Reproduction of mucosal disease with cytopathogenic bovine viral diarrhoea virus selected in vitro.

Isolates of non-cytopathogenic bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus from 18 persistently infected calves from one herd were compared by using monoclonal antibodies directed against the major viral glycoprotein gp53. All the isolates displayed an almost identical reaction pattern. Based on this antigenic analysis three cytopathogenic BVD and three non-cytopathogenic BVD viruses closely related to the non-cytopathogenic BVD herd isolate were selected.

Antiserum raised in pigs against canine distemper virus and its utility in diagnostic procedures for morbillivirus infections (canine distemper, phocine distemper, rinderpest).

Antiserum against canine distemper virus (CDV) was raised in pigs by intranasal inoculation with CDV strains CND65 and ROCKBORN. Immunoglobulin fractions were conjugated with horseradish peroxidase. Peroxidase-conjugated anti-CDV immunoglobulin preparations were used for the detection and titration of CDV, seal-derived (phocine) distemper virus (PDV) and rinderpest virus (RPV) in Vero cell cultures.

Pestiviruses: a review.

Pestiviruses comprise a group of economically important animal pathogens, namely hog cholera, bovine viral diarrhoea and border disease viruses. The viruses are serologically closely related and share a common host spectrum, i.e.

Violet mink develop an acute disease after experimental infection with Aleutian disease virus (ADV) isolate ADV SL3.

Six-Aleutian (aa)-genotype violet mink were infected intraperitoneally with the Aleutian Disease Virus (ADV) bone marrow derived isolate ADV SL3. All animals developed virus-specific antibodies and hypergammaglobulinaemia. Mortality during the fourteen week duration of the infection was 50%.

The monomer covalently closed linear replicative form DNA is an intermediate of Aleutian disease parvovirus DNA replication.

In this report we present data indicating that the recently detected monomer covalently closed linear replicative form DNA (Mccl RF DNA) is an intermediate of Aleutian disease virus (ADV) DNA replication. This DNA molecule is characterized by covalently closed terminal hairpins on either end of the linear ds genomic molecule. Its first detection early after infection in vitro, the association with ADV-specific replication complexes and the de novo synthesis of Mccl RF DNA by isolated replication complexes point to an important role in parvoviral DNA replication.

Studies on the role of linear epitopes in neutralization of alphaviruses.

By using three synthetic peptides (16-19 amino acids in length) representing different regions of glycoproteins E1 (peptide 3) and E2 (peptides 1 and 2) of Sindbis and Semliki Forest virus and isolated glycoprotein fractions of both viruses in reduced and non-reduced form, the role of linear epitopes for the neutralization was investigated. The reaction patterns of sera induced by immunization with these antigens indicate that conformational epitopes do play the major role in neutralization of alphaviruses. Furthermore, no cross-neutralization of these alphaviruses classified in different antigenic complexes within this genus was found.

A case report: encephalitis in lions. Pathological and virological findings.

An acute outbreak of encephalomyelitis in lions from a safari-park was investigated. Three moribund lions were euthanatized and a post mortem examination was performed. A disseminated non-suppurative polioencephalomyelitis with demyelination in the spinal cord was the only pathological finding.

Mechanisms contributing to the virus persistence in Aleutian disease.

In this review published results and further studies concerning the persistence of Aleutian disease virus (ADV) isolate SL3 are presented. By Southern blot and in situ hybridization with strand-specific RNA probes focal replication of ADV-DNA was demonstrated in spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, sporadically in mononuclear cells of the peripheral blood and bone marrow cells. These findings further support the concept of the lymphotropism of ADV.

Anatomical basis for transplantation of microsurgical anastomosed autologous and allogenic bone transplantants for reconstruction of the mandible in animal experiments (Göttingen-Minipig).

The possibilities of extraction and transplantation of bone with microsurgical vascular anastomosis for reconstruction of mandibular defects were to be examined in animal experiments. On the basis of the arterial vascularization of the ossa coxae of the Göttingen minipig which has been demonstrated, the cranioventral region of the os ilium is especially suitable as transplant. The separate vascularization of this bone area allows the extraction of a bone block with a sufficiently long afferent vascular stump.

Identification of conserved epitopes on a hog cholera virus protein.

Eight monoclonal antibodies directed against the hog cholera virus (HCV) strain Alfort/187 and displaying broad cross-reactivity with other HCV strains were characterized. An enzyme immunoassay on fixed monolayers of porcine or bovine cells infected with 14 different strains and isolates of HCV and 12 bovine viral diarrhea viruses (BVDV), respectively, showed that all antibodies reacted with HCV only. Seven antibodies recognized all HCV tested, thus indicating that they were directed against conserved epitopes.

Enhanced full-length transcription of Sindbis virus RNA by effective denaturation with methylmercury hydroxide.

49-S Sindbis virus RNA was reverse transcribed into a complementary DNA. The RNA templates were denatured by three different methods prior to DNA synthesis. Efficient full-length transcription was only achieved after treatment with methylmercury hydroxide.

A novel replicative form DNA of Aleutian disease virus: the covalently closed linear DNA of the parvoviruses.

The analysis of replicative form (RF) DNA of Aleutian disease virus (ADV) by alkaline gel electrophoresis revealed that all RF DNA species segregate into DNA single strands which represent integral multiples of a genome equivalent. This demonstrates that as with other autonomous parvoviruses, the virion and complementary DNA strands are frequently linked by hairpin structures and that also, nicks are present at subterminal sites. Approximately 50% of the 5'-terminal hairpins contain a subterminal nick whereas no nick is detectable in the 3'-terminal hairpin.

Most alphaviruses share a conserved epitopic region on their nucleocapsid protein.

Fourteen hybridoma cell lines secreting antibodies against the Semliki Forest virus nucleocapsid protein were established and employed for identification of conserved epitopes among 27 alphavirus types and subtypes. Using an antibody capture test, the antibodies were found to cross-react to variable degree with alphaviruses belonging to the Semliki Forest, western encephalitis and eastern encephalitis complexes, as well as Middelburg and Ndumu. None of the antibodies reacted with either Venezuelan equine encephalitis or Barmah Forest virus.

Capsid protein VP1 (p85) of Aleutian disease virus is a major DNA-binding protein.

The interaction between Aleutian disease virus (ADV) DNA and proteins isolated from ADV-infected cells or ADV virions, respectively, was examined. Proteins were separated on SDS-polyacrylamide gels, transferred to nitrocellulose, and probed with 32P-labeled restriction fragments of replicative form (RF) DNA or with single-stranded virion DNA. The ADV capsid protein VP1 was found to bind the 3'-terminal BamHI fragment of RF DNA extending from map units (m.

Detection of Aleutian disease virus DNA in tissues of naturally infected mink.

Organs of naturally infected mink were examined for the presence of Aleutian disease virus (ADV) DNA by in situ hybridization. Spleen, lymph nodes, thymus, bone marrow, kidney, liver, lung and small intestine were found to be positive for ADV to differing extents. Infected lymphoid organs showed a focal distribution of positive cells.

Monoclonal antibodies and characterization of epitopes of smooth Brucella lipopolysaccharides.

Four mouse monoclonal antibodies generated against Brucella melitensis 16M, and three generated against B. suis 1330 were analysed. An ELISA (enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay) with whole cells as antigens was used to determine cross-reactivities with other Gram-negative bacteria.