Robotic Assisted Living Donor Nephrectomies: A Safe Alternative to Laparoscopic Technique for Kidney Transplant Donation.

OBJECTIVE: To review outcomes after laparoscopic, robotic-assisted living donor nephrectomy (RLDN) in the first, and largest series reported to date. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Introduction of minimal invasive, laparoscopic donor nephrectomy has increased live kidney donation, paving the way for further innovation to expand the donor pool with RLDN. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of 1084 consecutive RLDNs performed between 2000 and 2017. Patient demographics, surgical data, and complications were collected. RESULTS: Six patients underwent conversion to open procedures between 2002 and 2005, whereas the remainder were successfully completed robotically. Median donor age was 35.7 (17.4) years, with a median BMI of 28.6 (7.7) kg/m2. Nephrectomies were preferentially performed on the left side (95.2%). Multiple renal arteries were present in 24.1%. Median operative time was 159 (54) minutes, warm ischemia time 180 (90) seconds, estimated blood loss 50 (32) mL, and length of stay 3 (1) days. The median follow-up was 15 (28) months. Complications were reported in 216 patients (19.9%), of which 176 patients (81.5%) were minor (Clavien-Dindo class I and II). Duration of surgery, warm ischemia time, operative blood loss, conversion, and complication rates were not associated with increase in body mass index. CONCLUSION: RLDN is a safe technique and offers a reasonable alternative to conventional laparoscopic surgery, in particular in donors with higher body mass index and multiple arteries. It offers transplant surgeons a platform to develop skills in robotic-assisted surgery needed in the more advanced setting of minimal invasive recipient operations.

Stent-Graft Length Is Associated with Decreased Patency in Treatment of Central Venous Stenosis in Hemodialysis Patients.

BACKGROUND: Central venous occlusion may occur in hemodialysis patients, resulting in arm or facial swelling and failure of dialysis access. Endovascular management with balloon angioplasty or stenting has been described, but there are minimal data on the use of covered stents in this pathology. We sought to review a single institution's experience with the use of covered stents for central venous occlusive disease in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients undergoing placement of covered stents between April 2014 and December 2016 for central venous occlusive disease to preserve a failing dialysis access was performed. Patients' records were reviewed to identify demographics, medical comorbidities, operative variables, primary patency rates, and secondary interventions. RESULTS: A total of 29 patients were included in the analysis. Viabahn (W.L. Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, AZ) stent grafts were exclusively used in all patients. Technical success rate was 100%. The patients were predominantly female (65.5%), with a mean age of 67.9 ± 12.1 and medical comorbidities of hypertension (86%), diabetes (76%), and tobacco use (7%). The majority (86%) had prior angioplasty and 17 of 29 (59%) patients had previous central venous catheters. The right brachiocephalic vein was the most commonly stented vessel (28%). The median stent length and diameter used were 50 millimeters (range 25-100 millimeters) and 13 millimeters (range: 9-13 millimeters), respectively. The majority of patients (83%) received a single stent, with only 2 patients requiring more than one. Median follow-up was 24 months (range: 6-41 months). Four of 29 (13.8%) patients developed symptomatic stent restenosis requiring secondary intervention, all of which occurred in patients with primary stenosis between 50% and 75%. When compared to the patients without restenosis, longer stents were found to be significantly associated with restenosis (62.5 centimeters, interquartile range [IQR]: 0] vs. 50 centimeter, IQR: 0, P = 0.002). Primary patency rates were 92.9%, 91.7%, and 80.0% at 6, 12, and 24 months respectively. Secondary patency rates were 96.4%, 95.8%, and 93.3% at 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months, respectively. The overall primary patency rate was estimated at 86.2% using Kaplan-Meier analysis at 30.5 months (95% confidence interval: 26.5-34.5 months). CONCLUSIONS: Covered stent grafts have reasonable primary patency and excellent secondary patency when used for central venous stenosis in dialysis patients. Stent-graft length is associated with poorer long-term patency rates.

Large animal evaluation of riboflavin and ultraviolet light-treated whole blood transfusion in a diffuse, nonsurgical bleeding porcine model.

BACKGROUND: The Mirasol system has been demonstrated to effectively inactivate white blood cells (WBCs) and reduce pathogens in whole blood in vitro. The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of Mirasol-treated fresh whole blood (FWB) to untreated FWB in an in vivo model of surgical bleeding. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 18 anesthetized pigs (40 kg) underwent a 35% total blood volume bleed, cooling to 33°C, and a standardized liver injury. Animals were then randomly assigned to resuscitation with either Mirasol-treated or untreated FWB, and intraoperative blood loss was measured. After abdominal closure, the animals were observed for 14 days, after which the animals were euthanized and tissues were obtained for histopathologic examination. Mortality, tissue near-infrared spectroscopy, red blood cell (RBC) variables, platelets (PLTs), WBCs, and coagulation indices were analyzed. RESULTS: Total intraoperative blood loss was similar in test and control arms (8.3 ± 3.2 mL/kg vs. 7.7 ± 3.9 mL/kg, p = 0.720). All animals survived to Day 14. Trended values over time did not show significant differences-tissue oxygenation (p = 0.605), hemoglobin (p = 0.461), PLTs (p = 0.807), WBCs (p = 0.435), prothrombin time (p = 0.655), activated partial thromboplastin time (p = 0.416), thromboelastography (TEG)-reaction time (p = 0.265), or TEG-clot formation time (p = 0.081). Histopathology did not show significant differences between arms. CONCLUSIONS: Mirasol-treated FWB did not impact survival, blood loss, tissue oxygen delivery, RBC indices, or coagulation variables in a standardized liver injury model. These data suggest that Mirasol-treated FWB is both safe and efficacious in vivo.

Characterization of 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced contraction and acetylcholine-induced relaxation in isolated chicken basilar artery.

The aim of the present study was to clarify the responsiveness of the chicken basilar artery to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and acetylcholine (ACh) and to characterize the related receptor subtypes in vitro. Basilar arteries were obtained from freshly slaughtered broiler chickens. The 5-HT induced concentration-dependent contraction of the arteries. The concentration-response curves for 5-HT were shifted 30-fold to the right by methiothepin (a 5-HT(1) and 5-HT(2) receptor antagonist) and 3-fold to the right by ketanserin (a 5-HT(2) receptor antagonist). In the presence of ketanserin, the concentration-response curve for 5-HT was shifted 10-fold to the right by methiothepin. The pA(2) value for methiothepin was 8.26. The ACh induced concentration-dependent relaxation under conditions of precontraction by 5-HT. The concentration-response curve for ACh was shifted to the right by atropine [a nonselective muscarinic (M) receptor antagonist] and hexahydro-sila-difenidol hydrochloride, a p-fluoroanalog (pFHHSiD, an M(3) receptor antagonist), but not by pirenzepine (an M(1) receptor antagonist) or methoctramine (an M(2) receptor antagonist). The pA(2) value for pFHHSiD was 7.55. Nω-Nitro-l-arginine (a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) inhibited ACh-induced relaxation by approximately 50%. These results suggest that 5-HT induces contraction via activation of 5-HT(1) and 5-HT(2) receptors and that ACh induces relaxation via activation of the M(3) receptor. The 5-HT(1) receptor might play a dominant role in 5-HT-induced contraction. One of the factors involved in ACh-induced relaxation is probably nitric oxide released from endothelial cells.

Less protease-resistant PrP in a patient with sporadic CJD treated with intraventricular pentosan polysulphate.

Treatment with intraventricular pentosan polysulphate (PPS) might be beneficial in patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. We report a 68-year-old woman with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease who received continuous intraventricular PPS infusion (1-120 microg/kg/day) for 17 months starting 10 months after the onset of clinical symptoms. Treatment with PPS was well tolerated but was associated with a minor, transient intraventricular hemorrhage and a non-progressive collection of subdural fluid. The patient's overall survival time was well above the mean time expected for the illness but still within the normal range. Post-mortem examination revealed that the level of abnormal protease-resistant prion protein in the brain was markedly decreased compared with levels in brains without PPS treatment. These findings suggest that intraventricular PPS infusion might modify the accumulation of abnormal prion proteins in the brains of patients with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Characterization of bradykinin-induced endothelium-independent contraction in equine basilar artery.

We investigated the effect of bradykinin (BK) on isolated equine basilar arterial rings with and without endothelium. BK induced concentration-dependent contraction of resting arterial rings and no relaxation when the rings were precontracted by prostaglandin F(2alpha). The maximal response and pD(2) value were 161.2 +/- 28.1% (to 60 mm KCl-induced contraction) and 8.24 +/- 0.25 respectively. The cumulative concentration-response curve for BK was not shifted to the right by des-Arg(9)-[Leu(8)]-BK (a B(1)-receptor antagonist), HOE140 (a B(2)-receptor antagonist) or NPC567 (another B(2)-receptor antagonist). In four of six basilar arteries, NPC567 induced concentration-dependent contraction. Indomethacin (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor), nordihydroguaiaretic acid (a lipoxygenase inhibitor), quinacrine (a phospholipase A(2) inhibitor), tetrodotoxin (a selective blocker of Na(+) channels), guanethidine (a nor-adrenergic neuron blocking drug), phentolamine (an alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist), Nomega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor) and endothelial denudation did not affect the BK-induced contraction. L-NNA and indomethacin induced contraction and relaxation under resting vascular tone respectively. These results suggest that endothelial cells are not involved in BK-induced contraction and that the contraction is not mediated via activation of known B(1) and B(2) receptors. Arachidonic acid metabolites and neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and NO might not play a role in BK-induced contraction in equine basilar artery.

Comparative susceptibility of chickens, turkeys and ducks to infectious bursal disease virus using immunohistochemistry.

Twenty chicks, 12 turkey poults and 10 ducklings, all 5 weeks old were infected with 2 x 10(3.5) chick LD(50) IBD virus to determine the course of the virus in the 3 poultry species. Uninfected control birds were kept separately. Two infected and 2 control birds/species were euthanized at time intervals between 3 and 168 hours post infection (pi). Sections of thymus, bursa of Fabricius, spleen, liver, kidney, proventriculus and ceacal tonsil were stained for the detection of IBD virus antigen using immunoperoxidase technique. IBD virus antigen positive cells stained reddish-brown and the amount of such cells in tissue sections were noted and scored. Stained cells were present in all organs examined for up to 168 hours pi in the 3 poultry species except ceacal tonsils of ducks at 72 and 120 hours pi. Antigen score was highest in chickens and least in ducks as reflected by average of total scores/sampling time of 12, 10.8 and 8 in chickens, turkeys and ducks respectively. Total antigen score/sampling time in infected chickens peaked twice; 24/48 and 144 hours pi, whereas such bi-phasic peaks were absent in turkeys and ducks. Range of total antigen score at different sampling times was 7-17.5 in chickens, 10-13 in turkeys and 7-10 in ducks indicative of marked viral replication in chickens. Presence of IBD viral antigen in organs of all 3 poultry species is indicative of infections. The innate ability of turkeys and ducks to prevent appreciable replication of IBD virus after infection requires further investigation.

Anhidrosis: an unusual presentation of diabetes insipidus.

A 61-year-old man who had a 10-year history of anhidrosis was found to have idiopathic diabetes insipidus. He showed no spontaneous sweating or pilocarpine-induced sweat response. Skin pathology showed a normal eccrine gland. Microneurography detected no skin sympathetic nerve activity. Within a month of desmopressin treatment for diabetes insipidus, sweating and skin sympathetic nerve activity returned.

Identification of a subpopulation of immune Nigerian adult volunteers by antibodies to the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum.

Collections of human sera from malaria-endemic areas would be valuable for identifying and characterizing antigens as malaria vaccine candidates if the contributing serum donors' ability to resist infection were fully characterized. We prepared such a serum collection from 26 apparently immune Nigerian adults who failed to develop patent parasitemia for at least 20 weeks following a documented increase in antibodies to the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) from Plasmodium falciparum. Volunteers were evaluated five times per week for malaria symptoms and bimonthly for parasites by examining thick blood smears. The incidence rate over 13 months for the cohort was 42% (47 malaria-confirmed volunteers) and the risk of infection was 1.3 infections/year. Responses to CSP did not correlate with protection. Because antibody responses to antigens other than CSP may be associated with protection, the sera from these immune individuals may be useful for identifying and characterizing other potential malaria vaccine candidates.

Identification of epitope expression on the internal proteins of rinderpest virus which is dependent upon virion maturation events.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) identified the existence of both maturation-dependent and maturation-independent epitopes on rinderpest virus antigens. The former were divided into (i) post-maturation antigenic determinants, which were dependent upon the maturation of viral antigen into complete virions; and (ii) pre-maturation antigenic determinants, which were only expressed on what appeared to be immature particles before 'budding' into the extracellular environment. Epitope expression could be related to the kinetics of virus production, with the 'post-maturation' sites requiring the production of mature/infectious virions, but the 'pre-maturation' sites being lost when mature virus was formed (these 'pre-maturation' determinants were strongly cell-associated). MAb against the different virion proteins of measles virus, when reacting with rinderpest virus did not demonstrate the same relationship to virion maturation as did the anti-rinderpest virus MAb: the anti-measles virus MAb detected maturation-independent epitopes. This work demonstrates the caution which should be taken when preparing antigens for diagnostic and epidemiological purposes, especially when MAb are being used to identify antigenic differences between isolates, and/or to compare antigenically isolates with vaccine viruses.

2.5-D simultaneous multislice reconstruction by series expansion methods from Fourier-rebinned PET data.

True three-dimensional (3-D) volume reconstruction from fully 3-D data in positron emission tomography (PET) has only a limited clinical use because of its large computational burden. Fourier rebinning (FORE) of the fully 3-D data into a set of 2-D sinogram data decomposes the 3-D reconstruction process into multiple 2-D reconstructions of decoupled 2-D image slices, thus substantially decreasing the computational burden even in the case when the 2-D reconstructions are performed by an iterative reconstruction algorithm. On the other hand, the approximations involved in the rebinning combined with the decoupling of the image slices cause a certain reduction of image quality, especially when the signal-to-noise ratio of the data is low. We propose a 2.5-D Simultaneous Multislice Reconstruction approach, based on the series expansion principle, where the volume is represented by the superposition of 3-D spherically symmetric bell-shaped basis functions. It takes advantage of the time reduction due to the use of the FORE (2-D) data, instead of the original fully 3-D data, but at the same time uses a 3-D iterative reconstruction approach with 3-D basis functions. The same general approach can be applied to any reconstruction algorithm belonging to the class of series expansion methods (iterative or noniterative) using 3-D basis functions that span multiple slices, and can be used for any multislice sinogram or list mode data whether obtained by a special rebinning scheme or acquired directly by a PET scanner in the 2-D mode using septa. Our studies confirm that the proposed 2.5-D approach provides a considerable improvement in reconstruction quality, as compared to the standard 2-D reconstruction approach, while the reconstruction time is of the same order as that of the 2-D approach and is clinically practical even on a general-purpose computer.

High-resolution image reconstruction method for time-of-flight positron emission tomography.

We present a new image reconstruction method for time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOF-PET). The TOF-PET measurement system is modelled using the continuous-discrete mapping model, and images are reconstructed using an algebraic technique. The proposed method can produce images with better spatial resolution than conventional methods based on the filtered backprojection method. Numerical simulation results show that accurate modelling of the measurement system improves the spatial resolution and the contrast recovery, while the utilization of TOF information improves the signal-to-noise ratios of images.

Identification of epitope(s) on the internal virion proteins of rinderpest virus which are absent from peste des petits ruminants virus.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) raised against the RBOK vaccine strain of rinderpest virus were characterized by radio-immunoprecipitation (RIPA) and in the indirect ELISA using measles (MV), distemper (CDV), rinderpest (RPV) and peste des petits ruminants viruses (PPRV). Those found to be specific for the matrix (M) protein and the nucleocapsid (N) protein could be classified into different groups on the basis of the anti-morbillivirus MAb classification scheme; a number of these MAb showed a selective recognition of RPV, measles virus and distemper virus, or of different isolates of rinderpest virus, demonstrating that greater inter-isolate variation occurs than was apparent from analyses using polyclonal antisera. One group of anti-F protein MAb (group F1) reacted with all isolates of both RPV and PPRV. A second group of anti-N protein MAb (group N1/A) reacted with all RPV isolates, but not with the PPRV isolates. Furthermore, these group N1/A antibodies reacted strongly with RPV isolates which were upon original isolation of high pathogenicity, but had a weaker reaction against the isolates of this virus which were of low pathogenicity. Thus, MAb against RPV, in particular those against the N protein offered a potential superior to that of molecular analyses for "isolate fingerprinting", the differentiation of RPV from PPRV and the discrimination between rinderpest viruses which had been, upon isolation, of either high or low pathogenicity.

Serological survey of adenovirus antibodies in domestic animals in Nigeria.

Serum samples collected from 1,197 goats, 586 sheep, 254, cattle, 55 dogs and 44 horses were examined for antibodies to adenovirus by the agar-gel precipitation test. Results show that 17.7% of the goats, 18.4% of the sheep, 4.3% of the cattle, and 4.5% of the horses had precipitating antibodies. None of the dog sera examined was positive. The results seem to indicate a moderate level of previous exposure to adenovirus infection especially among goats and sheep in Nigeria.

Prevalence of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in northern Nigeria.

An abattoir study on the prevalence of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in five cattle-producing states of Nigeria from 1988 to 1997 was carried out. A total of 1,936,015 slaughtered cattle was examined for characteristic CBPP lung lesions. The overall lesion-based prevalence of CBPP was 0.29% (95% CI 0.24, 0. 35). The prevalence varied significantly (P<0.05) by state but not across the years. A total of 279 CBPP outbreaks occurred and overall vaccination coverage was only 9.7%, both varied over the years and across the states. The reasons for inadequate vaccination coverage for CBPP as well as the need for re-establishment of a national CBPP control programme are suggested.

Dealing with animal disease emergencies in Africa: prevention and preparedness.

Emergency preparedness planning for animal diseases is a relatively new concept that is only now being applied in Africa. Information can be drawn from numerous recent disease epidemics involving rinderpest, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and Rift Valley fever. These examples clearly demonstrate the shortcomings and value of effective early warning with ensured early reaction in the control of transboundary animal disease events. In concert, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), through the Emergency Prevention-System for Transboundary Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases (EMPRES), and Organisation of African Unity/Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (OAU/IBAR), through the European Commission-funded Pan-African Rinderpest Campaign (PARC), have been actively promoting the concepts and application of emergency preparedness planning and should continue to do so under the proposed successor of PARC, namely: the Pan-African Programme for the Control of Epizootics (PACE). The potential partnership between the normative function of the FAO in developing and promoting emergency preparedness and the implementation of improved national and regional disease surveillance by PACE and other partners could witness the commencement of more progressive control of epidemic diseases in Africa and greater self-reliance by African countries in coping with transboundary animal disease emergencies.

Disease prevention and preparedness: the Food and Agriculture Organization Emergency Prevention System.

In 1994, the Food and Agriculture Organization undertook to revitalise its activities in the control of transboundary animal disease by establishing a new special programme known as the Emergency Prevention System (EMPRES) against transboundary animal and plant pests and diseases. The emphasis of the EMPRES livestock component is placed on pre-empting outbreaks and losses experienced by agriculture through the enhancement of local capacity to detect and react rapidly to plague events. EMPRES concentrates on the co-ordination of the Global Rinderpest Eradication Programme--a time-bound eradication programme--whilst addressing the progressive control of the most serious epidemic diseases within a broad framework of emergency preparedness. Programme activities are discussed in relation to early warning, early reaction, facilitating research and co-ordination. In addition to rinderpest, particular attention has been paid to contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, a re-emerging disease in Africa targeted for strategic attention, and foot and mouth disease, for which co-ordinated regional control in Latin America and South-East Asia has been initiated. Tactical responses to other disease emergencies such as African swine fever, classical swine fever (hog cholera), Rift Valley fever, peste des petits ruminants and lumpy skin disease are described.

Participation of alpha 1- and beta 1-adrenoceptors in norepinephrine-induced contraction and relaxation of isolated equine coronary artery in vitro.

In coronary arterial rings isolated from horse, norepinephrine (NE)(10(-7) - 10(-5) M) induced concentration-dependent contractions which were not influenced by endothelial denudation. Prazosin (alpha 1-antagonist) inhibited the contraction, but yohimbine (alpha 2-antagonist) did not, and propranolol (beta-antagonist) enhanced the contraction. Pretreatment with phentolamine (10(-5) M) (alpha-antagonist) converted the contraction induced by NE to relaxation in coronary rings precontracted with ONO11113 (thromboxane A2 derivative). The relaxation was not influenced by removal of the endothelium, and was inhibited by propranolol and atenolol (beta 1-antagonist) but not by butoxamine (beta 2-antagonist). These results suggest that in equine coronary arteries, the contractile response to NE is mediated by stimulation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors on the smooth muscle, and that stimulation of beta 1-adrenoceptors on the smooth muscle modifies the contraction by inducing relaxation.

Participation of H1-receptors in histamine-induced contraction and relaxation of horse coronary artery in vitro.

The mechanisms of histamine-induced contraction and relaxation were investigated in rings isolated from a middle part of the left descending coronary arteries of horses. Intact and endothelium-denuded preparations were compared. Rings of horse coronary arteries contracted in response to histamine in a concentration dependent manner, but some of them relaxed with lower concentrations and contracted with higher concentrations. Removal of the endothelium abolished the relaxation and potentiated the contraction. The pD2 values were 4.70 +/- 0.08 in the rings with intact endothelium and 4.95 +/- 0.08 in endothelium-denuded rings. Histamine-induced contractions in intact and denuded preparations were not affected by an H2-antagonist, cimetidine, but were inhibited by an H1-antagonist, diphenhydramine in non-competitive manner in the rings with endothelium and in competitive manner in denuded rings. After precontraction with PGF2 alpha or norepinephrine, histamine relaxed preparations with intact endothelium (pD2 value, 7.80 +/- 0.11), although histamine-induced relaxations were not observed in denuded preparations. The relaxation was competitively inhibited by diphenhydramine. Relaxing response was significantly attenuated by methylene blue, quinacrine, L-nitro-arginine, gossypol and AA861 but not by indomethacin. These results suggest that the histamine-induced contraction and relaxation in horse coronary arteries are mediated mainly by H1-receptors in the smooth muscle and endothelium, respectively, and H1-receptor activation of endothelial cells may liberate vasodilator substances.

Antigenic differentiation of turkey rhinotracheitis virus strains using monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antisera.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were prepared against the 8597/CV94 strain of turkey rhinotracheitis virus (TRTV). These mAbs were used to investigate antigenic relationships among three strains (8597/CV94, 1162/92 and CVL14/1 strain) of TRTV, together with polyclonal chicken and rabbit antisera to 8597/CV94 strain, and guinea pig antisera to each of the three strains. Thirty mAbs to the glycoprotein (G:3 clones), fusion (F1:6 clones), phosphorylated (P:6 clones), nucleocapsid (N:12 clones), and matrix (M:3 clones) proteins of viral antigen were obtained by cell fusion. Among these, two mAbs to F1 protein showed virus neutralizing activity. The results of ELISA test indicated that some mAbs only reacted to the 8597/CV94 strain, some reacted to 8597/CV94 and 1162/92 strains, and others reacted to all three viral strains. In neutralization tests with the three virus strains, polyclonal chicken and rabbit antisera against the 8597/ CV94 strain showed the same antibody titers. Results with four neutralizing mAbs including two previously reported mAbs [Ref. 21] indicated the titers of two mAbs (Pn2-2E and Pn3-2F) to 8597/CV94 were much higher than those to the other two viral strains. No differences were observed in the titers of the other two mAbs (Pn01-8E and Pn06-4D) against any viral strains. In cross-neutralization tests with polyclonal guinea pig antisera, there was some variations among viral strains. This work demonstrated that the Japanese isolate 8597/CV94 of TRTV is somewhat different in antigenicity from two British isolates from chickens and turkeys.