR.The results indicated that the doulde TaqMan MGB Real-time PCR assay was successfully established,and the number of standard curve correlation (R²) of CDV and CPV were 0.997 and 0.993,respectively.The specificity of the double TaqMan MGB Real-time PCR assay revealed that amplifications were showed on CDV and CPV samples,but other pathogens and negative controls had no amplifications;The sensitivity of CDV and CPV were both 10 copies/μL.Meanwhile,14 CDV positive samples,19 CPV positive samples and 4 CDV/CPV double positive samples were detected,which were consistent with the results of the sequencing.Therefore,the established double TaqMan MGB Real-time PCR assay had high sensitivity,specificity and flux accurate quantitative,which could be applied to clinical CDV/CPV infection each periods.     

Update on the pathogenesis of Haemophilus parasuis infection and virulence factors

Haemophilus parasuis is the causative agent of Glässer's disease in pigs, a severe systemic disease that has led to increasing economic losses in the pig industry worldwide. The H. parasuis genome sequence has been completed, but the function and essentiality of the annotated genes remain largely unknown, especially virulence factors. The recent developments in the efficient genetic manipulation of H. parasuis have greatly facilitated the study of gene function, pathogenesis mechanisms and virulence factors. In this review, we provided update information regarding that (i) how the pathogen overcome host immune responses and cell barriers which were tightly associated with the pathogenesis, and (ii) the several recent identification of virulence factors were involved in evading the immune responses and cell barriers in H. parasuis.