Efficacy of prepartum vaccination against neonatal calf diarrhea in Nelore dams as a prevention measure

Background: Neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD) is the leading cause of calf morbidity and mortality in beef cattle. Cow’s vaccination in last stage of pregnancy is one of the most important measures to mitigate the risk of NCD outbreaks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of prepartum single dose vaccination against NCD, especially Bovine Rotavirus type A (BoRVA) and Bovine Coronavirus (BCoV), in Nelore dams and offspring. A total of 117 pregnant cows (n = 81) and heifers (n = 36) were distributed in two groups, vaccinated (VAC: cows = 40; heifers = 19) and nonvaccinated (NVAC: cows = 41; heifers = 17). Vaccination occurred between 60 to 50 days before the expected calving date with a single dose of a water-in-oil (W/O) vaccine, and NVAC group received a dose of saline solution 0.9%. Blood samples were collected before vaccination and 30 days after to evaluate the antibody (Ab) response. Specific IgG1 Abs against BoRVA and BCoV were measured by using an Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA). Calves’ births were monitored, and the transference of passive immunity was evaluated. Diarrhea was monitored in the first 30 days of age, and fecal samples were collected for identification of the etiological agent. Results: Higher titers of IgG1 Ab against BoRVA and BCoV was observed in the VAC group than NVAC group in the cow (P < 0.0001) and total dams categories (P < 0.0001). The titer of specific IgG1 Abs in the calves’ serum reflected the dams response, observing higher IgG1 Ab titers for BoRVA (P < 0.0016) and BCoV (P < 0.0095) in the offspring born to VAC cows and higher IgG1 Ab titers for BoRVA(P < 0.0171) and BCoV (P < 0.0200) in the offspring born to VAC total dams. The general incidence of diarrhea observed was 18.6% (11/59) and 29.3% (17/58) in the calves born to the VAC and NVAC group, respectively. Conclusions: Prepartum vaccination with a single dose of the vaccine tested increased the titers of IgG1 Ab against BCoV and BoRVA, and it could be used as a preventive strategy to decrease the NCD occurrence in Nelore calves.Instituto de VirologíaFil: Pinheiro, Filipe Aguera. University of São Paulo. College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science. Department of Internal Medicine; BrasilFil: Decaris, Nathália. University of São Paulo. College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science. Department of Internal Medicine; BrasilFil: Parreño, Gladys Viviana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). INCUINTA. Instituto de Virologia e Innovaciones Tecnologicas; ArgentinaFil: Parreño, Gladys Viviana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Brandão, Paulo Eduardo. University of São Paulo. College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science. Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health of Internal Medicine; BrasilFil: Ayres, Henderson. MSD Animal Health; BrasilFil: Gomes, Viviani. University of São Paulo. College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science. Department of Internal Medicine; Brasi

Identifying nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients with active fibrosis by measuring extracellular matrix remodeling rates in tissue and blood.

Excess collagen synthesis (fibrogenesis) in the liver plays a causal role in the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods are needed to identify patients with more rapidly progressing disease and to demonstrate early response to treatment. We describe here a novel method to quantify hepatic fibrogenesis flux rates both directly in liver tissue and noninvasively in blood. Twenty-one patients with suspected NAFLD ingested heavy water (2 H2 O, 50-mL aliquots) two to three times daily for 3-5 weeks prior to a clinically indicated liver biopsy. Liver collagen fractional synthesis rate (FSR) and plasma lumican FSR were measured based on 2 H labeling using tandem mass spectrometry. Patients were classified by histology for fibrosis stage (F0-F4) and as having nonalcoholic fatty liver or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Magnetic resonance elastography measurements of liver stiffness were also performed. Hepatic collagen FSR in NAFLD increased with advancing disease stage (e.g., higher in NASH than nonalcoholic fatty liver, positive correlation with fibrosis score and liver stiffness) and correlated with hemoglobin A1C. In addition, plasma lumican FSR demonstrated a significant correlation with hepatic collagen FSR.ConclusionUsing a well-characterized cohort of patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD, this study demonstrates that hepatic scar in NASH is actively remodeled even in advanced fibrosis, a disease that is generally regarded as static and slowly progressive. Moreover, hepatic collagen FSR correlates with established risks for fibrotic disease progression in NASH, and plasma lumican FSR correlates with hepatic collagen FSR, suggesting applications as direct or surrogate markers, respectively, of hepatic fibrogenesis in humans. (Hepatology 2017;65:78-88)

Classification non supervisée par HMM de sites de fixation de facteurs de transcription chez les bactéries

Colloque avec actes et comité de lecture. nationale.National audienceNous développons des méthodes de fouille de données basées sur l'utilisation de modèles Markoviens du second ordre adaptés à l'étude des génomes. Ceux-ci réalisent une segmentation pouvant être observée sous la forme d'un signal stochastique traduisant l'organisation et la structure des motifs d'ADN sous-jacents. Aucune hypothèse 'a priori' n'est effectuée sur le contenu génétique des séquences étudiées. La modélisation du corpus de séquences est réalisée par une étape d'apprentissage automatique qui produit une classification non supervisée des segments nucléotidiques observés sur les différents états des HMM. Une première étape d'apprentissage sur les séquences chromosomiques complètes des bactéries actinomycètes Streptomyces coelicolor, S. avermitilis et Mycobacterium tuberculosis permet l'obtention de trois classes de HMM décrivant chacune un génome. Lors du processus de segmentation, certaines chaînes d'états cachés décrivent des fragments génomiques comme les gènes et les séquences intergéniques alors qu'une autre chaîne se spécialise sur la distribution de motifs d'ADN locaux particuliers. Ceux-ci correspondent à des mots de 5 à 12 nucléotides présents à des fréquences inhabituelles dans les régions intergéniques. Chez S. coelicolor, la classification de 2500 de ces motifs, issus d'une extraction automatique et identifiés dans 1,2 Mb d'ADN génomique, indique que 7% correspondraient à des sites de fixation de facteurs sigma connus (SigR, SigB, WhiG, HrdB) et 5% à des sites de fixation du ribosome ou des terminateurs de transcription potentiels. Concernant le régulon SigR/SigH (réponse au stress oxydant chez les Streptomyces/M. tuberculosis), la mise en oeuvre de cette approche a permis de détecter tous les promoteurs déjà déterminés biologiquement. Enfin, certains de ces motifs ne peuvent être corrélés à des rôles biologiques connus ou prédits à ce jour. Leur classification pourrait mettre en évidence des groupes à propriétés communes et viserait à définir des motifs promoteurs, puis, à terme, des réseaux de gènes co-régulés

Análise microbiológica de Staphylococcus aureus na feira da Panair, Manaus - AM / Microbiological analysis of Staphylococcus aureus at the fair of Panair, Manaus - AM

A ausência de cuidados durante a cadeia produtiva pode comprometer a qualidade do pescado comercializado. Staphylococcus aureus é uma das principais bactérias patogênicas transmitidas principalmente pela manipulação inadequada, sendo considerado um micro-organismo responsável por grande parte dos surtos de intoxicação alimentar. Neste contexto, essa pesquisa teve como objetivo isolar e identificar Staphylococcus aureus em locais da Feira da Panair, localizada no município de Manaus - AM, e orientar os comerciantes quanto às boas práticas de manipulação de pescado. Foram coletadas amostras biológicas por meio de swabs estéreis, sendo cinco esfregaços das bancadas e cinco esfregaços das mãos dos manipuladores do estabelecimento em questão. Após a coleta, as amostras foram avaliadas quanto à presença bacteriana conforme a Instrução Normativa 62/2003, acrescentando-se o teste de Manitol aos testes complementares. Os resultados evidenciaram que 80% das mãos (4 amostras) e 60% das bancadas (3 amostras) apresentavam contaminação pelo micro-organismo. Em função desses resultados, realizou-se palestra sobre “Boas Práticas de Manipulação de Pescado” aos feirantes. A partir dos dados desse trabalho pode-se afirmar que o S. aureus é uma realidade entre os manipuladores da Feira da Panair, podendo assim contribuir na transmissão de doenças por alimentos (DTA’s). 

Contralateral hyperalgesia and allodynia following intradermal capsaicin injection in man

Objectives. Contralateral responses to unilateral stimuli have been well described in animal models. These range from central sensitization to peripheral inflammatory responses. Our aim was to test for contralateral responses following unilateral intradermal capsaicin injection in man

Sensory nerves have altered function contralateral to a monoarthritis and may contribute to the symmetrical spread of inflammation

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and rat models of RA exhibit symmetrical mirror-image spread. Many studies have sought to understand the underlying mechanisms and have reported contralateral effects that are manifested in many different forms. It is now well accepted that neurogenic mechanisms contribute to the symmetrical spread of inflammation. However, very few investigators have directly assessed changes in contralateral nerve function and there is a paucity of data. In the present study our aim was to investigate whether there are changes, in particular in the nervous system but also in the vascular system contralateral to an inflamed rat knee joint, that might precede overt inflammation and symmetrical spread. Three to five days following Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) injection we found spontaneous antidromic (away from the CNS) activity in the homologous sensory nerve contralateral to the inflamed joint. Antidromic activity of this nature is known to result in the peripheral release of pro-inflammatory and vasoactive neuropeptides. Importantly, this activity was modulated by systemic analgesic treatment. Furthermore, levels of Evans blue dye extravasation were significantly increased in the joint contralateral to inflammation, indicating altered vascular function. These data suggest that contralateral increases in sensory neural activity and vascular function may account for the symmetrical spread of RA, and that early analgesic treatment may prevent or delay the spread of this debilitating disease