Present and future of veterinary viral vaccinology: a review

This review deals briefly with some key developments in veterinary vaccinology, lists the types of vaccines that are used for vaccinations commonly performed in food animals as well as in companion animals, and indicates that the practising veterinarian can select the best vaccine by comparing the results of efficacy studies. Diva (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals; also termed marker) vaccines and companion diagnostic tests have been developed that can be used for progammes aimed to control or eradicate virus infections. Vaccine-induced herd immunity, which can be measured relatively easily when diva vaccines are used, is a crucial issue in such programmes. Current vaccine research follows many routes towards novel vaccines, which can be divided into non-replicating ('killed') and replicating ('live') vaccines. Promising trends are the development of DNA vaccination, vector vaccines, and attenuation of DNA and RNA viruses by DNA technology. The lack of (in vitro) correlates of vaccine protection markedly hampers progress in vaccine research. Various characteristics of an 'ideal' vaccine are listed, such as multivalency and the induction of lifelong immunity after one non-invasive administration in animals with maternal immunity. Future research should be aimed at developing vaccines that approach the ideal as closely as possible and which are directed against diseases not yet controlled by vaccination and against newly emerging diseases.     

The ACVD task force on canine atopic dermatitis (V): biology and role of inflammatory cells in cutaneous allergic reactions.

Numerous inflammatory cells are thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of canine atopic dermatitis (AD) although, in the past, mast cells were considered the most important. However, evidence for this assumption is lacking. In this paper, we review the literature concerning the role of inflammatory cells in allergic reactions and conclude that a complex interplay exists between a wide variety of cell types. Thus, on the basis of the available evidence, the cells that appear to be the most important in the pathogenesis of canine AD are Langerhans' cells and dermal dendritic cells (both responsible for antigen processing and presentation), B-lymphocytes (responsible for reaginic antibody production), allergen-specific helper T-lymphocytes (responsible for cytokine production leading to activation of B-cells and other inflammatory cells) and mast cells (production of inflammatory mediators leading to inflammation).     

Changes in ascorbic acid content in primary cultured rat hepatocytes exposed to 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride, a radical initiator

Changes in ascorbate content in primary cultured rat hepatocytes exposed to oxidative stress derived from water soluble radical initiator 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) were examined. Cells were exposed to 0.05 and 5 mg/ml of AAPH as 'mild' and severe' oxidative stresses, respectively. Lipid peroxidation in hepatocytes was induced by 'severe' oxidative stress, but not by 'mild' oxidative stress. Ascorbate decreased at 6 hr after administration of both mild' and severe' oxidative stresses, and recovered to the control level after a further 6 hr. In cells treated with 'severe oxidative stress, however, total ascorbate (reduced form plus oxidized form) had increased 24 hr after administration. These results indicated that consumption alone did not account for the increase of ascorbate in hepatocytes under oxidative stress.     

Mucopolysaccharidosis IIIA (Sanfilippo syndrome) in a New Zealand Huntaway dog with ataxia

Aim: To investigate the nature of a progressive ataxia in a New Zealand Huntaway dog.

Methods: The affected dog was examined clinically before being humanely killed and necropsied. Selected tissues were submitted to light and electron microscopy and to biochemical analyses.

Results: The histological lesions were interpreted as indicative of one of the forms of mucopolysaccharidosis type-III (dMPS-III), a lysosomal storage disease. Biochemically there was a deficiency of heparan sulphamidase. All the heparan sulphate chains had non-reducing-end glucosamine-N-sulphate residues.

Conclusion: The disease is dMPS-IIIA (Sanfilippo syndrome). An autosomal recessive mode of inheritance can be provisionally assumed from the nature of this disease in other species.     

Results of adrenalectomy in 36 dogs with hyperadrenocorticism caused by adrenocortical tumour

Summary

A total of 38 adrenocortical tumours were removed from 36 dogs with hyperadrenocorticism. The surgical approach was by way of a unilateral flank laparotomy (32 dogs; 14 left and 18 right), a bilateral flank laparotomy (3 dogs) or a midline celiotomy (1 dog).

Two dogs were euthanized during surgery because their tumours could not be resected. Eight dogs died from post‐operative complications. Pancreatic necrosis with peritonitis was the most common cause of death. Eight of the 26 dogs that survived had signs of recurrence of hyperadrenocorticism. Unsuppressible hyperadrenocorticism was found in four dogs; one dog had probably pre‐existent pituitary‐dependent hyperadrenocorticism, and adrenocortical function could not be re‐examined in the remaining three dogs.

Among the 37 tumours examined microscopically expansion of neoplastic tissue into blood vessels was found in 22 of them. Four adrenal glands with adrenocortical tumours also contained phaeochromocytomas. Necropsy was performed in eight dogs. Metastases were found in the lungs of two dogs and in the lungs and liver in one dog.

In combination with the data of previous reports, it is suggested that histological findings in surgery specimens are not good predictors for the clinical outcome.     

Selection potential of different prolificacy traits in the finnish landrace and large white populations

Heritabilities and genetic correlations for different prolificacy traits were estimated to assess possibilities of selection for high number of piglets weaned. Three litter-size traits: total number of piglets born (TNB), number of piglets born alive (NBA), number of piglets weaned (NW); four piglet survival traits: number of stillborn piglets (NSB), percent of stillborn piglets (NSB%), piglet mortality between birth and weaning (PM), percent of dead piglets during suckling (PM%); and three traits measuring time intervals: age at first farrowing (AFF), first farrowing interval (FFI), and gestation length (GL) were analysed. The Finnish national litter recording scheme provided data on the first parity litters of 11 329 Landrace and 8 362 Large White pigs born between 1986 and 2000. The heritabilitiy estimates were moderate for AFF and GL (0.24–0.37), and low for all the other traits (0.03–0.11). The genetic correlations between TNB and PM (0.68 in Landrace and 0.43 in Large White) and between NBA and PM (0.64 in Landrace and 0.31 in Large White) suggest that selection only for high TNB or NBA will lead to increased PM. The results showed further that GL will increase indirectly if the selection pressure is for low PM (r _g =?0.050 in Landrace and ?0.43 in Large White.