I. Gadó^*, Judit Pászti, Margit Király and Melinda Jakab

National Center for Epidemiology ‘B. Johan’, H-1966 Budapest, P.O. Box 64, Hungary

(Received May 8, 2002; accepted September 11, 2002)

The integron content of 52 DT104/U302 phage type strains and 53 non-DT104/U302 strains of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) was studied in PCR experiments using a 5’-CS/3’-CS primer pair (Lévesque et al., 1995). Forty-three out of 44 streptomycin- and/or ampicillin-resistant DT104 and related phage type strains were found to carry a 1 kb and/or 1.2 kb long integron. The other resistance markers did not affect the number and size of integrons; no integron-free multidrug-resistant (MDR) DT104 strains were found. The two large groups of DT104 strains (Felix-Callow’s phage types 2 and 2c) proved to be identical in respect of integron patterns (IPs), supporting the views of those authors who consider DT104 a single clone. Strains of human and animal origin did not differ from each other in their IPs. Within the non-DT104 phage types, ampicillin- and/or streptomycin-resistant, integron-free MDR strains were also found. Based on amplicons varying between 290 and 3500 bp an IP system was suggested. The commonest amplicon sizes in non-DT104 strains were 1450 and 2050 bp. The IPs of DT104 strains and of non-DT104 strains containing an integron of 1 and 1.2 kb size were stable. In contrast, the IPs of other non-DT104 strains showed a varying degree of instability. Integron loss was frequently associated with spontaneous plasmid elimination and changes of R-type among the descendants of a given strain.

Key words: Typhimurium, phage type, DT104, integron pattern, instability, PCR

*Corresponding author: Dr. István Gadó; E-mail: paszti.ok@antsz.hu; Phone: +36 (1) 476-1265; Fax: +36 (1) 476-1234

Noémi Nógrády^1*, I. Gadó², Judit Pászti² and Margit Király²

1Veterinary Medical Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1581 Budapest, P.O. Box 18, Hungary; ²National Center for Epidemiology ‘B. Johan’, Budapest, Hungary

(Received July 5, 2002; accepted September 11, 2002)

By PCR using the ant(3")-Ia primer pair the aadA gene was detected in 34 streptomycin- and spectinomycin-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium strains. Out of them 12 belonged to DT104 and 22 to non-DT104 phage type. Using different primer combinations it was demonstrated that this gene was integron-associated in all cases: in the DT104 strains it was generally contained by a 1 kb integron while in the majority of the non-DT104 strains by a 2.05 kb (less often by a 1.9 or 1 kb) integron. In the case of integrons carrying multiple cassettes the cassette containing the aadA gene was located closer to the 3’ end of the integron. The aadA genes of DT104 and non-DT104 strains were different: in the former group the aadA2 gene, while in the latter group (constituted by strains of five different phages types as well as unclassifiable and untypable strains) the aadA1 gene could be identified. The RH50/RH51 primer pair described by Collis and Hall (1992) proved to be suitable for rapid discrimination between the aadA1 and aadA2 genes on the basis that the RH51 primer bound exclusively to the aadA2 gene.

Key words: Salmonella Typhimurium, streptomycin/spectinomycin resistance, aadA gene cassettes, sequencing

*Corresponding author; Present address: National Center for Epidemiology ‘B. Johan’, H-1966 Budapest, P.O. Box 64, Hungary; E-mail: nogradyn.oek@antsz.gov.hu; Fax: +36 (1) 476-1234; Phone: +36 (1) 476-1265

L. Szeredi^*, V. Pálfi and T. Molnár

Central Veterinary Institute, H-1149 Budapest, Tábornok u. 2, Hungary

(Received July 24, 2002; accepted December 10, 2002)

The objective of the investigations was to study the occurrence of the equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infection in aborted equine fetuses and in newborn foals and to compare the sensitivity of virus isolation, immunohistochemistry and histology in 101 cases and of fetal serology in 68 cases in the diagnosis of the infection. Out of the 93 aborted equine fetuses and 8 weak foals, 15 (14.9%) (14 fetuses and 1 foal) proved to be EHV-1 infected by immunohistochemical and 13 (12.9%) by virological investigation. Characteristic microscopic changes were seen in several organs in all cases, while intranuclear inclusion bodies could be found only in 25 (35.2%) of the 71 virus-positive tissue samples. Four (5.9%) cases proved to be positive by fetal serological investigation, but none of these cases showed any EHV-1 specific lesions and in none of these cases could the virus be detected by virus isolation or by immunohistochemistry. According to the results, fetal serology does not seem to be a useful test in virus-positive cases, while the immunohistochemical method seems to be a reliable and a slightly more sensitive method than virus isolation in the diagnosis of EHV-1 infection.

Key words: Equine herpesvirus type 1 infection, abortion, virus isolation, immunohistochemistry, fetal serology

*Corresponding author; E-mail: szeredil@oai.hu; Fax: +36 (1) 222-6071

B. Hagen^* and G. Bilkei

Bilkei Consulting, Raubbühlstrasse 4, CH – 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland

(Received August 6, 2002; accepted September 11, 2002)

In 11 ‘farrow-to-finish’ outdoor or indoor production units, blood samples from late pregnant gilts were tested by indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) serum assay for Lawsonia intracellularis. The offspring of positively tested gilts were tested at 2, 7, 12, 17, 22 and 27 weeks of age for seroprevalence of Lawsonia intracellularis. All offspring of IFA positive gilts were seronegative at 2 and 7 weeks of age. At 12 weeks of age 81.0% of indoor and 51.0% of outdoor pigs were tested positive. While at 17 weeks of age 82.5% of indoor-raised pigs showed seropositivity, in outdoor units the seropositivity declined to 31.3%. At weeks 22 and 27 indoor-raised pigs still showed marked seropositivity (17.7% and 11.5%) but their outdoor-raised counterparts revealed declining values (7.4% and 0%).

Key words: Pig, Lawsonia intracellularis, seroprevalence, outdoor

*Corresponding author; Phone: 0041 1 820 02 26

G. Tornyos¹, Melinda Kovács^1*, M. Rusvai², P. Horn¹, J. Fodor¹ and F. Kovács¹

1Faculty of Animal Science, University of Kaposvár, H-7400 Kaposvár, Guba S. u. 40, Hungary, ²Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary

(Received August 28, 2002; accepted December 10, 2002)

Only few data are available on the effect of fumonisins on the immune response. The aim of the present study was to examine whether dietary fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) has any effect on the humoral and cellular immune response in weaned pigs, depending on the dose and the time of toxin exposure. Fusarium moniliforme fungal culture was added to the experimental animals’ diet to ensure an FB₁ intake of 1, 5 and 10 ppm (first experiment) or 100 mg per animal per day (second experiment). The control animals were fed a toxin-free diet. In order to determine the immune response, the animals were vaccinated against Aujeszky’s disease with inactivated vaccine (Aujespig K, Phylaxia-Sanofi, Budapest, Hungary). Specific and nonspecific in vitro cellular immune response was measured by the lymphocyte stimulation test (LST) induced by PHA-P, Con A, LPS and inactivated suspension of the Aujeszky’s disease virus. Humoral immune response, e.g. specific antibody titre, was measured by the virus neutralisation (VN) test. None of the immunological parameters examined showed significant differences between groups. It could be concluded that fumonisin B₁ had no significant effect on the humoral and cellular specific and nonspecific immune response when fed in a high dose (100 mg/animal/day for 8 days) or in a low concentration even for a longer period (1, 5 and 10 ppm for 3–4 months).

Key words: Fumonisin B₁, immune response, lymphocyte stimulation test, pig

*Corresponding author: Prof. Melinda Kovács; E-mail: melinda@mail.atk.u-kaposvar.hu; Fax: +36 (82) 412-091

K. Yildiz^1* and S. Gurcan²

1Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kirikkale University, Campus 71450 Kirikkale, Turkey; ²Department of Biometry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey

(Received March 27, 2002; accepted September 11, 2002)

This study was conducted in order to determine the prevalence and fertility of hydatid cysts in sheep in Kirikkale, Turkey. A total of 3.2% of 553 lambs and 50.9% of 1320 adults were found to be infected with hydatid cysts. The most common locations of cysts were in the liver and lung. Liver cysts tended to be more fertile than lung cysts (81.53% v. 76.47%), though the difference was not significant. The mean number of viable protoscoleces in the liver and lung cysts were 12,400 and 5,800, respectively. In general, 1–10 cysts were found in liver (51.8%) and lung (64.7%). The findings of this study indicate that hydatid cysts are common in sheep and the fertility rate of cysts is quite high. Sheep play an important role in the life cycle of Echinococcus granulosus in this region.

Key words: Larval Echinococcus granulosus, hydatid cyst, fertility, prevalence, sheep

*Corresponding author: Dr. Kader Yildiz; E-mail: kaderyildiz@hotmail.com; Tel: +90-318-357 33 01-03; Fax: +90-318-357 33 04

T. Veresegyházy^1*, Hedvig Fébel³, G. Nagy² and Ágnes Rimanóczy¹

1Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, ²Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, H-1400 Budapest, P.O. Box 2, Hungary; ³Research Institute of Animal Breeding and Nutrition, H-2053 Herceghalom, Hungary

(Received September 18, 2002; accepted December 10, 2002)

1Laboratory of Physiology and Toxicology of Reproduction, Department of Animal Physiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Ingardena 6, 30-060 Cracow, Poland; ²Department of Animal Physiology, Academy of Agriculture, Cracow, Poland

(Received May 22, 2002; accepted December 10, 2002)

*Corresponding author; E-mail: greg@zuk.iż.uj.edu.pl; Fax: (4812) 6343716

B. Bényei^1*, A. Gáspárdy² and S. Cseh³

(Received June 25, 2002; accepted December 10, 2002)

The effects of different Temperature Humidity Index (THI) values in cold, hot and El Nino (EN) climates on superovulation and embryo production were analysed on Holstein Friesian donor cows. There were significant differences in the THI among the three climates. The average temperature in the EN period was 6 °C higher than in the summer period of the previous 30 years. The number of corpora lutea (CL) and embryos were log- and back-transformed, Kolmogorov-Smirnoff test was used for normality and Lilliefors test was applied for significance. In the cold season THI was 70.74 ± 1.35 and the average number of CL was 9.84 ± 4.37. In the hot season the THI was 73.99 ± 0.72 and the average number of CL was 9.70 ± 4.49. When the THI, in the EN period, increased up to 79.74 ± 4.01, the superovulation response was significantly (P < 0.01) reduced (average number of CL = 5.22 ± 2.53). The embryo production result showed a similar tendency. In the hot period the average number of embryos obtained was 5.87 ± 2.98. However, in the EN period it decreased to 4.21 ± 2.05. Higher temperature reduced embryo quality. The proportion of live embryos (%) was 59.2 ± 37.4 in the cold and 38.2 ± 38.5 in the EN periods of the year (P < 0.01). However, ovarian sensitiveness showed adaptation to summer environment while the heat stress, which was more severe in the EN period, negatively affected the superovulation response and embryo production.

Key words: Heat stress, El Nino phenomenon, donor cows, superovulation, embryo production

*Corresponding author: Dr. Balázs Bényei, H-1037 Budapest, Erdőalja út 6, Hungary; E-mail: benyeib@axelero.hu; Fax: +36 (1) 478-4124

University of Veterinary Medicine, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovak Republic

(Received July 19, 2002; accepted December 10, 2002)

The effect of surgery on phagocytic activity of blood leukocytes and mitogen-induced blastogenesis of lymphocytes was studied in fourteen dogs. Simple ovariohysterectomy with anaesthesia induced by ketamine and xylazine or by ketamine, xylazine and halothane caused a short nonsignificant depression of phagocytic activity that persisted for four hours after surgery. Ingestion capacity of leukocytes decreased significantly immediately after surgery. Mitogen-induced blastogenesis of lymphocytes was depressed significantly in the first 48 hours and despite partial recovery this parameter did not reach the value of the control groups until the end of observation (7 days). A more conspicuous decrease of blastogenic response of blood lymphocytes to mitogens was found after the use of ketamine and xylazine in a dose maintaining anaesthesia. Anaesthesia with ketamine and xylazine in the lower dose and maintained with halothane resulted in a later improvement of the blastogenic response of lymphocytes.

Key words: Ovariohysterectomy, dogs, lymphocyte proliferation, phagocytosis

*Corresponding author; E-mail: mojzisova@uvm.sk; Fax: 421 55 632 36 66

University of Veterinary Medicine, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovak Republic

(Received February 18, 2002; accepted December 10, 2002)

A serological survey for bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) antibodies on a collection of 1295 serum samples obtained from 6–12 months old cattle originating from 45 farms in Slovakia was carried out. On 13 farms more than 90% of the examined animals were seropositive, on 14 farms 71–90% seroprevalence was observed, on 13 farms only 50–70% animals were found to be positive for BVDV antibodies, while the remaining 5 farms showed fewer than 50% seropositive animals. The average incidence of BVDV antibodies (around 70%) was similar as determined 30 years ago. Of 84 serum samples from seronegative animals originating from 14 farms in which 70–98% seropositivity was observed, six were positive in Ag-BVDV ELISA indicating persistently infected (PI) cattle. On a farm to which animals were imported from abroad, a BVD outbreak was observed. Of 110 animals tested, four were positive in Ag-ELISA indicating the presence of PI cattle on this farm. Genetic typing of two isolates from imported animals performed by RT-PCR (324/326 primers from 5´-UTR), sequencing of PCR products and computer-assisted phylogenetic analysis revealed that they belong to BVDV-1h group.

Key words: Bovine viral diarrhoea virus, BVDV, antibody, genetic typing

*Corresponding author: Štefan Vilček, Department of Parasitology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia; E-mail: vilcek@uvm.sk; Fax: +421 55 6323666

(Received June 3, 2002; accepted December 10, 2002)

In this study, 15 bovine viral diarrhoea viruses (BVDV) isolated from the field in Turkey were characterised for their biotype, cloned and eventually analysed for their epitopic composition in terms of glycoprotein E2. Immunoplaque assay, plaque assay, limiting dilution and streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase techniques were used for biotype characterisation, cloning of cytopathic (cp) and noncytopathic (ncp) biotypes and epitope analysis, respectively. While 14 out of 15 BVDV isolates were distinguished as ncp biotype, 1 isolate was found to be containing both biotypes (cp + ncp). According to the reactivity patterns of isolates with 15 monoclonal antibodies, 4 different antigenic groups could be formed. There were no antigenic differences between the isolates derived from the same animal with various time intervals. On the other hand, biotype clones isolated from the same animal exhibited difference in one epitope. This is the first study describing antigenic characterisation of BVDV field isolates in Turkey.

Key words: BVDV, cloning, antigenic characterisation, monoclonal antibodies

*Corresponding author; E-mail: kyesilbag@uludag.edu.tr; Fax: +90 224 442 80 25

Péter Sótonyi