Cytokine profile in lambs naturally infected with sheeppox virus.

In this study, in order to reveal the immune response against the disease in naturally infected sheep with SPPV, the expressions of various pro- or anti-inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) were evaluated immunohistochemically. The material of this study consisted of tissue samples taken from 24 sheep, which were brought as dead for routine histopathological examination to the Department of Pathology. Avidin-biotin-peroxidase method was used for immunohistochemistry. Characteristic pox lesions were observed in the skin, lungs and kidneys. In histopathological examinations, pox cells, which are very characteristic for the diagnosis of the disease, were observed in all three tissues. Capripoxvirus nucleic acid was detected in 8 of the 24 tissues. Samples were sequenced, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed with reference strains from GenBank. Strains from the study clustered with sheeppox virus references. In conclusion, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-8 and IL12 (Th1) were much more dominant compared to the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines: IL-10 and IL-6 (Th2). This supported the fact that the cellular immune response is much more effective than the humoral immune response in sheeppox.

Molecular characterization of canine coronaviruses: an enteric and pantropic approach.

Canine coronavirus (CCoV) generally causes an infection with high morbidity and low mortality in dogs. In recent years, studies on coronaviruses have gained a momentum due to coronavirus outbreaks. Mutations in coronaviruses can result in deadly diseases in new hosts (such as SARS-CoV-2) or cause changes in organ-tissue affinity, as occurred with feline infectious peritonitis virus, exacerbating their pathogenesis. In recent studies on different types of CCoV, the pantropic strains characterized by hypervirulent and multi-systemic infections are believed to be emerging, in contrast to classical enteric coronavirus infections. In this study, we investigated emerging hypervirulent and multi-systemic CCoV strains using molecular and bioinformatic analysis, and examined differences between enteric and pantropic CCoV strains at the phylogenetic level. RT-PCR was performed with specific primers to identify the coronavirus M (membrane) and S (spike) genes, and samples were then subjected to DNA sequencing. In phylogenetic analysis, four out of 26 samples were classified as CCoV-1. The remaining 22 samples were all classified as CCoV-2a. In the CCoV-2a group, six samples were in branches close to enteric strains, and 16 samples were in the branches close to pantropic strains. Enteric and pantropic strains were compared by molecular genotyping of CCoV in dogs. Phylogenetic analysis of hypervirulent pantropic strains was carried out at the amino acid and nucleotide sequence levels. CCoV was found to be divergent from the original strain. This implies that some CCoV strains have become pantropic strains that cause multisystemic infections, and they should not be ruled out as the cause of severe diarrhea and multisystemic infections.

Endless variety for bovine virus diarrhea viruses: new members of a novel subgroup into Pestivirus A from Turkey.

As ubiquitous pathogens, bovine virus diarrhea viruses (BVDVs) in cattle have been reported several times in Turkey. Over time, the frequency and importance of this infection has increased for the livestock industries. A total of 1291 animals were sampled from a dairy herd in Turkey suspected of BVDV clinical signs, for instance, reproductive failures (abortion, congenital malformations in calves, repeat breeding, etc.) and interdigital phlegmon in adult animals. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCRs) were made by using targeted 5' untranslated region (UTR), Npro, E2, and NS2-3 pestiviral gene region primers for antigen ELISA-positive samples (n = 20). The obtained amplicons were sequenced. Sequence results showed the presence of a new subgroup in Pestivirus A species. This paper describes the nucleotide sequences of a new BVDV 1 (BVDV 1-v) subgroup member.

Cell proliferation and apoptosis in canine oral papillomatosis.

This study was aimed at the evaluation of cell proliferation, p53 level and apoptotic index by immunohistochemical methods in canine oral papillomatosis. The study material comprised of tumor tissue samples taken from six dogs being admitted to the Pathology Department of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, Kars, Türkiye. Choice of immunohistochemical staining was avidin-biotin peroxidase method. Cases of canine oral papillomatosis, determined to have been caused by canine papillomavirus-1, were found to have a rather high cell proliferation index. Furthermore, all cases were immunohisto-chemically demonstrated to carry a mutant p53 gene. Despite the mutation of p53 gene, the shift in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio of dogs diagnosed with tumor was in favor of the pro-apoptotic Bax gene. The apoptotic mechanism was determined to occur through both the caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathways. While the lesions occupied the entire oral cavity in some cases, histopathologically, malignant transformation was not detected in any of the six cases.

Evaluation of the relationship between inflammatory reaction and interleukins in ovine pulmonary adenocarcinomas.

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the association between inflammatory reaction of tumoral microenvironments with interleukin responses in ovine pulmonary adenocarcinomas (OPAs). Material of the study consisted of 26 sheep lung tissue samples being brought to the Pathology Department for routine diagnosis. Cases were collected between years 2009 - 2021; pre-diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms, anamnesis and gross lesion of the lungs. These tissues were designated in two groups as control (n = 6) and OPA (n = 20) groups. Choice of immunohistochemical staining was avidin-biotin peroxidase method. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to confirm Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus from paraffin-embedded tissues. On gross examination of OPAs, lesions seen were mostly in the caudal lobes of the lung, 1.00 - 2.00 cm in diameter as gray-white consolidated foci and in microscopic observation, tumor cells showed acinar, papillary or mixed growths. No expressions of interleukin (2 and 8) were observed in the control group. All OPAs cases were positive for interleukins (2 and 8) expressions. A total of eight tissue samples were detected as positives through RT-PCR. In conclusion, in this study, it was determined that interleukin-2 and interleukin-8 were produced from tumor microenvironment elements, especially tumor-associated macrophages, and these interleukins showed pro-inflammatory effects. Interleukins and the inflammatory reaction may promote the development of OPA.

Putative vaccine breakthrough event associated with heterotypic rotavirus infection in newborn calves, Turkey, 2015.

Group A rotaviruses (RVA) are regarded as major enteric pathogens of large ruminants, including cattle. Rotavirus vaccines administered to pregnant cows are commonly used to provide passive immunity that protects newborn calves from the clinical disease. In this study we report the detection of RVA from calves with severe diarrhea in a herd regularly vaccinated to prevent enteric infections including RVA. Diarrheic disease was observed in newborn calves aged 4-15days, with high morbidity and mortality rates, but no diarrhea was seen in adult animals. Rotavirus antigen was detected by enzyme-immunoassay in the intestinal content or the fecal samples of all examined animals. Besides RVA, bovine coronavirus and bovine enteric calicivirus were detected in some samples. Selected RVA strains were characterized by whole genome sequencing. Two strains, RVA/Cow-wt/TUR/Amasya-1/2015/G8P[5] and RVA/Cow-wt/TUR/Amasya-2/2015/G8P[5] were genotyped as G8-P[5]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A3-N2-T6-E2-H3 and showed >99% nucleotide sequence identity among themselves. This genomic constellation is fairly common among bovine RVA strains; however, phylogenetic analysis of the G8 VP7 gene showed close genetic relationship to some European human RVA strains (up to 98.4% nt identity). Our findings is the first indication regarding the circulation of G8 RVA strains in Turkey. Given that the administered RVA vaccines contained type G6 and G10 VP7 antigens some concerns raised with regard to the level of heterotypic protection elicited by the vaccine strains against circulating bovine G8 RVA strains. Enhancement of surveillance of circulating RVA strains in calves across Turkey is needed to support ongoing vaccination programs.