Serosurveillance for pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus infection in domestic elephants, Thailand.

The present study conducted serosurveillance for the presence of antibody to pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus (H1N1pdm virus) in archival serum samples collected between 2009 and 2013 from 317 domestic elephants living in 19 provinces situated in various parts of Thailand. To obtain the most accurate data, hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) assay was employed as the screening test; and sera with HI antibody titers ≥20 were further confirmed by other methods, including cytopathic effect/hemagglutination based-microneutralization (microNT) and Western blot (WB) assays using H1N1pdm matrix 1 (M1) or hemagglutinin (HA) recombinant protein as the test antigen. Conclusively, the appropriate assays using HI in conjunction with WB assays for HA antibody revealed an overall seropositive rate of 8.

Molecular evidence for genetic distinctions between Chlamydiaceae detected in Siamese crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis) and known Chlamydiaceae species.

Chlamydiosis, caused by Chlamydiaceae, is a zoonotic disease found in humans and several species of animals, including reptiles and amphibians. Although chlamydiosis in saltwater crocodiles has been previously reported in South Africa and Papua New Guinea, the reported strains have not been identified or confirmed. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to sequence and characterize Chamydiaceae isolated from Siamese crocodiles.

Targeted small interfering RNA-immunoliposomes as a promising therapeutic agent against highly pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) virus infection.

This study describes a proof-of-concept study on the use of small interfering RNA (siRNA)-immunoliposomes as a therapeutic agent against H5N1 influenza virus infection. siRNA specific for influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP) mRNA was employed as the key antiviral agent to inhibit viral replication in this study. A humanized single-chain Fv antibody (huscFv) against the hemagglutinin (HA) of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) was used as the targeting molecule to HA of H5N1 virus, which is abundantly expressed on the surface of infected cells (the HA target cells).

Susceptibility of openbill storks (Anastomius oscitans) to highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1.

This investigation detailed the clinical disease, gross and histologic lesions in juvenile openbill storks (Anastomus oscitans) intranasally inoculated with an avian influenza virus, A/chicken/Thailand/vsmu-3 (H5N1), which is highly pathogenic for chickens. High morbidity and mortality were observed in openbill storks inoculated with HPAI H5N1 virus. Gross lesions from infected birds were congestion and brain hemorrhage (10/20), pericardial effusions, pericarditis and focal necrosis of the cardiac muscle (2/20), pulmonary edema and pulmonary necrosis, serosanguineous fluid in the bronchis (16/20), liver congestion (6/20), bursitis (5/20), subcutaneous hemorrhages (2/20) and pinpoint proventiculus hemorrhage (2/20).

Development of a SYBR Green I-based real-time PCR for detection of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus 1 infection in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).

Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus 1 (EEHV1) can cause fatal hemorrhagic disease in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). Several studies have described this virus as a major threat to young Asian elephants. A SYBR Green I-based real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed to identify EEHV1 on trunk swabs and necropsied tissues.

Genetic analysis of beak and feather disease virus isolated from captive psittacine birds in Thailand.

Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) is a causative agent of psittacine beak and feather disease. Genome sequences of BFDVs isolated from Thailand have not hitherto been reported. The whole genomes of 17 BFDV isolates, obtained from 12 psittacine genera, were amplified and subjected to direct sequencing revealing a length ranging from 1,990 to 2,015 nucleotides.

Development of multiplex polymerase chain reaction for detection of feline hemotropic mycoplasma in blood and tissue specimens.

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed for the detection of feline hemotropic mycoplasmas which simultaneously differentiates infections of Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (CMhm) and Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis (CMtc) in feline blood and spleen. These organisms are responsible for the cause of various pathogenicity of feline infectious anemia. These infections are difficult to be detected by microscopic examination, the most commonly used method for general laboratory diagnoses.

Occurrence of ectoparasites on rodents in Sukhothai Province, northern Thailand.

A survey of ectoparasites on rodents was carried out bimonthly from April 2008 to March 2009 in 3 districts of Sukhothai Province, northern Thailand. A total of 130 rodents comprising 8 species of hosts were captured and examined for ectoparasites. The hosts examined were Bandicota indica, Bandicota savilei, Rattus losea, Rattus rattus, Rattus exulans, Rattus norvegicus, Menetes berdmorei and Tamiops mcclellandii.

Ectoparasitic fauna of birds, and volant and non-volant small mammals captured at Srinakarin Dam, Kanchanaburi, Thailand.

The investigation of ectoparasitic fauna on birds, and volant and nonvolant small mammals at Srinakarin Dam, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand was carried out under a national biodiversity and disease surveillance program for four consecutive months: January, February, May and June 2009. A total of 122 animals, comprised of 15 species of birds, 9 species of volant small mammals and 8 species of non-volant small mammals were examined for ectoparasite infestation. Of these animals, 1 genus of hard ticks (Ixodidae), 2 species of mesostigmatid mites (Laelapidae), 4 genera in three families of astigmatid mites (Proctophyllodidae, Pteronyssidae and Trouessartiidae), 4 species in three families of lice (Philopteridae, Polyplacidae and Trichodectidae) and 2 families of batflies (Nycteribiidae and Streblidae) were collected.

Multispecies detection of antibodies to influenza A viruses by a double-antigen sandwich ELISA.

A double-antigen sandwich ELISA was developed for the detection of antibodies to influenza A viruses. A recombinant nucleoprotein (rNP) of influenza A virus was used as a capture antigen and an HRP-conjugate for detecting the antibodies. A total of 125 serum samples from birds of different species including chickens, geese, open-billed storks, Khaki Campbell ducks, lesser whistling ducks, and pigeons with known antibodies were tested by ELISA.

Ecologic risk factor investigation of clusters of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection in Thailand.

This study was conducted to investigate space and time clusters of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus infection and to determine risk factors at the subdistrict level in Thailand. Highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) was diagnosed in 1890 poultry flocks located in 953 subdistricts during 2004-2007. The ecologic risk for H5N1 virus infection was assessed on the basis of a spatial-based case-control study involving 824 case subdistricts and 3296 control subdistricts from 6 study periods.

Development of multiplex polymerase chain reaction for detection of Ehrlichia canis, Babesia spp and Hepatozoon canis in canine blood.

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been developed for simultaneous detection of canine blood parasites, Ehrlichia canis, Babesia spp and Hepatozoon canis, from blood samples in a single reaction. The multiplex PCR primers were specific to E. canis VirB9, Babesia spp 16S rRNA and H.

Differential modulation of prM cleavage, extracellular particle distribution, and virus infectivity by conserved residues at nonfurin consensus positions of the dengue virus pr-M junction.

In the generation of flavivirus particles, an internal cleavage of the envelope glycoprotein prM by furin is required for the acquisition of infectivity. Unlike cleavage of the prM of other flaviviruses, cleavage of dengue virus prM is incomplete in many cell lines; the partial cleavage reflects the influence of residues at furin nonconsensus positions of the pr-M junction, as flaviviruses share basic residues at positions P1, P2, and P4, recognized by furin. In this study, viruses harboring the alanine-scanning and other multiple-point mutations of the pr-M junction were generated, employing a dengue virus background that exhibited 60 to 70% prM cleavage and a preponderance of virion-sized extracellular particles.