Colostrum and milk can transmit jaagsiekte retrovirus to lambs.

Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) is a contagious disease caused by jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV). In the three studies performed, we have obtained data of the importance of colostrum/milk (C/M) in the transmission of JSRV. In the first study, a group of sheep from a flock with a long history of OPA, samples from colostrum and peripheral blood leucocytes (PBLs) were collected. Two specific PCRs (U3-LTR and env of the JSRV) were carried out. Using U3PCR 8/34 sheep were positive in colostrum whereas with envPCR 7/34 were positive. From these animals only one was positive with U3PCR in the PBLs. Evidence of the transmission of JSRV infection by C/M was obtained in two more separate studies. In the second study, PBLs from five lambs from JSRV+ ewes and two from JSRV-ewes were tested by the U3PCR. They were fed C/M by their mothers during 3 months and slaughtered 7 months after birth. Three out of five lambs from the JSRV+ sheep become PBL positive at 3-4 months old and the other two were also positive at 4-6 months of age. One lamb of the JSRV-sheep became also PBL positive at an age of 3 months. In the third study, a group of lambs from JSRV negative mothers were fed with C/M from JSRV+ sheep and housed in separate unit. For comparison, another group of the same origin and maintained in another different unit, were fed with C/M containing a JSRV virus preparation. All lambs were blood sampled monthly and JSRV infection was detected as early as 15 days and several times onwards in both groups. Control groups fed with C/M from JSRV free flock and JSRV blood test negative sheep were always negative. Together these results indicate that suckling is an important natural transmission route for JSRV.

Effect of a novel drug-eluted balloon coated with genistein before stent implantation in porcine coronary arteries.

BACKGROUND: The major drawback of stent implantation in native human coronary vessels is the occurrence of restenosis. Drug-eluting stents significantly reduce restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), but may be associated with persistent local inflammation involved in the restenosis mechanisms. In this setting coating coronary devices with anti-inflammatory agents represents an intriguing alternative to stent-based local drug delivery. The aim of the present study was to test in a porcine model the safety and efficacy of a novel Genistein-eluting balloon preceding coronary stenting. DESIGN: Female piglets underwent PCI in a randomized fashion with either a Genistein-eluting or a standard balloon angioplasty, followed in all vessels by bare-metal stent implantation. Pigs were sacrificed at different time points to appraise safety (i.e. endothelialization) and efficacy (i.e. anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects): 1, 4, and 6-8 weeks following PCI. RESULTS: Overall analysis was conducted on 14 piglets. Twenty-five bare-metal stents were implanted preceded by angioplasty with a conventional balloon in 13 vessels and by the Genistein-eluted balloon in 12. No untoward effects were reported in either group. Healing and endothelialization appeared universal within 4 weeks. The Genistein-eluted balloon group disclosed a significant reduction, at four weeks from implantation, of the peri-stent inflammatory cells count (mononucleocytes 39 +/- 32 Vs. 96 +/- 29 per square millimetre, P = 0.019). This effect did not clearly translate into a trend towards a reduced neointimal hyperplasia at 6-8 weeks (0.13 +/- 0.11 Vs. 0.14 +/- 0.09, P = 0.835). CONCLUSION: This study provides the first in vivo demonstration of the anti-inflammatory effects of a Genistein-eluting balloon in PCI, warranting further research including the combination of a Genistein-eluting balloon with standard drug-eluting stent.