DNA Immunization Against Very Virulent Infectious Bursal Disease Virus with VP2‐4‐3 Gene and Chicken IL‐6 Gene

The present study was to investigate the feasibility and efficiency of the DNA vaccine to protect chickens against very virulent infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV) infection. A plasmid DNA carrying VP2‐4‐3 genes of vvIBDV SH95 and a plasmid DNA carrying chicken interleukin‐6 (ChIL‐6) genes were constructed and designated as pALTER‐MAX‐VP2‐4‐3 and pALTER‐MAX‐ChIL‐6 respectively. Several DNA vaccination experiments were performed: 1‐week‐old chickens were intramuscularly injected with only plasmid pcDNA3‐VP2, pALTER‐MAX‐VP2‐4‐3 or mixture with pALTER‐MAX‐ChIL‐6. The chickens at 4 weeks old were orally inoculated with vvIBDV SH95. The results showed that immunization with the mixture of pALTER‐MAX‐VP2‐4‐3 and pALTER‐MAX‐ChIL‐6 three times conferred protection for 90% of chickens. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antibody titres in chickens immunized together with pALTER‐MAX‐ChIL‐6 were higher than those immunized simply with plasmid pcDNA3‐VP2 or pALTER‐MAX‐VP2‐4‐3. IBDV was not detected in the bursa of the protected chickens at 8 days after challenge by RT‐PCR. The results indicate that protection against vvIBDV can be achieved by using the VP2‐4‐3 gene of vvIBDV as a DNA vaccine. Furthermore, the simultaneous injection of ChIL‐6 plasmid significantly increased the protection after challenge with the very virulent strain.     

Idiopathic epilepsy in dogs: owners' perspectives on management with phenobarbitone and/or potassium bromide

OBJECTIVES: To explore seizure management from the perspective of the owners of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. METHODS: Questionnaires were mailed to owners of 29 dogs under management for suspected or diagnosed idiopathic epilepsy through the clinics of the Small Animal Hospital of the University of Glasgow Veterinary School, using either phenobarbitone or potassium bromide alone or in combination. RESULTS: The postal survey had an 86 per cent response rate. Analysis of the responses demonstrated that "the dog's quality of life", "adequate seizure frequency" and "acceptable side effects of antiepileptic drugs" were the three greatest concerns for owners; 52 per cent of owners strongly agreed that the seizure management for their dog was adequate, though the seizure frequency reported varied within this group; the majority of owners did not consider the administration of medication a nuisance. However, approximately 60 per cent of owners reported that caring for an epileptic dog had an effect on the organisation of their free time, though this was not dependent on perception of seizure control. Opinions as to the value of further diagnostic procedures, in particular intracranial imaging, were significantly affected by having pet health insurance. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: From the owners' perspective, adequacy of seizure control is determined by the balance between "the dog's quality of life", "adequate seizure frequency" and "acceptable side effects of antiepileptic drugs". A frequency of less than one seizure every three months is associated with the perception by owners of adequate seizure control.     

Antiserum against culture filtrate is cross-protective for various serovars of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

The protective effect of porcine antiserum prepared against culture filtrate (CF) of an attenuated strain of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (serovar 2) in mice to challenge with 20 virulent strains of 18 serovars and one type N was investigated. Passively immunized mice survived after challenge with serovars 1a, 1b, 2, 5, 6, 8 (strain Goda), 11, 12, 15, 16, 21 or type N, but 10-30% mortality occurred in immunized mice challenged with each strain of serovars 4, 7, 8 (strain 911), 9, 18 or 19 and 70% mortality to serovar 10 (strain 2179). All immunized mice died after challenge with serovar 20 (strain 2553). Non-treated control mice died after challenge with all serovars and the type tested.     

Virulence factors in Escherichia coli isolated from piglets with neonatal and post-weaning diarrhea in Japan

A total of 567 strains of Escherichia coli were isolated from piglets with neonatal diarrhea (ND) or post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) in Japan. They were investigated for enterotoxigenicity and possession of adhesins and O antigens. There were clear differences between the strains of ND origin and those of PWD origin in the occurrence of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) strains, type of enterotoxin and frequency of adhesins: ETEC was found in 77 (25.7%) of 300 strains of ND origin and in 137 (51.3%) of 267 strains of PWD origin. ETEC strains producing heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) or heat-stable enterotoxin (STa), alone or in combination were evenly distributed among the strains of PWD origin. In contrast most of the ETEC strains of ND origin produced LT alone. Adhesins appeared in 42 (54.5%) of 77 ETEC strains of ND origin and in 36 (26.3%) of 137 ETEC strains of PWD origin. Adhesins were less common in ETEC strains of PWD origin than in those of ND origin. Some K99-positive ETEC strains of PWD origin produced both LT and STa. There was a similarity in the distribution of O antigens, particularly O149 and O157, between the strains of ND origin and those of PWD origin.     

Antigenic variation of porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus detected by monoclonal antibodies

Mouse myeloma cells (SP2/O) were fused with spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized with detergent-solubilized antigen of purified virus, and 21 monoclonal (MC) antibodies reactive in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with the TO-163 strain of porcine transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus were obtained. Of these MC antibodies, 14, 6 and 1 were IgG1, IgG2a and IgM, respectively. All of the MC antibodies contained light chains of the kappa type. Of these MC antibodies, 8 were found to have neutralization (NT) activity against the TO-163 strain. Comparison of 7 strains of TGE virus by NT tests using our panel of MC antibodies confirmed their close antigenic relationships, but also revealed the occurrence of distinct antigenic differences. These results suggest that there may be at least 6 different epitopes involved in NT reaction on the virion of the TO-163 strain. This notion was confirmed by the competitive binding assay.     

Exploration of the cellular mediated immunity by the blastogenesis test during chronic brucellosis in human

The diagnosis of the chronic, human brucellosis is frequently difficult and usually needs experimental methods. This paper describes a lymphocyte stimulation test with a Brucella antigen and the results of this test concerning 45 brucellic or not brucellic patients. It is concluded that this test is interesting, especially for the chronic and sero-negative Brucellosis diagnosis.     

Correlation between adherence of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae strains of serovar 1a to tissue culture cells originated from porcine kidney and their pathogenicity in mice and swine

Adherence of four virulent and four avirulent strains of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, serovar 1a, to porcine kidney cell lines, PK-15 and ESK cells, was examined in an in vitro system. The virulent strains adhered well to the cells (range of means, 9.95 +/- 0.87-36.01 +/- 1.10 per cell). In contrast, the avirulent strains showed negligible adherence to the cells (range of means, 0.11 +/- 0.04-1.41 +/- 0.13 per cell). Pretreatment of bacteria with heat, trypsin, or antiserum resulted in a marked decrease in adherence. Scanning electron microscopic examination revealed that the bacteria attached directly to the microvilli of cells.     

Cutaneous leiomyosarcoma with visceral metastases in a White Carneau pigeon and literature review

Cutaneous leiomyosarcomas are malignant mesenchymal tumors of smooth muscle origin and are reported occasionally in avian species. A 14-y-old male laboratory White Carneau pigeon (Columba livia) was presented for surgical excision of a cervical soft tissue mass. Ultrasonography with color flow Doppler imaging revealed multiple cavitations of mixed echogenicity within the mass and vascularization. Histologically, the dermis and subcutis were expanded by a densely cellular multinodular mass comprised of fusiform cells forming haphazardly arranged broad streams and short interwoven bundles, often surrounding blood vessels and variably sized cavitations. Neoplastic cells were strongly immunopositive for desmin and α–smooth muscle actin, and negative for pancytokeratin, S100, and von Willebrand factor. Based on histopathology and IHC findings, the cutaneous mass was diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma (LMS). The pigeon died 312 d post-operatively. Postmortem examination revealed masses infiltrating the left and right pulmonary airways and one hepatic nodule, but no regrowth at the surgical site. Histologic and IHC evaluation of the pulmonary and hepatic masses were consistent with LMS, representing metastatic foci from the primary cutaneous LMS. Our case highlights the malignant behavior and histomorphologic features of cutaneous LMS in an avian species.     

Effects of season on the reproductive organs and steroid hormone profiles in guinea hens (Numida meleagris)

1. The study documented gross anatomical and histological differences in the reproductive organs of 28 breeding and non-breeding female guinea fowls. Peripheral progesterone and 17β-oestradiol concentrations were also compared in breeding and non-breeding hens.

2. In non-breeding females, all ovarian and oviducal gross anatomical features had significantly regressed. Histologically, some of the changes in a regressing oviduct include systematic changes in height and size of all epithelial cells in all regions of the duct, absence/sparse ciliation of portions of surface epithelium in the magnum, isthmian and uterine regions, general loss of cytoplasmic mass, reduction in size and degeneration of tubular glands. Mucosal folds in all regions of the oviduct except the infundibular lip were higher in breeding females.

3. No difference was found between the two groups in plasma progesterone concentrations. Breeding females, however, had higher peripheral oestradiol concentrations than non-breeding females. About 2 h prior to oviposition, plasma oestradiol concentrations peaked at 2.4-fold (230 pg/ml) compared with baseline concentration and plasma progesterone concentrations by nearly 9-fold (5.29 ng/ml) of baseline.

4. Significant regression and changes in the histological structure of the ovary and oviduct had occurred in non-breeding females, and lower peripheral oestrogen concentrations may be responsible for this phenomenon.