Immunogenicity of Haemophilus paragallinarum serovar B strains

Immunogenicity of three Haemophilus paragallinarum serovar B strains was investigated in cross-protection tests using monovalent vaccines prepared from the B strains, as well as one strain each of serovars A and C. A bivalent vaccine composed of the serovar A and C strains also was used. In the studies with the monovalent vaccines, the immunogenicity of serovar B strains was different from that of serovar A and C strains, although only partial serovar B-specific protection with the three strains was observed. Chickens vaccinated with the bivalent vaccine protected against challenge with one serovar B strain, as well as serovar A and C strains, but not against the other two serovar B strains.

Recombinant fowlpox viruses inducing protective immunity against Newcastle disease and fowlpox viruses

The haemagglutinin-neuraminidase gene of Newcastle disease virus was inserted into a non-essential region of the fowlpox virus genome and expressed under control of the vaccinia virus 7.5 kDa polypeptide gene promoter. Immunization with the recombinant fowlpox virus elicited protective immunity in chickens against both virulent Newcastle disease and fowlpox virus infection.

Evaluation of two monoclonal antibodies for serotyping Haemophilus paragallinarum

Two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were evaluated for their ability to serotype 108 isolates of Haemophilus paragallinarum. One MAb (E5C12D10) was raised against a Page serovar A strain and the other (F2E6) against a Page serovar C strain. In both dot blot and hemagglutination-inhibition tests, MAb E5C12D10 recognized the type strains of Page serovar A and Kume serovars A-1, A-2, A-3, and A-4. MAb F2E6 recognized the type strains of Page serovar C and Kume serovars C-1, C-2, and C-3. Neither antibody recognized the type strains of Page serovar B or Kume serovars B-1 and C-4. When evaluated with 97 field isolates in a dot blot test, the MAbs serotyped 81 isolates, which was better than agglutinin typing by the Page scheme (69 isolates serotyped). The field isolates that did not react with the MAbs were either Page serovar B/Kume serovar B-1 (three isolates), Page serovar C/Kume serovar C-4 (12 isolates), or nontypable by either the Page or Kume scheme (one isolate).

Characterization of two new monoclonal antibodies against Haemophilus paragallinarum serovar C hemagglutinating antigen

Two new monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), D6D8D5 and B3E6F9, both directed against Haemophilus paragallinarum serovar C hemagglutinating (HA) antigen, were produced, and characteristics of the MAbs were compared with those of the previously described MAb F2E6 in dot-blot and hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) tests using two representative H. paragallinarum strains each of serovars A, B, and C strains and 55 Japanese serovar C field isolates. MAb D6D8D5 and MAb F2E6 reacted with all serovar C strains and field isolates in the dot-blot test. However, MAb D6D8D5 showed various degrees of inhibition of the HA activity of field isolates. In the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-competition test, MAb D6D8D5 did not compete with MAb F2E6. MAb B3E6F9 reacted with strain S1, serovar C but not with strain Modesto, serovar C in both dot-blot and HI tests. Three out of 55 field isolates did not react with MAb B3E6F9. Neither MAb reacted with the serovar A and B strains.

Pathogenicity and serovar-specific hemagglutinating antigens of Haemophilus paragallinarum serovar B strains

The pathogenicity and presence of serovar-specific hemagglutinating (HA) antigens of Haemophilus paragallinarum serovar B reference strains 0222 and Spross and field isolates 24268 and 24317 were investigated. Chickens challenged with all strains except strain 0222 showed clinical signs of infectious coryza. For all four strains, challenged chickens had intrasinus lesions and were colonized by the challenge organism. Before and after hyaluronidase treatment, strains 0222, 24268, and 24317 showed HA activity against formaldehyde-fixed chicken erythrocytes but not against fresh chicken erythrocytes. Strain Spross expressed HA activity only after treatment. In cross-hemagglutination-inhibition tests, the four serovar B strains cross-reacted with each other but not with serovar A and C strains. Cross-adsorption tests indicated that strain 24317 has a wider range of HA antigens than the other two strains. Our results indicated that H. paragallinarum serovar B strains are pathogenic for chickens and that they possess six different HA antigens, one of which is specific for serovar B strains.

Serological classification of Japanese isolates of Haemophilus paragallinarum using two serovar-specific monoclonal antibodies

A serological classification of 106 Japanese isolates of Haemophilus paragalinarum recovered from 1960 to 1984 was performed by dot-blotting and hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) tests using two serovar-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), E5C12D10 and F2E6. By the dot-blotting test, 49 of the isolates were serovar A and 55 isolates were serovar C, and the two remaining isolates did not react with either MAb. These two nontypable strains had no hemagglutinating activity against chicken erythrocytes and were nonpathogenic to chickens. Although 49 serovar A isolates were serotyped by the HI test, only 23 of the 55 serovar C isolates could be serotyped. The remaining 32 isolates could not be serotyped because no or low hemagglutinating activity could be detected. Our results indicate that H. paragallinarum serovars A and C have both been present in Japan since 1960, with serovar A isolates being dominant before 1970 and serovar C isolates more prevalent than serovar A since 1970.

Characterization and use of monoclonal antibodies to identify Haemophilus paragallinarum serovars

Two serovar-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to Haemophilus paragallinarum serovars A/1 and C/2 strains, respectively, were developed and characterized by hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) and dot-blotting tests using representative H. paragallinarum serovars A/1, B, and C/2 strains. In both the HI and dot-blotting tests, one MAb (E5C12D10), raised against strain 221, serovar A/1, reacted only with serovar A/1 strains, while the other MAb (F2E6), raised against strain S1 of serovar C/2, reacted with only serovar C/2 strains examined. In both tests, the two MAbs did not react with two serovar B strains. These results indicated that the two MAbs recognize serovar-specific hemagglutinating (HA) antigens of H. paragallinarum serovars A/1 and C/2 strains, respectively, and that a dot-blotting test using these MAbs is a practical alternative to the HI test for serotyping H. paragallinarum. Strains 0222 and Spross of serovar B, which did not react with these two MAbs, were found to possess serovar-specific HA antigen in cross-HI tests.

Hemagglutinating activity and immunological properties of Haemophilus paragallinarum field isolates in Japan

Four field isolates (S4, S10, S15, and S17) of Haemophilus paragallinarum were recovered from chickens affected with infectious coryza in widely separated regions of Japan. Their hemagglutinating (HA) activity and immunological properties were compared with those of strain 221 of serovar A/1 and strains Modesto and S1 of serovar C/2. When treated with potassium thiocyanate or hyaluronidase, all the isolates showed HA activity against formaldehyde-fixed chicken erythrocytes but not against fresh chicken erythrocytes. In the hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test, the isolates cross-reacted with strains Modesto and S1 but not with strain 221. The immunological properties of these isolates, as determined by cross-protection tests, were similar to those of strain S1 and, to a lesser degree, strain Modesto, but not to strain 221. Our results indicated that the four field isolates belong to serovar C/2 and that the HI test is a suitable method for serotyping H. paragallinarum.

[A case of fused pelvic kidney (lump kidney) with invasive bladder tumor]

A case of fused pelvic kidney, in a 67-year-old woman is presented. The patient also had a bladder tumor that had invaded the bladder wall. The renal anomaly was confirmed by drip infusion pyelography, computed tomography scanning, (CT-scan) and angiography. The CT-scan showed lump kidney with an aplastic right kidney anterior to the sacrum. Two renal arteries derived from the right common iliac artery were demonstrated by pelvic-angiography. The right ureter was not identified during the total-cystectomy. The left ureter was fixed firmly to the surrounding tissues and its free portion was less than 7 cm long. Thus left ureterocutaneostomy was selected for the formation of the urinary diversion.

Serological response of chickens either vaccinated or artificially infected with Haemophilus paragallinarum

The serological response of chickens either vaccinated or artificially infected with Haemophilus paragallinarum (Hpg) serovar A or C was investigated using both a specific hemagglutinin (HA) antigen and a common HA antigen. With Hpg serovar A, both vaccinated and artificially infected chickens produced hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibodies to Hpg serovar-specific and Hpg common HA antigens. Most chickens vaccinated with Hpg serovar C had detectable HI antibodies to both types of HA antigen by 3 weeks postvaccination, after which titers gradually declined. In contrast, most chickens artificially infected with serovar C produced HI antibodies to only the common HA antigen; very few of these chickens produced HI antibodies to the serovar-specific HA antigen.

In ovo interference of embryo non-lethal avian infectious bronchitis viruses (IBV) with velogenic Newcastle disease virus and embryo adapted IBV

Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) interfered with the lethal effects of velogenic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and embryo adapted IBV in eggs previously inoculated with non-lethal IBV. Greater interference was noted in eggs superinfected with embryo adapted IBV than velogenic NDV. The interference could be eliminated by treating the initial IBV with homologous anti-IBV serum.

[A case of "verrucous hyperplasia"; a vesical leukoplakia showing unusual macroscopic and histological findings]

A patient who had vesical leukoplakia with unusual macroscopic and histological findings was studied. The mucous membrane of the urinary bladder in this patient showed a tumor-like proliferation similar to verrucous hyperplasia which is often found in the oral mucosa. We propose a new classification of vesical leukoplakia, dividing it into three groups, atrophic, hypertrophic and verrucous types. The atrophic type has a heavily keratinized, flat and thin type of epithelium with features resembling lichen sclerosis et atrophius. Histologically, it shows a variable degree of hyperkeratosis but no parakeratosis. The hypertrophic type has histological characteristics resembling features of leukoplakia in sites elsewhere in the body, which is marked by hyperkeratosis and irregular hyperplasia of the prickle cell layer with lengthening and abnormality in shape of rete pegs. The verrucous type has very rare features of coral shape, white color and verrucous proliferation. Histologically, this type shows severe hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis and elongation of the rete pegs, but no irregular invasion can be observed.