Antibody response of sheep to simultaneous vaccination of foot-and-mouth disease, peste des petits ruminants, sheep pox and goat pox, and bluetongue vaccines.

There are many infectious animal diseases in T urkey and generally, vaccination is the primarly control strategy to combat them. However, it is difficult to apply all vaccines in a definite period in the field due to limitations of the labor and finance. Rapid vaccination and effective use of labor can be possible with the help of simultaneous vaccine administrations. The study aims to show the effects of simultaneous foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), peste des petits ruminants (PPR), sheep pox and goat pox (SGP), and bluetongue (BT) vaccine administration on the antibody response of sheep. For this aim, 30 sheep were divided into one experiment and 5 control groups. Blood samples were collected in each group at 0, 30 and 60 days post-vaccination (DPV). Immune response was measured with virus neutralization test (VNT) and, liquid phase blocking ELISA (LPBE) for FMDV; VNT for BTV and PPR. A live virus challenge study was performed to determine the immune response of SGP vaccine. As a result, antibody titers for each vaccine agent decreased on 60 DPV with the simultaneous vaccination except FMD. The difference between means of antibody titer decrease with single and simultaneous vaccinations is significant especially for BTV and PPR vaccines at 60DPV (p<0.05). Briefly, this decreasing immune response of three live vaccines can be explained with the development of the interference, administration of these vaccines from the same injection site, the effect of cytokines, especially IL-10 effect of SGP vaccine. It was concluded that four vaccines can not be used simultaneously in sheep.

Evaluation of antibody response of sheep to foot-and-mouth disease vaccine prepared by using different MontanideTM oil adjuvants.

Despite the widespread use of the conventional inactivated foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine, its immunogenicity is poor and the duration of its protection is short. In this study, humoral response to commercial ready-to-use MontanideTM ISA 201 VG and MontanideTM ISA 61 VG oil adjuvants and a common adjuvant MontanideTM ISA 206 VG developed by Seppic Inc., were evaluated for FMD antigens in sheep and double oil emulsion (w/o/w) formulations of MontanideTM ISA 201 and 206 and single oil emulsion (w/o) of MontanideTM ISA 61 have been prepared by using current FMDV antigens (O/TUR/07, A/ASIA/G-VII, A/TUR/16 and ASIA/ TUR/15). The animals (n=48) were vaccinated subcutaneously with formulations and five sheep were maintained as an unvaccinated control group. Blood samples were taken at day 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 60, 90, 120 and 150. Virus neutralization and liquid phase blocking ELISA tests were used to compare antibody response to vaccines prepared by using different MontanideTM mineral oils. The results showed that vaccines prepared by using MontanideTM ISA 61 and 201 gave better antibody response to FMD antigens than MontanideTM ISA 206 formulation, although results were not statistically significant for certain days of sampling. Moreover, the overall type O antibody response of MontanideTM ISA 201 was found to be superior to MontanideTM ISA 61.

Lactobacillus probiotic use in cardiothoracic transplant recipients: a link to invasive Lactobacillus infection?

Organisms contained in probiotics are generally regarded as non-pathogenic and safe to administer. However, increasing reports of probiotic-associated infection raise concern over the safety of these products. We report a case of Lactobacillus empyema in a human immunodeficiency virus-infected lung transplant recipient receiving a probiotic containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. We compare the epidemiology of Lactobacillus infections in heart and lung transplant recipients at our institution before and after the introduction of this probiotic, and discuss the potential mechanism for Lactobacillus within the probiotic to cause infections and disseminate.

Effect of FMD vaccination schedule of dams on the level and duration of maternally derived antibodies.

Vaccination against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in pregnant cows is crucial to produce greater immunity in new born calves, especially in late gestation, as this directly affects neonatal immunity. Therefore, we aimed to investigate how late gestation FMD vaccination of pregnant cows affects the maternally derived antibodies in their offspring. Pregnant cows were vaccinated with and without booster vaccination during the 3rd months (early gestation vaccination, EGV) or the 6.5th months (late gestation vaccination, LGV). Their offspring were investigated for passive immunity transfer, maternal antibody duration, and the first vaccination age of calves (when the maternal antibody has waned sufficiently to allow the first vaccination). Antibody titers were analyzed by a virus neutralization test (VNT). A digital Brix refractometer (% Brix) was used to estimate passive antibody transfer efficiency measuring total protein (TP) content of calf blood sera and also colostrum IgG content. Two linear mixed effects models were fitted: one for the antibody titer values of the dams, and the other for the antibody titer values of calves before the vaccination. A marginal fixed effects model was also fitted to explore the effects of the dam titers on the antibody titers of the calves after their vaccinations. As a result, the average neutralizing antibody titers did not differ between the EGV and LGV groups nor were any differences detected between dams that received a booster and those that were not boosted. However, the LGV calves' mean maternally derived antibody titers were significantly higher (p-values = 0.0001 for both groups) and the duration was longer than that of the EGV calves (120 days in LGV, 60 days in EGV, p < 0.05). Since no statistical difference was found between the titers of either group of dams at the beginning of the experiment and parturition, it does not appear that the higher VN titers in LGV calves compared to titers in EGV are directly related to the circulating antibody levels in the dams. Furthermore, the TP value (% Brix) of calf blood sera was higher than>8.4% in both calf groups (9.3 ±â€¯0.33 in LGV and 8.6 ±â€¯0.40 in EGV, p > 0.05) indicating that passive immunity transfer had occurred for both groups. In addition, we found that the % Brix mean colostrum IgG content of the LGV (25.8 ±â€¯1.30) was higher than the EGV (21.8 ±â€¯0.58) dams (p < 0.01) and a significant positive correlation found between the colostrum density of LGV dams and TP (% Brix) value of their offspring (r = 0.73, p < 0.01). Our results show that vaccination during the late gestation period increased the colostrum IgG content of dams of LGV in addition to the maternally derived antibody duration and potentially provided greater protection of the offspring.

Polymerase chain reaction detection of Salmonella spp. in fecal samples of pet birds.

The aims of this study were 1) to determine the prevalence of Salmonella in clinically ill birds in aviaries in Ankara, Turkey, and 2) to compare conventional culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of Salmonella in feces from clinically ill pet birds. In the study, 185 fecal samples (feces and/or swabs) collected from the pet birds kept in the seven different aviaries in the city of Ankara were investigated for the existence of Salmonella spp. by bacterial isolation and PCR. The conventional isolation and identification methods were performed for Salmonella isolation from fecal cultures. Suspected colonies were confirmed with the Salmonella polyvalent O antiserum and serogrouped with Salmonella group-specific antiserum. PCR was performed after the fecal swabs were incubated for 18 hr in 10 ml of tetrathionate broth. Three (1.63%) out of 185 fecal samples were found to harbor Salmonella spp. by conventional identification tests and were found to belong to serogroup B. Five (2.7%) swab samples were found to harbor Salmonella DNA by PCR tests. As a conclusion, PCR following incubation of clinical samples in pre-enrichment broth seemed to be a fast and practicable method for Salmonella spp. diagnosis when compared to protracted labor-intensive conventional culture techniques.

Hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate for reduction of aflatoxin in quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the toxic effects of aflatoxin (AF) on growth performance and various processing parameters of quails and to determine the preventive efficacy of hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS). One hundred and eighty 1-d-old quails of both sexes were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups with 5 replicates and 45 birds following weighing. The experimental design consisted of four dietary treatments: 1) control with 0 mg AF/kg of diet and 0% HSCAS; 2) 0.5% HSCAS; 3) 2.5 mg AF/kg of diet; 4) 2.5 mg AF/kg of diet plus 0.5% HSCAS. The chicks were housed in electrically heated battery cages and exposed to light for 24 h from hatching to 3 weeks of age. Quails consumed the diets and water ad libitum. Body weight (BW) was significantly (p < 0.001) increased by addition of HSCAS to AF diet. The lowest BW gains in groups received AF alone was observed at all periods. The reduction in BW gain caused by 2.5 mg AF/kg of diet was significantly (p < 0.001) diminished by the addition of 0.5% HSCAS to the diet. The addition of HSCAS to the AF diet significantly (p < 0.001) protected against decrease of feed intake at all periods with exception of the first period. None of the treatments altered significantly the feed conversion ratio (FCR). The relative weights of the liver, kidney and spleen were increased in the chickens consuming the AF alone diet. However, light microscopic examination demonstrated the addition of HSCAS to quail feed to partially decrease fat deposition caused by the toxin, and besides, electron microscopic examination of indicated a reorganization in the endoplasmic reticulum and increase in the number of ribosomes and polisomes. Furthermore, the decrease in the antibody titre induced by Newcastle vaccine, due to aflatoxins, was relatively prevented. No significant differences were observed for serum total protein, total cholesterol and glucose levels. The results of indicate that HSCAS is effective in preventing the deleterious effects of AF.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism typing of infectious bursal disease virus field strains in Turkey.

Infectious bursal disease (IBD), also known as Gumboro disease, is a highly contagious, immunosuppressive disease of immature chickens. It is caused by IBD virus (IBDV) and is responsible for major economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide. In this study, 280 bursa samples from 56 commercially reared chicken flocks in Turkey with clinical symptoms of IBD were examined for IBDVs using the reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay. The assay was conducted on a 743-bp fragment of the VP2 gene with the restriction enzymes BstNI, MboI, and SspI. The results indicate the existence of field isolates with new molecular patterns different from those previously published that may well be unique and specific to geographical regions.

PCR detection of Shiga toxins, enterohaemolysin and intimin virulence genes of Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains isolated from faeces of Anatolian water buffaloes in Turkey.

The aim of this study was to detect Shiga toxins (stx1 and stx2), enterohaemolysin (EhlyA) and intimin (eaeA) virulence genes of 11 Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains isolated from faecal samples of 300 clinically healthy Anatolian water buffaloes by PCR. Multiplex PCR was used for the detection of stx1 and stx2, and singleplex PCRs were used for the detection of EhlyA and eaeA virulence genes respectively. A total of three (27.3%) strains were determined to harbour both of the stx1 and stx2 genes, of these, one (9.1%) only harboured these two genes alone, one (9.1%) also contained the EhlyA gene and one (9.1%) additionally contained the EhlyA and the eaeA genes. EhlyA gene was obtained from eight (72.7%) strains, six (54.5%) of these were alone. eaeA gene was positive in only one (9.1%) strain. Only one (9.1%) of the 11 E. coli O157:H7 strains harboured all the four virulence genes. Two (18.2%) of the isolates had none of the virulence genes. Enterohaemolysin was found to be the most common virulence factor. In conclusion, the virulence factors of E. coli O157:H7 strains isolated from the faeces of Anatolian water buffaloes were investigated and detected for the first time in Turkey.

Detection of methicillin and mupirocin resistance in staphylococcal hospital isolates with a touchdown multiplex polymerase chain reaction.

Staphylococcal hospital isolates (n = 166) were tested in a touchdown multiplex-polymerase chain reaction assay for the identification of methicillin and mupirocin resistance and discrimination of S. aureus (femA gene) from coagulase negative staphylococci and other bacteria. All isolates harbored the 16SrDNA (Staphylococcus genus specific internal control) gene, and 130 (78 %) the mecA (methicillin resistance) gene. Fifty-seven (44 %) of these were determined as methicillin-resistant S. aureus, while the remaining 73 (56 %) were methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci. Seventy-five (45 %) isolates harbored the ileS-2 (high-level mupirocin resistance) gene and were determined as mupirocin-resistant. This assay represents a simple, rapid, reliable approach for the detection and discrimination of methicillin-and mupirocin-resistant staphylococci.

Chlamydophila psittaci DNA detection in the faeces of cage birds.

In this study, we investigated the shedding of Chlamydophila psittaci in faecal samples from cage birds using PCR testing. A total of 47 faeces samples were collected from four different aviaries. Main symptoms determined after clinical investigation and owner histories of the birds showed that the birds had respiratory system problems changing from mild to severe. They also showed conjunctivitis, diarrhoea or no symptoms at all. DNA extractions from faeces were performed with the QIAamp DNA Stool Mini Kit. Following PCR with Cp. psittaci specific primers, 43 (91.5%) samples were determined to harbour-specific DNA. Only one bird from each aviary was found to be negative by PCR. As all the samples from birds showing clinical signs were PCR positive, these signs could be correlated to psittacosis in these birds. Cp. psittaci shedding in faeces was detected in all the aviaries. After restriction analysis of PCR amplicons with AluI enzyme, all the isolates showed the same RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) patterns with the control Cp. psittaci DNA. PCR following QIAamp DNA stool mini kit extraction of faecal samples was found to be a rapid, specific, sensitive, reproducible test, which did not need additional nested PCR of samples.