Nobuhiko Tanimura

Association between Pathogenicity of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus and Viral Antigen Distribution Detected by Immunohistochemistry

Highly pathogenic infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) strains (Ehime/91, DV86) and a moderately pathogenic strain (J1) were compared in order to clarify the association between the pathogenicity of IBDV and viral antigen distribution. Virus target cells in the bursa, thymus, spleen, and bone marrow were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Although all strains caused similar bursal atrophy, the highly pathogenic strains brought about a greater decrease in the thymic weight index and more severe lesions in the cecal tonsil, thymus, spleen, and bone marrow. Immunohistochemical detection of IBDV antigen in tissues from chickens infected with Ehime/91 and DV86 strains showed a higher frequency of antigen-positive cells in the spleen and bone marrow. Transmission electron microscopy indicated the presence of viral particles in the cytoplasm of epithelial reticular cells in the thymus and monocytes in the bone marrow. The results show that pathogenicity of field strains of IBDV correlates with lesion production in non-bursal lymphopoietic organs. The results also suggest that pathogenicity of IBDV may be associated with virus antigen distribution in non-bursal lymphopoietic organs.

Efficacy of three live vaccines against highly virulent infectious bursal disease virus in chickens with or without maternal antibodies.

Since 1990, highly virulent infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), which induces high mortality, has been infecting even vaccinated flocks in Japan. We report the efficacy of three live vaccines that are available in Japan. Two mildly attenuated strains (A and B) and one intermediate strain (C) were each tested both in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens and in commercial chickens that have maternal antibodies against IBDV. Chickens were vaccinated at 20 days old and challenged with highly virulent IBDV 10 days post-vaccination. Protection was determined 7 days after challenge by measuring bursa/body weight ratios, histopathological lesions, and antibody responses to IBDV. All three lie vaccines conferred protection to SPF chickens. However, only vaccine C protected 100% of vaccinated commercial chickens against highly virulent IBDV; Vaccines A and B respectively protected three-fourths and none of vaccinated commercial chickens from severe bursal lesions. Vaccines A, B, and C and highly virulent IBDV induced bursal lesions in 3%, 0%, 23%, and 61% of inoculated commercial chickens, respectively. These results suggest that serological determination of the optimum vaccination time for each flock is required to effectively control highly virulent IBDV in the field. The optimum vaccination timing could be approximated by titrating the maternal IBDV antibodies of 1-day-old chicks by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or by an agar gel precipitin test.

Identification of a genetic determinant of pathogenicity in chicken anaemia virus

The molecular basis of pathogenicity of the chicken anaemia virus (CAV) needs to be clarified in order to develop a safe, live virus vaccine. In this study, several high- and low-pathogenic infectious DNA clones were obtained from field virus samples after 12 or 38 passages in MDCC-MSB1 cells. The high-pathogenic clones induced a low haematocrit, low weight gain and high mortality. Nucleotide sequence analyses identified one amino acid, at residue 394 of the VP1 capsid protein, as a major determinant of pathogenicity. To determine the role of this amino acid in pathogenicity, chimeric infectious DNA clones and point-mutated clones were used for chicken pathogenicity tests. These analyses clearly demonstrated that residue 394 of VP1 was crucial for the pathogenicity of CAV; all of the cloned viruses with glutamine at this position were highly pathogenic, whereas those with histidine had low pathogenicity. Low-pathogenic CAV, based on an infectious DNA clone, is a candidate for a genetically homogeneous and stable CAV live vaccine.

Epizootic outbreaks of gizzard erosion associated with adenovirus infection in chickens.

Two outbreaks of gizzard erosion in slaughtered broiler chickens in Japan were examined pathologically and microbiologically. The prevalences of such lesions were 9%-11% and 4%-50% in the affected flocks. Affected chickens had no clinical signs. Group I fowl adenovirus (FAV) serotype 1 was isolated from gizzard lesions. Histologically, gizzard mucosa were necrotic. Intranuclear inclusion bodies were seen in the enlarged nuclei of degenerating epithelial cells of the gizzard. The keratinoid layer in the erosion was edematous and desquamated and contained degenerative cells. Moderate to marked inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in the lamina propria and perivascular connective tissue in the submucosa and muscle layer. Immunohistochemical staining showed evidence of FAV antigens in the intranuclear inclusion bodies within degenerating epithelial cells. Ultrastructurally, numerous viral particles were demonstrated in the inclusions.

Comparison of virus replication efficiency in lymphoid tissues among three infectious bursal disease virus strains.

In order to study replication efficiency of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) in lymphoid tissues, both the virus titers and the virus antigen titers in four lymphoid tissues were compared among chickens inoculated with Ehime/91 (about 50% mortality), J1 (no mortality), or K (attenuated) IBDV strains during 1-7 days postinoculation (PI). IBDV antigens in tissue homogenates were detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In the bursa of Fabricius, higher virus titers were maintained for 1-3 days PI in chickens inoculated with Ehime/91 or J1 strains, whereas the virus titers increased gradually and reached to the peak on 3 days PI in chickens inoculated with the K strain. There were no clear differences in both the virus and the virus antigen titers in bursae and thymus between chickens inoculated with Ehime/91 and J1 stains. However, the virus and/or the virus antigen titers in spleen and bone marrow of chickens inoculated with Ehime/91 strain were higher than those of the J1-inoculated chickens. Immunohistochemical analyses indicated that larger numbers of IBDV antigen-positive cells were detected in spleen and bone marrow of the Ehime/91 group than in those of the J1 group. There was almost no detectable virus and virus antigens in thymus, spleen, and bone marrow of the K-inoculated chickens throughout the experiment. These results suggest that efficient replication of IBDV not only in the bursa but also in the spleen and the bone marrow may be required for clinical infectious bursal disease.

Pathology of Specific-Pathogen-Free Chickens Inoculated with H5N1 Avian Influenza Viruses Isolated in Japan in 2004

Abstract Specific-pathogen-free chickens inoculated with H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses isolated in Japan in 2004 were investigated pathologically. The chickens inoculated intravenously with the viruses died within 26 hr after inoculation. Macroscopically, minimal necrosis of the tip of the comb, and hemorrhages of the palpebral conjunctiva, liver, cerebellum, and muscles were rarely observed. Histologically, dead chickens had minimal focal necrosis of hepatocytes with fibrinous thrombi in sinusoids, mild necrosis of splenic ellipsoids with fibrinous exudation, minimal necrosis of the brain, mild necrosis of epidermal cells of the comb with congestion of the lamina propria, and hemorrhages and edema of the lamina propria of the conjunctiva. Virus antigens were seen in the sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatocytes in the liver, the capillary endothelial cells of the spleen, the capillary endothelial cells and cardiac myocytes in the heart, the capillary endothelial cells and necrotic nerve cells in the brain, the capillary endothelial cells in the lamina propria of the comb, the renal tubular epithelial cells, and the pancreatic acinar cells. The chickens inoculated by natural infectious routes died within 1–4 days after inoculation. Macroscopically, some chickens had hemorrhages in the conjunctiva, edematous swelling of the face and wattles, hydropericardium, hemorrhages of the proventriculus and bursa of Fabricius, increased secretion of tracheal mucus, and congestion and edema of lungs. Histologic lesions by natural infectious routes were similar to those by intravenous inoculation, except for the pancreatic necrosis. This study suggests H5N1 HPAI viruses isolated in Japan in 2004 cause pathologic conditions similar to natural cases.

Pathologically and Serologically Different Avian Nephritis Virus Isolates Implicated in Etiology of Baby Chick Nephropathy

Three virus isolates (WG-3, -4, and -5) from chicks affected by baby chick nephropathy were orally inoculated into 1-day-old specific-pathogen-free chicks of lines PDL-1 and 15I. Additional chicks were orally inoculated with avian nephritis virus (ANV) strain G-4260. Chicks inoculated with isolates WG-3, -4, and -5 died between 2 and 6 days postinoculation (PI), with mortality ranging from 0% to 53.3%. Pathological findings in the dead chicks included nephrosis in chicks inoculated with WG-3, -4, and -5, and nephritis and visceral urate deposition in chicks inoculated with G-4260. The stability of the WG-5 isolate, as well as the size of the particles and the nucleic acid type, were also similar to those of the G-4260 strain. All of the examined chicks inoculated with WG-3, -4, and -5 had interstitial nephritis at 14 days PI. Therefore, the three virus isolates were considered to be ANV. However, there was no serological relationship between the isolates and ANV (G-4260 and M-8 strains).

An epizootic of subcutaneous tumors associated with subgroup A avian leukosis/sarcoma virus in young layer chickens.

An outbreak of subcutaneous tumors in young layer chickens in a flock in Japan was investigated. Tumors appeared as extensive swelling or bulbous protrusions of the integument and were observed in the head or wing of chickens approximately 9 wk old, with a prevalence of 0.4% (157 of 42,000) in the affected flock. Histologically, two types of tumor were observed: myxoma containing abundant hyaluronic acid and neurofibroma with hyperplasia of the Herbst corpuscles. Ultrastructurally, type C retroviruses, such as viral particles, were found in the tumors. The tumors were specifically stained by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies against the subgroup A avian leukosis/sarcoma virus (ALSV) and yielded a positive reaction to primers specific for subgroup A ALSV by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay. The virus was isolated from the tumors. Seventeen of 20 clinically normal chickens in the affected flock showed antibodies against ALSV. These results suggest that subcutaneous tumors are associated with subgroup A ALSV infection.

Pathogenesis of reduced egg production and soft-shelled eggs in laying hens associated with Leucocytozoon caulleryi infection.

The pathogenesis of reduced egg production with soft-shelled eggs in laying hens naturally infected with Leucocytozoon caulleryi was investigated. Many large schizonts of L. caulleryi schizonts were seen in the ovary and oviducts of chickens. Granulomatous and lymphocytic inflammation, edema, and pressure atrophy were associated with these schizonts. The uterine region that secretes the egg shell exhibited the most severe damage. These lesions in the reproductive organs may explain the mechanism for causing the reduced egg production and soft-shelled eggs in laying hens infected with L. caulleryi.

Microminipigs as a new experimental animal model for toxicological studies: comparative pharmacokinetics of perfluoroalkyl acids

In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of a novel minipig strain, the Microminipig (MMPig), as an animal model for studying the pharmacokinetics of a mixture of 10 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). After a single oral dose was given, we found that the blood depuration of PFAAs (blood t1/2), which we calculated using first‐order elimination curves, ranged from 1.6 to 86.6 days. Among the five body compartments analyzed, the liver was the greatest site of accumulation of perfluorooctanesulfonate and longer chain perfluorinated carboxylates such as perfluorodecanoic acid, perfluoroundecanoic acid and perfluorododecanoic acid. We observed an increasing accumulation trend of perfluorinated carboxylates in the organs associated with the fluorinated carbon chain length. The perfluorononanoic acid burden was the highest among the treated compounds 21 days after a single exposure, as 29% of the given perfluorononanoic acid dose was accumulated in the tissues. The persistence of PFAAs in edible pig tissues even after 21 days post‐exposure raises concerns about the safety of swine products. This was the first study to use MMPigs to elucidate the pharmacokinetics of a group of environmental pollutants. We found that MMPigs could be excellent experimental animals for toxicological studies due to their easy handling, cost efficacy for target compounds and ease of waste treatment. Copyright