Responses of haptoglobin and serum amyloid A in goats inoculated intradermally with C. pseudotuberculosis and mycolic acid extract immunogen.

Haptoglobin (Hp) and Serum Amyloid A (SAA) are a group of blood proteins whose concentrations in animals can be influenced by infection, inflammation, surgical trauma or stress. Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the causative agent of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA), and Mycolic acid is a virulent factor extracted from C. pseudotuberculosis. There is a dearth of sufficient evidence on the clinical implication of MAs on the responses of Hp and SAA in goats. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the potential effects of Mycolic acid (MAs) and C. pseudotuberculosis on the responses of Hp and SAA in female goats. A total of 12 healthy female goats was divided into three groups; A, B and C each comprising of 4 goats and managed for a period of three months. Group (A) was inoculated with 2 mL of sterile phosphate buffered saline (as a negative control group) intradermally, while group (B) and (C) were inoculated intradermally with 2 ml each of mycolic acid and 1  × 109 cfu of active C. pseudotuberculosis respectively. The result of the study showed that the Hp concentration in goats inoculated with C. pseudotuberculosis was significantly increased up to 7-fold (1.17 ±â€¯0.17 ng/L) while MAs showed a 3-fold increased (0.83 ±â€¯0.01 ng/L) compared with the control. Whereas SAA concentration in C. pseudotuberculosis and MAs groups showed a significant 3-fold (17.85 ±â€¯0.91 pg/mL) and 2-fold (10.97 ±â€¯0.71 pg/mL) increased compared with the control. This study concludes that inoculation of C. pseudotuberculosis and MAs have significant effects on Hp and SAA levels, which indicates that MAs could have a role in the pathogenesis of caseous lymphadenitis.

[Vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type b in the Valencia Community: efficacy and failure of vaccinations]. / Vacunación frente a Haemophilus influenzae tipo b en la Comunidad Valenciana: Efectividad vacunal y fallos vacunales. Grupo de Estudio de Enfermedades Invasoras.

OBJECTIVE: To study Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine effectivity and vaccine failures in the Valencian Community of Spain where vaccine can be obtained, but is not scheduled as a routine immunization. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective surveillance system where pediatricians and microbiologists of all public hospitals of the Valencian Community reported cases of invasive Hib disease in children (under 15 years of age). Vaccination status (number of doses, dates and type of vaccine) in each case was obtained. RESULTS: Of 23 cases reported from December 1, 1995 to November 30, 1996, two had received at least one dose of Hib vaccine. One was a true vaccine failure and the other an apparent vaccine failure. Estimating a vaccine coverage of 32.5% of the children less than 5 years old, the direct vaccine effectivity was 90.6% (IC 95%: 27.9-98.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Hib conjugate vaccine is effective in the Valencian Community, however, there is still invasive disease due to the low vaccine coverage and some vaccine failures.