First assessment of classical swine fever marker vaccine candidate CP7_E2alf for oral immunization of wild boar under field conditions

Oral vaccination against classical swine fever (CSF) is a potent tool to control disease outbreaks in wild boar. So far, vaccination campaigns have been carried out using live attenuated vaccines that do not allow serological differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA). Although this drawback is acceptable for wild boar, the use of marker vaccines would facilitate studies on disease and vaccination dynamics. Recently, the CSF marker vaccine candidate CP7_E2alf was assessed for oral immunization under laboratory conditions. Promising results prompted efforts to study the vaccine candidate under field conditions and in bait formulation. In this context, two oral vaccination campaigns were carried out with CP7_E2alf bait vaccines in two areas called ‘faunistic-hunting farms’ in the region of Umbria, Italy. One campaign was conducted using single vaccination, the second with the routinely employed double vaccination strategy. Both campaigns were carried out before concerted hunting actions were performed. Bait uptake, vaccine virus detection and antibody responses were assessed along with inspections upon gutting. As a comparator, seven wild boar were hand-fed with baits under laboratory conditions. In the field, bait uptake ranged from 63.7% to 98.7%, whereas antibody prevalence reached only 33.3–35.1%. The marker serology showed a strong influence of sample quality on the test outcome with a total of 85% of samples being classified correctly. Vaccine virus was not detectable. Under hand feeding conditions, six out of seven wild boar took up at least one bait, and five of them showed detectable antibody levels seven weeks after vaccination. These results were supplemented by stability tests. Appropriate stability of vaccine virus was shown both under field and laboratory conditions. In total, most results were in line with our expectations. However, optimization of the DIVA assay has to be attempted in the future.     

野生株肺炎克雷伯杆菌感染致剥脱性皮炎1例

患者男,56岁,全身皮疹伴高热2 d入院,体温持续39℃,躯干和四肢大量疱疹及斑丘疹,右眼结膜充血,有分泌物,舌苔白色假膜;WBC 25.82×10^9/L,CRP 42.11 mg/L,PCT 10.19 ng/mL,CD4值126个/μL,肌酐204μmol/L;CT示:右上中肺薄结节影;腹部MRI示肝结节;口腔白色念珠菌;皮肤病理见真菌孢子;单纯疱疹病毒及肺炎支原体IgM阳性,血和皮肤均培养出野生株肺炎克雷伯菌。诊断:①败血症;②剥脱性皮炎;③口腔及皮肤真菌感染。     

土牛膝治疗急性咽喉炎的实验研究

目的观察土牛膝提取物对大白兔急性咽喉炎的治疗作用。方法将18只大耳白黑眼兔(WHBE)随机分为3组,分别给予相当于临床用药量的10倍、20倍的土牛膝提取液及等体积蒸馏水,连续灌胃7 d,然后建立家兔声带炎症模型,观察、测试各组家兔炎症发生情况。结果各土牛膝剂量组急性咽喉炎好转度好于模型组,且呈明显量效关系。结论土牛膝提取物可以显著抑制家兔急性咽喉炎的症状。     

Reduced Abundance of Nitrate-Reducing Bacteria in the Oral Microbiota of Women with Future Preeclampsia

The oral microbiota can contribute to the regulation of blood pressure by increasing the availability of nitric oxide through the reduction of nitrate to nitrite, which can be converted into nitric oxide in the stomach and then enter the circulation. It is unclear if the composition of the oral microbiota is different between women who do and do not develop preeclampsia. This study aimed to compare the composition of the buccal microbiota just prior to the development of symptoms at 36 weeks gestation in 12 women who developed late-onset preeclampsia and 24 matched women who remained normotensive throughout pregnancy by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The abundance of the nitrate-reducing Veillonella spp V. parvula and V. dispar and a subunit of nitrate reductase narH was compared using real-time PCR. The abundance of bacteria was correlated with maternal blood pressure and dietary intake of nitrate-containing vegetables. The results showed that the abundance of nitrate-reducing bacteria including Veillonella, specifically V. parvula, and Prevotella was reduced in women who developed preeclampsia. Veillonella but not Prevotella abundance was negatively correlated with maternal blood pressure. The dietary intake of nitrate-containing vegetables did not differ between the groups and was not correlated with the abundance of Veillonella. There was no difference in the abundance of the nitrate reductase subunit narH between the groups. These results suggest that the abundance of nitrate-reducing bacteria is reduced in the oral microbiota of women who later develop preeclampsia, indicating a potential pathway for prevention.     

野生与栽培黄芩中总黄酮及黄芩苷含量的比较研究

目的：比较野生黄芩与栽培黄芩中总黄酮及黄芩苷的含量。方法：采用紫外分光光度法测定黄芩中总黄酮的含量,采用高效液相色谱法测定黄芩苷的含量,比较野生黄芩与人工栽培黄芩中总黄酮及黄芩苷含量的差异。结果：野生黄芩总黄酮的含量为16.31±2.91%,栽培黄芩总黄酮的含量为25.60±3.03%,存在显著性差异（P=0.005）;野生黄芩黄芩苷的含量为8.46±1.23%,栽培黄芩黄芩苷的含量为11.66±1.36%,存在显著性差异（P=0.016）。栽培黄芩总黄酮和黄芩苷的含量显著高于野生黄芩。结论：从总黄酮和黄芩苷含量角度而言,栽培黄芩优于野生黄芩,可以替代野生黄芩用于临床和实际应用。     

First report of wild boar susceptibility to Porcine circovirus type 3: High prevalence in the Colli Euganei Regional Park (Italy) in the absence of clinical signs

The genus Circovirus includes one of the most relevant infectious agents affecting domestic pigs, Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV ‐2). The wild boar susceptibility to this pathogen has also been demonstrated although the actual epidemiological role of wild populations is still debated. In recent times, a new circovirus, Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV ‐3), has been discovered and reported in the presence of several clinical conditions. However, no information is currently available about PCV ‐3 circulation and prevalence in wild boar. To fill this gap, 187 wild boar serum samples were collected in the Colli Euganei Regional Park (Northern Italy) and screened for PCV ‐3, demonstrating a high viral prevalence (approximately 30%). No gender differences were demonstrated while a lower infection prevalence was observed in animals younger than 12 months compared to older ones, differently from what described in commercial pigs. Almost all sampled animals were in good health conditions and no association was proven between PCV ‐3 status and clinical syndromes in wild animals. The genetic characterization of selected strains enlightened a relevant variability and the absence of closely related strains originating from domestic pigs. Therefore, the observed scenario is suggestive of multiple introductions from other wild or domestic swine populations followed by prolonged circulation and independent evolution. Worldwide, this study reports for the first time the high susceptibility of the wild boar to PCV ‐3 infection. The high prevalence and the absence of association with clinical signs support the marginal role of this virus in the wild boar population ecology. However, its epidemiological role as reservoir endangering commercial swine cannot be excluded and will require further investigations.     

Rising level of arsenic in water and fodder: a growing threat to livestock and human populations in Pakistan

Arsenic (As) is considered to be one of the top environmental contaminants of concern worldwide. In many regions in Pakistan, there are reports of increased levels of As in the environment, and this metalloid remains a major source of contamination of soil, water and fodder. This pathway of exposure has emerged as a new threat for both wildlife and the surrounding human communities because of the mobilization and accumulation of As via the food chain. The objective of this critical review is to synthesize historical information about As levels in the environmental resources of Pakistan to better characterize the risk to livestock and humans in the region. The South Punjab and Sindh are the dominant areas which are reported to contain the highest As contamination compared to other regions. This is a concern as millions of animals as well as the human population are facing significant health issues due to As. For example, some of the population of Sindh province are potentially faced with As levels ～10–50?μg/L in drinking water, which is well above safe drinking limits of 10?μg/L outlined by the World Health Organization. These collective data on As are anticipated to be a useful source of information for decisions by the environmental protection agency in Pakistan regarding the adoption of preventive measures against its adverse impacts and toxicity.