Efficacy of an inactivated respiratory syncytial virus vaccine in calves.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an inactivated bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) vaccine would protect calves from infection with virulent BRSV. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. ANIMALS: 27 nine-week-old calves seronegative for BRSV exposure. PROCEDURE: Group-1 calves (n = 9) were not vaccinated. Group-2 calves (n = 9) were vaccinated on days 0 and 21 with an inactivated BRSV vaccine containing a minimum immunizing dose of antigen. Group-3 calves (n = 9) were vaccinated on days 0 and 21 with an inactivated BRSV vaccine containing an amount of antigen similar to that in a commercial vaccine. All calves were challenged with virulent BRSV on day 42. Clinical signs and immune responses were monitored for 8 days after challenge. Calves were euthanatized on day 50, and lungs were examined for lesions. RESULTS: Vaccination elicited increases in BRSV-specific IgG and virus neutralizing antibody titers and in production of interferon-gamma. Virus neutralizing antibody titers were consistently less than IgG titers. Challenge with BRSV resulted in severe respiratory tract disease and extensive pulmonary lesions in control calves, whereas vaccinated calves had less severe signs of clinical disease and less extensive pulmonary lesions. The percentage of vaccinated calves that shed virus in nasal secretions was significantly lower than the percentage of control calves that did, and peak viral titer was lower for vaccinated than for control calves. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that the inactivated BRSV vaccine provided clinical protection from experimental infection with virulent virus and decreased the severity of pulmonary lesions. Efficacy was similar to that reported for modified-live BRSV vaccines.     

Detection of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae antibodies in porcine serum by complement-fixation test.

A total of 660 porcine serum samples from 35 herds in 6 states were tested for complement-fixing antibodies against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Samples were prepared from blood collected from swine herds suspected of having mycoplasmal pneumonia because of clinical signs or lesions or both. Only 56 serums from 10 herds gave positive test results.     

Comparison of sensitivity and specificity in three commercial foot-and-mouth disease virus non-structural protein ELISA kits with swine sera in Taiwan

Three commercialized ELISA kits for the detection of antibodies to the non-structural proteins (NSPs) of FMD virus were compared, using sera from uninfected, vaccinated, challenged and naturally infected pigs. The kinetics of the antibody response to NSPs was compared on sequential serum samples in swine from challenge studies and outbreaks. The results showed that ELISA A (UBI) and ELISA B (CEDI) had better sensitivity than that of the 3ABC recombinant protein-based ELISA C (Chekit). The peak for detection of antibodies to NSPs in ELISA C was significantly delayed in sera from natural infection and challenged swine as compared to the ELISA A and B. The sensitivity of the three ELISAs gradually declined during the 6-month post-infection as antibodies to NSP decline. ELISA kits A and B detected NSP antibody in 50% of challenged pigs by the 9-10th-day and 7-8th-day post-challenge, respectively. ELISA B and C had better specificity than ELISA A on sequential serum samples obtained from swine immunized with a type O FMD vaccine commercially available in Taiwan. Antibody to NSPs before vaccination was not detected in swine not exposed to FMD virus, however, antibody to NSPs was found in sera of some pigs after vaccination. All assays had significantly lower specificity when testing sera from repeatedly vaccinated sows and finishers in 1997 that were tested after the 1997 FMD outbreak. However, when testing sera from repeatedly vaccinated sows or finishers in 2003-2004, the specificity for ELISAs A, B and C were significantly better than those in 1997. This effect was less marked for ELISA A. The ELISA B was the best test in terms of the highest sensitivity and specificity and the lowest reactivity with residual NSP in vaccinates.     

The effect of colostrum-derived antibody on neo-natal transmission of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus infection

Two groups of 6 newborn goat kids were artificially fed colostrum containing antibody to caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) virus, obtained from clinically affected does. Kids in group A were fed the colostrum from birth until 7 days of age, while kids in group B were fed colostrum from 1 to 3 days after birth for 7 days. Kids were fed cow's milk at all other times. Serum antibody resulting from the consumption of colostrum, detected by agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) tests, lasted for up to 8 weeks in group A, but none was detected in group B. Four kids from each group became infected with CAE virus as demonstrated by the emergence of active immunity and by virus isolation procedures. It appeared that uptake of colostral antibody by group A did not prevent viral transmission, interfere with development of active immunity, or modify the outcome of the CAE virus infection.     

Viral tissue tropisms and interferon production in white leghorn chickens infected with two avian reovirus strains

Inoculation of 6-day-old and 4-week-old chickens with pathogenic or attenuated avian reovirus resulted in an inapparent infection. The virus had a greater tissue distribution and persisted longer in tissues of 6-day-old chickens. Interferon was detected in only the serum and lung of infected chickens and appeared to be related to route of inoculation. Titers of interferon were greater and appeared sooner in the tissues of older chickens. Reovirus-neutralizing antibody was not detected in the serum of chickens of either age 120 days postinfection.     

Effects of dietary supplementation with L-carnitine and fat on blood acid-base responses to handling in slaughter weight pigs

Blood acid-base responses to handling were evaluated in slaughter weight pigs fed diets supplemented with l-carnitine and fat. The study was carried out as a randomized block design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: 1) dietary L-carnitine supplementation (0 vs. 150 ppm, as-fed basis); and 2) dietary fat supplementation (0 vs. 5%, as-fed basis). Sixty pigs (91.1 +/- 5.14 kg BW) were housed in mixed-gender groups of five and had ad libitum access to test diets (0.68% true ileal digestible lysine, 3,340 kcal of ME/kg, as-fed basis) for 3 wk. At the end of the feeding period (110.3 +/- 7.52 kg BW), pigs were subjected to a standard handling procedure, which consisted of moving individual animals through a facility (12.2 m long x 0.91 m wide) for eight laps (up and down the facility), using electric prods (two times per lap). There was no interaction between dietary L-carnitine and fat supplementation for any measurement. Pigs fed 150 ppm of supplemental L-carnitine had lower baseline blood glucose (P < 0.05) and higher baseline blood lactate (P < 0.05) concentrations than the nonsupplemented pigs. After handling, pigs fed L-carnitine-supplemented diets had a higher (P < 0.05) blood pH and showed a smaller (P < 0.05) decrease in blood pH and base excess than those fed the nonsupplemental diets. Baseline plasma FFA concentrations were higher (P < 0.01) in pigs fed the 5% fat diet. After the handling procedure, blood glucose, lactate, and plasma FFA were higher (P < 0.05) in pigs fed the 5 vs. 0% fat diets, but blood pH, bicarbonate, and base excess were not affected by dietary fat. The handling procedure decreased (P < 0.01) blood pH, bicarbonate, base excess, and total carbon dioxide and increased (P < 0.01) blood lactate, partial pressure of oxygen, and glucose, and also increased (P < 0.01) rectal temperature. Free fatty acid concentrations were increased by handling in pigs fed both 0 and 5% fat and 150 ppm L-carnitine. In conclusion, dietary L-carnitine supplementation at the level and for the feeding period evaluated in the current study had a relatively small but positive effect on decreasing blood pH changes in finishing pigs submitted to handling stress; however, dietary fat supplementation had little effect on blood acid-base balance.     

Influence of plant residue chemistry on soil CO2–C production: A study with Arabidopsis thaliana cell wall mutants of KNAT7, MYB75 and CCR1

Alteration of plant lignin concentration is expected to affect the C mineralization of crop residues. Mutations of single genes involved in biosynthesis of secondary cell walls such as KNOTTED ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA 7 (KNAT7), PRODUCTION OF ANTHOCYANIN PIGMENT 1 (PAP1) also known as MYB75, and cinnamoyl CoA reductase 1 (CCR1) coding genes could change lignin concentration in specific plant tissues. This study assessed the CO₂–C production of soil amended with stem and root tissues of down-regulated (k/o) and over expression (o/x) KNAT7 and MYB75 and the CCR1 k/o mutant lines of A. thaliana. KNAT7 k/o and MYB75 k/o were grown in two different environmental conditions (two cohorts) in the greenhouse. Oven dried, finely ground (<0.5 mm) stem and root residues underwent biochemical analysis, then were mixed separately with sandy loam or clay loam soil to assess CO₂–C production under controlled laboratory conditions for 63 days. Compared to wild ecotypes, C:N ratio and acid unhydrolyzable fraction (AUF) concentration tended to be higher in stem residues of KNAT7 k/o and MYB75 k/o mutant lines. The C:N ratio was lower in stem and roots of CCR1 k/o line, and the AUF concentration was lower in CCR1 k/o stem residues than in the wild ecotypes. Hemicelluloses were lower in stem residues of KNAT7 k/o and MYB75 k/o (first cohort) than their wild ecotypes. Cumulative CO₂–C production was lower in soil amended with stem residues of KNAT7 k/o (first cohort) and MYB75 k/o (first and second cohorts). CCR1 k/o stem tissues caused higher CO₂–C production from soil. After 63 days incubation, the acid/aldehyde ratio (Ad/Al) of vanillin (V) and syringyl (S) lignin monomers of soil was higher for stem amended CCR1 k/o and lower for stem amended MYB75 k/o soils as compared to their wild ecotypes. Generally root residues caused lower CO₂–C production from soil than stem residues. There was no difference in CO₂–C production for root residues between mutant lines and their wild ecotypes. In conclusion, KNAT7 k/o, MYB75 k/o and CCR1 k/o mutations resulted in altered C:N ratio and resistant compounds (i.e., AUF) especially in stems, and these alterations in residue chemistry influenced CO₂–C production and also lignin degradation in soil.