Experimental assessment of the pathogenicity of H5N1 influenza A viruses isolated in Japan

We examined the pathogenicity for chickens of two H5N1 avian influenza viruses isolated in Japan, A/chicken/ Yamaguchi/7/2004 (Ck/Yamaguchi/7/04) isolated from outbreaks in commercial layer chickens, and A/duck/Yokohama/aq10/ 2003 (Dk/Yokohama/aq10/03) isolated from duck meat imported from China. All chickens inoculated intranasally with either strain died, and the viruses were reisolated from all organs examined. However, both the mean time of onset of clinical signs and the mean death time of Ck/Yamaguchi/7/04 were shorter than those of Dk/Yokohama/aq10/03.     

Outbreaks of egg-drop syndrome-1976 in Japan and its etiological agent

A condition similar to egg-drop syndrome-1976 (EDS-76) occurred in 14 broiler breeding flocks in 2 farms in Japan from December 1978 to January 1980, and it was diagnosed as EDS-76 by serologic and virological investigations. Egg production fell suddenly when the hens were 30 to 55 weeks of age, and the depression lasted 3 to 7 weeks. Production fell 6 to 25%. Depressed egg production was accompanied by the laying of shell-less, soft-shelled, and thin-shelled eggs associated with loss of egg-shell pigment. Eleven isolates of hemagglutinating adenovirus were isolated from cloacal swabs (10 isolates) and a uterus (1 isolate) of hens in one farm. One isolate, cloned and named JPA-1, had the same antigenicity in serologic tests and the same biological and physicochemical properties as the BC14 strain of EDS-76 virus.     

Pathology of spontaneous colibacillosis in a broiler flock

Forty-eight of 134 chickens collected from a flock on a broiler farm were diagnosed pathologically and microbiologically to have colibacillosis. Both acute septicemia (seven birds, 1 to 36 days old) and subacute serositis (41 birds, 5 to 57 days old) were found. The former consisted of necrosis with fibrinous exudates in the ellipsoids and lymphoid follicles of the spleen, and fibrinous thrombi in sinusoids of the liver with occasional necrosis of hepatic cells. The latter had fibrinopurulent inflammation with granulomatous changes in the serosal tissues--including the epicardium, pericardium, and hepatic peritoneal sac--accompanied by septicemic lesions in the spleen and liver. Respiratory lesions (airsacculitis, pneumonia, and tracheitis) were noted in most chickens affected with acute septicemia and subacute serositis. Degenerative changes also were observed in the bursa of Fabricius.     

Gizzard nematodiasis in Japanese mountain hawk eagle (Spizaetus nipalensis)

In this paper, we report spontaneous gizzard nematodiasis in an adult Japanese mountain hawk eagle (Spizaetus nipalensis). Grossly, the gizzard had a black mucoid substance attached to the surface mucous membrane, and the heart was dilated. Histologically, immature larvae with yellow pigments invaded crypts of the mucous membrane. More developed larvae invaded the lamina propria and muscular layers and serosa of the gizzard, with pressure atrophy and cellular reaction (infiltration of heterophils and macrophages and proliferation of fibrous connective tissue). Moderate bronchopneumonia due to larvae invasion was also seen in the lung. The morphology suggests that the parasites may be nematodes, but the species of nematode could not be confirmed. The bird may have died from malabsorption and respiratory damage as a result of the gizzard and lung lesions.     

Pathologic changes caused by transplacental infection with an adenovirus-like agent in pigs

Five hysterectomy-derived colostrum-deprived pigs housed in individual cages with positive ventilation developed severe skin cyanosis and edema of the subcutaneous tissues in the submandibular, thoracic, and abdominal regions. The 5 pigs were killed 7 to 10 days after birth. Eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were found in endothelial cells of capillary and small blood vessels throughout the body. Ultrastructurally, nuclei of these affected endothelial cells contained small crystalline arrays of virus particles, which were considered to belong to the adenovirus-like group from their size and structure. The present results indicated that the porcine adenovirus-like agent might also have the ability to produce transplacental infection.     

Improved method of protoplast fusion between marine luminescent bacterium and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> cultivated with fatty acid

An attempt was made to improve the stability toward centrifugation of protoplast fusion between Shewanella sp. and Escherichia coli. Stability of the cell membrane is an important factor in protoplast fusion. In order to change the fatty acid composition of the cell membrane phospholipids, eight fatty acids [caprylic acid, capric acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid] were added to each nutrient medium of Shewanella sp. and E. coli. The protoplasts were treated with lysozyme, and fusion occurred in the presence of a polyethylene glycol solution. The stability of the protoplast of Shewanella sp. decreased after EPA was added to the culture medium, and the stability of the protoplast of E. coli increased after the addition of linoleic acid or linolenic acid. Some fusant colonies that developed on the regenerated medium selected for E. coli with antibiotic tolerance. The efficiency of this fusion was higher than that of initial condition using protoplasts from Shewanella sp. and E. coli incubated without fatty acids. Protoplasts improved the fatty acid composition of the phospholipids. Cell membrane stability can change in order for the weak cells to be taken in by strong cells. These results suggested that the fatty acid composition of cell membrane phospholipids affected the fusant yield of the fusion of these bacteria.     

Microbiological properties of Myanmar traditional shrimp sauce,hmyin-ngan-pya-ye

Fisheries Science - The microbiological properties of Myanmar traditional fermented products were characterized using four different brands of bottled shrimp sauce products sold frequently at a...     

Pathology of fatal highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus infection in large-billed crows (Corvus macrorhynchos) during the 2004 outbreak in Japan

Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses were isolated in 9 large-billed crows that died in Kyoto and Osaka prefectures in Japan from March to April in 2004. We studied 3 of the 9 crows using standard histologic methods, immunohistochemistry, and virus isolation. The most prominent lesions were gross patchy areas of reddish discoloration in the pancreas. The consistent histologic lesions included severe multifocal necrotizing pancreatitis, focal degeneration and necrosis of neuron and glial cells in the central nervous system, and focal degeneration of cardiac myocytes. All of these tissues contained immunohistochemically positive influenza viral antigens. The virus was isolated from the brain, lung, heart, liver, spleen, and kidney of the crows examined. Thus we concluded that highly pathogenic avian influenza virus was associated with clinical disease, severe pathologic changes, and death in the 3 crows.     

Reactivity of anti-Nipah virus monoclonal antibodies to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lung tissues from experimental Nipah and Hendra virus infections

The immunohistochemical reactivity of seven clones of mouse monoclonal antibodies raised to Nipah virus antigens were investigated using formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded porcine and equine lung tissues from experimental Nipah and Hendra virus infection, respectively. Either microwave irradiation or enzymatic digestion effectively unmasked the viral antigens in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections. Four clones showed positive reaction to both Nipah virus-infected porcine lung tissue and Hendra virus-infected equine lung tissue. Two clones (11F6 and 13A5) reacted with Nipah virus-infected porcine lung tissue, but not with Hendra virus-infected equine lung tissue. These Nipah virus-specific monoclonal antibodies may therefore be useful for immunohistological diagnosis of Nipah virus infection and for further research on Nipah virus pathogenesis.