Schmallenberg Virus Circulation in Culicoides in Belgium in 2012: Field Validation of a Real Time RT-PCR Approach to Assess Virus Replication and Dissemination in Midges

&lt;p&gt;Indigenous Culicoides biting midges are suggested to be putative vectors for the recently emerged Schmallenberg virus (SBV) based on SBV RNA detection in field-caught midges. Furthermore, SBV replication and dissemination has been evidenced in C. sonorensis under laboratory conditions. After SBV had been detected in Culicoides biting midges from Belgium in August 2011, it spread all over the country by the end of 2011, as evidenced by very high between-herd seroprevalence rates in sheep and cattle. This study investigated if a renewed SBV circulation in midges occurred in 2012 in the context of high seroprevalence in the animal host population and evaluated if a recently proposed realtime RT-PCR approach that is meant to allow assessing the vector competence of Culicoides for SBV and bluetongue virus under laboratory conditions was applicable to field-caught midges. Therefore midges caught with 12 OVI traps in four different regions in Belgium between May and November 2012, were morphologically identified, age graded, pooled and tested for the presence of SBV RNA by realtime RT-PCR. The results demonstrate that although no SBV could be detected in nulliparous midges caught in May 2012, a renewed but short lived circulation of SBV in parous midges belonging to the subgenus Avaritia occured in August 2012 at all four regions. The infection prevalence reached up to 2.86% in the south of Belgium, the region where a lower seroprevalence was found at the end of 2011 than in the rest of the country. Furthermore, a frequency analysis of the Ct values obtained for 31 SBV-S segment positive pools of Avaritia midges showed a clear bimodal distribution with peaks of Ct values between 21-24 and 33-36. This closely resembles the laboratory results obtained for SBV infection of C. sonorensis and implicates indigenous midges belonging to the subgenus Avaritia as competent vectors for SBV.&lt;/p&gt;</p

Longitudinal monitoring of Culicoides in Belgium between 2007 and 2011: local variation in population dynamics parameters warrant cautious use of monitoring data.

&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;BACKGROUND: &lt;/b&gt;Several European countries suffered important economic losses during the past decade due to the emergence of bluetongue and Schmallenberg viruses. Both are viruses of veterinary importance and are spread by Culicoides spp. This triggered many European countries to start Culicoides population monitoring. Recently a one year monitoring study at 16 sites in Belgium revealed that important variation existed in Culicoides abundance and species diversity between collection sites. In order to analyze whether this variation is consistent over years, a detailed analysis of monitoring data collected at seven locations in Belgium between 2007 and 2011 was performed in this study. At all locations, biting midges were collected with OVI black light traps set-up in close proximity to livestock.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;RESULTS: &lt;/b&gt;In total, 42 different Culicoides species were morphologically identified. Species of the subgenus Avaritia represented 83% of all collected midges. Nevertheless, important differences in species composition were found between sites. Furthermore, statistical differences between sites were found for the total and maximum annual abundance, showing that a consistent higher or lower number of Culicoides could be collected depending on the selected collection site. Yearly, up to 16 and 30-fold differences in total and maximum annual abundances between sites, respectively, were found. Also the month in which most Culicoides were collected varied greatly between years, both at local (from May to October) and country level [May (2008), June (2010), July (2009), August (2011), October (2007)]. Finally, the average vector-free period over all sites and years was 173 days and could roughly be defined between November and the end of April. Interestingly, important yearly variations of up to two months in the duration of the vector-free period were found between the studied collection sites. In contrast to the abundance parameters, no specific sites could however be identified where monitoring consistently showed shorter or longer vector-free periods.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;CONCLUSIONS: &lt;/b&gt;In conclusion, our results show that the selection of collection sites for Culicoides monitoring, even in a small country such as Belgium, strongly influences abundance parameters and that yearly variation in seasonality occurs. This emphasizes that care should be taken when using such parameters in risk assessments for transmission of Culicoides-borne diseases and that more clear and strict guidelines for Culicoides monitoring should be considered when monitoring data are used for legislative purposes.&lt;/p&gt;</p

Culicoides trapping with Rothamsted suction traps before and during the bluetongue epidemic of 2006 in Belgium.

The collection of biting midges was taking place some months before the first bluetongue outbreak in Belgium in August 2006. The Walloon Agricultural Research Centre had been monitoring aphid populations at two sites annually in Belgium (Gembloux and Libramont), using two stationary '12-m' Rothamsted suction traps. For the Gembloux trap, collections of insects captured daily from 11 May 2006 onwards were already available at the time of the outbreak. An examination of these samples revealed the presence of Culicoides, some species of which are considered as potential vectors of the bluetongue virus (BTV). The trapping was therefore extended beyond the normal aphid activity period and the Culicoides captured were identified to species level. From 11 May to 31 December 2006, the Gembloux trap caught 664 Culicoides specimens belonging to 19 species comprising known BTV-vectors. The second trap, at Libramont, was reactivated from 12 September to 13 October and caught 97 specimens belonging to nine species, all of which had been found at the Gembloux site. Among the 19 species identified, four were new to Belgian fauna: Culicoides achrayi, C. deltus, C. lupicaris and C. newsteadi. This paper examines the overall phenology and the physiological status of Culicoides in 2006 before and during the bluetongue epidemic. It discusses the potential of the Rothamsted suction trap to monitor Culicoides

99mTc rh-Annexin V (ApomateTM) as a marker of apoptosis resulting from chemotherapy : preliminary results.

peer reviewe

[Diffuse large B cell lymphoma: management in 2012].

Diffuse Large B Cells Lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma and comprises a large number of different entities with different clinico-pathological characteristics. The role of positron emission tomography is essential during the initial staging and post treatment assessment, and potentially at early- or mid-treatment evaluation of response. First line therapy comprises immuno-chemotherapy with rituximab and different cytotoxic agents that differ for components, dosages and frequency of administration taking worldwide-recognized pre-treatment prognostic variables into account. After relapse, peripheral blood stem cells transplantation remains the only chance of cure. This review attempts to summarize the current state of our knowledge by highlighting the leads pursued to further improve current therapeutic results

Ecologie et distribution des espèces de Culicoides Latreille 1809 (Diptera : Ceratopogonidae) à proximité d’une exploitation bovine en Belgique

peer reviewedBluetongue is a non-contagious disease that affects domestic and wild ruminants. Since its spreading to Northern Europe in 2006, this viral epizooty caused considerable economical losses on the ovine and bovine livestock. The biological vectors of the bluetongue virus (BTV) are biting midges belonging to the genus Culicoides. Many elements still remain unknown about their biology, physiology, ecology and distribution. This study shows that these biting midges are much more abundant on farm level than in the nearby meadows; these last ones nevertheless present a much more specifi c diversity. So possibility of migration between the meadow and the farm is voiced for the C. chiopterus and C. dewulfi species. Females are much more represented than males for the farm and the meadow alike. The physiology observation of these ones is realized throughout the study

Lansoprazole 15 mg OD is superior to ranitidine 300 mg OD in relieving heartburn and healing patients with (endoscopically confirmed) reflux oesophagitis grade I

L'inhibition de la sécrétion acide est un objectif important pour traiter les œsophagites. Les inhibiteurs de la pompe à proton suppriment la sécrétion acide plus efficacement que les antagonistes des récepteurs H2. Objectifs: Comparer le taux de cicatrisation endoscopique, le soulagement des symptômes et la tolérance du lansoprazole 15 mg OD par rapport à la ranitidine 300 mg OD dans le traitement de l'oesophagite de reflux de grade I. Patients: 185 patients, présentant une oesophagite de grade I, ont été randomisés pour recevoir du lansoprazole 15 mg « double-dummy », en double-aveugle (n = 91) ou de la ranitidine 300 mg (n = 94) pour une période allant jusqu'à 8 semaines. Méthodes: Les symptômes ont été évalués après 1, 4 et 8 semaines. La cicatrisation était évaluée par endoscopie à 4 ou 8 semaines. Résultats: Le taux de cicatrisation endoscopique à la semaine 4 dans le groupe des patients traités par lansoprazole (79,3 %) était sensiblement plus haut par rapport à celui observé dans le groupe de ranitidine (42,5 %). Après 2 mois, les taux curatifs cumulatifs étaient 89,0 % et 58,6 % respectivement. A la semaine 4, le pyrosis avait disparu pour 76,2 % dans le groupe lansoprazole et pour 38,4 % dans le groupe ranitidine. Moins d'antiacides ont été employés dans le bras lansoprazole. On n'a observé aucune différence en terme de tolérance. Conclusions: Lansoprazole 15 mg OD est significativement plus efficace que ranitidine 300 mg OD pour soulager le pyrosis et montre des taux de cicatrisation supérieurs dans l'oesophagite de grade I dans les 2 mois de traitement

Herpes Simplex Virus Type-I and Pyogenic Granuloma: A Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Mediated Association

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-related neoangiogenic process. Minor trauma, chronic irritation, certain drugs and pregnancy may favor PG. Viral triggers have not been reported up to date. A 52-year-old woman with hairy-cell leukemia presented because of a 3-month history of a giant pseudotumoral lesion on her left cheek. All prior antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory treatments had failed. Histology revealed PG with sparse and isolated epithelial cell aggregates. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) identified herpes simplex virus type-I (HSV-I) antigens in the nuclei and cytoplasm of normal-appearing as well as cytopathic epithelial cells, suggesting a chronic, low-productive HSV infection. No HSV-I signal was evidenced in the endothelial cells of the PG. Furthermore, IHC revealed VEGF in the HSV-I infected epithelial cells as well as within the PG endothelial cells. These results incited oral treatment with valaciclovir, and the PG promptly resolved after 2 weeks. These findings suggest that a chronic HSV-I infection might play an indirect, partial role in neoangiogenesis, presumably via HSV-I infection-related stimulation of keratinocytic VEGF production