Consistent amounts of acute leukemia-associated P190BCR/ABL transcripts are expressed by chronic myelogenous leukemia patients at diagnosis

In chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome translocation results in the formation of BCR/ABL genes, normally transcribed in two types of hybrid transcripts with a b2a2 or b3a2 BCR/ABL junction, which give origin to 210-kD fusion proteins (P210). A third type of BCR/ABL (with e1a2 type of junction) has been identified in approximately 50% of the Ph-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL) cases and results in the production of a BCR/ABL protein of 190 kD (P190). The presence of this transcript has been associated almost exclusively with the presence of an acute leukemia phenotype. By contrast, here we describe that in addition to transcripts with the b2a2 and b3a2 types of junction corresponding to the P210 proteins, virtually all CMLs at diagnosis bear also BCR/ABL transcripts showing the e1a2 type of junction, which correspond to the acute leukemia-associated P190 protein. With a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay we found that the amount of the e1a2 mRNA present in CMLs in chronic phase, although in absolute amount much lower than that present in Ph+ ALLs, represents in most cases approximately 20% to 30% of the total BCR/ABL transcripts. Moreover, using a novel and very sensitive Western blot technique, we detected relevant amounts of P190 protein in addition to P210 from peripheral cells of two of the patients.

The use of a non-specific defence mechanism inducer in calves exposed to bovine herpesvirus-1 infection: preliminary trials

The efficacy of an immunomodulator, the Baypamun (Bayer AG), was tested in calves which were subsequently exposed to bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) infection. Two groups of calves, of 8 animals each, were used for two trials. In one trial, 4 calves were treated with the immunomodulator and the remaining 4 were left as untreated controls. Two hours after the first injection of Baypamun, all calves, i.e. the treated and the untreated ones, were challenged with BHV-1. Comparing them to the untreated controls, the calves which were given the immunomodulator developed milder signs of the disease and shed a significantly lower concentration of virus. In the second experiment, 4 calves were given Baypamun and 4 calves were not, as above, but they were not inoculated with BHV-1; however, they were housed together with the calves of the former group (experimentally infected with BHV-1). The 8 calves all became infected but those that had been treated with Baypamun did not show any clinical signs of the disease, whereas the untreated calves underwent a clinical response which was considered to be typical of BHV-1 respiratory infection, as usually seen under natural conditions. In this case the shedding of virus by the calves treated with the immunomodulator also underwent a significant reduction.

Effect of alpha IFN on unaggressive immunoproliferative disorders

BACKGROUND

alpha-IFN is reported to be an effective treatment for a number of lymphoproliferative diseases. Little information is available at present on its effect in unaggressive immunoproliferative disorders.

STUDY DESIGN AND RESULTS

In a prospective non randomized study, 57 patients with IgG or IgA MGUS, smouldering myeloma or stage I MM treated with alpha-IFN (3 MU 3 times a week for at least 6 months) were compared to 129 untreated similar patients. Four patients in the IFN group showed a monoclonal component reduction > 50% versus none in the control group, and 25% of patients suffered disease progression (MC increase > 50% and/or osteolytic lesions) in the IFN group as compared to 18% in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

alpha-IFN administration at the dose used is ineffective for the majority of patients with slowly proliferating immunoproliferative disorders; only a small subgroup of them may benefit from such a treatment.

A study on neonatal calf diarrhea induced by rotavirus

This review summarizes the results of a study on rotaviruses isolated from calves affected by neonatal diarrhea. The results indicated that rotavirus infection is widespread and supported the evidence for an etiologic role of these viruses in neonatal diarrhea. Differences in virulence among bovine rotaviruses appeared also to be confirmed. Conventionally reared calves were fully susceptible to the experimental infection induced by rotaviruses originating from heterologous hosts, i.e. monkeys, pigs and rabbits. When rotavirus strains of bovine, simian and rabbit origin were compared by cross neutralization tests, it was found the simian and porcine strains were indistinguishable and both appeared to relate antigenically to the bovine strain. Finally, it was proven that feeding newborn calves with colostrum and first milk of their dams, previously vaccinated with an inactivated adjuvanted rotavirus vaccine, could prevent the neonatal diarrhea from occurring.

Immunosuppression as a factor in allowing mucosal disease to occur

In order to verify the role of immunosuppression in the pathogenesis of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) infection, two experiments have been carried out. In one experiment, calves previously infected with cytopathogenic (CP) or non-cytopathogenic (NCP) BVDV were treated with dexamethasone (DMS) 30 days later. In the other experiment, calves were simultaneously exposed to BVDV infection and to DMS treatment. In both experiments the DMS treated calves developed a more serious disease which in one calf was fatal. It was speculated that immunosuppression represents one of the most significant "key factors" in the occurrence of the bovine viral diarrhea/mucosal disease in cattle.

A phase II trial on alpha-interferon (alpha IFN) effect in patients with monoclonal IgM gammopathy

Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) is an incurable disorder of B cells. Following occasional reports of response to alpha interferon (IFN) and in view of its effectiveness in hairy cell leukemia, we tested this agent in a relatively large group (n = 88) of patients who had an IgM monoclonal component (MC) greater than 10 g/l. Thirty eight patients had a MC > 30 g/l and were classified as Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM), while fifty had either WM in an early stage or an IgM monoclonal gammopathy of undeterminated significance (all of them operationally classified as IgM-MGUS). All patients received IFN 3 MU/day for one month and then 3 times/week. Response to treatment was mainly based on MC reduction in two consecutive determinations (> 50%: major response; 25-50%: minor response). Of 36 evaluable WM patients, 12 had a major and 6 a minor response; of 41 evaluable IgM-MGUS patients, 2 had a major and 6 a minor response. In WM patients with a major response, MC reduction was associated with disappearance of hyperviscosity symptoms, raised Hb level and reduced bone marrow lymphoplasmacytosis. At the dose used, tolerance was excellent in the majority of patients; only 15% withdrew from the study due to side effects. Although single cases and very small series have already been reported, no large study collecting quantitative data on the effects of alpha IFN in WM has been published so far. Our results suggest that IFN treatment is not indicated for patients with a low monoclonal component, while it is of clinical benefit in about 50% of patients with IgM > 30 g/l.

Optic nerve involvement in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Leukemic infiltration of the optic nerve is rare. We describe the diagnostic assessment and the outcome in two adult patients suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia with T phenotype. In both cases the leukemic involvement of the eye was observed as an isolated extramedullary relapse followed after several months by hematological relapse. CT and MRI scans were negative, while an A-scan echography of the eye clarified the diagnosis. Early radiotherapy caused recovery of visual acuity in one case. A-scan echography is the most sensitive investigation for the early recognition of ocular localization in acute leukemias.

Hb-M "Hyde Park": a de novo mutation, identified by mass spectrometry and DNA analysis

BACKGROUND

Structural hemoglobinopathies usually are inherited as autosomic dominant traits; de novo mutations are uncommon. Analytical and preparative procedures for the characterization of an abnormal hemoglobin are complex and time-consuming. Mass spectrometer analysis allows a rapid identification of the amino acid substitution.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A cyanotic 7-year-old girl was found to have 16% methemoglobin. Laboratory data showed the presence of an abnormal hemoglobin, which was isolated by collecting the abnormal peak from DEAE and globin chains from CM52. The amino acid substitution was rapidly identified by FAB mass spectroscopic analysis, leading to the recognition of HbM Hyde Park. These data were confirmed by molecular analysis (Southern blot and DNA sequencing). Neither the parents nor a sister showed any abnormality; non-paternity was excluded by blood group serology and HLA typing.

CONCLUSIONS

This is a case of HbM Hyde-Park arising as a de novo mutation. FAB mass spectroscopic analysis is a rapid and useful analytical method for identifying aminoacid substitution.

The vaccination and challenge with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) of calves previously infected with a non-cytopathic BVDV

Four calves were infected with noncytopathic (NCP) New York-1 strain of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). During the observation period of one month the calves remained clinically normal but the virus was repeatedly recovered from their pharyngeal swabbings and blood. Thirty days following infection the four calves were vaccinated, together with two uninfected calves, with a modified-live vaccine containing cytopathic (CP) BVDV, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus and parainfluenza-3 virus. No detrimental effects were observed after vaccination. Forty-three days after vaccination the calves were challenged by exposure either with the CP TVM-2 strain or the NCP New York-1 strain of BVDV. The vaccinated calves remained healthy throughout the 60-day observation period.

A study of some biologic properties of Bovid herpesvirus-4

This article summarizes the results of a study on several strains of Bovid herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4), isolated from cattle. The study had several objectives, namely, to verify (a) the disease-causing potential of the virus, (b) the possibility by BHV-4 to induce a latent infection in the natural host and (c) the entity of the relationships among strains of the virus isolated from different disease syndromes. The following data were obtained: (1) All strains tested were able to replicate in experimentally infected calves; however, only one strain (85/BH 16TV) caused an overt systemic disease. (2) The nervous system as well as the lymphoid structures appeared to be the target organs for replication of the virus. (3) BHV-4, like other herpesviruses, was able to establish latent infection in cattle. (4) When two strains of the virus, isolated from cattle affected by different disease syndromes, i.e. respiratory disease (strain DN-599) or vulvovaginitis (strain 85/BH 16TV), respectively, they resulted to be closely related to each other. In particular, they revealed a similar DNA pattern and both strains were able to cause respiratory disease in calves. Moreover, the two viral strains were mutually protective in that calves were generally found to be refractory to challenge inoculation with either the homologous or the heterologous virus. (5) All BHV-4 strains tested generally failed to evoke a significant production of neutralizing antibody in the experimental calves.

A study of some pathogenetic aspects of bovine viral diarrhea virus infection

The cytopathic (CP) strain TVM-2 of bovine virus diarrhea virus (BVDV) induced in calves a severe disease, whereas the calves inoculated with the non-cytopathic (NCP) New York-1 strain, remained clinically normal. When calves were immunosuppressed with dexamethasone (DMS) they underwent an overt, generally fatal disease. This result was obtained with either the CP and the NCP strain of BVDV. It was speculated that the immunosuppressive activity of BVDV could be a property peculiar to certain isolates of the virus.

A further study on relationships between herpes simplex virus and Bovid herpesvirus-2

Calves exposed by intravenous or intradermal inoculation with Herpes simplex virus (HSV), types 1 and 2, remained clinically normal and HSV was not recovered from nasal secretion nor blood samples. However, the clinical response of calves pre-inoculated with HSV, to Bovid herpesvirus-2 (BH-2) challenge infection was much milder than that in the challenge control calves, and the titer of BHV-2 by skin titration underwent a significant (2-2.5 log units) reduction in the HSV pre-inoculated calves. Inoculation of calves with live HSV provided a much greater protection against BHV-2 challenge infection compared with the results of previous experiments in which a Triton X100-inactivated HSV antigen was used. It was speculated that the possibility of HSV replicating in cattle must still be considered an open question.

A study of some pathogenetic aspects of bovine viral diarrhea virus infection

The cytopathic (CP) TVM-2 strain of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) induced in calves a severe disease, characterized by the clinical picture which is usually reported for the acute primary infection observed under natural conditions. In contrast, the calves inoculated with a different biotype of BVDV, the non-cytopathic (NCP) New York-1 strain, remained clinically normal with the only evidence of virus replication in these calves being the recovery of the virus from their pharyngeal swabbings and blood and also the detection of specific neutralizing antibody in their serums. When calves were immunosuppressed with dexamethasone (DMS), they underwent an overt systemic disease of such a severity that in most of the cases it ended with the death of the animals. This result was obtained with either the CP and the NCP strain of BVDV. Finally, the mixed infection that was obtained in the calves with the CP and the NCP BVDV did not result in any particular unexpected pathological situation. It was speculated that the immunosuppressive activity of BVDV could be a property peculiar to certain isolates of the virus.

A serological comparison of some animal herpesviruses

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) isolates (Cooper-type strain 4975 and Oxford) were compared in neutralization tests with the bovine herpesvirus 4 (BHV-4) isolate (85/16 TV) and the herpesviruses of red deer (D2839/1) and goats (E/CH). Hyperimmune antiserum was prepared in rabbits against the plaque-selected viruses and endpoint and kinetic neutralization test were made. BHV-4 was clearly different from the other four viruses. The closely-related BHV-1 strains were also related in these tests to the red deer herpesvirus. The Oxford strain seemed rather closer antigenically than the Cooper-type strain to the red deer herpesvirus. Antiserum to the caprine herpesvirus failed to neutralize either BHV-1 strain or red deer virus, but antiserum to the Cooper-type and red deer herpesviruses did neutralize caprine virus to a limited extent.

Immunization against bovine rotaviral infection

Calves fed with colostrum from cows vaccinated with an inactivated rotavirus vaccine were refractory to experimental infection with strain 81/36F of bovine rotavirus. In the field study, 458 pregnant cows from 26 herds were involved. In each herd, cows were selected and randomly subdivided in two groups. Cows in one group (248 head in total) were vaccinated, whereas cows in the other group (210 head in total) were left as unvaccinated controls. At calving, colostrum was collected from each cow and stored at -30 degrees C until used for feeding calves. The newborn calves, beginning the second day of life and for the next 7-10 days, were each fed a daily supplement of 400 ml of colostrum from its dam. The diarrhea occurred in 86 (40.9%) calves that had received colostrum from unvaccinated dams (normal colostrum), and in 7 (2.8%) calves which were fed colostrum from vaccinated dams (immune colostrum). The disease was very severe in the normal colostrum-fed calves and 52 of them died. By contrast, the 7 immune colostrum-fed calves displayed a rather mild enteric condition, and all recovered without any sequela being observed.

Further studies on passive immunization of newborn calves against rotaviral infection

An inactivated rotavirus vaccine was prepared with an adjuvant which gives a water-in-oil emulsion. The vaccine when injected into cows in their last month of pregnancy, proved to be as effective as the traditional vaccine, prepared with the Freud's incomplete adjuvant, in enhancing the lactogenic immunity. Thus, feeding experimentally infected calves with colostrum and first milk from vaccinated cows prevented diarrhea and reduced significantly rotavirus shedding. Because of its low grade viscosity the water-in-oil emulsifier facilitates inoculation of the vaccine and is therefore recommended as an adjuvant in the preparation of inactivated rotavirus vaccine.

The protection of newborn calves against experimental rotavirus infection by feeding mammary secretions from vaccinated cows

Pregnant cows were given the first injection of an inactivated bovine rotavirus vaccine approximately 4 weeks before calving and a second injection just before calving. This led to the enhancement of rotavirus antibody titers in their colostrum as well as in the milk for at least 5 days after parturition. Thus, when newborn calves were fed with the mammary secretions obtained from the vaccinated cows daily for 5 consecutive days they were fully refractory to experimental infection with 81/36F bovine rotavirus. By contrast, the calves which were given the mammary secretions from unvaccinated cows, had clinical signs consistent with rotavirus infection and viral shedding. Based on these results it is suggested that vaccination of cows according to the scheme followed in this experiment, i.e., two injections within the last month of pregnancy, might be a valid approach which depending on confirmation under field conditions, could help reduce the incidence of rotavirus-induced diarrhea in newborn calves.

Comparative study of two strains of Bovid herpesvirus-4

Two strains of Bovid herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4), i.e. the prototype strain DN-599, obtained from a steer suffering of a respiratory disease, and the strain 85/BH 16TV, originated from a cow with vulvovaginitis, were compared in studies which included restriction endonuclease analysis, experimental infection and reciprocal cross protection tests. The restriction endonuclease analysis revealed that the resultant DNA patterns of the isolates were generally similar with only a difference in one fragment. The two strains were capable of causing respiratory tract infection in calves, even if they displayed a different level of virulence: the strain 85/BH 16TV being the most virulent while the strain DN-599 the least. The two viral strains were mutually protective in that the calves were generally found to be refractory to challenge inoculation with either the homologous or the heterologous virus. Finally, both viral strains failed to evoke the production of neutralizing antibody in the experimental calves.

Neonatal calf diarrhea induced by rotavirus

This presentation summarizes the results of a comprehensive study on rotaviruses isolated in Italy from calves and rabbits affected by neonatal diarrhea. The results clearly indicated that rotavirus infection is widespread and supported the evidence for an etiologic role of these viruses in neonatal diarrhea. The evidence of differences in virulence among bovine rotaviruses appeared also to be confirmed. Conventionally reared calves were fully susceptible to the experimental infection induced by three rotaviruses originating from heterologous hosts, i.e. monkeys, pigs and rabbits, respectively. When rotavirus strains of bovine, simian, porcine and rabbit origin were compared by cross neutralization tests, it was found the simian and porcine strains were indistinguishable and both appeared to relate antigenically to the bovine strain. On the other hand, a reciprocal antigenic correlation was found between bovine and rabbit isolates. Finally, it was proven that feeding newborn calves with colostrum of their dams, previously vaccinated with an inactivated rotavirus vaccine, could prevent the neonatal diarrhea from occurring.

Reactivation in calves of latent infection by Bovid herpesvirus-4

Nine calves, six of which had been infected with strain 85/BH 16TV and three with strain 85/BH 232TN of Bovid herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4), were treated with dexamethasone (DMS) three months after infection. DMS administration did not induce any clinical signs of disease, but BHV-4 was isolated from the nasal swabbings of all calves for a maximum of 8 days after the start of DMS treatment. The virus was also isolated from the nerve tissues, nasal mucosa, lymph nodes, lung and spleen of 4 calves that were killed at different stages (3, 5, 7 days) of the DMS treatment. Intranuclear inclusions associated with cellular shrinkage were found in the neural tissues of calves killed either 3 or 5 days after the start of DMS treatment. Unexpectedly, a latent infection by infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus was reactivated. The virus was isolated from the nasal swabbings of two calves and also from the brain, cerebellum and nasal mucosa of one calf killed 5 days after the start of DMS treatment.

Field trial evaluation of an inactivated rotavirus vaccine against neonatal diarrhea of calves

Field trials were conducted using an inactivated rotavirus vaccine for prevention of calf neonatal diarrhea. For the trials, 458 pregnant cows from 26 herds were involved. In each herd, cows which had been inseminated within a period of two months were selected and randomly subdivided in two groups. Cows in one group (248 head in total) were vaccinated 6 weeks before calving and again 4 weeks later; cows in the other group (210 head in total) were left as unvaccinated controls. At calving, colostrum was collected from each cow and stored at -30 degrees C until used for feeding calves. The newborn calves, beginning the second day of life and for the next 7-10 consecutive days, each was fed a daily supplement of 400 ml of colostrum from its dam. The diarrhea occurred in 86 (40.9%) calves that had received colostrum from unvaccinated dams (normal colostrum), and in 7 (2.8%) calves which were fed colostrum from vaccinated dams (immune colostrum). The disease was very severe in the normal colostrum-fed calves and 52 of them died. Those calves which survived the disease underwent a significant loss of condition. By contrast, the 7 immune colostrum-fed calves displayed a rather mild enteric condition, and all recovered without any sequela being observed.