Passive tick surveillance and detection of Borrelia burgdorferi in ticks from companion animals in British Columbia: 2018 to 2020.

Objective: The present study was designed to identify tick species and determine prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi infection in ticks obtained from companion animals in British Columbia. Animals and samples: Ticks were submitted by British Columbia veterinarians from client-owned companion animals over a 31-month period. Procedure: Each tick was identified and PCR testing for B. burgdorferi undertaken on all Ixodes species identified by the Zoonotic Diseases and Emerging Pathogens Section of British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory (BCCDC PHL). Results: Overall, 85% (n = 300) of ticks submitted were Ixodes spp., with the majority known to transmit B. burgdorferi. Furthermore, 0.8% (95% confidence interval: 0.094 to 2.78%) of these ticks were PCR-positive for B. burgdorferi. Conclusion and clinical relevance: Although the B. burgdorferi positivity rate in this study was low, it remains important for veterinary professionals to inform pet owners that ticks are present and can pose a risk to pets and humans. In eastern North America, B. burgdorferi infection risk has increased rapidly, underscoring the importance of ongoing surveillance in British Columbia to understand current and future distributions of ticks and tick-borne pathogens, especially in the context of climate change.

Surveillance passive des tiques et détection de Borrelia burgdorferi chez des tiques provenant d'animaux de compagnie en Colombie-Britannique: 2018 à 2020. Objectif: Cette étude a été élaboré afin d'identifier les espèces de tiques et de déterminer la prévalence de l'infection à Borrelia burgdorferi chez des tiques obtenues d'animaux de compagnie en Colombie-Britannique. Animaux et échantillons: Les tiques ont été soumises par des médecins vétérinaires de la Colombie-Britannique obtenues d'animaux de compagnie de clients sur une période de 31 mois. Procédure: Chaque tique a été identifiée et un test PCR pour détecter B. burdorferi réalisé sur toutes les espèces Ixodes identifiées par la Section des maladies zoonotiques et des agents pathogènes émergents du Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory de la Colombie-Britannique. Résultats: Au total, 85 % (n = 300) des tiques soumises étaient des Ixodes spp., dont la majorité reconnue pour transmettre B. burgdorferi. De plus, 0,8 % (intervalle de confiance 95 %: 0,094 à 2,78 %) de ces tiques étaient positives pour B. burgdorferi par PCR. Conclusion et signification clinique: Bien que le taux de positivité pour B. burgdorferi dans la présente étude soit faible, il n'en demeure pas moins important pour les professionnels vétérinaires d'informer les propriétaires d'animaux de compagnie que les tiques sont présentes et peuvent représenter un risque pour les animaux de compagnie et les humains. Dans le nord de l'Amérique du Nord, le risque d'infection par B. burgdorferi a augmenté rapidement, soulignant l'importance d'une surveillance continue en Colombie-Britannique pour comprendre la distribution actuelle et future des tiques et agents pathogènes transmis par les tiques, spécialement dans le contexte des changements climatiques.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Characterization and pathogenesis of aerosolized eastern equine encephalitis in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus).

BACKGROUND: Licensed antiviral therapeutics and vaccines to protect against eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) in humans currently do not exist. Animal models that faithfully recapitulate the clinical characteristics of human EEEV encephalitic disease, including fever, drowsiness, anorexia, and neurological signs such as seizures, are needed to satisfy requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical product licensing under the Animal Rule. METHODS: In an effort to meet this requirement, we estimated the median lethal dose and described the pathogenesis of aerosolized EEEV in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). Five marmosets were exposed to aerosolized EEEV FL93-939 in doses ranging from 2.4 × 101 PFU to 7.95 × 105 PFU. RESULTS: The median lethal dose was estimated to be 2.05 × 102 PFU. Lethality was observed as early as day 4 post-exposure in the highest-dosed marmoset but animals at lower inhaled doses had a protracted disease course where humane study endpoint was not met until as late as day 19 post-exposure. Clinical signs were observed as early as 3 to 4 days post-exposure, including fever, ruffled fur, decreased grooming, and leukocytosis. Clinical signs increased in severity as disease progressed to include decreased body weight, subdued behavior, tremors, and lack of balance. Fever was observed as early as day 2-3 post-exposure in the highest dose groups and hypothermia was observed in several cases as animals became moribund. Infectious virus was found in several key tissues, including brain, liver, kidney, and several lymph nodes. Clinical hematology results included early neutrophilia, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Key pathological changes included meningoencephalitis and retinitis. Immunohistochemical staining for viral antigen was positive in the brain, retina, and lymph nodes. More intense and widespread IHC labeling occurred with increased aerosol dose. CONCLUSION: We have estimated the medial lethal dose of aerosolized EEEV and described the pathology of clinical disease in the marmoset model. The results demonstrate that the marmoset is an animal model suitable for emulation of human EEEV disease in the development of medical countermeasures.

Gene expression profiling of nonhuman primates exposed to aerosolized Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus.

Host responses to Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses (VEEV) were studied in cynomolgus macaques after aerosol exposure to the epizootic virus. Changes in global gene expression were assessed for the brain, lungs, and spleen. In the brain, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I transcripts were induced, while the expression of S100b, a factor associated with brain injury, was inhibited, as was expression of the encephalitogenic gene MOG. Cytokine-mediated signals were affected by infection, including those involving IFN-mediated antiviral activity (IRF-7, OAS, and Mx transcripts), and the increased transcription of caspases. Induction of a few immunologically relevant genes (e.g. IFITM1 and STAT1) was common to all tested tissues. Herein, both tissue-specific and nontissue specific transcriptional changes in response to VEEV are described, including induction of IFN-regulated transcripts and cytokine-induced apoptotic factors, in addition to cellular factors in the brain that may be descriptive of the health status of the brain during the infectious process. Altogether, this work provides novel information on common and tissue-specific host responses against VEEV in a nonhuman primate model of aerosol exposure.

Human transcriptome response to immunization with live-attenuated Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus vaccine (TC-83): Analysis of whole blood.

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is an important human and animal alphavirus pathogen transmitted by mosquitoes. The virus is endemic in Central and South America, but has also caused equine outbreaks in southwestern areas of the United States. In an effort to better understand the molecular mechanisms of the development of immunity to this important pathogen, we performed transcriptional analysis from whole, unfractionated human blood of patients who had been immunized with the live-attenuated vaccine strain of VEEV, TC-83. We compared changes in the transcriptome between naïve individuals who were mock vaccinated with saline to responses of individuals who received TC-83. Significant transcriptional changes were noted at days 2, 7, and 14 following vaccination. The top canonical pathways revealed at early and intermediate time points (days 2 and 7) included the involvement of the classic interferon response, interferon-response factors, activation of pattern recognition receptors, and engagement of the inflammasome. By day 14, the top canonical pathways included oxidative phosphorylation, the protein ubiquitination pathway, natural killer cell signaling, and B-cell development. Biomarkers were identified that differentiate between vaccinees and control subjects, at early, intermediate, and late stages of the development of immunity as well as markers which were common to all 3 stages following vaccination but distinct from the sham-vaccinated control subjects. The study represents a novel examination of molecular processes that lead to the development of immunity against VEEV in humans and which may be of value as diagnostic targets, to enhance modern vaccine design, or molecular correlates of protection.

Comparison of experimental respiratory tularemia in three nonhuman primate species.

Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by Francisella tularensis, which is transmitted to humans most commonly by contact with infected animals, tick bites, or inhalation of aerosolized bacteria. F. tularensis is highly infectious via the aerosol route; inhalation of as few as 10-50 organisms can cause pneumonic tularemia. Left untreated, the pneumonic form has more than >30% case-fatality rate but with early antibiotic intervention can be reduced to 3%. This study compared tularemia disease progression across three species of nonhuman primates [African green monkey (AGM), cynomolgus macaque (CM), and rhesus macaque (RM)] following aerosolized F. tularensis Schu S4 exposure. Groups of the animals exposed to various challenge doses were observed for clinical signs of infection and blood samples were analyzed to characterize the disease pathogenesis. Whereas the AGMs and CMs succumbed to disease following challenge doses of 40 and 32 colony forming units (CFU), respectively, the RM lethal dose was 276,667 CFU. Following all challenge doses that caused disease, the NHPs experienced weight loss, bacteremia, fever as early as 4 days post exposure, and tissue burden. Necrotizing-to-pyogranulomatous lesions were observed most commonly in the lung, lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow. Overall, the CM model consistently manifested pathological responses similar to those resulting from inhalation of F. tularensis in humans and thereby most closely emulates human tularemia disease. The RM model displayed a higher tolerance to infection and survived exposures of up to 15,593 CFU of aerosolized F. tularensis.

Host responses to live-attenuated Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (TC-83): comparison of naïve, vaccine responder and nonresponder to TC-83 challenge in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) is a positive-strand RNA Alphavirus endemic in Central and South America, and the causative agent of fatal encephalitis in humans. In an effort to better understand the mechanisms of infection, including differences between people who produce a neutralizing antibody response to the vaccine and those who do not, we performed whole genome transcriptional analysis in human PBMCs exposed in vitro to the live-attenuated vaccine strain of VEEV, TC-83. We compared the molecular responses in cells from three groups of individuals: naïve; previously vaccinated individuals who developed a neutralizing antibody response to the vaccine (responders); and those who did not develop a neutralizing antibody response to the vaccine (nonresponders). Overall, the changes in gene expression were more intense for the naïve group after TC-83 challenge and least potent in the nonresponder group. The main canonical pathways revealed the involvement of interferon and interferon-induced pathways, as well as toll-like receptors TLR- and interleukin (IL)-12-related pathways. HLA class II genotype and suppression of transcript expression for TLR2, TLR4 and TLR8 in the nonresponder group may help explain the lack of vaccine response in this study group. Because TL3 and TLR7 transcripts were elevated in all study groups, these factors may be indicators of the infection and not the immunological state of the individuals. Biomarkers were identified that differentiate between the vaccine responder and the vaccine nonresponder groups. The identified biomarkers were contrasted against transcripts that were unique to the naïve population alone upon induction with TC-83. Biomarker analysis allowed for the discernment between the naïve (innate) responses; the responder (recall) responses; and the nonresponder (alternative) changes to gene transcription that were caused by infection with TC-83. The study also points to the existence of HLA haplotypes that may discriminate between vaccine low- and high-responder phenotypes.

Evaluation of a ricin vaccine candidate (RVEc) for human toxicity using an in vitro vascular leak assay.

To protect against ricin intoxication, a genetically derived ricin A chain vaccine candidate (RVEc) was developed lacking the toxic N-glycosidase activity (Olson et al., 2004). The vaccine protects animals against an aerosolized ricin holotoxin (RT) challenge (Carra et al., 2007). In the current study, the RVEc vaccine was evaluated for its interaction and effect on human endothelial cells. RVEc was tested in an in vitro cellular-based bioassay, consisting of primary human endothelial cells cultured on collagen-coated inserts, to which concentrations of the vaccine candidate (0.6, 2, 2.5 or 9 µM) were added. RVEc showed no signs of adverse activity on the cells (e.g., cytotoxicty activity) as measured by changes in trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER). In contrast, ricin toxin (RT) cytotoxicity was observed at all concentrations tested. Under light microscopy, no cytotoxicity was visible at 24h with 0.6 or 9 µM of RVEc. However, cytotoxicity was observed for RT and to a lesser degree for RTA. Flow cytometric analysis showed binding of RT, slight binding of RTA, and no binding of the RVEc vaccine to endothelial cells. The presence of RTB as a contaminant contributing to the cytotoxicity in the RTA preparation was ruled out by a RTB-specific ELISA. In addition, RTA at 9 µM produced a cytotoxic activity that could not be explained exclusively by the presence of azide in the RTA buffer. In the current study, the model demonstrated no discernable adverse events of the RVEc vaccine on human endothelial cells, when compared to the toxicity caused by holotoxin or native RTA preparations.

Anesthetic induction with ketamine inhibits platelet activation before, during, and after cardiopulmonary bypass in baboons.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of antifactor D monoclonal antibody (Mab) 166-32 on platelet activation during and after hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in baboons. Fourteen baboons (mean weight, 15 kg) underwent hypothermic CPB. Seven of them were treated with a single injection of antifactor D Mab 166-32 (5 mg/kg) and the other seven animals were given saline as control. Each baboon was sedated with an intramuscular injection of 10 mg/kg of ketamine hydrochloride. A 20-gauge angiocatheter was placed in the cephalic vein, and 5 mg of diazepam was administered intravenously. Anesthesia was maintained with 0.80% to 2.25% isoflurane, 100% O2, and an inspiratory tidal volume of 13 mL/kg at a rate of 13 breaths per minute throughout the surgical procedure except during CPB. Pancuronium bromide, 0.1 mg/kg, was administered to achieve adequate muscle paralysis. Blood samples were collected before CPB, during CPB, and 1, 2, 3, and 6 h after CPB. Assays were performed to measure platelet activation [CD62P (P-selectin)] using immunofluorocytometric methods. There were no significant differences on CD62P expression of platelets between control and antibody groups before CPB (105 +/- 12% vs. 99 +/- 8%, P=NS), during normothermic CPB (62 +/- 6% vs. 63 +/- 19%, P=NS), during hypothermic CPB (55 +/- 8% vs. 54 +/- 13%, P=NS), and 1, 3, or 6 h after CPB (74 +/- 20% vs. 81 +/- 11%, P=NS). Anesthetic induction with ketamine caused significant reduction in the platelet activation in both groups. Ketamine did not affect complement, neutrophil, and monocyte activation or cytokine production. Further studies on the mechanisms of platelet inhibition by ketamine are warranted.