In vivo depletion of CD8+ cells does not affect primary maedi visna virus infection in sheep

T-cells have been implicated both, in promoting and reducing viral replication during lentivirus infection. CD8+ lymphocytes are believed to be important in controlling viral load through direct killing of virus-infected cells and by secretion of inhibitory chemokines and cytokines. To evaluate the role of CD8+ T-cells in the induction and control of the primary phase of a lentivirus infection, we have used a non-T-cell tropic lentivirus, maedi-visna virus (MVV), to study the initial pathogenesis and subsequent immune responses in sheep depleted in vivo of CD8+ cells. Sheep were depleted of CD8+ cells in both blood and efferent lymph for up to 14 days. No difference in MVV replication was observed in either the draining efferent lymph or lymph node of these sheep. Surprisingly, these animals displayed a normal induction of pCTL whereas the virus-specific proliferative responses were reduced. This could reflect either that a proportion of functional CD8+ lymphocytes remained in these animals, as suggested by the appearance of pCTLs, or that CD8+ cells are not required for control of primary MVV infection.     

A Microencapsulation Method for Delivering Tetrodotoxin to Bivalves to Investigate Uptake and Accumulation

Most marine biotoxins are produced by microalgae. The neurotoxin tetrodotoxin (TTX) has been reported in many seafood species worldwide but its source is unknown, making accumulation and depuration studies in shellfish difficult. Tetrodotoxin is a water-soluble toxin and cannot be directly ingested by shellfish. In the present study, a method was developed which involved binding TTX to solid particles of humic acid and encapsulating them in agar-gelatin capsules. A controlled quantity of TTX-containing microcapsules (size range 20–280 μm) was fed to Paphies australis, a bivalve known to accumulate TTX in the wild. The TTX-containing microcapsules were fed to P. australis every second day for 13 days. Ten P. australis (including five controls fed non-toxic microalgae) were harvested after 7 days and ten after 13 days. Paphies australis accumulated TTX, reaching concentrations of up to 103 µg kg⁻¹ by day 13, exceeding the European Food Safety Authority recommended concentration of 44 μg kg⁻¹ in shellfish. This novel method will allow future studies to explore the effects, accumulation and depuration rates of TTX in different animals and document how it is transferred through food webs.     

Spatial and temporal investigations of reported movements,births and deaths of cattle and pigs in Sweden

Background

Livestock movements can affect the spread and control of contagious diseases and new data recording systems enable analysis of these movements. The results can be used for contingency planning, modelling of disease spread and design of disease control programs.

Methods

Data on the Swedish cattle and pig populations during the period July 2005 until June 2006 were obtained from databases held by the Swedish Board of Agriculture. Movements of cattle and pigs were investigated from geographical and temporal perspectives, births and deaths of cattle were investigated from a temporal perspective and the geographical distribution of holdings was also investigated.

Results

Most movements of cattle and pigs were to holdings within 100 km, but movements up to 1200 km occurred. Consequently, the majority of movements occurred within the same county or to adjacent counties. Approximately 54% of the cattle holdings and 45% of the pig holdings did not purchase any live animals. Seasonal variations in births and deaths of cattle were identified, with peaks in spring. Cattle movements peaked in spring and autumn. The maximum number of holdings within a 3 km radius of one holding was 45 for cattle and 23 for pigs, with large variations among counties. Missing data and reporting bias (digit preference) were detected in the data.

Conclusion

The databases are valuable tools in contact tracing. However since movements can be reported up to a week after the event and some data are missing they cannot replace other methods in the acute phase of an outbreak. We identified long distance transports of cattle and pigs, and these findings support an implementation of a total standstill in the country in the case of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. The databases contain valuable information and improvements in data quality would make them even more useful.     

Economic values of supply chain productivity and quality traits calculated for a farmed European whitefish breeding program

Economic values of different fish traits are needed to direct breeding programs to optimize economic benefits for aquaculture industry. The aim of this article is to highlight and calculate how different traits affect the value of farmed fish supply chain. Supply chain approach is needed to calculate economic impact of fish traits because several fish traits affect costs and returns not only in fish farming but also at the processing and retail level. In this article, economic values are calculated for 14 productivity and product quality traits in European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus). Productivity affecting traits, such as growth, mortality and different yields, are included in the study. In addition, economic values are calculated for several quality traits like fillet gaping, appearance and fat content of flesh.

Productivity traits had the highest economic importance if the traits could be improved. However, quality traits may cause even higher economic losses, if the quality decreases. Thus, the management of the breeding program should pay simultaneous attention to both quality and productivity traits.     

Forest edge structure as a shaping factor of understorey vegetation in urban forests in Finland

We investigated the effects of edge structure (i.e. side-canopy openness based on tree, sapling and shrub characteristics, and the composition of tree species) on the understorey vegetation at mesic urban conifer-dominated forest edges in southern Finland. Forest edge structure had an effect on understorey vegetation, and on the spatial extent of the edge effect into the forests. At open edges the edge effect (in terms of the abundances of understorey vegetation) penetrated at least up to 30 m into the forest patches whereas closed edges may prevent these effects. A multilayered canopy with saplings and shrubs at the edge is important to alleviate the effects of the edge. We found that 225–250 m³ ha⁻¹ of trees (diameter at breast height (dbh) > 5 cm) is adequate to restrict the edge effect near the edge. However, the number of broad-leaved trees may be high at edges which, in turn, diminishes the abundance of mosses and favours herb species, thus changing the original natural understorey vegetation composition. Therefore we recommend that conifers be favoured at the edges of mesic conifer-dominated forest patches if the purpose is to restrict the extent of the effects of habitat edges. The appropriate proportion of conifers at these edges should be 80% or more.     

In vitro adhesion of an avian pathogenic Escherichia coli O78 strain to surfaces of the chicken intestinal tract and to ileal mucus

The role of fimbria in adherence of an avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) O78 strain 789 to chicken intestine was studied. Bacterial adhesion to tissue sections representing the regions within the chicken intestinal tract was determined by using immunohistochemical methods. E. coli 789 grown to express the type 1 fimbria adhered efficiently to the crop epithelium, to the lamina propria of intestinal villi, and to the apical surfaces of both the mature as well as the crypt-located enterocytes in intestinal villi, whereas no adhesion to mucus-producing goblet cells was detected. The adhesion was inhibited by mannoside and the role of type 1 fimbriae in the observed adhesion was confirmed with a recombinant strain expressing type 1 fimbriae genes cloned from E. coli and Salmonella enterica. E. coli 789 strain grown to favor AC/I fimbriae expression as well as the recombinant E. coli strain expressing the fac genes adhered to goblet cells but only poorly to the other epithelial sites. E. coli strain 789 as well as S. enterica serovar Typhimurium IR715 and S. enterica serovar Enteriditis TN2 strains were able to multiply in ileal mucus medium. The type 1 fimbria expressing bacteria adhered to the ileal mucus, whereas the AC/I fimbriated strains showed poor adherence to the mucus. The adhesion of E. coli 789 onto the crop epithelium and the follicle associated epithelium of the chicken ileum was efficiently inhibited by an adhesive strain ST1 of Lactobacillus crispatus isolated from chicken, whereas poor inhibition of E. coli adherence was observed with the weakly adhesive L. crispatus strain 134mi. The type 1 fimbriae may be important in colonization of the chicken intestine by APEC and Salmonella.