FSH RECEPTOR AND FSH BETA CHAIN POLYMORPHISM INVOLVEMENT IN INFERTILITY AND ENDOMETRIOSIS DISEASE.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor (c.-29G>A) and FSH beta chain (c.-280G>T) polymorphisms and endometriosis in Romanian women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed the polymorphic analysis of the FSH receptor gene and FSH beta chain in 44 patients with endometriosis and 34 controls. Genomic DNA was obtained from peripheral blood and polymorphisms were investigated using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFLP). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in genotype frequencies of FSH receptor gene between endometriosis patients and controls. For the heterozygous type of the FSH receptor polymorphism (c.-29G>A) we did not find a significant difference in its frequency between patients with minimal/mild and moderate/severe endometriosis (p = 0.136). Also, the FSH beta chain (c.-280G> T) polymorphism frequency was not significantly associated with the severity of endometriosis (p = 0.966). CONCLUSIONS: FSH receptor and FSH beta chain polymorphisms do not seem to influence the severity of endometriosis, but they could be correlated with female infertility (primary or secondary), therefore further studies are required to debate this topic.

A qualitative risk assessment methodology for scientific expert panels.

Risk assessment can be either quantitative, i.e. providing a numeric estimate of the probability of risk and the magnitude of the consequences, or qualitative, using a descriptive approach. The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), formerly the French Food Safety Agency (AFSSA), bases its assessments on the opinions of scientific panels, such as the ANSES Animal Health Scientific Panel (AH-SP). Owing to the lack of relevant data and the very short period of time usually allowed to assess animal health risks on particular topics, this panel has been using a qualitative risk method for evaluating animal health risks or crises for the past few years. Some experts have drawn attention to the limitations of this method, such as the need to extend the range of adjectives used for the lower probabilities and to develop a way to assess consequences. The aim of this paper is to describe the improved method now established by the AH-SP, taking into account the limitations of the first version. The authors describe a new set of levels for probabilities, as well as the items considered when addressing either animal or human health consequences.

Characterization of pseudorabies virus of wild boar origin from Europe.

Pseudorabies virus (PrV) infections appear to be more widely distributed in the European wild boar (Sus scrofa) population than assumed. In Europe, attempts to isolate and characterize the causative agents have been limited so far. We therefore collected and examined a total of 35 PrV isolates obtained from wild boar or hunting dogs in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Slovakia and Hungary between 1993 and 2008. Restriction enzyme analysis of genomic DNA using BamHI showed that all isolates, except one, belonged to genogroup I but different subtypes were evident. For further investigations of the phylogenetic relationships, a 732-bp fragment of the glycoprotein C (gC) gene was amplified by PCR. Sequence analysis revealed about 40 variant positions within this fragment. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences supported the separation into a clade containing isolates from North-Rhine Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany), France and Spain (clade B) and an apparently more variable clade comprising isolates from Brandenburg, Baden-Wurttemberg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt (Germany), Slovakia, Hungary, Italy and France (clade A).

[The design and establishment of epidemiological surveillance systems for high-risk diseases in developed countries]. / Elaboration et mise en place de systèmes de surveillance epidémiologique des maladies a haut risque dans les pays développés.

In animal pathology, epidemiological surveillance has, over the last two decades, gradually become a top priority in developed countries, due to progress made in fighting major animal diseases. The management of effective epidemiological surveillance networks for high-risk animal diseases in developed countries is based on general rules governing epidemiological surveillance networks, but involves certain specificities. This article first of all sets out the requirements for the optimal functioning of epidemiological surveillance networks. It then describes and analyses the qualities expected of high-risk animal disease surveillance networks: detection sensitivity and specificity, simplicity and adaptability, and good cost efficiency. Finally, it illustrates these general concepts via four examples of animal disease epidemiological surveillance in developed countries: foot and mouth disease in Europe, West Nile virus in the United States of America and France, and bluetongue in France.

Fox rabies in France.

Fox rabies was first recorded in France in March 1968, and remained a problem until 1998. In the course of the first two decades and despite the control measures applied, rabies expanded both in terms of the enzootic surface area and number of cases. The measures applied consisted of actions aimed at reducing fox population density, the mandatory vaccination of domestic carnivores in the officially infected areas, and use of human prophylaxis. Following the large scale implementation of oral vaccination of foxes, starting 1989-1990, the rabies front was pushed back and yearly incidence decreased until rabies was eliminated at the end of 1998. The comparison of results obtained during both periods of applying various strategies is spectacular. France remains exposed to the risk from bat rabies on one hand, and from accidental cases of canine rabies imported from enzootic countries, on the other.

Effect of mycophenolate mofetil (Cell Cept) in the treatment of immune glomerulopathies.

AIM: To study the effect of mycophenolate mofetil (Cell Cept) in treating patients with various types of chronic glomerulonephritis and other immune nephropathies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 2000 and 2003 we treated 35 patients (18 women, 17 men) with Cell Cept (La Roche). In 32 patients the diagnosis was confirmed by kidney biopsy (immunofluorescence, light and electron microscopy). RESULTS: Treatment with Cell Cept was very successful in 22 of the patients in the study (62.86%). Proteinuria was significantly reduced and firmly maintained well below 0.5 g/l; serum protein levels were elevated to normal values, the edemas disappeared. In 12 patients the drug had a good effect: there was a significant reduction of proteins in the urea within 1.2 - 2.0 g/l, an increase of total protein and albumins in plasma but after three months of treatment. The therapy was with no effect only in one patient with primary amyloidosis of kidneys. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with mycophenolate mofetil (Cell Cept) is an alternative modality for the management of immune glomerulopathies resistant to conventional and pulse pathogenetic therapeutic regimens. It can be a treatment of first choice.

Specificity of three ELISA-gE kits for screening pig meat for antibodies to Aujeszky's disease.

Muscle samples (20 g) from 2025 pig carcases from Aujeszky's disease-free holdings were collected at the slaughterhouse. The samples were frozen and thawed to obtain meat juice, which was then analysed by three ELISA-gE test kits in parallel, to assess their specificity. After two cycles of freezing and thawing, 2.2 per cent of the samples were dry. Three times more of the samples from the sow carcases than from the finisher carcases yielded insufficient juice (< 220 microl). To validate the results of the specificity study, the sensitivity of the test kits was evaluated on 45 samples from gE-seropositive sows. On the basis of the results from 1879 samples, the specificity of the ELISA-gE kits was between 0.995 and 1.000, depending on the classification of the doubtful results. In the case of a positive or doubtful result, it proved useful to repeat the test on the same sample, in order to limit the number of false positive results.

Ten-year clinical and ultrasonographic follow-up of siblings from families with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

We conducted a ten-year clinical and ultrasound follow-up study of 120 siblings with ADPKD (68 men and 52 women, aged 19-40). 40 subjects had polycystic kidney disease. During the study period, the number and size of the cysts increased. Symptoms and signs also changed: at baseline 51% of the subjects were asymptomatic dropping subsequently to 2%. Initially, 32 subjects had 1-5 cysts in one or both kidneys and they were classified as suspected of having ADPKD. Significant changes were found in this group at the end of the follow-up. In 12 of them (37.50%) subsequent ultrasonograms revealed an increase in the number and size of the cysts--i.e. evolution towards ADPKD. None of the subjects in this group had a decrease in the number of cysts. In the control group, three had multiple cysts but most subjects were ultrasonographically negative for polycystic kidney disease. In conclusion, the authors recommend a clinical and ultrasonographic long-term follow-up of subjects at risk for ADPKD which should allow early diagnosis as well as prevention of the complications which result in chronic renal failure.

Proposed criteria to determine whether a territory is free of a given animal disease.

This text describes the general principles underlying the concept of disease-free territory and the required statistical basis for the corresponding epidemiological surveillance operations. Among the essential points, it is emphasised that "disease-free" status should be given only under conditions substantiating the absence of infection (or infestation) and not simply on basis of a known low level of infection (or infestation). This manuscript also raises concerns about possible confusion that has arisen between the inevitable requirement to set a threshold on the level of detection of epidemiological surveillance tools, for economic reasons, and the acceptance of a level of infection (or infestation) that is known, but occurring below the accepted threshold, when according the official status of "territory-free from a given disease". In such a situation, it would be preferable to accord the status of "territory where the disease is in the process of eradication".

[The evolution of zoonoses]. / L'évolution des zoonoses.

Firstly, the author describes the evolution of the epidemiology of zoonoses, using examples of decreases and increases in incidence and of the probable 'birth' of zoonoses. Secondly, an analysis is presented of the main factors that may influence one of the components of a zoonosis (receptive animal populations, pathogens, external environment and humans), in addition to those factors responsible for changes in the epidemiology of zoonoses. Finally, a description is given of the main measures which can be applied within a given country or through international co-operation, to limit the development of zoonoses.

Use of muscle exudates for the detection of anti-gE antibodies to Aujeszky's disease virus.

A commercial ELISA test to detect serum anti-gE antibodies to Aujeszky's disease virus was adapted for use with muscle exudates. The muscle samples were taken from the diaphragm of pig carcasses at the slaughterhouse. Three hundred and eighty-nine pairs of samples of serum and muscle exudate were compared to determine the possibility of using muscle exudate samples in a programme to control Aujeszky's disease. Taking the serum samples as the reference, the individual sensitivity of the test was 93.2 per cent and the individual specificity was 98.3 per cent. The concentration of antibodies in the muscle exudates was on average 20 times lower than that in the serum samples.

[Methodology of surveys in animal epidemiology]. / Méthodologie des enquêtes en épidémiologie animale.

In the present paper, the authors review the methodological bases of surveys, both descriptive and analytical, used in animal epidemiology. They give a comprehensive definition of the main terms applied to epidemiology as well as of the method used to evaluate the quality of these surveys.

Animal diseases caused by retroviruses: enzootic bovine leukosis, equine infectious anaemia and caprine arthritis-encephalitis.

This article presents the essential features of three retroviral infections of animals: enzootic bovine leukosis, equine infectious anaemia and caprine arthritis-encephalitis. A unique feature of these diseases is persistent infection, maintained throughout the life of the host animal by the presence of a provirus integrated into the cells of the host, thereby making an infected animal a continuous source of the pathogen. Information currently available on the epidemiology and detection of these diseases is sufficient to institute effective disease control measures.

Construction of a defective adenovirus vector expressing the pseudorabies virus glycoprotein gp50 and its use as a live vaccine.

The gene encoding the pseudorabies virus glycoprotein gp50 was cloned at the very left end of the genome of adenovirus type 5 to give a recombinant adenovirus (Ad-gp50) defective for the E1A gene. Ad-gp50 expressed high levels of gp50 in cells which either complemented (293 cells) or did not complement (Vero and HeLa cells) the E1A gene. Surprisingly, over an extended period, higher levels of gp50 were produced in HeLa cells which lack the E1A gene. Rabbits and mice inoculated with Ad-gp50 showed a strong antibody response against gp50. Some of them were protected from a virulent challenge with pseudorabies virus.

Identification of antigenic sites on pseudorabies virus glycoprotein gp50 implicated in virus penetration of the host cell.

Five monoclonal antibodies specific for glycoprotein gp50 of pseudorabies virus were used to make a topographical map of gp50 and to determine the biological function of the different antigenic domains. Three antigenic domains were identified by competition binding assays and additivity assays (IA, IB, II). Domain IA corresponds to a continuous epitope, whereas domains IB and II consist of one or several discontinuous epitopes, identified by their resistance to heat or reducing treatments. Domains IA and IB correspond to sites highly involved in virus neutralization. Neutralization experiments by monoclonal antibodies recognizing domains IA and IB and performed before or after adsorption of virions to cells showed that these domains have a role in penetration of virus into the cell.

Myocardial perfusion in experimentally induced diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus was induced in rabbits by alloxan monohydrate. At the end of six-week period, animals of the control and diabetic groups (8 rabbits each) were sacrificed and their hearts were excised and perfused using Langendorff apparatus. Results revealed that diabetes had adverse effects on myocardial perfusion. The baseline coronary flow and maximum coronary flow were significantly reduced in diabetic hearts as compared with those of the control. The maximum total coronary flow tended to decrease in the diabetic hearts. Products of the metabolic changes which accompanied diabetes might have directly and/or indirectly caused the observed reduction in the coronary vascular capacity of the diabetic heart.

Comparison of performances of four ELISA kits in the detection of BLV antibodies in bulk tank milk or concentrated lactoserum from herds with low prevalence of infection.

Performances of four ELISA kits in the detection of BLV antibodies in bulk tank milk was studied in 76 non-infected herds and 44 herds with low prevalence of BLV infection. None of the kits gave false positive results. On the other hand, there was an important variation in sensitivity. The kits with the highest sensitivity identified 43% of infected herds, which included 65% of infected cows. When concentrated lactoserum was tested, 59% of infected herds, which included 73% of infected cows, could be identified.