Clinical and immunological heterogeneity of canine subepidermal blistering dermatoses with anti‐laminin‐332 (laminin‐5) auto‐antibodies

Laminin‐332 (laminin‐5) is a basement membrane heterotrimeric protein composed of alpha‐3, beta‐3 and gamma‐2 laminin chains. Laminin‐332 polypeptides are targeted by auto‐antibodies in human patients with mucous membrane (cicatricial) pemphigoid or, more rarely, subepidermal vesicular diseases that resemble epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) or bullous pemphigoid (BP). The objectives of this report were to characterize the clinical, histopathological and immunological characteristics of nine dogs with auto‐antibodies targeting laminin‐332. Immunological investigations consisted of direct immunofluorescence (IF), indirect IF with intact and salt‐split canine gingival, and salt‐split normal or laminin‐332‐deficient human skin, immunoblotting with purified human laminin‐332 and immunoblotting with recombinant NC1 domain of human collagen VII. All dogs exhibited varying degrees of skin blistering and ulceration associated with microscopic subepidermal vesiculation with or without inflammatory cells. Indirect IF established that circulating IgG auto‐antibodies bound the dermal side of salt‐split canine lip and human skin. In five dogs, IgG variably recognized the basement membrane of laminin‐332‐deficient human skin (three dogs negative, two dogs positive). In all nine dogs, IgG auto‐antibodies detected purified human laminin‐332 by immunoblotting. In two dogs, additional targeting of collagen VII‐NC1 was present. These observations establish laminin‐332 as a novel basement membrane antigen in dogs with autoimmune blistering diseases with variable clinical phenotypes. The names ‘acquired junctional epidermolysis bullosa’, ‘anti‐laminin‐332 mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP)’ and ‘mixed auto‐immune subepidermal blistering dermatosis’ are proposed for dogs with clinical signs reminiscent of EBA, MMP or BP respectively.     

Mining the genetic diversity of Ehrlichia ruminantium using map genes family

Understanding bacterial genetic diversity is crucial to comprehend pathogenesis. Ehrlichia ruminantium (E. ruminantium), a tick-transmitted intracellular bacterial pathogen, causes heartwater disease in ruminants. This model rickettsia, whose genome has been recently sequenced, is restricted to neutrophils and reticulo-endothelial cells of its mammalian host and to the midgut and salivary glands of its vector tick. E. ruminantium harbors a multigene family encoding for 16 outer membrane proteins including MAP1, a major antigenic protein. All the 16 map paralogs are expressed in bovine endothelial cells and some are specifically translated in the tick or in the mammalian host.In this study, we carried out phylogenetic analyses of E. ruminantium using sequences of 6 MAP proteins, MAP1, MAP1-2, MAP1-6, MAP1-5, MAP1+1 and MAP1-14, localized either in the center or at the borders of the map genes cluster.We show that (i) map1 gene is a good tool to characterize the genetic diversity among Africa, Caribbean islands and Madagascar strains including new emerging isolates of E. ruminantium; (ii) the different map paralogs define different genotypes showing divergent evolution; (iii) there is no correlation between all MAP genotypes and the geographic origins of the strains; (iv) The genetic diversity revealed by MAP proteins is conserved whatever is the scale of strains sampling (village, region, continent) and thus was not related to the different timing of strains introduction, i.e. continuous introduction of strains versus punctual introduction (Africa versus Caribbean islands).These results provide therefore a significant advance towards the management of E. ruminantium diversity. The differential evolution of these paralogs suggests specific roles of these proteins in host–vector–pathogen interactions that could be crucial for developing broad-spectrum vaccines.     

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.     

Prevalence and risk factors for Salmonella spp. contamination in French broiler-chicken flocks at the end of the rearing period

A nation-wide survey was carried out in 370 randomly chosen French commercial broiler chicken flocks from October 2005 to September 2006 to determine Salmonella spp. prevalence and to identify risk factors for contamination, at the end of the rearing period. The Salmonella status of the flocks was assessed from five faecal samples (litter swabs) analysed by classical bacteriological methods. A flock with at least one contaminated sample was classified as a Salmonella-positive flock. The apparent prevalence of Salmonella was 8.6% (95% CI: 5.7, 11.5%). The most prevalent serovar was S. hadar followed by S. anatum and S. mbandaka. Logistic regression methods were used to analyse the associations between husbandry practices, farm characteristics, general hygiene and the Salmonella status of the sample. The risk for Salmonella contamination of the flock at the end of the rearing period increased when neighbours helped in the placement of day-old chicks. On the contrary, the risk decreased when mobile equipment was dismantled before cleaning and disinfection, when the farm had a specific container for dead-bird disposal and when acetic acid was added to the drinking water.     

Field validation of chlordecone soil sequestration by organic matter addition

Purpose

The use of chlordecone (CLD) has caused pollution of soils, which are now a source of contamination for crops and ecosystems. Because of its long-term impacts on human health, exposure to CLD is a public health concern and contamination of crops by CLD must be limited. To this end, we conducted field trials on chlordecone sequestration in soil with added compost.

Materials and methods

The impact of added compost on chlordecone sequestration was measured in nitisols. After characterization of the soil, the transfer of chlordecone from soil to water was assessed in a leaching experiment and from soil to two crop plants in a nitisol plot. Finally, to understand the underlying processes, changes in CLD content were measured in soil fractions and soil porous properties were assessed after the addition of compost.

Results and discussion

A rapid seven-fold decrease in water extractable CLD was observed in amended soils. Five percent amendment led to a significant reduction in the contamination of crops by CLD; edible radish tubers were 50% more contaminated without added compost and cucumber fruits were 60% more contaminated. After the addition of compost, CLD content increased in the fraction of pre-humified or partially mineralized organic debris. Finally, in contrast to andosols, adding compost to nitisols did not affect the soil microstructure.

Conclusions

Increasing chlordecone sequestration by adding compost could be an alternative solution until soil decontamination techniques become available. This could be a provisional way to control further release of CLD from contaminated soils towards other environmental compartments.     

Unusual systemic signs in a dog with sterile neutrophilic-macrophagic lymphadenitis and nodular panniculitis

A 7 mo old female English springer spaniel was presented with diarrhea, vomiting, apathy, and hyperthermia. Further examinations revealed generalized lymphadenomegaly consistent with sterile neutrophilic-macrophagic lymphadenitis and pulmonary involvement. Subcutaneous nodules developed one day after presentation. Histology was consistent with sterile idiopathic nodular panniculitis and vasculitis. No infectious organism was isolated. The dog responded to prednisolone, but relapsed during medication tapering. Cyclosporine had to be added to control the disease. No further relapse had occurred 98 wk after the first presentation. This is an unusual presentation of a systemic sterile neutrophilic-macrophagic lymphadenitis with nodular panniculitis and vasculitis associated with gastrointestinal and pulmonary signs.     

Issues and special features of animal health research

ABSTRACT: In the rapidly changing context of research on animal health, INRA launched a collective discussion on the challenges facing the field, its distinguishing features, and synergies with biomedical research. As has been declared forcibly by the heads of WHO, FAO and OIE, the challenges facing animal health, beyond diseases transmissible to humans, are critically important and involve food security, agriculture economics, and the ensemble of economic activities associated with agriculture. There are in addition issues related to public health (zoonoses, xenobiotics, antimicrobial resistance), the environment, and animal welfare.Animal health research is distinguished by particular methodologies and scientific questions that stem from the specific biological features of domestic species and from animal husbandry practices. It generally does not explore the same scientific questions as research on human biology, even when the same pathogens are being studied, and the discipline is rooted in a very specific agricultural and economic context.Generic and methodological synergies nevertheless exist with biomedical research, particularly with regard to tools and biological models. Certain domestic species furthermore present more functional similarities with humans than laboratory rodents.The singularity of animal health research in relation to biomedical research should be taken into account in the organization, evaluation, and funding of the field through a policy that clearly recognizes the specific issues at stake. At the same time, the One Health approach should facilitate closer collaboration between biomedical and animal health research at the level of research teams and programmes.     

Stratum corneum removal facilitates experimental sensitization to mite allergens in atopic dogs

In humans with atopic dermatitis and in mouse models of IgE-mediated allergic diseases, evidence is mounting that the stratum corneum (SC) provides an important barrier against environmental allergens. At this time, it is not known whether the SC has a similar role in dogs, especially in those with atopic dermatitis. The objectives of this pilot study were to determine whether SC removal led to earlier and stronger sensitization of atopic dogs to Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) house dust mites. Five Maltese-beagle atopic (MBA) dogs were sensitized epicutaneously after the SC was removed with ten tape strips (TS group), while sensitization was done without tape strips in five other MBA dogs (nontape stripping; NTS group). During this 16 week study, sensitization was assessed with allergen-specific IgE serology, intradermal testing with Df allergens and determination of stimulation indices of blood mononuclear cells cultured with Df and stained for CD4 and the activation markers CD25 or CD30. Compared with dogs from the NTS group, those of the TS group exhibited earlier rises in Df-specific IgE serum levels, usually had higher allergen-specific IgE titres, showed higher intradermal test reactivity and had earlier increases and higher percentages of CD25- or CD30-positive activated allergen-specific peripheral CD4-positive T lymphocytes. These observations implicate a role of the SC as a barrier limiting sensitization to exogenous allergens in this experimental atopic dog model.