The effect of tuberculin testing on the development of cell-mediated immune responses during Mycobacterium bovis infection

Protection against tuberculosis (TB) is associated with Th1-type cell-mediated immunity (CMI). Whilst the intradermal injection of partially purified derivatives of tuberculin (PPD) represents the classic test assessing the delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response used in both humans and cattle for diagnosing TB, it has been suggested that the test may modulate host CMI responses. To investigate the kinetics of the development of the DTH response and its subsequent effect on CMI responses, groups of 6-month old calves were inoculated intranasally with 8 x 10(4) cfu of Mycobacterium bovis, subjected to the comparative intradermal tuberculin test (TT) using bovine and avian PPD (PPD-B, PPD-A) at various time intervals post-infection, and immune responses compared. These included DTH, lymphocyte proliferation, IgG production, and synthesis of the cytokines: IFNgamma, IL-10, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-13. All animals were subjected to post-mortem examination. The kinetics of the development of the DTH response assessed in the TT was such that infected cattle could be identified as early as 3 weeks post-infection, which correlated with the detection of an antigen-specific IFNgamma response. Transient increases in plasma-derived IFNgamma as a result of TT during an established TB infection were more pronounced when blood was stimulated with PPD-A compared with PPD-B stimulation. This has the potential to mask diagnosis of infection as a result of the stronger avian-bias if the IFNgamma test is used the week following TT. Disease pathology was not affected by TT. A transient failure to a second TT was observed in 1 of 30 animals and the time (post-infection) at which the TT is administered may be of significance. In serum, IgG responses to PPD-B, which were undetectable prior to TT, were elevated after TT and were most pronounced in cattle that were TT at 6 weeks post-infection. Other cytokines were also affected by the TT; IL-4 mRNA levels increased and IL-6 mRNA levels decreased, whilst PPD-B specific IL-10 protein synthesis was enhanced. These observations may offer the potential for further diagnostic assays that could complement the TT and IFNgamma test.     

Changes in selected serum parameters of broiler chicken fed supplemental chromium

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of chromium (Cr) from Cr yeast on the growth performance and total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, total protein and Cr concentration in the serum of broiler chicken. The birds were fed a control diet or a control diet supplemented with Cr at a level of 300, 500 microg/kg Cr. The supplementation of 500 mug/kg Cr increased body weight, weight gain and feed efficiency (p < 0.05). In addition, supplementation with Cr decreased the serum total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (p < 0.05), triglycerides (p < 0.05) and glucose (p < 0.05) concentrations whereas serum HDL cholesterol increased. Serum total protein and serum Cr concentration slightly but not significantly increased in both Cr groups. The study suggest that Cr supplementation particularly at 500 microg/kg Cr from Cr yeast can influence on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism of broiler chicken and can be used as additives in animal diet but it still needs more investigations.     

Cloned porcine embryos can maintain developmental ability after cryopreservation at the morula stage

The aim of the present study was to clarify the overall efficiency of porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) by incorporating cryopreservation of the cloned embryos before transfer. The SCNT embryos reconstructed with preadipocytes and in vitro-matured (IVM) oocytes were cultured to harvest morula stage embryos; they were then subjected to delipation (removal of cytoplasmic lipid droplets) and vitrification. After warming and culture, the embryos developing to blastocysts were transferred to recipients to obtain cloned piglets. From 372 reconstructed embryos, 188 (50.5%) reached the morula stage and 117 (31.5%) developed to blastocysts after vitrification. Transfer of 98 (26.3%) morphologically normal blastocysts gave rise to 6 (1.6%) piglets, including 1 stillborn. The efficiency of the cloned piglet production was comparable with that obtained using SCNT embryos without cryopreservation (2.7%, 17/635). Here, we demonstrate that porcine somatic cell cloning can be performed without a significant reduction in efficiency even when the SCNT embryos are cryopreserved before transfer.     

Activities of biotransformation enzymes in pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) and their modulation by in vivo administration of mebendazole and flubendazole

Basal activities of certain pheasant hepatic and intestinal biotransformation enzymes and modulation of their activities by anthelmintics flubendazole (FLBZ) and mebendazole (MBZ) were investigated in subcellular fractions that were prepared from liver and small intestine of control and FLBZ or MBZ treated birds. Several oxidation, reduction and conjugation enzyme activities were assessed. In the liver, treatment of pheasants by FLBZ or MBZ caused very slight or no changes in monooxygenase activities and conjugation enzymes. More significative changes were detected in small intestine. Metyrapone and daunorubicin reductase activities were increased by both substances in the liver. This is the first evidence that certain benzimidazoles modulate reductases of carbonyl group. With respect to the relatively slight extent of the changes caused by FLBZ or MBZ we can assume that repeated administration of therapeutic doses of both FLBZ and MBZ has probably no serious influence on pheasant biotransformation enzyme system.     

The genomic sequence of the accidental pathogen Legionella pneumophila

We present the genomic sequence of Legionella pneumophila, the bacterial agent of Legionnaires' disease, a potentially fatal pneumonia acquired from aerosolized contaminated fresh water. The genome includes a 45-kilobase pair element that can exist in chromosomal and episomal forms, selective expansions of important gene families, genes for unexpected metabolic pathways, and previously unknown candidate virulence determinants. We highlight the genes that may account for Legionella's ability to survive in protozoa, mammalian macrophages, and inhospitable environmental niches and that may define new therapeutic targets.     

Effect of paratuberculosis on the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis in a cattle herd with a mixed infection using interferon-gamma detection assay

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) detection assay is being applied as an ancillary test to tuberculin tests in the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis to detect the maximum number of infected animals. Among possible factors influencing the performance of tuberculosis-diagnostic tests, paratuberculosis, a widespread disease in Spain and other European countries, has been pointed out as a cause of false positive reactions. Still, its effect on the sensitivity of these tests in cattle has yet to be fully characterized. The impact of paratuberculosis in the apparent sensitivity of IFN-gamma assay was studied in a bullfighting cattle herd with a mixed tuberculosis-paratuberculosis infection, using culture of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis as the gold standard to determine the infection status of every animal. A total of 218 animals were slaughtered and sampled for bacteriology after blood sampling. IFN-gamma assay showed a lower apparent sensitivity in animals with a mixed infection (50%) compared to all animals suffering tuberculosis (78.3%). This finding indicates that the presence of paratuberculosis in tuberculosis-infected herds could imply a serious impairment in the sensitivity of IFN-gamma detection test.