Cytokine expression in porcine lungs experimentally infected with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

To gain further insight into the pathogenesis of porcine enzootic pneumonia (PEP), cytokine expression in different pulmonary compartments was examined. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mh) and proinflammatory and immunoregulatory cytokines (IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-alpha) were detected by immunohistochemical methods in porcine lungs experimentally infected with Mh. Ten pigs were inoculated intranasally with Mh and killed in pairs weekly from 1- to 5-week post-inoculation (wpi). Three Mh-free pigs were taken as controls. Mh-antigen was shown in paraffin-wax-embedded tissues by immunohistochemistry in the luminal surface of bronchial and bronchiolar epithelial cells of all Mh-infected pigs. Significant increase in cytokine expression was detected on snap-frozen tissues from the bronchoalveolar exudate of the airways, mononuclear cells of the alveolar septa and macrophages and lymphocytes of the peribronchial and peribronchiolar lymphoid tissue, from 1 wpi onwards, compared to expression in non-pneumonic lungs. The main cytokines in the BALT of Mh-infected animals that showed an increase were IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-alpha. In the alveolar septa and bronchoalveolar exudate IL-1 (alpha and beta), IL-2, IL-4, IL-8 and IL-10 expression also increased in infected animals.     

Characteristics of magnetic resonance images of granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis in 11 dogs

The characteristics of magnetic resonance imaging (mri) of the brains and spinal cords of 11 dogs with histologically confirmed granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (gme) were determined. The lesions were in the brain of eight of the dogs, in the brain and spinal cord of two, and in the spinal cord alone in one dog. A single lesion was present in four of the dogs and multiple lesions were found in six. In one dog with intracranial signs, no visible lesions could be detected on mri. No meningeal enhancement was detected in T1-weighted images post-contrast, or in fluid attenuation inversion recovery (flair) images, but there were histological lesions in the meninges in nine of the dogs. The T2-weighted images and flair sequences were characterised in all cases by hyperintensity, whereas the signal intensity of the lesions on T1-weighted images was variable. After the administration of paramagnetic contrast, some of the lesions showed no enhancement, but others showed marked patterns of enhancement. The lesions in 10 of the dogs were easily identifiable by mri and the images had several unifying characteristics, but they could not be considered disease-specific.     

The recombinant rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus VP60 protein obtained from Pichia pastoris induces a strong humoral and cell-mediated immune response following intranasal immunization in mice

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a contagious and highly lethal viral disease of rabbits that spreads rapidly and infects animals by nasal, conjunctival and oral routes. Therefore, this experiment was undertaken to study the immune response generated after intranasal (i.n.) vaccination with the recombinant VP60 capsid protein from rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) expressed at high levels in Pichia pastoris. Groups of BALB/c mice were immunized with three doses of purified VP60 protein (Group 1), VP60 formulated within the cell debris fraction of the transformed yeast (Group 2) and placebo (Group 3) by intranasal route. Mice were also intramuscularly injected with purified VP60 protein (Group 4). A rapid antibody response specific against rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus was observed in all the experimental groups, except in Group 3, as detected by ELISA. The highest titers were found 60 days after the first immunization. Mice from Group 1 showed the highest IgG response (p<0.05) and the most balanced profile of IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b subclasses. IgA titers specific to the virus were found only in animals from this group, which also developed the highest specific lymphocyte proliferative response. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) gene expression was also detected after an ex vivo-specific stimulation of mice from Groups 1 and 4. These data demonstrated the capacity of VP60 protein expressed in P. pastoris to elicit a potent humoral and cell-mediated immune response following an intranasal immunization scheme.     

Protein analysis of honeys by fast protein liquid chromatography: application to differentiate floral and honeydew honeys

Fast protein liquid chromatography on a Superdex 75 HR column has been applied to analyze the proteins of 29 honeys, 12 of floral origin and 17 from honeydew. The molecular masses were comprised between 13100 and 94000 Da. Seven peaks have been separated; four of them were present in all of the honeys, and three were only present in some honeys. Direct observation of the chromatograms of the floral and honeydew honeys did not reveal any information about their botanical origins. However, both types of honeys can be distinguished with the percentages of the areas of four of the seven chromatographic peaks obtained.     

Rapid quantification of the phenolic fraction of Spanish virgin olive oils by capillary electrophoresis with UV detection

A rapid and reliable capillary zone electrophoresis method was used as a tool to obtain both qualitative and quantitative information about simple phenols, lignans, complex phenols (isomeric forms of secoiridoids), phenolic acids, and flavonoids in the solid-phase separation extracts from different Spanish extra-virgin olive oil in a short time (less than 6 min). Peak identification was done by using commercial and HPLC-isolated standards, studying the information of the electropherograms obtained at several wavelengths and also using the information previously reported. For the quantification of lignans and complex phenols (secoiridoid derivatives), we used a reference compound (oleuropein glucoside) at two different wavelengths (200 and 240 nm) and for the quantification of tyrosol and flavonoids, we used their commercially available standards.     

Pig-MAP and haptoglobin concentration reference values in swine from commercial farms

Pig-MAP (Major Acute-phase Protein) and haptoglobin concentrations were determined in pigs from commercial farms, and reference intervals obtained for different productive stages. Pig-MAP serum concentrations were lower in sows than in adult boars (mean values 0.81 vs. 1.23 mg/mL) and the opposite was observed for haptoglobin (1.47 vs. 0.94 mg/mL). No differences were found between parities, except for a minor decrease in haptoglobin concentration in the 4th parity. A linear correlation between pig-MAP and haptoglobin concentration was observed. In the period 4-12 weeks of life, pig-MAP mean concentrations were around 1mg/mL, being lower in the finishing period (0.7-0.8 mg/mL). Haptoglobin concentrations increased with time, from around 0.6 mg/mL at 4 weeks of age to 1.4 mg/mL at 12 weeks. Mean values of around 0.9 mg/mL were observed in the finishing period. A wider distribution of values was observed for haptoglobin than for pig-MAP concentrations. Differences between herds were observed, with the highest values obtained in a herd with signs of respiratory disease.     

Identifying invasive fish species threats to RAMSAR wetland sites in the Caspian Sea region—A case study of the Anzali Wetland Complex (Iran)

Risk screening tools play a crucial role in identifying potential high-risk non-native (NN) fish species. In this study, potentially invasive NN fish species in the Anzali Wetland Complex (AWC), which is located on the south coast of the Caspian Sea (Iran), were identified using the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK). Twenty-nine freshwater fish species were screened of which 13 exist in the AWC and 16 in close proximity to it (“horizon” species). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that AS-ISK could discriminate reliably between non-invasive and invasive fish species for the AWC. Mean threshold scores were 3.25 for the Basic Risk Assessment (BRA) and 11.75 for the BRA + CCA (BRA + Climate Change Assessment), and these, respectively, classified 89.7% and 86.2% of the species as high risk. The CCA resulted in an increase in the BRA scores for 86.2% of the species, suggesting the need to account in future NN species management for a likely increased invasiveness of those species under future climate conditions. These results suggest that AS-ISK could prove an effective tool for identifying potentially invasive NN freshwater fishes in other wetlands of the Caspian Sea basin.     

A review of pest surveillance techniques for detecting quarantine pests in Europe

This paper provides reviews of the most commonly used methods to detect plant pests belonging to groups of invasive organisms with high economic relevance, including Coleoptera (bark beetles, flathead borers, leaf beetles, longhorn beetles, weevils), Diptera (cone and seed flies, fruit flies), Homoptera (aphids, leafhoppers and psyllids, whiteflies), Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), Thysanoptera (thrips), bacteria (potato brown rot Ralstonia solanacearum) and fungi (pitch canker disease Gibberella circinata, brown rot disease Monilinia fructicola). Future perspectives in detection methods are discussed, with particular reference to the considerable increase in the volume, commodity type and origins of trade in plant material from third countries, the introduction of new crops, the continuous expansion of the EU with new border countries being added, and the impact of climate change affecting the geographical boundaries of pests and their vectors.     

Habitat use,home range,movements and interactions of introduced Lepomis gibbosus and native Salmo trutta in a small stream of Southern England

Radio telemetry data were analysed to assess the microhabitat use, movement patterns, home range overlap and interspecific interactions of non‐native pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus (L.) and native brown trout Salmo trutta (L.) in a small English stream located immediately below a commercial angling lake from which pumpkinseed escaped. Although both species favoured pool habitats, brown trout preferred higher velocities and coarser substrata compared with pumpkinseed. Also, some individual brown trout preferred deeper waters than did pumpkinseed. Home range area of brown trout was substantially larger than that of pumpkinseed in spring and summer, and for both species, home range area in autumn was significantly smaller than in the other seasons. Range centre distribution analysis revealed that both species were distributed significantly nonrandomly within the stream during all seasons. There was substantial home range overlap between the two species in all seasons, the greatest being in spring. Overall distances moved were greatest during spring for both species, with brown trout moving greater distances relative to pumpkinseed. However, the absence of mutual attraction or avoidance between the species, as well as the lack of cohesion in preferred habitats and strong territorial fidelity, suggests little or no impact of introduced pumpkinseed on resident brown trout.