Optimization of immunohistochemical and fluorescent antibody techniques for localization of Foot-and-mouth disease virus in animal tissues.

Immunohistochemical (IHC) and fluorescent antibody (FA) techniques were optimized for the detection of Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) structural and nonstructural proteins in frozen and paraformaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded (PFPE) tissues of bovine and porcine origin. Immunohistochemical localization of FMDV was compared with 7 detection systems, 8 primary antibodies, and 11 epitope retrieval techniques. All serotypes tested (O, A, Asia, C [cryosection]; O, A, Asia [PFPE]) were localized in association with mature vesicles.

Psychological and cumulative cardiovascular effects of repeated angry rumination and visuospatial suppression.

Brooding rumination is associated with depressed mood, increased negative affect, prolonged anger and inhibited cardiovascular (CV) recovery. Distraction from rumination on a stressful interpersonal encounter is associated with faster CV recovery and decreased negative affect. Studies have suggested that a concurrent visuospatial (VS) task inhibits the maintenance of imagery associated with the perseveration of intrusive negative memories.

Interferon-alpha production by swine dendritic cells is inhibited during acute infection with foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Viruses have evolved multiple mechanisms to evade the innate immune response, particularly the actions of interferons (IFNs). We have previously reported that exposure of dendritic cells (DCs) to foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in vitro yields no infection and induces a strong type I IFN (IFN-alpha and IFN-beta) response, indicating that DCs may play a critical role in the innate response to the virus. In vivo, FMDV induces lymphopenia and reduced T-cell proliferative responses to mitogen, viral effects that may contribute to evasion of early immune responses.

Vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (VSNJV) infects keratinocytes and is restricted to lesion sites and local lymph nodes in the bovine, a natural host.

Inoculation of vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (VSNJV) by skin scarification of the coronary-band in cattle, a natural host of VSNJV, resulted in vesicular lesions and 6-8 log(10) TCID(50) increase in skin virus titers over a 72 h period. Virus infection was restricted to the lesion sites and lymph nodes draining those areas but no virus or viral RNA was found in the blood or in 20 other organs and tissues sampled at necropsy. Scarification of flank skin did not result in lesions or a significant increase in viral titer indicating that viral clinical infection is restricted to skin inoculation at sites where lesions naturally occur.

Vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease virus confers complete clinical protection in 7 days and partial protection in 4 days: Use in emergency outbreak response.

Recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) demonstrate that this highly contagious viral infection of cloven hoofed animals continues to be a significant economic problem worldwide. Debate about the most effective way to respond to outbreaks of FMDV in disease free countries continues to center on the use of vaccines. In this report, we present data showing that a commercially available, standard dose vaccine formulation can fully protect cattle against direct challenge with the virus in as little as 7 days with no carrier transmission to naïve animals.

Constitutive expression of alpha interferon by skin dendritic cells confers resistance to infection by foot-and-mouth disease virus.

The role of dendritic cells (DC) in the initiation of immune responses against foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is poorly understood. We analyzed the innate response of freshly isolated swine skin DC to the virus and show a rapid induction of beta interferon (IFN-beta) mRNA but not IFN-alpha mRNA. However, these DC secreted both IFN-alpha and IFN-beta proteins in response to live virus but not killed virus.

Outbreak of rabbit hemorrhagic disease in domestic lagomorphs.

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) was diagnosed in domestic lagomorphs on a rabbit farm in Illinois. Clinical signs of RHD in affected rabbits included signs of depression, anorexia, fever, paddling, convulsions, and sudden death. Findings of necropsies and histologic evaluations of specimens of liver and spleen were indicative of RHD.

Characterization and functional analysis of skin-derived dendritic cells from swine without a requirement for in vitro propagation.

A low-density cell population was isolated from skin explants of pigs and characterized as a highly enriched dendritic cell (DC) population based on phenotypical and functional properties. The skin-derived DCs were identified by their characteristic ultrastructural properties as well as by consistent co-expression of the CD1 and SWC3a antigens that clearly differentiate them from other porcine leukocytes. These cells exhibit higher expression of porcine MHC class II (SLAII) and CD80/86 antigens as compared to macrophage/monocyte cells.