Protection from environmental enteric dysfunction and growth improvement in malnourished newborns by amplification of secretory IgA.

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is a condition associated with malnutrition that can progress to malabsorption and villous atrophy. Severe EED results in linear growth stunting, slowed neurocognitive development, and unresponsiveness to oral vaccines. Prenatal exposure to malnutrition and breast feeding by malnourished mothers replicates EED. Pups are characterized by deprivation of secretory IgA (SIgA) and altered development of the gut immune system and microbiota. Extracellular ATP (eATP) released by microbiota limits T follicular helper (Tfh) cell activity and SIgA generation in Peyer's patches (PPs). Administration of a live biotherapeutic releasing the ATP-degrading enzyme apyrase to malnourished pups restores SIgA levels and ameliorates stunted growth. SIgA is instrumental in improving the growth and intestinal immune competence of mice while they are continuously fed a malnourished diet. The analysis of microbiota composition suggests that amplification of endogenous SIgA may exert a dominant function in correcting malnourishment dysbiosis and its consequences on host organisms, irrespective of the actual microbial ecology.

Silent neonatal influenza A virus infection primes systemic antimicrobial immunity.

Infections with influenza A viruses (IAV) cause seasonal epidemics and global pandemics. The majority of these infections remain asymptomatic, especially among children below five years of age. Importantly, this is a time, when immunological imprinting takes place. Whether early-life infections with IAV affect the development of antimicrobial immunity is unknown. Using a preclinical mouse model, we demonstrate here that silent neonatal influenza infections have a remote beneficial impact on the later control of systemic juvenile-onset and adult-onset infections with an unrelated pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus, due to improved pathogen clearance and clinical resolution. Strategic vaccination with a live attenuated IAV vaccine elicited a similar protection phenotype. Mechanistically, the IAV priming effect primarily targets antimicrobial functions of the developing innate immune system including increased antimicrobial plasma activity and enhanced phagocyte functions and antigen-presenting properties at mucosal sites. Our results suggest a long-term benefit from an exposure to IAV during the neonatal phase, which might be exploited by strategic vaccination against influenza early in life to enforce the host's resistance to later bacterial infections.

Structured reporting of CT scans of patients with trauma leads to faster, more detailed diagnoses: An experimental study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine whether structured reports (SRs) reduce reporting time and/or increase the level of detail for trauma CT scans compared to free-text reports (FTRs). METHOD: Eight radiology residents used SRs and FTRs to describe 14 whole-body CT scans of patients with polytrauma in a simulated emergency room setting. Each resident created both a brief report and a detailed report for each case using one of the two formats. We measured the time to complete the detailed reports and established a scoring system to objectively measure report completeness and the level of detail. Scoring sheets divided the CT findings into main and secondary criteria. Finally, the radiological residents completed a questionnaire on their opinions of the SRs and FTRs. RESULTS: The detailed SRs were completed significantly faster than the detailed FTRs (mean 19 min vs. 25 min; p < 0.001). The maximum allowance of 25 min was used for 25% of SRs and 59% of FTRs. For brief reports, the SRs contained more secondary criteria than the FTRs (p = 0.001), but no significant differences were detected in main criteria. Study participants rated their own SRs as significantly more time-efficient, concise, and clearly structured compared to the FTRs. However, SRs and FTRs were rated similarly for quality, accuracy, and completeness. CONCLUSION: We found that SRs for whole-body trauma CT add clinical value compared to FTRs because SRs reduce reporting time and increase the level of detail for trauma CT scans.

Wounds as the Portal of Entrance for Parrot Bornavirus 4 (PaBV-4) and Retrograde Axonal Transport in Experimentally Infected Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus).

In this study, we investigated the natural route of infection of psittacine bornavirus (PaBV), which is the causative agent of proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) in psittacines. We inoculated two infection groups through wounds with a PaBV-4 isolate. In nine cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) we applied a virus suspension with a titer of 103 50% tissue culture infection dose (TCID50) via palatal lesions (Group P, P1-9). In a second group of three cockatiels, we applied a virus suspension with a titer of 104 TCID50 to footpad lesions (Group F, F1-3). In two cockatiels, the control (or "mock") group, we applied a virus-free cell suspension (Group M, M1-2) via palatal lesions. The observation period was 6 mo (Groups P and M) or 7 mo (Group F). We monitored PaBV-4 RNA shedding and seroconversion. At the end of the study, we examined the birds for the presence of inflammatory lesions, PaBV-4 RNA, and antigen in tissues, as well as virus reisolation of brain and crop material. We did not observe any clinical signs typical of PDD during this study. We also did not see seroconversion or PaBV RNA shedding in any bird during the entire investigation period, and virus reisolation was not successful. We only found PaBV-4 RNA in sciatic nerves, footpad tissue, skin, and in one sample from the intestine of Group F. In this group, the histopathology revealed mononuclear infiltrations mainly in skin and footpad tissue; immunohistochemistry showed positive reactions in spinal ganglia and in the spinal cord, and slightly in skin, footpad tissues, and sciatic nerves. In Groups P and M we found no viral antigen or specific inflammations. In summary, only the virus application on the footpad lesion led to detectable PaBV RNA, mononuclear infiltrations, and positive immunohistochemical reactions in tissues of the experimental birds. This could suggest that PaBV spreads via nervous tissue, with skin wounds as the primary entry route.

INVESTIGATIONS INTO CAUSES OF NEUROLOGIC SIGNS AND MORTALITY AND THE FIRST IDENTIFICATION OF SARCOCYSTIS CALCHASI IN FREE-RANGING WOODPECKERS IN GERMANY.

Between June and November 2015, 25 woodpeckers (Picidae) with neurologic signs or unknown cause of death were admitted to a veterinary clinic. Alive birds were clinically examined. Birds that were found dead or died despite intensive care treatment were forwarded to a pathologic examination. Necropsy and subsequent tests included screening for several infectious agents and toxins. Three birds tested positive for Sarcocystis calchasi. Toxoplasma gondii was detected in one bird demonstrating intracerebral cysts. Mycoplasma gypis was detected in one woodpecker in the absence of respiratory signs. Several microbial pathogens (eg, Aspergillus fumigatus, Clostridium perfringens, and Escherichia coli) were isolated from single individuals. However, there was no consistent finding in all birds that could explain nervous signs and mortality of the woodpeckers examined. To the authors' knowledge, M. gypis and S. calchasi were detected in a woodpecker for the first time in this study.

Investigation of Different Infection Routes of Parrot Bornavirus in Cockatiels.

The aim of this study was to determine the natural infection route of parrot bornavirus (PaBV), the causative agent of proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) in psittacines. For this purpose, nine cockatiels ( Nymphicus hollandicus ) were inoculated orally, and nine cockatiels were inoculated intranasally, with a PaBV-4 isolate. To compare the results of the trials, the same isolate and the same experimental design were used as in a previous study where infection was successful by intravenous as well as intracerebral inoculation. After inoculation, the birds were observed for a period of 6 mo and tested for PaBV RNA shedding, virus replication, presence of inflammatory lesions, and PaBV-4 antigen in tissues, as well as specific antibody production. In contrast to the previous study involving intravenous and intracerebral infections, clinical signs typical for PDD were not observed in this study. Additionally, anti-PaBV antibodies and infectious virus were not detected in any investigated bird during the study. Parrot bornavirus RNA was detected in only four birds early after infection (1-34 days postinfection). Furthermore, histopathologic examination did not reveal lesions typical for PDD, and PaBV antigen was not detected in any organ investigated by immunohistochemistry. In summary, oral or nasal inoculation did not lead to a valid infection with PaBV in these cockatiels. Therefore it seems to be questionable that the formerly proposed fecal-oral transmission is the natural route of infection in immunocompetent adult or subadult cockatiels.

Parrot Bornavirus (PaBV)-2 isolate causes different disease patterns in cockatiels than PaBV-4.

Psittaciform 1 bornavirus (PaBV) has already been shown to be the aetiologic agent of proventricular dilatation disease, a significant disease of birds. However, the pathogenesis of PaBV infection has not yet been resolved and valid data regarding the pathogenicity of different PaBV species are lacking. Thus, the present study was aimed to characterize the influence of two different PaBV species on the course of disease. Eighteen cockatiels were inoculated intracerebrally (i.c.) or intravenously (i.v.) with a PaBV-2 isolate under the same conditions as in a previous study using PaBV-4. Birds were surveyed and sampled for 33 weeks to analyse the course of infection and disease in comparison to that of PaBV-4. Similar to PaBV-4, PaBV-2 induced a persistent infection with seroconversion (from day 6 p.i. onwards) and shedding of viral RNA (from day 27 p.i. onwards). However, in contrast to PaBV-4, more birds displayed clinical signs and disease progression was more severe. After PaBV-2 infection, 12 birds exhibited clinical signs and 10 birds revealed a dilated proventriculus in necropsy. After PaBV-4 infection only four birds revealed clinical signs and seven birds showed a dilatation of the proventriculus. Clinically, different courses of disease were observed after PaBV-2 infection, mainly affecting the gastrointestinal tract. This had not been detected after PaBV-4 infection where more neurological signs were noted. The results provide evidence for different disease patterns according to different PaBV species, allowing the comparison between the infection with two PaBV species, and thus underlining the role of viral and individual host factors for disease outcome.