Circulating cell-free DNA does not harbour a diagnostic benefit in cats with feline diffuse iris melanomas.

Objectives: Feline diffuse iris melanoma (FDIM) is the most common malignant primary intraocular tumour in cats, with reported metastases rates between 19% and 63%. Currently, the only available diagnostic tool for a tentative diagnosis is histopathological examination of the enucleated eye. Therefore, the veterinary ophthalmologist is often faced with the dilemma of whether to enucleate an oftentimes visual eye or to continue monitoring, with the risk of metastases developing.

New Surfactant-based Dressing Product to Improve Wound Closure Rates of Nonhealing Wounds: A European Multicenter Study Including 1036 Patients.

Objective: A new surfactant-based biomaterial containing the antimicrobial 1% silver sulfadiazine (SSD) was developed at the University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA) to improve outcomes for nonhealing wounds. This study's objective was to clinically test the wound care outcomes of the new surfactant-based antimicrobial wound dressing (SAWD) in a multicenter trial.

Methods And Materials: This cohort study enrolled 1036 patients with any nonhealing wound of > 3 months duration not responding to standard-of-care treatments from 10 wound care centers in 7 European countries.

Prevalence and risk factors of gammaherpesvirus infection in domestic cats in Central Europe.

Background: Gammaherpesviruses (GHVs) are a large group of dsDNA viruses that can infect humans and several animal species. The two human GHVs, Epstein-Barr virus and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus are known for their oncogenic properties in individuals with immunodeficiency. Recently, the first feline GHV, Felis catus gammaherpesvirus 1 (FcaGHV1) was discovered and frequently found in domestic cats in Australia, Singapore and the USA.

Decreased expression of endogenous feline leukemia virus in cat lymphomas: a case control study.

Background: Cats infected with exogenous feline leukemia virus (exFeLV) have a higher chance of lymphoma development than uninfected cats. Furthermore, an increased exFeLV transcription has been detected in lymphomas compared to non-malignant tissues. The possible mechanisms of lymphoma development by exFeLV are insertional mutagenesis or persistent stimulation of host immune cells by viral antigens, bringing them at risk for malignant transformation.

Dietary calcium concentration and cereals differentially affect mineral balance and tight junction proteins expression in jejunum of weaned pigs.

Ca plays an essential role in bone development; however, little is known about its effect on intestinal gene expression in juvenile animals. In the present study, thirty-two weaned pigs (9·5 (SEM 0·11) kg) were assigned to four diets that differed in Ca concentration (adequate v. high) and cereal composition (wheat-barley v.

Biomechanical comparison of 3 ankle braces with and without free rotation in the sagittal plane.

Context: Various designs of braces including hinged and nonhinged models are used to provide external support of the ankle. Hinged ankle braces supposedly allow almost free dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of the foot in the sagittal plane. It is unclear, however, whether this additional degree of freedom affects the stabilizing effect of the brace in the other planes of motion.

MtDNA segregation in heteroplasmic tissues is common in vivo and modulated by haplotype differences and developmental stage.

The dynamics by which mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) evolves within organisms are still poorly understood, despite the fact that inheritance and proliferation of mutated mtDNA cause fatal and incurable diseases. When two mtDNA haplotypes are present in a cell, it is usually assumed that segregation (the proliferation of one haplotype over another) is negligible. We challenge this assumption by showing that segregation depends on the genetic distance between haplotypes.

Cytokine signaling by grafted neuroectodermal stem cells rescues motoneurons destined to die.

Following an injury to their axons close to the cell body, adult motoneurons generally die. This type of injury, typically caused by avulsion of the spinal ventral root, initiates the activation of astrocytes and microglial cells and the extracellular space becomes loaded with excessive amounts of excitotoxic glutamate. We have provided evidence that, following ventral root avulsion and reimplantation, murine embryonic neuroectodermal stem cells (NE-GFP-4C) grafted into the rat spinal cord rescue the vast majority of the motoneurons that would otherwise die, and enable them to reinnervate peripheral targets.

Transcriptional profiling of the host cell response to feline immunodeficiency virus infection.

Background: Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a widespread pathogen of the domestic cat and an important animal model for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) research. In contrast to HIV, only limited information is available on the transcriptional host cell response to FIV infections. This study aims to identify FIV-induced gene expression changes in feline T-cells during the early phase of the infection.

Viral transcriptome analysis of feline immunodeficiency virus infected cells using second generation sequencing technology.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a widespread pathogen causing immunodeficiency in domestic cats and related wild cat species. The virus genome includes the main structural genes common to all retroviruses as well as accessory genes displaying essential functions during the viral life cycle. Expression of viral genes involves transcription of provirus genomes into full-length transcripts, which are partially processed into several spliced mRNA variants for the translation of particular proteins.

Gene expression profile of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors in various cell types of the canine lymph node using laser capture microdissection (LCM).

The role of VEGF and its receptors has extensively been studied in tumours. In contrast, the presence and function of VEGF in normal tissues like the lymph node has not been given much attention until now. To study the expression of VEGF, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 in the heterogenous cell population of the canine lymph node, laser capture microdissection was used to isolate pure cell fractions of macrophages, lymphocytes, endothelial cells, and capsule cells of the canine lymph node.

Effects of the Twin Shoe (Darco) to compensate height differences in normal gait.

Background: After foot surgery or in diseases such as diabetes, orthopaedic shoes with an elevated sole construction are used to off-load the affected foot. The height difference between the shoes results in a leg length discrepancy and an abnormal gait pattern arises which can cause long-term discomfort in the joints of the lower extremity and the lower back. To compensate for this discrepancy and to ensure a symmetrical gait pattern a Twin Shoe (Darco) has been designed.

Objective assessment of brace wear times and physical activities in two patients with scoliosis.

Conservative treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis consists of therapeutic exercise and the application of braces. The effectiveness of bracing mainly depends on patient compliance, which can be determined by means of temperature sensors. This methodological paper describes the feasibility of objectively determining compliance and daily physical activities before and during conservative scoliosis treatment, being a relevant indicator for quality of life in children and adolescents.

Phylogenetic analysis suggests independent introduction of feline immunodeficiency virus clades A and B to Central Europe and identifies diverse variants of clade B.

Phylogenetic analysis of European feline immunodeficiency virus sequences confirms a highly distinct pattern in the occurrence of FIV-subtypes within Germany and Austria, indicating little mixing and at least two independent introductions of FIV. There is also evidence for a North to South gradient of FIV subtype distribution in Europe, with subtype A being more common in the North, while subtype B is prevalent in the South of Europe. In addition, among Austrian subtype B sequences, considerable differences from classical subtype B sequences were detected by bootscanning, which either suggests recombination with so far unrecognized subtypes, or a long period of independent evolution.

Feline immunodeficiency virus env gene evolution in experimentally infected cats.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), an immunosuppressive lentivirus found in cats worldwide, is studied to illuminate mechanisms of lentiviral pathogenesis and to identify key components of protective immunity. During replication, lentiviruses accumulate errors of nucleotide mis-incorporation due to the low-fidelity of reverse transcriptase and recombination between viral variants, resulting in the emergence of a complex viral "quasispecies". In patients infected with HIV-1, env sequences may vary by up to 10% and the detection of quasispecies with greater heterogeneity is associated with higher viral loads and reduced CD4+ T cell numbers [1], indicating that transmission of more complex quasispecies may lead to disease progression.

Influence of vector design and host cell on the mechanism of recombination and emergence of mutant subpopulations of replicating retroviral vectors.

Background: The recent advent of murine leukaemia virus (MLV)-based replication-competent retroviral (RCR) vector technology has provided exciting new tools for gene delivery, albeit the advances in vector efficiency which have been realized are also accompanied by a set of fresh challenges. The expression of additional transgene sequences, for example, increases the length of the viral genome, which can lead to reductions in replication efficiency and in turn to vector genome instability. This necessitates efforts to analyse the rate and mechanism of recombinant emergence during the replication of such vectors to provide data which should contribute to improvements in RCR vector design.

Gag-specific immune enhancement of lentiviral infection after vaccination with an adenoviral vector in an animal model of AIDS.

The evaluation of vaccine strategies in animal models is essential for the development of a vaccine against HIV. In efficacy trials conducted in non-human primate models of AIDS, vaccines based on adenoviruses compared favourably with other vaccine vectors. To determine whether this strategy could be transposed to another animal model, and by extension, to humans, we have evaluated the efficacy of adenoviral vectors in a natural model of AIDS, infection of the cat by the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).

Mutations in the catalytic core or the C-terminus of murine leukemia virus (MLV) integrase disrupt virion infectivity and exert diverse effects on reverse transcription.

Understanding of the structures and functions of the retroviral integrase (IN), a key enzyme in the viral replication cycle, is essential for developing antiretroviral treatments and facilitating the development of safer gene therapy vehicles. Thus, four MLV IN-mutants were constructed in the context of a retroviral vector system, harbouring either a substitution in the catalytic centre, deletions in the C-terminus, or combinations of both modifications. IN-mutants were tested for their performance in different stages of the viral replication cycle: RNA-packaging; RT-activity; transient and stable infection efficiency; dynamics of reverse transcription and nuclear entry.

Lactoferrin, a glycoprotein with immunomodulatory and mast cell stabilising properties, in skin of horses suffering from Culicoides hypersensitivity.

Lactoferrin (LF), a glycogen of the transferrin family with anti-bacterial and immunomodulatory properties, is expressed in various secretions and tissues. Cutaneous LF serves as a mast cell stabilising compound, modulates T cell activity and is found during IgE-mediated late phase reactions at allergen challenged sites. Culicoides hypersensitivity (CHS) in horses is a common IgE-mediated allergic dermatitis, characterised by an early and late phase cutaneous reaction upon allergen challenge.

Prime-boost vaccination using DNA and whole inactivated virus vaccines provides limited protection against virulent feline immunodeficiency virus.

Protection against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) has been achieved using a variety of vaccines notably whole inactivated virus (WIV) and DNA. However protection against more virulent isolates, typical of those encountered in natural infections, has been difficult to achieve. In an attempt to improve protection against virulent FIV(GL8), we combined both DNA and WIV vaccines in a "prime-boost" approach.

Lactoferrin expression in the horse endometrium: relevance in persisting mating-induced endometritis.

Lactoferrin (LF) is an estrogen-regulated glycoprotein with well-described antibacterial and immunomodulatory properties. The present study is the first report on LF expression in horse endometrial specimens. Mares chosen for the study were either resistant or susceptible for persisting mating-induced endometritis (PMIE) during the natural ovulatory cycle and in early pregnancy.

Increased interleukin-1beta mRNA expression in skin biopsies of horses with Culicoides hypersensitivity following challenge with Culicoides nubeculosus extract.

Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) is a primary cytokine of the skin that has a pivotal role in keratinocyte differentiation, epidermal wound healing and host defense. Pathological increase of cutaneous IL-1beta is associated with edema formation, epidermal hyperproliferation and atopic dermatitis in humans. However, in horses the role of cutaneous IL-1beta in edema formation and allergic skin disease has not been characterised so far.

Effects of semen extender and semen processing on motility and viability of frozen-thawed dog spermatozoa.

The aims of the present study were, to assess the effects of semen centrifugation, two different diluents and two different freezing methods on post-thaw semen quality in canine semen, and to elucidate the interdependence of these parameters. For this purpose, the sperm-rich fractions of ejaculates from 12 healthy male beagles were divided into four aliquots. Two aliquots were centrifuged and resuspended with two TRIS-egg yolk based extenders: with Uppsala and Gill extender (Gill).

Genetic variability of PRRS virus in Austria: consequences for molecular diagnostics and viral quantification.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus is a virus with a relatively high level of sequence variation, especially between the European and the American-type strains. This high degree of sequence variations will influence the accuracy of results obtained by molecular diagnostic methods, especially if mutations are located in the primer or probe binding regions of PCR or real-time PCR based assays. In order to provide the basis for the development of an accurate, region-tailored assay we have analysed samples obtained from several Austrian pig herds using a series of RT-PCR assays.

Vaccination with an inactivated virulent feline immunodeficiency virus engineered to express high levels of Env.

An inactivated virus vaccine was prepared from a pathogenic isolate of feline immunodeficiency virus containing a mutation that eliminated an endocytic sorting signal in the envelope glycoprotein, increasing its expression on virions. Cats immunized with inactivated preparations of this modified virus exhibited strong titers of antibody to Env by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Evidence of protection following challenge demonstrated the potential of this approach to lentiviral vaccination.