Bacteriology
Identification of mycobacterial infections in wild boars in
Northern Sardinia, Italy.
Stefania Zanetti, Alessandra Bua, Paola Molicotti, Giovanni Delogu, Antonio Mura,
Silvia Ortu and Leonardo Antonio Sechi ..... 145
Clinical
veterinary science
We and our pets: allergic together? Torsten Schäfer, Jessica Merkl, Eckart Klemm, Heinz-Erich
Wichmann and Johannes Ring ..... 153
Importance
of house dust and storage mites in canine atopic dermatitis in the geographic region of Galicia, Spain. Ana Goicoa, Luciano
Espino, Isabel Rodríguez, Anna Puigdemont, Pilar Brazis and Juan Rejas ..... 163
Genetics
Breeding for scrapie resistance in the Hungarian sheep
population. László
Fésüs, Attila Zsolnai, István Anton and László Sáfár ..... 173
Effect
of dgat1 and tg gene polymorphisms on intramuscular fat and on
milk production traits in different cattle breeds in Hungary. István Anton, Katalin Kovács, László Fésüs, József Várhegyi, László
Lehel, Zoltán Hajda, J. Péter Polgár, Ferenc Szabó and Attila Zsolnai ..... 181
Immunology
The influence of tnf? and il-8
on secretory action of neutrophils isolated from heifers in the course of bovine
respiratory disease. Joanna Wessely-Szponder ..... 187
Contribution
of food deprivation to the immune response in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus
mykiss) vaccinated against Cryptobia salmositica and
Aeromonas salmonicida. Saeid Reza Nourollahi-Fard and Patrick T. K. Woo ..... 197
Pathology
Gastric zygomycosis in a pig
affected with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome – Case report. Levente Szeredi and Csaba Szentirmai ..... 207
Klebsiella oxytoca as a cause of equine abortion – Short
communication. Levente Szeredi,
Szilárd Jánosi and Miklós Tenk ..... 215
Physiology
and physiological chemistry
Immunolocalisation of oestrogen
receptors alpha (er?) and beta (erß) in porcine embryos and fetuses at
different stages of gestation. Katarzyna Knapczyk,
Malgorzata Duda, Bozena Szafranska, Katarzyna Wolsza, Grzegorz Panasiewicz, Marek
Koziorowski and Maria Slomczynska ..... 221
Plasma parathyroid hormone-related
peptide and bone metabolism in periparturient dairy cows. Natalija Filipović, Zvonko Stojević, Maja Zdelar-Tuk and Vesna Kušec ..... 235
Reproduction
Open-pulled straw (ops)
vitrification of in vitro fertilised mouse embryos at various stages. Chang-Liang Yan, Qi-En Yang, Guang-Bin Zhou, Yun-Peng Hou, Xue-Ming Zhao,
Zhi-Qiang Fan, Man-Qing Liu, Lin Liu and Shi-En Zhu ..... 245
Virology
Molecular characterisation of infectious bursal disease
viruses isolated in recent acute outbreaks in Slovenia. Olga Zorman Rojs, Uroš Krapež, Brigita Slavec, Sara Mankoč, Rahela
Jurišič-Cizerl and Darja Barlič-Maganja ..... 255
Denatured
virion protein 1 of equine rhinitis b
virus 1 contains authentic B-cell epitopes recognised in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay – Short communication. Gernot Kriegshäuser, Anne
Cullinane, Ernst Kuechler and Timothy Skern ..... 265
IDENTIFICATION
OF MYCOBACTERIAL INFECTIONS IN WILD BOARS IN NORTHERN SARDINIA,
ITALY
Stefania Zanetti1, Alessandra Bua1*, Paola Molicotti1, Giovanni Delogu2, Antonio Mura3, Silvia Ortu1 and Leonardo Antonio Sechi1
1Section of Clinical
and Experimental Microbiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari,
Viale San Pietro 43/b, Sassari 07100, Italy; 2Institute of Microbiology,
Catholic University, Rome, Italy; 3Local Health Authority No. 2 of Olbia, Italy
(Received 14 June 2007; accepted 6
September 2007)
During a six-month
period a region of Northern Sardinia
was monitored to check the presence of mycobacterial infections in wild boars. Forty-eight
serum and 229 biopsy samples were collected from different animals and examined by both
traditional diagnostic techniques (culture, bacterioscopic and molecular tests) and
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The latter was used to determine the antibody
response against both methylated and nonmethylated Heparin-Binding Haemagglutinin (HBHA)
protein. Nine mycobacterial strains were isolated: three M. avium ssp. paratuberculosis (Map), three M. avium, one M. interjectum and two M. scrofulaceum strains. By PCR, only one animal
was positive for M. bovis, whereas 10 animals
were positive for Map. Out of the 48 sera tested, 19 showed a good humoral response to
methylated HBHA and 17 to nonmethylated HBHA. Our data provide new information on the
prevalence of mycobacterial infection among wild boars in Northern
Sardinia and suggest that a more effective program should be
developed to monitor mycobacterial infections in the wild animal population.
Key
words: Tuberculosis, wild boars, Mycobacterium
bovis, HBHA, humoral response
Corresponding
author; E-mail: ale.b76@email.it; Phone: 0039 (079) 229-807; Fax: 0039 (079) 212-345
WE
AND OUR PETS: ALLERGIC TOGETHER?
Torsten Schäfer1*, Jessica Merkl2, Eckart Klemm2, Heinz-Erich Wichmann3 and Johannes Ring2
1Department of Social
Medicine, Medical University Lübeck, Beckergrube 43-47, 23552 Lübeck, Germany; 2Department
of Dermatology and Allergy, am Biederstein, and Division of Environmental Dermatology and
Allergology, GSF, Technical University Munich, Germany; 3GSF, National Research
Centre for Environment and Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Neuherberg, and Institute of
Medical Data Processing, Biometrics and Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich,
Germany
(Received 18 April 2007; accepted
6 September 2007)
The study of allergies in creatures living
together without being relatives can help us understand the impact of environmental
influences. We tested the association of allergies in humans and their pets. A nested
unmatched case-control study was performed in a random sample of 4261 inhabitants, aged 25–74
years, of the City of Augsburg, Germany and two adjacent counties. Using standardised
computer-assisted face-to-face interviews, we determined and compared the prevalence of
doctor-diagnosed atopic diseases (hay fever, asthma, atopic dermatitis) in the study
subjects and veterinarian-diagnosed allergies in their pets. Pets were kept in 48.0% of
the households (cats 26.1%, dogs 20.1%, rodents 9.7%) and a veterinarian had diagnosed an
allergy in 3.9% (cats 3.3%, dogs 4.7%, rodents 1.2%). Atopic diseases were diagnosed in
20.2% of the study subjects (asthma 6.1%, hay fever 13.7%, atopic dermatitis 5.1%). After
adjustment for age, sex, parental predisposition and social status a significant
association between hay fever in the study subjects and allergies in their pets was
observed [odds ratio (OR) 1.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–2.97]. This
association was more pronounced when investigating dogs only (OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.32–5.77)
where in addition an association with the overall prevalence of atopic diseases in the
study subjects reached significance (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.16–4.58). We conclude that there
is indication for a concomitant occurrence of allergies in humans and their pets. Shared
environmental factors are the most likely explanation.
Key
words: Adults, allergy, epidemiology, pets
Correspondence: Prof. Dr. Torsten Schäfer, MPH;
E-mail: torsten.schaefer@uk-sh.de; Phone: 0049 (451)
799-2530; Fax: 0049 (451) 799-2539
IMPORTANCE
OF HOUSE DUST AND STORAGE MITES IN CANINE ATOPIC DERMATITIS IN THE
GEOGRAPHIC REGION OF GALICIA, SPAIN
Ana Goicoa1,
Luciano Espino1, Isabel Rodríguez1, Anna Puigdemont2, Pilar Brazis2 and Juan Rejas3
1Department of
Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Rof Codina Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, 22741 Lugo, Spain; 2UNIVET
Veterinary Diagnostic Service, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain; 3Department
of Veterinary Medicine, University of León, Spain
(Received 15 February 2007; accepted 6 September 2007)
Sensitisation to mites
is frequent in atopic dogs. The main mite genus involved in canine atopic dermatitis is Dermatophagoides. The importance of storage mite
allergens in dogs has been controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
sensitisation rates against storage mites (Lepidoglyphus
destructor and Tyrophagus
putrescentiae) and house dust mites (Dermatophagoides
farinae and D. pteronyssinus) in atopic dogs
from Galicia, a highly humid and
temperate region of Spain, using a Fc?RI?-based
immunoglobulin E (IgE) in vitro test. The study
was performed on 95 dogs suffering from atopic dermatitis and presenting detectable
specific serum IgE levels: 91.6% of the dogs tested positive for storage mites, whereas
sensitisation to house dust mites was detected in 87.4%. These results indicate the
importance of storage mites in this specific geographic area.
Key
words: House dust mite, storage mite, dog, atopy, allergy
BREEDING
FOR SCRAPIE RESISTANCE IN THE HUNGARIAN SHEEP POPULATION
László Fésüs1, Attila Zsolnai1, István Anton1 and László Sáfár2
1Research Institute for
Animal Breeding and Nutrition, H-2053 Herceghalom, Gesztenyés út 1, Hungary; 2Hungarian Sheepbreeders’
Association, Budapest, Hungary
(Received 16 May 2007; accepted 6
September 2007)
The first results of the
Hungarian sheep prion protein (PrP) genotyping programme are discussed in this paper. To
obtain initial genotype frequency data 10 commercial (Hungarian Merino, German Mutton
Merino, Merino Landschaf, German Blackheaded, Suffolk, Texel, Ile de France, Charollais,
Lacaune, British Milksheep) and 4 indigenous (Gyimes Racka, Hortobágy Racka, Tsigaja,
Cikta) breeds were sampled in 2003 and 2004, and the PrP genotypes were determined by
microsequencing analysis with capillary electrophoresis. In all commercial breeds, a
higher number of sheep were genotyped in 2005 (3648) and in 2006 (3834) within the
breeding programme to increase scrapie resistance, and the estimated frequency data were
compared to the initial figures to evaluate the efficiency of selection. The new
developments arising from the identification of the so-called ‘atypical’ scrapie cases
are also discussed.
Key
words: Scrapie, sheep, prion protein
genotypes, marker-assisted selection
EFFECT
OF DGAT1 AND TG GENE POLYMORPHISMS ON INTRAMUSCULAR FAT AND ON MILK PRODUCTION TRAITS IN
DIFFERENT CATTLE BREEDS IN HUNGARY
István Anton1, Katalin Kovács1,
László Fésüs1, József Várhegyi1, László Lehel1, Zoltán Hajda1, J. Péter Polgár2, Ferenc Szabó2 and
Attila Zsolnai1
1Research Institute for
Animal Breeding and Nutrition, H-2053 Herceghalom, Gesztenyés u. 1, Hungary; 2Georgikon Faculty of
Agriculture, University of Pannonia, Keszthely, Hungary
(Received 15 May 2007; accepted 6
September 2007)
The objective of this
study was to estimate the effect of the thyroglobulin (TG) locus on beef quality traits in
some beef cattle breeds and to investigate the effect of the DGAT1 locus on milk
production traits in the Hungarian Holstein Friesian population. TG and DGAT1 genotypes
were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism
(PCR-RFLP) assay. At the TG locus TT bulls showed the highest fat percentage values in the
longissimus dorsi muscle (m. longissimus dorsi); the difference between CC and TT
genotypes was significant. DGAT1 GC/GC cows had the highest milk, fat and protein yield
values. Due to the relatively small number of GC/GC cows the difference proved to be
significant only between AA/AA and AA/GC genotypes.
Key words: Cattle, TG, DGAT1, PCR-RFLP,
intramuscular fat, dairy traits
THE
INFLUENCE OF TNF? AND IL-8 ON SECRETORY ACTION OF NEUTROPHILS
ISOLATED FROM HEIFERS IN THE COURSE OF BOVINE RESPIRATORY DISEASE
Joanna Wessely-Szponder
Department of Pathophysiology,
Chair of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural
Academy, Akademicka 12, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
(Received 26 April 2007; accepted 6
September 2007)
The goal of this study was to give insight into the lesser
known action of neutrophils in the course of bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Neutrophils
are principally involved in resistance to infection but under certain conditions these
cells participate in lung injury. TNF? and IL-8, primary cytokines which play an
essential role in neutrophil activation during the inflammatory process, may lead not only
to host defence reaction but also to destructive responses. Neutrophil constituents, such
as elastase, myeloperoxidase (MPO), alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) and superoxide among others, contribute to tissue
destruction. Also, 5-oxo-eicosatetraenoic
acid (5-oxo-ETE), the potent activator of neutrophil chemotaxis
and degranulation, can cause lung injury. This study revealed that neutrophils under the
influence of TNF? exacerbated the release of elastase, MPO, ALKP and superoxide. IL-8, in turn, triggered those neutrophils which were
isolated from heifers suffering from BRD, and released elastase, ALKP and 5-oxo-ETE, but
not MPO or superoxide (O2–). The most pronounced degranulative
response was observed in the acute form of BRD and a lesser response was seen in the
chronic form. The secretory action of neutrophils varied not only depending on the form
and phase of the disease but it also diminished successively during recovery.
Key
words: Neutrophil, elastase, TNF?, IL-8, bovine respiratory disease (BRD)
CONTRIBUTION OF FOOD
DEPRIVATION TO THE IMMUNE RESPONSE IN RAINBOW TROUT (ONCORHYNCHUS
MYKISS) VACCINATED AGAINST CRYPTOBIA SALMOSITICA
AND AEROMONAS SALMONICIDA
Saeid Reza Nourollahi-Fard1* and Patrick T. K. Woo2
1School of Veterinary
Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran; 2Department of
Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada
(Received 27 April 2007; accepted 6
September 2007)
The aims of the present study were to determine (a) the
effectiveness of an attenuated live Cryptobia
salmositica vaccine; (b) the effects of food deprivation on the immune response and
its duration in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
immunised with a live C. salmositica vaccine or
with a killed Aeromonas salmonicida vaccine. The fish were divided into three groups (I, II
and III; 14 fish per group), those in Groups I and II were under food deprivation (0.40%
of body weight), while Group III fish were fed to satiety. The study showed that the
attenuated strain of C. salmositica did not
cause anaemia and disease, and the fish were protected from clinical disease when they
were challenged with virulent parasites. Parasitaemia in all fish vaccinated and
challenged with virulent C. salmositica
fluctuated and was relatively low; however, fish in Group III had higher parasitaemia than
those in Groups I and II between weeks 8 and 14. The numbers of activated neutrophils
increased [nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assay] after immunisation with both Cryptobia and Aeromonas vaccines and they remained high
throughout the experiment. Antibody production (ELISA values) increased after vaccination
and were slightly higher in Group III. ELISA titres against A. salmonicida increased after vaccination and
decreased after 5 weeks. The titres increased again after the vaccinated fish were given
booster, and they were higher than those in the first vaccinated fish.
Key
words: Cryptobia, Aeromonas, vaccine, food deprivation
Corresponding
author; E-mail: nourollahifard@mail.uk.ac.ir; Fax: 0098
(341) 322-2047; Phone: 0098 (341) 322-2047
GASTRIC ZYGOMYCOSIS IN A PIG AFFECTED WITH POSTWEANING
MULTISYSTEMIC WASTING SYNDROME – CASE REPORT
Levente Szeredi1 and Csaba Szentirmai2
1Central Agricultural
Office, Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate, H-1149 Budapest, Tábornok u. 2, Hungary;
2Veterinary Practitioner, Budapest, Hungary
(Received 27 April 2007; accepted 6
September 2007)
A postweaning pig died
in spite of antibiotic therapy showing wasting in a small herd. Postweaning multisystemic
wasting syndrome (PMWS) was diagnosed on the basis of gross pathological and histological
lesions and the presence of moderate amounts of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) antigen in
tissue samples. Mycotic gastritis caused by Zygomycetes
spp. was found on round areas with a diameter of 1 to 3 cm in the glandular mucosa of the stomach. Moderate amount of PCV2 viral
antigen was detected almost evenly in the stomach and mostly in the macrophages. In
addition, acute uraemia, revealed by an ammonia-like stink of the gastric mucosa and the
presence of acute erosions on the glandular mucosa of the stomach, was observed as a
consequence of PCV2-induced interstitial nephritis. Only PCV2 infection could be
identified as a cause of secondary mycotic gastritis. The results further support the
immunosuppressive ability of PCV2 infection in PMWS-affected pigs.
Key
words: Swine, gastritis, Zygomycetes spp.,
porcine circovirus type 2
KLEBSIELLA OXYTOCA
AS A CAUSE OF EQUINE ABORTION – SHORT COMMUNICATION
Levente Szeredi, Szilárd Jánosi and Miklós Tenk
Central Agricultural Office,
Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate, H-1149 Budapest, Tábornok u. 2, Hungary
(Received 27 July 2007; accepted 6
September 2007)
Klebsiella (K.) oxytoca infection induced the abortion of a female
equine fetus in the 10th month of pregnancy. Bacteria were cultured from the liver, lung
and stomach content. They were labelled with an anti-Mycobacterium
bovis antibody in the thymus, liver and lungs and were stained with Giemsa and
Brown-Brenn staining in the thymus and lung. The diffusely consolidated lungs contained
numerous grey-whitish foci 2–4 mm in diameter, which corresponded to severe
pyogranulomatous pneumonia characterised by numerous intraalveolar neutrophils and
macrophages and multinucleated Langhans’ giant cells. K. oxytoca was located in the cytoplasm of these
cells, and extracellularly in the lumen of alveoli, bronchioles and bronchi, in the
capsule of thymus and in the sinusoids of the liver. The results indicate that K. oxytoca can cause sporadic equine abortion.
Key
words: Equine abortion, Klebsiella oxytoca,
fetal pneumonia
IMMUNOLOCALISATION
OF OESTROGEN RECEPTORS ALPHA (ER?) AND BETA (ERß) IN PORCINE EMBRYOS AND FETUSES AT
DIFFERENT STAGES OF GESTATION
Katarzyna Knapczyk1,
Malgorzata Duda1, Bozena Szafranska2, Katarzyna Wolsza1, Grzegorz Panasiewicz2, Marek Koziorowski3 and Maria Slomczynska1
1Department of
Endocrinology and Tissue Culture, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Ingardena
6, 30-060 Krakow, Poland; 2Department of Animal Physiology, University of
Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland; 3Department of Physiology and Reproduction
of Animals, University of Rzeszow, Rzeszow, Poland
(Received 30 May 2007; accepted 6
September 2007)
The sites of oestrogen
action can be shown by the localisation of their receptors in the target tissues. The aim
of the present study was to show the localisation of oestrogen receptors in porcine
embryos and fetuses obtained on days 18, 22, 32, 40, 50, 60, 71 and 90 post coitum (p.c.). The visualisation of proteins
was conducted in embryos and various fetal organs such as gonads, uterus, lung, kidney,
intestine and adrenal gland. Both ERs were observed in the blastocysts on day 18 p.c. In
the male, ERß was detected in the testis and epididymis, whereas ER? was present in the
efferent ductules. In the female, ERß was detected in the ovarian stromal cells investing
the oocyte nests, while ER? protein was detected in the surface epithelium. In the
uterus, ERs were present in the stromal cells, while ERß was present in the luminal
epithelium. In the non-reproductive fetal porcine tissues ERß was localised in the lungs,
kidneys, adrenal glands and in the umbilical cords. Both ERs were observed in the
intestine. It is possible that ERß may play important roles in the development of the
adrenal gland, testis, kidney and lungs, while both ERs are involved in the development of
the ovary, uterus, epididymis and intestine of the porcine fetus.
Key
words: ER?, ERß, immunohistochemistry, embryo, pig
PLASMA
PARATHYROID HORMONE-RELATED PEPTIDE AND BONE METABOLISM IN PERIPARTURIENT DAIRY COWS
Natalija Filipović1, Zvonko Stojević1, Maja Zdelar-Tuk1 and Vesna Kušec2
1Department of
Physiology and Radiobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova
55, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia; 2Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
(Received 12 April 2007; accepted 6
September 2007)
The first weeks of
lactation in dairy cows are characterised by elevated bone resorption. The connection
between lactation and bone metabolism is still much discussed. In this work, changes in
the concentration of plasma parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) and markers of
bone metabolism were studied in Holstein cows and heifers in the dry period and early lactation to determine the role
of PTHrP in the relationship between the rate of bone remodelling and the onset of
lactation in dairy cows. Blood samples were taken 14 days before calving (‘D–14’, n
= 23) and then on day 10 (‘D+10’,
n = 21) and day 30 after calving (‘D+30’, n = 23). Using enzyme immunoassay (EIA), the concentrations of PTHrP,
parathyroid hormone (PTH), carboxyterminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen
(CTX) and oestradiol and the activity of bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BSALP) were
determined. The results showed a statistically significant increase in plasma PTHrP (p
< 0.005) and CTX (p < 0.0001) in cows on ‘D+10’ as compared to ‘D–14’ and CTX on ‘D+30’ as compared to ‘D-14’
(p < 0.0001). Significant negative correlations were found between the concentrations
of PTHrP and oestradiol (r = –0.29, p < 0.05) and those of CTX and oestradiol (r =
–0.54, p < 0.0001). In nonpregnant heifers (n = 6), the concentration of CTX and the
activity of BSALP were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than in dry cows. The
observed increments of PTHrP and bone resorption after parturition reveal adaptations of
bone metabolism to lactation in dairy cows.
Key
words: Dairy cow, lactation, PTHrP, bone remodelling markers
OPEN-PULLED
STRAW (OPS) VITRIFICATION OF IN VITRO FERTILISED
MOUSE EMBRYOS AT VARIOUS STAGES
Chang-Liang Yan1,,
Qi-En Yang1,*, Guang-Bin Zhou1,2, Yun-Peng Hou1, Xue-Ming Zhao1, Zhi-Qiang Fan1, Man-Qing Liu1, Lin Liu1 and Shi-En Zhu1,
1College of Animal
Science and Technology, and State Key Laboratories for Agrobiotechnology, China
Agricultural University, Beijing, P.R. China; 2Dujiangyan Campus of Sichuan
Agricultural University, Dujiangyan, P.R. China
(Received 19 June 2007; accepted 6
September 2007)
The present study was
designed to investigate the cryotolerance of in
vitro fertilised (IVF) mouse embryos at various preimplantation developmental stages.
IVF mouse embryos were vitrified by the open-pulled straw (OPS) method. After warming,
embryos were morphologically evaluated and assessed by their development to blastocysts,
hatched blastocysts or term. The results showed that a high proportion (93.3–100.0%) of
vitrified embryos at all developmental stages were morphologically normal after recovery.
The developmental rate of vitrified 1-cell embryos to blastocyst (40.0%) or hatched
blastocyst (32.7%) or term (9.3%) was significantly lower than that from other stages (P
< 0.05). Vitrified embryos from 2-cell to early blastocyst stage showed similar
blastocyst (71.8–89.5%) and hatched blastocyst rates (61.1–69.6%) and could develop to
term without a significant loss of survival compared with those of fresh embryos (P >
0.05). Vitrified 2-cell embryos showed the highest survival rate in vivo (50.6%, 88/174), compared with that from
other stages (9.3–30.5%, P < 0.05). The data demonstrate that the OPS method is
suitable for the cryopreservation of IVF mouse embryos from 2-cell stage to early
blastocyst stage without a significant loss of survival. Embryos at the 2-cell stage had
the best tolerance for cryopreservation in the present study.
Key
words: OPS, mouse, IVF, embryo transfer,
vitrification
MOLECULAR
CHARACTERISATION OF INFECTIOUS BURSAL DISEASE VIRUSES ISOLATED IN RECENT ACUTE OUTBREAKS
IN SLOVENIA
Olga Zorman Rojs1,
Uroš Krapež1, Brigita Slavec1, Sara Mankoč1, Rahela Jurišič-Cizerl2 and Darja Barlič-Maganja1
1Veterinary Faculty,
University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; 2Veterinary Ambulance Perutnina Ptuj,
Veterinarstvo d.o.o., Ptuj, Slovenia
(Received 27 April 2007; accepted 6
September 2007)
In 2004 and then in 2006
several outbreaks of infectious bursal disease (IBD) were reported in broiler and broiler
breeder flocks in Slovenia. In this
report ten recently emerged IBD viruses (IBDV) were characterised by sequence analysis of
the VP2 hypervariable region and compared to previous Slovene IBDV strains from 1995/1996
and to some representative serotype 1 IBDV strains of different pathotypes. On the basis
of nucleotide and amino acid identities, phylogenetic analyses and the presence of very
virulent IBDV (vvIBDV) conserved amino acid substitutions, all Slovene isolates from
recent outbreaks were identified as vvIBDV. Although some unique nucleotide exchanges and
amino acid substitutions have been observed, the results of this study indicated that
recent vvIBDV isolates are closely related with those from outbreaks in the 1990s.
However, acute IBD has not been reported in commercial flocks in Slovenia for some years. This could lead to the conclusion that poor biosecurity and
relaxed vaccination could be responsible for the re-emergence of vvIBDV.
Key
words: Poultry, infectious bursal disease
virus, VP2, molecular characterisation
DENATURED VIRION PROTEIN 1 OF
EQUINE RHINITIS B VIRUS 1 CONTAINS
AUTHENTIC B-CELL EPITOPES RECOGNISED IN AN ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY – SHORT
COMMUNICATION
Gernot Kriegshäuser1, Anne Cullinane2, Ernst Kuechler1 and Timothy Skern1
1Max F. Perutz
Laboratories, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; 2Irish
Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, County Kildare, Ireland
(Received 4 June 2007; accepted 6
September 2007)
Equine rhinitis B virus
1 (ERBV1), genus Erbovirus, family Picornaviridae, is a pathogen of horses which
causes clinical and subclinical infection of the upper respiratory tract in horses. The
virus is widespread in European horse populations and the current standard method for the
detection of antibody against ERBV1 is by virus neutralisation (VN). VN tests, however,
are labour-intensive and time-consuming, require tissue culture facilities, and generally
do not provide same-day results. In this study, a protocol for the high-level expression
and purification of recombinant virion protein 1 (rVP1) was established using
metal-chelate affinity chromatography under denaturing condition. When used as a coating
antigen in a prototype enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), denatured rVP1 was
recognised by ERBV1 antibody present in horse serum. This finding suggests that denatured
rVP1 is a promising candidate for the development of an ELISA to be used in the routine
laboratory diagnosis of ERBV1 infection in horses.
Key
words: Capsid protein, ELISA, equine
rhinitis B virus 1, serodiagnosis
