Reduced Sensitivity of Influenza A (H5N1) to Oseltamivir

We tested the neuraminidase drug sensitivity of clade 1 and clade 2 influenza A virus (H5N1). All viruses demonstrated similar sensitivity to zanamivir, but compared to the 2004 clade 1 viruses, the Cambodian 2005 viruses were 6-fold less sensitive and the Indonesian clade 2 viruses were up to 30-fold less sensitive to oseltamivir

STATUS INFEKSI VIRUS INFLUENZA PADA BEBERAPA SPESIES HEWAN SEBELUM WABAH AVIAN INFLUENZA H5N1 PADA UNGGAS DI INDONESIA

After outbreak of Avian Influenza HPAI in chicken in mid 2003 in Indonesia, there was a question whether Avian Influenza HPAI was already presence in animals before the outbreak. A retrospective study was conducted to gain information on the presence of Influenza A virus infection in a range of animal species that could be infected by the virus. A total of 1529 animal sera, from 8 species from 12 different provinces which were stored at the Bbalitvet (Research Institute for Veterinary Science) Serum Bank were tested against matrix antigen of Influenza A using the Agar Gel Immunodiffusion (AGID) test. The results indicated that only 0.6% of animal tested which consisted of 4% of duck sera and 0.4% of pig sera were reacted in the AGID test with weak reaction. Those sera were then tested against Influenza A group viruses using an Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), indicated that Influenza A viruses were not detected in either duck and pig positive sera. Those sera which were also tested by HI test against antigens of HI, H3 and H7, also indicated that none of those sera were reacted. In addition, 134 lung of pigs from an abattoir were collected for virus isolation. The viral isolation on chicken embryonated eggs resulted in 12 samples that contained viruses with agglutinated goose and chicken red blood cells. Identification of viruses isolated was done by agglutination test and ELISA. The results showed that none of those isolates were Influenza Type A virus. This study showed that influenza A virus group infection was not detected in animal species sampled before outbreak of AI H5N1 in 2003 in Indonesia

The development of an abattoir-based surveillance system in Lao PDR for the detection of zoonoses in large ruminants: Q fever and brucellosis seroepidemiology as a pilot study

Although animal health surveillance programmes are useful for gaining information to help improve global health and food security, these programmes can be challenging to establish in developing economies with a low-resource base. This study focused on establishing a national surveillance system initiated by the Lao PDR government using a passive surveillance system of abattoir samples as a pilot model, and to gain information on contagious zoonoses, particularly Q fever and brucellosis, in the large ruminant population. A total of 683 cattle and buffalo samples were collected from six selected provinces of Lao PDR between March-December 2019. Out of 271 samples tested, six samples (2.2%, 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.0, 4.8) were positive in the Q fever antibody ELISA test. Only one sample (out of 683; 0.2%, 95% CI 0.0, 0.8) tested positive to the Brucella antibody ELISA test. Seroprevalence of these important zoonoses in Lao PDR were relatively low in cattle and buffaloes; however, extensive animal movement within the country was identified which could increase risks of spreading transboundary diseases. The study highlights the importance of ongoing animal health surveillance and the need to find cost-effective approaches for its long-term sustainability

Developing Farm-Level Post-vaccination Sero-Monitoring Systems for H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in an Endemically Infected Country

Whilst the serological responses of poultry following vaccination against highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been extensively investigated under laboratory conditions, there have been fewer studies conducted in the field. This applies particularly to the endemically infected countries routinely practicing vaccination, where the combination of multiple circulating clades and/or the use of vaccines with different seed strains makes the design and interpretation of field studies especially problematic. To address this for the particular situation of layer hens in the small to medium commercial sector in Indonesia, we developed a sampling regime before and after the vaccination given to point-of-lay pullets, and assessed serological response with a panel of test antigens. This confirmed that high titres were induced in those birds vaccinated with locally produced homologous H5N1 vaccines administered two or more times, but in flocks using imported heterologous H5N2 vaccines median titres were significantly lower, and unlikely to provide protection throughout the production cycle, without additional vaccination. Comparing the HI responses against the panel of antigens enabled the detection of the flock's exposure to different vaccine antigens, and made possible the detection of mislabelled vaccine seed strains. Furthermore, we show that test antigens need not be exactly matched to assess sero-protection in well vaccinated birds. Finally our study suggests that the POL vaccination serves as a useful reference point for following cohorts of layers throughout their production cycle, and thus enabling robust vaccination field effectiveness studies

Un nuevo morbillivirus de la neumonía equina y su transmisión a humanos

En Septiembre 22 y 23 de 1994, las autoridades veterinarias en Queensland y en el CSIRO Laboratorio Australiano de Salud Animal («Australian Animal Health Laboratory») fueron avisados de un brote de enfermedad respiratoria aguda en caballos en un establo en Brisbane, suburbio de Hendra. El entrenador de los caballos había sido hospitalizado por una enfermedad respiratoria y estuvo en condición crítica. En ese momento, la causa de enfermedad de los caballos era incierta y cualquier nexo entre la enfermedad humana y equina era un pensamiento improbable. Se investigaron causas de envenenamiento, enfermedad exótica, virósica, y bacteriana. EL historial de los caballos en este aspecto fue considerada importante; (Figura 1) dos semanas antes de la enfermedad del entrenador, el 7 de Septiembre, dos caballos habían sido llevados al Hendra desde un establo de pre-carrera en Cannon Hill (6 km). Uno de éstos, una yegua preñada, enfermó y murió en 2 días. El otro caballo fue trasladado luego y nunca llegó a enfermarse. Por el 26 de Septiembre, 13 caballos habían muerto: la yegua; otros 10 caballos en el establo de Hendra; un caballo, que tuvo contacto muy cercano con caballos en el establo de Hendra, en una propiedad vecina; y uno que había sido transportado desde el establo a otro sitio (150 km). Cuatro caballos de Hendra y otros tres (uno en un establo adyacente, uno llevado a Kenilworth, y uno a Samford) se consideraron que habían estado expuestos y se habían recuperado de la enfermedad. Algunos de estos caballos fueron asintomáticos. Nueve caballos de Hendra habían permanecido inafectados. Los caballos enfermos estaban anoréxicos, deprimidos, comúnmente febriles (temperatura hasta 41ºC), mostraron tasa respiratoria elevada, y llegaron a estar atáxicos. Una descarga nasal espumosa ocurrió antes de la muerte.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Un nuevo morbillivirus de la neumonía equina y su transmisión a humanos

En Septiembre 22 y 23 de 1994, las autoridades veterinarias en Queensland y en el CSIRO Laboratorio Australiano de Salud Animal («Australian Animal Health Laboratory») fueron avisados de un brote de enfermedad respiratoria aguda en caballos en un establo en Brisbane, suburbio de Hendra. El entrenador de los caballos había sido hospitalizado por una enfermedad respiratoria y estuvo en condición crítica. En ese momento, la causa de enfermedad de los caballos era incierta y cualquier nexo entre la enfermedad humana y equina era un pensamiento improbable. Se investigaron causas de envenenamiento, enfermedad exótica, virósica, y bacteriana. EL historial de los caballos en este aspecto fue considerada importante; (Figura 1) dos semanas antes de la enfermedad del entrenador, el 7 de Septiembre, dos caballos habían sido llevados al Hendra desde un establo de pre-carrera en Cannon Hill (6 km). Uno de éstos, una yegua preñada, enfermó y murió en 2 días. El otro caballo fue trasladado luego y nunca llegó a enfermarse. Por el 26 de Septiembre, 13 caballos habían muerto: la yegua; otros 10 caballos en el establo de Hendra; un caballo, que tuvo contacto muy cercano con caballos en el establo de Hendra, en una propiedad vecina; y uno que había sido transportado desde el establo a otro sitio (150 km). Cuatro caballos de Hendra y otros tres (uno en un establo adyacente, uno llevado a Kenilworth, y uno a Samford) se consideraron que habían estado expuestos y se habían recuperado de la enfermedad. Algunos de estos caballos fueron asintomáticos. Nueve caballos de Hendra habían permanecido inafectados. Los caballos enfermos estaban anoréxicos, deprimidos, comúnmente febriles (temperatura hasta 41ºC), mostraron tasa respiratoria elevada, y llegaron a estar atáxicos. Una descarga nasal espumosa ocurrió antes de la muerte.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Regulatory Variation at Glypican-3 Underlies a Major Growth QTL in Mice

The genetic basis of variation in complex traits remains poorly understood, and few genes underlying variation have been identified. Previous work identified a quantitative trait locus (QTL) responsible for much of the response to selection on growth in mice, effecting a change in body mass of approximately 20%. By fine-mapping, we have resolved the location of this QTL to a 660-kb region containing only two genes of known function, Gpc3 and Gpc4, and two other putative genes of unknown function. There are no non-synonymous polymorphisms in any of these genes, indicating that the QTL affects gene regulation. Mice carrying the high-growth QTL allele have approximately 15% lower Gpc3 mRNA expression in kidney and liver, whereas expression differences at Gpc4 are non-significant. Expression profiles of the two other genes within the region are inconsistent with a factor responsible for a general effect on growth. Polymorphisms in the 3′ untranslated region of Gpc3 are strong candidates for the causal sequence variation. Gpc3 loss-of-function mutations in humans and mice cause overgrowth and developmental abnormalities. However, no deleterious side-effects were detected in our mice, indicating that genes involved in Mendelian diseases also contribute to complex trait variation. Furthermore, these findings show that small changes in gene expression can have substantial phenotypic effects

A molecular and antigenic survey of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus isolates from smallholder duck farms in Central Java, Indonesia during 2007-2008

Background: Indonesia is one of the countries most severely affected by H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus in terms of poultry and human health. However, there is little information on the diversity of H5N1 viruses circulating in backyard farms, where chickens and ducks often intermingle. In this study, H5N1 virus infection occurring in 96 smallholder duck farms in central Java, Indonesia from 2007-2008 was investigated and the molecular and antigenic characteristics of H5N1 viruses isolated from these farms were analysed