title: II, 11. Human adaptive immunity to rotaviruses: A model of intestinal mucosal adaptive immunity

text: This chapter discusses the human adaptive immune response to rotaviruses (RVs), placing the immune response to RVs in the context of the immune response to other mucosal viruses. The chapter discusses the studies of both RV-specific T and B cells. As children with T and/or B immunodeficiencies can develop chronic RV infection, prolonged symptoms, and extraintestinal infection, it is clear that both T and B cells are important for immunity to RV. The various reasons proposed to explain the absence of complete immunity to mucosal viruses such as RV, following primary infection, include a short incubation period after viral exposure, difficulty in maintaining a high level of protective antibody at respiratory and gastrointestinal mucosal surfaces, and a short-lived protective humoral mucosal immune response.


title: BHV1 infections: Relevance and spread in Europe

text: Infections caused by BHV1 are very common in Europe, but the disease pattern is quite different: the diseases of the genital tract are most common, those of the respiratory tract vary in intensity and prevalence. Digestive disorders connected with BHV1 are in general only observed in calves and mainly in Belgium. Virus strains causing abortion or encephalitis are only present in a few countries. The same is true for BHV1 induced mastitis. Dermatitis and lesions in the interdigital space seem to be a rare event. BHV1 infections are frequently complicated by bacterial secondary infections, but there is evidence that BHV1 infections can occur simultaneously with bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD) and/or parainfluenza-3 (PI 3) virus. The biggest problem associated with BHV1 infection is the ability of the agent to become latent following a primary infection. The genome of the virus probably remains during the life of the animal in the ganglia of the region where the primary infection occurred. No vaccination can overcome this latent stage. By prophylactic vaccination it is possible to prevent an outbreak of clinical disease but it is impossible to prevent infection followed by the establishment of latency. Eradication programmes in Austria, Denmark and Switzerland have removed most of the seropositive cattle from the bovine populations. Currently a sanitary programme is also being conducted in Germany.


title: Neonatal calf diarrhea induced by rotavirus

text: This presentation summarizes the results of a comprehensive study on rotaviruses isolated in Italy from calves and rabbits affected by neonatal diarrhea. The results clearly indicated that rotavirus infection is widespread and supported the evidence for an etiologic role of these viruses in neonatal diarrhea. The evidence of differences in virulence among bovine rotaviruses appeared also to be confirmed. Conventionally reared calves were fully susceptible to the experimental infection induced by three rotaviruses originating from heterologous hosts, i.e. monkeys, pigs and rabbits, respectively. When rotavirus strains of bovine, simian, porcine and rabbit origin were compared by cross neutralization tests, it was found the simian and porcine strains were indistinguishable and both appeared to relate antigenically to the bovine strain. On the other hand, a reciprocal antigenic correlation was found between bovine and rabbit isolates. Finally, it was proven that feeding newborn calves with colostrum of their dams, previously vaccinated with an inactivated rotavirus vaccine, could prevent the neonatal diarrhea from occurring.


title: Laboratory techniques of veterinary clinical immunology: A review

text: Laboratory tests currently used or easily applicable in veterinary clinical immunology were reviewed in the following three categories: (1) tests detecting disorders in humoral immune response: serum protein screening tests, gammaglobulin estimation and complement testing: (2) tests detecting disorders in cellular immune response: phagocyte function tests and lymphocyte function tests; (3) tests detecting autoimmune disorders: detection of antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, autoimmune hemolytic diseases, and autoimmune organ and tissue disorders. The principles of the tests and the interpretations of the results are presented with the appropriate references.


Colour Section


title: Expression cloning and antigenic analysis of the nucleocapsid protein of equine arteritis virus

text: A series of recombinant fusion proteins derived from equine arteritis virus (EAV) open reading frame (ORF) 7 have been used to define the immunoreactive region of the viral nucleocapsid (N) protein. Reactivities of recombinant N fusion proteins with post-infection equine sera in immunoblots and ELISAs indicate that the major nucleocapsid protein epitope is located within amino acid residues 1–69. In ELISAs two recombinant nucleocapsid fusion proteins containing residues 1–69 (rN1–69) and 1–28 (rN1–28) discriminated between pre- and post-infection, and pre- and post-vaccination serum samples. Additionally rN1–69 and rN1–28 detected seroconversions following vaccination with a killed virus preparation, even in the absence of a detectable virus neutralising response. Although a good correlation existed between virus neutralising antibody and rN1–69 ELISA positive values in post-infection sera, all the rN proteins failed to induce any virus neutralising response in immunised rabbits.


title: Virucidal effect of murine duodenal extracts: studies with lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus

text: Mucosal resistance to infection with lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV) has been previously demonstrated, and the LDV system presents an important murine model for the study of mucosal barriers to viral infection. In the present study, duodenal molecules were isolated from normal mice which had potent virucidal activity, when tested against LDV as well as canine herpes, canine hepatitis, Semliki forest, and visna viruses. The virucidal activity was demonstrated to be non-immune in nature, and was present in apparently non-enzymatic protein molecules, having a molecular mass of between 10–100 kDa by membrane filtration and 10–17 kDa by gel filtration. The anti-LDV activity of these molecules was suppressed by anti-duodenum antibodies in vitro, and in vivo studies suggested a possible protective role for the anti-viral molecules. We conclude that the normal mouse duodenum contains potent virucidal molecules, which are of interest to the study of biological and molecular mechanisms of viral resistance.


title: Characterization of monoclonal antibodies recognizing neurotropic Friend murine leukemia virus

text: We isolated a replication-competent, neurotropic retrovirus (FrC6 virus) and its molecular clone A8 from the NB-tropic Friend murine leukemia virus (FLV) complex. For detection and characterization of the FrC6 and A8 viruses, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the FLV complex were established. Thirty MAbs, each of which reacted with the FLV-producing cell line, were tested for potential neutralizing activities; only two MAbs inhibited the proliferation of the A8 virus. These two MAbs were ineffective or had very weak neutralizing activities toward the non-neurotropic FLV strain clone 57 virus. Further characterization of MAbs by immunoprecipitation revealed that 4 MAbs recognized the envelope protein of the A8 virus. Two of these 4 MAbs recognized the surface glycoprotein gp70, requiring the conformational epitope of the virus for this recognition, while the other two MAbs, which were reactive with the transmembrane protein p15E, were conformation-independent Both of the MAbs against gp70 distinguished neuropathogenic and non-neuropathogenic viruses to some extent, through neutralizing activity or binding activity detected by immunoprecipitation, whereas the two MAbs against p15E reacted with the viruses in a similar manner. Furthermore, one of the MAbs distinguished the viral antigen in the wall of the vacuolation that composes the spongiotic lesion induced by FrC6 viral infection of the brain.


title: MHC antigen expression on bulk isolated macrophage-microglia from newborn mouse brain: induction of Ia antigen expression by γ-interferon

text: Macrophage-microglia were isolated from primary mixed brain cell cultures of normal newborn mice. They were successfully maintained in vitro for at least 8 weeks. Purity of the cultures was 97–100%, as determined by endocytosis of latex beads, non-specific staining through Fc receptors, EA and EAC rosette formation. These cells were non-specific esterase-positive, but peroxidase-negative. Electron-microscope observations revealed morphological similarities to mature macrophages. Isolated macrophage-microglia seldom incorporated [(3)H]thymidine in vitro. By means of (51)Cr release assay, using monoclonal antibodies against mouse major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens and complement, we detected class I MHC (H-2) antigen on unstimulated macrophage-microglia, and both class I and class II (Ia) antigens on γ-interferon-treated cells. These observations suggest possible immunoregulatory functions of macrophage-microglia in the central nervous system, as is characteristics of other cells of monocyte lineage.


title: Cell surface proteins of Entamoeba histolytica

text: To ask what is new in Entamoeba histolytica research, one need look no further than the surface of this protozoan parasite. In the past year the cloning and partial characterization of five different surface antigens have been reported, a remarkable result of international research efforts against amebiosis. One of these proteins is the first protective immunogen identified in the animal model of amebic liver abscess. Barbara Mann and William Petri review these recent results, propose a nomenclature for the gene family of E. histolytica galactose lectins and discuss the roles of the different surface proteins in adhesion.


title: Genetic variation in open reading frame 2 of field isolates and laboratory strains of equine arteritis virus

text: The open reading frame 2 (ORF2) of three laboratory strains, the live attenuated vaccine virus, and 18 field isolates of equine arteritis virus (EAV) from Europe and North America was sequenced. The ORF2 of EAV encodes the G(s) protein that is abundantly expressed in infected cells but constitutes less than 2% of the virion protein mass. Variation of ORF2 among the isolates facilitated phylogenetic analysis that largely confirmed results of an earlier study based on sequence divergence of ORF5 of the same isolates of EAV, despite exposure of the proteins encoded by ORF2 (G(s)) and ORF5 (G(L)) to potentially different selective pressures in vivo. The data indicate that the G(s) protein is highly conserved between isolates, considerably more so than the G(L) protein, consistent with an important role of the G(s) protein in virus replication.


title: Bovine interferon: Its biology and application in veterinary medicine

text: Investigations of the production and potential use of bovine interferons against viral infections have occurred since the first descriptions of interferons in other systems. The recent advent of recombinant DNA-technology has facilitated such studies and furthered our knowledge about the bovine interferon system in general. This review gives an overview of the biology, antiviral and immunomodulatory activities of bovine interferons. Areas in which the interferons are now applied or have potential application in viral diseases in cattle are described. Finally, the value of studies of the bovine interferon system with respect to comparative interferon research is discussed.


title: Effects of pseudorabies virus infection upon cytotoxicity and antiviral activities of porcine alveolar macrophages

text: Alveolar macrophages (AM) infected with Pseudorabies virus (PRV) were compared to noninfected AM for cytotoxicity against foreign or transformed cells and production of interferon (IFN). Five PRV strains were used to infect AM including strains that are known to be highly virulent for pigs, i.e. strain 4892 and strain S-62 as well as strains that are regarded as mild or nonvirulent, i.e. BUK and Bartha. The multiplicity of infection ranged from 0.005 to 0.05 TCID(50)/cell. The target cells in the cytotoxicity assays were either chicken red blood cells, PRV-infected vero cells, or human myeloblastoma cells (K562 cell line). For the producton of IFN, AM cultures were treated with polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) diluted in tissue culture media at a concentration of 5 μg/10(6) cells. Culture supernatants were collected at various times poststimulation and tested for antiviral activity using the Vesicular Stomatitis Virus replication inhibition test. Swine AM were able to lyse chicken red blood cells in an antibody-independent way but not in an antibody-dependent way, whereas lysis of PRV-infected vero cells was accomplished both ways. The cytotoxicity against chicken red blood cells was reduced in the PRV-infected AM as compared to noninfected cells, particularly in AM infected with virulent PRV strains. Specific (51)Cr release values for AM infected with S-62 and 4892 strains were 14 and 19, while the noninfected AM had values of 36. Similarly, in the antibody-dependent cytotoxicity assay against PRV-infected vero cells there was no activity of AM against K562 cells. The production of IFN was readily stimulated with Poly I:C. The optimal time for supernatant collection was between 12 and 16h poststimulation. The antiviral activity was abrogated by treatment of the supernatant with antiserum against human leukocyte IFN; it was therefore considered to be due to interferon-alpha (IFNα) released from the macrophages. The antiviral activity present in supernatants of PRV-infected AM was reduced compared to noninfected AM. The difference between AM cultures infected with virulent strains of PRV and noninfected AM cultures was statistically significant at P ⩽ 0.025. The results provide support to the premise that the role of AM in lung defense can be compromised by PRV infection.


In the news


Abstract book of the 7th ISNI Congress


title: Generation of cytopathogenic subgenomic RNA of classical swine fever virus in persistently infected porcine cell lines

text: Two biological clones (A.1 and B.2) of the classical swine fever virus strain Alfort/187 and the recombinant virus vA187-1, derived from a cDNA clone of Alfort/187, were used to establish persistently infected cultures oft he swine kidney cell lines SK-6 and PK-41. It was found that 100% of the cells in the passaged cultures were positive for viral antigen throughout the course of the experiment. Additionally, supernatants collected upon passaging of the cells continuously contained high titers of infectious virus. In six separate cultures persistently infected with either the biological clones or the recombinant virus, a cytopathic effect occurred spontaneously between passage 8 and 94. The cytopathogenic agent in the supernatants of these cultures could be passaged repeatedly, suggesting the generation of a mutant virus. Analysis of RNA from such cultures revealed the presence of a subgenomic viral RNA of approximately 8 kilobases (kb). In all six cases, this RNA had an identical internal deletion of 4764 nucleotides, including the region coding for all structural proteins. The subgenomic RNA replicated and was packaged in the presence of wild-type virus. Cells infected with cytopathogenic virus contained increased amounts of the viral protein NS3 thought to be involved in pestivirus cytopathogenicity.


title: Detection of related positive-strand RNA virus genomes by reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction using degenerate primers for common replicase sequences

text: A set of degenerate sense and antisense primers were designed on the basis of short segments with identical amino acids in the predicted ORF 1b replicase proteins of lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV), equine arteritis virus (EAV) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, strain Lelystad virus (PRRSV-LV), which are members of a new group of positive-strand RNA viruses. Reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction amplification using this set of degenerate primers yielded products of the expected size from the genomes of all three viruses. It also yielded a product of appropriate size from the genome of another strain of PRRSV (VR2332), the ORF 1b sequence of which is unknown, but the 3′ end of the genome of which differs from that of the PRRSV-LV genome by about 50%. No products were generated from the genome of simian hemorhagic fever virus (SHFV), another member of this virus group. However, an appropriate product was generated with a second set of degenerate primers which was designed from the same ORF 1b segments of LDV, EAV and PRRSV-LV as the first set but on the basis of human codon preferences. Sequence analysis showed that the amplified SHFV ORF 1b segment exhibited about 50% nucleotide identity with the corresponding segments of ORF 1b of LDV, EAV and PRRSV. The results show that these and other degenerate primer sets might be useful for the search of related viruses in other mammalian species.


title: Vaccination of pregnant cows with K99 antigen of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and protection by colostrum in newborn calves

text: The immune response to the K99 was tested in 45 pregnant cows, subcutaneously vaccinated, for protecting the newborn calves. Serological tests were performed in the blood sera of all animals and in the milk and colostrum sera; hemogram, inhibition of the adhesion to the brush border and histological tests were performed. The calves from vaccinated cows survived the experimental infection after the suction of colostrum in spite of the fact that the calves from control dams died with diarrhea.


title: The efficacy of intranasal interferonα-2a in respiratory syncytial virus infection in volunteers

text: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, self-administered intranasal interferonα-2a or placebo was given both before and after challenge with respiratory syncytial virus. The incidence of colds and the severity of signs and symptoms were reduced in those receiving interferonα-2a as compared with those given placebo. In a further double-blind, placebo-controlled study, self-administered interferonα-2a or placebo was given only to those volunteers who developed colds following challenge with respiratory syncytial virus. There was no evidence that interferonα-2a reduced the severity of the signs and symptoms or shortened the duration of the illness. The similarity of these results to the effect of interferonα-2a in rhinovirus infections in volunteers is discussed.


title: Detection of rotavirus in faecal specimens with a monoclonal antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: Comparison with polyclonal antibody enzyme immuno-assays and a latex agglutination test

text: Monoclonal antibodies have been produced against the 81/36F strain of rotavirus. One of them, was chosen as diagnostic reagent: it showed high ELISA reactivity with all the bovine, human and porcine rotavirus strains tested and reacted with VP6, structural protein product known to support the common rotavirus antigen. A sandwich ELISA procedure using the chosen monoclonal as “capture and detecting” antibody was performed to detect rotavirus in faecal samples from experimentally inoculated newborn calves: it always gave a negative response with meconium and a positive response for the stool specimens which rotavirus have been isolated. This assay was compared with Enzygnost and Slidex Rota Kit tests and with a non-commercial sandwich ELISA test using polyclonal antibodies: it showed more sensitivity than the agglutination test and was as sensitive as the other two tests to detect rotavirus in routine diagnostic material. The test evaluated showed no equivocal results.


title: Clinical applications of antiviral agents for chemophrophylaxis and therapy of respiratory viral infections

text: Table III summarizes clinical applications of antiviral agents in respiratory viral infections. For influenza A virus infections, both oral amantadine and rimantadine are effectvive when used for seasonal prophylaxis and for prophylaxis in institutional populations. Both of these drugs, as well as aerosilized ribavirin, have antiviral and therapeutic effects in uncomplicated influenza. It remains to be determined whether any of these modalities or possibly their combined use [44] will be useful in treating severe influenza in hospitalized patients or whether they can prevent the development of complications in high risk patients. Unfortunately, there is no parenteral formulation of amantadine or rimantadine for use in critically in patients. Aerosolized ribavirin has also been shown to have modest therapeutic effects in influenza B virus infection. However, a major need exists for an antiviral which is active against influenza B virus and which can be used on an outpatient basis. Controlled clinical trials have shown that aerosolized ribavirin therapy improves arterial oxygenation and modifies the severity fo respiratory syncytil virus bronchiolitis and pneumonia [3,5]. Its role in treatinglife-threatening disease or in dodifying the long-term sequelae of RSV infections are unknown at the present time. Again, a specific antiviral agent is needed for out-patient use in preventing or treating RSV infections. Finally, after over a decade of work since the original observation that intranasal interferon could prevent experimental rhinoirus infection [11], recent studies have established that intranasal rIFN-a2 is effective in the postexposure prophylaxis of rhinovirus colds in families [42]. This strategy needs to be studied with regard to the prevention of infection and its complications in high risk patients and it remains to be determined whether intranasal interferen will have therapeutic activity in established colds.


title: Analysis of a hypervariable region in the 3' non-coding end of the infectious bronchitis virus genome()

text: Previous studies on infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) cDNA have identified a region of about 184 bases in the 3' non-coding terminus of both the U.S. prototype strain (Beaudette) and a Japanese strain (KB8523), that was not present in an antigenically closely related U.S. strain, Massachusetts (Mass) 41 (Boursnell et al., 1985; Sutou et al., 1988). In order to investigate the origin and function of this region and its occurrence in nature, the cDNA sequences of the 3' non-coding regions of three additional strains of IBV, Gray, Arkansas (Ark) 99 and Holland (Holl) 52, were determined and compared to the sequences of the Beaudette, KB8523 and Mass41 strains. Not only was this U-rich sequence absent from the 3' non-coding region of the Mass41 strain, it was also highly variable, especially in comparison to the highly conserved 3' non coding region downstream of this sequence. Computer analyses of the sequences adjacent to this hypervariable region (HVR) showed that the 3' end of the IBV genome was highly conserved downstream of this region, with 94.3 to 97.8% similarity. However, the similarities for the HVR ranged from 53.2% between Ho1152 and Ark99, to 92.8% between Beaudette and Gray. The flanking sequences were not only conserved but these sequences upstream and downstream of the HVR also formed mirrored images.


Viral glycoprotein metabolism as a target for antiviral substances


The immunopathogenesis of equine infectious anemia virus


title: A viral subunit immunogen for porcine transmissible gastroenteritis

text: An immunogenic component was isolated from both the Illinois (propagated in young swine) and the Miller (cell culture-adapted) strains of porcine transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus. The viral subunit was released from the virion by sonication and was separated from intact virus and other viral components by isopycnic centrifugation. It had a buoyant density in sucrose of 1.02 g/ml. Further purification consisted of gel filtration through Sephadex G200, in which process the immunogen, with a molecular weight of approximately 25 000, was the last component to be eluted. A group of ten young, weaned swine, inoculated intramuscularly with two or three 1-mg doses of the viral subunit were protected against challenge with virulent TGE virus, probably by the induction of secretory IgA. The immunogen also induced a humoral immune response of variable magnitude (titers ranging from 8 to 5 625) in the animals. These antibodies are not believed to be directly related to protection against infection. They can, however, be easily identified by serologic procedures and may serve as a convenient indicator of responsiveness to the TGE viral immunogen.


title: Studies on the survival of aerosolized bovine rotavirus (UK) and a murine rotavirus

text: The effect of relative humidity (RH) and temperature on the survival of airborne bovine rotavirus UK isolate (BRV-UK) and a murine rotavirus (MRV) was studied. In any one experiment, the virus under test was suspended in tryptose phosphate broth (TPB) supplemented with uranine (physical tracer) and an antifoam, was aerosolized using a Collison nebulizer into the rotating drum with the RH at either low (30 ± 5%), medium (50 + 5%) or high (80 ± 5%) level at 20 ± 1°C. Following a 15-min period of viral aerosol stabilization, sequential samples of drum air were collected using an All-Glass Impinger (AGI) for 24 h post-aerosolization. Both of the rotavirus isolates were found to survive best at medium RH level and high RH was found least favorable for the survival of these aerosolized rotaviruses. The survival pattern of aerosolized MRV was found to be the best when compared with survival pattern of all animal and human rotavirus isolates studies performed under aerosolized conditions in our laboratory. The findings of these experiments confirm and extend our previous reports on the survival of other animal and human aerosolized rotaviruses and emphasize the fact that air may be one of the vehicles for their dissemination and could explain why it is difficult to control nosocomial outbreaks of rotavirus gastroenteritis and to keep animal colonies rotavirus-free.


title: Chapter 4 Picornavirus infections

text: The oldest member of the Picornaviruses group is polio virus, which was recognized early by clinicians because of its characteristic paralytic disease. This chapter examines the polio virus in regard to its virology, disease, and prevention by vaccines and chemoprophylaxis. Polio has been well controlled in most developed countries using live or inactivated vaccines. Research work has intensified using genetic engineering techniques to produce live attenuated viruses with defined and stable mutations so as to prevent reversion to virulence, and also to produce immunogenic oligopeptides or proteins for a new generation of inactivated polio vaccines. Chemotherapy is therefore not required for polio infections. In contrast, neither vaccines have been developed against rhinovirus infections, nor are the vaccines thought to have a use, unless broadly reacting antigenic determinants can be located. Several interesting but only weakly effective antiviral compounds have been selected against rhinoviruses and this is a major research area at present. Studies continue also with interferon, but because of toxicity problems these look less interesting at present. Sequence and biochemical data is now available for several additional enterovirus strains and this could open new possibilities both with antivirals or vaccines (for example synthetic peptides) in the near future.


title: A continuous epitope from transmissible gastroenteritis virus S protein fused to E. coli heat-labile toxin B subunit expressed by attenuated Salmonella induces serum and secretory immunity

text: Antigenic site D from the spike protein of transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), which is a continuous epitope critical in neutralization, has been expressed as a fusion protein with E. coli heat-labile toxin B subunit (LT-B) in attenuated S. typhimurium. Synthetic peptides containing the sequence of site D induced TGEB neutralizing antibodies when inoculated subcutaneously in both rabbits and swine. A synthetic oligonucleotide encoding residues 373–398 of TGEV S protein, including antigenic site D, was cloned in frame with the 3′ end of LT-B gene, into a plasmid used to transform S. typhimurium Δasd (χ)3730. A collection of 6 recombinant plasmids designated pYALTB-D I–VI encoding LTB-site D fusions with a variable number of site D sequences were selected. Four of the 6 LTB-site D fusion products expressed in S. typhimurium(χ)3730 formed oligomers (pentamers) that dissociated at > 70°. S. typhimurium(χ)3730 (pYALTB-D) V and VI expressed the oligomer forming products with higher antigenicity. Partially purified LTB-site D fusion product expressed from S. typhimurium(χ)3730 (pYALTB-D) V induced anti-TGEV neutralizing antibodies in rabbits. Recombinant vaccine strain S. typhimuriumΔcyaΔcrpΔasd(χ)3987 transformed with plasmid pYALTB-D V expressed constitutively products that formed oligomers presumably containing 20 copies of site D, and showed a high stability in vitro. This recombinant strain was orally inoculated in rabbits and induced TGEV specific antibodies in both serum and intestinal secretion.


title: Epigenetic transmission of feline infectious peritonitis

text: Feline Infectious Peritonitis (F.I.P.) was diagnosed in the kittens of two successive litters born to a female presumed also infected. At the same time, the two fathers and the other subjects of the cattery remained asymptomatic of F.I.P. The clinical observations, supported by electrophoretic data, suggest the possibility of a direct transmission of the disease by the mother to her offspring, either by the transplacentary pathway (epigenetic transmission) or via the milk.


title: I, 1.Viral causes of gastroenteritis

text: This chapter discusses the causative viral agents, pathophysiology, and immunology of gastroenteritis. Acute gastroenteritis is among the most common illnesses of humans and is caused by a variety of agents, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins, and chemicals. The clinical spectrum ranges from asymptomatic or mild infection to severe dehydrating illness with a fatal outcome; the latter occurs primarily in young children and in the elderly. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the prevention and treatment of gastroenteritis. For the prevention of epidemic viral gastroenteritis, efforts need to be focused on caliciviruses. No specific antiviral therapy is recommended for childhood viral gastroenteritis, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing it from the selected forms of bacterial and parasitic gastroenteritis that require treatment. Other than pertinent epidemiologic information, certain clinical features of illness may provide etiologic clues, but they are not highly discriminating. Standard therapy of viral enteric infections relies on maintenance of adequate hydration and electrolyte balance. Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) is the main treatment.


title: Effect of liposome-encapsulation on immunomodulating and antiviral activities of interferon-γ()

text: The effect of liposome-encapsulation on the immunomodulating and antiviral activities of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) was evaluated in this study. The immunomodulating activity was measured by increases in phagocytic activity and in nitric oxide production by peritoneal macrophages from mice treated with both free and LIP-IFN-γ (4000 U/mouse, intraperitoneal injection). Resident peritoneal macrophages harvested from mice treated with free unencapsulated IFN-γ or muramyl dipeptide showed significant increases in macrophage yield, and enhanced ability to phagocytize zymosan particles. In mice treated with liposome-encapsulated IFN-γ (LIP-IFN-γ), both macrophage yield and phagocytic activity further increased by 2-fold over unencapsulated IFN-γ. In addition, the activation of peritoneal macrophages with LIP-IFN-γ showed enhanced production of NO when the cells were cultured ex vivo. Using a murine respiratory influenza infection model, intranasally administered LIP-IFN-γ conferred protection to 70% in mice challenged intranasally with 10 LD(50) doses of influenza A/PR/8 virus compared with a 20% survival rate using free IFN-γ. Together these results suggest that liposome-encapsulation increases the immunomodulating and antiviral activities of IFN-γ. Liposome-encapsulation of IFN-γ may provide additional therapeutic advantages by reducing IFN-γ toxicity while prolonging its body retention.


title: Induction of class I and class II transplantation antigens in rat brain during fatal and non-fatal measles virus infection

text: Measles virus induced a marked increase in the expression of MHC-coded class I and class II antigens as detected by immunostaining during both fatal and non-fatal brain infections in rats. The distribution of these molecules in the brain was much more widespread than the occurence of viral antigen suggesting a soluble factor for their induction. In 14-day-old rats with a non-fatal infection there was a marked infiltration of T lymphocytes of ‘cytotoxic/suppressor’ phenotype in the brain parenchyma, whereas T ‘helper’ cell phenotypes mainly were located perivascularly. In brains from newborn rats with a fatal infection no or only few lymphocytes were detected.


Viral sequence data


subject index


title: Loss of cytomegalovirus infectivity after treatment with castanospermine or related plant alkaloids correlates with aberrant glycoprotein synthesis

text: Many plants contain polyhydroxyalkaloids which are potent inhibitors of glucosidases, enzymes involved in oligosaccharide trimming. These are important in determining the final configuration of specific glycoproteins. Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) encodes a number of glycoproteins, some of which ultimately reside in the outer envelope of the mature virion and are important for virus infectivity. Treatment with three polyhydroxyalkaloids, castanospermine (CAST), deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) and 2R,5R-dihydroxymethyl-3R, 4R-dihydroxypyrrolidine (DMDP) blocked the growth of infectious virus, as determined by yield reduction and plaque reduction assays. However, in the presence of CAST, CMV infected cells continued to shed virions into the extracellular medium, as determined by electron microscopy. Envelope glycoproteins of virions produced after treatment with CAST (2.5 mM) were immunoprecipitated with a monoclonal antibody (F5) specific for the gcI family of glycoproteins. Analysis by PAGE-SDS showed an absence of gcI complex 2 (gp52 disulphide-linked to gp130) with a proportional increase in gcI complex 1 (gp52 disulphide-linked to gp95). The results indicated that gp130 alone, or linked to gp52, was important for CMV infectivity. As well as being potential targets for antiviral agents against CMV, inhibitors of glycoprotein trimming reactions may define components of the virion surface important for infectivity.


title: Molecular determinants of rotavirus virulence: Localization of a potential virulence site in a murine rotavirus VP4

text: The molecular basis of pathogenesis in vivo for a virulent mouse rotavirus (MRV) and a less virulent bovine rotavirus (BRV) were compared under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Obvious differences in the mobility of several genomic RNA segments were observed in one-dimensional gels. Under in vitro conditions, partial proteolytic peptide mapping identified differences between the two outer capsid proteins of these virus and no difference in inner capsid protein was observed. Since it has been observed by us and others that the gene coding for VP4 protein plays a significant role in determining virulence, the variability observed in the present study between the 84 k proteins (VP4) provided a basis for further investigations in order to locate a potential virulence determinant. A comparison of the carboxypeptidase digests of the MRV- and BRV-VP4 revealed an area of variability between amino acids 307 and 407, which may represent a site of virulence determinant. Under in vivo conditions the virulence of both parenteral BRV and MRV isolates and their corresponding reassortants (with replaced gene 4) were studied in murine and bovine hosts. Like their parents, BRV and MRV isolates, reassortants obtained by replacement of gene 4 in BRV with MRV gene 4 indicated that the dose of the virus isolate used and the clinical outcome in vivo was determined by gene segment 4. The implications of these findings to elucidate the molecular basis of pathogenesis of rotaviruses are discussed.


title: Effect of husbandry methods on seropositivity to African swine fever virus in Sardinian swine herds

text: Multiple logistic regression was used on serological data collected in the context of the Sardinian African swine fever (ASF) eradication program from pig farms in the province of Nuoro, Sardinia. The monthly percentage of ASFV-positive herds decreased significantly from October 1994 through March 1996 (P < 0.001). The farm-level risk of seropositivity to African swine fever virus (ASFV) was higher in free-range farms than in partial-confinement farms (odds ratios (OR) varied between 4.9 in October 1994, and 5.7 in March 1996, P < 0.001). The risk of infection for total-confinement farms was one-fifth of the risk for partial-confinement farms in October 1994 (OR = 0.2, P < 0.001), whereas in March 1996, the estimated OR was 0.57 and not significant (upper confidence limit = 1.1). The maintenance of ASFV in Sardinia was primarily associated with free-range pig farms. The natural logarithm of the number of pigs tested per visit in a farm was positively associated with the risk of herd seropositivity (OR = 2.6, P < 0.001).


The interferon system as a basis for antiviral therapy or prophylaxis


title: The need for new antiviral agents

text: Population density and immune status, vectors and virulence of infection, nutritional status, sanitation, genetic susceptibility and medical management of cases, are important factors influencing the incidence and/or severity of virus infections. Thus, the prevalence and clinical importance of virus infections and the need for antiviral drugs differ from place to place and from time to time. National and World Health Statistics of notifications of disease give some index of the incidence of infections but not all virus infections are notifiable. Such statistics can be misleading also through failures to notify from sloth on the part of the physician or, in the absence of pathognomonic symptoms or signs, from errors in diagnosis. Any assessment of the need for new antiviral drugs should consider the availability, safety, effectiveness and cost of alternative measures, including prevention of spread of infection by control of vectors, immunization by use of viral vaccines, or treatment with existing antiviral drugs. Early start of treatment of acute virus infections with existing drugs gives the best results and, where the clinical diagnosis is uncertain, accurate rapid virus diagnosis is of paramount importance. Many virus infections are asymptomatic or of trivial importance and without sequelae. However, new or improved antiviral drugs are needed for the prevention and/or treatment of a number of significant conditions caused by viruses which are not at present adequately controlled. These include upper and lower respiratory tract infections, influenza, chronic hepatitis, gastroenteritis, infectious mononucleosis, measles, rabies, haemorrhagic fevers and warts. Furthermore, such drugs might prove of therapeutic value in the prevention or treatment of virus-associated tumours, such as hepatoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma and possibly carcinoma of the cervix.


title: Evolution des anticorps anti rota dans le lait de vaches traitees en fin de gestation soit par le vaccin anti rota complet, soit par l'adjuvant seul

text: The authors describe the evolution of the secretion of anti-Rotavirus antibodies vaccine given three weeks before and repeated at the moment of parturition. Rota virus antibodies were detected at a high level during the three months test period with the Indirect Immunofluorescence Test, the seroneutralisation test and the immunofluorescence test. The four untreated animals excreted only rota-antibodies till day 6 post partum. Seroneutralising antibodies were detected in the milk of the vaccinated animals at a level of 10–50% of the colostral level till day 90. The aspecific stimulation of the excretion of anti-Rotavirus antibodies in the milk after inoculation of the only adjuvant fraction of the vaccine is confirmed. The excretion level, however, was significantly lower than after Rotavirus vaccination.


title: Chapter 1 The need for chemotherapy and prophylaxis against viral diseases

text: The chapter discusses the need for chemotherapy and prophylaxis against viral diseases. It briefly mentions clinical diseases and syndromes such as influenza, respiratory tract infections, hepatitis, and arbovirus infections resulting from virus infections. Viruses causing respiratory diseases, as well as many other diseases in humans are also discussed in the chapter. It describes the vaccines that are used to check the attack of different viruses as well as their cost-effectiveness. There is a list of some viruses that have been ranked according to different variables in an attempt to select a good candidate for an antiviral drug. The incidence of the viral disease is naturally an important factor, as is the severity of the disease. The incidence can be obtained for diseases being reported in accordance with local regulations, but in many cases viral diseases are not reported and the incidence has to be calculated from different surveys. Also, a grading of the severity is not easy and an example is when herpesvirus infections are handled as a group, which includes both herpes encephalitis and cold sores. The greatest challenges and probably the most difficult and medically important areas for prophylaxis and therapy of viral diseases are the viruses that are rapidly changing in antigenic composition and/or viruses with animal reservoirs (influenza and arboviruses) and those forming latent infections (herpesviruses).


title: Alphavirus replication in cultured cells and infected animals is inhibited by antiproteinase agents

text: The influence of different antiproteinase agents on alphavirus replication was examined. Sindbis virus multicycle replication in cultured cells was suppressed by N-tosyl-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), an inhibitor of chymotrypsin-like proteinases, and by aprotinin, an inhibitor of a wide spectrum of proteinases. Antiviral activity of TPCK was also demonstrated in Sindbis virus-infected animals. Parenteral injections of TPCK in infected mice reduced virus titers in brain and blood. The possible mechanism(s) of antiviral action of the antiproteinase agents are discussed.


title: Transmissibility of the contagious equine metritis organism for the cat

text: A group of SPF cats were moderately susceptible to the causal organism of contagious equine metritis (CEM) following intra-uterine or intrapreputial challenge with an Irish streptomycin resistant strain isolated from a clinically infected mare. Subclinical infections were established in only 50% of the cats, none of which became long-term carriers of the organism. Cytological examination of vaginal smears was of no diagnostic value in confirming infection in inapparently infected cats. Bacteriological responses after primary or secondary challenge with the CEM organism were essentially similar, with one exception, a female cat in which there was possible evidence of local immunity persisting after the primary infection. Efforts to reactivate shedding subsequent to the immediate post-challenge period were unsuccessful. Throughout the experimental period, the cats remained sero-negative to the complement-fixation test, and they failed to develop any significant increase in the levels of antibody activity as measured by the kinetics-based ELISA or KELA system. On day 89 after primary challenge, the cats were euthanized and various sites in the genitourinary tract and the internal iliac lymphatic glands subjected to bacteriological and pathological examination for evidence of CEM infection with negative results. The findings of this study, although establishing the transmissibility of the CEM organism for the cat, demonstrate the limited value of this species as an experimental model system for the disease in the horse.


title: Antibody-mediated enhancement of disease in feline infectious peritonitis: Comparisons with dengue hemorrhagic fever()

text: Non-immune kittens passively immunized with feline serum containing high-titered antibodies reactive with feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) developed a more rapid disease after FIPV challenge than did kittens pretreated with FIPV antibody-negative serum. Antibody-sensitized, FIPV challenged—kittens developed earlier clinical signs (including pyrexia, icterus, and thrombocytopenia) and died more rapidly than did non-sensitized, FIPV-challenged kittens. Mean survival time in sensitized kittens was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced compared to non-sensitized kittens (mean ± SEM, 10.0 ± 0.6 days vs. 28.8 ± 8.3 days, respectively). Lesions induced included fibrinous peritonitis, disseminated pyogranulomatous inflammation and necrotizing phlebitis and periphlebitis. FIPV antigen, immunoglobulin G, complement (C3) and fibrinogen were demonstrated in lesions by immunofluorescence microscopy. The pathogenesis of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) in persons bears striking resemblance to that of FIP in experimental kittens. In both FIP and DHF, non-neutralizing antibody may promote acute disease by enhancement of virus infection in mononuclear phagocytes or by formation of immune complexes, activation of complement and secondary vascular disturbances.


title: A study of the efficacy of the bradykinin antagonist, NPC 567, in rhinovirus infections in human volunteers

text: In a double-blind placebo controlled trial intranasal NPC 567, a bradykinin antagonist, failed to alleviate the symptoms of experimental rhinovirus colds. Indeed, there was evidence that the drug enhanced the symptoms although no irritant effect was detected on the uninfected nasal mucosa.


title: Inhibition of human adenoviruses by 1-(2′-hydroxy-5′-methoxybenzylidene)amino-3-hydroxyguanidine tosylate

text: Antiviral activities of four Schiff bases of aminohydroxyguanidine, designated ML1, ML4, ATL14 and LK11, were tested against human adenovirus types 5 and 8 (Ad5 and Ad8) in A549 cells by plaque reduction and virus yield reduction methods. Compound ML1 1-(2′-hydroxy-5′-methoxybenzylidene)amino-3-hydroxyguanidine tosylate gave the best therapeutic indices (TC(50)/IC(50)) of 27.2 and 17.8 for Ad5 and Ad8, respectively. Pretreatment of cells with ML1 did not affect the adsorption nor the penetration of virus. Ultrastructure studies showed that only the drug treated infected cells had unidentified irregular shaped electron dense structures that might be drug altered viral macromolecules that were not assembled into complete infectious virus particles. Since these compounds have metal chelating properties, their antiviral activity may involve the early IA (EIA) gene which encodes a viral protein of 289 amino acid which has a zinc finger moiety that is required for its transactivation activity.


Current Research on Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses: II International Symposium


title: Inhibition of cell adhesion to the virus by synthetic peptides of fiber knob of human adenovirus serotypes 2 and 3 and virus neutralisation by anti-peptide antibodies

text: The fiber knob of adenovirus (Ad) causes the first step in the interaction of adenovirus with cell membrane receptors. To obtain information on the receptor binding site(s) several synthetic peptides derived from Ad2 and Ad3 fiber head sequences and their antisera were tested for interference with virus attachment to HeLa and FL cells and cell adhesion to viruses. The anti-peptide sera were also evaluated in ELISA and virus neutralisation test. Ad2 (of subgroup C) and Ad3 (of subgroup B) attachment was not significantly inhibited by peptides corresponding to the amino acid residues 535–554, 555–573, 562–582 of Ad2 fiber or 210–225, 267–283, 291–306 and 300–319 of Ad3 fiber. However, microplate pre-adsorbed Ad3 fiber residues 210–225 and 267–283 could bind FL and HeLa cells, and 1 mg/ml of Ad3 fiber residues 267–283 inhibited the cell adhesion to Ad3 virus to approximately 90%. This peptide may participate in the receptor binding site of Ad3 fiber. ELISA reactive anti-peptide antibodies against the homologous peptide and virus did not significantly reduce the cell adhesion to the immobilised virus or the virus attachment to cells, but in the neutralisation assay antibodies raised to Ad2 fiber residues 555–573 and 562–582 and Ad3 fiber residues 210–225 caused neutralisation of the homologous virus at serum dilutions of 1:500 and 1:32, respectively. The corresponding peptides and one further peptide of Ad2 fiber and two of Ad3 fiber seem to contain neutralisation epitopes.


title: Optimization of culture conditions for feline × murine heterohybridomas

text: Feline splenocytes were fused to the murine myeloma lines NSO or Ag8. Autologous serum and taurine were used as media supplements for the cat × mouse heterohybridomas. The best results were obtained by the use of NSO as fusion line with taurine-supported media.


title: Induction of autoimmune reactions to myelin basic protein in measles virus encephalitis in Lewis rats

text: Intracerebral inoculation of weanling Lewis rats with measles virus led to the development of subacute measles encephalomyelitis (SAME) 4–8 weeks after infection. The disease is characterized pathologically by an intense inflammatory infiltration within both the white and grey matter of the central nervous system (CNS) without apparent demyelination. Both during and after SAME splenic lymphocytes from these animals could be restimulated in vitro to proliferate in the presence of myelin basic protein (MBP). MBP-specific class II MHC-restricted T cell lines were isolated from this cell population. They were shown to exhibit no cross-reactivity with measles virus and to induce experimental allergic encephalitis (EAE) in naive syngeneic recipients following adoptive transfer. The clinical and histopathological signs of this T cell-mediated disease were identical to that seen in classical T cell-mediated EAE. A humoral immune response to MBP was only detected in a limited number of those rats with SAME. These results indicate that autoimmune reactions to brain antigen can arise during measles virus infection which may contribute to the pathogenesis of measles virus-associated encephalomyelitis.


Recent research progress on emerging infectious diseases in Asia and Oceania


title: Chapter 7 Orthomyxovirus infections

text: The earth is a unity for influenza A virus in a manner not yet found for probably any other parasite and epidemics occur in all inhabited parts of the globe regardless of latitude, longitude, altitude, climate, rainfall, temperature, humidity, race and sex. Influenza A is the classic pandemic virus infection of man and influenza B virus also can cause sharp outbreaks, resulting in significant mortality. An overwhelming amount of data has accumulated on the biochemistry, cell biology, and epidemiology of influenza, but prospects of control of epidemics in the near future are dim. Meanwhile, a holding operation can be achieved using inactivated vaccine and rimantadine (100 mg/daily) in special risk groups in the population until new more effective vaccines and broad spectrum antivirals (active against influenza A and B virus) are developed. Research work is centered on biotechnology to produce immunogenic peptides and proteins and more logical searches for antivirals using amino acid sequence data and also virus specific enzymes such as the virion transcriptase as targets.


title: Studies on the suitability of alpha-hybrid interferon application in cattle

text: Twelve cattle with body wts ranging from 100 to 250 kg were treated using various doses and routes for four days with an E. coli derived alpha-hybrid interferon. The lowest parenteral doses (10(4) units per kg body wt) and the orally administered interferon did not lead to any disturbances, whereas the higher dosages led to marked changes in body temperature, pulse and respiration rates. Animals with the highest dose (10(8) units per kg body wt) became extremely distressed. The blood picture showed distinct changes, with very low leukocyte counts during treatment, which took weeks to recover. It is suggested that the dosages that did not lead to clinical symptoms are best suited for prophylactic or therapeutic purposes.


ECB12: 12th European Congess on Biotechnology


title: Trans splicing in trypanosomes — archaism or adaptation?

text: In trypanosomes, a single transcription unit usually covers several protein-coding genes. The primary transcript is cut up by trans-splicing and polyadenylation machineries to generate individual mature mRNAs. All nuclear mRNAs acquire the same capped 39 nucleotide sequence at their 5′ end as a consequence of the trans-splicing event. Trans splicing is used in the synthesis of some mRNAs in nematodes and chloroplats. These unusual systems are clearly related to cis-splicing systems, but it remains an intriguing question whether they are merely exotic offshoots of cis splicing or archaic remnants of cis-splicing progenitors.


title: Brefeldin A inhibits the antiviral action of interferon against encephalomyocarditis virus

text: Brefeldin A (BFA), a unique fungal metabolite of a 13-membered lactone ring, exhibits various biological actions, including antitumor, antifungal and antiviral activities. In the present study, mouse L(B) cells were treated with various concentrations of interferon (IFN) and/or BFA overnight and infected with encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) after removal of IFN and BFA. Doses of BFA which neither inhibit the metabolism of the cell nor the infectivity of EMCV, decreased the IFN-induced antiviral activity against EMCV as demonstrated by virus titer from supernatants. Since 2–5A synthetase and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-dependent protein kinase (PKR) have been suggested to be involved in the antiviral action of IFN against EMCV, their activities were investigated in L(B) cells after BFA treatment. Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization showed a decrease (2–3-fold) in the mRNA of 2′–5′ oligoadenylate (2–5A) synthetase after BFA treatment. BFA also inhibited the activity of 2–5A synthetase, 2–5A dependent RNase and phosphorylation of PKR in cellular extracts, indicating that BFA may be exerting its inhibitory effect both at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. This study reports a new biological action of BFA, demonstrating that BFA antagonized the antiviral action of IFN by inhibiting IFN-induced enzymatic pathways. These studies also suggest that both 2–5A and PKR are important in the antiviral activity of IFN against EMCV.


title: Isolation and identification of avian rotavirus from pheasant chicks with signs of clinical enteritis

text: Three rotaviruses were isolated from intestinal contents obtained from a flock of 6–8-day-old pheasant chicks showing diarrhoea and increased mortality. The isolates were characterized as avian group A rotavirus by immunoenzymatic technique (ELISA) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE).


title: The polymerase in its labyrinth: mechanisms and implications of RNA recombination

text: The wide variety of RNA viruses, and the diseases associated with them, may result in part from the capacity of RNA genomes to evolve through genetic recombination. Here we address the mechanism of RNA recombination, and ask questions about its prevalence and purpose in nature.


Guns N′ viruses()


title: Diagnosis of Feline Viral Infection

text: The methods of diagnosis of the common feline viral infections are discussed. Specific diagnosis involves a combination of an accurate history, careful observation of disease signs, demonstration of characteristic clinicopathologic changes, and isolation or identification of the etiologic agent. The laboratory tests for virus identification—including virus isolation, cytology, electron microscopy, virus neutralization, immunofluorescent microscopy, and enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent-assay (ELISA)—are briefly described.


Journal Roundup


II. Sachverzeichnis


title: Myelitis and Meningitis

text: The inflammatory diseases most commonly affecting the spinal cord meninges and parenchyma of dogs and cats are discussed. Clinical signs, lesion localization, differential diagnoses, diagnostic procedures, therapeutic regimens, and prognosis are described.


Multiplex PCR implementation as point-of-care testing in a French emergency department


Environmental hazards from a hospital incinerator


Microbiology service centralization: a step too far


title: Canine Vaccination

text: New technologies for vaccine development and infectious disease diagnosis are likely to be introduced in the near future. With this new technology comes the opportunity to vaccinate companion animals against even more infectious agents than is currently practiced in the United States. As we look forward, it becomes particularly important to review current vaccination standards applied to dogs with respect to current knowledge of duration of immunity, awareness of incidence, and likelihood of injurious or even fatal adverse events associated with vaccination, and individual risk factors that dictate which vaccines are most appropriate at which stage of life.


Swine influenza (novel H1N1): algorithms and common sense


title: A Major Role of Macrophage Activation by Interferon-Gamma during Mouse Hepatitis Virus Type 3 Infection. I. Genetically Dependent Resistance()

text: Resistance of mice to mouse hepatitis virus type 3 (MHV3) infection is genetically determined. Normal adult A/J mice are resistant, and BALB/c mice are susceptible. Higher titers of virus and interferon (IFN) in vivo were found in MHV3-infected BALB/c mice compared with A/J mice. In vitro activation of macrophages (MФ) by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) delayed MHV3 replication only in cells that originated from A/J mice, although cell populations from both A/J, and BALB/c mice were able to synthesize comparable amounts of IFN-α/β. Using specific antibodies, we have shown that the delayed MHV3 replication in LPS-activated A/J MФ was due, in part, to IFN-α/β. A/J MФ were found to be more sensitive to IFN-γ than to IFN-α/β, and BALB/c MФ did not develop an antiviral state to either IFN. Cultured spleen cells from A/J mice synthesized more IFN-γ than BALB/c spleen cells after specific or non-specific stimulation. The results indicate that IFN-activated MФ may play a crucial role in the resistance to MHV3 infection. Since IFN-γ is produced in large amounts by A/J spleen cells after specific stimulation with MHV3 and is efficient in activating the A/J MФ, a T cell-dependent mechanism- is likely to be involved.


title: An unique CD4(+)CD8(+) intestinal intraepithelial Lymphocyte Specific for DnaK (Escherichia coli HSP70) may be selected by intestinal microflora of rats

text: We have previously shown an age-associated increase in unique CD4+CD8+ intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (i-IEL) in rats. To elucidate the potential causes of the increase in CD4+CD8+ i-IEL with age, we analyzed the specificity of the CD4+CD8+ i-IEL and influence of intestinal microflora on the increase in this subset in aged rats. The purified CD4+CD8+ i-IEL proliferated in response to DnaK [Escherichia colt (E. coli) HSP70] in the presence of mitomycin-c (MMC)-treated syngeneic, spleen cells. The proportion of CD4+CD8+ T cells in whole i-IEL were significantly increased in aged rats fed commercial (CL-2) diet but not in those fed home-made (purified) diet under conventional condition. No CD4+CD8+ i-IEL were detected in aged rats under germfree condition, irrespective of diet feeding. A larger number of Enterobacteriaceae, especially E. coli, were detected in the intestinal contents and feces from aged rats with CD4+CD8+ i-IEL compared with those from aged rats fed without CD4+CD8+ i-IEL. The unique CD4+CD8+ i-IEL population specific for E. coli HSP may be associated with long term exposure to intestinal E. coli in aged rats.


title: Feline Infectious Peritonitis

text: Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) occurs most frequently in young animals from multicat households. Ocular manifestations of FIP are extremely common with the noneffusive form of the disease. All cats suspected of having FIP should undergo a thorough ophthalmic examination. Uveitis (inflarrunation of the iris, ciliary body, and choroid) is the primary clinical sign of ocular FIP. Treatment with anti-inflammatory medications is only supportive and aimed at disease palliation.


Topics in Feline Neurology


Virus diffusion in isolation rooms


Necrotising enterocolitis


title: Nutrition and Management of Reproduction in the Cat

text: The successful long-term maintenance of catteries for reproductive purposes necessitates careful consideration of many facets of feline health, nutrition, and management. This article discusses control of infectious and parasitic diseases, proper nutrition and feeding, management of reproduction, and general management procedures.


I. Verzeichnis der in Band 255 enthaltenen Arbeiten


Challenges remain for nosocomial infection control in China


Current strategies to detect, manage and control carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in NHS acute hospital trusts in the UK: time for a rethink?


Isolation in real life: lessons from MERS-CoV in Thailand


II. Sachregister


Hospitalized patients' knowledge of influenza transmission and prevention


title: The Epidemiology of Viral Infections in Dogs and Cats

text: Understanding the epidemiology of an infectious disease is a prerequisite to be being able to suggest the most appropriate methods for prevention and control of the disease. This article reviews some important epidemiologic concepts.


I. Sachverzeichnis


title: Significance of viral glycoproteins for infectivity and pathogenicity()

text: Disease resulting from virus infection is a complex event depending on the close interaction of viral and cellular factors. Through the application of biochemical and genetic methods, it is now possible to gain an insight into the molecular basis of these interactions. Thus, it has been shown that the glycoproteins of enveloped viruses play a central role in the initiation of infection. They are responsible not only for the adsorption of virions to cellular receptors, but are also for the entry of the genome into the cell by the fusion of viral envelopes with cellular membranes. Evidence is growing that the fusogenic glycoproteins are frequently activated by cellular proteases. The structure of the proteins at the cleavage site and the availability of a suitable protease are critical for tissue tropism, spread of the virus in the infected organism and, thus, for pathogenicity. This will be demonstrated here by the example of the haemagglutinin of influenza viruses.


title: Canine Parvovirus

text: Canine parvovirus type-2 is a new canine pathogen that emerged in the late 1970s. The origin, spread, and evolution of the virus are reviewed. The present pattern of disease and current concepts of diagnosis, clinical management, and prevention are discussed.


title: Human immunodeficiency virus—associated vitiligo: Expression of autoimmunity with immunodeficiency?

text: Persistent viral infections have been postulated to be trigger factors for the development of autoimmune disease. We report the development of vitiligo in four patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)—related conditions and in one patient with hepatitis who later developed both psoriasis and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Other common features were hepatitis and multiple other viral infections. Ribavirin was associated with repigmentation in one patient. Vitiligo may be an example of an autoimmune disease triggered by viral infection in a genetically predisposed host.


Abstracts of Papers Presented at the Session of the Virology Section of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, Freiburg, October 1–4, 1986


title: Protection of Mice against Infection with Mouse Hepatitis Virus Type 3 by Injection of Silica

text: Injection of silica did not brake the resistance against MHV3 conferred to C57BL/6 mice by injection of C. parvum. However, silica itself had a marked protective effect against MHV3 infection that was maximal when injecting 1 mg 2 hrs before virus infection. The protective effect of silica was observed in a number of inbred mouse strains that differ in their relative resistance to MHV3 infection. No viral titers were observed in the spleen and liver of mice which had received MHV3 plus silica, whereas high titers were observed in the virus-infected controls. Injection of silica caused a marked decrease in the number of esterase-positive macrophages in the peritoneal wash-out population, that may be compatible with the possibility that the cause of the protection is the depletion of target cells for the viral infection. This latter effect, however, was short-lived and 24–48 hrs after injection of silica, high numbers of esterase-positive cells were again observed. This may explain why only little protection was observed when silica was administered 2 days before virus infection.


title: Rapid mitogen-induced aminopeptidase N surface expression in human T cells is dominated by mechanisms independent of de novo protein biosynthesis

text: The membrane bound metalloprotease aminopeptidase N (APN, CD13, EC 3.4.11.2) is a well established marker of normal and malignant cells of the myelo-monocytic lineage. It is also expressed by leukaemic blasts of a small group of patients suffering from acute or chronic lymphoid leukaemia. Recently, the expression of the APN gene in T cell lines as well as the induction of APN gene and surface expression in human peripheral T cells by mitogenic activation have been demonstrated. Here, by means of cytofluorimetric analysis evidence is provided, that the induction of APN surface expression is partially resistent to the action of the inhibitors of protein biosynthesis, puromycin and cycloheximide, and is not prevented by tunicamycin, an inhibitor of glycosylation. These data suggest that the rapid mitogen-induced surface expression of APN, detectable 20 hours after stimulation is dominated by mechanisms not dependent on de novo protein biosynthesis or glycosylation. As shown by simultaneous analyses, the inhibitors used did also differently modify the induction of surface expression of other inducible glycosylated leukocyte surface antigens, namely CD25, CD69 and CD95.


title: Persistent Viral Infection: The Carrier State

text: A persistent viral infection is one in which the virus in a replicating or non-replicating form persists in the host beyond the normal recovery and elimination period for that particular viral infection. The clinical significance and mechanisms of persistence, when known, are discussed for the important viral infections of dogs and cats. Particular emphasis is given to feline viral rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus, canine distemper, and feline leukemia.


title: Pet Rabbits

text: Pet rabbits are becoming more common, and rabbit owners are demanding quality veterinary care. This article provides a broad overview of pet rabbit medicine, which is a relatively new field compared to laboratory and farm rabbit medicine. The most common differential diagnoses for presenting complaints are summarized in table form. Disease conditions are reviewed individually in the text. Sources of further information on veterinary care of rabbits are listed throughout the text, in an appendix, and in the references.


title: Possible Association of Thymus Dysfunction with Fading Syndromes in Puppies and Kittens

text: This article focuses on the role of the thymus gland in maintaining the health of young animals and on how thymus dysfunction may contribute to some cases of wasting and death. Current knowledge about thymus hormones is reviewed briefly, and one form of a wasting syndrome in pups that is responsive to thymus hormone therapy is described.


title: Inflammatory Disease of the Central Nervous System

text: Inflammatory conditions affecting the central nervous system are discussed. Clinical signs, diagnostic procedures, therapeutic regimeris, and prognosis are described.


Abstracts of Papers Presented at the 3. Workshop of the Virology Section of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie Berlin, September 30 – October 4, 1979


title: In vivo depletion of interferon-gamma leads to susceptibility of A/J mice to mouse hepatitis virus 3 infection

text: The possible role of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in the resistance of A/J mice to MHV3 infection was investigated. Monoclonal antibodies specific for IFN-γ, CD4 and CD8 molecules were administered in vivo to deplete selectively the IFN-y synthesized or the appropriate subset of T cells. The animals were then infected with MHV3 and the course of infection was followed by studying different parameters, such as, the mortality, the virus growth in the tissues and the IFN-γ synthesis in sera and peritoneal exudates. After MHV3 infection, a full resistance of control A/J mice was observed, in contrast to the high mortality rate observed among the depleted animals, where higher virus titers were found in different tissues. The IFN-γ synthesis in sera and peritoneal exudates of depleted mice, after MHV3 infection, drastically decreased when compared to that detected in control mice. The data presented are consistent with the hypothesis that IFN-γ plays an essential role in the resistance of A/J mice to MHV3 infection.


Should dermatologists be immunized against hepatitis B?


Journal Roundup: Ebola, antibiotic use and abuse, and the usual suspects


Survey of viruses of the gut in 10,477 children admitted to general paediatic wards from 1981 to 1986


Ten recent articles from the Journal of Hospital Infection that would not have been seen in Issue 1


title: Vaccines and Principles of Immunization

text: This article discusses the production of the various classes of vaccines and compares the advantages and disadvantages of each. Adjuvants, combination vaccines, heterologous viral vaccines, and vaccination failure are discussed briefly. Reported adverse reactions to vaccination are described at length. Essential vaccination for several exotic species is given.


title: Demonstration of CD13/Aminopeptidase N on Synovial Fluid T Cells from Patients with Different Forms of Joint Effusions

text: Cytofluorometric analysis was performed to characterize the immunophenotype of lymphocytes of the synovial fluid (SF) and the peripheral blood (PB) from patients suffering from juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The most obvious difference could be found in expression of the surface protease aminopeptidase N (AP N/CD13). Whereas monoclonal antibodies specific to CD13 failed to reveal surface expression on lymphocytes of the PB; 63 ± 15% of SF T cells gave positive staining for CD 13 using Leu-M7. No correlation between CD13 expression and joint disease could be found in patients who had different types of inflammatory joint effusions. CD13 expression of T cells was also found in synovial tissue and inflammatory serous cavity effusions. Fixation of T cells revealed the presence of intracellular CD13 antigen already located in the PB T cells of healthy individuals. Induction of CD13 expression on PB T cells could be demonstrated after incubation with Con A/IL-2 or SF from patients with RA. Our findings suggest a role for AP N as a new activation-associated molecule of T lymphocytes.


Stability of human metapneumovirus and human coronavirus NL63 on medical instruments and in the patient environment


title: A Major Role of Macrophage Activation by Interferon-Gamma During Mouse Hepatitis Virus Type 3 Infection: II. Age-Dependent Resistance

text: In contrast to adult mice, young AJ/mice, developed an acute hepatitis following infection with Mouse Hepatitis virus type 3. 100 % of the young animals died 4 to 5 days after the infection and high levels of virus were found in the liver and peritoneal exudate. Very low levels of IFN-$#x03B3; were found in the serum and peritoneal exudate of infected young mice. This was in contrast to the levels observed in adult mice. Spleen cells and macrophage cultures from young A/J mice, again in contrast to adult A/J mice, were shown to be unable to synthesize IFN-$#x03B3; and IFN-α/β respectively. Macrophages from either young or adult A/J mice were able to be activated with exogenous recombinant IFN-$#x03B3; or IFN-α/β, enabling both sets of cells to restrict MHV3 replication. The results indicate that the ability of the immune system to synthesize IFN-$#x03B3; and IFN-α/β may playa major role in the age-dependent resistance of A/J mice to MHV3.


title: Inflammatory Oral Cavity Diseases of the Cat

text: This article reviews the classification and characterization of specific and nonspecific inflammatory disease entities of the feline mouth. Special emphasis is placed on their etiology, pathogenesis, and comparison to related disorders of humans.


title: Diseases of Quail

text: An increasing number and variety of quail are being kept for food production, experimental use, release on hunting preserves, preservation of endangered species, zoological display, and as companion birds. Quail are susceptible to a variety of noninfectious, infectious, and parasitic diseases. Because they are related to chickens and turkeys, many of the diseases in quail are similar to those in poultry. In this article, the diagnostic characteristics of diseases affecting quail are presented along with information on their prevention, control, and treatment.


Abstracts of Papers Presented at the 8th Workshop of the Virology Section of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, Würzburg, March 17–19, 1983


title: Non-linear Dynamics of Two-Patch Model Incorporating Secondary Dengue Infection

text: In this paper, the impact of human migration on the dynamics of dengue epidemic has been discussed. The vector-host model considers two patches with different dengue serotype in each patch. The model considers the constant rate of migration in susceptible and recovered class from one patch to other. Recovered migrants from prior infection are exposed to secondary infection in the patch where different serotype is present. The basic reproduction number is computed and analyzed in terms of migration parameters. The model is analyzed for the existence and local stability of various equilibrium states in terms of migration parameters. The numerical simulations for the choice of relevant data from literature have been performed to verify analytical results and to further explore the dynamics of the system. The sensitivity analysis of basic reproduction number with respect to migration parameters is carried out. It is found that immigration in a patch increases the basic reproduction in respective patch and vice-versa. The basic reproduction number has been estimated for the two states of Brazil which verifies the occurrence of severe epidemic in one of the states of Brazil.


title: Dynamics of an [Formula: see text] Epidemic Model with Vaccination and Saturated Incidence Rate

text: Measles and influenza are two major diseases–caused an epidemic in India. Therefore, in this paper, a [Formula: see text] epidemic mathematical model for measles and influenza is proposed and analyzed, where pre and post vaccinations are considered as control strategies with waning natural, vaccine-induced immunity and saturation incidence rate. The dissection of the proposed model is conferred in terms of the associated reproduction number [Formula: see text] , which is determined by the next-generation approach and obtained that if [Formula: see text] , the disease-free equilibrium exists and it is locally as well as globally asymptotically stable. Further for [Formula: see text] , a unique endemic equilibrium exists and it is also locally as well as globally asymptotically stable under certain conditions, which shows the prevalence and persistence of the disease in the population.


Five candidates compete for regional director of WHO EURO


WHO and the media: a major impediment to global health?


H5N1 influenza pandemic: contingency plans


WHO declares Beijing to be free of SARS


Emerging understandings of 2019-nCoV


Chronique pour une pandémie grippale annoncée


SARS: experience at Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong


Brazil faces worst outbreak of conjunctivitis in 20 years


title: BALKAN (ENDEMIC) NEPHROPATHY AND A TOXIN-PRODUCING STRAIN OF PENICILLIUM VERRUCOSUM VAR CYCLOPIUM: AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL IN RATS

text: Cultures of an isolate of Penicillium verrucosum var. cyclopium, obtained from stored maize in an area of Balkan (endemic) nephropathy—Vratza, Bulgaria—has consistently induced renal tubular lesions when force-fed to rats for 20 days. The lesions, confined to the lower reaches of the proximal convoluted tubules (pars recta and junctional zone), closely resemble the tubular changes in patients with Balkan nephropathy. Preliminary evidence suggests that this nephrotoxin-producing strain of P. verrucosum var. cyclopium may be implicated in the ætiology of Balkan nephropathy.


Immunity to infection


title: A bacterial pathogenicity determinant associated with necrotizing enterocolitis()

text: Predominant enterobacteria from infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) were examined for an unusual ability to ferment lactose. One such isolate, a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain, was partially induced for lactose operon expression in tryptone containing media, and was also pathogenic in a rabbit ileal loop model for NEC. A spontaneous segregant of this strain was no longer partially induced for lactose operon expression, and was no longer pathogenic in the rabbit model. The gene responsible for this phenotype was cloned. The resulting plasmid was shown to cause both partially induced lactose operon expression and pathogenicity when introduced into a laboratory K. pneumoniae strain. A K. pneumoniae mutant deficient in lactose repressor synthesis was also pathogenic in the rabbit model. These results and previous studies on the intraluminal biochemistry of infants with NEC support the hypothesis that an increased ability for lactose fermentation may be a bacterial pathogenic trait with respect to NEC.


Index of authors


SARS: screening, disease associations, and response


title: Lymphocytic sialadenitis of Sjögren's syndrome associated with chronic hepatitis C virus liver disease

text: Viral infection has often been suggested as a possible cause of Sjögren's syndrome or chronic lymphocytic sialadenitis, and Epstein-Barr virus has been found in the salivary glands of patients with this condition. After we had noted Sjögren's syndrome in several patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), a virus also excreted in saliva, we set up a prospective study to investigate the association of chronic lymphocytic sialadenitis, with or without symptoms, to chronic HCV liver disease. The histological appearances of labial salivary glands in patients with proven HCV hepatitis or cirrhosis were compared with those in dead controls. Histological changes characteristic of Sjögren's syndrome were significantly more common in HCV-infected patients (16 of 28, 57%) compared with controls (1 of 20, 5%). Focal lymphocytic sialadenitis characteristic of Sjögren's syndrome (though only 10 patients had xerostomia and none complained of xerophthalmia) appears to be common in patients with chronic HCV liver disease; if this association is confirmed, identification of the underlying mechanism may improve our understanding of both disorders.


Diagnosis of torovirus infection


Keep genome data freely accessible


Pathologies respiratoires infectieuses : des concepts à la pratique !


Public health issues—An update: Recent news from the American Public Health Association, the World Health Organization, and other health care agencies


Cell-to-cell fusion


title: 1 Viruses, virulence and pathogenicity

text: Pathogenicity is a complex process with stringent requirements of both the host cell and the infecting virion. Among these requirements are a port of entry into host cells, a means of replication for the virus, and a means by which infection damages host cells. Damage to the host can result from multiple mechanisms including transformation, suppression of cellular metabolism, apoptosis, autoimmune responses directed against infected or uninfected tissues, or by molecular mimicry. In the attempt to identify new associations between viral infection and disease, investigators should be mindful that variable host factors as well as viral infection may be required for pathogenesis. Efforts to associate specific viral infections with specific diseases may be obscured by final common pathways through which multiple agents damage host cells in similar ways.


Responding to priority health challenges in the Arab world


PREVIOUSLY UNDESCRIBED PARTICLES IN Au-ASSOCIATED HEPATITIS


CORONAVIRUSES IN TRAINING CENTRE FOR INTELLECTUALLY RETARDED


MERS-CoV: address the knowledge gaps to move forward


title: Epidemiology and clinical outcomes of community-acquired pneumonia in adult patients in Asian countries: a prospective study by the Asian network for surveillance of resistant pathogens

text: Appropriate antimicrobial treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) should be based on the distribution of aetiological pathogens, antimicrobial resistance of major pathogens, clinical characteristics and outcomes. We performed a prospective observational study of 955 cases of adult CAP in 14 hospitals in eight Asian countries. Microbiological evaluation to determine etiological pathogens as well as clinical evaluation was performed. Bronchopulmonary disease (29.9%) was the most frequent underlying disease, followed by cardiovascular diseases (19.9%), malignancy (11.7%) and neurological disorder (8.2%). Streptococcus pneumoniae (29.2%) was the most common isolate, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (15.4%) and Haemophilus influenzae (15.1%). Serological tests were positive for Mycoplasma pneumoniae (11.0%) and Chlamydia pneumoniae (13.4%). Only 1.1% was positive for Legionella pneumophila by urinary antigen test. Of the pneumococcal isolates, 56.1% were resistant to erythromycin and 52.6% were not susceptible to penicillin. Seventeen percent of CAP had mixed infection, especially S. pneumoniae with C. pneumoniae. The overall mortality rate was 7.3%, and nursing home residence, mechanical ventilation, malignancy, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory rate > 30/min and hyponatraemia were significant independent risk factors for mortality by multivariate analysis (P < 0.05). The current data provide relevant information about pathogen distribution and antimicrobial resistance of major pathogens of CAP as well as clinical outcomes of illness in Asian countries.


Pacific nations lead the way in fighting lymphatic filariasis


How Can Emergency Departments Better Prepare for Emerging Infectious Disease Threats? A Returned Traveler With Fever Walks Into Triage…


Les Annales de l'Institut Pasteur, 100 ans après


Bacterial identification of adult lower respiratory tract infection


Potential for receptor-based antiviral drugs against SARS


Veterinary sources of foodborne illness


Pregnancy and H1N1 infection


Health is global: a UK Government strategy for 2008–13


Prevalence of non-pneumonic infections with SARS-correlated virus


title: The Immunology of the Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex

text: The bovine respiratory disease complex continues to be an economically important syndrome in an era when immunologic control is likely to become increasingly important. Recent studies have yielded a better understanding of the interaction, at the molecular level, of various pathogens with the bovine immune system. Improved challenge models for important viral pathogens such as bovine viral diarrhea virus and bovine respiratory syncytial virus have provided evidence of the efficacy of immune responses stimulated by vaccination. This article highlights recent advances in understanding of the role of the immune response in the pathogenesis and prophylaxis of bovine respiratory disease complex.


“SARS-Ed”: severe acute respiratory syndrome and the impact on medical education


Takeshi Kasai: the health security thinker from Japan


Research needed to prevent MERS coronavirus outbreaks


VIRUSES IN ENDEMIC (BALKAN) NEPHROPATHY


SARS infection control


title: A novel apparatus for non-contact measurement of heart rate variability: a system to prevent secondary exposure of medical personnel to toxic materials under biochemical hazard conditions, in monitoring sepsis or in predicting multiple organ dysfunction syndrome

text: BACKGROUND. The impaired balance of the low-frequency/high-frequency ratio obtained from spectral components of RR intervals can be a diagnostic test for sepsis. In addition, it is known that a reduction of heart rate variability (HRV) is useful in identifying septic patients at risk of the development of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). We have reported a non-contact method using a microwave radar to monitor the heart and respiratory rates of a healthy person placed inside an isolator or of experimental animals exposed to toxic materials. APPARATUS DESIGN AND TESTING. With the purpose of preventing secondary exposure of medical personnel to toxic materials under biochemical hazard conditions, we designed a novel apparatus for non-contact measurement of HRV using a 1215 MHz microwave radar, a high-pass filter, and a personal computer. The microwave radar monitors only the small reflected waves from the subject's chest wall, which are modulated by the cardiac and respiratory motion. The high-pass filter enhances the cardiac signal and attenuates the respiratory signal. In a human trial, RR intervals derived from the non-contact apparatus significantly correlated with those derived from ECG (r=0.98, P<0.0001). The non-contact apparatus showed a similar power spectrum of RR intervals to that of ECG. CONCLUSIONS. Our non-contact HRV measurement apparatus appears promising for future pre-hospital monitoring of septic patients or for predicting MODS patients, inside isolators or in the field for mass casualties under biochemical hazard circumstances.


The ghost of pandemics past


Golgi localization signals


Questions about comparative genomics of SARS coronavirus isolates


Treatment of SARS with human interferons


Chandipura virus: an emerging human pathogen?


title: MULTISITE INTRADERMAL ANTIRABIES VACCINATION: Immune Responses in Man and Protection of Rabbits Against Death from Street Virus by Postexposure Administration of Human Diploid-Cell-Strain Rabies Vaccine

text: Lymphocyte transformation, production of neutralising antibody, and the development of antirabies IgG antibody were studied in ten healthy volunteers in response to 0·8 ml of human diploid-cell strain (HDCS) rabies vaccine administered on one occasion in divided doses in 8 intradermal (i.d.) sites. All ten volunteers rapidly developed substantial titres of rabies antibody, and eight of the ten had T lymphocytes that were immunologically stimulated by HDCS rabies-virus antigen. Postexposure treatment with 0·8 ml of HDCS vaccine given at 4 i.d. sites completely protected fourteen rabbits from death by street virus. The results suggest that in developing countries patients could be protected with small volumes of potent tissue-culture vaccine administered intradermally shortly after exposure.


Beijing doctor alleges SARS cases cover-up in China


Will China ever come clean?


CALF DIARRHŒA CORONAVIRUS


UN highlights North Korea in appeal for aid


Fighting viruses with antibiotics: an overlooked path


title: Treatment of Diarrhea of Neonatal Calves

text: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, and Giardia duodena are causes of diarrhea of neonatal calves that may be treated by specific antimicrobial or antiprotozoal therapy. Treatment to correct physiologic abnormalities resulting from diarrhea is most successful because the causative agent does not have to be identified prior to treatment. Some agents, such as orally administered antimicrobials, kaolin-pectin, and parasympatholytic drugs, have detrimental effects that make them inappropriate for treatment of diarrheic calves.


Reply to comments on “Zika virus transmission: What to concern on its transmission apart from mosquito control” by Viroj Wiwanitkit


Journal club: A pilot gap analysis survey of US emergency medical services practitioners to determine training and education needs pertaining to highly infectious disease preparedness and response


Pharmaceutical applications


Mammalian gene studies


Getting Africa on the front page


title: A knowledge base for predicting protein localization sites in eukaryotic cells

text: To automate examination of massive amounts of sequence data for biological function, it is important to computerize interpretation based on empirical knowledge of sequence-function relationships. For this purpose, we have been constructing a knowledge base by organizing various experimental and computational observations as a collection of if—then rules. Here we report an expert system, which utilizes this knowledge base, for predicting localization sites of proteins only from the information on the amino acid sequence and the source origin. We collected data for 401 eukaryotic proteins with known localization sites (subcellular and extracellular) and divided them into training data and testing data. Fourteen localization sites were distinguished for animal cells and 17 for plant cells. When sorting signals were not well characterized experimentally, various sequence features were computationally derived from the training data. It was found that 66% of the training data and 59% of the testing data were correctly predicted by our expert system. This artificial intelligence approach is powerful and flexible enough to be used in genome analyses.


Disease, transplantation and regeneration


title: Examples of expression systems based on animal RNA viruses: Alphaviruses and influenza virus

text: Successful recovery of RNA viruses and functional RNA replicons from cDNA has greatly facilitated molecular genetic analyses of viral proteins and cis-regulatory elements. This technology allows the use of RNA virus replication machinery to express heterologous sequences. Both positive-strand and negative-strand animal RNA viruses have been engineered to produce chimeric viruses expressing protective epitopes from other pathogens and for transient expression of heterologous sequences.


title: Mouse hepatitis virus A59-induced demyelination can occur in the absence of CD8(+) T cells

text: Mouse hepatitis virus causes a chronic demyelinating disease in C57BL/6 mice. While early studies suggested demyelination is due to direct cytolytic effects of virus on oligodendrocytes, there is increasing evidence for the involvement of the immune system in the mechanism of demyelination. In this study we have asked whether demyelination can occur in the absence of functional MHC class I expression and CD8(+) T cells. We infected transgenic mice lacking expression of β(2) microglobulin (β(2)M(−/−) mice) with MHV-A59. In β(2)M(−/−) mice, virus was much more lethal than in either of the parental strains used to produce the mice; furthermore, while clearance from the CNS did occur in β(2)M(−/−) mice, it was slower than in C57BL/6 mice. This is consistent with the importance of CD8(+) cells in viral clearance. Because of the increased sensitivity of the β(2)M(−/−) mice to infection, only low levels of virus could be used to evaluate chronic disease. Even at these low levels, demyelination did occur in some animals. To compare infection in β(2)M(−/−) and C57BL/6 mice we used a higher dose of an attenuated variant of MHV-A59, C12. The attenuated variant induced less demyelination in C57BL/6 mice compared to wild type A59, but the levels observed were not significantly different from those seen in β(2)M(−/−) mice. Thus, MHV-induced demyelination can occur in some animals in the absence of MHC class I and CD8(+) cells.


Expression systems


AIRWAY INFECTION


AUSTRALIA ANTIGEN AND SMOOTH-MUSCLE ANTIBODY IN ACUTE AND CHRONIC HEPATITIS


Commentary


title: Activation of autoreactive T cells by peptides from human pathogens

text: Activation of autoreactive T cells is a necessary — but not sufficient — step in the development of T cell mediated autoimmunity. Autoreactive T cells can be activated by viral and bacterial peptides that meet the structural requirements for MHC molecule binding and T cell receptor recognition. Due to the degenerate nature of MHC class II molecule binding motifs and a certain degree of flexibility in T cell receptor recognition, such microbial peptides have been found to be quite distinct in their primary sequence from the self-peptide they mimic.


Nucleus and gene expression


China culls wild animals to prevent new SARS threat


More cash for health care in China


VIRUS-LIKE PARTICLES IN CALVES' FÆCES


CAP workload recording


title: Within-and between-strain variability in longevity of inbred and outbred rats under the same environmental conditions

text: The analysis of 26 longevity curves of different populations of inbred (Fischer 344) and outbred (Sprague-Dawley) rats highlighted a remarkable between-populations variability in survival parameters. This variability is independent of the breeding characteristics of the strain. The two strains differed in the slope of the survival curves, with Fischer 344 rats showing a higher survival over the second year of life as well as a lower interindividual variability. A model-free approach based on principal component analysis allowed us to quantify these differences and to highlight some limitations of the classical Gompertzian approach.


Lessons and myths in the HIV/AIDS response


title: Differentiation of Gastrointestinal Diseases of Calves

text: Bovine practitioners are commonly faced with gastrointestinal problems in calves. Being able to diagnose gastrointestinal problems properly is pivotal in developing proper preventive and treatment strategies. This article discusses the common gastrointestinal diseases, including diarrhea of calves, with the focus on antemortem diagnosis and differentiation of these diseases.


title: 3 Pathogenesis of feline panleukopenia virus and canine parvovirus

text: Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) and canine parvovirus (CPV) are autonomous parvoviruses which infect cats or dogs, respectively. Both viruses cause an acute disease, with virus replicating for less than seven days before being cleared by the developing immune responses. The viruses have a broad tropism for mitotically active cells. In neonatal animals the viruses replicate in a large number of tissues, and FPV infection of the germinal epithelium of the cerebellum leads to cerebellar hypoplasia, while CPV may infect the hearts of neonatal pups, causing myocarditis. In older animals the virus replicates systemically, primarily in the primary and secondary lymphoid tissues, and also in the rapidly replicating cells of the small intestinal epithelial crypts. A transient panleukopenia or relative lymphopenia is often observed after FPV or CPV infection, respectively. Whether the reduction in cell numbers in vivo is due to virus replicating in and killing cells, or due to other indirect effects, is not known. However, FPV kills both erythroid and myeloid colony progenitors in in vitro bone marow cultures, and it has been suggested that virus replication in the myeloid cells in vivo could lead to the reduced neutrophil levels seen after FPV infection of cats.


Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS): infection control


title: INFECTION CONTROL CHALLENGES IN CHILD-CARE CENTERS

text: Current social and economic factors have resulted in increasing numbers of children attending child-care facilities outside of the home. In the United States over 13 million children less than 5 years of age and 60% of children less than 13 years of age are enrolled in some form of out-of-home child care.85, 108 Children attending out-of-home care settings are at increased risk for a variety of infections.25, 62, 79, 88 The incidence of respiratory tract infections, diarrheal disease, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis A, and bacterial meningitis is higher in children cared for outside of the home.54, 88 Increased rates of infections result in increased morbidity of children attending child-care facilities and significant economic impact because of loss of work and cost of medical care. These costs have been estimated at 1.8 billion dollars per year in the United States.(47) Parents of children attending child-care facilities miss from 1 to 4 weeks of work per year caring for ill children.(28) Increased risk for infections in child-care settings is of public health significance because of potential transmission to adult contacts and dissemination into the community.(88) Infections acquired in child-care settings that are mild or asymptomatic in children may be severe in adults.(85)


CORONAVIRUS-LIKE PARTICLES IN DIARRHOEA STOOLS


Screening for severe acute respiratory syndrome in the emergency department


Acute hæmorrhagic conjunctivitis during an epidemic outbreak of adenovirus-type-4 infection


Cumulative Contents


Index for volume 19


Veterinary clinical microbiology: Part II


Autoimmunity


Predicting the next pandemic


China and global health


Fibromyalgia syndrome: a pain modulation disorder related to altered limbic function?


A pamphlet to answer patients' questions