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Scientific Reports Dec 2021Usutu virus (USUV) is a zoonotic arbovirus causing avian mass mortalities. The first outbreak in North-Western Germany occurred in 2018. This retrospective analysis...
Usutu virus (USUV) is a zoonotic arbovirus causing avian mass mortalities. The first outbreak in North-Western Germany occurred in 2018. This retrospective analysis focused on combining virological and pathological findings in birds and immunohistochemistry. 25 common blackbirds, one great grey owl, and one kingfisher collected from 2011 to 2018 and positive for USUV by qRT-PCR were investigated. Macroscopically, most USUV infected birds showed splenomegaly and hepatomegaly. Histopathological lesions included necrosis and lymphohistiocytic inflammation within spleen, Bursa fabricii, liver, heart, brain, lung and intestine. Immunohistochemistry revealed USUV antigen positive cells in heart, spleen, pancreas, lung, brain, proventriculus/gizzard, Bursa fabricii, kidney, intestine, skeletal muscle, and liver. Analysis of viral genome allocated the virus to Europe 3 or Africa 2 lineage. This study investigated whether immunohistochemical detection of double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) serves as an alternative tool to detect viral intermediates. Tissue samples of six animals with confirmed USUV infection by qRT-PCR but lacking viral antigen in liver and spleen, were further examined immunohistochemically. Two animals exhibited a positive signal for dsRNA. This could indicate either an early state of infection without sufficient formation of virus translation products, occurrence of another concurrent virus infection or endogenous dsRNA not related to infectious pathogens and should be investigated in more detail in future studies.
Topics: Animals; Bird Diseases; Brain; Disease Outbreaks; Flavivirus; Flavivirus Infections; Genome, Viral; Germany; Heart; History, 21st Century; Immunohistochemistry; Lung; Pancreas; Phylogeny; Retrospective Studies; Songbirds; Spleen; Strigiformes
PubMed: 34921222
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03638-5 -
Veterinary World Oct 2021The aim of this study was to characterize from backyard chickens in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand.
AIM
The aim of this study was to characterize from backyard chickens in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Tissue samples were collected from backyard chickens suspected to have leucocytozoonosis and subjected to histopathology examination. The BLAST Tool at NCBI GenBank (Basic Local Alignment Research Tools) (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST) was used to identify the nucleotide sequence of the partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I ( gene. A Phylogenetic tree for analysis of was constructed by using MEGA 7.0 software (https://www.megasoftware.net/).
RESULTS
The necropsy results revealed the subcutaneous hemorrhages of pectoral muscles, multifocal hemorrhages of the thymus and pectoral muscles, hemorrhage of the proventriculus and peritoneal cavity, and megaloschizonts of the pancreas and intestine, including subcapsular hemorrhages of the liver. Microscopic examination revealed numerous megaloschizonts of spp. in the pectoral muscles, intestine, pancreas, and thymus. Molecular analysis of the partial gene showed that the causal agent was closely related to reported in Japan.
CONCLUSION
From these results, was determined to be the causal agent of leucocytozoonosis and was closely associated with reported in Japan.
PubMed: 34903919
DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.2634-2639 -
The Journal of Poultry Science Oct 2021Glycation is a non-enzymatic reaction, and amino acids are glycated by glucose in vivo. Tryptophan is glycated with glucose to form two types of glycated compounds,...
Glycation is a non-enzymatic reaction, and amino acids are glycated by glucose in vivo. Tryptophan is glycated with glucose to form two types of glycated compounds, tryptophan-Amadori product and (1R, 3S)-1-(D-gluco-1, 2, 3, 4, 5-pentahydroxypentyl)-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro--carboline-3-carboxylic acid (PHP-THC). Although PHP-THC can be incorporated into various chicken embryonic cells, the mechanism of its incorporation into intracellular fluids has not been clarified. In this study, we examined whether PHP-THC once incorporated into various chicken embryonic cells can combine with proteins. Embryonic cells from the breast muscle, liver, spleen, kidney, proventriculus, gizzard, and skin were prepared and H-PHP-THC was added to the culture medium at final concentrations of 0, 200, 400, 600, and 800 M to examine the incorporation of PHP-THC. After 18 h of incubation, radioactivity was measured in the whole-cell and protein fractions of the chicken embryonic cells. As PHP-THC concentration increased from 0 to 600 M, its accumulation in the whole-cell fractions of all types of chicken embryonic cells linearly increased and reached the maximum level. The saturated PHP-THC accumulation in the whole-cell fractions suggests that PHP-THC could be incorporated into intracellular fluids across cellular membranes by some transporter proteins. As PHP-THC concentration increased from 0 to 800 M, its accumulation in the protein fractions of all types of chicken embryonic cells increased in a linear manner and reached a maximum level in the 800 M PHPTHC treatment group. This is the first study to indicate that a part of PHP-THC incorporated into the whole-cell fraction was detected in the protein fraction of various chicken embryonic cells.
PubMed: 34899021
DOI: 10.2141/jpsa.0200076 -
Infection, Genetics and Evolution :... Dec 2021Tabanids (syn. horse flies) are biting-flies of medical and veterinary significance because of their ability to transmit a range of pathogens including trypanosomes -...
Tabanids (syn. horse flies) are biting-flies of medical and veterinary significance because of their ability to transmit a range of pathogens including trypanosomes - some species of which carry a combined health and biosecurity risk. Invertebrate vectors responsible for transmitting species of Trypanosoma between Australian wildlife remains unknown, thus establishing the role of potential vector candidates such as tabanids is of utmost importance. The current study aimed to investigate the presence of indigenous trypanosomes in tabanids from an endemic area of south-west Australia. A total of 148 tabanids were collected, with morphological analysis revealing two subgenera: Scaptia (Pseudoscione) and S. (Scaptia) among collected flies. A parasitological survey using an HRM-qPCR and sequencing approach revealed a high (105/148; 71%) prevalence of trypanosomatid DNA within collected tabanids. Individual tissues - proboscis (labrum, labium and mandibles, hypopharynx), salivary glands, proventriculus, midgut, and hindgut and rectum - were also tested from a subset of 20 tabanids (n = 140 tissues), confirming the presence of Trypanosoma noyesi in 31% of screened tissues, accompanied by T. copemani (3%) and T. vegrandis/T.gilletti (5%). An unconfirmed trypanosomatid sp. was also detected (9%) within tissues. The difference between tissues infected with T. noyesi compared with tissues infected with other trypanosome species was statistically significant (p < 0.05), revealing T. noyesi as the more frequent species detected in the tabanids examined. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed intact parasites within salivary glands and the proboscis respectively, suggesting that both biological and mechanical modes of transmission could occur. This study reveals the presence of Australian Trypanosoma across tabanid tissues and confirms intact parasites within tabanid salivary glands and the proboscis for the first time. Further investigations are required to determine whether tabanids have the vectorial competence to transmit Australian trypanosomes between wildlife.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Wild; Biosecurity; Diptera; Insect Vectors; Trypanosoma; Trypanosomiasis; Western Australia
PubMed: 34823027
DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.105152 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2021Xylanase improves poultry nutrition by degrading xylan in the cell walls of feed grains and release the entrapped nutrients. However, the application of xylanase as a...
Xylanase improves poultry nutrition by degrading xylan in the cell walls of feed grains and release the entrapped nutrients. However, the application of xylanase as a feed supplement is restricted to its low stability in the environment and gastrointestinal (GI) tract of poultry. To overcome these obstacles, Zeozyme NPs as a smart pH-responsive nanosystem was designed based on xylanase immobilization on zeolitic nanoporous as the major cornerstone that was modified with L-lysine. The immobilized xylanase was followed by encapsulating with a cross-linked CMC-based polymer. Zeozyme NPs was structurally characterized using TEM, SEM, AFM, DLS, TGA and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms at liquid nitrogen temperature. The stability of Zeozyme NPs was evaluated at different temperatures, pH, and in the presence of proteases. Additionally, the release pattern of xylanase was investigated at a digestion model mimicking the GI tract. Xylanase was released selectively at the duodenum and ileum (pH 6-7.1) and remarkably preserved at pH ≤ 6 including proventriculus, gizzard, and crop (pH 1.6-5). The results confirmed that the zeolite equipped with the CMC matrix could enhance the xylanase thermal and pH stability and preserve its activity in the presence of proteases. Moreover, Zeozyme NPs exhibited a smart pH-dependent release of xylanase in an in vitro simulated GI tract.
Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Delayed-Action Preparations; Dietary Supplements; Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases; Enzymes, Immobilized; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Nanoparticles; Poultry; Zeolites
PubMed: 34725388
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00688-7 -
Brazilian Journal of Microbiology :... Dec 2021Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious infection of many avian species, mainly chickens and turkeys, with a devastating impact on worldwide poultry production....
Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious infection of many avian species, mainly chickens and turkeys, with a devastating impact on worldwide poultry production. This study was designed to examine the effect of virulent ND infection in turkey's tissues and the tissue tropism of the virus. During the previous study period, poults were inoculated at 32 days of age with 10 EID50 virulent Newcastle disease virus. Three poults on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 14 postinoculations (PI) were selected from each group. They were euthanized by intravenous sodium pentobarbital injection. After macroscopic observation, to histopathological and immunohistochemical studies, the spleen, bursa, cecal tonsils, intestine, proventriculus, lung, kidney, and brain were sampled. Clinically, the infected turkeys exhibited loss of appetite, severe depression, down on hock joint, white to greenish (sometimes bloody) diarrhea, nervous signs, and mild respiratory problems. Out of 45 birds inoculated, 9 (20%) died. Histopathological effects in lymphoid tissues included necrosis and penetration of mononuclear cells on day 4 PI, and subsequent follicular lymphoid depletion on days 6 and 8 PI was observed. Based on the immunohistochemical test, on day 3 in cecal tonsils and spleen, and on day 8 PI, all of them were positive for virus antigen. In conclusion, the NDV circulating in Iranian chicken flocks has the potential to cause severe illness in commercial turkeys.
Topics: Animals; Chickens; Iran; Newcastle Disease; Newcastle disease virus; Poultry Diseases; Turkeys
PubMed: 34558031
DOI: 10.1007/s42770-021-00623-y -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Sep 2021Trypanosoma brucei ssp., unicellular parasites causing human and animal trypanosomiasis, are transmitted between mammals by tsetse flies. Periodic changes in variant...
Trypanosoma brucei ssp., unicellular parasites causing human and animal trypanosomiasis, are transmitted between mammals by tsetse flies. Periodic changes in variant surface glycoproteins (VSG), which form the parasite coat in the mammal, allow them to evade the host immune response. Different isolates of T. brucei show heterogeneity in their repertoires of VSG genes and have single nucleotide polymorphisms and indels that can impact on genome editing. T. brucei brucei EATRO1125 (AnTaR1 serodeme) is an isolate that is used increasingly often because it is pleomorphic in mammals and fly transmissible, two characteristics that have been lost by the most commonly used laboratory stocks. We present a genome assembly of EATRO1125, including contigs for the intermediate chromosomes and minichromosomes that serve as repositories of VSG genes. In addition, de novo transcriptome assemblies were performed using Illumina sequences from tsetse-derived trypanosomes. Reads of 150 bases enabled closely related members of multigene families to be discriminated. This revealed that the transcriptome of midgut-derived parasites is dynamic, starting with the expression of high affinity hexose transporters and glycolytic enzymes and then switching to proline uptake and catabolism. These changes resemble the transition from early to late procyclic forms in culture. Further metabolic reprogramming, including upregulation of tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes, occurs in the proventriculus. Many transcripts upregulated in the salivary glands encode surface proteins, among them 7 metacyclic VSGs, multiple BARPs and GCS1/HAP2, a marker for gametes. A novel family of transmembrane proteins, containing polythreonine stretches that are predicted to be O-glycosylation sites, was also identified. Finally, RNA-Seq data were used to create an optimised annotation file with 5' and 3' untranslated regions accurately mapped for 9302 genes. We anticipate that this will be of use in identifying transcripts obtained by single cell sequencing technologies.
Topics: Animals; DNA, Protozoan; Energy Metabolism; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Genome, Protozoan; Host-Parasite Interactions; Insect Vectors; Protozoan Proteins; RNA-Seq; Salivary Glands; Trypanosoma brucei brucei; Tsetse Flies
PubMed: 34543277
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009504 -
Poultry Science Sep 2021Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), a tumor suppressor gene, functions in antiviral innate immunity and regulates the development and function of T cells and B cells....
Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), a tumor suppressor gene, functions in antiviral innate immunity and regulates the development and function of T cells and B cells. However, limited information about PTEN is available in poultry. In the present study, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry staining were used to study the tissue distribution and developmental changes of PTEN in the main immune organs of chicken. The effects of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) infection on PTEN mRNA expression in the bursa of Fabricius (BF) of chickens were also investigated. The results are as follows. 1) The order of PTEN mRNA expression levels at the 18th d of hatching (E18) was: muscle and immune organs (spleen and thymus) > visceral organs (heart, lung, kidney, and liver) > hypothalamus and digestive tracts (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, proventriculus, BF [originates from cloaca], and cecum tonsil [locates at the lamina propria of cecum]). However, at the 15th d of raising (D15), the PTEN mRNA expression in the heart was the highest among all the tissues, followed by those in the liver, proventriculus, and kidney. The PTEN mRNA expression levels in the rest tissues were very low and were only 1.20 to 19.47% as much as that in the heart (P < 0.05). 2) The changes in the expression of PTEN mRNA in the BF, spleen, and thymus from E15 to D15 had no obvious regularity. PTEN-immunopositive (PTEN-ip) cells in the BF were distributed in epithelium mucosa, bursal follicles and interfollicles before hatching, but only in bursal follicles after hatching. PTEN-ip cells in the spleen were expressed in the periarterial lymphatic sheath from E18 to D15. Most of PTEN-ip cells distributed in the thymic medulla and only a few distributed in the thymic cortex during the whole experiment. 3) Chicken with IBDV infection had a remarkable decrease in PTEN mRNA expression from 1 d postinfection (dpi) to 7 dpi. Although PTEN mRNA level was reversed at 7 dpi, it was still significantly lower than that at 0 dpi (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that the PTEN of chicken might play important roles in the development of embryos and T/B lymphocytes, and the downregulation of PTEN in chickens infected with IBDV might be a mechanism of IBDV evasion from host immunity. Strategies designed to restore PTEN expression may be a therapy for preventing chickens from IBDV infection.
Topics: Animals; Birnaviridae Infections; Bursa of Fabricius; Chickens; Infectious bursal disease virus; Poultry Diseases; Tissue Distribution
PubMed: 34358959
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2021.101356 -
Poultry Science Sep 2021Comminuting the ingested material in the stomach and fermentation in the large intestine of ostriches, allows an efficient utilization of fiber-rich feedstuffs. The...
Comminuting the ingested material in the stomach and fermentation in the large intestine of ostriches, allows an efficient utilization of fiber-rich feedstuffs. The entire gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of 61 adult ostriches (both sexes; av. age of 15 mo), which had previously been fed a ration consisting of either haylage and pelleted compound feed (HP) or haylage, corn silage and pelleted compound feed (HCP), was the subject of the present investigations. The weight of the different compartments of the GIT was measured. The digesta was differentiated into inorganic and organic substances. Wet sieving was used to separate the collected stones (>19 mm), small stones (1 mm), and sand (<1 mm). Ostriches fed the HCP diet had a significantly higher empty gizzard weight (3,435 g) compared to those fed the HP diet (3,064 g). Additionally, the weight of the empty cecum (left and right parts) was increased (P < 0.05) for ostriches fed the HCP diet (107 and 122 g, respectively) in comparison to those fed the HP diet (93.4 and 108 g, respectively). The weight of pure digesta in the gizzard and left or right cecum for ostriches fed the HP diet was higher (1,640, 448, and 471 g, respectively) compared to those fed the HCP diet (P < 0.05). The contents of crude ash and HCl-insoluble ash in the digesta of all the GIT compartments were higher for ostriches fed the HP diet in comparison to those fed the HCP diet (P < 0.05). Independent of the type of the offered diet, the large stones occurred only in the proventriculus and gizzard (2.71 and 4.76%, respectively), while sand dominated in the distal colon (30.3%). The high proportion of stones in the gizzard form the "mechanical equipment" which enables the animals to grind basic feed such as corn silage or haylage, and these are almost completely excreted as sand. Continuous stone replacement for ostriches is necessary but the amount mostly depends on the type of feed.
Topics: Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Chickens; Diet; Digestion; Female; Gastrointestinal Tract; Male; Stomach; Struthioniformes
PubMed: 34340123
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2021.101359 -
Veterinaria Italiana May 2021Marek's disease (MD) is one of the most significant neoplastic diseases of poultry caused by Marek's disease virus (MDV), an oncogenic avian herpesvirus which is...
Marek's disease (MD) is one of the most significant neoplastic diseases of poultry caused by Marek's disease virus (MDV), an oncogenic avian herpesvirus which is responsible for great economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. MD is being manifested as an acute disease with lymphomas in multiple visceral organs. In the present study, an outbreak of MD was investigated in one of the poultry farms from Andhra Pradesh, India. The gross lesions in the affected birds included lymphomas in different visceral organs like liver, spleen, proventriculus, heart and ovaries. Histopathology revealed presence of uniform lymphoblastoid cell infiltration typical of MD. The isolation of the virus was carried out in duck embryo fibroblast cells. After three blind passages, the cell cultures revealed plaque formation typical of MDV. Further confirmation of the virus was carried out by PCR targeting 132 bp repeats of serotype‑1 MDV and the oncogenes Meq and vIL‑8 were amplified and sequenced. The nucleotide and phylogenetic analysis of the virus confirmed the virus as virulent serotype‑ 1 MDV. The present outbreak suggests the need for change in the vaccination regimen of MD vaccination with appropriate serotype‑ 1 MD vaccines in Indian poultry flocks as the HVT and bivalent vaccines are unable to protect the flocks against virulent MDV.
Topics: Animals; Disease Outbreaks; Herpesvirus 2, Gallid; India; Marek Disease; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Poultry; Poultry Diseases; Vaccination
PubMed: 34313096
DOI: 10.12834/VetIt.2197.13279.1