Genetic Analysis of Feline Calicivirus (FCV) Isolates Associated with a Hemorrhagic-like Disease

Feline Calicivirus (FCV) is one of the most common causes of upperrespiratory tract disease in cats. Other disease syndromes associated withFCV infection have been reported. Recently, calicivirus infectionsassociated with a hemorrhagic-like disease leading to significant mortality incats has been reported. The clinical signs are similar to those observed withthe Calicivirus of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease. This investigationcharacterized two FCV isolates associated with hemorrhagic-like disease.Nucleotide sequencing of the complete genome was done on these twoisolates and four isolates representing other disease syndromes. Previouslyreported sequence data for the entire genome of classical FCV (six isolates)and a portion of the capsid gene for hemorrhagic-like FCV (three isolates)were used in the genetic analysis. Sequence data were used to determinerelationships among the isolates and any correlates with phenotype.Nucleotide sequence comparisons of the entire genome and individualORF’s revealed high homology among all isolates. However, data from thisstudy suggest that the virulence may have genetic determinants as revealedby phylogenetic clustering based on a specific 75 nucleotides stretch from the capsid protein gene of the isolates associated with hemorrhagic-likedisease

The Impact of ASYCUDA System Implementation on the Performance of the Sudanese Customs Authority: An Evaluation Study

This study examines the impact of the ASYCUDA system on the performance of the Sudanese Customs Authority. A quantitative research design was used, and data were collected through a questionnaire from 24 customs officials. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including chi-square and paired samples t-test, were used to analyze the data. The results suggest that the ASYCUDA system has positively influenced the performance of the Sudanese Customs Authority, and customs officials are satisfied with its implementation. The study concludes that the ASYCUDA system can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Sudanese Customs Authority and has important implications for policymakers and practitioners in the field of customs management. Keywords:ASYCUDA system, Sudanese Customs Authority, evaluation study, gender, chi-square test, paired samples t-test. DOI: 10.7176/JAAS/82-02 Publication date:July 31st 202

A multi-national European cross-sectional study of feline calicivirus epidemiology, diversity and vaccine cross-reactivity

Background Feline calicivirus (FCV) is an important pathogen of cats for which vaccination is regularly practised. Long-term use of established vaccine antigens raises the theoretical possibility that field viruses could become resistant. This study aimed to assess the current ability of the FCV-F9 vaccine strain to neutralise a randomly collected contemporary panel of FCV field strains collected prospectively in six European countries. Methods Veterinary practices (64) were randomly selected from six countries (UK, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, France and Italy). Oropharyngeal swabs were requested from 30 (UK) and 40 (other countries) cats attending each practice. Presence of FCV was determined by virus isolation, and risk factors for FCV shedding assessed by multivariable logistic regression. Phylogenetic analyses were used to describe the FCV population structure. In vitro virus neutralisation assays were performed to evaluate FCV-F9 cross-reactivity using plasma from four vaccinated cats. Results The overall prevalence of FCV was 9.2%. Risk factors positively associated with FCV shedding included multi-cat households, chronic gingivostomatitis, younger age, not being neutered, as well as residing in certain countries. Phylogenetic analysis showed extensive variability and no countrywide clusters. Despite being first isolated in the 1950s, FCV-F9 clustered with contemporary field isolates. Plasma raised to FCV-F9 neutralized 97% of tested isolates (titres 1:4 to 1:5792), with 26.5%, 35.7% and 50% of isolates being neutralized by 5, 10 and 20 antibody units respectively. Conclusions This study represents the largest prospective analysis of FCV diversity and antigenic cross-reactivity at a European level. The scale and random nature of sampling used gives confidence that the FCV isolates used are broadly representative of FCVs that cats are exposed to in these countries. The in vitro neutralisation results suggest that antibodies raised to FCV-F9 remain broadly cross-reactive to contemporary FCV isolates across the European countries sampled

Regulatory expression of uncoupling protein 1 and its related genes by endogenous activity of the transforming growth factor‐β family in bovine myogenic cells

Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is responsible for non-shivering thermogenesis, with restricted expression in brown/beige adipocytes in humans and rodents. We have previously shown an unexpected expression of UCP1 in bovine skeletal muscles. This study evaluated factors affecting Ucp1 gene expression in cultured bovine myogenic cells. Myosatellite cells, which were isolated from the bovine musculus longissimus cervicis, were induced to differentiate into myotubes in the presence of 2% horse serum. Previous studies using murine brown/beige adipocytes revealed that Ucp1 expression levels are directly increased by forskolin and all-trans retinoic acid (RA). The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/activin pathway negatively regulated Ucp1 expression, whereas activation of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway indirectly increases Ucp1 expression through the stimulation of brown/beige adipogenesis. Neither forskolin nor RA significantly affected Ucp1 mRNA levels in bovine myogenic cells. A-83-01, an inhibitor of the TGF-β/activin pathway, stimulated myogenesis in these cells. A-83-01 significantly increased the expression of some brown fat signature genes such as Pgc-1α, Cox7a1, and Dio2, with a quantitative but not significant increase in the expression of Ucp1. Treatment with LDN-193189, an inhibitor of the BMP pathway, did not affect the differentiation of bovine myosatellite cells. Rather, LDN-193189 increased Ucp1 mRNA levels without modulating the levels of other brown/beige adipocyte-related genes. The current results indicate that the regulation of Ucp1 expression in bovine myogenic cells is distinct from that in murine brown/beige adipocytes, which has been more intensely characterized

Influenza Virus A (H1N1) in Giant Anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)

In February 2007, an outbreak of respiratory disease occurred in a group of giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) at the Nashville Zoo. Isolates from 2 affected animals were identified in March 2007 as a type A influenza virus related to human influenza subtype H1N1

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Effects of retinoic acid and hydrogen peroxide on sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1a activation during adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells

Both retinoic acid (RA) and oxidative stress (H2O2) increased transcription and cleavage of membrane-bound sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1, leading to enhanced transcription of fatty acid synthase (FAS) in hepatoma cells. On the other hand, RA and H2O2 decreased and increased lipogenesis in adipocytes, respectively, although roles of SREBP-1 activation in these effects remain to be elucidated. To elucidate its involvement, we examined the activation of SREBP-1a, expression of FAS genes and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells in the presence of RA and/or H2O2. RA (1 μM) treatment suppressed expression of SREBP-1a and FAS genes and lipid accumulation. H2O2 (2 μM) treatment induced increased cleavage of SREBP-1a, without affecting amounts of SREBP-1a mRNA and precursor protein, and enhanced expression of FAS gene and lipid accumulation. Increased cleavage of SREBP-1a by H2O2 was also observed even in the presence of RA. These results suggest that H2O2 enhances a cleavage of SREBP-1a precursor protein, which independently occurs with the RA suppression of SREBP-1a gene expression, and that RA itself has no role in the SREBP-1a activation in adipocytes