Variegated Squirrel Bornavirus 1 in Squirrels, Germany and the Netherlands.

We screened squirrels in Germany and the Netherlands for the novel zoonotic variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1). The detection of VSBV-1 in 11 squirrels indicates a considerable risk for transmission to humans handling those animals. Therefore, squirrels in contact with humans should routinely be tested for VSBV-1.

Hemophilia A in a litter of Border Collies caused by a one base pair deletion in the F8 gene.

In dogs, hemophilia A is known to affect different breeds. This is a case report describing hemophilia A in a litter of Border Collies. A privately owned bitch and her puppies (n = 7) were presented to the referring veterinarian after acute hematoma formation in the male offspring (n = 3) following microchip implantation. Global coagulation testing, as well as determination of factor VIII and IX activity, were carried out. Based on the results, factor VIII deficiency was suspected. Two of the affected male puppies were euthanized within a few days. Genetic testing of the mother and the surviving male puppy resulted in the description of a deletion in exon 14 of the F8 gene. This c.3206delA variant leads to a frameshift in amino acid sequence and a premature stop codon (p.Asn1069IlefsTer7). The detection of the mutation and consequent testing of related dogs revealed that the deletion most likely had occurred spontaneously in the mother and had been transmitted to several of her offspring in different litters. Identified carriers were taken out of the breeding scheme. It is concluded that genetic testing in the context of suspected genetic disease can lead to preventive measures, including timely exclusion of carriers from breeding.

Isolation and characterization of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells from the gingiva and the periodontal ligament of the horse.

BACKGROUND: The equine periodontium provides tooth support and lifelong tooth eruption on a remarkable scale. These functions require continuous tissue remodeling. It is assumed that multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) reside in the periodontal ligament (PDL) and play a crucial role in regulating physiological periodontal tissue regeneration. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize equine periodontal MSC. Tissue samples were obtained from four healthy horses. Primary cell populations were harvested and cultured from the gingiva, from three horizontal levels of the PDL (apical, midtooth and subgingival) and for comparison purposes from the subcutis (masseteric region). Colony-forming cells were grown on uncoated culture dishes and typical in vitro characteristics of non-human MSC, i.e. self-renewal capacity, population doubling time, expression of stemness markers and trilineage differentiation were analyzed. RESULTS: Colony-forming cell populations from all locations showed expression of the stemness markers CD90 and CD105. In vitro self-renewal capacity was demonstrated by colony-forming unit fibroblast (CFU-F) assays. CFU-efficiency was highest in cell populations from the apical and from the mid-tooth PDL. Population doubling time was highest in subcutaneous cells. All investigated cell populations possessed trilineage differentiation potential into osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic lineages. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the demonstrated in vitro characteristics cells were referred to as equine subcutaneous MSC (eSc-MSC), equine gingival MSC (eG-MSC) and equine periodontal MSC (eP-MSC). According to different PDL levels, eP-MSC were further specified as eP-MSC from the apical PDL (eP-MSCap), eP-MSC from the mid-tooth PDL (eP-MSCm) and eP-MSC from the subgingival PDL (eP-MSCsg). Considering current concepts of cell-based regenerative therapies in horses, eP-MSC might be promising candidates for future clinical applications in equine orthopedic and periodontal diseases.