First identification and isolation of equine herpesvirus type 1 in aborted fetal lung tissues of donkeys.

BACKGROUND: Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is commonly associated with horse abortion. Currently, there are no reported cases of abortion resulting from EHV-1 infection in donkeys. RESULTS: This was the first survey-based study of Chinese donkeys. The presence of EHV-1 was identified by PCR. This survey was conducted in Chabuchar County, North Xinjiang, China, in 2020. A donkey EHV-1 strain (Chabuchar/2020) was successfully isolated in MDBK cells. Seventy-two of 100 donkey sera were able to neutralize the isolated EHV-1. Moreover, the ORF33 sequence of the donkey-origin EHV-1 Chabuchar/2020 strain showed high levels of similarity in both its nucleotide (99.7‒100%) and amino acid (99.5‒100%) sequences, with those of horse EHV-1 strains. EHV-1 Chabuchar/2020 showed significant consistency and was classified within cluster 1 of horse EHV-1 strains. Further, analysis of the expected ORF30 nucleotide sequence revealed that donkey EHV-1 strains contained guanine at position 2254, resulting in a change to aspartic acid at position 752 of the viral DNA polymerase. Therefore, these strains were classified as horse neuropathogenic strains. Lastly, a phylogenetic tree was constructed using the partial ORF68 nucleotide sequences, showing that the identified donkey EHV-1 strain and the EHV-1 strain found in aborted Yili horses in China comprised a novel independent VIII group. CONCLUSION: This study showed the first isolation and identification of EHV-1 as an etiological agent of abortions in donkeys. Further analysis of the ORF33, ORF30, and ORF68 sequences indicated that the donkey EHV-1 contained the neuropathogenic genotype of strains in the VIII group. It is thus important to be aware of EHV-1 infection in the donkey population, even though the virus has only been identified in donkey abortions in China.

Identification of neuropathogenic Varicellovirus equidalpha1 as a potential cause of respiratory disease outbreaks among horses in North Xinjiang, China, from 2021-2023.

BACKGROUND: Varicellovirus equidalpha1 (formerly Equid alphaherpesvirus 1, EqAHV-1) is among the most important viruses responsible for respiratory disease outbreaks among horses throughout the world. No reports to date have detailed the association between EqAHV-1 and respiratory disease among horses in China. This study described one such outbreak among a population of horses in north Xinjiang that occurred from April 2021 - May 2023. RESULTS: qPCR revealed that EqAHV-1 was detectable in all samples and this virus was identified as a possible source of respiratory disease, although a limited subset of these samples were also positive for EqAHV-2, EqAHV-4, and EqAHV-5. In total, three EqAHV-1 strains responsible for causing respiratory illness in horses were isolated successfully, and full-length ORF33 sequence comparisonsand phylogenetic analyses indicated that these isolates may have originated from EqAHV-1 strains detected in Yili horse abortions. ORF30 sequence data additionally suggested that these strains were neuropathic, as evidenced by the presence of a guanine residue at nucleotide position 2254 corresponding to the aspartic acid present at position 752 in the DNA polymerase encoded by this virus. CONCLUSION: This study is the first report of an outbreak of respiratory disease among horses in China caused by EqAHV-1. ORF30 sequence characterization revealed that these EqAHV-1 strains harbored a neuropathogenic genotype. Given the detection of this virus in horses suffering from respiratory disease, concern is warranted with respect to this neuropathogenic EqAHV-1 outbreak.

Abortion storm of Yili horses is associated with Equus caballus papillomavirus 2 variant infection.

Nine different species of Equus caballus papillomavirus (EcPV) and three bovine papillomaviruses (BPVs) have been reported to infect horses. However, there are few descriptions of such infections in China. In our pioneer study on Chinese horses, we identified EcPV-2 in the nasal swabs (4/230, 1.7%) of Yili horses, and the semen (3/18, 16.7%) of thoroughbred horses. This indicated that EcPV is indeed hosted by horses in China, and that EcPV-2 might be transmitted though breeding. Further detection of EcPVs in the lung tissues of aborted fetuses of Yili horses, which were originally negative for equid herpes viruses, demonstrated EcPV-2 positivity in 19 of 50 samples, thereby indicating that EcPV-2 may be a new pathogen responsible for causing abortion. Thereafter, sequence analyses of the L1 genes of 26 EcPV-2 in China were performed, indicating that EcPV-2, which primarily infects horses in China, shared 98.3-99.9% nt identity with the published sequences for EcPV-2. These observations indicated that EcPV-2 identified in the current study were highly similar variants of the previously identified strains of EcPV-2. Phylogenetic analysis based on L1 gene sequences from GenBank showed that the EcPV-2 found in Chinese horses was closely related to and clustered together with an already known EcPV-2a lineage. Our study provides the first evidence related to EcPV-2 infection in Chinese horses, which can serve as a causative agent for Yili horse abortions, and may thus lay the foundation for a systematic and detailed epidemiological study of this infection in Chinese horses.

Outbreak of neuropathogenic equid herpesvirus 1 causing abortions in Yili horses of Zhaosu, North Xinjiang, China.

BACKGROUND: EHV-1 is one of the most serious viral pathogens that frequently cause abortion in horses around the world. However, so far, relatively little information is available on EHV-1 infections as they occur in China. In January 2021, during an abortion storm which occurred in Yili horses at the Chinese State Studs of Zhaosu (North Xinjiang, China), 43 out of 800 pregnant mares aborted. RESULTS: PCR detection revealed the presence of EHV-1 in all samples as the possible cause of all abortions, although EHV-4, EHV-2 and EHV-5 were also found to circulate in the aborted fetuses. Furthermore, the partial ORF33 sequences of the 43 EHV-1 shared 99.3-100% and 99.0-100% similarity in nucleotide and amino acid sequences respectively. These sequences not only indicated a highly conserved region but also allowed the strains to group into six clusters. In addition, based on the predicted ORF30 nucleotide sequence, it was found that all the strains carried a guanine at the 2254 nucleotide position (aspartic acid at position 752 of the viral DNA polymerase) and were, therefore, identified as neuropathogenic strains. CONCLUSION: This study is the first one that establishes EHV-1 as the cause of abortions in Yili horses, of China. Further characterization of the ORF30 sequences revealed that all the EHV-1 strains from the study carried the neuropathogenic genotype. Totally, neuropathogenic EHV-1 infection in China's horse population should be concerned although the virus only detected in Yili horse abortions.

Near and mid-infrared optical vortex parametric oscillator based on KTA.

We investigated high energy, near and mid-infrared optical vortex lasers formed by a 1 µm optical vortex-pumped KTiOAsO4 (KTA) optical parametric oscillator. The orbital angular momentum (OAM) of the pump beam can be selectively transferred to the signal or idler output by changing the reflectivity of the output coupler. With this system, 1.535 µm vortex signal output with an energy of 2.04 mJ and 3.468 µm vortex idler output with an energy of 1.75 mJ were obtained with a maximum pump energy of 21 mJ, corresponding to slope efficiencies of 14% and 10%, respectively. The spectral bandwidth (full width at half maximum, FWHM) of the signal and idler vortex outputs were measured to be Δλs ~ 1.3 nm (~ 5.5 cm-1) and Δλi ~ 1.7 nm (~ 1.4 cm-1), respectively.

First detection and genetic characterization of equid herpesvirus 2, 4, and 5 in China.

In November 2018, an outbreak of respiratory disease occurred in foals at an equestrian club in Changji, northern Xinjiang, China. We applied viral metagenomics to investigate this outbreak and identify potential pathogens involved in this equine respiratory syndrome. The metagenomics data revealed the presence of sequences matching those of equid herpesvirus (EHV) 2, 4, and 5. PCR with specific primers targeting ORF33 of EHV-4 and ORF8 of EHV-2 and EHV-5 revealed coinfection with these viruses in this respiratory syndrome. To investigate the prevalence of these viruses in China, 453 nasal swabs from clinically healthy thoroughbred foals (36/453, 7.9%) and horses (417/453, 92.1%) were collected from several equestrian clubs. Forty-five (9.9%) of the samples tested positive for EHV-5 DNA, and seven (1.5%) tested positive for EHV-2, but all were negative for EHV-4 DNA. Forty-nine (10.8%) samples tested positive for both EHV-5 and EHV-2 DNA. Using these samples, one complete EHV-4 ORF33, 10 partial EHV-2 ORF8, and 50 partial EHV-5 ORF8 sequences from the 10 diseased foals and 50 thoroughbred horses were then determined. Sequence analysis indicated that EHV-4 ORF33 and EHV-5 ORF8, in contrast to EHV-2 ORF8, had high sequence similarity to those of published sequences. Our data provide the first evidence that EHV-2, -4, and -5 co-circulate in China and that EHV-4 is potentially involved in this respiratory disease in foals.

[Evaluation of the consistency between the measurement results of residual bone height and root surface area in periodontal supporting tissue].

PURPOSE: To explore the percentage of residual support height (Ph) and the percentage of residual root surface area (Ps) in evaluating periodontal support ability by simulating different stages of periodontitis based on the curved surface modeling. METHODS: Fifteen cone-beam CT (CBCT) images including 420 teeth in total were collected. The data were reconstructed into 3-dimensional teeth models by Mimics software.The 3D surface model of the tooth was then optimized by Geomagic software and then imported into Solidworks software to simulate different periodontal support height. Ph and Ps were measured and calculated to evaluate the consistency of Ph and Ps results in all tooth types. The data were analyzed with SPSS 22.0 software package. RESULTS: RSA in incisors, canines and premolars: coronal 1/3>middle 1/3>apical 1/3. RSA in molars: middle 1/3>coronal 1/3>apical 1/3. Maxillary first molar had the largest RSA, accounting for 11.60% of the dentition, which was about 3.18 times than mandibular central incisor. The difference between Ph and Ps in all types of teeth was statistically significant (P<0.01). The 95% confidence interval(CI) of the difference between Ph and Ps in the maxillary incisor, mandibular incisor, mandibular canine was between the clinical consistency limit (-15%, 15%). In the remaining tooth types, 95%CI of the difference between Ph and Ps was beyond the clinical consistency limit (-15%, 15%). CONCLUSIONS: For single-root tooth, except maxillary canine, the remaining periodontal support height could replace periodontal support area. For multi-rooted tooth, judging the ability of periodontal support ability only by alveolar bone absorption ratio in 2D index has significant limitations. Full consideration is needed to focus on root morphological discrepancy when determining the extent of periodontal disease.

A case-control study on risk factors of hepatitis B infection in Karamay / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the main risk factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Karamay, to provide scientific basis for hepatitis B prevention and control.@*Methods@#Hepatitis B patients treated in Karamay Central Hospital in 2014 were selected as the case group, and the HBsAg negative cases were selected as control group by case control study method according to the same hospital, gender, age and other factors. Questionnaire survey was conducted and serological markers of HBV infection were detected.@*Results@#Multivariate analysis showed that family members of patients with HBV infection, HBV infection markers detection, aesthetic treatment caused trauma history (e.g., eyebrow tattoo, Tattoo, eyeliner tattoo, piercing ears), and no hepatitis B vaccination history were the main risk factors of HBV infection in Karamay currently.@*Conclusions@#The risk factors of HBV infection in Karamay population still exist. The propaganda and education of hepatitis B prevention knowledge in the public should be improved in the future. Changing adverse lifestyle and the timely initiatiation of hepatitis B vaccination are important measures to control HBV infection.

Distribution of noniodized salt and related affecting factors in Xinjiang / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To find out the distribution of noniodized salt and related affecting factors in Xinjiang.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Using NTTST's iodized salt inspection Plan.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total number of 17 973 house holds being surveyed in which 69.4% of those used iodized salt and 30.5% used noniodizd salt. In northern Xinjiang, 7 672 households being surveyed in which 83.9% used iodized salt while in eastern Xinjiang 1 200 house holds being surveyed in which 62.2% used iodized salt. In southern Xinjiang, 9 101 house holds being surveyed in which 58.2% used iodized salt. Data showed a statistically significant difference (chi(2) = 1 329.87, P < 0.01). The noniodized salt comes from shop-on-wheels (57.4%) and rock salt (23.0%). The source of iodine was different in different areas. In eastern and southern Xinjiang it came from shop-on-wheels, while in northern Xinjiang came from retail sites. Factors related to the use of iodized salt were awareness about iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) and income.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Programs on fighting against iodine deficiency in Xinjiang needs more attention, especially in the following aspects as publicity on IDD, administration of salt market and supervision system.</p>