Characteristics and analysis of electropherotypes of avian reovirus field isolates

Genomic segments of 10 selected isolates of avian reoviruses recovered from the intestine of birds affected with malabsorption syndrome or runting/stunting syndrome were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Different electropherotypes were observed and analysed, depending on the period of recovery and particular geographic locations. The analysis showed great variability in the dsRNA profiles of the isolates and higher mobility of the segments L1, S1, S2, S3 and S4. There was no correlation between electropherotype and geographic origin of the isolate. The analysis also showed the emergence of electropherotypically distinct strains since the introduction of modified live reovirus vaccines.

Effect of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, Corynebacterium parvum and mycobacterium cell wall extract on in vitro blastogenic responses of bovine blood lymphocytes

In vivo inoculation of three-month-old calves with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DTC), killed Corynebacterium parvum or mycobacterium cell wall extract (MCWE) resulted in an enhancement of in vitro peripheral blood lymphocyte blastogenic responses to mitogens phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and Concanavalin A (Con A) in the first three days after treatment. In a separate experiment, blood lymphocytes isolated from a healthy nontreated calf were incubated in vitro in presence of each of the same immunostimulating agents and tested for their blastogenic responses to PHA and Con A. The results showed that all immunostimulants, excepting DTC, enhanced the in vitro blastogenic responses of lymphocytes to PHA and Con A. Finally, addition of MCWE to cultures of blood lymphocytes isolated from calves vaccinated intramuscularly with bovine rotavirus and adjuvant resulted in an enhancement of the in vitro lymphocyte transformation to rotavirus. Our study demonstrated that DTC, killed Corynebacterium parvum and mycobacterium cell wall extract were able to enhance bovine T cell proliferation in vitro.

Genomic variations and antigenic relationships among cytopathic rotavirus strains isolated in Quebec dairy herds

Twelve isolates of bovine rotavirus, originating from eight dairy herds in Quebec known to have frequent epizootics of diarrhea in young calves in the last five years, were successfully propagated in cell cultures. The 12 isolates produced clear-cut plaques in BSC-1 cells and, except for one isolate, agglutinated human group "O" erythrocytes to an higher titer than bovine erythrocytes. Antisera to each isolate were produced in rabbits and used to study their antigenic relationships. All the isolates shared the group-specific immunofluorescent antigen and were antigenically related as demonstrated by the seroneutralization and hemagglutination-inhibition tests. However, the relationships to the Nebraska rotavirus was quite weak in cases of two Quebec isolates. When the genomes of the various isolates were compared by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, at least three different reproducible fractionation patterns could be identified.

Distinct serotypes of porcine rotavirus associated with diarrhea in suckling piglets in southern Quebec

Cytopathic rotavirus strains were isolated in cell cultures from the intestinal contents of diarrheic piglets on Quebec pig farms where repeated outbreaks of enteritis occurred. All the isolates shared the common group antigens of rotaviruses as revealed by immunofluorescence and counterimmunoelectrophoresis. A hemagglutinating activity was demonstrated with human group O, porcine and guinea pig erythrocytes. At least one of the isolates was clearly distinguished from the American prototype of porcine rotavirus (strain OSU) by neutralization and hemagglutination inhibition tests; a third serotype was also suspected. By polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of RNA, it was not possible to differentiate these isolates.

Parvovirus-like particles associated with diarrhea in unweaned piglets

Numerous parvovirus-like particles, 18 to 26 nm in diameter, were detected by electron microscopy in the intestinal contents of two to three week old piglets with mild to severe diarrhea, in six Quebec pig herds. Hemagglutination of guinea pig and African green monkey red blood cells was obtained with clarified intestinal contents. Two isolates were found to be antigenically related to porcine and canine parvoviruses, while another differed from the porcine parvovirus using the hemagglutination-inhibition test. Three isolates could be cultivated in cell cultures as demonstrated by the development of a cytopathic effect, hemagglutination activity, immunofluorescence and identification of the virions in the cell culture fluids by electron microscopy. The possibility of a primary etiological role for these parvoviruses in diarrhea of unweaned piglets is discussed.

Prevalence of Antibodies to Swine Influenza Virus, Porcine Adenovirus Type 4 and Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae in Quebec Pig Farms with Respiratory Problems

The prevalence of antibodies to three etiological agents involved in swine pneumonia was determined in Quebec pig farms which had experienced problems of mild to severe respiratory problems. Of the 350 sera collected from adults pigs, 67.0%, 18.3% and 46.6% had antibody titers to Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae type 1 and/or 5, to porcine adenovirus type 4 and to swine influenza virus, respectively. Comparatively, the serological prevalence rates for Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae, porcine adenovirus and swine influenza virus were 43.7%, 0% and 3.3% in farms not experiencing respiratory problems.

Distinct rotaviruses isolated from asymptomatic calves

Rotaviruses were isolated following cell culture of the intestinal contents of four non-diarrheic calves. The four isolates were serially propagated in MDBK and BSC-1 cells in the presence of trypsin and produced rotavirus particles morphologically similar to those found associated with diarrhea. They were antigenically related to the Nebraska calf rotavirus (Norden strain) as investigated by immunofluorescence. Three isolates could be distinguished from the reference Nebraska rotavirus by their thermal stability and/or their differential responses to intestinal neutralizing antibodies. Two isolates produced on BSC-1 cells plaques significantly different in size from the reference strain, No significant genomic variations were detected among the isolates.

Prevalence of antibodies to bovine respiratory syncytial virus, bovine viral diarrhea virus, bovine herpesvirus-1, and bovine parainfluenza-3 virus in sheep and goats in Quebec

Serum samples were collected from 1,075 clinically normal sheep and goats from 77 flocks in 7 agricultural regions of Quebec from June to August 1982. Sheep and goats were tested for antibodies to bovine respiratory syncytial virus, bovine viral diarrhea virus, and bovine herpes-virus-1 by the indirect fluorescent antibody technique and for parainfluenza-3 virus by the hemagglutination inhibition test. The prevalence of antibodies in animals to respiratory syncytial virus was 31%; to bovine viral diarrhea virus, 22.2%; to bovine herpesvirus-1, 10.8%; and to parainfluenza-3 virus, 23.2%. Antibodies prevailed in similar proportions in young (less than 1 year) and adult (greater than 1 year) animals.

Comparative study of bovine rotavirus isolates by plaque assay

Rotaviruses were isolated on BSC-1 cells from counterimmunoelectrophoresis and/or electron microscopy positive intestinal contents from two asymptomatic and six diarrheic calves from Quebec. The plaque assay was performed using these lines and agar overlay medium containing trypsin and DEAE-dextran. This assay was used to compare the Quebec isolates to an attenuated American strain (NCDV) and another strain (TH) obtained from France. The NCDV strain produced plaques that were significantly larger than those produced by the TH strain. Three Quebec isolates produced plaques similar in size to TH strain, one isolate was similar to NCDV strain and another isolate produced larger plaques than those of both NCDV and TH strains. The other isolates induced the production of plaques that were not significantly different from those of NCDV or TH strains.

Cultivation of a porcine adenovirus in porcine thyroid cell cultures

The porcine adenovirus type 4 was adapted to grow in porcine thyroid cell cultures. A readily recognizable cytopathic effect appeared in these cells as soon as the first passage of the virus and complete degeneration of the monolayers was obtained after only 72 hours post-infection at the fourth passage. A viral yield of 10(6.0) TCID50/ml was calculated after the third passage. The virus was purified by CsCl density gradient centrifugation and was shown to possess a buoyant density of 1.33 g/ml. A specific antiserum was prepared from two specific-pathogen-free piglets and used for indirect immunofluorescent staining. The fluorescence was observed in the nucleus of infected cells at 24 to 72 hours post-inoculation. The use of TP cells is suggested for routine porcine adenovirus diagnosis.

Virus-like particles, 45 to 65 nm, in intestinal contents of neonatal calves

Enveloped virus particles 45 to 65 nm in diameter, tentatively called minicorona virus, were detected by electron microscopy in the intestinal contents of one normal and seven diarrheic calves in Quebec dairy herds. The agent was shown to be antigenically unrelated to the Nebraska calf diarrhea coronavirus and to the bovine viral diarrhea virus by counterimmunoelectrophoresis and fluorescent-antibody techniques. Antibodies against these particles were demonstrated in the serum of affected calves using immunoelectron microscopy. The agent could not be isolated in cell cultures and its possible role as etiological agent in calf diarrhea is still to be determined.

Detection of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and bovine viral diarrhea viruses in the nasal epithelial cells by the direct immunofluorescence technique

Nasal epithelial cells were collected by cotton swabs for the diagnosis in experimental and field cases of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and field cases of bovine viral diarrhea in calves. A portion of the cells was washed twice in phosphate buffered saline and a 25 microL drop was placed on microscope slides. The cells were dried, fixed and stained according to the direct fluorescent antibody technique. Another portion of the same specimen was inoculated onto primary bovine skin cell cultures for virus isolation. In the experimental studies for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, 29/35 specimens were positive by fluorescent antibody technique and 32/35 by cell culture and in the field cases, 22/119 were positive by fluorescent antibody technique and 19/119 by cell culture. In the field cases of bovine viral diarrhea, 28/69 samples were positive by fluorescent antibody technique and 14/69 by cell culture. When fluorescent antibody technique was performed on inoculated cell cultures a total of 24/69 specimens were positive for bovine viral diarrhea. The sensitivity of fluorescent antibody technique was thus comparable to that of cell culture method for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and bovine viral diarrhea.

A natural outbreak of bovine respiratory disease caused by bovine respiratory syncytial virus

An outbreak of respiratory disease occurred in a herd of 34 calves and 5 cows in a barn. The disease which affected 24 calves and 1 cow, was characterized by coughing, fever, anorexia, nasal discharge and pulmonary rales. Two calves died 5 days after the disease outbreak and were necropsied. Bronchitis, bronchiolitis and alveolitis were among the lesions observed in these calves. Bovine respiratory syncytial virus was detected, in lung sections of the dead calves and also in nasal washings of some of the calves and one cow, by the direct fluorescent antibody technique and/or cell culture method. Seroconversion to the virus was detected in most animals tested.

Coronavirus-like Particles in the Feces of a Cat with Diarrhea

Coronavirus-like particles were visualized in the feces of a young domestic shorthair female cat with diarrhea. On the surface projections, these particles could be distinguished from the enteric coronavirus-like particles of human, dog, cattle and monkey origin. They appeared morphologically similar to a feline enteric coronavirus recently described by other authors. A precipitin antigen was detected in the cat feces by counterimmunoelectroosmophoresis using a rabbit antibovine coronavirus serum.

Antigenic variations among calf diarrhea coronaviruses by immunodiffusion and counterimmunoelectrophoresis

The antigenic relationship among five bovine coronavirus isolates was studied using the counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and immunodiffusion (ID) techniques. By CIE, two precipitating antigens were observed for each coronavirus isolate. One antigen identified as the "M" coronaviral antigen was found to be common to the five isolates while the second antigen identified as the "m" coronaviral antigen differed between the isolates. Considering the later antigen, the isolates studied were placed in two antigenic groups, members of the same group being indistinguishable for the two antigens. By ID, reactions of partial identity were noted between viruses of the different groups.

[Calf coronavirus neonatal diarrhea. A literature review (author's transl)]

Calf coronavirus neonatal diarrhea. A literature reviewThe importance of the calf coronavirus in the etiology of neonatal diarrhea of calves has been reported many times from various countries. A literature review concerning this virus is presented in this paper. A detailed description of the pathogenesis, clinical signs and lesions of the disease, as well as the morphological, physicochemical, biological and antigenic characteristics of the virus are presented. The immunity of the calf against this virus and the principal diagnosis technics are also discussed.

Bovine herpesvirus type 1 in the sperm of a bull from a herd with fertility problems

A herd of 125 Holstein cows manifested fertility problems for two years. The number of services per pregnancy was 2.97, conception rate was 33% after the first service, and the average number of open days was 127. Abortions occurred in four cows over the last 12 months. The herd was not vaccinated against any disease. Natural service by a bull and artificial insemination were used for breeding the cows. Bovine herpesvirus type 1 was demonstrated in sperm heads from the bull by direct and indirect fluorescent antibody techniques, and the virus was isolated on cell cultures. The virus was also isolated from the uterine secretions of some cows and from two aborted fetuses.

Experimental infection of calves with bovine respiratory syncytial virus (Quebec strain)

An experiment was designed to evaluate the clinical, haematological, viral and serological aspects of bovine respiratory syncytial virus infection in calves. Eleven calves were inoculated intranasally with bovine respiratory syncytial virus (Quebec strain) in aerosol. Clinical, haemotological and serological responses of the calves and virus shedding were monitored. The experimentally infected animals manifested moderate to severe signs of respiratory disease. The parameters used to evaluate the severity of the disease included ocular discharge, conjunctivitis, lung sounds, nasal discharge, pyrexia and leukopenia. The animals were scored accordingly (scale infected 70.8-148.5, control 22-29.3). Highest disease scores were observed between day 6-9 after infection. Virological and serological assessment demonstrated that the observed clinical picture was due to bovine respiratory syncytial virus infection.

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus in Quebec: antibody prevalence and disease outbreak

The prevalence of antibody to bovine respiratory syncytial virus in Quebec and the role of the virus in a respiratory disease outbreak was investigated. The indirect immunofluorescent, neutralization and haemagglutination inhibition techniques were used to carry out this study. Of the 1,444 adult animals examined 519 (35.9%) had antibody to bovine respiratory syncytial virus. These positive reactors were found in each agricultural region of Quebec. The highest (53.0%) and the lowest (21.8%) prevalence was observed in the sera collected by the laboratories of St. Hyacinthe and Sherbrooke. During a respiratory disease outbreak affecting 77 calves on a farm, bovine respiratory syncytial virus was shown to be associated with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, bovine parainfluenza type 3, bovine viral diarrhea viruses and bovine adenovirus type 3 as detected by seroconversion. Of the 38 seroconverted animals 14 were seropositive to bovine respiratory syncytial virus.

[Influenza viruses in man and animals. A literature review (author's transl)]

Influenza viruses in man and animals. A literature reviewA literature review on the influenza viruses is presented in this paper. A description of the disease in man and domestic animals, as well as general considerations on morphological, physicochemical and antigenic properties of these viruses is given. Emphasis is put on the role of the antigenic changes of these viruses with regard to the epidemiology of the disease, as well as on the possible origin of the pandemic and epidemic strains.

Aerosol stability of bovine parainfluenza type 3 virus

Aerosols of bovine parainfluenza type 3 virus were generated with a Devilbiss 40 nebulizer from Eagle's minimum essential medium and nasal secretion from a non-infected calf and stored in a rotating drum at temperatures of 6 degrees C or 32 degrees C and relative humidities of 30% or 90%. The aerosols were sampled at seven minutes, one, two and three hours after the start of generation with an all glass impinger (AGI-30) and titrated for infectivity in cell cultures. Physical decay was determined by a rhodamine tracer technique. Media, temperature or relative humidity had little effect on the survival of parainfluenza type 3 virus during spraying (zero to seven minutes). During aging of aerosols at 32 degrees C and 30% relative humidity, parainfluenza type 3 virus was less stable in Eagle's minimum essential medium than in nasal secretion from a noninfected calf, but at 6 degrees C and 30% relative humidity, the virus was more stable in Eagle's minimum essential medium. At 32 degrees C, the virus was less stable during aging at 90% relative humidity than at 30% relative humidity. The virus was consistently more stable during aging of aerosols at 6 degrees C than at 32 degrees C.

Aerosol stability of bovine adenovirus type 3

The WBR-1 strain of bovine adenovirus type 3 was suspended in Eagle's medium or bovine nasal secretion and atomized into a rotating drum at temperatures of 6 degrees C or 32 degrees C and relative humidities of 30% or 90%. Impinger samples of the aerosols were collected seven minutes, one, two and three hours postgeneration, and titrated for infectivity in embryonic bovine kidney cell cultures. Under certain conditions of temperature and relative humidity, the virus was more stable in aerosols of Eagle's medium than in nasal secretion. The bovine adenovirus was usually inactivated more rapidly at 30% relative humidity than at 90% relative humidity and during aging of the aerosols the virus was inactivated more rapidly at 32 degrees C than at 6 degrees C.

Effect of temperature, relative humidity and medium on the aerosol stability of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus

Aerosols of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus were generated with a Devilbiss 40 nebulizer from Eagle's minimum essential medium, nasal secretion from a noninfected calf and nasal secretion from a calf artificially infected with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus and aged in a rotating drum at temperatures of 6 degrees C or 32 degrees C and relative humidities of 30% or 90%. The aerosols were sampled at seven minutes after start of spraying, one hour, two hours and three hours with an all glass impinger (AGI-30) and titrated for infectivity in cell cultures. Physical decay was determined by a rhodamine B tracer technique. During spraying (seven minutes from start of spraying), the virus was usually more stable in aerosols of nasal secretion from a noninfected calf and at 90% relative humidity. In nasal secretion from a noninfected calf the virus survived best at 90% relative humidity when the temperature was 6 degrees C and best at 30% relative humidity when the temperature was 32 degrees C. During aging, biological decay was greater at the higher temperature, and at 6 degrees C, the highest decay rates occurred at 30% relative humidity in Eagle's minimum essential medium and at 90% relative humidity in nasal secretion from a noninfected calf. The stability of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus infected nasal secretion was not widely different from that in noninfected nasal secretion, although under certain conditions greater survival occurred in the noninfected secretion.

Morphological and quantitative study of spirochetes in the feces of normal and infected SPF pigs during the incubation period of swine dysentery

Spirochetes found in feces of normal and infected pigs during the eight days preceding the onset of the clinical signs of swine dysentery have been studied using electron and phase contrast microscopy. According to their dimensions, diameter, length and pitch, three morphological groups have been described: small, intermediate and large spirochetes. On the basis of their axial filaments arrangement, eight types have been observed. Compared to the control pigs, there was no increase in the total number of spirochetes in infected pigs, except at day 6 before the onset of clinical signs. However, infected pigs have shown a wide spectrum of different morphological types of spirochetes in comparison to control, uninfected pigs, which showed only the type "1-2-1" spirochete of axial filaments arrangement. This last type was predominant in infected swine during the entire incubation period as compared to other spirochete types described.

The experimental infection of piglets with a porcine reovirus

A strain (Quebec) of reovirus isolated from the faeces of a pig with dysentery was neutralised by reovirus type 1 antiserum. Four of eight hysterectomy-produced, colostrum-deprived (HPCD) piglets dosed orally with the third cell culture passage of the virus developed diarrhoea and showed focal areas of villous atrophy in the small intestine. The virus was isolated from the intestinal tract of all eight specific pathogen free piglets, but not from three control animals. Nine germ-free piglets dosed orally with the eight cell culture passage of the virus showed neither clinical signs nor lesions, but virus was recovered from their intestinal tracts for 14 days after infection. No virus was isolated from four control germ-free piglets.

[An experimental study on the variation of serum antibody levels relative to the life cycle of the horsefly]

The changes of antibody titers in the sera of colts infested naturally or artificially with Gasterophilus have been determined in relation to the life cycle of this arthropod using passive hemagglutination, complement fixation, double diffusion techniques and saline extracts of antigens from the third larval stages of Gasterophilus intestinalis and G. nasalis.In the sera of the infected animals the hemagglutinating antibodies were present at low titers at the third week post-infestation by using somatic extract of G. intestinalis and at the seventh week in case of G. nasalis. At eight weeks post-infestation the antibody titers reached their maximum 1:8192 (G. intestinalis) and 1:4096 (G. nasalis), then dropped at 12 weeks post-infestation. The complement fixing antibodies were present occasionally between the seventh and 11th weeks after infestation. Precipitating antibodies were absent in all sera.

Concentration of IgG in serum and large intestine of dysenteric swine

Radial immunodiffusion tests employing swine IgG monospecific antiserum have permitted the determination of the IgG concentration in the serum and large intestine of healthy and dysenteric 12 week old boars. Specific and significant increases in IgG were observed in serum and colon during the acute from of the disease, but in the cecum only, during the subacute phase of the disease.

A preliminary study on the intestinal flora of cecum and colon of eight, ten and 12 week old swine

Using a replica-plating method and differential culture media, members of the Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonaceae were determined quantitatively in the colon and cecum content of pigs from different litters, born on the same farm and kept under the same environmental conditions, from the age of six weeks. The bacterial flora in pigs of eight, ten and 12 weeks of age showed little significant quantitative variation. Pigs of 12 weeks of age differed significantly from younger ones with respect to Aeromonas, Edwardsiella, staphylococci and molds. The existence of a variable flora is underlined as well as the fact that Vibrio coli represents an important member of the intestinal flora at that age. No significant variation in the pH of the chyme of the colon and cecum was recorded.

[Quantitative study of the bacterial flora of the large intestine of dysenteric swine]

The bacterial flora and the pH of the large intestine of dysenteric swine during acute subacute and chronic phases have been submitted to quantitative and qualitative studies. The methods used are based on primary isolation and differentiation of the bacteria by the use of selective media and the subsequent differentiation using the replica plating technique. The most characteristic changes are the following:1. A significant increase of the pH of the chyme in the large intestine during acute dysentery2. A significant increase of Vibrio, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus in the colon and cecum during acute dysentery.3. A significant increase of Shigella in the colon and cecum during subacute dysentery.4. The almost total disappearance of Aeromonas and of the yeasts in the large intestine during acute, subacute and chronic dysentery.5. A significant decrease of Klebsiella, in the cecum, during acute dysentery and of the fungi during subacute dysentery.6. Decrease of Streptococcus in the colon during acute dysentery.7. The total quantitative flora of the large intestine do not change very much.

A simple procedure for the preliminary identification of aerobic gram negative intestinal bacteria with special reference to the Enterobacteriaceae

A useful procedure is described for rapid identification of some Gram negative bacteria during quantitative studies of the intestinal flora from various species. The methods used are based on primary isolation and differentiation of the bacteria by the use of MacConkey agar and the subsequent differentiation according to definite procedure using the replica plating technique.