Cestode infections in 1998

In 1998, 603 intestinal cestode cases were registered in Poland. Among them 516 were caused by T. saginata, 5 by T. solium, 59 by Taenia sp., 2 by Hymenolepis nana and 1 by D. latum. Moreover, 31 cases of larval cestode infections were also registered. Three of them were caused by larvae of T. solium and the remaining ones by E. granulosus. The obtained results confirmed the decreasing frequency of infections with intestinal cestodes in Poland.     

Cestode infections in Poland in 1999

In 1999, 437 intestinal cestode cases were registered in Poland. Among them 369 were caused by Taenia saginata, 7 by T. solium, 35 by Taenia sp., 3 by Hymenolepis nana and 2 by Diphyllobothrium latum and 39 cases of echinococcosis were also registered. The obtained results confirmed the decreasing frequency of infection with intestinal cestodes in Poland.     

Cestode infections in Poland in 2002

In 2002, 264 intestinal cestode infections were registered in Poland. Among them 193 were caused by Taenia saginata, 3 by T. solium, 53 by Taenia sp., 1 by Hymenolepis nana, 1 by Diphyllobothrium latum, 1 by Hymenolepis diminuta. Moreover, 40 cases of cystic echinococcosis were also registered. The obtained results confirmed decreasing frequency of intestinal cestodoses in Poland.     

Cestode infections in Poland in 2003

In 2003, 218 intestinal cestode infections were registered in Poland. Among them 157 were caused by Taenia saginata, 4 by T. solium, 32 by Taenia sp., 1 by Diphyllobothrium latum,. Moreover, 34 cases of cystic echinococcosis were also registered. The obtained results confirmed decreasing frequency of intestinal cestodes in Poland.     

Cestode infections in Poland in 2001

In 2001, 286 intestinal cestode infections were registered in Poland. Among them 195 were caused by Taenia saginata, 2 by T. solium, 71 by Taenia sp., 1 by Hymenolepis diminuta, and 1 by Dipylidium caninum. Moreover, 37 cases of echinococcosis were also registered. The obtained results confirmed the low frequency of intestinal cestodoses in Poland.     

Cestode infections in Poland in 2000

In 2000, 439 intestinal cestode infections were registered in Poland. Among them 359 were caused by Taenia saginata, three by T. solium, 52 by Taenia sp., two by Hymenolepis nana, two by Diphyllobothrium latum, and one by Dipylidium caninum. Moreover, 29 cases of echinococcosis were also registered. The obtained results confirmed the low frequency of intestinal cestodoses in Poland.     

Immune responses against Toxoplasma and Sarcocystis infections in ruminants: diagnosis and prospects for vaccination

Toxoplasma gondii and a variety of Sarcocystis species are common cyst-forming coccidian parasites of domestic ruminants worldwide. T. gondii infection is a major cause of ovine and caprine abortion and perinatal mortality, but does not appear commonly to cause significant disease in other ruminants. Sarcocystis infections are probably most important in growing ruminants in which they can cause subclinical anaemia and reduced weight gain. The life cycles, pathogenesis and current knowledge of immunity to these protozoa, in ruminants, are reviewed. Although clinical signs may suggest a diagnosis, confirmation requires the use of specific immunological methods such as serology and immunohistochemistry. These are discussed and the necessity for using characterised antigens and antisera is emphasised. Whereas live Toxoplasma "vaccines" may be effective in sheep and goats, the eventual preparation of a killed vaccine capable of inducing long-term protection is of the utmost importance. To achieve this goal it will be necessary to identify the specific antigens capable of stimulating protective immunity and to conduct further research on both the pathogenesis of toxoplasmosis and fundamental aspects of the immune response of pregnant ruminants to T. gondii.     

Vaccines for immunological control of fertility in animals

Fertility control has gained considerable momentum as a management tool to regulate populations of captive and wild animals and to control aggressive behaviour or improve meat quality in livestock. Anti-fertility vaccination (immunocontraception and immunocastration) is a humane alternative to methods that rely on surgical or chemical sterilisation and lethal control. Two types of experimental immunocontraceptive vaccine have been registered for field use in animals. They contain either porcine zona pellucida (PZP) proteins extracted from pig ovaries or synthetic conjugated gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) peptides. These vaccines require repeated injections and are limited to captive or small populations of free-ranging wild animals. Alternative immunocontraceptive vaccines are actively being developed either to improve efficacy or enable large numbers of wild animals to be targeted. Some employ live genetically modified viruses to deliver immunocontraception and have proved successful under laboratory conditions. The relative merits, risks, social acceptability and regulations controlling the use of existing and novel animal immunocontraceptives are reviewed.     

Humans and animals: increasing contacts, increasing infections

Changes in the zoonotic infections that affect Americans stem primarily from shifting patterns of animal-human interaction, the crossover of species-specific organisms, and the importation or identification of new organisms. Although Lyme disease is not, strictly speaking, zoonotic, it leads off this review by virtue of its epidemic or near-epidemic prevalence in many areas.     

Comparison of the immunological memory after DNA vaccination and protein vaccination against anthrax in sheep

Currently available live spore vaccines against anthrax in animals have many drawbacks, one of which is their presumed inability to induce a long lasting immunity. In the present study we compared the immunological memory after a protein vaccination with DNA vaccinations in sheep. The antigen used was the protective antigen (PA83) of Bacillus anthracis. Sheep were vaccinated three times with either PA83 plus alhydrogel, or with one of four different plasmid DNA formulations, which all encoded either the full-length PA83 or its domain 4. Two pDNA formulations included Vaxfectin adjuvant, the other two were injected in PBS without adjuvant. Initially, the antibody titres of protein vaccinated sheep were significantly higher than the titres of pDNA vaccinated sheep. After 5 months, however, the antibody titres of protein vaccinated sheep had dropped remarkably, while the titres of all four pDNA vaccinated groups were either stable or had increased. Humoral responses of sheep immunised with pDNA formulated with Vaxfectin adjuvant were higher than the responses of the corresponding groups that received pDNA in PBS only.     

Consumer attitudes to vaccination of food-producing animals

The 2001 outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the United Kingdom was unprecedented, with the need to develop a vaccination policy at the height of the epidemic. The extent of consumer concerns about eating products derived from vaccinated animals was unknown as survey results were equivocal. A recent survey on avian influenza reveals that the European public are well informed about the disease and its control, but over 50% of respondents would be reluctant to consume meat from vaccinated birds. There is little specific information available on consumer views about routine vaccination for other diseases. Their concerns appear to increase in an emergency situation when there is heightened awareness through the media. With the development of newer types of vaccines consumers will need more assurance about the safety and use of these products. This article examines these issues and makes practical recommendations for ensuring public confidence when emergency vaccination for disease control is proposed.     

Causal relationship between immunological responses and adverse reactions following vaccination

Vaccine adverse events and controversial safety issues have occurred in recent decades in Japan: aseptic meningitis following the measles-mumps-rubella combined vaccine (MMR), anaphylaxis after immunization with live virus vaccines and inactivated split influenza vaccine, an increased incidence of febrile illness following the simultaneous administration of inactivated vaccines, and chronic pain with neurological illness after immunization with the human papilloma virus vaccine (HPV). Vaccine adverse events are a matter of concern for the public as well as general practitioners; some are within the range of assumptions that adverse reactions after live attenuated vaccines are related to the nature of their parental wild-type viruses. Vaccines stimulate the innate immunity of host immunological defense mechanisms and induce the development of specific acquired immunity. Some adverse events related to autoimmune responses have been reported, such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Although a plausible relationship was not demonstrated, the possibility of an association cannot be denied. The pathogenicity of adverse reactions was investigated for anaphylactic reactions, systemic and local reactions following vaccinations. Initial innate immune responses are essential for the development of acquired immunity and are related to adverse events from different viewpoints.     

高压氧对动物免疫功能的影响

目的：探讨高压氧（HBO）对动物免疫功能及I型变态反应的影响。方法：在2ATA高压氧舱内放入实验动物大，小白鼠和家兔5d或10d，测定其细胞免疫和体液免疫功能指标。结果：在2ATA吸99．5％氧气，每日持续2h；连续10d后家兔的末梢T淋巴细胞水平明显下降（P＜0．01），小鼠,抗体形成细胞明显下降，而单核巨噬细胞系统的吞噬功能无明显影响，大鼠同种被动皮肤过敏反应程度呈显著下降，小鼠耳异种被动皮肤过敏反应程度在连续5d HBO时明显下降，连续10d HBO时无明显影响，小鼠肥大细胞体内脱颗粒水平在连续5d,10d HBO后均显著下降（P＜0．01）,结论：高压氧对动物细胞免疫，体液免疫及I型变态反应有一定的抑制 作用。     

衣原体在冷血动物中的自然感染和实验感染

衣原体的温血动物宿主已为人们所熟知,但在冷血动物中的宿主却少受关注.文章特综述在冷血动物中:软体、两栖和爬行动物中的衣原体自然和实验感染的宿主.近年来两栖动物中的衣原体感染,已日渐受到重视,因其在作为传染源和实验感染方面,可能担负重要角色,有其重要意义.     

Trypanosomiasis in domestic animals: the problems of diagnosis

Animal trypanosomiasis presents special problems with regard to diagnosis. The clinical signs are not pathognomonic and the standard techniques for the detection of trypanosomes are not sufficiently sensitive. Although significant improvements have been made in diagnosis, a high proportion of infections still remain undetected as the chronic, more common form of the disease, is often aparasitaemic. In the face of these constraints, alternative methods of diagnosis have been developed, most of which are for the detection of antibody responses to the antigens of the infecting trypanosomes. The most useful of these tests, in view of their sensitivity and specificity, are the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test, enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) and the card agglutination test for trypanosomiasis (CATT) which is used for the diagnosis of Trypanosoma evansi infections. However, there are several shortcomings in antibody detection tests: the antigens used are ill-defined, thus making standardisation of the tests rather difficult with regard to sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, some of the tests are not applicable to the field. Moreover, the presence of antibody in the serum does not necessarily reflect an existing infection, as antibodies may persist for several months following recovery. Recently, development of assays for the detection of circulating trypanosomal antigens in the blood of infected animals has circumvented this problem since antigen-positivity indicates existing infection. These new assays have not yet been fully evaluated in the field, but the data generated so far do indicate that the diagnostic strategy for the future is likely to be a combination of one of the more sensitive standard trypanosome detection techniques with antigen-trapping ELISA.     

Use of vaccination against foot and mouth disease in zoo animals,endangered species and exceptionally valuable animals

A historical review of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in non-domestic species is given and the use of FMD vaccines to protect those species is described. Several non-domestic species are susceptible to FMD. Legislation in many countries, based on the definition of FMD-free status as determined by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE: World organisation for animal health), forms an important barrier against the use of vaccines. National authorities may even feel obliged to slaughter animals of threatened species protected by international agreements during an outbreak of FMD to preserve their FMD-free status. The importance of international breeding programmes for endangered species is forcing the international community to reconsider the role that vaccination against FMD should play in animal health prevention programmes of captive populations. Much research is still required in regard to vaccine types and diagnostic procedures. Species-specific differences in susceptibility to FMD make this a challenging research topic for zoological institutions.