Virological and clinico-pathological features of orf virus infection in experimentally infected rabbits and mice

Many aspects of the biology of orf virus (ORFV) infection remain poorly understood and attempts to establish animal models have yielded conflicting and non-reproducible results. We herein describe the characterization of ORFV infection and disease in rabbits and mice. A protocol of intradermal inoculation was employed to inoculate 10^8.5TCID₅₀/mL of ORFV strain IA-82 in the skin of ears, of the back and labial commissures. All inoculated rabbits presented a clinical course characterized by erythema, macules, papules/vesicles or pustules that eventually dried originating scabs. Local signs started around days 3 and 4 post-inoculation (pi) and lasted 3–10 days. Virus was recovered from lesions between days 2 and 14pi. Histological examination of lesions revealed focal proliferative dermatitis with ballooning degeneration and eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in keratinocytes, histological hallmarks of contagious ecthyma in sheep. A similar, albeit milder clinical course occurred in 5/10 inoculated mice; virus was recovered from lesions from three animals. Inoculated lambs – used as controls – developed severe lesions of contagious ecthyma. VN tests performed at day 28pi failed to detect neutralizing antibodies in all inoculated animals. In contrast, convalescent rabbit sera were positive by ELISA at dilutions from 100 to 400. These results show that rabbits are susceptible to ORFV infection and thus may be used to study selected aspects of ORFV biology.     

Orf virus infection

Orf virus (ORFV) is an important pathogen responsible for a highly contagious zoonotic viral infection that threatens those who handle sheep and goats. Orf virus is the prototype of the Parapoxvirus genus, and its resilience in the environment and ability to reinfect its host has contributed to the spread and maintenance of the infection in many species. In healthy humans, the disease usually resolves spontaneously within 3 to 6 weeks. There is no specific treatment and many different approaches such as use of imiquimod, cidofovir, curettage, shave excision, cryotherapy, and electrocautery have all been reported to be successful, without supporting evidence from controlled clinical trials. Throughout its interaction with the different hosts, ORFV has evolved a strategy for immune evasion via the development of an array of virulence factors. The interaction of ORFV with the immune system has been the subject of research for decades. Whole inactivated ORFV has been used as a type of immunomodulating drug; a so called paramunity inducer proposed as both a preventative and a therapeutic immunomodulator across various species. Additional research on the remarkable strategies underlying ORFV infection could lead to improved understanding of skin immunity.     

中医治疗联合介入手术治疗下肢深静脉血栓形成后综合征的临床疗效

目的:观察中医治疗联合介入手术治疗下肢深静脉血栓形成后综合征的临床疗效。方法:回顾性分析2016 年1月—2019 年1 月我院收治的下肢深静脉血栓形成后综合征患者60 例,其中治疗组30 例患者应用中医治疗+ 介入手术,对照组30 例应用非中医治疗+ 介入手术。结果:术后3 个月,治疗组患者创面痊愈率为86.7%,大于对照组的60%,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05),治疗组总有效率为96.7%,与对照组的90% 差异无统计学意义(P >0.05)。治疗组患者在治疗后3、12 个月的Villalta 评分均低于对照组(P <0.05) ;治疗组3 个月时血管通畅率为93.3%,与对照组的90% 差异无统计学意义(P >0.05),治疗组12 个月的血管通畅率为80%,优于对照组的55.2%,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05)。治疗组的创面愈合时间为40(15)天,明显短于对照组的55(35)天,差异有统计学意义(χ2=7.215,P =0.007)。结论:中医治疗联合介入手术治疗下肢深静脉血栓形成后综合征安全有效。     

Molecular diagnostics of parapox virus infections

Background: The diagnosis of parapox virus infections relies primarily on a history of contact with infected animals. The clinical presentation is usually a non‐specific necrotic ulcer. The histology may also be non‐specific, especially with older lesions. Negative‐staining electron microscopy (EM) is a fast and reliable diagnostic tool, but is not widely available. Serological tests and the time‐consuming viral culture are also rarely used in Europe. Patients and methods: The diagnostic procedure in two patients with ecthyma contagiosum and milker's nodule using polymerase chain reaction specific for orthopox, parapox and Orf virus is explained. Diagnostics included bacterial culture, viral culture, histology and EM. In addition to these, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed in both cases. Results: The patient with ecthyma contagiosum was negative for ortho‐, parapox‐, and orf‐virus on PCR, whereas the patient with milker's nodule had a PCR positive for parapoxvirus. Conclusions: PCR is a simple, fast, and standardized method of diagnosis that can distinguish between the subgroups of parapoxviruses. A diagnosis can be made even in cases of ambiguous history or unspecific clinical presentation. The method is limited by the necessity to sample native material or to use neutrally buffered formalin in case of PCR from paraffin material.     

红光照射联合去腐生新膏治疗气虚血瘀型臁疮的临床效果

目的：观察应用红光照射治疗联合去腐生新膏外用治疗气虚血瘀型臁疮的临床疗效。方法：选取64例臁疮患者,中医证属气虚血瘀型,采用随机数字表法分为试验组和对照组,每组32例。两组入院后均行清创治疗,清创后两组均采用红光照射治疗,其中试验组配合外用去腐生新膏,对照组配合外用重组人碱性成纤维生长因子凝胶。比较治疗后两组患肢临床疗效(疼痛、肿胀、溃疡面积、溃疡深度、创面愈合率、愈合时间)、创面愈合相关因素[创面细菌阳性率、患肢经皮氧分压(tcpO₂)、皮肤不良反应率]、血清炎症及相关细胞因子[C反应蛋白(CRP)、白细胞介素(IL-6)、血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)]。结果：治疗后两组临床疗效指标(疼痛、肿胀、溃疡面积、溃疡深度、创面愈合率、愈合时间)及tcpO₂、CRP、IL-6、VEGF指标均较前改善。试验组治疗7 d后疼痛、肿胀缓解情况均优于对照组(P <0.05);治疗14 d后肿胀、CRP较对照组改善(P <0.05),溃疡面积、溃疡深度、tcpO₂、IL-6、VEGF较对照组明显改善(P <0.01)。...