Experimental Infection of Dogs with Avian-Origin Canine Influenza A Virus (H3N2)

Susceptible dogs were brought into contact with dogs experimentally infected with an avian-origin influenza A virus (H3N2) that had been isolated from a pet dog with severe respiratory syndrome. All the experimentally infected and contact-exposed dogs showed elevated rectal temperatures, virus shedding, seroconversion, and severe necrotizing tracheobronchitis and bronchioalveolitis

Interval-Based LDA Algorithm for Electrocardiograms for Individual Verification

This paper presents an interval-based LDA (Linear Discriminant Analysis) algorithm for individual verification using ECG (Electrocardiogram). In this algorithm, at first, unwanted noise and power-line interference are removed from the ECG signal. Then, the autocorrelation profile (ACP) of the ECG signal, which is a mathematical representation of the degree of similarity between a given time series and a lagged version of itself over successive time intervals, is calculated. Finally, the interval-based LDA algorithm is applied to extract unique individual feature vectors that represent distance and angle characteristics on short ACP segments. These feature vectors are used during the processes of enrollment and verification of individual identification. To validate our algorithm, we conducted experiments using the MIT-BIH ECG and achieved EERs (Equal Error Rate) of 0.143%, showing that the proposed algorithm is practically effective and robust in verifying the individual’s identity

Evaluation of a rapid immunodiagnostic test kit for rabies virus

A rapid immunodiagnostic test kit for rabies virus detection was evaluated using 51 clinical samples and 4 isolates of rabies virus. The quick detection of rabies virus under field conditions may be helpful in determining if post-exposure prophylaxis is needed, thereby avoiding unnecessary treatments, as well as undue economic burden. There are several widely used diagnostic methods for rabies, including fluorescent antibody tests, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and electron microscopy; however, these methods include time-consuming, intricate, and costly procedures. The rapid immunodiagnostic test was able to detect rabies virus in clinical samples, including brain tissue and saliva, in addition to 103.2 50% lethal dose (LD50)/mL cell-adapted rabies virus. The assay was not cross-reactive with non-rabies virus microbes. When the performance of the rapid immunodiagnostic test was compared to a fluorescent antibody test, the rapid immunodiagnostic test had a sensitivity of 91.7% and specificity of 100% (95.8% CI)

Transmission of Avian Influenza Virus (H3N2) to Dogs

In South Korea, where avian influenza virus subtypes H3N2, H5N1, H6N1, and H9N2 circulate or have been detected, 3 genetically similar canine infl uenza virus (H3N2) strains of avian origin (A/canine/Korea/01/2007, A/canine/ Korea/02/2007, and A/canine/Korea/03/2007) were isolated from dogs exhibiting severe respiratory disease. To determine whether the novel canine infl uenza virus of avian origin was transmitted among dogs, we experimentally infected beagles with this infl uenza virus (H3N2) isolate. The beagles shed virus through nasal excretion, seroconverted, and became ill with severe necrotizing tracheobronchitis and bronchioalveolitis with accompanying clinical signs (e.g., high fever). Consistent with histologic observation of lung lesions, large amounts of avian infl uenza virus binding receptor (SAα 2,3-gal) were identifi ed in canine tracheal, bronchial, and bronchiolar epithelial cells, which suggests potential for direct transmission of avian infl uenza virus (H3N2) from poultry to dogs. Our data provide evidence that dogs may play a role in interspecies transmission and spread of infl uenza virus