Expression and antigenic characterization of bubaline herpesvirus 1 (BuHV1) glycoprotein E and its potential application in the epidemiology and control of alphaherpesvirus infections in Mediterranean water buffalo.

Bubaline herpesvirus 1 (BuHV1) is a member of ruminant alphaherpesviruses antigenically related to bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV1). The impact of BuHV1 infection in infectious bovine rhinotracheitis control program is difficult to establish, due to the lack of specific diagnostic test. The ectodomain of glycoprotein E of BuHV1 was expressed as recombinant secreted protein and used in indirect ELISA as well as in a discriminatory test using the BoHV1 counterpart. A panel of monoclonal antibodies was produced against BuHV1; 6 out of 7 anti-gE monoclonal antibodies specifically recognized the BuHV1 gE. Results indicated BuHV1 gE as a sensitive marker of infection compared to seroneutralization (SN) test or blocking ELISA. When BoHV1 and BuHV1 gEs were immobilized in different wells of the same ELISA microplate, bovine and water buffalo sera were more reactive against the respective infecting virus. About one third of seropositive buffaloes with no history of contact with cattle and having higher SN titres, reacted in BoHV1 gE blocking ELISA, possibly because of steric hindrance. Since in two occasions BuHV1 was also isolated from water buffalo scoring gB+/gE+ BoHV1 blocking ELISA, we conclude that the combination of the two blocking ELISAs is not suitable to differentiate between BoHV1 and BuHV1.

Old and new diagnostic approaches for Q fever diagnosis: correlation among serological (CFT, ELISA) and molecular analyses.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of the complement fixation test (CFT) with respect to ELISA for the serological diagnosis of Q fever and to assess the role of serology as a tool for the identification of the shedder status. During 2009-2010, sera from 9635 bovines and 3872 small ruminants (3057 goats and 815 sheep) were collected and analyzed with CFT and ELISA. In addition, 2256 bovine, 139 caprine and 72 ovine samples (individual and bulk tank milk samples, fetuses, vaginal swabs and placentae) were analyzed with a real-time PCR kit. The relative sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of CFT with respect to ELISA were Se 26.56% and Sp 99.71% for cattle and Se 9.96% and Sp 99.94% for small ruminants. To evaluate the correlation between serum-positive status and shedder status, the ELISA, CFT and real-time PCR results were compared. Due to the sampling method and the data storage system, the analysis of individual associations between the serological and molecular tests was possible only for some of the bovine samples. From a statistical point of view, no agreement was observed between the serological and molecular results obtained for fetus and vaginal swab samples. Slightly better agreement was observed between the serological and molecular results obtained for the individual milk samples and between the serological (at least one positive in the examined group) and molecular results for the bulk tank milk (BTM) samples. The CFT results exhibited a better correlation with the shedder status than did the ELISA results.

Discovery of the shape coexisting 0+ state in 32 Mg by a two neutron transfer reaction.

The "island of inversion" nucleus 32 Mg has been studied by a (t, p) two neutron transfer reaction in inverse kinematics at REX-ISOLDE. The shape coexistent excited 0+ state in 32 Mg has been identified by the characteristic angular distribution of the protons of the Δ L=0 transfer. The excitation energy of 1058 keV is much lower than predicted by any theoretical model. The low γ-ray intensity observed for the decay of this 0+ state indicates a lifetime of more than 10 ns. Deduced spectroscopic amplitudes are compared with occupation numbers from shell-model calculations.

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV1) seroprevalence in the breeding cattle population of the Veneto region: prospects for the implementation of a control programme.

The results of a serological survey for bovine herpes virus (BHV1) antibodies in the breeding cattle population of the Veneto region are presented. The data do not support the hypothesis of an high prevalence of BHV1; on farms where vaccination was not carried out most animals were seronegative, and seropositive animals were generally older. Therefore, when drawing up the guidelines for a control programme, systematic immunization (with glycoprotein E-deleted vaccines) should be restricted only to farms with a high prevalence of BHV1 antibodies and/or with a high risk of BHV1 occurrence; in most unvaccinated farms a 'test and removal' policy appears to be more appropriate in order to rapidly eradicate BHV1 from the entire stock.

Diagnosis of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) and European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) by indirect sandwich polyclonal ELISA.

The establishment of two indirect sandwich polyclonal ELISAs for the virological diagnosis of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) and European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) is described. Each assay uses rabbit and guinea pig antisera raised to RHD or EBHS purified virus particles. The tests are sensitive and specific, but cross-reactions between rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) and European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV) are observed. Most rabbit liver homogenates identified as RHDV-positive by ELISA do not haemagglutinate human red blood cells at room temperature.

Research on the presence of porcine enterovirus serotype 1 in north-eastern Italy.

The liquid-phase blocking sandwich ELISA, already developed for foot-and-mouth disease and swine vesicular disease serology, has been employed in pig sera for the antibody detection against porcine enterovirus serotype 1. ELISA-titers correlate positively with virus neutralization and their distribution show a high prevalence among the sampled pigs. The serological findings are confirmed by the isolation of a field strain of porcine enterovirus belonging to the serotype 1.

Experience on the treatment of chronic myelocytic leukaemia (CML) in blastic crisis.

A group of 50 patients with chronic myelocytic leukaemia in blastic crisis were treated with different chemotherapeutic regimens. A total of 19 remissions (6 CR + 13 PR) were achieved with an overall and complete response rate of 38% and 12% respectively. Of the 4 patients presenting with a lymphoblast-like appearance of the blasts, the 3 treated with the combination of vincristine and prednisone all achieved remission (2 CR + 1 PR). Duration of survival was significantly longer in responding patients (median 11.5 versus 4.5 months). Either more effective therapeutic regimens or prevention by aggressively approaching the chronic phase are to be sought in order to improve the prognosis of blastic crisis of CML.