Optimization of the protocols for double vaccination against Marek's disease by using commercially available vaccines: evaluation of protection, vaccine replication, and activation of T cells

Revaccination against Marek's disease is a widespread practice in some countries. The rationale of this practice is unknown, and there is no consensus in the protocols. Recently, we have demonstrated that administration of the first vaccine at 18 days of embryonation followed by a more protective second vaccine at hatch (18ED/1d) reproduced systematically the benefits of revaccination under laboratory conditions. Here, we have used the same model to optimize the revaccination protocols by using currently available vaccines and to determine whether two features associated with Marek's disease vaccine-induced protection (activation of T cells and replication of vaccine virus) are involved in the revaccination protocols. Protection conferred by three revaccination protocols (turkey herpesvirus [HVT] 18ED/HVT+SB-1 1d, HVT 18ED/CVI988 1d, and HVT+SB-1 18ED/ CVI988 1d) was evaluated. Revaccination protocols also were compared with single vaccination protocols (HVT 18ED, HVT+SB-1 18ED, HVT+SB-1 1d, CVI988 18ED, and CVI988 1d). Our results demonstrated that it is possible to improve efficacy of the currently available vaccines by using them in revaccination programs. Administration of HVT 18ED/CVI988 1d and HVT+SB-1 18ED/CVI988 1d were the two protocols that conferred the highest protection against a very early challenge (2 days of age) with very virulent plus Marek's disease virus strain 648A. In a separate experiment, we evaluated vaccine replication and activation of T cells in single and revaccination protocols. Our results demonstrated that replication of the second vaccine, although decreased compared with single vaccination, could be detected at 3 days (HVT, CVI988) or at 6 days (SB-1). Administration of the first vaccine (HVT) at 18ED resulted in a high percentage of activated T cells. Administration of a second vaccine (either HVT-SB-1 or CVI988) at 1d resulted in increased intensity of MHC-II stain in activated T cells.     

Composition and spatial organization of fish assemblages in the lower Guadiana basin, southern Iberia

Abstract— A survey of fish assemblages (composition and spatial organization) was made in the lower Guadiana basin (southern Iberia) during the summer of 1994. A total of 6937 specimens belonging to 18 species were collected in 44 channel units and 30 sites (i. c. a series of channel units), comprising all the freshwater species previously recorded in the area except the exotic Esox lucius and the endemic endangered cyprinid Anaecypris hispanica. The endemic cyprinids Chondrostoma lemmingii and Barbus sclateri were rarely encountered, whereas the exotic Lepomis gibbosus was the predominant species found. The lower Guadiana fish community changed in space from assemblages characterized by the high relative abundances of Leuciscus pyrenaicus , smaller size-classes of Barbus spp. and Tropidophoxinellus alburnoides (all Iberian endemisms), to assemblages characterized by the high relative abundances of L. gibbosus, Micropterus salmoides, Cichlasoma facetum (all exotic species) and the larger size-classes of Barbus comiza and Barbus microcephalus . The former assemblages used smaller (i. e., narrow and shallow) sites and channel units, usually in tributaries and closer to headwaters, with smaller L. pyrenaicus being dominant in sites located in the tributaries discharging to the brackish Guadiana. This group was also related to channel units rich in emergent macropthytes. The latter assemblages were related to the largest sites and channel units, typically found in the main river or in tributary sites far from the source. Besides these two groups, some species were associated to noticeable environmental conditions; Blennius fluviatilis to channel units with current velocity and heterogeneous substrate, typically found in the main river, and Cobitis paludica to channel units with heterogeneous substrate.     

Application of multielement stable isotope ratio analysis to the characterization of French, italian, and spanish cheeses

The stable isotope ratios (delta13C, delta15N, and delta34S of casein and delta13C and delta18O of glycerol) measured by IRMS of French, Italian, and Spanish cheeses are presented and discussed. Variability factors such as animal-feeding regimen, geographical origin, and climatic and seasonal conditions were studied to check the possibilities of cheese characterization offered by each isotopic parameter. Delta13C values of both casein and glycerol appeared to be strongly correlated to the amount of maize in the animal diet. Delta15N and delta34S of casein proved to be mostly influenced by the geoclimatic conditions of the area (aridity, closeness to the sea, altitude). Delta18O of glycerol was more dependent on the geographical origin of the cheeses and on climatic/seasonal parameters. By applying a multivariate stepwise canonical discriminant analysis, good discrimination possibilities for the different European cheeses were obtained, confirmed by the classification analysis, when >90% of the samples were correctly reclassified.     

Canine leishmaniasis chemotherapy: dog's clinical condition and risk of Leishmania transmission

The aim of this study was to investigate whether treatment against canine leishmaniasis reduced the presence of Leishmania in the healthy skin of dogs, affecting the capacity of parasite transmission. A total of 37 dogs from an endemic region of leishmaniasis were studied. Thirteen symptomatic animals revealed parasites in the bone marrow and eight had also in the skin. Five of the 22 dogs that had been treated with meglumine antimoniate alone, meglumine antimoniate or trifluralin followed by allopurinol or just with allopurinol had the parasite in bone marrow but none showed Leishmania in the skin. One dog that was treated only with aminosidine was polisymptomatic and had parasites in bone marrow and skin. The different treatments used in this study did not completely eliminate the parasite allowing relapses to occur when the treatment is discontinued, but the use of meglumine antimoniate or allopurinol, alone or combined may improve dogs clinical condition and reduce or eliminate the parasite from the skin decreasing the probability of Leishmania transmission.     

Preparation of additional monoclonal antibodies for detection and discrimination of potato virus Y isolates infecting potato

Summary Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) specific to potato virus Y (PVY) were obtained from hybrid cells produced by fusion of a non-secreting myeloma cell line with spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized with isolate Bintje PVY^o. Six MAb were characterized. The reactions of the MAb have been assayed by indirect double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA-IDAS) against forty-nine PVY isolates and other potyviruses, representative of different potato areas in the world. All MAb reacted to at least some isolates in group O+C in ELISA-IDAS. One MAb did not react to any group N isolates. MAb 10E3 reacted to all isolates tested. Using standard double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA-DAS), two MAbs did not react to any isolates, one reacted to some isolates in group O+C and MAb 10E3 reacted to all isolates but two in group C. A mixture of MAb 10E3 and 1E10 detected all isolates in ELISA-DAS and sensitivity was improved over that obtained with polyclonal antibodies from antisera.