scholarly journals High copy number of ovine gammaherpesvirus 2 DNA associated with malignant catarrhal fever–like syndrome in a lamb

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 623-627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ida L. Phillips ◽  
Cristina W. Cunha ◽  
Dustin Galbraith ◽  
Margaret A. Highland ◽  
Robert J. Bildfell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Copy Number ◽  
Healthy Adult ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Malignant Catarrhal Fever ◽  
Affected Animal ◽  
Viral Dna ◽  
Diagnostic Significance ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Copy Numbers ◽  
Wild Sheep

Domestic and wild sheep are the natural reservoirs for ovine gammaherpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2), the causative agent of sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF). Virtually all adult sheep are infected with OvHV-2 under natural flock conditions, and infection is normally subclinical. MCF-like clinical signs and typical histologic lesions in sheep have been linked during case investigations at veterinary diagnostic laboratories; however, the confirmation of naturally occurring MCF in sheep is problematic. To date, the assays for detection of OvHV-2–specific antibodies or DNA are usually positive in sheep, regardless of health status, so mere detection of antibodies or the agent is of minimal diagnostic significance in this species. We document herein a naturally occurring MCF case in a 4-mo-old domestic lamb and demonstrate that the affected animal had 100–1,000 times more OvHV-2 copy numbers in tissues than in healthy adult and age-matched sheep. These results indicate that high copy numbers of viral DNA in tissues associated with characteristic lesions can be used to confirm the diagnosis of MCF in sheep.

Ibex-Associated Malignant Catarrhal Fever in Duikers (Cephalophus Spp)

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 577-581
Author(s):  
Francisco R. Carvallo ◽  
Francisco A. Uzal ◽  
Janet D. Moore ◽  
Kenneth Jackson ◽  
Akinyi C. Nyaoke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
In Situ Hybridization ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Malignant Catarrhal Fever ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Viral Dna ◽  
Capra Ibex ◽  
Virus Sequence ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Eight duikers, representing 3 different species cohoused in a single zoological collection, died in a 10-month period. Black, red-flanked, and yellow-backed duikers were affected, appearing clinically with a combination of anorexia, diarrhea, ataxia, tremors, and/or stupor, followed by death within 72 hours of onset of clinical signs. Consistent gross findings were pulmonary ecchymoses (8/8), generalized lymphadenomegaly (6/8), ascites (5/8), and pleural effusion (4/8). Dense lymphocyte infiltrates and arteritis affected numerous tissues in most animals. Ibex-associated malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) viral DNA was detected in all cases by polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. Identical ibex-MCF virus sequence was detected in spleen of a clinically healthy ibex ( Capra ibex) housed in a separate enclosure 35 meters away from the duikers.

scholarly journals Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA Copy Number Is Dependent on Grade of Cervical Disease and HPV Type

1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 1030-1034 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Swan ◽  
Ruth Ann Tucker ◽  
Guillermo Tortolero-Luna ◽  
Michele Follen Mitchell ◽  
Louise Wideroff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Papillomavirus ◽  
Copy Number ◽  
Dna Copy Number ◽  
Viral Dna ◽  
Normal Cytology ◽  
Hpv Dna ◽  
Copy Numbers ◽  
Cervical Disease ◽  
Hpv Types ◽  
Cellular Dna

The association between human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA copy number and cervical disease was investigated. Viral DNA copy number for the most common high-risk HPV types in cervical cancer (types 16, 18, 31, and 45) was determined in cervical cytobrush specimens from 149 women with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN II-CIN III), 176 with low-grade CIN (CIN I), and 270 with normal cytology. Quantitative, PCR-based fluorescent assays for each of the HPV genotypes and for the β-globin gene were used. The amount of cellular DNA increased significantly with increasing disease; thus, HPV was expressed as copies per microgram of cellular DNA. The assay had a dynamic range of >107, allowing documentation for the first time of the wide range of HPV copy numbers seen in clinical specimens. Median HPV DNA copy number varied by more than 104 among the viral types. HPV16 was present in the highest copy number; over 55% of HPV16-positive samples contained more than 108 copies/μg. Median copy number for HPV16 showed dramatic increases with increasing epithelial abnormality, an effect not seen with the other HPV types. HPV16 increased from a median of 2.2 × 107 in patients with normal cytology, to 4.1 × 107 in CIN I patients, to 1.3 × 109 copies/μg in CIN II-III patients. Even when stratified by cervical disease and viral type, the range of viral DNA copies per microgram of cellular DNA was quite large, precluding setting a clinically significant cutoff value for “high” copy numbers predictive of disease. This study suggests that the clinical usefulness of HPV quantitation requires reassessment and is assay dependent.

scholarly journals Selenium and Dogs: A Systematic Review

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 418
Author(s):  
Viola Zentrichová ◽  
Alena Pechová ◽  
Simona Kovaříková
Keyword(s):  
Male Fertility ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Complex Data ◽  
Selenium Status ◽  
Dog Food ◽  
Balanced Diet ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Correct Function ◽  
Indirect Assay

The intent of this review is to summarize the knowledge about selenium and its function in a dog’s body. For this purpose, systematic literature search was conducted. For mammals, including dogs, a balanced diet and sufficient intake of selenium are important for correct function of metabolism. As for selenium poisoning, there are no naturally occurring cases known. Nowadays, we do not encounter clinical signs of its deficiency either, but it can be subclinical. For now, the most reliable method of assessing selenium status of a dog is measuring serum or plasma levels. Levels in full blood can be measured too, but there are no reference values. The use of glutathione peroxidase as an indirect assay is questionable in canines. Commercial dog food manufactures follow recommendations for minimal and maximal selenium levels and so dogs fed commercial diets should have balanced intake of selenium. For dogs fed home-made diets, complex data are missing. However, subclinical deficiency seems to affect, for example, male fertility or recovery from parasitical diseases. Very interesting is the role of selenium in prevention and treatment of cancer.

scholarly journals Experimental infection of indigenous North African goats with goatpox virus

2021 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jihane Hamdi ◽  
Zahra Bamouh ◽  
Mohammed Jazouli ◽  
Meryem Alhyane ◽  
Najet Safini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibody Response ◽  
Experimental Infection ◽  
Subcutaneous Tissue ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
North African ◽  
Cutaneous Lesions ◽  
Viral Dna ◽  
Goatpox Virus

Abstract Background Goatpox is a viral disease caused by infection with goatpox virus (GTPV) of the genus Capripoxvirus, Poxviridae family. Capripoxviruses cause serious disease to livestock and contribute to huge economic losses. Goatpox and sheeppox are endemic to Africa, particularly north of the Equator, the Middle East and many parts of Asia. GTPV and sheeppox virus are considered host-specific; however, both strains can cause clinical disease in either goats or sheep with more severe disease in the homologous species and mild or sub-clinical infection in the other. Goatpox has never been reported in Morocco, Algeria or Tunisia despite the huge population of goats living in proximity with sheep in those countries. To evaluate the susceptibility and pathogenicity of indigenous North African goats to GTPV infection, we experimentally inoculated eight locally bred goats with a virulent Vietnamese isolate of GTPV. Two uninfected goats were kept as controls. Clinical examination was carried out daily and blood was sampled for virology and for investigating the antibody response. After necropsy, tissues were collected and assessed for viral DNA using real-time PCR. Results Following the experimental infection, all inoculated goats displayed clinical signs characteristic of goatpox including varying degrees of hyperthermia, loss of appetite, inactivity and cutaneous lesions. The infection severely affected three of the infected animals while moderate to mild disease was noticed in the remaining goats. A high antibody response was developed. High viral DNA loads were detected in skin crusts and nodules, and subcutaneous tissue at the injection site with cycle threshold (Ct) values ranging from 14.6 to 22.9, while lower viral loads were found in liver and lung (Ct = 35.7 and 35.1). The results confirmed subcutaneous tropism of the virus. Conclusion Clinical signs of goatpox were reproduced in indigenous North African goats and confirmed a high susceptibility of the North African goat breed to GTPV infection. A clinical scoring system is proposed that can be applied in GTPV vaccine efficacy studies.

scholarly journals Accucopy: accurate and fast inference of allele-specific copy number alterations from low-coverage low-purity tumor sequencing data

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinping Fan ◽  
Guanghao Luo ◽  
Yu S. Huang
Keyword(s):  
Copy Number ◽  
Bayesian Learning ◽  
Kernel Smoothing ◽  
Gaussian Mixture ◽  
Copy Number Alterations ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Copy Numbers ◽  
Allele Specific ◽  
Tumor Sequencing ◽  
Low Coverage

Abstract Background Copy number alterations (CNAs), due to their large impact on the genome, have been an important contributing factor to oncogenesis and metastasis. Detecting genomic alterations from the shallow-sequencing data of a low-purity tumor sample remains a challenging task. Results We introduce Accucopy, a method to infer total copy numbers (TCNs) and allele-specific copy numbers (ASCNs) from challenging low-purity and low-coverage tumor samples. Accucopy adopts many robust statistical techniques such as kernel smoothing of coverage differentiation information to discern signals from noise and combines ideas from time-series analysis and the signal-processing field to derive a range of estimates for the period in a histogram of coverage differentiation information. Statistical learning models such as the tiered Gaussian mixture model, the expectation–maximization algorithm, and sparse Bayesian learning were customized and built into the model. Accucopy is implemented in C++ /Rust, packaged in a docker image, and supports non-human samples, more at http://www.yfish.org/software/. Conclusions We describe Accucopy, a method that can predict both TCNs and ASCNs from low-coverage low-purity tumor sequencing data. Through comparative analyses in both simulated and real-sequencing samples, we demonstrate that Accucopy is more accurate than Sclust, ABSOLUTE, and Sequenza.

scholarly journals Immunohistological Evaluation of Von Willebrand Factor in the Left Atrial Endocardium and Atrial Thrombi from Cats with Cardiomyopathy

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1240
Author(s):  
Wan-Ching Cheng ◽  
Lois Wilkie ◽  
Tsumugi Anne Kurosawa ◽  
Melanie Dobromylskyj ◽  
Simon Lawrence Priestnall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Von Willebrand Factor ◽  
Left Atrial ◽  
Thrombus Formation ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Feline Model ◽  
Von Willebrand ◽  
And Control ◽  
Endocardial Endothelium ◽  
Willebrand Factor

Aortic thromboembolism (ATE) occurs in cats with cardiomyopathy and often results in euthanasia due to poor prognosis. However, the underlying predisposing mechanisms leading to left atrial (LA) thrombus formation are not fully characterised. von Willebrand Factor (vWF) is a marker of endothelium and shows increased expression following endothelial injury. In people with poor LA function and LA remodelling, vWF has been implicated in the development of LA thrombosis. In this study we have shown (1) the expression of endocardial vWF protein detected using immunohistofluorescence was elevated in cats with cardiomyopathy, LA enlargement (LAE) and clinical signs compared to cats with subclinical cardiomyopathy and control cats; (2) vWF was present at the periphery of microthrombi and macrothrombi within the LA where they come into contact with the LA endocardium and (3) vWF was integral to the structure of the macrothrombi retrieved from the atria. These results provide evidence for damage of the endocardial endothelium in the remodelled LA and support a role for endocardial vWF as a pro-thrombotic substrate potentially contributing to the development of ATE in cats with underlying cardiomyopathy and LAE. Results from this naturally occurring feline model may inform research into human thrombogenesis.

scholarly journals Nuclear-cytoplasmic balance: whole genome duplications induce elevated organellar genome copy number

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matheus Fernandes Gyorfy ◽  
Emma R Miller ◽  
Justin L Conover ◽  
Corrinne E Grover ◽  
Jonathan F Wendel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Copy Number ◽  
Nuclear Genome ◽  
Plant Genome ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Genome Copy ◽  
Relative Copy Number ◽  
Organellar Genome ◽  
Plastid Genomes ◽  
Copy Numbers ◽  
Genome Copy Number

The plant genome is partitioned across three distinct subcellular compartments: the nucleus, mitochondria, and plastids. Successful coordination of gene expression among these organellar genomes and the nuclear genome is critical for plant function and fitness. Whole genome duplication events (WGDs) in the nucleus have played a major role in the diversification of land plants and are expected to perturb the relative copy number (stoichiometry) of nuclear, mitochondrial, and plastid genomes. Thus, elucidating the mechanisms whereby plant cells respond to the cytonuclear stoichiometric imbalance that follow WGDs represents an important yet underexplored question in understanding the evolutionary consequences of genome doubling. We used droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to investigate the relationship between nuclear and organellar genome copy numbers in allopolyploids and their diploid progenitors in both wheat and Arabidopsis. Polyploids exhibit elevated organellar genome copy numbers per cell, largely preserving the cytonuclear stoichiometry observed in diploids despite the change in nuclear genome copy number. To investigate the timescale over which cytonuclear stoichiometry may respond to WGD, we also estimated organellar genome copy number in Arabidopsis synthetic autopolyploids and in a haploid-induced diploid line. We observed corresponding changes in organellar genome copy number in these laboratory-generated lines, indicating that at least some of the cellular response to cytonuclear stoichiometric imbalance is immediate following WGD. We conclude that increases in organellar genome copy numbers represent a common response to polyploidization, suggesting that maintenance of cytonuclear stoichiometry is an important component in establishing polyploid lineages.

scholarly journals Comparative Cancer Cell Signaling in Muscle-Invasive Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder in Dogs and Humans

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1472
Author(s):  
Maria Malvina Tsamouri ◽  
Thomas M. Steele ◽  
Maria Mudryj ◽  
Michael S. Kent ◽  
Paramita M. Ghosh
Keyword(s):  
Urothelial Carcinoma ◽  
Human Cancer ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Common Type ◽  
Diagnostic Biomarkers ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Carcinoma Of The Bladder ◽  
Muscle Invasive ◽  
Cancer Cell Signaling

Muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma (MIUC) is the most common type of bladder malignancy in humans, but also in dogs that represent a naturally occurring model for this disease. Dogs are immunocompetent animals that share risk factors, pathophysiological features, clinical signs and response to chemotherapeutics with human cancer patients. This review summarizes the fundamental pathways for canine MIUC initiation, progression, and metastasis, emerging therapeutic targets and mechanisms of drug resistance, and proposes new opportunities for potential prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutics. Identifying similarities and differences between cancer signaling in dogs and humans is of utmost importance for the efficient translation of in vitro research to successful clinical trials for both species.

scholarly journals Resolved Hepatitis B: Achieved or Imaginary Wellbeing?

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-19
Author(s):  
S. N. Batskikh
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Liver Diseases ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Hbv Infection ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Viral Dna ◽  
Occult Hbv Infection ◽  
Occult Hbv ◽  
Hbsag Clearance

Aim. Assessment of the clinical impact of previous hepatitis B infection (PHB).Key points. PHB is characterized by the presence of viral DNA in the organism (including intrahepatic cccDNA and integrated DNA). Possible virus persistence in the PHB patient's hepatocytes potentiates the agent transmission risk via haemotransfusion, organ transplantation and haemodialysis. Occult HBV infection in PHB individuals can reactivate at background immunosuppressive or chemotherapies. PHB with chronic liver diseases of various aetiology significantly rises the risk of cirrhosis and hepatic cancer. The PHB association with autoimmune liver diseases and extrahepatic gastrointestinal cancer needs a careful research to confirm the possible involvement of hepatitis B virus in morbid genesis.Conclusion. No clinical signs of acute or chronic disease, HBsAg clearance and negative viral DNA load in blood of PHB individuals do not necessarily imply a complete disease eradication.PHB elicitation improves accuracy of the overall prognosis, reduces the virus transmission risk and prevents the reactivation of HBV infection.

scholarly journals Diagnostic significance of clinical and para-clinical signs of community-acquired pneumonia in children

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 244-249
Author(s):  
V.Yu. Pasik
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
The Body ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Statistical Hypothesis ◽  
Diagnostic Significance ◽  
Operational Characteristics ◽  
Gallbladder Dyskinesia

Annotation. Respiratory diseases are relevant in pediatric practice, which is associated with its widespread and frequent complications, especially in young children. The aim of the study was to assess the diagnostic value of clinical symptoms, laboratory and ultra-sonographic parameters in pneumonia in children of the first 3 years of life. A retrospective study of medical records of 218 children who were hospitalized in the department for young children diagnosed with pneumonia for the period from 2016 to 2018. The average age of children was 11.67±9.97 months and it was within the range from 1 month to 3 years. The ration of boys and girls was practically identical (51.8% and 48.2% accordingly). The first group included children aged under one year (the average age is 4.57±0.84 months; n=88). The second group included children aged from 1 to 3 years (the average age is 18.2±4.25 months; n=130). To characterize the information content of clinical and laboratory symptoms the study has used objective parameters defined as the operational characteristics of tests. The most important operational characteristics of diagnostic methods included: sensitivity (Se, sensitivity) and specificity (Sp, specificity). To check the statistical hypothesis on differences of absolute and relative frequencies, fractions, and ratios in two independent samples, the criteria of хі-square (χ2) was used. While detailing an anamnesis, the disease was more often related to untimely treatment and outpatient care. Various data were obtained on the absolute and relative risk, as well as the sensitivity and specificity of the localization of pneumonia depending on age. Therefore, the incidence of bilateral pneumonia was considered an indicator of risk. On admission to hospital, the body temperature of patients was 38.2±0.66°С. Most of the complaints were on the unproductive or productive cough. Besides, in some cases, shortness of breath and runny nose were mentioned. Thus, in young children with pneumonia, a diagnostically significant clinical symptom is a bilateral lung impression (82.6%), compared with right-handed (15.1%) and left-handed (2.3%), which is significantly more common in children under 1-th year of life compared with patients 1–3 years; laboratory features are probably higher levels of liver-specific enzymes – ALT and AST in children under 1 year; ultrasonographic indicators associated with the presence of pneumonia in young children include increased liver size, gallbladder deformity, the presence of sediment in the gallbladder, dyskinesia of the biliary tract, thickening of the gallbladder wall; children under 1 year of age have a risk of liver enlargement and biliary dyskinesia.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document