Physiological responses to central and peripheral injections of compound 48/80 and histamine in chicks.

Mast cells are a type of immune cell widely distributed in the body of vertebrates. Mast cells have many granules that contain several bioactive molecules such as histamine, and these molecules are released through degranulation when the mast cell receives certain stimuli. Because the number of mast cells increases during infection in chickens (Gallus gallus), the activity of mast cells might be related to non-specific symptoms such as anorexia under an infectious condition. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate whether intraperitoneal (IP) and intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of compound 48/80, which induces degranulation of mast cells, affects feeding, voluntary activity, cloacal temperature, and the concentrations of plasma corticosterone (CORT) and glucose in chicks. The effect of histamine, which is found in mast cell granules, on these parameters was also investigated. IP injection of compound 48/80 significantly decreased food intake, voluntary activity, and cloacal temperature, and increased plasma CORT concentration in the chicks. While ICV injection of compound 48/80 also decreased food intake, it increased cloacal temperature and plasma glucose concentration. Both IP and ICV injections of histamine significantly decreased food intake, cloacal temperature, and plasma CORT concentration. However, only IP injection of histamine significantly decreased voluntary activity and increased plasma glucose concentration. The results suggest that degranulation of mast cells is related to non-specific symptoms in chicks, although the mechanism seems to be different between peripheral and central tissues. In addition, the effect of peripherally-injected compound 48/80 may be partly mediated by histamine.

Effect of central injection of tumor-necrosis factor-like cytokine 1A and interferons on food intake in chicks.

In mammals, anorexia accompanying infection is thought to be mediated via cytokines including interleukins, interferons (IFNs), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). However, there is a lack of related knowledge on birds. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine if cytokines are associated with reduced food intake in chicks (Gallus gallus). Specifically, we evaluated the effects of TNF-like cytokine 1A (TL1A), a member of the TNF family, interferon-α (IFN-α), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) on food intake. Additionally, the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) on cytokine mRNA expression in the diencephalon and spleen was also measured. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of 0.05 or 0.5 µg TL1A, IFN-α, and IFN-γ had no effect on food intake. However, when 1.0 µg each of these factors was evaluated, TL1A significantly decreased food intake at 180 and 240 min after the injection, but IFN-α and IFN-γ had no effect. When chicks received intraperitoneal (IP) injections of 100 µg LPS or 400 µg poly I:C, their food intake was reduced. Diencephalic mRNA expression of TL1A was significantly decreased following IP injection of LPS or poly I:C. Additionally, diencephalic mRNA expression of IFN-γ mRNA was significantly increased by IP injection of LPS but decreased by IP injection of poly I:C. For the spleen, IP injection of LPS and poly I:C both significantly increased TL1A and IFN-γ mRNA expression. In sum, we have provided evidence that central TL1A but not IFN-α or IFN-γ are related to reduction of food intake in chicks, but the role of these cytokines for mediating anorexia associated with infections may differ from mammals.

Genome sequence of a novel virus of the species human adenovirus d associated with acute gastroenteritis.

A novel virus of the species human adenovirus D, HAdV-67 (P-New/H9/F25), was first isolated from diarrheal feces of six children in Dhaka City, Bangladesh. The genome of this novel virus may be composed of multiple recombinations among HAdV-9, HAdV-25, HAdV-26, HAdV-33, HAdV-46, and an unknown human adenovirus D which was an origin of HAdV-67.

Genome sequence of an unusual human G10P[8] rotavirus detected in Vietnam.

A rare human G10P[8] rotavirus with a reassortment between bovine and human viruses was detected from a patient with acute gastroenteritis in Vietnam. Genetic analysis using complete coding sequences of all segments showed a genomic constellation of this virus of G10-P[8]-I1-R1-C1-M1-A1-N1-T1-E1-H1. Its VP7 region was genetically related to that of a bovine rotavirus derived from Australia (strain VICG10.01), whereas all other genes were identical to those of a human rotavirus derived from Australia (strain Victoria/CK00047). These results indicate a possibility that the reassortment of the rotavirus was caused by immune escape in Australia and the rotavirus was carried to Vietnam. Additionally, this finding will help further understanding the evolution of rotaviruses circulating in Vietnam.

A molecular epidemiologic study of human adenovirus type 8 isolates causing epidemic keratoconjunctivitis in Kawasaki City, Japan in 2011.

A local outbreak of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) caused by human adenovirus type 8 (HAdV-D8) occurred in Kawasaki city, Japan in July-August 2011. Since the cases were sporadic in nature, the source of the infection could not be identified. The results of PCR analysis and the appearance of cytopathic effects in the samples indicated that 22 patients were positive for HAdV. The mean age of the patients (10 men and 12 women) was 64.3 ± 17.3 years (median, 68 years; range, 11-86 years). The sequences of hexon, which included hypervariable loop 1; the penton, which included RGD loops; and the fiber, which included the knob-coding regions, were identical in all the HAdV-positive cases. Phylogenetic analysis of the major capsid protein-encoding regions of HAdV confirmed that the isolates were HAdV-D8. Although the incidence of HAdV-D8 outbreaks has decreased in Japan since 1997, the results of our study imply that HAdV-D8 is still a causative agent for EKC outbreaks in Japan.

Novel human adenovirus strain, Bangladesh.

We report a novel human adenovirus D (HAdV-65) isolated from feces of 4 children in Bangladesh who had acute gastroenteritis. Corresponding genes of HAdV-65 were related to a hexon gene of HAdV-10, penton base genes of HAdV-37 and HAdV-58, and a fiber gene of HAdV-9. This novel virus may be a serious threat to public health.