ELSMOR - towards European Licensing of Small Modular Reactors: Methodology recommendations for light-water small modular reactors safety assessment.

Decarbonization of energy production is key in today's societies and nuclear energy holds an essential place in this prospect. Besides heavy-duty electricity production, other industrial and communal needs could be served by integrating novel nuclear energy production systems, among which are low-power nuclear devices, like small modular reactors (SMRs). The ELSMOR (towards European Licensing of Small Modular Reactors) European project addresses this topic as an answer to the Horizon 2020 Euratom NFRP-2018-3 call.

Efficacy and safety of cell associated vaccines against Marek's disease virus grown in a continuous cell line from chickens.

The Marek's disease virus (MDV) vaccine strains CVI 988 and herpes virus of turkeys (HVT) strain FC126, usually are grown in primary chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF). We found that the strains could be grown also in the so-called JBJ-1 cell line to titres in the same range as when chicken embryo fibroblasts were used. The JBJ-1 cell line is a fibroblast-like continuous chicken cell line, which can be grown in flat bottom tissue culture flasks, roller bottles and on micro carriers.

Observations on the influence of intestinal spirochaetosis in broiler breeders on the performance of their progeny and on egg production.

Observations were made on the effect of avian intestinal spirochaetosis (AIS) in eight broiler breeder flocks on the performance of their commercial broiler progeny flocks, and also on the production of eggs and the selection of hatching eggs. The effect of treatment on egg production was analysed. The broiler breeder flocks were examined for the presence or absence of antibodies, spirochaetes and clinical signs of AIS, and correlated with the performance data from 136 commercial broiler flocks produced by them.

Immunity to avian pneumovirus infection in turkeys following in ovo vaccination with an attenuated vaccine.

Fertile turkey eggs after 24 days of incubation were vaccinated in ovo with a commercial live attenuated subtype A avian pneumovirus (APV) vaccine. Hatchability was not adversely affected. When a high dose (10 times maximum commercial dose) of vaccine was tested in maternal antibody negative (MA-) eggs, mild clinical signs developed in a small proportion of the poults for 1-4 days only.

Vertical temperature profiles at bird level in broiler houses.

1. The temperature in the close vicinity of commercial broilers was studied in relation to the setpoint temperature throughout the rearing period. 2.

Diseases and management of backyard chicken flocks in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe.

To gather information on backyard chicken flocks in Chitungwiza, an urban center in Zimbabwe, 85 flock owners were interviewed. The mean flock size was 53 birds (range 1-650), and most birds were kept for meat, for either domestic consumption or local sale. Mean age at slaughter was 12.

A serosurvey using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibodies against poultry pathogens in ostriches (Struthio camelus) from Zimbabwe.

Horseradish peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-ostrich IgG was raised and used in commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits to detect antibodies reactive with 11 poultry pathogens in sera from 149 ostriches from nine farms around Zimbabwe. Antibodies were detected to turkey rhinotracheitis virus (99%), Newcastle disease virus (23%), avian reovirus (19%), infectious bursal disease virus (15%), avian encephalomyelitis virus (15%), Mycoplasma gallisepticum and/or M. synoviae (11%), reticuloendotheliosis virus (10%), Salmonella enteritidis (8%), avian leukosis virus (3%), infectious bronchitis virus (2%), and Pasteurella multocida (< 1%).

Infection of broiler parent hens with avian intestinal spirochaetes: effects on egg production and chick quality.

Broiler parent hens were inoculated with avian intestinal spirochaetes several weeks before the onset of egg production. The infection persisted, wet droppings developed, and egg production, mean egg weight and carotenoid contents of the eggs were decreased. Hatching eggs were collected and incubated.

Comparison of the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, the haemagglutination inhibition test and the agar gel precipitation test for the detection of antibodies against infectious bronchitis and Newcastle disease in commercial broilers.

Serological results as obtained by the agar gel precipitation (AGP) test, haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test (M41, D274, D1466) and an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from commercial broiler flocks, which had suffered from a clinical infectious bronchitis (IB) infection in the fattening period, were compared with serological findings of control broiler flocks. In addition the Hi-test and ELISA for Newcastle disease (ND) were compared. The AGP results differ significantly between groups.

Ascorbic acid and infectious bronchitis infections in broilers.

The effect of supplementing the feed of broiler chicks with different levels of ascorbic acid on the resistance against infectious bronchitis virus was investigated. Resistance was measured by the severity of tracheal lesions and the development of airsacculitis after challenge. The effect of ascorbic acid was dose dependent.

Infection of broiler chicks (Gallus domesticus) with human intestinal spirochaetes.

One-day-old broiler chicks were infected orally with spirochaetes isolated from cases of intestinal disorder in humans. Three different isolates were studied in an experiment of 22 days duration. No signs of clinical disease were observed; the infection did not cause changes in the concentration of carotenoids or in the activity of alkaline phosphatase in the serum.

Influence of infection with avian intestinal spirochaetes on the faeces of laying hens.

Laying hens of 20 weeks of age were infected with avian intestinal spirochaetes (isolate 1380). After 20 weeks it was found that most infected birds shed 10(7) or more spirochaetes/ml caecal faeces. Faecal dry matter content was not significantly influenced by the infection, but the amount of crude fat in the faecal dry matter increased by more than 25%.

Spirochaetosis in broilers.

One-day-old broilers were inoculated with spirochaetes (isolate 1380); the inocula consisting either of spirochaetes derived from plate culture or from intestinal homogenates of previously infected birds. After 13 to 15, and 21 days after inoculation growth was depressed, serum concentrations of protein lipid, carotenoids and bilirubin were decreased and the fat content of the faeces was increased. The activity of alkaline phosphatase in the serum was increased but the activities of tau-glutamyl transferase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase of the infected groups were not affected.

Observations on avian intestinal spirochaetosis.

Three SPF-laying hens were inoculated into the crop with avian intestinal spirochaetes which previously had been passaged in broiler chicks by oral inoculation (isolate 1380). Mild persisting gastrointestinal disorder developed; at nine months post inoculation spirochaetes were readily demonstrated in caecal faeces. Histologic examination of the caecal mucosa revealed many spirochaetes covering the mucosal surface and filling up the crypts lumina.

Incidence of spirochaetal infections in cases of intestinal disorder in chickens.

The incidence of intestinal spirochaetes was determined using direct fluorescent antibody microscopy on faecal and mucosal samples from chickens. Of 134 flocks with intestinal disorders 27.6% were found to be positive, but only 4.

Molecular epidemiology of infectious bronchitis virus in The Netherlands.

Twelve Dutch isolates and the M41 strain of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), a coronavirus of chickens, were characterized by cross-neutralization and T1 finger-printing to elucidate their evolutionary relationship. The T1 fingerprinting showed that the Dutch isolates formed two clusters. The first cluster contained strains H52, H120, D387, V1259, V1385 and V1397; the estimated sequence homology is 99%.

Comparison of the effect of live Newcastle disease vaccine Clone 30 in broilers administered at day 1 or at day 7 and the effect of H120 vaccination at 17 days of age: a field experiment.

To analyse the results of a vaccination on the first day of age against Newcastle disease (ND) and on the 17th day of age against Infectious Bronchitis (IB) resp. with spray vaccines with Clone 30 and H120 vaccine. These vaccinations are compared in field circumstances with other vaccination methods.

Infectious typhlitis in chickens caused by spirochetes.

A weakly haemolytic spirochete was detected with an unabsorbed fluorescent antiserum to Treponema hyodysenteriae in smears and cultures of scrapings of caecal mucosa of laying hens with diarrhoea. Two groups of experimental chickens were fed a pure culture of this spirochete or homogenated intestinal contents of affected birds. Both groups showed clinical signs of disease such as increased water content of faecal material and slight retardation of growth.

Occurrence and significance of infectious bronchitis virus variant strains in egg and broiler production in the Netherlands.

Despite vaccination against Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) with the Massachusetts type vaccine viruses H120 and H52 in the Netherlands, an increasing number of properly vaccinated flocks have suffered from the disease since 1978. In the years 1978-1982, the virus was isolated from 162 IBV suspected flocks. Cross-virus-neutralization tests showed that the majority (67 per cent) of these isolates belonged to serotypes other than the Massachusetts type, the Connecticut-, Florida-, Iowa 97-, Iowa 609- and JMK serotype.

A case of Aujeszky's disease virus infection in young chicks.

On a rearing farm with 96,000 birds, 10,000 three and four days old chicks died with nervous symptoms. A virus was isolated from the brains and identified as an Aujeszky's disease virus. The isolate was very pathogenic for chickens up to about 7 days of age, causing mortality after parenteral injection (intracerebral, intraperitoneal, intramuscular) but not after oral, eye drop or spray application.

A study on the synthesis and secretion of immunoglobulins by the Jarderian gland of the fowl after eyedrop vaccination against infectious bronchitis at 1-day-old.

One-day-old chickens with maternally derived antibodies to infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) were vaccinated against IB by eye-drop. At 2 and 3 weeks of age the synthesis of immunoglobulins of the IgA isotype in the Harderian gland was demonstrated by immunofluorescence. With an anti IgG conjugate diffuse fluorescence of IgG was observed in the gland at 2, 3 and 4 weeks of age.

Study on the local effect of eye-drop vaccination against infectious bronchitis in 1-day-old chicks with maternal antibodies.

One-day-old chicks with maternal antibodies to infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) were vaccinated by eye-drop with H120 vaccine strain of IBV. Four weeks later the chicks were challenged by eye-drop or intratracheally with virulent IBV (Massachusetts-type field strain). The chicks were resistant to ocular challenge, but highly susceptible to an intratracheal challenge.

A simple technique for surgical removal of the Harderian gland of 1-day-old chicks.

A procedure for the removal of the Harderian gland of 1-day-old chicks is described. The method of anaesthesia induction and the surgical procedure make a short intervention of 3-5 min possible.

Vaccination of 1-day-old broilers against infectious bronchitis by eye drop application or coarse droplet spray and the effect of revaccination by spray.

Broilers hatched with maternal antibodies against infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) had developed protective immunity by 3 weeks after vaccination by the conjunctival route with H120 vaccine virus at 1-day-old. Immunity was still present when birds were 7 weeks old. Following vaccination of similar 1-day-old chicks by the same route by a coarse droplet spray, immunity developed more slowly; 50% of the 3-week-old birds developed clinical and/or pathological changes typical of infectious bronchitis following challenge, and at 5 weeks of age some birds were still susceptible to the virulent IBV.