Retrospective serological survey on selected viral pathogens in wild boar populations in Germany.

The objective of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the occurrence of porcine parvovirus (PPV), Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV), transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and swine influenza virus (SIV) in selected wild boar populations in Germany (n = 1,221). Commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and hemagglutination inhibition tests were used for serological monitoring. The serosurvey revealed seroprevalence rates of 64.28%, 11.26%, 7.87%, 7.84%, 3.82% and 1.59% for PPV, ADV, PRCV, SIV, PRRSV and TGEV, respectively. The seroprevalence rates differed between populations and age classes with the highest number of antibody-positive wild boars in older animals (>1 year old). No antibodies to TGEV were found in Baden-Wuerttemberg and in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (investigation period 1997/1998). In addition, sera collected in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in 1997/1998 were negative for SIV. Even though the seroprevalence rates established for these viruses, except for PPV, were relatively low, wild boars may act as a reservoir for pathogens and a source of infection for domestic pigs and humans. Based on the epidemiological situation, no risk of a spread of these viruses should emanate from wild boars, neither for wildlife nor for livestock. However, effective and science-based disease monitoring programmes should continuously be carried out in wild boar populations.

Classical swine fever virus strain "C" protects the offspring by oral immunisation of pregnant sows.

The aim of this study was to evaluate if oral immunisation of wild sows protects the fetuses from transplacental infection. Two experiments were carried out with gilts vaccinated orally with C-strain virus approximately 5 weeks after insemination. They were challenged at mid-gestation with highly virulent classical swine fever virus (CSFV) or moderately virulent field virus. The results revealed that oral vaccination has no negative impact on the pregnancy, and all vaccinated sows developed neutralising antibodies. After infection no symptoms were detected in the six vaccinated-infected sows. Challenge virus could neither be found in blood, nasal and fecal swabs or saliva nor in organs sampled at necropsy. Likewise, all fetuses originating from vaccinated sows were virologically and serologically negative. In contrast, the controls developed a short viremia and as a result of the transplacental infection all fetuses were CSFV positive. In addition, 22 serologically positive wild sows of an endemically infected area, where oral vaccination had also been carried out, and their offspring were free from CSFV or viral RNA. Our results confirm that oral immunisation of pregnant wild sows with C-strain vaccine may protect the fetuses against CSF.

Efficacy of lyophilised C-strain vaccine after oral immunisation of domestic pigs and wild boar against classical swine fever: first results.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of lyophilised C-strain vaccine in domestic pigs and wild boar after oral application. A new spherical bait form (diameter 3 cm) containing lyophilised vaccine virus and the recent vaccine baits were used for animal experiments. Four vaccination groups were established in experiment 1 (group 1: recent liquid bait vaccine; group 2: spherical baits containing one dose of the lyophilised vaccine; groups 3 (domestic pigs) and 4 (wild boar): spherical baits containing two doses of the lyophilised vaccine) and two groups in experiment 2 (group 1: recent liquid bait vaccine; group 2: spherical baits with two doses of the lyophilised vaccine). Challenge was carried out with the highly virulent virus strain "Alfort 187" (using 100 TCID50 in the first and 1.000 TCID50 in the second experiment). Our results showed that the animals vaccinated with lyophilised C-strain vaccine developed high neutralising antibody titres comparable to those obtained after vaccination with the recent bait vaccine. All pigs which picked up the baits remained healthy after challenge. Neither clinical symptoms nor viremia or virus shedding were observed after infection except in one pig (group 2, experiment 2) which had not consumed the vaccine bait. The surviving domestic pigs and wild boar were tested negative for CSFV and viral RNA at the end of the study. This result demonstrates that lyophilised vaccine may become an effective vaccine formulation for oral immunisation of wild boar against CSF in the near future.

Corn oil intake favorably impacts lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein and lipoprotein particle levels compared with extra-virgin olive oil.

BACKGROUND: Corn oil (CO) and extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) are rich sources of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), but UFA profiles differ among oils, which may affect lipoprotein levels. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the effects of CO versus EVOO intake on fasting lipoprotein and subfraction cholesterol levels, apolipoprotein (apo) A1, apo B, and low-density lipoprotein particle concentrations in men and women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: As part of a weight maintenance diet, men and women were provided with food items prepared with 54 g per day of CO or EVOO (21-day treatment, 21-day washout) in a randomized, double-blind, controlled-feeding, crossover trial. Fasting lipoprotein cholesterol and related variables were determined with density gradient ultracentrifugation. RESULTS: Among the 54 completers, CO reduced total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), apo B and LDL particle concentration to a greater extent compared with EVOO intake. Changes in LDL-C and VLDL-C contributed to the larger reduction in non-HDL-C with CO compared with EVOO intake (-0.39 mmol/l vs -0.04 mmol/l; P<0.001). The larger reduction in LDL-C by CO intake was attributable to changes (P<0.05) caused by CO vs EVOO in large LDL1+2-C (-0.22 mmol/l) and intermediate-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-0.12 mmol/l). HDL-C responses did not differ between treatments, but apo A1 increased more with EVOO compared with CO intake (4.6 versus 0.7 mg/dl, respectively, P=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: CO intake reduced atherogenic lipoprotein cholesterol and particle concentrations to a larger extent than did EVOO, which may have implications for cardiovascular disease risk.

Diagnostic procedures after completion of oral immunisation against classical swine fever in wild boar.

The purpose of this paper is to define diagnostic procedures for wild boar after the completion of oral immunisation against classical swine fever (CSF). Epidemiological analysis of CSF in wild boar in Germany demonstrated that it is vital to carry out virological investigations on all animals found dead, sick or involved in traffic accidents. In principle, this should ensure an effective and prompt diagnosis of CSF. In addition, a defined number of wild boar, especially young animals < or = 6 months old, should also be tested for CSF virus to guarantee a high confidence level in the virological monitoring. Which animals should be examined serologically depends on the age class investigated, the season in which vaccination was stopped and the period of time since completion of vaccination. Therefore, different serological procedures have been defined for different situations during the first three years after completion of oral immunisation.

Oral immunisation against classical swine fever (CSF): onset and duration of immunity.

In an experimental study, onset and duration of immunity after oral immunisation of pigs with a classical swine fever (CSF) live virus vaccine based on the strain "C" has been evaluated. Sixteen weaner piglets (group 1) were orally instilled by syringe with the content of one vaccine bait whereas eighteen piglets (group 2) were fed with one bait. Six unvaccinated piglets represented the control group (group 3). The pigs having 2, 4, 6 and 10 days post vaccination (p.v.) were challenged with the highly virulent CSF virus (CSFV) strain "Koslov" to detect onset of immunity. After oral instillation of vaccine (group 1) the pigs were protected from a clinical infection 4 days p.v. One of four piglets reacted for a short time with an increase of body temperature. In group 2, a partial protection was already detected on day 2 p.v. On day 10 p.v., all animals were resistant to an experimental challenge infection. No protective neutralising antibodies were elicited until day 10 p.v. in both groups. Three animals of each group vaccinated orally against CSF were challenged approximately 6 and 10 months p.v. to evaluate duration of immunity. All vaccinated pigs developed neutralising antibodies and showed a protective immunity against an infection with CSFV until 10 months p.v. Furthermore, no vaccinated animal developed a viraemia after challenge. Altogether, 5 of 34 vaccinated pigs as well as all controls died after infection and showed typical gross lesions for CSF. The tonsils of the surviving pigs were negative for viral antigen by immunofluorescence.

Efficacy of the classical swine fever (CSF) marker vaccine Porcilis Pesti in pregnant sows.

The efficacy of the classical swine fever (CSF) subunit marker vaccine Porcilis Pesti based on baculovirus expressed envelope glycoprotein E2 of CSF virus (CSFV) was evaluated in pregnant sows. Ten gilts were vaccinated with one dose of marker vaccine, followed by a second dose 4 weeks later. Four gilts remained unvaccinated and received a placebo at the same times. Thirty-three days after the second vaccination all animals were artificially inseminated. Neither local or systemic reactions nor an increase of body temperature were observed after vaccinations. All gilts showed a normal course of pregnancy. Thirty-five days after first vaccination all animals developed E2 specific neutralising antibodies with titres in the range of 5.0 and 7.5 log(2). No antibodies to CSFV-E(rns) were found in ELISA. On day 65 of gestation (126 days after the first immunisation) all sows were infected intranasally using 2ml (10(6.6) TCID(50)/ml) of the low virulent CSFV strain "Glentorf". After challenge in two of the unvaccinated control sows a slight transient increase of body temperature was observed, whereas leukopenia was demonstrated in all control animals. In addition all controls became viraemic. Vaccinations with the CSFV subunit vaccine protected the animals from clinical symptoms of CSF. In two sows a moderate decrease of leukocyte counts was detected on day 5 post infection. In contrast to the unvaccinated control sows in none of the vaccinated animals virus was isolated from the nasal swabs or the blood. Approximately 40 days after challenge all sows were killed and necropsy was done. The sows and their offspring were examined for the presence of CSFV in blood, bone marrow and different organs. No virus was found in any of the sows. In contrast, in all litters of the control sows CSFV was found in the blood as well as in the organ samples. Nine out of 10 litters of the vaccinated sows were protected from CSFV infection. Blood samples, lymphatic organs and bone marrow of these animals were all virologically negative. When sera were tested for CSFV-antibodies all sows had developed E(rns)-specific antibodies but no CSFV-specific antibodies were found in any of the progeny. It was concluded that vaccination with CSF subunit marker vaccine Porcilis((R)) Pesti protected 90% of the litters from viral infection when sows were challenged mid-gestation using the CSFV-strain "Glentorf".

Oral immunisation of wild boar against classical swine fever: evaluation of the first field study in Germany.

The effectiveness of oral immunisation of wild boar against classical swine fever (CSF) was studied in a field trial in Lower Saxony for two years, from 1993 to 1995. This field study was performed in an area of ca. 270 km(2)50% of young boars did not feed on vaccine baits nor become immunised. Therefore, an intensive hunting of this age group is a necessary adjunct to the use of oral vaccination. After the third immunisation period, no virus was detected in the areas where oral immunisation took place.

Attenuation of dUTPase-deficient pseudorabies virus for the natural host.

Pseudorabies virus (PrV) is the causative agent of Aujeszky's disease which results in significant losses in pig husbandry. Recently we identified the gene encoding the deoxyuridine-triphosphatase (dUTPase) of PrV as the homolog of the UL50 gene of herpes simplex virus type 1. The PrV UL50 gene product was characterized and a UL50 negative PrV mutant (PrV UL50-) was generated by insertion of a lacZ expression cassette into the UL50 open reading frame (Jöns and Mettenleiter, J. Virol. 70, 1242-1245). Here we show that replication of PrV UL50- in cell culture was only slightly impaired as compared to wild-type PrV strain Ka. After intranasal infection of young pigs PrV UL50- proved to be substantially attenuated, whereas severe clinical signs and death occurred after infection with wild-type PrV. Challenge infection with the highly virulent NIA-3 strain of PrV showed that prior infection with PrV UL50- conferred protection against Aujeszky's disease. Innocuity and efficacy make UL50-negative PrV an attractive candidate for a live PrV vaccine.

Oral immunization of pigs against classical swine fever. Course of the disease and virus transmission after simultaneous vaccination and infection.

The efficacy of simultaneous vaccination of pigs against classical swine fever (CSF) and challenge was evaluated. In this study, domestic weanling pigs were vaccinated orally with a conventional live virus vaccine based on CSF virus (CSFV) C strain and were challenged simultaneously with CSFV of different virulence. All the animals vaccinated and challenged with a high dose of highly virulent Koslov strain died while three of five animals challenged with a low dose of highly virulent Alfort 187 strain survived, shed the virus in nasal secretions, developed antibodies, and four of them showed a transient viremia. All the animals vaccinated and challenged with the low virulent field isolate MV 140/Riems survived, showed a short viremia and developed antibodies. No CSFV or CSFV RNA could be detected in the animals surviving the infection. This study demonstrates that oral vaccination of wild boars in an infected area bears no risk for the development of a persistent CSF infection.

Detection of low-virulent classical swine fever virus in blood of experimentally infected animals: comparison of different methods.

The effectiveness of virus isolation, commercial antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and flow cytometry in detection of a low-virulent classical swine fever virus (CSFV) in blood in the early period of infection was evaluated. Domestic pigs at the age of 6-8 weeks and young wild boars were inoculated with a low-virulent field isolate of CSFV originating from a wild boar. This virus induced serious clinical reaction in only one pig which was naturally infected with Pasteurella multocida. Nine of 13 infected domestic pigs showed viremia. All infected weanling pigs were found viraemic by virus isolation on day 6 post infection (p.i.) but virus-free by RT-PCR. The flow cytometry was apparently not as sensitive as the virus isolation. Two young wild boars infected with the virus were viremic only for the first 2 days p.i. Virus isolation and RT-PCR were of similar sensitivity. Three different commercial antigen ELISAs used were not able to detect viral antigen in any animal.

Does multiple oral vaccination of wild boar against classical swine fever (CSF) have a positive influence on the immunity?

We studied the efficacy of multiple vaccinations of wild boar against classical swine fever (CSF) using a C-strain vaccine. The study consisted of two experiments. In the first experiment, 7 to 8 months old animals were vaccinated either three or four times at an interval of 7 days or twice at an interval of 14 or 28 days. In the second experiment, the efficacy of oral immunisation in young boars (3 months old) was examined after fivefold vaccination at intervals of 14 or 28 days. Independently of the immunisation scheme all wild boar developed neutralising antibodies. An evaluation of the antibody titres 28 days after the initial vaccine application showed that single vaccination and triple immunisation at an interval of 7 days induced the highest antibody titres (X > or = 1/80). In multiple vaccinated young boars (vaccinated at intervals of 14 or 28 days) the third vaccination led to a slight reduction or to an only moderate increase of the antibody titre. In a challenge study after the fifth vaccination all wild boar were protected (no viraemia, no virus excretion, no post-mortem virus detection in organs). This was confirmed by the fact that sentinel animals were not affected. Although other immunisation schemes also were effective, booster vaccination at an interval of 28 days is recommended as basic procedure for eradication of CSF in wild boar. Triple vaccination might also be used at the beginning of the control measures.

[Quality management in the serodiagnosis of European swine fever: results of comparative tests]. / Qualitätsmanagement bei der Serodiagnostik der Europäischen Schweinepest (ESP): Ergebnisse von Ringversuchen.

In the course of inter-laboratory quality management comparative serological tests on classical swine fever (CSF) are conducted once per year. Results from tests carried out in 1994 and 1995 indicate that most regional diagnostic laboratories were able to classify the test sera correctly as CSF-positive, bovine viral diarrhea (BVD)-positive and negative, respectively. Difficulties were encountered in the differential diagnosis of CSF and BVD in neutralisation tests. There is a need to improve the standardization of CSF serology on the basis of a well established method in order to ensure reliability of test results and to enable comparison of results obtained from different laboratories.

Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose lowers cholesterol in statin-treated men and women with primary hypercholesterolemia.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Consumption of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), a viscous dietary fiber, lowers total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). However, HPMC had not previously been studied in individuals receiving lipid drug therapy. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This randomized, double-blind crossover trial examined the lipid effects of HPMC in subjects with hypercholesterolemia on statin therapy. Men (n=5) and women (n=8) with LDL-C> or =2.59 mmol/l after at least 4 weeks of stable-dose statin therapy, and a mean age of 58.6 years, were enrolled. Subjects received twice daily doses of either 2.5 g HPMC or control, delivered in a lemonade beverage for 4 weeks, then crossed over to receive the opposite treatment for an additional 4 weeks. RESULTS: Mean baseline concentrations of TC, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), LDL-C, HDL-C, triglyceride (TG), TC/HDL-C ratio and apolipoprotein (Apo) B were 4.95, 3.63, 3.03, 1.33, 1.30 and 3.89 mmol/l and 1.00 g/l, respectively. HPMC consumption resulted in significantly larger reductions (P<0.01 vs control for all) in TC (-10.9 vs -3.5%), non-HDL-C (-12.8 vs -2.9%), LDL-C (-15.7 vs -5.1%), TC/HDL-C ratio (-5.3 vs +1.3%) and Apo B (-8.7 vs -3.9%). There were no differences between treatments for changes in HDL-C (-5.2 vs -4.3%) or TG (+3.9 vs +8.9%). CONCLUSIONS: These results support the view that HPMC is an effective adjunct to statin therapy for further lowering atherogenic lipids and lipoproteins in men and women with primary hypercholesterolemia.

Protection of gruntlings against classical swine fever virus-infection after oral vaccination of sows with C-strain vaccine.

The objective of this study was to investigate the maternal protection of gruntlings derived from wild sows vaccinated orally against classical swine fever (CSF) using C-strain vaccine. Three vaccinated sows and one unvaccinated control sow were included. Challenge infection of the progeny was carried out either intranasally or by contact at the beginning of the third month of life (61-65 days post-natum). Whereas, two of three litters had maternal antibodies, the progeny of one vaccinated sow was seronegative at challenge. The progeny of the control sow, which was challenged by contact infection, developed moderate clinical signs except for one animal which became ill and died. Two gruntlings derived from the vaccinated sows also died of CSF, although one of them had a relatively high maternal antibody titre (128 ND(50)). The transient infection and partial virus shedding observed in a small number of gruntlings with maternal antibodies and the fact that one animal with maternal antibodies became ill and died confirm the incomplete maternal protection at this age. The reason for this incomplete protection is discussed. As none of the surviving gruntlings could be shown to carry CSFV or viral RNA at the end of the experiment (36 or 70 d.p.i.), it may be concluded that these animals do not represent a potential CSFV reservoir.

Classical swine fever (CSF) in wild boar: the role of the transplacental infection in the perpetuation of CSF.

Thirty-four pregnant wild sows and their unborn progeny derived from an endemically infected population in the district of Nordvorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania) were investigated for classical swine fever virus (CSFV) and antibodies. During the last 2.5 years of the epidemic, 20 out of 34 pregnant wild sows investigated were serologically positive. No CSFV or viral RNA was detected in organs derived from these animals and their progeny. This indicates that young wild boars persistently infected by transplacental virus transmission do not play a crucial role in the perpetuation of CSFV in wild boar. Other factors seem to be more important for the establishment of CSF as well as for virus perpetuation in the population.

[The situation of classical swine fever in wild boars in the European community and selected aspects of disease transmission]. / Zur Situation der Klassischen Schweinepest beim Schwarzwild in der Europäischen Gemeinschaft und zu einigen Aspekten der Seuchenverbreitung.

The situation of classical swine fever (CSF) in Europe is described on the basis of the literature. In the European Community, CSF is present among wild boars in Germany (Federal states Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg and lower Saxony), in France (Northern Vosges) and in Italy (Regio Emìlìa Romagna in 1997 and Sardinia--enzootically infected). Infected wild boars are important as a source of infection for domestic pigs in Germany. Selected aspects of the transmission of CSF virus from wild boars to domestic pigs and within the wild boar population are discussed. Measures for the eradication of CSF in wild boars are described briefly.

Classical swine fever (CSF): a historical review of research and vaccine production on the Isle of Riems.

A review on classical swine fever (CSF) research and vaccine production is given about four historical periods (1924-1948, 1949-1969, 1970-1991, since 1992). Similar as to research on foot and mouth disease, applied topics as diagnosis, pathogenesis, epidemiology and control represented the CSF research over many years. The development of vaccines and application procedures, e.g. oral and aerogenic immunisation and combined vaccines for large pig farms were the prominent investigations between 1950 and the middle of 1980s. After being reduced in the first years after affiliation to the Federal Research Centre for Virus Diseases of Animals, CSF is one of the main topics of the research on the Isle of Riems, not at least because nowadays the German National Reference Laboratory for CSF was established on the Island.

[Experiences with a combined sciatic and femoral block in surgery of injuries of the lower leg]. / Erfahrungen mit einem kombinierten Ischiadicus- und Femoralisblock bei traumatologischen Eingriffen am Unterschenkel.

Besides various methods of general anaesthesia, regional anaesthetic procedures are well suited for the surgical care of traumatological patients. For operations on patients with lesions of the lower leg, we have been using for 3 years a combination of dorsolateral blockade of the sciatic nerve according to Winnie with a "3 in 1-block". Our experiences with 80 patients show that a complete anaesthesia of the operation field holds for about 100 minutes with a blockade using 1.5% lidocaine with adrenaline. Main indications of this method are operations on lesions of the fibular ligament, leg fractures, ankle joint fractures, removal of osteosynthesis metal and other operations on the leg or foot. Partial or complete failures were registered in 12% of the cases. Severe complications did not occur.