First molecular detection of porcine circovirus type 4 (PCV4) in Malaysia.

Porcine circovirus type 4 (PCV4) is the newest member in the porcine circovirus family, first reported in 2020. To date, the presence of PCV4 has only been reported in China, South Korea and most recently in Thailand. Detection of PCV4 have been reported in various production stages of pigs from piglets, finishers to sows; associated with a myriad of clinical manifestations including porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS), postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), respiratory, enteric and neurological diseases. While successful virus isolation and culture has yet to be reported, pathogenicity of PCV4 has been demonstrated through infectious clone studies. The objective of this study is to investigate the presence of PCV4 in Malaysian porcine population to update the epidemiology of porcine circoviruses in Malaysia. A total of 49 samples from commercial intensive pig farms, abattoir and wild boar population were subjected to conventional polymerase chain reaction assay to detect PCV4 capsid (cap) genome. Resulting cap nucleotide sequences were analyzed for maximum likelihood phylogeny relationship. Results revealed that PCV4 is present in Peninsular Malaysia at a molecular prevalence of 4.08% (2 / 49 samples). Both PCV4 positive samples originated from clinically healthy finishers. Malaysian PCV4 strains were classified as genotype PCV4b, and were found to be phylogenetically distinct from the China, South Korea and Thailand strains. With this latest update of the novel PCV4 in Malaysia, it is clear that more attention needs to be given to the investigation of novel porcine circoviruses (PCV) and management of PCV diseases.

Different porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) vaccine regimes and its effect on pig immunity status at Southeast Asia pig farms.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a disease characterised by late-term reproductive failure in sows and gilts, and respiratory problems in piglets and growing pigs. In this study, 240 sera were collected from four farms that had been practicing different PRRS vaccination regime for more than a year and vaccinations were done at 2 months before sampling. Fifteen sera samples from four age groups: sows, growers, weaners and piglets were collected from each farm and analysed using IDEXX PRRS X3 ELISA for PRRSV antibodies. Pooled serum samples were tested by using nested-PCR that enable the differentiation of Type I and Type II PRRSV. Out of 80 pooled serum samples, none were positive for PRRSV indicating all age groups were not viraemic after vaccination. Results by ELISA test showed all the farms were seropositive for PRRS. ELISA testing showed no significant difference between the farms except for Farm B which practised whole herd US MLV vaccination. Farm B showed significantly lower (p<0.05) S/P ratio in their piglet, grower and sow groups which suggest there was low virus circulation in herd. Farm A which practised US MLV on sow was the only farm found to have seronegative status in their weaners. Data indicates PRRS MLV vaccination will not cause viraemia post four weeks vaccination and whole herd MLV vaccination may help to reduce virus circulation in PRRS endemic farm.

Different porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) vaccine regimes and its effect on pig immunity status at Southeast Asia pig farms

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a disease characterised by late-term reproductive failure in sows and gilts, and respiratory problems in piglets and growing pigs. In this study, 240 sera were collected from four farms that had been practicing different PRRS vaccination regime for more than a year and vaccinations were done at 2 months before sampling. Fifteen sera samples from four age groups: sows, growers, weaners and piglets were collected from each farm and analysed using IDEXX PRRS X3 ELISA for PRRSV antibodies. Pooled serum samples were tested by using nested-PCR that enable the differentiation of Type I and Type II PRRSV. Out of 80 pooled serum samples, none were positive for PRRSV indicating all age groups were not viraemic after vaccination. Results by ELISA test showed all the farms were seropositive for PRRS. ELISA testing showed no significant difference between the farms except for Farm B which practised whole herd US MLV vaccination. Farm B showed significantly lower (p<0.05) S/P ratio in their piglet, grower and sow groups which suggest there was low virus circulation in herd. Farm A which practised US MLV on sow was the only farm found to have seronegative status in their weaners. Data indicates PRRS MLV vaccination will not cause viraemia post four weeks vaccination and whole herd MLV vaccination may help to reduce virus circulation in PRRS endemic farm.

Zebrafish MTMR14 is required for excitation-contraction coupling, developmental motor function and the regulation of autophagy.

Myotubularins are a family of dual-specificity phosphatases that act to modify phosphoinositides and regulate membrane traffic. Mutations in several myotubularins are associated with human disease. Sequence changes in MTM1 and MTMR14 (also known as Jumpy) have been detected in patients with a severe skeletal myopathy called centronuclear myopathy. MTM1 has been characterized in vitro and in several model systems, while the function of MTMR14 and its specific role in muscle development and disease is much less well understood. We have previously reported that knockdown of zebrafish MTM1 results in significantly impaired motor function and severe histopathologic changes in skeletal muscle that are characteristic of human centronuclear myopathy. In the current study, we examine zebrafish MTMR14 using gene dosage manipulation. As with MTM1 knockdown, morpholino-mediated knockdown of MTMR14 results in morphologic abnormalities, a developmental motor phenotype characterized by diminished spontaneous contractions and abnormal escape response, and impaired excitation-contraction coupling. In contrast to MTM1 knockdown, however, muscle ultrastructure is unaffected. Double knockdown of both MTM1 and MTMR14 significantly impairs motor function and alters skeletal muscle ultrastructure. The combined effect of reducing levels of both MTMR14 and MTM1 is significantly more severe than either knockdown alone, an effect which is likely mediated, at least in part, by increased autophagy. In all, our results suggest that MTMR14 is required for motor function and, in combination with MTM1, is required for myocyte homeostasis and normal embryonic development.

Acute renal failure from nitrofurantoin-induced acute granulomatous interstitial nephritis.

We report here a case of acute renal failure with nitrofurantoin-associated acute granulomatous interstitial nephritis (GIN), which was commenced as a long-term prophylactic agent for suspected recurrent urinary tract infections. Renal function improved with withdrawal of this agent and without the requirement of corticosteroids. All new medication changes should be held in suspicion as a cause of acute onset abnormalities in serum biochemistry.

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma: a rare tumor presenting as an abdominal mass.

Follicular dendritic cell (FDC) sarcoma is a rare and probably even underreported entity. Only approximately some 50 cases have been described in the literature, the majority of which had a lymph node origin. The authors report a case of FDC sarcoma arising within the soft tissues of the abdominal cavity. As FDC markers are often not routinely included in antibody panels, awareness of this sarcoma is important, as it can be confused with other tumors, especially when occurring extranodally.

Malignant histiocytosis: a case report of a rare tumour presenting with spontaneous splenic rupture.

Malignant histiocytosis is a rare invasive proliferation of neoplastic histiocytes. Cases previously reported as malignant histiocytosis were shown to be lymphomas of T or B lineage, especially anaplastic large-cell lymphomas. A case of malignant histiocytosis is described, in which a patient presenting with symptoms suggestive of pneumonia suddenly deteriorated and died. At autopsy, a large quantity of fresh blood, originating from several ruptured nodules on the enlarged spleen, was seen in the peritoneal cavity. Extensive infiltration by pleomorphic tumour cells and erythrophagocytosis by tumour cells were seen on histological examination of the spleen. Immunohistochemical analysis and staining were carried out. This is the second reported case of malignant histiocytosis presenting with spontaneous splenic rupture.

Prognostic markers in malignant lymphoma: an analysis of 1,198 patients treated at a single centre.

The prognostic significance of 20 putative markers has been assessed in a consecutive series of 1,198 patients with malignant lymphoma seen by the Sheffield Lymphoma Group over three decades. Univariate analysis disclosed that ten factors for both Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) Grade I, and twelve factors for NHL Grade II had prognostic significance. However, multivariate analysis selected only three (age, serum albumin and lymphocyte count) for HD, one (serum albumin) for NHL Grade I and five (age, stage, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum albumin and serum lactate dehydrogenase) for NHL Grade II as independent predictors for survival. Risk adjusted prognostic models were derived for Hodgkin's disease and NHL Grade II. For Hodgkin's disease the presence of 3 risk factors predicted for only 35% long-term survival for this group of patients. For NHL Grade II the group with 3-5 risk factors present had a median survival of less than 2 years compared to a 9-year median survival in patients with 1 risk factor present. Whilst these models are being validated on a larger series of patients and will also be tested prospectively, new markers are needed to facilitate decisions on treatment for individual patients.