Biosafety and biosecurity in veterinary laboratories.

With recent outbreaks of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), anthrax, Nipah and the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, much emphasis has been placed on the rapid identification of infectious agents globally. As a result, laboratories are building capacity, conducting more advanced and sophisticated research, increasing their staff, and establishing reference collections of dangerous pathogens in an attempt to reduce the impact of infectious disease outbreaks and to characterise disease-causing agents. With this expansion, the global laboratory community has started to focus on laboratory biosafety and biosecurity in order to prevent the accidental and/or intentional release of these agents. Laboratory biosafety and biosecurity systems are used around the world to help to mitigate the risks posed by dangerous pathogens in the laboratory. Veterinary laboratories carry unique responsibilities with regard to workers and communities to handle disease-causing microorganisms safely and securely. Many microorganisms studied in veterinary laboratories not only infect animals, but also have the potential to infect humans. This paper will discuss the fundamentals of laboratory biosafety and biosecurity.

Suite aux nombreux foyers récents dus à divers agents pathogènes (coronavirus responsable du syndrome respiratoire du Moyen-Orient [MERS-CoV], agent de la fièvre charbonneuse, virus Nipah, virus de l'influenza aviaire hautement pathogène), la nécessité d'identifier rapidement les agents pathogènes en n'importe quel endroit de la planète est désormais au centre des préoccupations. Par conséquent, les efforts des laboratoires sont axés sur le renforcement des capacités, la conduite de travaux de recherche de pointe de plus en plus spécialisés, l'accroissement des effectifs et l'élaboration de référentiels d'agents pathogènes dangereux dans le but de réduire l'impact des foyers de maladies infectieuses et de caractériser les agents responsables de ces maladies. Dans ce contexte d'activité accrue, le réseau international des laboratoires a commencé à accorder une grande importance aux questions de biosûreté et de biosécurité afin de se prémunir contre le risque de libération accidentelle et/ou délibérée de ces agents pathogènes. Les systèmes de biosécurité et de biosûreté sont appliqués dans le monde entier pour contribuer à l'atténuation des risques liés aux agents pathogènes dangereux détenus par les laboratoires. Les laboratoires vétérinaires ont à l'égard de leur personnel et de la société tout entière la responsabilité majeure de garantir la sécurité et la sûreté de la manipulation des microorganismes pathogènes. En plus d'infecter les animaux, nombre des microorganismes analysés dans les laboratoires vétérinaires ont également un potentiel zoonotique. Les auteurs examinent les aspects essentiels de la biosécurité et de la biosûreté au laboratoire.

Los recientes brotes de coronavirus del síndrome respiratorio de Oriente Medio (MERS-CoV), carbunco bacteridiano, virus de Nipah y virus de la influenza aviar altamente patógena han llevado a hacer especial hincapié en la rápida identificación de agentes infecciosos a escala mundial. Obrando en consecuencia, los laboratorios están dotándose de medios de acción, llevando a cabo investigaciones más avanzadas y sofisticadas, reforzando su plantilla y creando colecciones de referencia de patógenos peligrosos con la voluntad de reducir los efectos de los brotes infecciosos y caracterizar a los agentes patógenos. Al mismo tiempo, en todo el mundo los profesionales del ramo han empezado a prestar atención a la seguridad y la protección biológicas en el laboratorio, con el fin de prevenir toda liberación accidental y/o deliberada de los mencionados agentes. Los laboratorios del mundo entero emplean sistemas de seguridad y protección biológicas como elemento auxiliar para reducir los riesgos derivados de la presencia de patógenos peligrosos en sus instalaciones. Los laboratorios veterinarios tienen una especial responsabilidad para con los trabajadores y las poblaciones por lo que respecta a la manipulación de microorganismos patógenos en las debidas condiciones de seguridad y protección. Muchos de los microorganismos estudiados en los laboratorios veterinarios infectan no solo a los animales, sino también, en potencia, al ser humano. Los autores examinan los aspectos fundamentales de la seguridad y la protección biológicas en laboratorio.

NO inhalation reduces pulmonary arterial pressure but not hemorrhage in maximally exercising horses.

In horses, the exercise-induced elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) is thought to play a deterministic role in exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH), and thus treatment designed to lower Ppa might reasonably be expected to reduce EIPH. Five Thoroughbred horses were run on a treadmill to volitional fatigue (incremental step test) under nitric oxide (NO; inhaled 80 ppm) and control (N(2), same flow rate as per NO run) conditions (2 wk between trials; order randomized) to test the hypothesis that NO inhalation would reduce maximal Ppa but that this reduction may not necessarily reduce EIPH. Before each investigation, a microtipped pressure transducer was placed in the pulmonary artery 8 cm past the pulmonic valve to monitor Ppa. EIPH severity was assessed via bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) 30 min postrun. Exercise time did not differ between the two trials (P > 0.05). NO administration resulted in a small but consistent and significant reduction in peak Ppa (N(2), 102.3 +/- 4.4; NO, 98.6 +/- 4.3 mmHg, P < 0.05). In the face of lowered Ppa, EIPH severity was significantly higher in the NO trial (N(2), 22.4 +/- 6.8; NO, 42.6 +/- 15.4 x 10(6) red blood cells/ml BAL fluid, P < 0.05). These findings support the notion that extremely high Ppa may reflect, in part, an arteriolar vasoconstriction that serves to protect the capillary bed from the extraordinarily high Ppa evoked during maximal exercise in the Thoroughbred horse. Furthermore, these data suggest that exogenous NO treatment during exercise in horses may not only be poor prophylaxis but may actually exacerbate the severity of EIPH.

Paraneoplastic pruritus and alopecia in a horse with diffuse lymphoma.

An 8-year-old castrated male Paint Horse was referred because of generalized pruritus, alopecia, and intermittent fever. Results of gross evaluation of the skin and microscopic evaluation of skin scrapings were inconclusive. Histologic examination of skin biopsy specimens revealed vasculitis. The horse had persistent hypercalcemia; therefore, lymphosarcoma was considered a possibility. Ultrasonography revealed hypoechoic nodules within the parenchyma of the spleen and liver. Results of microscopic evaluation of an aspirate from a splenic nodule were suggestive of lymphosarcoma. The condition of the horse deteriorated, and it was subsequently euthanatized. Postmortem examination revealed diffuse lymphoma. In human beings, generalized pruritus may be an indication of serious internal disease, including malignancy. Paraneoplastic pruritus is most common in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma but can also develop in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, or a solid neoplasm. Lymphoma should be considered in the differential diagnoses when examining horses with generalized pruritus for which another cause cannot be identified.