Oya Bulut

Effects of bovine viral diarrhoea virus on the fertility of cows

The aim of the present study was to determine the possible relationship between bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus infection and the appearance of cervical mucous discharge (CMD) and the reproductive performance of cows in oestrus. For this purpose, CMD from 97 Holstein cows in oestrus was evaluated visually before artificial insemination (AI). Cows in oestrus were inseminated with frozen semen free from BVD virus (BVDV). Blood samples were tested by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) for antigen (Ag) and antibodies (Ab) of BVDV. The presence of the BVDV genome in cervical mucus samples was tested by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The presence of BVDV Ab, Ag or genome was not associated with abnormal cervical mucous discharge (A-CMD). However, the presence of BVDV Ag (but not of the BVDV Ab) in blood samples was associated with a lower first service conception rate (FSCR; 27.8 vs. 70.9%; P < 0.01), indicating that BVDV viraemia at the time of AI has a negative effect on the fertility of cows.

The Serological and Virological Investigation of Canine Adenovirus Infection on the Dogs

Two types of Canine Adenovirus (CAVs), Canine Adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1), the virus which causes infectious canine hepatitis, and Canine Adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2), which causes canine infectious laryngotracheitis, have been found in dogs. In this study, blood samples taken from 111 dogs, which were admitted to the Internal Medicine Clinic of Selcuk University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, with clinical symptoms. Seventy-seven dogs were sampled from Isparta and Burdur dog shelters by random sampling, regardless of the clinical findings. Dogs showed a systemic disease, characterized by fever, diarrhea, vomiting, oculonasal discharge, conjunctivitis, severe moist cough, signs of pulmonary disease and dehydration. Two dogs had corneal opacity and photophobia. In serological studies, 188 serum samples were investigated on the presence of CAV antibodies by ELISA. Total 103 (103/188–54.7%) blood samples were detected to be positive for CAV antibodies by ELISA. However, 85 (85/188–45.2%) blood samples were negative. Blood leukocyte samples from dogs were processed and inoculated onto confluent monolayers of MDCK cells using standard virological techniques. After third passage, cells were examined by direct immunoflourescence test for virus isolation. But positive result was not detected. In conclusion, this study clearly demonstrates the high prevalence of CAV infection in dogs.

Effects of inactive parapoxvirus ovis on cytokine levels in rats.

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of iPPOV on pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in rats. iPPOV (1 ml/rat) was administered intraperitoneal route to 49 rats, except for 7 rats (Control, 0 group). Serum samples were collected from 7 rats at 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 24th hr after treatments. Levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12 and IL-10 were determined using ELISA. Administration of iPPOV stimulated TNF-α (16th and 24th hr) and IL-6 (12th, 16th and 24th hr) synthesis and caused fluctuations in IL-10 and IL-12 concentrations. In conclusion, increased cytokine levels could be attributed to immunomodulatory activity of iPPOV, however, detailed studies are required to fully understand effects of iPPOV on immune system.

FIRST REPORT ON SEROPREVALENCE OF BLUETONGUE, BORDER DISEASE AND PESTE DES PETITS RUMINANTS VIRUS INFECTIONS IN SHEEP IN KYRGYZSTAN

In this study, the presence of antibodies against Bluetongue Virus (BTV), Border Disease Virus (BDV) and Peste des Petits Ruminants virus (PPRV), were evaluated for the first time in Kyrgyzstan. A total of 655 serum samples were collected from healthy sheep (Jaydara breed) from different regions of Kyrgyzstan (144 from Issik Gol region, 208 from Narin region, 189 from Talas region and 114 from Cuy region). Commercially available competitive ELISA kits were used to detect antibodies against tested samples. Seroprevalence was found to be 36.94%, 7.32% and 35.11% against BTV, BDV and PPRV infections, respectively. Significant differences in antibody prevalences were found among both BTV-BDV and BDV-PPRV groups (P< 0.001) only. This is the first report on seroprevalence of viral infections for BTV, BDV and PPRV in the Jaydara breed of sheep within Kyrgyzstan.

Investigation of Canine Parainfluenza Virus Type 2 in dogs by immunofluorescence.

The rapid increase in drug-resistant infections presents an acute problem that continues to challenge the healthcare sector, generating interest in novel antimicrobial strategies. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have a high potential as new therapeutics against infectious diseases as they are less prone to induce resistance due to their fast and non-specific mechanism of action. However the therapeutic potential of peptides is hampered by a number of chemical and biological concerns that impede their development. Hence the importance to protect the labile AMPs.REFERENCES Paracoccidioidomycosis is an endemic granulomatous disease in Latin America. The vast majority of cases of this systemic mycosis are diagnosed in Brazil. We report a case of a 44-years-old man, urban dweller, smoker, who presented with 6 months of cough and hemoptoic sputum, without fever, sweating or weight loss. The chest CT scan showed multiple nodular injuries in both lungs. The bronchoscopy with biopsy was negative for cancer or infectious disease. Prednisone 1mg/kg was prescribed to treat the presumptive diagnosis of a granulomatous vasculitis. After 3 months of outpatient treatment, there was a worsening of cough with increase of the length of pulmonary injuries. The patient was admitted to the hospital. Tests for autoimmune disease including ANCA were negative. Consequently, corticoid therapy was stopped. During a review of the anamnesis, the man mentioned that he used to work in rural areas during the sugar cane harvest, as a sugar cane cutter. Based on this epidemiological exposition, the patient was submitted to an open lung biopsy to test for paracoccidioidomycosis. The presence of fungal structures compatible with Paracoccidioides braziliensis confirmed the diagnosis. It was initiated the treatment with itraconazole with decreasing of cough. He was discharged from hospital with 15 days of treatment.