Jacqueline Ireland

Nodavirus infection in Atlantic cod and Dover sole in the UK

E. (1992) Pathological changes in kidneys of dogs with natural Leishmania infection. Veterinary Parasitology 45, 33-47 POLI, A., ABRAMO, F., MANCIANTI, F., NIGRO, M., PIERI, S. & BIONDA, A. (1991) Renal involvement in canine leishmaniasis. Nephronl 57,444-452 PUMAROLA, M., BREVIK, L., BADIOLA, J., VARGAS, A., DOMINGO, M. & FERRER, L. (1991) Canine leishmaniasis associated with systemic vasculitis in two dogs. Journal of Comparative Pathology 105, 279-286 REAGAN, W. J. & REBAR, A. H. (1995) Platelet disorders. In Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Philadelphia, W. B. Saunders. pp 1964-1976 SAINZ, A., TESOURO, M. A., RODRIGUEZ, F., MAYORAL, I. & MAZZUCHELLI, F. (1995) Seroprevalence of Ehrlichia canis infections in police dogs in Spain. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 23, 179-182 SLAPPENDEL, R. J. (1988) Canine leishmaniasis. A review based on 95 cases in the Netherlands. Veterinary Quarterly 10, 1-16 SLAPPENDEL, R. J. (1989) Disseminated intravascular coagulation. In Kirks Current Veterinary Therapy X. Small Animal Practice. Philadelphia, W. B. Saunders. pp 451-457 SLAPPENDEL, R. J. & FERRER, L. (1998) Leishmaniasis. In Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. Philadelphia, W. B. Saunders. pp 450-458 SLAPPENDEL, R. J., FRIELINK, R. A., MOL, J. A., NOORDZIJ, A. & HAMER, R. (1992) An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for von Willebrand factor antigen (vWf-Ag) in canine plasma. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 33, 145-154 TABOADA, J. & MERCHANT, S. R. (1995) Protozoal and miscellaneous infections. In Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Philadelphia, W. B. Saunders. pp 384-397 TESOURO, M. A. (1984) Aspectos clinicos y laboratoriales de la leishmaniosis canina. Estudio epizootiologico en la provincia de Madrid. PhD thesis, Universidad Comlutense de Madrid, Madrid TESOURO, M. A., RODRIGUEZ, F., SAINZ, A. & JIMENEZ, F. (1992) Contribuciones al diagnostico y patocronia de la leishmaniosis canina (I). Informacion Veterinaria 125,40-46 VALLADARES, J. E., RUIZ DE GOPEGUI, R., RIERA, C., ALBEROLA, J., GALLEGO, M., ESPADA, Y., PORTUS, M. & ARBOIX, M. (1998) Study of haemostatic disorders in experimentally induced leishmaniasis in Beagle dogs. Research in Veterinary Science 64, 195-198 VARELA, F. (1992) Immunopatologia de la leishmaniosis canina: bases teoricas y aspectos practico. Premios Fundacion Purina, Columna Ediciones SA. pp11 -54 WARDROP, K. J., DHEIN, C. R., FRENIER, S. & MEYERS, K. M. (1989) Altered hemostasis in a dog with chronic renal failure. Journal oftheAmerican Animal Hospital Association 25, 325-329 WERNER, L. L., TURNWALD, G. H. & BARTA, 0. (1994) Immunologic and plasma protein disorders. In Small Animal Clinical Diagnosis by Laboratory Methods. Philadelphia, W. B. Saunders. pp 253-272 WILLIS, S. E., JACKSON, M. L., MERIC, S. M. & ROUSSEAUX, C. G. (1989) Whole blood platelet aggregation in dogs with liver disease. American Journal of Veterinary Research 50, 1893-1897

Transcriptomic analysis of the host response to early stage salmonid alphavirus (SAV-1) infection in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L.

Salmon pancreas disease, caused by salmonid alphavirus (SAV) of the family Togaviridae, is an economically important disease affecting farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in Scotland, Norway, and Ireland. The virus causes characteristic lesions in the pancreas, heart, kidney and skeletal muscle of infected fish. The mechanisms responsible for the pathology and the immune responses elicited in infected Atlantic salmon are not fully understood. A microarray-based study was therefore performed to evaluate the host transcriptomic response during the early stages of an experimentally-induced SAV-1 infection. Atlantic salmon parr were injected intra-peritoneally with viral cell culture supernatant or cell culture supernatant without virus. RNA, extracted from head kidney sampled from infected and control fish at 1, 3 and 5 days post-injection (d.p.i.), was interrogated with the 17 k TRAITS/SGP cDNA microarray. The greatest number of significantly differentially expressed genes was recorded at 3 d.p.i., mainly associated with immune and defence mechanisms, including genes involved in interferon I pathways and Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I and II responses. Genes associated with apoptosis and cellular stress were also found to be differentially expressed between infected and uninfected individuals, as were genes involved in inhibiting viral attachment and replication. The microarray results were validated by follow-on analysis of eight genes by real-time PCR. The findings of the study reflect mechanisms used by the host to protect itself during the early stages of SAV-1 infection. In particular, there was evidence of rapid induction of interferon-mediated responses similar to those seen during mammalian alphavirus infections, and also early involvement of an adaptive immune response. This study provides essential knowledge to assist in the development of effective control and management strategies for SAV-1 infection.

The influence of temperature and salinity on the structure and function of mitochondria in chloride cells in the skin of the larvae of the turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)

Abstract Six separate groups of the larvae of the turbot ( Scophthalmus maximus ) from the same brood stock were incubated in three salinities (24, 34 and 44 ppt) and at three temperatures (12, 15 and 17°C). Relative levels in mitochondrial protein and mitochondrial membrane potentials in the cutaneous chloride cells of these larvae were then measured by confocal microscopy, as changes in the intensity of fluorescence of the mitochondria-specific dye (DASPI) and the cationic fluorescent markers (Rhodamine 123 and TMRE). DASPI fluorescence was found to be twice as intense in cells from larvae at 17 compared to those at 12°C, indicating that a small increment in incubation temperature has a highly significant effect on mitochondrial protein content. Electron microscopy, which has revealed that the size of mitochondria and the relative area which they occupy in chloride cells is greatest in larvae incubated at the highest temperature, also tends to support this conclusion. The influence of salinity on DASPI fluorescence was found to be highly temperature dependent. At 12°C salinity had little effect, but at 17°C DASPI fluorescence was highest at 44 ppt, showing a strong salinity effect on the mitochondrial protein content in chloride cells at higher temperatures. Salinity and temperature had significant effects on the fluorescence of the cationic marker Rhodamine 123 in chloride cells, indicating adjustments in metabolic rate and implying adaptive adjustment in salt secretory activity. Furthermore estimates of mitochondrial membrane potentials were found to be significantly influenced by temperature, with the lowest values obtained in the lowest temperature. It is concluded that increase in temperature and salinity of incubation, both of which increase osmotic stress in marine fish larvae, induce adaptive changes in the mitochondria of salt-excreting cells.

The influence of temperature, salinity and external calcium on diffusional permeability of the eggs of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)

Abstract Turbot eggs, following activation, are relatively impermeable to tritiated water. Thirty degree-days after fertilisation, the permeability of turbot eggs increased with age. In general permeability increased with temperature, Q 10 ranging from 2.15 to 3.84, and decreased with age. Acute change in salinity had no significant effect on permeability. The effect of alterations in external calcium had no effect on permeability in 15.5 degree-day eggs, but at 31 degree-days permeability appeared to increase as external calcium concentration fell.

Characterisation of the intracellular protozoan MPX in Scottish mussels, Mytilus edulis Linnaeus, 1758

Ciliates have been reported as pathogens of many species of economically important bivalves. Mussel protozoan X (MPX), is an uncharacterised intracellular ciliate of mussels and has been widely reported in Mytilus spp. around the world. In order to characterise this ciliate, Mytilus edulis samples were collected from a site on the West coast of Scotland, and four different fixatives for histological examination were tested. Fresh preparations of mussel digestive glands were also examined by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Intracellular ciliates were prepared by laser capture microdissection and partial sequences of small subunit ribosomal RNA gene and of large subunit ribosomal RNA gene were generated, using Phyllopharyngea primers. Methacarn solution proved to be the best fixative for both histological and molecular characterisation. The morphological and molecular investigations confirmed that this ciliate belongs to the class Phyllopharyngea, order Rhynchodida. However, this organism does not belong to any known family, genus or species, therefore, a new description is necessary, following further morphological analyses. Most mussel samples containing MPX displayed mild to moderate infections, with no signs of necrosis or haemocytic response, although a single sample displayed a severe infection (∼103 ciliates per section). The localisation of this ciliate in tissues other than the digestive gland, the presence of necrosis in infected tissue of the most severely infected mussel and the binary fission of this ciliate have been observed here for the first time. We also report the first observation of the live ciliate isolated from tissue. Although MPX remains of unknown significance to the mussel industry, tools and protocols described here will be useful in further characterising these and other ciliates (subclass Rhynchodia) known as pathogens for bivalves.