Mapping geographical areas at risk for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) by analysing bulk tank milk from Swedish dairy cattle herds for the presence of TBE virus-specific antibodies

Background The vector-borne human viral zoonosis tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is of growing concern in Sweden. The area where TBE is considered endemic has expanded, with an increasing geographical distribution of Ixodes ricinus as the tick vector and a rising number of reported TBE cases in humans. Efforts to map TBE risk areas have been carried out by sentinel monitoring, mainly based on individual sampling and analysis of wild and domestic animals, as well as ticks, for tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). However, the interpretation of the geographical distribution has been hampered by the patchy and focal nature of TBEV occurrence. This study presents TBEV surveillance data based on antibody analysis of bulk tank milk collected from dairy herds located throughout Sweden before (May) and after (November) the vector season. A commercial TBEV antibody ELISA was modified and evaluated for use in this study. Results The initial comparative TBEV antibody analysis revealed a good correlation between milk and serum antibody levels from individually sampled cows. Also, the TBEV-antibody levels for the mean-herd serum showed good comparability with TBEV antibody levels from bulk tank milk, thus indicating good predictability of seroprevalence when analysing bulk tank milk from a herd. Analyses of bulk tank milk samples collected from 616 herds in May and 560 herds in November showed a geographical distribution of TBEV seropositive herds that was largely consistent with reported human TBE cases. A few TBEV-reactive herds were also found outside known locations of human TBE cases. Conclusion Serological examination of bulk tank milk from dairy cattle herds may be a useful sentinel surveillance method to identify geographical presence of TBEV. In contrast to individual sampling this method allows a large number of animals to be monitored. TBEV seropositive herds were mainly found in coastal areas of southern Sweden similar to human TBE cases. However, some antibody-reactive herds were found outside known TBE areas at the time of the study

Evaluating the potential of whole-genome sequencing for tracing transmission routes in experimental infections and natural outbreaks of bovine respiratory syncytial virus

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is a major cause of respiratory disease in cattle. Genomic sequencing can resolve phylogenetic relationships between virus populations, which can be used to infer transmission routes and potentially inform the design of biosecurity measures. Sequencing of short

Screening antivirals with a mCherry-expressing recombinant bovine respiratory syncytial virus: a proof of concept using cyclopamine

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is a pathogenic pneumovirus and a major cause of acute respiratory infections in calves. Although different vaccines are available against BRSV, their efficiency remains limited, and no efficient and large-scale treatment exists. Here, we developed a new reverse genetics system for BRSV expressing the red fluorescent protein mCherry, based on a field strain isolated from a sick calf in Sweden. Although this recombinant fluorescent virus replicated slightly less efficiently compared to the wild type virus, both viruses were shown to be sensitive to the natural steroidal alkaloid cyclopamine, which was previously shown to inhibit human RSV replication. Our data thus point to the potential of this recombinant fluorescent BRSV as a powerful tool in preclinical drug discovery to enable high throughput compound screening

Longitudinal study of the immune response and memory following natural bovine respiratory syncytial virus infections in cattle of different age

Human and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV and BRSV) are closely genetically related and cause respiratory disease in their respective host. Whereas HRSV vaccines are still under development, a multitude of BRSV vaccines are used to reduce clinical signs. To enable the design of vaccination protocols to entirely stop virus circulation, we aimed to investigate the duration, character and efficacy of the immune responses induced by natural infections. The systemic humoral immunity was monitored every two months during two years in 33 dairy cattle in different age cohorts following a natural BRSV outbreak, and again in selected individuals before and after a second outbreak, four years later. Local humoral and systemic cellular responses were also monitored, although less extensively. Based on clinical observations and economic losses linked to decreased milk production, the outbreaks were classified as moderate. Following the first outbreak, most but not all animals developed neutralising antibody responses, BRSV-specific IgG1, IgG2 and HRSV F- and HRSV N-reactive responses that lasted at least two years, and in some cases at least four years. In contrast, no systemic T cell responses were detected and only weak IgA responses were detected in some animals. Seronegative sentinels remained negative, inferring that no new infections occurred between the outbreaks. During the second outbreak, reinfections with clinical signs and virus shedding occurred, but the signs were milder, and the virus shedding was significantly lower than in naïve animals. Whereas the primary infection induced similar antibody titres against the prefusion and the post fusion form of the BRSV F protein, memory responses were significantly stronger against prefusion F. In conclusion, even if natural infections induce a long-lasting immunity, it would probably be necessary to boost memory responses between outbreaks, to stop the circulation of the virus and limit the potential role of previously infected adult cattle in the chain of BRSV transmission

Enhanced Pathogenesis Caused by Influenza D Virus and Mycoplasma bovis Coinfection in Calves: a Disease Severity Linked with Overexpression of IFN-gamma as a Key Player of the Enhanced Innate Immune Response in Lungs

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a major disease of young cattle whose etiology lies in complex interactions between pathogens and environmental and host factors. Despite a high frequency of codetection of respiratory pathogens in BRD, data on the molecular mechanisms and pathogenesis associated with viral and bacterial interactions are still limited. In this study, we investigated the effects of a coinfection with influenza D virus (IDV) and Mycoplasma bovis in cattle. Naive calves were infected by aerosol with a French IDV strain and an M. bovis strain. The combined infection shortened the incubation period, worsened the disease, and led to more severe macroscopic and microscopic lesions compared to these parameters in calves infected with only one pathogen. In addition, IDV promoted colonization of the lower respiratory tract (LRT) by M. bovis and increased white cell recruitment to the airway lumen. The transcriptomic analysis highlighted an upregulation of immune genes in the lungs of coinfected calves. The gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) gene was shown to be the gene most statistically overexpressed after coinfection at 2 days postinfection (dpi) and at least until 7 dpi, which correlated with the high level of lymphocytes in the LRT. Downregulation of the PACE4 and TMPRSS2 endoprotease genes was also highlighted, being a possible reason for the faster clearance of IDV in the lungs of coinfected animals. Taken together, our coinfection model with two respiratory pathogens that when present alone induce moderate clinical signs of disease was shown to increase the severity of the disease in young cattle and a strong transcriptomic innate immune response in the LRT, especially for IFN-gamma.IMPORTANCE Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is among the most prevalent diseases in young cattle. BRD is due to complex interactions between viruses and/or bacteria, most of which have a moderate individual pathogenicity. In this study, we showed that coinfection with influenza D virus (IDV) and Mycoplasma bovis increased the severity of the respiratory disease in calves in comparison with IDV or M. bovis infection. IDV promoted M. bovis colonization of the lower respiratory tract and increased white cell recruitment to the airway lumen. The transcriptomic analysis highlighted an upregulation of immune genes in the lungs of coinfected calves. The IFN-gamma gene in particular was highly overexpressed after coinfection, correlated with the disease severity, immune response, and white cell recruitment in the lungs. In conclusion, we showed that IDV facilitates coinfections within the BRD complex by modulating the local innate immune response, providing new insights into the mechanisms involved in severe respiratory diseases

Proteome analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage from calves infected with bovine respiratory syncytial virus-Insights in pathogenesis and perspectives for new treatments

Human and bovine respiratory syncytial viruses (HRSV/BRSV) are major causes of severe lower respiratory tract infections in children and calves, respectively. Shared epidemiological, clinical, pathological and genetic characteristics of these viruses make comparative research highly relevant. To characterise the host response against BRSV infection, bronchoalveolar lavage supernatant (BAL) from i) non-vaccinated, BRSV-infected ii) vaccinated, BRSV-infected and iii) non-infected calves was analysed by tandem mass spectrometry. Proteins were semi-quantified and protein expression was validated by immunoblotting. Correlations between selected proteins and pathology, clinical signs and virus shedding were investigated. Calves with BRSV-induced disease had increased total protein concentrations and a decreased number of proteins identified in BAL. The protein profile was characterised by neutrophil activation and a reduction in identified antioxidant enzymes. The presence of neutrophils in alveolar septa, the expression level of neutrophil-related or antioxidant proteins and LZTFL1 correlated significantly with disease. Citrullinated histone 3, an indicator of extracellular traps (ETs), was only detected in non-vaccinated, BRSV-infected animals. By bringing disequilibrium in the release and detoxification of reactive oxygen species, generating ETs and causing elastine degradation, exaggerated neutrophil responses might exacerbate RSV-induced disease. Neutrophil-mitigating or antioxidant treatments should be further explored

Earthlings : Considering the Status of Animals in Sweden

Animal welfare is a topic subjected to great controversy, mostly within moral philosophy. The moral issue of human behaviour is often dealt with, alongside whether nonhuman animals are eligible certain rights. In our world, how humans behave towards nonhuman animals have fallen into something of political oblivion, which is the departure-point for this research. The essay’s discourse surrounds nonhuman animals’ political and moral status in Sweden, with the aim of drawing conclusions regarding whether they can be said to possess it. This is done through an analysis of ideas, using dimensions as tools, problematizing the Swedish parliamentary parties' views on animal welfare. A better understanding for nonhuman animals’ situation in Sweden has been provided, showing that there is no animal rights mentality tangible, while speciesist and utilitarian attitudes towards nonhuman animals dominate. The analysis show that nonhuman animals in Sweden possess moral status, as the parties agree that nonhuman animals should be spared from unnecessary suffering, and their welfare seems to count in its own right. However, human interests tend to take precedence in most cases, and in the end, nonhuman animals cannot be considered to possess any political status, despite their unmistakable presence in our society.

At the Feet of Giants: Compatibilities (or lack thereof) between Global Visions and Local Conditions : A Field Study on Environmental Education │ Lichinga, Mozambique

The demands on our environment have reached vast levels, and climate change is often seen as the world’s most pressing challenge, hindering some countries from achieving sustainable development in the future. Low-developed countries, such as Mozambique, are those often viewed as most likely to suffer the most from consequences of environmental degradation, and global actors, such as United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), have emphasized the need for environmental education (EE) that can equip and mobilize people, especially youth, for the right kind of change. There is little known, however, of how suitable these global ideas are at the local level in a country like Mozambique, with various environmental problems and a large youth population.With this problem in mind, this study aims to increase the understanding of how the global indicators for EE are reflected in national policy and local practice. The intention is to compare the global, national and local indicators and identify possible gaps and similarities, and draw conclusions about compatibilities between the global and most local level. Thus, a three-week field study in Lichinga Municipality, in northern Mozambique was undertaken. Empirical field data was mostly gathered through semi-structured interviews and direct observations. In order to understand potential compatibilities between the global and local level, a comparative analytical approach based on an inductive mode of inference was applied, contrasting the indicators’ main messages.The findings show that different indicators have different priorities which create incompatibilities between different levels. The global indicator was found to be too general and thus not very helpful especially for sustainable development on very local level, in this case Lichinga Municipality. While young people presented good knowledge and awareness about environmental issues, youth need resources and support to act as agents of change. As of now, they do not have the ability to take on the expected responsibility at the local level. For the global indicator to be successful on all levels, it is concluded that it must take local conditions into considerations and move away from its universal nature

Energy Optimization through Integration : a Status Report of Sector Coupling in Sweden

För att Sverige ska uppnå de energimål som satts upp i enighet med Agenda 2030, är det av stor vikt att implementera mer förnybara resurser. Sektorkopplingsstrategier är en potentiell åtgärd vilket skulle optimera det svenska energisystemet. På sikt skulle det även kunna frigöra kapacitet, och därmed möjliggöra hantering av en större andel förnybara källor i elnätet. Syftet med den här studien är att bistå med en nulägesrapport av sektorkopplingsetablering i Sverige, med särskild fördjupning i region Gotland. Studien grundas i en omfattande litteraturstudie och kvalitativa intervjuer. Genom att studera tidigare litteratur inom området identifierades tekniker och metoder inom sektorkoppling, vars nuvarande utsträckning i Sverige kartlades. Den fördjupade datainsamlingen för studien var ostrukturerade kvalitativa intervjuer med projektledare och aktörer med relevans för Gotland. Resultatet från studien är en sammanställning av sektorkopplingtekniker samt hur dessa kan bidra till att öka flexibiliteten i energisystemet i allmänhet, och elnätet i synnerhet. Vidare kartlades projekt i Sverige som tillämpar dessa tekniker. Slutsatserna visar på att sektorkoppling redan är etablerat i Sverige, men befinner sig i ett tidigt stadium. Resultatet visade vidare att det krävs engagemang från kunder och aktörer, samt en viss standard i energisystemet för att möjliggöra en framgångsrik tillämpning av sektorkoppling i det svenska energisystemet. Resultaten belyser likväl att en fortsatt etablering av sektorkoppling kan komma att kräva ekonomiska incitament i form av bidrag och satsningar.Including more renewable energy sources in the energy system is of great importance to enable Sweden to achieve its climate goals in unity of Agenda 2030. Sector coupling is a potential strategy for energy optimization, which in time could become a more established method to manage capacity issues, as well as permitting more renewable energy sources in the electricity grid. The purpose of this study is to compile a status report on current sector coupling in Sweden, with additional further investigation of region Gotland. The study is based on a comprehensive literature study as well as data collection through qualitative interviews with relevant stakeholders. Previous research and literature in the field enabled the identification of different technologies and methods relating to sector coupling. Qualitative data was gathered through unstructured interviews with represenatatives from companies and organizations having their focus set on energy planning in the Gotland region. The results consist of an assortment of various sector coupling technologies and their ability to increase the flexibility of the power grid and energy system in Sweden. In addition, several projects with diverse implementation of sector coupling strategies were also being mapped out. In conclusion, it became apparent that sector coupling is only at its earlier stages of implementation in Sweden. Further interest and commitment by customers and businesses is of great importance and needed to enable expansion of sector coupling technologies in Sweden. Moreover, the energy system requires standards, as well as financial incentives to promote further use of sector coupling in society