Role of aflatoxin toxicity on transmissibility and pathogenicity of H9N2 avian influenza virus in turkeys.

The study was conducted to investigate the role of aflatoxin on the infectivity and transmissibility of H9N2 AI virus. The experiment was performed on 80 non-vaccinated turkeys, divided into 4 groups of 20 birds each. Group A was kept as non-infected and a non-treated negative control; Group B was inoculated intratracheally with H9N2 AI virus (1 × 10(7) EID50) at 4 weeks of age; Group C was fed on a diet containing 0.5 ppm aflatoxin from Day 1 through the entire experiment period and Group D was fed on diet containing 0.5 ppm aflatoxin as for Group C but inoculated intratracheally with H9N2 AI virus (1 × 10(7) EID50) at the fourth week of age and then mixed with naïve birds. Infected and contact birds showed clinical signs of different severity, showing the most prominent disease signs in birds of the aflatoxin + H9N2 group. All infected birds showed virus shedding, however, the pattern of virus shedding was different for birds of the aflatoxin + H9N2 group showing pronounced virus secretion. Similarly, efficient transmission of virus was observed between infected and contact birds, but more prominent virus transmission was seen in those birds inoculated and fed aflatoxin-treated diet. Moreover, significantly lower antibody titres against H9N2 AIV were observed in birds fed aflatoxin-treated diet, indicating an immunotoxic nature of aflatoxin as the reason for poor seroconversion. Similarly, decreased IFNγ mRNA expression and higher mortality (35%) suggest an immunotoxic and immunosuppressive effect of aflatoxin leading to enhanced pathogenesis of H9N2 viruses in aflatoxin-fed birds. The immunosuppressive nature of aflatoxin might delay influenza virus clearance and this may be one of the reasons for increased pathogenicity of H9N2 LPAI viruses in turkeys under field conditions.

First detection and molecular characterization of avian polyomavirus in young parrots in Pakistan.

Avian polyomavirus (APV) infection, also called as budgerigar fledgling disease (BFD) causes various health problems in many psittacine species which may cause untimely death. The aims of this study were to investigate, for the first time, the detection, molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of avian polyomavirus (APV) in Pakistani psittacine birds. In an aviary a disease similar to APV was found and 90% of the nestlings died within a few weeks. Seven to ten-day-old parrot nestlings (n = 3) from the aviary were presented with feather abnormalities, plumage defect and were clinically depressed. Birds died at 11th, 14th and 16th day of age. Samples of hearts, livers, spleen, feathers and kidneys were collected from the dead birds. Samples were analyzed for the presence of APV DNA by using PCR. APV VP1 gene was partially sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis was performed. The APV strain was similar to those previously reported in other areas of the world. The results of this investigation indicate presence of a high frequency of APV infections in psittacine birds in Pakistan.

Retracted: A catechol type siderophore, bacillibactin: biosynthesis, regulation and transport in Bacillus subtilis.

Retraction: The following article from the Journal of Basic Microbiology, "A catechol type siderophore, bacillibactin: biosynthesis, regulation and transport in Bacillus subtilis" by Waseem Raza, Hongsheng Wu, Muhammad Ali Abdullah Shah and Qirong Shen, published online on 11 September 2008 in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com), has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editor-in-Chief, Erika Kothe, and the publisher Wiley-VCH. The retraction has been agreed due to substantial overlap of the content of this article with previously published articles in other journals.The Journal of Basic Microbiology apologises to our readership.

Cutting Edge Protein and Carbohydrate-Based Materials for Anticancer Drug Delivery.

Materials derived from biological sources not only offer biocompatibility but also adjust with the disease for elongated treatments and more effective therapies. These materials can be utilized as building blocks to construct state of the art drug delivery vehicles like nanoparticles, hydrogels, and nanofibers capable of dramatically enhancing the therapeutic efficiency in cancer treatment. New emerging trends in drug delivery design are constantly reported in recent literature using carbohydrates like cellulose, chitosan, and alginate and proteins like albumin, collagen, gelatin, and zein. In addition, drug vehicles with combination of carbohydrates and proteins have proved extremely effective. This article reviews carbohydrate and protein-based materials in fabrication of cutting edge drug delivery systems and clarifies their future impact in therapeutic methods to cure cancer.

Role of Wheat Based Diet on the Pathology of Necrotic Enteritis in Turkeys.

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of wheat based diet on the pathology of necrotic enteritis in turkeys. Turkeys were divided into four groups. Groups A and B were kept as noninoculated and fed normal commercial diet while groups C and D were challenged orally with C. perfringens and fed wheat based diet to promote the development of experimental disease. Infected turkeys showed clinical signs of depression, ruffled feathers, and dark yellowish faeces showing the most prominent disease signs in turkeys of group D with 30% mortality. Similarly, turkeys of group D showed more striking gross and histopathologic lesions as compared to turkeys of group C. The most severe gross lesions comprised intestinal distension, small necrotic spots and haemorrhages on intestine, fragile intestinal wall, and gas bubble formation in the small intestine. Histologically, inoculated turkeys showed patchy necrosis, desquamation of intestinal epithelium, and intense leukocyte infiltration in the intestine. Microscopic examination showed significant decrease in the height of intestinal villi of inoculated birds. Haematological studies showed significant influence of necrotic enteritis on the blood profile of turkeys in group D. The findings revealed that simultaneous feeding of wheat enhanced the pathology of necrotic enteritis in turkeys.