Evaluation of surface antigen TF1.17 in feline Tritrichomonas foetus isolates.

Tritrichomonas foetus (T. foetus) is a flagellated protozoa that infects the distal ileum and proximal colon of domestic cats, as well as the urogenital tract of cattle. Feline trichomonosis is recognized as a prevalent cause of chronic diarrhea in cats worldwide.

Development of a bead-agglutination assay for rapid detection of Tritrichomonas foetus.

Tritrichomonas foetus is a flagellated protozoan parasite that causes inflammation of the reproductive tract leading to early embryonic death and abortion in cattle, thereby resulting in significant economic losses. Testing and culling infected bulls is an important strategy for parasite control. Routine testing is mainly limited to bulls that are traveling across state lines or within states that have specific control programs.

Expression of Histophilus somni IbpA DR2 protective antigen in the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana.

Increasing demand for the low-cost production of valuable proteins has stimulated development of novel expression systems. Many challenges faced by existing technology may be overcome by using unicellular microalgae as an expression platform due to their ability to be cultivated rapidly, inexpensively, and in large scale. Diatoms are a particularly productive type of unicellular algae showing promise as production organisms.

A recombinant subunit vaccine for bovine RSV and Histophilus somni protects calves against dual pathogen challenge.

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and Histophilus somni synergize to cause respiratory disease in cattle. These pathogens cause enhanced disease during dual-infection and an IgE response to antigens of H. somni in dual-infected but not singly infected calves.

Effect of Histophilus somni on Heart and Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells.

Histophilus somni is a pathogenic gram-negative bacterium responsible for pneumonia and septicemia in cattle. Sequelae include infectious thrombotic meningoencephalitis (ITME), myocarditis, arthritis, and abortion. These syndromes are associated with widespread vasculitis and thrombosis, implicating a role for endothelium in pathogenesis.

Is infection (pigeon fever) in horses an emerging disease in western Canada?

This report describes 5 horses in the southern Alberta region with typical and atypical external abscessation due to (pigeon fever). "Pigeon fever" has recently been diagnosed in new geographic regions in North America and should be kept as a differential diagnosis by practitioners when an external or internal abscess is identified in a horse.

Serum, uterine, and vaginal mucosal IgG antibody responses against Tritrichomonas foetus after administration of a commercial killed whole T foetus vaccine in beef cows.

The objective of this study was to determine the level and duration of IgG antibodies induced against killed whole Tritrichomonas foetus and T foetus-purified surface antigen (TF1.17) in serum, vaginal, and uterine secretions after systemic immunization of beef cows with a vaccine containing killed whole T foetus. Twenty nonpregnant beef cows were randomly assigned to vaccine or control groups as follows: Vaccine (n = 10): cows received 2 mL of a commercial vaccine containing killed whole T foetus subcutaneously and a 2-mL booster 2 weeks later.

Diatoms and diatomaceous earth as novel poultry vaccine adjuvants.

Diatoms are single cell eukaryotic microalgae; their surface possesses a porous nanostructured silica cell wall or frustule. Diatomaceous earth (DE) or diatomite is a natural siliceous sediment of diatoms. Since silica has been proved to have adjuvant capabilities, we propose that diatoms and DE may provide an inexpensive and abundant source of adjuvant readily available to use in livestock vaccines.

Histophilus somni Stimulates Expression of Antiviral Proteins and Inhibits BRSV Replication in Bovine Respiratory Epithelial Cells.

Our previous studies showed that bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) followed by Histophilus somni causes more severe bovine respiratory disease and a more permeable alveolar barrier in vitro than either agent alone. However, microarray analysis revealed the treatment of bovine alveolar type 2 (BAT2) epithelial cells with H. somni concentrated culture supernatant (CCS) stimulated up-regulation of four antiviral protein genes as compared with BRSV infection or dual treatment.

Host Immune Response to Histophilus somni.

Histophilus somni is known to cause several overlapping syndromes or to be found in genital or upper respiratory carrier states in ruminants. Vaccines have been used for decades, yet efficacy is controversial and mechanisms of protective immunity are not well understood. Since H.

Histophilus somni Surface Proteins.

The pathogen surface is usually the first site of interaction with the host. Histophilus somni was earlier thought to only have an outer membrane on its surface. Now it is known that the surface is composed of many virulence factors, including outer membrane proteins, lipooligosaccharide or endotoxin, a fibrillar network, and an exopolysaccharide.

Effect of rider experience and evaluator expertise on subjective grading of lameness in sound and unsound sports horses under saddle.

The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether rider experience influences the assessment and grading of lameness in horses based on under-saddle gait analysis. Thirteen adult sports horses in active training were included in the study. After a baseline lameness and neurologic examination by the principal investigators, horses were videotaped while being ridden by an experienced and a less experienced rider.

Tumor suppressor and deubiquitinase BAP1 promotes DNA double-strand break repair.

The cellular response to highly genotoxic DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) involves the exquisite coordination of multiple signaling and repair factors. Here, we conducted a functional RNAi screen and identified BAP1 as a deubiquitinase required for efficient assembly of the homologous recombination (HR) factors BRCA1 and RAD51 at ionizing radiation (IR) -induced foci. BAP1 is a chromatin-associated protein frequently inactivated in cancers of various tissues.

Antibodies to Trichomonas vaginalis surface glycolipid.

Background: Human trichomoniasis is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease, yet immune responses are not well studied.

Methods: Since the Trichomonas vaginalis lipophosphoglycan (TvLPG) is an important virulence factor, a bank of eight monoclonal antibodies was generated to define the antigen in clinical isolates. The TvLPG-specific antibody response of women who were culture positive (n=33) or negative (n=33) for T vaginalis infection was determined by isotype-specific ELISA.

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus and Histophilus somni interaction at the alveolar barrier.

Our previous studies showed that Histophilus somni and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) act synergistically in vivo to cause more severe bovine respiratory disease than either agent alone causes. Since H. somni surface and secreted immunoglobulin binding protein A (IbpA) causes retraction of bovine alveolar type 2 (BAT2) cells and invasion between BAT2 cells in vitro, we investigated mechanisms of BRSV-plus-H.

Antibody responses of calves to Histophilus somni recombinant IbpA subunits.

Histophilus somni causes bovine pneumonia and septicemia, but protective immune responses are not well understood and immunodiagnostic methods are not well defined. We previously showed that antibody to a new virulence factor, IbpA, neutralizes cytotoxicity and immunization with a recombinant IbpA domain protects calves against experimental H. somni pneumonia.

Effect of vinyl sulfone inhibitors of cysteine proteinases on Tritrichomonas foetus infection.

Tritrichomonas foetus is a sexually transmitted protozoon that causes genital inflammation and adverse pregnancy outcomes in cattle. Cysteine proteinases (CPs) released by T. foetus degrade immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, complement component 3 and matrix proteins as well as inducing apoptosis of bovine genital epithelial cells.

Murine models of vaginal trichomonad infections.

Trichomonas vaginalis and Tritrichomonas foetus cause common sexually transmitted infections in humans and cattle, respectively. Mouse models of trichomoniasis are important for pathogenic and therapeutic studies. Here, we compared murine genital infections with T.

IbpA DR2 subunit immunization protects calves against Histophilus somni pneumonia.

Histophilus somni is a prevalent cause of pneumonia and septicemia in cattle. Yet evidence for protection against pneumonia by current vaccines is controversial. We have identified a new H.

Immunity to infections in the lower genital tract of bulls.

The mucosa of the bovine prepuce has unique immunological characteristics critical to defense against sexually transmitted diseases. Tritrichomonas foetus and Campylobacter fetus subspecies venerealis persistently colonize the lower genital tract of bulls but usually do not cause either major clinical signs or inflammation. These microbes may be sexually transmitted to female cattle to cause reproductive failure.

Histophilus somni IbpA Fic cytotoxin is conserved in disease strains and most carrier strains from cattle, sheep and bison.

Histophilus somni causes bovine pneumonia, septicemia, myocarditis, thrombotic meningoencephalitis and arthritis, as well as a genital or upper respiratory carrier state in normal animals. However, differences in virulence factors among strains are not well studied. The surface and secreted immunoglobulin binding protein A (IbpA) Fic motif of H.

Histophilus somni IbpA DR2/Fic in virulence and immunoprotection at the natural host alveolar epithelial barrier.

Newly recognized Fic family virulence proteins may be important in many bacterial pathogens. To relate cellular mechanisms to pathogenesis and immune protection, we studied the cytotoxicity of the Histophilus somni immunoglobulin-binding protein A (IbpA) direct repeat 2 Fic domain (DR2/Fic) for natural host target cells. Live virulent IbpA-producing H.

Preputial cellular and antibody responses of bulls vaccinated and/or challenged with Tritrichomonas foetus.

Systemic and genital immune responses in bulls were determined after infection with Tritrichomonas foetus and systemic vaccination with whole cell antigens. Vaccinated bulls resisted infection, developed IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies against T. foetus in preputial secretions and serum, and had increased MHC II(+) and CD205(+) cells (probably dendritic cells), CD3(+) and CD8(+) T cells, and B cells including IgG1 and IgA plasma cells in the prepuce.

Diagnostic exercise: Myocarditis due to Histophilus somni in feedlot and backgrounded cattle.

A backgrounding operation for calves in Wyoming identified a disease syndrome presenting as lethargy, fever, and death between November and January each year. An unfixed heart was submitted for examination, along with samples of lung. There was focal red discoloration in papillary muscle of the left ventricular myocardium.