Major mite allergen Der f 1 concentration is reduced in buildings with improved energy performance.

BACKGROUND: Environmental conditions play a crucial role in mite growth, and optimal environmental control is key in the prevention of airway inflammation in chronic allergic rhinoconjunctivitis or asthma. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between building energy performance and indoor mite allergen concentration in a cross-sectional study. METHODS: Major allergen concentration (Der f 1, Der p 1, mite group 2, Fel d 1 and Bla g 2) was determined by quantitative dot blot analysis from mattress and carpet dust samples in five buildings designed for low energy use (LEB) and in six control buildings (CB). Inhabitants had received 4 weeks prior to mite measurement a personal validated questionnaire related to the perceived state of health and comfort of living. RESULTS: Cumulative mite allergen concentration (with Der f 1 as the major contributor) was significantly lower in LEB as compared with CB both in mattresses and in carpets. In contrast, the two categories of buildings did not differ in Bla g 2 and Fel d 1 concentration, in the amount of dust and airborne mould collected. Whereas temperature was higher in LEB, relative humidity was significantly lower than in CB. Perceived overall comfort was better in LEB. CONCLUSIONS: Major mite allergen Der f 1 preferentially accumulates in buildings not specifically designed for low energy use, reaching levels at risk for sensitization. We hypothesize that controlled mechanical ventilation present in all audited LEB may favour lower air humidity and hence lower mite growth and allergen concentration, while preserving optimal perceived comfort.

The effects of immunization against luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone on performance, sexual development, and levels of boar taint-related compounds in intact male pigs.

The effect of a newly developed anti-LH-RH vaccine on the performance, sexual development, and incidence of boar taint-related compounds was investigated in young intact male pigs. At 29 kg BW, 40 crossbred intact males and 20 castrates were allocated to three groups. Castrates and half of the intact males were untreated. The remaining intact males were immunized against LH-RH at 29 kg and again at 89 kg BW. All pigs were slaughtered at 105 kg BW. Compared with control intact males, feed efficiency in castrates was decreased by 10%, muscle content was reduced by 5%, and carcass fat content was increased by 26%. Growth performance and carcass traits did not differ significantly between immunized and control intact males. Genital tract weight, measured at slaughter, was decreased (P < or = .002) by immunization. Plasma testosterone concentrations were not significantly affected at 89 kg BW, whereas they were sevenfold lower (P < .001) in immunized than in control intact males at 105 kg BW. Fat androsterone levels, measured at slaughter, were substantially reduced (P < .001) from .66 +/- .07 microgram/g in control to .21 +/- .01 microgram/g in immunized intact males. Rates of testicular steroid biosynthesis, measured in vitro, were decreased by immunocastration. Fat skatole levels were very low and did not differ significantly between the three groups. The present results demonstrate that anti-LHRH immunization was effective in reducing the level of androstenone, a boar taint-related compound, although having a limited effect on the performance of the animals.

[Normalization of the dimensions of the left ventricle as measured by echocardiography]. / Normalisation des dimensions du ventricule gauche mesurées par échocardiographie.

An M mode echocardiographic study was performed, of left ventricular dimensions and wall thickness in two series of normal (N1, N2) and pathological (P1, P2) subjects. In the more recent series (N2 = 40, P2 = 17) data acquisition was facilitated by tests deduced from the technique of ultrasound transit time. The parameters compared were based on: 1) the proportionality between fractional shortening and fractional thickening (N1: not significant; N2: p less than 0.001), 2) the relationship between systolic radius and wall thickness (linear correlation, r = 0.95, between N2 and P2). The slope seemed to be related to the initial condition of contraction, the ratio of end diastolic wall thickness/radius (N1: p less than 0.01). There are several ways of normalising myocardial surface of section in adults and children; the normal surface is related to body surface area (r = 0.87; p less than 0.001 between calculated and predicted values for a N2 mean of 9.3 +/- 0.06 cm2/m2). The end diastolic diameters and wall thicknesses correlated with body surface area but the coefficients were not as statistically significant due to physiological variations in chamber filling. The indexed myocardial surface was increased (p less than 0.001) in the pathological series. The introduction of these tests improves the reliability of echocardiographic data. The use of several measurements simultaneously allows normalisation of body surface area and increases the diagnostic efficacy.

[Influence of rabies virus culture duration on viral glycoprotein integrity]. / Influence de la durée de culture du virus rabique sur l'intégrité de la glycoprotéine virale.

Regardless of the duration of the culture period, the amount of both glycoprotein G and sialic acid bound to the rabies virion as not modified. The major proteins of the viral suspension were the same proteins as those of the virion, except one glycoprotein (MW 70,000).

[Use of anti-foot-and-mouth disease vaccine in oil adjuvant in young cattle]. / Utilisation chez les jeunes bovins du vaccin antiaphteux en adjuvant huileux.

A comparative study of the activity of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines, both aqueous- and oil-adjuvanted, was carried out on young bovines from vaccinated mothers. The immunity of these animals against foot-and-mouth disease was controlled after the first vaccination and booster by serology (neutralizing antibody count and immunology virulence testing). After having followed the kinetics of decrease in seroneutralizing antibodies of maternal origin the animals were vaccinated at the age of 11 weeks either with aqueous-adjuvanted or oil-adjuvanted vaccine. A booster dose was given two months later. Blood samples were taken at regular intervals and two virulence tests were made, one 21 days after the first vaccination and the other six months after the booster dose.

[Production, control and use in swine of anti-foot-and-mouth disease vaccine in oil adjuvant]. / A propos de la production, du contrôle et de l'utilisation chez le porc du vaccin antiaphteux en adjuvant huileux.

A certain number of parameters involved in the manufacture, control and use of an efficacious vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease have been studied. This report considers the problems raised by the standardization of the raw material constituent to the vaccine as well as the different types of innocuity and activity testing carried out on sows, young pigs and bacon pigs. Special attention is given to virulence testing methods, to the criteria allowing evaluation of the quality of the vaccines and to the transmission of maternal immunity of the sows to their piglets and its incidence on the vaccination schedule.

[Combined vaccines including 1 or several anti-foot-and-mouth valences]. / Vaccins associés comportant une ou plusieurs valences antiaphteuses.

Combined vaccines are used for many human and animal diseases. However, we have very few examples of combinations containing anti-foot-and-mouth valence which would allow easy immunization against differnet diseases without additional handling. Until now foot-and-mouth vaccination has been applied simultaneously with anti-brucellic vaccination (Baldoni, Renoux), andi-anthrax (Nobili) and vaccination against swine fever and Aujeszky's disease (Lysenko). During the last ten years we have particularly studied the association of anti-foot-and-mouth disease vaccines with anti-brucella and anti-rabies vaccines. We have shown the possiblity of combining these different antigens, either in classical aqueous vaccines in aluminum hydroxide, or in emulsified vaccines containing oily adjuvants. The anti-brucella valences may be agglutinogenic (H 38) or non-agglutinogenic (MacEwen 45/20). The combined vaccines "rabies + foot-and-mouth disease" and "brucellosis + foot-and-mouth disease" can be produced on an industrial scale. For many years millions of animals have been successfully vaccinated in France by means of a combined "rabies + foot-and-mouth disease" vaccine.

[Anti-foot-and-mouth vaccines combined with other bacterial or viral vaccines]. / Les vaccins antiaphteux associés à d'autres vaccins bacteriens ou viraux.

Medical and sanitary prevention of a growing number of major infectious diseases of bovines has led IFFA-Mérieux to investigate the association of vaccines and to define methods of utilization. Care has been taken to limit the number of interventions and at the same time to retain in the combined valences the efficacy they had when in a state of single constituent. The work which has been carried out for the last ten years, including the study of adjuvants as well as of incompatibility of associations, has permitted the improvement of formulas, reduced in volume (5 ml for a plurivalent dose), in aqueous excipient (aluminum hydroxide and saponin) or oily excipient (oil in water type). These formulas combine 3 foot-and-mouth disease valences with a rabies valence (fixed strain grown on cell culture) or with a brucellosis valence (strain B. abortus MacEwen 45/20 and B. melitensis H 38). The innocuity of these associations allows them to be used in sanitary compaigns; their efficacy is equal to that of monovalent vaccines. A logical vaccination calendar is proposed.

[Characteristics of viruses multiplying in cell lines in suspension and their correspondent vaccines]. / Caractéristiques des virus multipliés sur lignées cellulaires en suspension et des vaccins leur correspondant.

The characteristics of the viruses produced from cell lines developed in suspension and the vaccines for which they are used should be judged by methods which allow to ensure in all cases their innocuity and efficacity. Innocuity is essentially dependent upon the purity of the viral preparation which should contain a minimum of foreign proteins (due either to the cell or the culture medium) and certain antibiotics. Furthermore, the absence of oncogenic properties of the inactivated viral suspensions should be shown, in addition to their specific innocuity. Efficacity is linked with the concentration of viral particles and with their immunogenic properties after inactivation and incorporation of adjuvants of immunity. Methods of appreciation of the different parameters are proposed.