Development of Second Generation Merozoites of Leucocytozoon caulleryi In Vitro

Sporozoites of Leucocytozoon caulleryi were inoculated into specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens intravenously. Fourteen days after inoculation, the infected blood, parasitized with second generation merozoites, was collected from the chickens. The blood was then suspended in SPF chicken serum or RPMI-1640 culture medium supplemented with 20% SPF chicken serum in petri dishes, which were cultured at 37°C or 41°C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO₂. Second generation merozoites in parasitized, immature erythrocytes developed continuously through several substages and finally became micro- and macro-gametocytes after 6 days of incubation.     

Observations on the Taiwanese strain of Leucocytozoon caulleryi (Haemosporina) in chickens

The Taiwanese strain of Leucocytozoon caulleryi was isolated from an infected chicken in Taipei, Taiwan, and established in chickens and biting midges Culicoides arakawae from Japan. Sporogony of the strain in C. arakawae was completed on day 3 after the infective blood meals at 25 degrees C. Sporozoites isolated from the salivary glands of C. arakawae on days 3 or 4 after feeding caused infection in all the chickens inoculated. The strain showed high pathogenicity for chickens. Mortality of chickens rose with an increase in the number of sporozoites inoculated. The prepatent period for chickens inoculated with sporozoites was 14 days. Parasites appeared in the peripheral blood of chickens on day 15 and disappeared on day 26 after sporozoite inoculation. Soluble antigens were found in the sera of chickens infected with the strain between 10 and 17 days after inoculation, and homologous antibodies appeared after 17 days. Antigens prepared from sera, schizonts, merozoites, and gametocytes of the Taiwanese strain reacted with the sera of chickens infected with the same strain or the strain isolated in Japan. The chickens that recovered from a primary infection with the Taiwanese strain demonstrated complete resistance to reinfection with the same strain or the the strain isolated in Japan.     

Observations on the Taiwanese Strain of Leucocytozoon caulleryi (Haemosporina) in Chickens

ABSTRACT. The Taiwanese strain of Leucocytozoon caulleryi was isolated from an infected chicken in Taipei, Taiwan, and established in chickens and biting midges Culicoides arakawae from Japan. Sporogony of the strain in C. arakawae was completed on day 3 after the infective blood meals at 25°C. Sporozoites isolated from the salivary glands of C. arakawae on days 3 or 4 after feeding caused infection in all the chickens inoculated. The strain showed high pathogenicity for chickens. Mortality of chickens rose with an increase in the number of sporozoites inoculated. The prepatent period for chickens inoculated with sporozoites was 14 days. Parasites appeared in the peripheral blood of chickens on day 15 and disappeared on day 26 after sporozoite inoculation. Soluble antigens were found in the sera of chickens infected with the strain between 10 and 17 days after inoculation, and homologous antibodies appeared after 17 days. Antigens prepared from sera, schizonts, merozoites, and gametocytes of the Taiwanese strain reacted with the sera of chickens infected witt the same strain or the strain isolated in Japan. The chickens that recovered from a primary infection with the Taiwanese strain demonstrated complete resistance to reinfection with the same strain or the strain isolated in Japan.     

SPF鸡盲肠复合微生态制剂代替抗生素预防肉仔鸡沙门茵感染

目的在雏鸡盲肠尽快建立完整健康菌群,通过“竞争排除（Competitiveexclusion,CE）”抑制病原菌定植感染。方法提取SPF鸡盲肠菌群,排除沙门菌感染的可能,制成复合微生态制剂,在鸡胚孵化19d啄壳时和21d雏鸡全出壳时进行两次喷雾接种,监测鸡群沙门菌抗体和粪便中沙门菌,测定成活率、生产性能。结果进行喷雾接种后的小鸡至12日龄可以完全不使用抗生素,成活率、采食量与体重略高于使用抗生素的对照组,能提高饲料报酬,饲养12、24、35d均未检出粪便沙门菌和血液沙门菌抗体,全程无沙门菌感染。结论SPF鸡盲肠复合微生态制剂能代替抗生素预防肉仔鸡沙门菌感染。     

抗禽流感病毒多表位DNA疫苗的构建及其免疫效力研究

多表位DNA疫苗是建立在常规DNA疫苗基础上的一种新型疫苗。它是用表位作免疫原,这样就比较容易在一个表达载体上克隆病原体的多个抗原基因中具有免疫活性的部分。本试验以H5N1亚型禽流感病毒的HA和NP基因及其表位为基础构建了4个重组质粒：1 pIRES/HA（表达全长的HA基因）;2 pIRES/tHA（只表达HA基因的主要抗原表位区）;3 pIRES/tHANpep（融合表达HA基因的抗原表位区和NP基因的3个CTL表位）;4 pIRES/tHANpep-IFN-γ（用鸡的IFN-γ基因取代质粒pIRES/tHANpep中的neo基因）。分别用这4个重组质粒和空载体质粒pIRES1neo肌注免疫30日龄SPF鸡。免疫3次,间隔为2周,每次每只鸡的剂量为200μg。第3次免疫后两周以高致病性禽流感病毒H5N1强毒攻击,免疫及攻毒前后均采血检测HI抗体效价和外周血CD4⁺、CD8⁺T细胞的变化。结果发现,攻毒前各质粒免疫组均检测不到HI抗体,攻毒后1周存活鸡HI抗体效价迅速升高到64～256。流式细胞仪检测显示外周血CD4⁺、CD8⁺T细胞在疫苗免疫后都有不同程度的升高。空载体质粒对照组鸡（10只）在攻毒后3～8 d内全部死亡,其他各重组质粒免疫组鸡都获得了部分保护,保护率分别是：pIRES/HA组为545%（6/11）,pIRES/tHA组为30%（3/10）,pIRES/tHANPep组为36.3%（4/11）, pIRES/tHANPepIFNγ组为50%（5/10）。这些结果表明我们构建的多表位DNA疫苗能够诱导机体产生特异性免疫应答,并在同型禽流感强毒攻击时对鸡只提供了一定的保护。     

传染性法氏囊病超强毒山东分离株SD0210的致弱研究

本研究将鸡传染性法氏囊病超强毒(vvIBDV)SD0210株经SPF鸡胚培育及鸡胚成纤维细胞(CEF)传代培养,获得了对CEF适应的细胞毒,并对细胞毒进行了致病性、回归动物的稳定性试验及免疫原性方面的试验,结果表明已成功获得了具有髙免疫原性且安全无毒力返强的致弱株,并初步揭示了vvIBDV在适应细胞、从超强毒力向弱毒力转化过程中,VP2高变区氨基酸序列的变化情况。SD0210株培养至18代开始适应细胞,出现细胞病变。21代细胞毒已对SPF鸡失去了致病性,在鸡体内连续传代15代毒力不返强,而且具有较高的免疫原性。     

补体C3对大肠杆菌疫苗的免疫增强作用

从SPF鸡血清中分离纯化C3,用戊二醛将其与大肠杆菌抗原连接,免疫注射SPF鸡;对照组鸡免疫注射弗氏完全佐剂大肠杆菌疫苗。分别在免疫后的第2、3、4、5、6、7、8、9周采血,用ELISA方法测定血清中的抗体含量,同时测定血清中总补体活性。结果表明,免疫后3周,弗氏佐剂大肠杆菌疫苗诱导鸡体产生的抗体效价高于C3佐剂疫苗组,但至第4周,弗氏佐剂疫苗组的抗体水平达到高峰(OD值=0.270±0.004),然后迅速下降,到第9周降至0.200±0.005,而C3疫苗组鸡免疫后的抗体水平持续上升,从免疫后第2周的0.098±0.003上升到第8周的0.275±0.002。证明C3能够促进免疫记忆细胞的产生,并能够使细菌抗原给予免疫细胞持续稳定的刺激,从而使鸡体维持高水平抗体的时间延长。研究结果为研制有效的家禽细菌性疫苗提供了理论依据。     

实时荧光定量PCR技术在SPF鸡四种垂直传播疾病监测中的应用

目的探讨荧光定量PCR检测技术对SPF鸡四种垂直传播病毒的检测应用。方法采集60份SPF鸡及70份普通鸡群蛋清、泄殖腔试子样品,提取样品核酸,分别进行ARV、REV、CAV、ALV四种病毒实时荧光定量PCR检测,根据标准曲线及溶解曲线分析判读样品病毒拷贝数。结果 SPF鸡ALV 2份阳性,检出率3.3%,其余病毒检测均为阴性;普通鸡样品REV检测2份阳性,检出率2.9%,ALV 10份阳性,检出率14.3%。结论荧光定量PCR检测方法最低可检测到100个拷贝核酸,检测灵敏度较高,有望应用于SPF鸡临床样品的病原检测。     

Cryopreservation of Leucocytozoon caulleryi sporozoites

Leucocytozoon caulleryi sporozoites that had been stored at -196 degrees C or -80 degrees C for 6 or 12 months in Eagle's minimum essential medium or Medium 199 supplemented with 5% glycerol and 10% chicken serum showed infectivity to chickens. Glycerol at a concentration of 10% and dimethyl sulfoxide at 10% and 5% were found to be ineffective cryoprotective agents for the low temperature preservation of sporozoites. Sporozoites isolated from the intact females of Culicoides arakawae, which had been stored at -80 degrees C for 6 or 12 months without cryoprotective agents, retained their infectivity. No differences were observed in the prepatent period, duration of parasitemia, and presence of serum-soluble antigens between chickens infected with frozen sporozoites and those infected with fresh sporozoites.     

滑液囊支原体不同感染途径的致病力比较

【背景】自2010年以来,我国鸡群中滑液囊支原体(Mycoplasma synoviae,MS)的感染率不断增高,目前MS已广泛存在于我国不同的鸡群中,包括蛋鸡、种鸡、白羽肉鸡和地方品种鸡等,其血清阳性率已超过40%,严重危害我国养鸡业,并造成了严重的经济损失。【目的】系统比较MS以不同感染途径对56日龄无特定病原体(Specific Pathogen Free,SPF)鸡的致病力。【方法】采用MS强毒FZ株以点眼、爪垫注射、胸部皮下注射、单次气管注射、连续3次气管注射等不同途径感染56日龄SPF鸡,观察感染后临床症状和解剖病理变化,检测感染后血清中的MS抗体,并且对气管组织进行病原再分离和组织病理学观察。【结果】MS的FZ株以不同途径感染SPF鸡后临床表现和发病率差异较大,爪垫注射和胸部皮下注射可导致100%的鸡发生爪垫肿大或胸部囊肿,而单次或连续3次气管注射可引起33%-50%的鸡发生严重气囊炎,点眼感染途径基本不能引起临床病理变化;爪垫肿大主要为肉芽组织增生和出现大量的黄色干酪样块状物质,胸部囊肿在囊肿部位有大量的血红色样液体和黄色干酪样块状物质;组织病理学结果显示连续3次气管注射方式感染更易对气管造成损伤,表现为气管黏膜固有层/黏膜下层发生轻微至轻度灶性炎细胞浸润,而爪垫肿大和胸部囊肿组织有大量的纤维组织和血管增生,同时伴有大量炎性细胞浸润;点眼和气管注射途径的气管MS病原再分离率可达100%,而胸部皮下注射或脚垫注射也可从气管中分离到MS病原;爪垫注射途径更易引起MS抗体转阳。【结论】系统比较了MS以不同感染途径对56日龄SPF鸡的致病性,并筛选出了相应的评价指征,成功建立了MS人工感染8周龄SPF鸡的发病模型,其中点眼感染途径和气管注射途径以气管病原再分离作为主要指征,辅以气囊炎进行评价,而胸部皮下注射和爪垫注射途径分别以胸部囊肿和爪垫肿胀作为主要病理指征进行评价。     

Production of transgenic chickens constitutively expressing human erythropoietin (hEPO): Problems with uncontrollable overexpression of <Emphasis Type="Italic">hEPO</Emphasis> gene

The chicken is a promising candidate as a bioreactor for the economical mass production of human therapeutic proteins. Here, we report the successful generation of transgenic chickens that produce high concentrations of human erythropoietin (hEPO) in the blood. Using a Moloney murine leukemia virus (MoMLV)-based pseudotyped retrovirus vector packaged with vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSV-G), the hEPO gene under the control of cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter was introduced to the blastoderm of freshly laid chicken eggs (stage X). Out of 200 injected eggs, 12 chicks were hatched after 21 days of incubation, and all of the G₀ hatched chicks expressed the vector-encoded hEPO gene. One of the G₀ roosters successfully transmitted the hEPO gene to its G₁ progeny by crossing with non-transgenic hens. The concentration of hEPO protein in the chicken blood serum was as high as 90 μg/mL. Although humans and chickens belong to different classes of the phylogenetic tree, human EPO caused devastating problems in transgenic chickens, including sudden death, polycythemia, vasodilation, and so on, which may be due to the uncontrolled constitutive expression of exogenous protein in the chicken body. Despite many disorders, however, we were able to generate chicks of G₂ generation sired by a rooster of G₁ generation confirming successful establishment of a new line of transgenic chicken characterized by high expression of the hEPO gene. With these chickens, we believe that studies on the evaluating the possibilities of the transgenic animal-mediated bio-pharming and on the hEPO-induced physiological side effects will be greatly facilitated.     

Gametocytogenesis of Leucocytozoon caulleryi in In Vitro Culture: Effect of Human Red Blood Cells on the Development of Second-Generation Merozoites

For investigating development of second-generation merozoites of Leucocytozoon caulleryi into mature gametocytes, infected erythrocytes from chickens at 15 d after sporozoites inoculation were cultured in RPMI-1640 modified medium supplemented with 10% horse serum and 0.5 ml of human erythrocytes (type O). When culture was carried out at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO₂ for 7 d, the very small number of second-generation merozoites developed into morphologically mature gametocytes. However, in the high carbon dioxide and low oxygen condition, mature gametocytes weren't observed in cluture. The role of human erythrocytes added has not been clarified yet.     

In Vitro Development of Exoerythrocytic Forms of Plasmodium Gallinaceum Sporozoites In Avian Macrophages

ABSTRACT Exoerythrocytic forms of Plasmodium gallinaceum were cultured in vitro using salivary gland sporozoites extracted from experimentally infected Aedes fluviatilis mosquitoes. the host cells were macrophage precursors from chicken bone marrow. At various times after introduction of Sporozoites, the cultures were stained by Giemsa or by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using anti-sporozoite-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAb). the time to complete parasite development in vitro was 50-70 h. By 70 h, ruptured segmenters and free merozoites were visible within the cells. Inoculation of normal chickens with infected cultures induced parasitemia after a pre-patent period of 10-11 days. In vitro young exoerythrocytic forms, late schizonts that include the matured segmenters, and free merozoites shared common antigens with the sporozoites as revealed by IFA using anti-sporozoite-specific MAbs. Our data indicate that macrophages support development of P. gallinaceum sporozoites and that the circumsporozoite proteins are present until Ac end of the primary exoerythrocytic schizogony.     

In vitro development of exoerythrocytic forms of Plasmodium gallinaceum sporozoites in avian macrophages

Exoerythrocytic forms of Plasmodium gallinaceum were cultured in vitro using salivary gland sporozoites extracted from experimentally infected Aedes fluviatilis mosquitoes. The host cells were macrophage precursors from chicken bone marrow. At various times after introduction of sporozoites, the cultures were stained by Giemsa or by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using anti-sporozoite-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAb). The time to complete parasite development in vitro was 50-70 h. By 70 h, ruptured segmenters and free merozoites were visible within the cells. Inoculation of normal chickens with infected cultures induced parasitemia after a pre-patent period of 10-11 days. In vitro young exoerythrocytic forms, late schizonts that include the matured segmenters, and free merozoites shared common antigens with the sporozoites as revealed by IFA using anti-sporozoite-specific MAbs. Our data indicate that macrophages support development of P. gallinaceum sporozoites and that the circumsporozoite proteins are present until the end of the primary exoerythrocytic schizogony.     

Persistence of specific antigenic protein in the serum of chickens given intravenously botulinum toxin type B, C, D, E or F

A sublethal dose of Clostridium botulinum progenitor toxin of each of types B, C, D, E, and F was injected once intravenously into chickens. Blood samples were withdrawn periodically from the chickens to determine the toxin remaining in the serum by the mouse injection test and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for both toxic and nontoxic components composing the progenitor toxin. Both components were detected by ELISA for at least a few days after the serum had became innocuous to mice, indicating a higher stability of the antigenicities of both components than the lethal toxicity in the chicken serum. For the diagnosis of botulism, it seems justified to recommend detection of the antigen (toxic component or nontoxic component or both) by ELISA even if no toxin is detected by the mouse test. Such immunological tests would no doubt contribute to an increase in the rate of diagnosis of human and animal botulism cases, particularly when blood sampling is delayed.     

鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒超强毒株GX8/99株的致病性

鸡传染性法氏囊病病毒(IBDV)超强毒株GX8/99,系1999年从广西一自然发病鸡群采集到.用原始病鸡法氏囊悬液连续3次人工感染SPF鸡后,再取其法氏囊制备悬液,分装,在-70℃保存.以此悬液经卵黄囊接种10日龄SPF鸡胚,测定鸡胚的半数致死量(ELD50).随着鸡的日龄和接种剂量的不同,其致死率有很大差异.对28～30日龄SPF鸡,病毒接种量为200个ELD50时,感染后7日内死亡率最高可达73%～90.5%(11/15和19/21);感染量为20个ELD50时,死亡率亦可达53%～92%(8/15和23/25).以500个ELD50感染28～104日龄的SPF鸡,死亡率均在55.1%～67.2%;甚至113～120日龄的SPF鸡,感染后仍有10%～15%致死率.但128日龄的SPF鸡感染后既不引起死亡也不表现任何症状,但抗体全部转阳.人工接种发病死亡的鸡,其法氏囊的出血程度也随感染量和年龄而异.50日龄鸡接种2000个ELD50后,死亡的鸡100%(12/12)法氏囊严重出血;而40日龄鸡感染200个ELD50后,死亡鸡中仅17%(3/18)发生出血.在2、3、4周龄带有母源抗体的商品代蛋鸡,以2000个ELD50病毒接种后,只引起10%(2/20)、35%(7/20)和35%(7/20)的死亡率.但在5周龄商品代蛋鸡,仅接触感染的致死率可达61.3%(98/160).另一批商品代蛋鸡,在4周龄和5周龄人工接种200个ELD50病毒后,死亡率分别是81.6%～94.3%(62/76～33/35)和93.9%～94%(31/33～47/50).通过总共1200多羽鸡的试验表明,GX-8/99株是一个超强毒IBDV毒株,表现为高死亡率(最高可达94%),易感年龄延长至4月龄,中枢性免疫器官法氏囊出血严重和胸腺明显萎缩.     

Effect of insulin on glucose oxidation and amino isobutyric acid transport and binding of insulin in chicken thymocytes.

In chicken thymocytes isolated from 15--40 day-old chickens, after a 2 h incubation at 37 degrees C, insulin stimulated amino isobutyric acid uptake (maximal response: 40--50% of increase at 1 microgram insulin/ml and half maximal response at 60 ng/ml) by specifically stimulating the influx without altering the efflux. Insulin also stimulated glucose oxidation (maximal response: 11% of increase at 1 microgram insulin/ml). Binding of 125I-labelled chicken insulin to thymocytes was rapid and higher at 15 degrees C than at 37 degrees C. At steady state, (90 min at 15 degrees C), chicken, porcine and goose insulins were equipotent in inhibiting the binding of 125I-labelled chicken insulin. Maximal binding capacity was estimated at 1250 pg insulin/10(8) cells, i.e., 1250 binding sites/cell with an apparent dissociation constant of 200 ng insulin/ml at 15 degrees C. Degradation of 125I-labelled chicken insulin in the incubation medium was negligible at 15 degrees C but very noticeable at 37 degrees C. Therefore, the low level of insulin binding at 15 degrees C reflects a true scarcity of insulin receptors in chicken thymocytes as compared to rat thymocytes.     

Demonstration of the oncogenic activity of cell cultures using antithymocytic serum]

The authors examined 10 cell strains of different origin as to their effect on mice by means of antithymocytic (ATC) serum. In dependence on the strain used the tumors developed in different number and with different growth tendency. In control animals not treated by the ATC serum, small ganglions developed in some cases which, however, disappeared in 2--3 days. Both strains of diploide cells WI 38 and LEP and primary cultures of chicken fibroblast from embryos of SPF chickens did not develop any tumors. The antithymocytic serums from calfs were found to be less toxic for mice than the rabbit sera.     

Observations on First-Generation Schizogony of Leucocytozoon caulleryi in Chickens

ABSTRACT. First and second generation schizogony of Leucocytozoon caulleryi occurred in chickens infected with sporozoites. First generation schizogony was studied by light and electron microscopy. First-generation schizonts were first detected in capillary endothelial cells in the spleen, lung, liver, and bursa of Fabricius between 3 and 6 d post-sporozoite inoculation (DPI). The schizonts ranged from 15 to 65 μm in diameter and were surrounded by a thin pellicle. Early schizonts contained numerous round or oval nuclei, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria. The schizonts reached maturity 5 DPI and produced first-generation merozoites which were released into the peripheral bloodstream. The merozoites. which were infective to chickens, measured 7.1 μm in length. They were slender and had a large nucleus, a mitochondrion, and an apical complex consisting of three polar rings, rhoptries, numerous micronemes. The morphology of first-generation merozoites was different from that of second-generation merozoites.     

Fine structure of Plasmodium gallinaceum in embryonic and neonate chicks.

The erythrocytic stages of Plasmdoium gallinaceum in chicken embryos injected with parasited blood either from a syringe-passaged infection in chickens or from a chicken infected with sporozoites were characterized by abnormal structure. Particularly evident were large, unstained vacuoles within the cytoplasm; these occurred with greatest frequency in schizonts. The presence of myelin bodies within these vacuoles was revealed by transmission electron microscopy; abnormal cytokinesis and aberrant merozoites provided additional evidence of the parasite's inability to develop naturally within the milieu of the embryonic erythrocytes. Fifty-five passages were necessary to restore normal structure of the parasites in embryos, while only 5 passages were required for such restoration in neonate chicks. The probable adaptation of the parasite to the proportions of hemoglobin of the adult chicken may be responsible for the abnormal growth in the immature host.