Brachyspira intermedia and Brachyspira pilosicoli are commonly found in older laying flocks in Pennsylvania.

Anaerobic intestinal spirochetes (genus Brachyspira) include several species that are recognized as pathogens of poultry. Surveys undertaken in Europe and Australia have shown that layer and breeder flocks are often colonized by the pathogenic species Brachyspira intermedia and Brachyspira pilosicoli, but similar surveys have not been conducted in the United States. In the current study, DNA was extracted from fecal samples (n=50) collected from each of 21 flocks of laying hens >40 wk of age in Pennsylvania, and this material was tested for B.

Pathogenesis of coxsackievirus-B5 acquired from intra-renal porcine islet cell xenografts in diabetic mice.

Background: We previously demonstrated the ability of a human isolate of coxsackievirus-B5 (CVB5) to infect productively adult porcine islet cells (PICs) in vitro. PICs infected with CVB5 remain viable, and upon transplantation reversed diabetes in C56BL/6 mice for up to 5 days.

Methods: In the present work, we expanded this graft-to-host xenozoonosis model by examining the long-term functionality of CVB5-infected PIC xenografts in immunosuppressed mice.

Prevalent human coxsackie B-5 virus infects porcine islet cells primarily using the coxsackie-adenovirus receptor.

Background: We have previously demonstrated that transplanting porcine encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV)-infected porcine islet cells (PICs) results in transmission of the virus to recipient mice, which is manifested by acute fatal infection within 5 to 8 days. Here, we determined PIC susceptibility to a related and highly prevalent human picornavirus, coxsackie B-5 virus (CVB-5).

Methods: PICs were inoculated with CVB-5 in vitro for up to 96 hours and infectivity, level of virus replication, and cellular function determined.