Diversity and evolution of 11 innate immune genes in Bos taurus taurus and Bos taurus indicus cattle

The Toll-like receptor (TLR) and peptidoglycan recognition protein 1 (PGLYRP1) genes play key roles in the innate immune systems of mammals. While the TLRs recognize a variety of invading pathogens and induce innate immune responses, PGLYRP1 is directly microbicidal. We used custom allele-specific assays to genotype and validate 220 diallelic variants, including 54 nonsynonymous SNPs in 11 bovine innate immune genes (TLR1-TLR10, PGLYRP1) for 37 cattle breeds. Bayesian haplotype reconstructions and median joining networks revealed haplotype sharing between Bos taurus taurus and Bos taurus indicus breeds at every locus, and we were unable to differentiate between the specialized B. t. taurus beef and dairy breeds, despite an average polymorphism density of one locus per 219 bp. Ninety-nine tagSNPs and one tag insertion-deletion polymorphism were sufficient to predict 100% of the variation at all 11 innate immune loci in both subspecies and their hybrids, whereas 58 tagSNPs captured 100% of the variation at 172 loci in B. t. taurus. PolyPhen and SIFT analyses of nonsynonymous SNPs encoding amino acid replacements indicated that the majority of these substitutions were benign, but up to 31% were expected to potentially impact protein function. Several diversity-based tests provided support for strong purifying selection acting on TLR10 in B. t. taurus cattle. These results will broadly impact efforts related to bovine translational genomics.     

Pathogenicity of tsetse-transmitted Trypanosoma congolense for waterbuck (Kobus defassa) and Boran cattle (Bos indicus).

Five waterbuck (Kobus defassa) and four Boran cattle (Bos indicus) were infected with Trypanosoma congolense IL2895 using Glossina morsitans morsitans. At the same time, two waterbuck and two cattle were inoculated intravenously with bloodstream forms. With both methods of challenge, cattle had short prepatent periods followed by a continuous high parasitaemia. All cattle became severely anaemic and had to be treated with trypanocidal drugs to prevent death. In contrast, tsetse and intravenous challenge of waterbuck resulted in a long prepatent period, followed by brief, intermittent levels of low parasitaemia, and eventual selfcure. Waterbuck did not become anaemic, even during short bouts of parasitaemia which in general were very low. Both cattle and waterbuck developed parasite-specific antibodies, but some waterbuck failed to develop neutralizing antibodies. These results suggest that the ability of the waterbuck to resist trypanosome infection may not be mediated entirely by antibody-dependent immune processes.     

Clinical and pathological aspects of human African trypanosomiasis (T. b. gambiense) with particular reference to reactive arsenical encephalopathy

Fourteen of 330 patients treated with melarsoprol (Mel B) for human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) developed a severe reactive arsenical encephalopathy (RAE). Six of these cases were fatal and postmortem examination was performed on 5 patients. Symptoms of "sleeping sickness" were compared with symptoms after treatment with arsenicals and the subsequent onset of RAE. There are 3 characteristic syndromes of RAE: convulsive status associated with acute cerebral edema, rapidly progressive coma without convulsions, and acute nonlethal mental disturbances without neurological signs. Three subjects revealed hypoxic brain damage with acute cerebral edema, and multiple hemorrhages of brain stem in those comatose. The pathology of the underlying HAT (chronic perivascular inflammation and plasma cytic infiltration of the brain) and the pathology of the RAE (characterized by acute vasculitis) are distinct. RAE occurs in the first as well as in the second stage (CNS involvement) of trypanosomiasis but the reason for this is unclear; an exclusive toxicity of the drug, or a Herxheimer reaction are possible but seem unlikely. Both clinical and laboratory findings point rather to a drug-related, delayed immune response.     

Polydrug abuse among Ethiopian university students with particular reference to khat (Catha edulis)

The pattern of use of khat (Catha edulis Forsk), alcohol, cigarettes and tranquillizers among 479 medical and paramedical students in a boarding college in northwestern Ethiopia was studied by an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. The survey coverage rate was 98.8%. The majority of students were males (82.6%) and their average age was 21.2 years. The prevalence rate of current use of alcohol, cigarettes, khat and tranquillizers was 31.1%, 26.3%, 22.3% and 7.7%, respectively. These substances were also used in combinations, the most frequent involved khat, alcohol and cigarettes. Use of khat varied by the type of training (medical/paramedical) and by phase of medical education (preclinical/clinical). These variations were also apparent when data were analysed by sex and frequency of khat use. It appears that the pattern of khat use among university students is similar to that reported for substance abuse in other countries. Because of the economic importance of khat in the Ethiopian economy, its control may be difficult at present.     

Pharmacotherapy of osteoarthritis with particular reference to night pain (double blind trial of pirprofen and piroxicam)

The study confirmed the usefulness of both pirprofen and piroxicam in a short-term treatment of decompensated osteoarthritis of weight-bearing joints associated with night pain. Both drugs were fairly tolerated. The tolerance of pirprofen was somewhat better then that of piroxicam.     

Radiological findings in seropositive juvenile chronic arthritis (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) with particular reference to progression.

The radiological effects of peripheral joint disease in 81 patients with seropositive juvenile chronic arthritis were studied retrospectively with an average length of follow up of 11 years. The patients comprised 63 girls and 18 boys with average ages of onset being 10.7 years and 12.1 years respectively. All had developed positive serology within the first year of the disease. X-rays available in 70 of these patients at five years from onset of the disease showed erosive change to be present in all but three. The sites most commonly affected included the carpus, the metacarpal, the metatarsal, and interphalangeal joints, though a third of the patients also showed erosive change in large joints such as hips, knees, or shoulders. Between five and 10 years after disease onset progression of x-ray changes was evident in most patients, with additional joints becoming involved in about one third, though the distribution of joints was similar. After 15 years or more of disease the radiological changes tended to be more stable, but various mechanical difficulties often secondary to poor growth and degenerative change and to primary destructive inflammatory arthritis were evident. No specific drug regimen was found to have been universally effective in suppressing disease, and the frequency of side effects was a significant factor in preventing treatment schedules being maintained for long enough to be effective.     

Peripheral cellular and humoral responses to infestation with the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus in Santa Gertrudis cattle

Resistance to cattle tick infestation in single‐host ticks is primarily manifested against the larval stage and results in the immature tick failing to attach successfully and obtain a meal. This study was conducted to identify immune responses that characterize the tick‐resistant phenotype in cattle. Thirty‐five tick‐naïve Santa Gertrudis heifers were used in this study, thirty of which were artificially infested for thirteen weeks with tick larvae while five animals remained at a tick‐free quarantine property to serve as a control group. Following thirteen weeks of tick infestation, the animals in this trial exhibited highly divergent tick‐resistant phenotypes. Blood samples collected throughout the trial were used to measure peripheral immune parameters: haematology, the percentage of cellular subsets comprising the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) population, tick‐specific IgG₁ and IgG₂ antibody titres, IgG1 avidity for tick antigens and the ability of PBMC to recognize and proliferate in response to stimulation with tick antigens in vitro. The tick‐susceptible cattle developed significantly higher tick‐specific IgG₁ antibody titres compared to the tick‐resistant animals. These results suggest that the heightened antibody response either does not play a role in resistance or might contribute to increased susceptibility to infestation.     

Hemoglobinopathies in Campania with particular reference to the rare and new types

Summary The incidence of thalassemia and other haemoglobinopathies in Campania correspond almost to 6% and 1% respectively. This fact signify that in Campania there are more than 300 thousand persons with haemoglobinopathies.The thalassemia is present in all its variants and the reciprocal frequency resulted as follow: classical th 88%; th with increase of both Hb A₂ and F 5%; th 3%; th with isolated increase of Hb A₂ 2%; th 1%. The authors have also fined 180 cases of other hemoglobinopathies namely: Hb S, Lepore, D, C, Bart's, Caserta, Hereditary Persistance of Hb F, and two varieties of Hb J. The most numerous of these are Hb S and Hb Lepore, respectively 90 and 49 cases.The Hb Caserta represents a new type of hemoglobinopathy. Moreover the authors pointed out their observations on new forms of hemoglobinopathic diseases viz:. the non letal homozygosity for alpha thalassemia, the homzygosity for elevated Hb A₂ without microcythemia, the homozygosity for Hb Lepore, the double heterozygosity for Hb Lepore and thalassemia.

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Zusammenfassung Das Auftreten von Thalassämie und anderen Hämoglobinopathien entspricht in Campania jeweils 6 und 1%. Diese Tatsache beweist, daß es in Campania mehr als 300 000 Personen mit Hämoglobinopathien gibt.Die Thalassämie ist in all ihren Variationen vertreten, und ihr wechselseitiges Auftreten ergibt folgendes Bild: die klassische Beta-Thalassämie 88%; die Thalassämie mit erhöhtem Hb A₂ und F 5%; Alpha-Thalassämie 3%; Thalassämie mit nur erhöhtem Hb A₂ 2%; Beta-delta-Thalassämie 1%. Die Autoren fanden auch bei 180 Fällen andere Hämoglobinopathien, wie: Hb S, Lepore, D, C, Barts, Caserta, erbbedingtes Vorkommen von Hb F und zwei Hb J-Arten. Die am häufigsten auftretenden sind Hb S und Hb Lehore, jeweils in 90 und 49 Fällen.Die Hb Caserta stellt einen neuen Typus der Hämoglobinopathien dar. Außerdem konnten die Autoren Beobachtungen machen, wie: die nicht tödlich verlaufende Homozygosis bei der Alpha-Thalassämie, die Homozygosis bei erhöhtem Hb A₂ ohne Mikrozythämie, die Homozygosis bei Hb Lepore, die doppelte Heterozygosis bei Hb Lepore und Beta-Delta-Thalassämie.