Effect of infectious bursal disease (IBD) vaccine on Salmonella Enteritidis infected chickens

BackgroundChickens infected with both infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) and Salmonella had higher mortality. In this work, we investigated the effect of IBDV vaccine (modified live-virus bursal disease vaccine, Nobilis strain 228E®) on experimentally infected chickens with Salmonella Enteritidis (SE).MethodsFour experimental groups were included in this study, negative control group, 228E®group, 228E® + SE infected group, and SE infected group. Chickens were ocularly administrated 228E® at 12 days of age and orally infected with S. Enteritidis at 13 days of age. Sera, intestinal fluid, blood, cloacal swabs and tissue samples were collected at 1, 2 and 3 weeks post vaccination (PV).ResultsThe recorded mortalities were higher in the 228E® + SE infected group, compared to the SE infected group. The anti-S. Enteritidis serum antibody titer and the intestinal mucosal IgA level were higher in the SE infected group at 2 and 3 weeks PV, compared to 228E® + SE infected group. S. Enteritidis fecal shedding and organ colonization were significantly higher in the 228E® + SE infected group than the SE infected group at 2 and 3 weeks PV. The 228E® + SE group had significantly lower bursa to body weight ratios at 2 and 3 weeks PV, as well as had higher bursal lesion scores than the SE infected group. IBDV vaccine depressed the specific-SE systemic and mucosal antibody responses, but did not affect the specific-SE cellular immune responses.ConclusionChickens administrated IBDV vaccine, followed by S. Enteritidis infection, could cause a significant effect on the bursa of Fabricius, resulting in failure of systemic and mucosal antibody responses to the S. Enteritidis and reduce the elimination and the clearance of S. Enteritidis.     

Regulated expression of virulence gene mviN provides protective immunity and colonization control of Salmonella in poultry

Current live attenuated vaccines for control of Salmonella in poultry persist in the ceca and may persist in the environment. In this paper we report the construction and characterization of the vaccine efficacy of a Salmonella mutant strain with inducible mviN expression and rapid clearance from the host. The mutant was effective in oral immunization of the broiler chicken host against a virulent Salmonella oral challenge strain, having a mean 7 × 10⁶ CFU/g in the ceca of unvaccinated controls compared to a mean 2 × 10³ CFU/g in the ceca of vaccinated chickens at 4 weeks post-challenge (6 weeks of age). The mutant strain also demonstrated immunogenicity, reduced organ colonization, and rapid clearance in broiler chickens within 3 weeks of inoculation.     

Biofilm formation and genetic diversity of Salmonella isolates recovered from clinical,food, poultry and environmental sources

In the present study, Salmonella isolates (n = 40) recovered from clinical, food, poultry and environmental sources were characterized for serotype identification, genetic diversity and biofilm formation capability. Serotype identification using multiplex PCR assay revealed six isolates to be Salmonella Typhimurium, 14 as Salmonella Enteritidis, 11 as Salmonella Typhi, and the remaining nine isolates unidentified were considered as other Salmonella spp. Most of the Salmonella isolates (85%) produced biofilm on polystyrene surfaces as assessed by microtitre plate assay. About 67.5% isolates were weak biofilm producers and 17.5% were moderate biofilm producers. There was no significant difference in biofilm-forming ability among the Salmonella isolates recovered from different geographical regions or different sources. Among the genetic methods, Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus (ERIC) PCR revealed greater discriminatory power (DI, 0.943) followed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) (DI, 0.899) and random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR (DI, 0.873). However, composite analysis revealed the highest discrimination index (0.957). Greater discrimination of S. Typhimurium and S. Typhi was achieved using PFGE, while ERIC PCR was better for S. Enteritidis and other Salmonella serotypes. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.992) was observed between biofilm formation trait and clustered Salmonella isolates in composite genetic analysis.     

Salmonella Enteritidis with double deletion in phoP fliC and a competitive exclusion culture elicit substantial additive protective effects against Salmonella exposure in newly hatched chicks

A live Salmonella Enteritidis vaccine (SE 147N ΔphoP fliC), able to express both a homologous intestinal colonisation-inhibition effect and a systemic invasion-inhibition effect, was tested for its potential to generate a postulated additive protective effect in case of combined application with a competitive exclusion (CE) culture against Salmonella exposure in very young chicks. Both, SE 147N ΔphoP fliC and the CE culture alone were highly protective against systemic and intestinal colonisation of the challenge strain in case of moderate Salmonella exposure, consequently, additive protective effects in combined use could not be detected. However, in case of high Salmonella Enteritidis challenge with 10⁶ cfu/bird at day 3 of life the combination of the ΔphoP fliC vaccine and the CE culture resulted in a protective effect much more pronounced than either of the single preparations and most substantial compared to untreated control birds. The term additive protective effects reflects the recognition that exclusion effects by gut flora cultures and inhibition effects by Salmonella vaccines are caused by different mechanisms.     

A commercial porcine circovirus (PCV) type 2a-based vaccine reduces PCV2d viremia and shedding and prevents PCV2d transmission to naïve pigs under experimental conditions

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) vaccination has been effective in protecting pigs from clinical disease and today is used extensively. Recent studies in vaccinated populations indicate a major PCV2 genotype shift from the predominant PCV2 genotype 2b towards 2d. The aims of this study were to determine the ability of the commercial inactivated PCV2a vaccine Circovac® to protect pigs against experimental challenge with a 2013 PCV2d strain and prevent transmission. Thirty-eight pigs were randomly divided into four groups with 9–10 pigs per group: NEG (sham-vaccinated, sham-challenged), VAC (PCV2a-vaccinated, sham-challenged), VAC + CHAL (PCV2a-vaccinated and PCV2d-challenged), and CHAL (sham-vaccinated, PCV2d-challenged). Vaccination was done at 3 weeks of age using Circovac® according to label instructions. The CHAL and VAC + CHAL groups were challenged with PCV2d at 7 weeks of age and all pigs were necropsied 21 days post-challenge (dpc). The VAC-CHAL pigs seroconverted to PCV2 by 21 days post vaccination (dpv). At PCV2d challenge on 28 dpv, 3/9 VAC and 1/9 VAC + CHAL pigs were seropositive. NEG pigs remained seronegative for the duration of the study. Vaccination significantly reduced PCV2d viremia (VAC + CHAL) at dpc 14 and 21, PCV2d fecal shedding at dpc 14 and 21 and PCV2d nasal shedding at dpc 7, 14 and 21 compared to CHAL pigs. Vaccination significantly reduced mean PCV2 antigen load in lymph nodes in VAC + CHAL pigs compared to CHAL pigs. When pooled serum or feces collected from VAC + CHAL and CHAL pigs at dpc 21 were used to expose single-housed PCV2 naïve pigs, a pooled fecal sample from CHAL pigs contained infectious PCV2 whereas this was not the case for VAC + CHAL pigs suggesting reduction of PCV2d transmission by vaccination. Under the study conditions, the PCV2a-based vaccine was effective in reducing PCV2d viremia, tissue loads, shedding and transmission indicating that PCV2a vaccination should be effective in PCV2d-infected herds.     

Efficacy of a new bivalent vaccine of porcine circovirus type 2 and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Fostera™ PCV MH) under experimental conditions

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a new bivalent vaccine (Fostera™ PCV MH, Zoetis) of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in growing pigs under experimental conditions. A total of 80 pigs were randomly divided into 8 groups (10 pigs per group). The pigs were administered the bivalent vaccine intramuscularly as a 2.0 mL dose at 21 days of age based on the manufacturer's instructions. Three weeks after vaccination, the pigs were inoculated with either PCV2 (intranasal route) or M. hyopneumoniae (intratracheal route) or both. Regardless of the type of inoculation, vaccinated pigs after challenge exhibited effective reduction of clinical signs, PCV2 viremia levels and mycoplasma nasal shedding, and lung and lymphoid lesion when compared to unvaccinated challenged pigs. Vaccinated challenged pigs had significantly higher (P < 0.05) levels of PCV2-specific neutralizing antibodies, and numbers of PCV2-and M. hyopneumoniae-specific interferon-γ secreting cells compared to unvaccinated challenged pigs. This study demonstrates that the bivalent vaccine is able to protect pigs against either PCV2 or M. hyopneumoniae infection or both based on clinical, microbiological, immunological, and pathological evaluation.     

Specific and cross-reactive immune response to oral Salmonella Typhi Ty21a and parenteral Vi capsular polysaccharide typhoid vaccines administered concomitantly

BackgroundSince protective efficacy of the current typhoid vaccines—oral whole-cell Salmonella Typhi Ty21a and parenteral Vi-capsular polysaccharide preparation—is not optimal, and no vaccines are available against paratyphoid or non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) serotypes, new approaches deserve to be explored. The immunological mechanisms elicited by the two typhoid vaccines are mainly targeted against different structures. We studied whether these vaccines would enhance S. Typhi-specific immune response and cross-reactivity against other Salmonellae, if administered concomitantly.Materials and methodsVolunteers were immunized simultaneously with Ty21a and Vi vaccines (Ty21a + Vi group) or with either of the two singly (Ty21a and Vi groups). All volunteers were investigated for circulating specific and cross-reactive plasmablasts, identified by ELISPOT as IgA, IgG or IgM antibody-secreting cells (ASC) reactive with S. Typhi, S. Paratyphi A/B/C, or selected NTS serotypes (S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium).ResultsIn the Ty21a + Vi group, no specific or cross-reactive plasmablasts were detected before vaccination. After vaccination, the number of S. Typhi-specific plasmablasts (878 ASC/10⁶ PBMC, 95%CI 554–1201) proved higher than in the Ty21a (339 ASC/10⁶ PBMC; p < 0.001) and Vi (149 ASC/10⁶ PBMC; p < 0.001) groups. Likewise, cross-reactive responses in the Ty21a + Vi group were higher than in the Ty21a and Vi groups (Ty21a + Vi vs Ty21a: ASC against S. Paratyphi A/B, S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium p < 0.05, against S. Paratyphi C p < 0.01; Ty21a + Vi vs Vi: against S. Paratyphi C not significant, others p < 0.0001). A gut-directed homing profile was seen among O antigen-specific and a systemic one among Vi antigen-specific plasmablasts.ConclusionsConcomitant administration of Ty21a and Vi vaccines is well tolerated and induces an additive immune response to the two vaccines. Thus it enhances the magnitude of both typhoid-specific plasmablast responses and those cross-reacting with paratyphoid and most important NTS serotypes. The data encourage concomitant use of Ty21 and Vi vaccines for those at risk.     

Attempts to enhance cross-protection against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses using chimeric viruses containing structural genes from two antigenically distinct strains

Due to significant antigenic variations between field isolates of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), suboptimal cross-protection between different viruses impedes the effective control of PRRS via vaccination. Our previous study showed that chimeric viruses containing mixed structural genes from two distinct strains (VR2332 and JA142) of PRRSV were highly susceptible to the viral neutralizing activity of antisera generated against both parental strains. In this study, three chimeric viruses (JAP5, JAP56 and JAP2–6) were constructed by replacing ORF5, ORFs 5 and 6, and ORFs 2-6 of VR2332 with the corresponding genes of JA142, respectively, and their ability to confer cross-protection against challenge with the VR2332 and JA142 strains was evaluated in vivo. A total of 114 pigs were divided into 6 groups, and each group was intramuscularly injected with one of the 3 chimeric viruses (n = 16 pigs per group), VR2332 (n = 24), JA142 (n = 24), or sham inoculum (n = 18). At 44 days post-inoculation (dpi), these pigs were further divided into 15 groups (n = 6 or 8 pigs per group) and intranasally challenged with VR2332, JA142, or sham inoculum. All pigs inoculated with one of the chimeric viruses prior to challenge had lower viremia levels than the challenge control pigs. Prior inoculation with JAP56 markedly decreased viremia to nearly undetectable levels in pigs challenged with either VR2332 or JA142. These results suggest that chimeric viruses harboring mixed structural genes from two distinct PRRSV strains can provide protection against both donor viruses.     

A questionnaire approach to measuring the relative reinforcing efficacy of snack foods

Behavioral choice theory and laboratory choice paradigms can provide a framework to understand the reinforcing efficacy or reinforcing value of food. Reinforcing efficacy is measured in the laboratory by assessing how much effort one will engage in to gain access to food as the amount of work progressively increases. However, this method to establish demand curves as estimates of reinforcer efficacy is time consuming and limits the number of reinforcers that can be tested. The general aim of this study was to compare the reinforcing efficacy of snack foods using a behavioral task that requires subjects to respond to gain access to portions of food (LAB task) with a questionnaire version of a purchasing task designed to determine demand curves (QUES task) in nonobese and obese adults (n = 24). Results showed correlations between the maximal amount of money that individuals were willing to spend for food (QUES O_max) and the maximal amount of responses made on the highest reinforcement schedule completed (LAB O_max) (r = 0.45, p < 0.05), and between BMI and the LAB O_max (r = 0.43, p < 0.05) and the QUES O_max (r = 0.52, p < 0.05). The study suggests the questionnaire provides valid measures of reinforcing efficacy that can be used in place of or in conjunction with traditional laboratory paradigms to establish demand curves that describe the behavioral maintaining properties of food.     

Approaches to characterize extended spectrum beta-lactamase/beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli in healthy organized vis-a-vis backyard farmed pigs in India

The study was undertaken to investigate the occurrence and to characterize the ESBL/beta-lactamase producing-Escherichia coli in healthy pigs of organized and backyard farms in West Bengal, India. Total 200 rectal swabs were collected randomly from healthy pigs maintained in four organized farms and 10 backyard farms (n = 100 each) and 76 isolates were identified as E. coli from organized (48/100, 48%) and backyard pigs (28/100, 28%). Twelve E. coli isolates (6%) in the present study were detected to possess any of the ESBL/beta-lactamase genes studied. ESBL/beta-lactamase producers were isolated with significantly more frequency from backyard pigs than the organized farm pigs (p = 0.026). Six of ESBL/beta-lactamase producing isolates were phenotypically confirmed as CTX-M producers and ten of them were confirmed as TEM/SHV producers. PCR and sequencing of the amplified product from representative isolates revealed the presence of bla_CTX-M-9, bla_SHV-12 and bla_TEM-1. No unique combination of the studied beta lactamase genes for organized and backyard farm pig isolates was noted. The ESBL isolates belonged to O13, O55, O133, O153, O157, O158, O166, rough and OUT serogroups. The association of heat labile toxin (elt) (p < 0.0005) with organized farm isolates and heat stable toxin (estA) (p = 0.0143) with backyard piggery sector was significantly higher. The ESBL/beta-lactamase producers from organized farm (Ak/Ex) and indigenous pigs (Ak/Ex/Te; Ak/CoT/G) showed a characteristic phenotypical antibiotic resistance pattern. Two pairs of isolates from organized and backyard farm pigs showed clonal relationship indicating a possible transmission between the farms which were situated adjacently. Thus the present study revealed backyard farm pigs as major source of ESBL/beta-lactamase producing-E. coli associated with STa and characteristic antibiotic resistance pattern in India.     

A commercial PCV2a-based vaccine significantly reduces PCV2b transmission in experimental conditions

Transmission characteristics of PCV2 have been compared between vaccinated and non-vaccinated pigs in experimental conditions. Twenty-four Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) piglets, vaccinated against PCV2 at 3 weeks of age (PCV2a recombinant CAP protein-based vaccine), were inoculated at 15 days post-vaccination with a PCV2b inoculum (6 ⋅ 10⁵ TCID₅₀), and put in contact with 24 vaccinated SPF piglets during 42 days post-inoculation. Those piglets were shared in six replicates of a contact trial involving 4 inoculated piglets mingled with 4 susceptible SPF piglets. Two replicates of a similar contact trial were made with non-vaccinated pigs. Non vaccinated animals received a placebo at vaccination time and were inoculated the same way and at the same time as the vaccinated group. All the animals were monitored twice weekly using quantitative real-time PCR and ELISA for serology until 42 days post-inoculation. The frequency of infection and the PCV2 genome load in sera of the vaccinated pigs were significantly reduced compared to the non-vaccinated animals. The duration of infectiousness was significantly different between vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups (16.6 days [14.7;18.4] and 26.6 days [22.9;30.4] respectively). The transmission rate was also considerably decreased in vaccinated pigs (β = 0.09 [0.05–0.14] compared to β = 0.19 [0.11–0.32] in non-vaccinated pigs). This led to an estimated reproduction ratio of 1.5 [95% CI 0.8 – 2.2] in vaccinated animals versus 5.1 [95% CI 2.5 – 8.2] in non-vaccinated pigs when merging data of this experiment with previous trials carried out in same conditions.     

Omp16-based vaccine encapsulated by alginate-chitosan microspheres provides significant protection against Haemophilus parasuis in mice

Haemophilus parasuis (H. parasuis) is the etiological agent of swine Glässer’s disease, which leads to significant economic loss in swine industry over the world. Subunit vaccine based on outer membrane protein is one of the promising choices to protect pigs against H. parasuis infection despite low immunity efficiency. In this paper, outer membrane protein 16 (Omp16) of H. parasuis encapsulated by alginate-chitosan microspheres as antigen carriers was explored for the first time in a mouse model. Our results showed that the microspheres with Omp16 induced significant higher H. parasuis-specific antibodies, and higher titers of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ than those by Omp16-FIA in treated mice (p < 0.05). Moreover, H. parasuis load in the tissues from liver, spleen, and lung of mice immunized with microspheres containing Omp16 was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) than that in the same counterpart tissues of control groups. In addition, 80% mice treated with Omp16 and 70% mice with Omp16-FIA were survived after challenged with H. parasuis virulent strain LY02 (serovar 5). Therefore, Omp16-based microsphere vaccine induces both humoral and cellular immune responses and provides promising protection against H. parasuis infection in mice.     

Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a single-dose live non-pathogenic Escherichia coli oral vaccine against F4-positive enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli challenge in pigs

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains expressing F4 (K88) fimbriae (F4-ETEC) are one of the most important causes of post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) in pigs. F4, a major antigen, plays an important role in the early steps of the infection. Herein, the efficacy of a live oral vaccine consisting of a non-pathogenic E. coli strain expressing F4 for protection of pigs against PWD was evaluated. Three blinded, placebo-controlled, block design, parallel-group confirmatory experiments were conducted, using an F4-ETEC PWD challenge model, each with a different vaccination-challenge interval (3, 7, and 21 days). The pigs were vaccinated via the drinking water with a single dose of the Coliprotec® F4 vaccine one day post-weaning. Efficacy was assessed by evaluating diarrhea, clinical observations, intestinal fluid accumulation, weight gain, intestinal colonization and fecal shedding of F4-ETEC. The immune response was evaluated by measuring serum and intestinal F4-specific antibodies. The administration of the vaccine resulted in a significant reduction of the incidence of moderate to severe diarrhea, ileal colonization by F4-ETEC, and fecal shedding of F4-ETEC after the heterologous challenge at 7 and 21 days post-vaccination. The 7-day onset of protection was associated with an increase of serum anti-F4 IgM whereas the 21-day duration of protection was associated with an increase of both serum anti-F4 IgM and IgA. Significant correlations between levels of serum and intestinal secretory anti-F4 antibodies were detected. Maternally derived F4-specific serum antibodies did not interfere with the vaccine efficacy. The evaluation of protection following a challenge three days after vaccination showed a reduction of the severity and the duration of diarrhea and of fecal shedding of F4-ETEC. The 7-day onset and the 21-day duration of protection induced by Coliprotec® F4 vaccine administered once in drinking water to pigs of at least 18 days of age were confirmed by protection against F4-ETEC and induction of F4-specific protective immunity.     

Reduced neural responses to food cues might contribute to the anorexigenic effect of acute exercise observed in obese but not lean adolescents

Acute exercise has been found to reduce subsequent energy intake in obese adolescents. Although it has been suggested that some neural pathways are involved in this post-exercise energy intake regulation, it remains unknown whether the post-exercise attentional response to food cues differs as a function of weight status. We hypothesize that there will be a reduction in the neural response to food cues as a result of exercise in obese adolescents, but not in their lean counterparts. Fourteen obese and 14 lean adolescent boys (12-15 years) were randomized (within-subjects design) to remain seated (CON) or to exercise 45 minutes at 65% of their maximal capacities (EX). After the exercise or sitting period, the adolescents' cognitive engagement in the processing of food vs. non-food cues was assessed during an attentional computer-based task with electroencephalography (EEG) recording. An ad libitum lunch meal was offered and appetite feelings were assessed (visual analog scales). There was no main effect of condition on energy intake in lean subjects, but obese adolescents ate significantly less following EX compared with CON (P < .05). There was no effect of condition or stimulus type (food vs. non-food) on the EEG-recorded amplitude of the P3b component in lean adolescents. However, the response to food cues was significantly reduced compared with non-food stimuli after exercise in obese participants (P < .01). Following EX, but not CON, total body weight, body mass index, and fat mass were inversely correlated with the EEG response to food–non-food stimuli (all P < .05). However, this response was not associated with ad libitum EI (both P > .1). Acute exercise favors decreased neural response to food cues compared with non-food cues in obese but not lean adolescents, suggesting differential effects of exercise on the neural processing of food cues based on weight status.     

Evaluating a school-based fruit and vegetable co-op in low-income children: A quasi-experimental study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a new school-based food co-op program, Brighter Bites (BB), to increase fruit and vegetable intake, and home nutrition environment among low-income 1st graders and their parents. This was a non-randomized controlled comparative effectiveness trial (2013–2015). Six schools received BB (n = 407 parent-child dyads); six comparison schools implemented a coordinated school health program (n = 310 parent-child dyads) in Houston, Texas, 2013–2015. Brighter Bites (BB) is a 16-week school-based food co-op comprising weekly distribution of fresh produce (50 servings); nutrition education in schools and for parents; and weekly recipe tastings. Measurements included parent-reported home nutrition environment surveys, and food frequency questionnaires for parent and child. Intervention effects were examined using multivariate analyses. At baseline, the sample was 71% Hispanic, 24% African American; 43% of 1st graders were overweight/obese. Children receiving BB had significant increases in intake of fruit servings (P = 0.046), vegetable servings (P = 0.049), and decreased intake of added sugars (P = 0.014). Among parents, there were significant increases in fruit consumed (P = 0.032); vegetable intake increased baseline to midpoint but not post-intervention. Among BB families, there were significant improvements in the home environment including understanding and usage of nutrition facts labels to make food purchases (P < 0.05), frequency of cooking (P = 0.007), rules and practices regarding eating family meals (P = 0.022), serving fruits (P = 0.005) and vegetables (P = 0.028) at meals, and limiting portion sizes (P = 0.016).In conclusion, a school-based food co-op model shows promising results in improving dietary habits and home nutrition environment among low-income families.     

Immunogenicity of poliovirus vaccines in chronically malnourished infants: A randomized controlled trial in Pakistan

Reaching high population immunity against polioviruses (PV) is essential to achieving global polio eradication. Efficacy of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) varies and is lower among children living in tropical areas with impoverished environments. Malnutrition found as a risk factor for lower serological protection against PV. We compared whether inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) can be used to rapidly close the immunity gap among chronically malnourished (stunted) infants in Pakistan who will not be eligible for the 14 week IPV dose in routine EPI schedule. A phase 3, multicenter 4-arm randomized controlled trial conducted at five Primary Health Care (PHC) centers in Karachi, Pakistan. Infants, 9–12 months were stratified by length for age Z score into chronically malnourished and normally nourished. Infants were randomized to receive one dose of either bivalent OPV (bOPV) alone or bOPV + IPV. Baseline seroprevalence of PV antibodies and serum immune response to study vaccine dose were assessed by neutralization assay. Vaccine PV shedding in stool was evaluated 7 days after a bOPV challenge dose. Sera and stool were analyzed from 852/928 (92%) enrolled children. At baseline, the seroprevalence was 85.6% (n = 386), 73.6% (n = 332), and 70.7% (n = 319) in malnourished children against PV types 1, 2 and 3 respectively; and 94.1% (n = 448), 87.0% (n = 441) and 83.6% (n = 397) in the normally nourished group (p < 0.05). Children had previously received 9–10 doses of bOPV (80%) or tOPV (20%). One dose of IPV + bOPV given to malnourished children increased their serological protection (PV1, n = 201, 97.6%; PV2, n = 198, 96.1% and PV3, n = 189, 91.7%) to parity with normally nourished children who had not received IPV (p = <0.001). Seroconversion and boosting for all three serotypes was significantly more frequent in children who received IPV + bOPV than in those with bOPV only (p < 0.001) in both strata. Shedding of polioviruses in stool did not differ between study groups and ranged from 2.4% (n = 5) to 7.1% (n = 15). In malnourished children the shedding was reduced after bOPV + IPV compared to bOPV only.Chronically malnourished infants were more likely to be unprotected against polioviruses than normal infants. bOPV + IPV helped close the immunity gap better than bOPV alone.     

Exercise facilitates smoking cessation indirectly via improvements in smoking-specific self-efficacy: Prospective cohort study among a national sample of young smokers

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to examine whether exercise is associated with 2-year follow-up smoking status through its influence on smoking-specific self-efficacy.MethodsLongitudinal data from the 2003–2005 National Youth Smoking Cessation Survey were used, including 1,228 participants (16–24 years). A questionnaire was used to examine baseline exercise levels, baseline smoking-specific self-efficacy, follow-up smoking status, and the covariates.ResultsBaseline exercise was associated with baseline self-efficacy (β = 0.04, p < 0.001) after adjusting for age category, sex, race–ethnicity, education, and nicotine dependence. Baseline self-efficacy, in turn, was associated with 2-year smoking status (β = 0.23, p < 0.001) after adjustments. There was no adjusted direct effect of baseline exercise on 2-year smoking status (β = 0.001, p = 0.95); however, the adjusted indirect effect of baseline self-efficacy on the relationship between exercise and 2-year smoking status was significant (β = 0.008, bootstrapped lower and upper CI: 0.002–0.02; p < 0.05). The mediation ratio was 0.837, which indicates that smoking-specific self-efficacy mediates 84% of the total effect of exercise on smoking status.ConclusionsAmong daily smokers, exercise may help to facilitate smoking cessation via exercise-induced increases in smoking-specific self-efficacy.     

Oropharyngeal dysphagia and nutritional status in elderly patients in the chronic post-stroke phases

Cerebrovascular accident is the most common disorder in the older adult population and can impair the swallowing function, resulting in neurogenic dysphagia with greater occurrence in its acute phase. This study aimed to check how the oropharyngeal dysphagia degree impacts the oral intake and nutritional status of older adults affected by cerebrovascular accident in the late stage after stroke. This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. According to the Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS), three judges classified the oropharyngeal dysphagia after analyzing the instrumental evaluation of swallowing images captured through fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). The level of oral intake classification (FOIS) was performed by reviewing the usual patterns of food intake reported in the 24-hour food recall, and the nutritional status assessment was performed using data from the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA®) and anthropometric measurements: weight, height, body mass index (BMI), circumferences (arm), skin folds (triceps; biceps; subscapular; suprailiac). Researchers included 25 older adult subjects (14 male and 11 female) with an average age of 72 years old. A positive correlation was found between the oropharyngeal dysphagia degree and FOIS (p = 0.051), screening score (p = 0.011), and total score (p = 0.006) of the MNA® protocol, as well as between the classification of FOIS levels with the BMI (p = 0.029) and anthropometric measurements referring to muscle mass – AC (p = 0.021), AMC (p = 0.010) and AMA (p = 0.023). That leads to the conclusion that, although most research individuals had functional swallowing or mild dysphagia, their dysphagia influenced their level of oral intake and nutritional status.     

Replication-defective lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus vectors expressing guinea pig cytomegalovirus gB and pp65 homologs are protective against congenital guinea pig cytomegalovirus infection

BackgroundCongenital cytomegalovirus infection can be life-threatening and often results in significant developmental deficits and/or hearing loss. Thus, there is a critical need for an effective anti-CMV vaccine.ObjectiveTo determine the efficacy of replication-defective lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (rLCMV) vectors expressing the guinea pig CMV (GPCMV) antigens, gB and pp65, in the guinea pig model of congenital CMV infection.MethodsFemale Hartley strain guinea pigs were divided into three groups: Buffer control group (n = 9), rLCMV-gB group (n = 11), and rLCMV-pp65 (n = 11). The vaccines were administered three times IM at 1.54 × 10⁶ FFU per dose at 21-day intervals. At two weeks after vaccination, the female guinea pigs underwent breeding. Pregnant guinea pigs were challenged SQ at ∼45–55 days of gestation with 1 × 10⁵ PFU of GPCMV. Viremia in the dams, pup survival, weights of pups at delivery, and viral load in both dam and pup tissues were determined.ResultsPup survival was significantly increased in the LCMV-gB vaccine group. There was 23% pup mortality in the gB vaccine group (p = 0.044) and 26% pup mortality in the pp65 vaccine group (p = 0.054) compared to 49% control pup mortality. The gB vaccine induced high levels of gB binding and detectable neutralizing antibodies, reduced dam viremia, and significantly reduced viral load in dam tissues compared to control dams (p < 0.03). Reduced viral load and transmission in pups born to gB-vaccinated dams was observed compared to pups from pp65-vaccinated or control dams.ConclusionsThe rLCMV-gB vaccine significantly improved pup survival and also increased pup weights and gestation time. The gB vaccine was also more effective at decreasing viral load in dams and pups and limiting congenital transmission. Thus, rLCMV vectors that express CMV antigens may be an effective vaccine strategy for congenital CMV infection.