Fifth European Dirofilaria and Angiostrongylus Days (FiEDAD) 2016

Peer reviewe

Development of an Effective Whole-Spore Vaccine To Protect against Microsporidial Gill Disease in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) by Using a Low-Virulence Strain of Loma salmonae▿

In determining the effective vaccine spore dose of a low-virulence strain of Loma salmonae to limit microsporidial gill disease in trout, we found that fish receiving 103 to 105 killed spores had the best protection against experimental infection, with 85% fewer xenomas in their gills than in the controls. Intraperitoneal delivery of the vaccine was effective, and the addition of adjuvant did not improve vaccine performance against this disease-causing microsporidian

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology 14 12 1652 1654 AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY WASHINGTON; 1752 N ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036-2904 USA

In determining the effective vaccine spore dose of a low-virulence strain of Loma salmonae to limit micro-sporidial gill disease in trout, we found that fish receiving 10(3) to 10(5) killed spores had the best protection against experimental infection, with 85% fewer xenomas in their gills than in the controls. Intraperitoneal delivery of the vaccine was effective, and the addition of adjuvant did not improve vaccine performance against this disease-causing microsporidian.CR: CARRINGTON AC, 2006, VET IMMUNOL IMMUNOP, V112, P87, DOI 10.1016/j.vetimm.2006.03.015 KEELING PJ, 2002, ANNU REV MICROBIOL, V56, P93, DOI 10.1146/annurev.micro.56.012302.160854 KENT ML, 1998, J AQUAT ANIM HEALTH, V10, P211 KENT ML, 2005, FOLIA PARASIT, V52, P1 LEIRO J, 1996, VET IMMUNOL IMMUNOP, V55, P235 RAMSAY JM, 2001, J FISH DIS, V24, P453 RODRIGUEZTOVAR LE, 2006, FISH SHELLFISH IMMUN, V21, P170, DOI 10.1016/j.fsi.2005.11.009 RODRIGUEZTOVAR LE, 2006, VET IMMUNOL IMMUNOP, V114, P72, DOI 10.1016/j.vetimm.2006.07.006 SANCHEZ JG, 2001, J FISH BIOL, V59, P427 SANCHEZ JG, 2001, J FISH BIOL, V59, P442 SANCHEZ JG, 2001, J FISH DIS, V24, P33 SOBOTTKA I, 2001, PARASITOL RES, V87, P1 SOMMERSET I, 2005, EXPERT REV VACCINES, V4, P89, DOI 10.1586/14760584.4.1.89 SPEAR DJ, 1998, J COMP PATHOL, V119, P459 SPEARE DJ, 1999, J COMP PATHOL, V121, P241 SPEARE DJ, 1999, J FISH DIS, V22, P27

Prevalence of <i>Giardia</i> and <i>Cryptosporidium andersoni</i> and their effects on performance in feedlot beef cattle

Sixty individually housed Charolais crossbred steers originating from one ranch source had a 12-d (days 0–12) adaptation period in their pens to adjust to their ration and surroundings, followed by two consecutive backgrounding periods (85.5% roughage, 12% concentrate rations) with durations of 84 d (days 13–97) and 63 d (days 98–153), respectively. Steers had a 21-d adaptation period (days 154–174), followed by a 77-d (days 175–257) finishing period (20% roughage, 75% concentrate ration). Fecal samples and animal weights were collected from each steer every 28 d initially, then every 21 d during a test duration of 257 d. Feed weigh-backs were performed weekly for each steer. Fecal samples were processed, and Giardia duodenalis cysts and Cryptosporidium andersoni oocysts were counted. ADG, DMI and FE were calculated for each of the periods (Backgrounding Period 1, Backgrounding Period 2, Finishing Period 3 and Overall). Overall prevalence of C. andersoni and G. duodenalis was 85 and 82%, respectively. There was a decrease (P &lt; 0.05) in the percentage of G. duodenalis infected steers from day 132 to the completion of the trial. The percentage of C. andersoni infected steers decreased (P &lt; 0.05) from day 97 to the completion of the trial (day 257). Shedding of G. duodenalis cysts and C. andersoni oocysts in the feces was intermittent throughout the trial period. A comparison between the ADG, DMI and FE of G. duodenalis infected and non-infected steers demonstrated no overall differences (P &gt; 0.05). A similar comparison between C. andersoni infected and non-infected steers showed no overall difference (P &gt; 0.05) with the exception of a lower (P &lt; 0.05) DMI for infected steers. The degree of Giardia or C. andersoni infection observed in the present study did not effect DMI, ADG or FE of feedlot steers. Key words: Giardia, Cryptosporidium andersoni, feedlot performance, cattle </jats:p

Multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroids for preterm birth study: outcomes in children at 5 years of age (MACS-5)

A single course of antenatal corticosteroid therapy is recommended for pregnant women at risk of preterm birth between 24 and 33 weeks' gestational age. However, 50% of women remain pregnant 7 to 14 days later, leading to the question of whether additional courses should be given to women remaining at risk for preterm birth. The Multiple Courses of Antenatal Corticosteroids for Preterm Birth Study (MACS) was an international randomized clinical trial that compared multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroids with a single course in women at risk of preterm birth.To determine the effects of single vs multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroid therapy on death or neurodevelopmental disability (neuromotor, neurosensory, or neurocognitive/neurobehavioral function) at 5 years of age in children whose mothers participated in MACS. Our secondary aims were to determine the effect on height, weight, head circumference, blood pressure, intelligence, and specific cognitive (visual, spatial, and language) skills.Cohort follow-up study of children seen between June 2006 and May 2012 at 55 centers. In total, 1724 women (2141 children) were eligible for the study, of whom 1728 children (80.7% of the 2141 eligible children) participated and 1719 children contributed to the primary outcome.Single and multiple courses of antenatal corticosteroid therapy.The primary outcome was death or survival with a neurodevelopmental disability in 1 of the following domains: neuromotor (nonambulatory cerebral palsy), neurosensory (blindness, deafness, or need for visual/hearing aids), or neurocognitive/neurobehavioral function (abnormal attention, memory, or behavior).There was no significant difference between the groups in the risk of death or neurodevelopmental disability: 217 of 871 children (24.9%) in the multiple-courses group vs 210 of 848 children (24.8%) in the single-course group (odds ratio, 1.02 [95% CI, 0.81 to 1.29]; P = .84).Multiple courses, compared with a single course, of antenatal corticosteroid therapy did not increase or decrease the risk of death or disability at 5 years of age. Because of a lack of strong conclusive evidence of short-term or long-term benefits, it remains our opinion that multiple courses not be recommended in women with ongoing risk of preterm birth.clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00187382