Protective efficacy of vaccination with NcMIC3 and NcMIC8 against Neospora caninum infection in mice

Microneme proteins (MICs) are important for Apicomplexan parasite invasion due to their adhesion to host cells. Several studies have indicated that Neospora caninum MIC3 and MIC8 are important adhesion factors and potential vaccine candidates against neosporosis. In this study, we evaluated the protective efficacy of recombinant proteins and DNA vaccines of NcMIC3 and NcMIC8. BALB/c mice were immunized with rNcMIC3, rNcMIC8, pcDNA3.1-NcMIC3 and pcDNA3.1-NcMIC8 respectively, and challenged with N. caninum tachyzoites. The immune responses were evaluated through cytokine, antibody measurements and the parasite burden in the mice brain tissues. Serological analysis showed that recombinant protein vaccines induced higher levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) than other groups. The percentage of IgG1 and IgG2a in the recombinant protein groups was higher than the other groups, and with a predominance of IgG1 over IgG2a, suggesting that recombinant protein vaccines elicited a Th2-type immune response, while DNA vaccines mainly produce a Th1-type immune response. In addition, mice immunized with rNcMIC3 and rNcMIC8 a had lower parasite burden in brain tissue compared with the other groups. These results demonstrate that rNcMIC3 and rNcMIC8 could induce humoral and Th2-type immune response, leading to a considerable level of resistance against neosporosis.     

Tulathromycin enhances humoral but not cellular immune response in pigs vaccinated against swine influenza

The effect of a standard, single dose therapy with tulathromycin was investigated on the postvaccinal humoral and cellular immune response in pigs vaccinated against swine influenza. Forty‐five pigs, divided into 3 groups, were used (control not vaccinated (C, n = 15), control vaccinated (CV, n = 15), and experimentally received tulathromycin (TUL, n = 15)). For vaccination of pigs, an inactivated, commercial vaccine was used. Pigs from TUL group received single dose of tulathromycin intramuscularly, at the recommended dose (2.5 mg/kg body weight). Pigs from TUL and CV groups were vaccinated at 8 and 10 weeks of age. The specific humoral and cellular immune response against swine influenza virus (SIV) was evaluated. The results of present study showed that humoral postvaccinal response after vaccination against SIV can be modulated by treatment with tulathromycin. In pigs from TUL group, the significantly higher titers of anti‐SIV‐specific antibodies were observed 4 and 6 weeks after booster dose of vaccine. Simultaneously, T‐cell‐mediated immune response against SIV was not affected by tulathromycin. Our recent study confirmed the importance of defining the modulatory activity of tulathromycin because of its influence on the immune response to vaccines. Since the antibodies against hemagglutinin are crucial for the protection against SIV, the present observations should prompt further studies on the practical significance of recent results in terms of clinical implications (postvaccinal protection) in the field conditions.     

影响非禽源外源病毒检验的主要因素

本文以《中华人民共和国兽药典》2015版三部非禽源外源病毒检验方法为依据,总结了检测过程中细胞状态、样品处理、接种与继代培养、荧光抗体检查等对外源病毒检验的影响,为企业提高外源病毒检验的准确度和检出率提供参考。     

Maternal behaviour and performance in first-parity outdoor sows

When sows and their litters are kept outdoors, much of the responsibility for the litter is shifted from the herdsman to the sow compared to when the sows are kept indoors. Therefore, the maternal ability, including maternal behaviour, is believed to be important in outdoor piglet production. The aim of this study was to describe maternal traits in conventionally bred first-parity sows kept outdoors. Nursing behaviour, sow activity, sow body reserves, litter size and piglet growth were studied in 40 first-parity sows during a seven week long lactation. The sows were kept in groups outdoors. Sow activity (lying down or active) and nursing behaviour (nursing frequency, nursing duration and nursing terminator) were recorded on videotapes at four days post partum (pp) and directly observed at four and six weeks pp. Cross suckling was observed at four and six weeks pp. Sows were weighed and measured for backfat depth five days before farrowing, two weeks pp and at weaning seven weeks pp. Piglets were weighed at four days pp, at two weeks pp and at weaning. We concluded that sow nursing behaviour and activity are individual characteristics repeatable within sows' late lactation. Less active sows are more available for suckling. Light and thin sows have an earlier and more progressed weaning process than heavier, fatter sows. A significant positive relation was found between sow appetite in early lactation and piglet growth until weaning. Sow nursing behaviour is not important for piglet growth when sows and piglets are held in groups, piglets have access to sow feed and piglets are weaned as late as at seven weeks of age.     

Genetic parameters for maternal behaviour traits in sows

Data from 32 nucleus and multiplier herds in Germany was used to estimate variance components and breeding values for five maternal behaviour traits in sows. The estimation was performed univariately using an animal threshold model. About 31,000 farrowings recorded from December 2003 until July 2005 were included. The heritability coefficients were 0.07 (0.06) for group behaviour, 0.06 (0.03) for attitude to people, 0.05 (0.01) for maternal ability, 0.03 (0.01) for crushing of piglets and 0.02 (0.02) for savaging of piglets. Additionally, genetic correlations between the behaviour traits and between the behaviour traits and litter size, respectively, were estimated multivariately by REML with a linear model. Low heritability and weak genetic correlation to litter size at birth indicate that it may be difficult to genetically improve the maternal behaviour, and that selection for better mothering ability is not necessarily accompanied by reduced litter size at birth.     

Dog ecology and its implications for rabies control in Gwagwalada,Federal Capital Territory,Abuja, Nigeria

The objectives of this study were to determine the characteristics of a dog population, including their accessibility to vaccination and health care, in urban and semiurban areas of Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria. Direct street counts and a house‐to‐house survey of city streets were performed. A total of 451 households were surveyed comprising 43.7% urban and 53.3% semiurban areas. A total of 848 owned dogs were identified, along with 3,115 corresponding humans. With a dog‐to‐human ratio of 1:3.7, the dog population in the study area was estimated as 103,758. A total of 396 dogs were counted on the streets with the greater proportion (74%) in semiurban areas. Most dogs in semiurban areas (77.3%) had no certificate confirming vaccination against rabies, compared to 47.2% in urban areas (p = .004). The majority of dogs in the urban (60.9%) and semiurban (82.0%) were free roaming. In the multivariable model, age, presence of a collar, region, sex, use and having ever visited a veterinarian were significantly associated with rabies vaccination. The majority (125/197, 63.5%) of respondents with higher education were willing to pay more for the healthcare needs of their dogs as opposed to those with a lower level of education (93/251, 37.1%, p = .001). The study revealed a high dog population density, vaccination coverage below WHO recommendation of 70% and generally reduced healthcare‐seeking behaviour among dog owners in Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria.     

Canine oral melanoma

Melanoma is the most common oral malignancy in the dog. Oral and/or mucosal melanoma has been routinely considered an extremely malignant tumor with a high degree of local invasiveness and high metastatic propensity. Primary tumor size has been found to be extremely prognostic. The World Health Organization staging scheme for dogs with oral melanoma is based on size, with stage I = <2-cm-diameter tumor, stage II = 2- to <4-cm-diameter tumor, stage III = > or = 4cm tumor and/or lymph node metastasis, and stage IV = distant metastasis. Median survival times for dogs with oral melanoma treated with surgery are approximately 17 to 18, 5 to 6, and 3 months with stage I, II, and III disease, respectively. Significant negative prognostic factors include stage, size, evidence of metastasis, and a variety of histologic criteria. Standardized treatments such as surgery, coarse-fractionation radiation therapy, and chemotherapy have afforded minimal to modest stage-dependent clinical benefits and death is usually due to systemic metastasis. Numerous immunotherapeutic strategies have been employed to date with limited clinical efficacy; however, the use of xenogeneic DNA vaccines may represent a leap forward in clinical efficacy. Oral melanoma is a spontaneous syngeneic cancer occurring in outbred, immunocompetent dogs and appears to be a more clinically faithful therapeutic model for human melanoma; further use of canine melanoma as a therapeutic model for human melanoma is strongly encouraged. In addition, the development of an expanded but clinically relevant staging system incorporating the aforementioned prognostic factors is also strongly encouraged.     

鸡产蛋下降综合症油乳剂灭活苗的免疫及攻毒保护试验

对应用当地分离病毒株研制的鸡产蛋下降综合症系列油乳剂灭活苗进行了免疫试验。结果表明,免疫后,鸡产蛋下降综合症（ＥＤＳ７６）油乳剂灭活苗、鸡新城疫（ＮＤ）－产蛋下降综合症二联油乳剂灭活苗及鸡新城疫－鸡传染性支气管炎（ＩＢ）－产蛋下降综合症三联油乳剂灭活苗免疫组的血清ＥＤＳ７６ＨＩ抗体迅速上升,维持４个月后仍在６．８－８（ｌｏｇ２）以上,并且能够抵抗强毒的攻击。证明所研制的ＥＤＳ７６油苗、ＮＤ－ＥＤＳ７６二联油苗、ＮＤ－ＩＢ－ＥＤＳ７６三联油苗对ＥＤＳ７６具有良好的免疫作用,能够抵抗ＥＤＳ７６强毒的攻击并产生高而持久的血清ＨＩ抗体。此外,对ＮＤ－ＥＤＳ７６二联苗、ＮＤ－ＩＢ－ＥＤＳ７６三联苗免疫组的血清ＮＤＨＩ抗体测定结果表明,上述二联苗、三联苗能产生与接种ＮＤ油苗一样良好的ＮＤ免疫效果,在免疫后１３０天时,其血清ＨＩ抗体仍高达９－１１（ｌｏｇ２）以上,与对照组有极显著的差异     

鸡传染性支气管炎病毒S1基因免疫对鸡的保护作用

将鸡传染性支气管炎病毒肾型 Ｔ 株 Ｓ１ 基因ｃ Ｄ Ｎ Ａ 连接于ｐｃ Ｄ Ｎ Ａ３ 的 Ｈｉｎｄ Ｉ Ｉ Ｉ与 Ｂａ ｍ Ｈ Ｉ位点之间构建含有 Ｃ Ｍ Ｖ 启动子及 Ｂ Ｇ Ｈｐｏｌｙ Ａ 信号序列的鸡传染性支气管炎病毒 Ｓ１ 蛋白真核表达质粒。实验证明, Ｓ Ｐ Ｆ 鸡肌注免疫后血清 Ｉｇ Ｇ 抗体逐渐升高,至第３５ 日龄左右达到高峰,攻毒后血清 Ｉｇ Ｇ 抗体先下降而后升高,血清 Ｉｇ Ｇ 抗体升高幅度不及 Ｉ Ｂ 油苗免疫组。质粒 Ｄ Ｎ Ａ 免疫鸡攻毒后有４０ ％ 的鸡可耐过强毒的攻击,说明 Ｓ１ 基因在体内获得了表达并使鸡产生了一定的免疫力。