Search Results
Two indirect ELISAs for the detection of antibodies against glycoprotein E (gE) of Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) in sera have been developed. The rec-gE-ELISA is based on theE. coli-expressed recombinant protein containing the N-terminal sequences of gE (aa 1-125) fused with the glutathione S-transferase fromSchistosoma japonicum. The affi-gE-ELISA is based on native gE, which was purified from virions by affinity chromatography. The tests were optimised and compared with each other, as well as with the recently developed blocking gE-ELISA (Morenkov et al., 1997b), with respect to specificity and sensitivity. The rec-gE-ELISA was less sensitive in detecting ADV-infected animals than the affi-gE-ELISA (sensitivity 80% and 97%, respectively), which is probably due to the lack of conformation-dependent immunodominant epitopes on the recombinant protein expressed inE. coli. The specificity of the rec-gE-ELISA and affi-gE-ELISA was rather moderate (90% and 94%, respectively) because it was necessary to set such cut-off values in the tests that provided a maximum level of sensitivity, which obviously increased the incidence of false positive reactions. Though the indirect ELISAs detect antibodies against many epitopes of gE, the blocking gE-ELISA, which detects antibodies against only one immunodominant epitope of gE, showed a better test performance (specificity 99% and sensitivity 98%). This is most probably due to rather high dilutions of the sera used in the indirect gE-ELISAs (1:30) as compared to the serum dilution in the blocking gE-ELISA (1:2). We conclude that the indirect gE-ELISAs are sufficiently specific and sensitive to distinguish ADV-infected swine from those vaccinated with gE-negative vaccine and can be useful, in particularly affi-gE-ELISA, as additional tests for the detection of antibodies to gE.
Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV) are spread throughout the world, including Slovenia, where the first evidence of caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) infection was found in 1996. This study was conducted to investigate the molecular and genetic characteristics of SRLV infection in Slovenia in order to classify our strains in relation to other known SRLV strains worldwide as well as to establish molecular techniques in concordance with serology. In this study, 340 goats and sheep were tested. Serological examination revealed that 57% of the goats and only 14% of the sheep were seropositive. The results of this study also show that the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) used in this study is less reliable than ELISA, with only 60.6% of the seropositive animals being PCR positive. Thirty-eight nucleotide sequences of the gag region encoding the matrix protein were determined and compared to sequences derived from the GenBank, revealing that Slovenian SRLV strains belong to sequence groups A and B, being maedivisna virus (MVV) and CAEV-like, respectively. In one goat herd, the presence of more than one genotype was confirmed and the majority of goat SRLV sequences were more closely related to MVV than to CAEV prototype strains.
median plasma cTnI concentration ( Chun et al., 2010 ). Further studies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) showed that the concentration of plasma VEGF was significantly elevated in dogs with HSA compared to that in healthy dogs ( Clifford
PCV2 and PRRSV are two important pathogens of domestic swine. There is considerable evidence that the infection is also present in wild boars. Meat juice provides an alternative to serum for antibody testing, and it has been used in testing for many important porcine infectious diseases. Samples of brachial muscle were collected from 142 wild boars shot in different regions of Poland during the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 hunting seasons. Meat juice harvested from muscle samples was tested using an ELISA test specific for PCV2 and PRRSV antibodies. Additionally, IgG and IgM antibodies specific for PCV2 were detected in order to estimate the status of the PCV2 infection. Only one of the tested meat juice samples was positive for PRRSV (0.7%), and 68 out of 142 (47.9%) samples were positive for PCV2. Of the positive animals, 4 (2.8%) had an antibody profile suggesting active infection, 2 (1.4%) early active infection, and 62 (43.7%) late infection. Also, a lack of association between the age of the animals and the presence of antibodies related to the infection was noticed.
Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) is an important cause of diarrhoea in calves, winter dysentery in adult cattle and respiratory tract disease in feedlot cattle. Serum, faecal and nasal swab samples were collected from a total of 96 cattle with clinical signs in 29 barns of 23 villages in Northwestern Turkey. The cattle were subdivided into 3 distinct age groups (0-30 days old, 4-12 months old and 2-7 years old). An indirect antigen-capture ELISA and an antibody-detection ELISA as well as geometric mean BCoV antibody titres were used to detect BoCV shed in the faeces and in the nasal secretions, respectively. Relationships between BCoV shedding and age group, seroconversion and clinical signs in cattle were also analysed. The rate of faecal shedding of BoCV was 37.1% (13/35) in 0-30 days old calves, 25.6% (10/39) in 4-12 months old feedlot cattle and 18.2% (4/22) in 2-7 years old cows. The overall rate of BCoV faecal shedding was 28.1% (27/96) in the cattle examined. Only one animal in the 4-12 months old age group was found to shed BoCV nasally. The analysis showed that there was a significant difference (P < 0.0001) with respect to faecal shedding between the clinical signs and the age groups. BCoV antibody titre in 50% of all cattle was ≤ 100 as detected by ELISA while 27.1% of the cattle had high titres ranging between 1,600 and 25,600. The seroconversion rate was 7.3% (7/96) in animals shedding BoCV in the faeces and 42.7% (41/96) in cattle negative for faecal shedding as detected by ELISA, and 20.8% of cattle with no seroconversion shed BCoV in the faeces. There was no statistically significant association between seroconversion and nasal or faecal BCoV shedding. These findings confirm the presence of BCoV infections in Turkey. Further studies are needed to isolate BCoV strains in Turkey and to investigate their antigenic and genetic properties.
The imperative of integrating empirical and theoretical considerations when developing policy responses to Internet-gaming disorder
Commentary on: Policy responses to problematic video game use: A systematic review of current measures and future possibilities (Király et al., 2018)
This commentary proposes an integrative approach of theoretical and empirical considerations when developing policy responses to Internet-gaming disorder and when evaluating their efficacy. It complements the overview by Király et al. (2018) about preventive and treatment programs by referring to a lack of inclusion of internal factors, such as individual aspects and cognitions, and missing empirical evidence. This commentary claims the integration of current research addressing individual predisposing and maintaining factors in order to evaluate existing programs and to enhance the exchange between actors including policy. This integrative approach has the potential to develop successful preventive strategies, which could be implemented realistically and socially responsible.
The aim of this study was to investigate differences between the progesterone profiles of Beagle bitches with (multiparous) and without (nulliparous) the whelping experience and to examine whether the selection of bitches by progesterone analyses before the programmed mating improved the whelping rates. In the first experiment, the progesterone profiles of nulliparous and multiparous bitches were evaluated from Days 1 to 13 (onset of prooestrus = Day 0). The mean duration of the elevation in progesterone levels (> 2 ng/mL) after the onset of prooestrus tended to be approximately 1 day shorter in nulliparous bitches (7.7 days) than in multiparous bitches (8.5 days). In the second experiment, progesterone analyses in the bitches were carried out once on Days 4, 5 or 6. Bitches with progesterone levels of > 10 ng/mL were excluded from mating because it was unclear when the progesterone levels reached > 10 ng/mL considering the optimal date for mating. No significant differences were observed in the percentages of bitches excluded from mating and in the whelping rates of the mated bitches between the groups, irrespective of the day of progesterone analysis and the type of bitch. In conclusion, the initial elevation of progesterone levels was of shorter duration in nulliparous bitches. The selection of bitches by the measurement of progesterone levels once before mating was not effective for the programmed mating.
Background and Aims
Most people use the Internet in a functional way to achieve certain goals and needs. However, there is an increasing number of people who experience negative consequences like loss of control and distress based on an excessive use of the Internet and its specific online applications. Some approaches postulate similarities with behavioral addictions as well as substance dependencies. They differentiate between a generalized and a specific Internet addiction, such as the pathological use of social networking sites (SIA–SNS). Prior studies particularly identified the use of applications, personal characteristics, and psychopathological symptoms as significant predictors for the development and maintenance of this phenomenon. So far, it remains unclear how psychopathological symptoms like depression and social anxiety interact with individual expectancies of Internet use and capabilities of handling the Internet, summarized as Internet literacy.
Methods
The current study (N = 334) investigated the interaction of these components in a structural equation model.
Results
The results indicate that the effects of depression and social anxiety on SIA–SNS were mediated by Internet use expectancies and self-regulation.
Discussion
Thus, Internet use expectancies seem to be crucial for SIA–SNS, which is in line with prior models.
Conclusions
SNS use may be reinforced by experienced gratification and relief from negative feelings. Individual competences in handling the Internet may be preventive for the development of SIA–SNS.
Encephalitozoon intestinalis infection of sows is reported from a pig farm in Slovakia. Spores were detected by direct microscopic visualisation in the faeces of 25 out of 27 sows (92.6%). This finding was also supported serologically by the presence of specific anti-E. intestinalis antibodies and by a species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This is the first report on E. intestinalis infection of swine in Europe.
Abstract
Implicit cognitions may be involved in the development and maintenance of specific Internet use disorders such as problematic social network use (PSNU). In more detail, implicit attitude, attentional biases, approach and avoidance tendencies as well as semantic memory associations are considered relevant in the context of PSNU. This viewpoint article summarizes the available literature on implicit cognitions in PSNU. We systematically reviewed articles of implicit cognitions in PSNU from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest databases based on a targeted search strategy and assessed using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The present findings suggest that specific implicit cognitions are important in the context of PSNU and therefore show parallels to other addictive behaviors. However, the empirical evidence is limited to a few studies on this topic. Implicit cognitions in PSNU should be explored in more depth and in the context of other affective and cognitive mechanisms in future work.
