Levels of neutralizing antibodies against resident farm strain or vaccine strain are not indicators of protection against PRRSV-1 vertical transmission under farm conditions.

BACKGROUND: Vertical transmission is key for the maintenance of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection. In vaccinated farms, vertical transmission can still occur despite sows having some level of immunity because of repeated vaccination or contact with the wild-type virus. The present study aimed to correlate the age of sows and the amplitude of neutralizing antibodies (Nab) (heterologous neutralization) with PRRSV-1 vertical transmission (VT). For this purpose, umbilical cords of 1,554 newborns (corresponding to 250 litters) were tested for PRRSV by RT-PCR in two PRRSV-unstable vaccinated farms. In parallel, the sows were bled after farrowing and the levels of antibodies were determined by ELISA and by the viral neutralization test against the vaccine virus, the virus circulating in the farm, and other unrelated contemporary PRRSV-1 strains. The relationship between the parity and the probability of delivering infected piglets and the presence of broadly Nabs examined. RESULTS: The proportion of VT events in the two examined farms ranged from 18.9% to 23.0%. Young sows (parity 1-2) were 1.7 times more likely to have VT than older sows (p < 0.05). Despite higher ELISA S/P antibody ratios in younger sows (p < 0.05), NAb against the resident farm strain were at a similar level between sows delivering infected and healthy piglets regardless of age, mostly with low titers (2-3 log2). The titers of NAb against the vaccine virus were also low, and no correlations with VT were observed. When a panel of another 4 strains (1 isolated in the 1990s, and 3 contemporary strains) were used for the neutralization test, most sow sera were not capable of neutralizing the contemporary strains. CONCLUSIONS: Titers of NAb could not be correlated with the occurrence of PRRSV VT. The amplitude of NAb present in most vaccinated sows is limited with a considerable proportion unresponsive regarding NAb production.

The use of a whole inactivated PRRS virus vaccine administered in sows and impact on maternally derived immunity and timing of PRRS virus infection in piglets.

Background: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccination is usually based on administering periodically PRRS modified live virus (MLV) in sows throughout their life. Using this schedule, transfer of maternally derived antibodies to the offspring is limited. The aim of the present study was to test the concept of priming with an MLV and boosting with a commercial inactivated virus vaccine in sows to reduce PRRSV incidence and improve productivity. Methods: On two farms, all the sows were vaccinated with a MLV vaccine at week 8 of gestation. Then two groups were designated, one group was re-vaccinated in the third week prior to farrowing and using a commercial inactivated vaccine (the PG group). The second group was the control group (C). Assays for PRRSV infection and productive parameters were evaluated. Results: For both farms, the incidence of PRRSV was lower at 6 weeks of age in PG than in C (p < 0.05). At weaning the proportion of PRRSV seropositive piglets was higher for PG as well (p < 0.05). The litters from C sows from both farms showed a higher pre-weaning mortality (odds ratio, C vs. PG = 1.18 ± 0.09; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Administration of the vaccine in sows before farrowing was safe and associated with reduced incidence of PRRSV in piglets up to 6 weeks of age.

Prospective serological and molecular cross-sectional study focusing on Bartonella and other blood-borne organisms in cats from Catalonia (Spain).

BACKGROUND: There is limited clinical or epidemiological knowledge regarding Bartonella infection in cats, and no serological studies have compared the presence of antibodies against different Bartonella species. Moreover, there are limited feline Bartonella studies investigating co-infections with other vector-borne pathogens and the associated risk factors. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate Bartonella spp. infections and co-infections with other pathogens in cats from Barcelona (Spain) based on serological and/or molecular techniques and to determine associated risk factors. METHODS: We studied colony and owned cats (n = 135). Sera were tested for Bartonella henselae-, Bartonella quintana-, and Bartonella koehlerae-specific antibodies using endpoint in-house immunofluorescence antibody assays. Bartonella real-time PCR (qPCR) and conventional PCR (cPCR) were performed. In addition, cPCR followed by DNA sequencing was performed for other pathogenic organisms (Anaplasma, Babesia, Cytauxzoon, Ehrlichia, Hepatozoon, hemotropic Mycoplasma, and Theileria spp.). RESULTS: From 135 cats studied, 80.7% were seroreactive against at least one Bartonella species. Bartonella quintana, B. koehlerae, and B. henselae seroreactivity was 67.4, 77.0, and 80.7%, respectively. Substantial to almost perfect serological agreement was found between the three Bartonella species. Colony cats were more likely to be Bartonella spp.-seroreactive than owned cats. Moreover, cats aged ≤ 2 years were more likely to be Bartonella spp.-seroreactive. Bartonella spp. DNA was detected in the blood of 11.9% (n = 16) of cats. Cats were infected with B. henselae (n = 12), B. clarridgeiae (n = 3), and B. koehlerae (n = 1). Mycoplasma spp. DNA was amplified from 14% (n = 19) of cat blood specimens. Cats were infected with Mycoplasma haemofelis (n = 8), Candidatus M. haemominutum (n = 6), Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis (n = 4), and Mycoplasma wenyonii (n = 1). Anaplasma, Babesia, Cytauxzoon, Ehrlichia spp., Hepatozoon, and Theileria spp. DNA was not amplified from any blood sample. Of the 16 Bartonella spp.-infected cats based on PCR results, six (37%) were co-infected with Mycoplasma spp. CONCLUSIONS: Bartonella spp. and hemoplasma infections are prevalent in cats from the Barcelona area, whereas infection with Anaplasma spp., Babesia, Cytauxzoon, Ehrlichia spp., Hepatozoon, and Theileria infections were not detected. Co-infection with hemotropic Mycoplasma appears to be common in Bartonella-infected cats. To our knowledge, this study is the first to document M. wenyonii is infection in cats.

Development of an antigen Enzyme-Linked AptaSorbent Assay (ELASA) for the detection of swine influenza virus in field samples.

Influenza viruses are highly variable pathogens that infect a wide range of mammalian and avian species. According to the internal conserved proteins (nucleoprotein: NP, and matrix proteins: M), these viruses are classified into type A, B, C, and D. Influenza A virus in swine is of significant importance to the industry since it is responsible for endemic infections that lead to high economic loses derived from poor weight gain, reproductive disorders, and the role it plays in Porcine Respiratory Disease Complex (PRDC). To date, swine influenza virus (SIV) diagnosis continues to be based in complex and expensive technologies such as RT-qPCR. In this study, we aimed to improve actual tools by the implementation of aptamers as capture molecules. First, three different aptamers have been selected using as target the recombinant NP of Influenza A virus expressed in insect cells. Then, these molecules have been used for the development of an Enzyme-Linked AptaSorbent Assay (ELASA) in combination with specific monoclonal antibodies for Influenza A detection. A total of 171 field samples (nasal swabs) have been evaluated with the newly developed assay obtaining a 79.7% and 98.1% sensitivity and specificity respectively, using real time RT-PCR as standard assay. These results suggest that the assay is a promising method that could be used for Influenza A detection in analysis laboratories facilitating surveillance labours.