Message Number: FHL2491 | New FHL Archives Search

From: Sukie Crandall
Date: 2007-09-12 23:51:09 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] abstracts of some new studies
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com

Some things among here which may interest you:

See the CDV and Vitamin A supplementation one, and elsewhere that=20
disease duration affects degree of neurological symptoms.

Notice the radiosensitizer one for a malignancy treatment approach=20
and limitations ferrets had which mice did not.

Also, be sure to see the pneumonia preventing vaccine one.

> Vet Rec. 2007 Sep 1;161(9):304-7.
>
> Links
> Outbreak of Mycobacterium bovis infection in a wild animal park.
>
> Schmidbauer SM, Wohlsein P, Kirpal G, Beineke A, M=FCller G, M=FCller =

> H, Moser I, Baumgartner W.
> Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine,=20
> B=FCntewege 17, 30173 Hannover, Germany.
> An outbreak of tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium bovis occurred in=20
> a wild animal park. Three pot-bellied pigs (Sus scrofa vittatus),=20
> one red deer (Cervus elaphus), one buffalo (Bison bonasus) and two=20
> European lynxes (Lynx lynx) were affected and showed clinical signs=20
> including weight loss, enlarged lymph nodes and paralysis of the=20
> hindlimbs. Postmortem examinations revealed multifocal=20
> granulomatous lesions in various organs, including the lymph nodes,=20
> lungs, intestines, kidneys and the central nervous system. Acid-
> fast organisms were demonstrated in various organs histologically=20
> and bacteriologically. Spoligotyping of 17 isolates from various=20
> organs of the affected animals confirmed an infection by M bovis=20
> and revealed an identical pattern indicating a common origin. The=20
> spoligotype was different from the pattern of M bovis recorded in=20
> the cattle population in Germany between 2000 and 2006.=20
> Investigations of sentinel animals such as an aged silver fox=20
> (Vulpes vulpes), a badger (Meles meles), a ferret (Mustela=20
> putorius) and rodents, and tuberculin skin tests of the animal=20
> attendants and randomly collected faecal samples from the=20
> enclosures were all negative for M bovis.
> PMID: 17766809 [PubMed - in process]
> Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2007 Sep;10(3):759-73.
> Links
> Clinical neurology of ferrets.
>
> Diaz-Figueroa O, Smith MO.
> Lake Howell Animal Clinic, 856 Lake Howell Rd, Maitland, FL 32751,=20
> USA.
> Neurology represents an important specialty within ferret clinical=20
> medicine. Veterinarians should become familiar with the unique=20
> anatomic and physiologic differences between ferrets to improve=20
> their management of theses cases. In addition, veterinarians should=20
> use available diagnostic tests to confirm the presence of=20
> neurologic diseases. Recent advances in ferret medicine and=20
> veterinary neurology offer new capabilities to investigate and=20
> treat neurological disease in ferrets.
> PMID: 17765847 [PubMed - in process]
> Neuroscience. 2007 Jul 21; [Epub ahead of print]
>
> Links
> Cochlear ablation in adult ferrets results in changes in insulin-
> like growth factor-1 and synaptophysin immunostaining in the=20
> cochlear nucleus.
>
> Fuentes-Santamar=EDa V, Carlos Alvarado J, Henkel CK, Brunso-Bechtold =

> JK.
> Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest University=20
> School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1010, USA.
> Afferent activity modulates synaptic plasticity as well as the=20
> levels of activity-dependent molecules such as growth factors.=20
> Disruption of this activity due to deafferentation has been shown=20
> to result in an altered trophic support and consequently in changes=20
> in neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission. In the present=20
> study, to test whether lack of cochlear integrity results in=20
> changes in insulin-growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and synaptophysin=20
> immunostaining in the cochlear nucleus, the first relay structure=20
> in the auditory pathway, unilateral cochlear ablations were=20
> performed in adult ferrets. Changes in IGF-1 and synaptophysin=20
> immunostaining were assessed in the anteroventral (AVCN),=20
> posteroventral (PVCN) and dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) at 1, 20=20
> and 90 days after deafferentation. An increase in IGF-1=20
> immunostaining within AVCN, PVCN and DCN was observed ipsilaterally=20
> at all survival times after cochlear ablation when compared with=20
> the contralateral side and unoperated animals. This increase was=20
> accompanied by a significant ipsilateral increase in the mean gray=20
> level of synaptophysin immunostaining as well as a decrease in the=20
> area of synaptophysin immunostaining at 1 and 20 days after the=20
> ablation in AVCN, PVCN and DCN compared with the contralateral side=20
> and control animals. These changes in synaptophysin immunostaining=20
> were no longer present 90 days after cochlear ablation. The present=20
> results provide evidence of a persistent upregulation in IGF-1 and=20
> a transitory upregulation in synaptophysin levels in the cochlear=20
> nucleus that may reflect neuroprotective mechanisms following the=20
> loss of trophic support from spiral ganglion neurons.
> PMID: 17764853 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

> Gene Ther. 2007 Aug 30; [Epub ahead of print]
>
> Links
> Comparative biology of rAAV transduction in ferret, pig and human=20
> airway epithelia.
>
> Liu X, Luo M, Guo C, Yan Z, Wang Y, Engelhardt JF.
> [1] 1Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, College of Medicine,=20
> The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA [2] 4Center for Gene=20
> Therapy of Cystic Fibrosis and Other Genetic Diseases, College of=20
> Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
> Differences between rodent and human airway cell biology have made=20
> it difficult to translate recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-
> mediated gene therapies to the lung for cystic fibrosis (CF). As=20
> new ferret and pig models for CF become available, knowledge about=20
> host cell/vector interactions in these species will become=20
> increasingly important for testing potential gene therapies. To=20
> this end, we have compared the transduction biology of three rAAV=20
> serotypes (AAV1, 2 and 5) in human, ferret, pig and mouse-polarized=20
> airway epithelia. Our results indicate that apical transduction of=20
> ferret and pig airway epithelia with these rAAV serotypes closely=20
> mirrors that observed in human epithelia (rAAV1>rAAV2 congruent=20
> withrAAV5), while transduction of mouse epithelia was significantly=20
> different (rAAV1>rAAV5>>rAAV2). Similarly, ferret, pig and human=20
> epithelia also shared serotype-specific differences in the polarity=20
> (apical vs basolateral) and proteasome dependence of rAAV=20
> transduction. Despite these parallels, N-linked sialic acid=20
> receptors were required for rAAV1 and rAAV5 transduction of human=20
> and mouse airway epithelia, but not ferret or pig airway epithelia.=20
> Hence, although the airway tropisms of rAAV serotypes 1, 2 and 5=20
> are conserved better among ferret, pig and human as compared to=20
> mouse, viral receptors/co-receptors appear to maintain considerable=20
> species diversity.Gene Therapy advance online publication, 30=20
> August 2007; doi:10.1038/sj.gt.3303014.
> PMID: 17728794 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
> Am J Pathol. 2007 Aug 23; [Epub ahead of print]
>
> Links
> Human and Avian Influenza Viruses Target Different Cells in the=20
> Lower Respiratory Tract of Humans and Other Mammals.
>
> van Riel D, Munster VJ, de Wit E, Rimmelzwaan GF, Fouchier RA,=20
> Osterhaus AD, Kuiken T.
> From the Department of Virology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The=20
> Netherlands.
> Viral attachment to the host cell is critical for tissue and=20
> species specificity of virus infections. Recently, pattern of viral=20
> attachment (PVA) in human respiratory tract was determined for=20
> highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of subtype H5N1. However,=20
> PVA of human influenza viruses and other avian influenza viruses in=20
> either humans or experimental animals is unknown. Therefore, we=20
> compared PVA of two human influenza viruses (H1N1 and H3N2) and two=20
> low pathogenic avian influenza viruses (H5N9 and H6N1) with that of=20
> H5N1 virus in respiratory tract tissues of humans, mice, ferrets,=20
> cynomolgus macaques, cats, and pigs by virus histochemistry. We=20
> found that human influenza viruses attached more strongly to human=20
> trachea and bronchi than H5N1 virus and attached to different cell=20
> types than H5N1 virus. These differences correspond to primary=20
> diagnoses of tracheobronchitis for human influenza viruses and=20
> diffuse alveolar damage for H5N1 virus. The PVA of low pathogenic=20
> avian influenza viruses in human respiratory tract resembled that=20
> of H5N1 virus, demonstrating that other properties determine its=20
> pathogenicity for humans. The PVA in human respiratory tract most=20
> closely mirrored that in ferrets and pigs for human influenza=20
> viruses and that in ferrets, pigs, and cats for avian influenza=20
> viruses.
> PMID: 17717141 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
> J Appl Physiol. 2007 Aug 23; [Epub ahead of print]
>
> Links
> Anatomical and Physiological Characteristics of the Ferret Lateral=20
> Rectus Muscle and Abducens Nucleus.
>
> Bishop KN, McClung JR, Goldberg SJ, Shall MS.
> Anatomy & Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond,=20
> Virginia, United States.
> The ferret has become a popular model for physiological and=20
> neurodevelopmental research in the visual system. We felt it=20
> important, therefore, to study extraocular whole muscle as well as=20
> single motor unit physiology in the ferret. Using extracellular=20
> stimulation, 62 individual motor units in the ferret abducens=20
> nucleus were evaluated for their contractile characteristics. Of=20
> these motor units, 56 innervated the lateral rectus (LR) muscle=20
> alone while 6 were split between the LR and retractor bulbi (RB)=20
> muscle slips. In addition to individual motor units, the whole LR=20
> muscle was evaluated for twitch, tetanic peak force and fatigue.=20
> The abducens nucleus motor units showed a twitch contraction time=20
> of 15.4 ms, a mean twitch tension of 30.2 mg, and an average fusion=20
> frequency of 154 Hz. Single unit fatigue index averaged .634. Whole=20
> muscle twitch contraction time was 16.7 ms with a mean twitch=20
> tension of 3.32 g. The average fatigue index of whole muscle was .
> 408. The abducens nucleus was examined with CTHRP histochemistry=20
> and found to contain an average of 183 motoneurons. Samples of LR=20
> were found to contain an average of 4687 fibers, indicating an LR=20
> innervation ratio of 25.6:1. Compared to cat and squirrel monkeys,=20
> the ferret LR motor units contract more slowly yet more powerfully.=20
> The functional visual requirements of the ferret may explain these=20
> fundamental differences. Key words: Extraocular, Motoneuron, Eye=20
> Movement, Oculomotor.
> PMID: 17717110 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
> Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2007 Sep;16(9):1415-24.
>
> Links
> IPdR: a novel oral radiosensitizer.
>
> Saif MW, Berk G, Cheng YC, Kinsella TJ.
> Yale University School of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology,=20
> New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
> IPdR (5-iodo-2-pyrimidinone-2'-deoxyribose) is a novel orally=20
> available, halogenated thymidine (TdR) analog and is a potential=20
> radiosensitizer for use in human tumors, such as rectal, pancreas,=20
> sarcoma and glioma tumors. IPdR is a prodrug that is efficiently=20
> converted to IUdR (5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine), an intravenous=20
> radiosensitizer by a hepatic aldehyde oxidase, resulting in high=20
> IPdR and IUdR plasma levels in mice for > or =3D 1 h after oral IPdR. =

> Athymic mice tolerated oral IPdR to doses up to 1500 mg/kg/day=20
> t.i.d. for 6 - 14 days without significant systemic toxicities. A=20
> number of in vivo preclinical studies have demonstrated that IPdR=20
> is a superior radiosensitizer compared with IUdR given as a=20
> continuous infusion in terms of safety and efficacy with a=20
> significantly lower toxicity profile, including gastrointestinal=20
> and hematologic side effects. A preclinical study has shown that=20
> IPdR is effective in inducing human colon cancer xenograft=20
> radiosensitization in drug-resistant DNA mismatch repair-proficient=20
> and -deficient tumor models, as well as in human globlastoma=20
> xenograft. In anticipation of performing a clinical Phase I trial=20
> in humans, investigators also studied the drug pharmacokinetics and=20
> host toxicities in two non-rodent, animal species during a 14-day=20
> treatment course. Dose-limiting systemic toxicities (diarrhea,=20
> emesis, weight loss and decreased motor activity) were observed in=20
> ferrets receiving IPdR at 1500 mg/kg/day on a 14-day schedule that=20
> were not found previously in athymic mice. Recently, a once-daily=20
> IPdR dosing up to 2000/mg/kg for 28 days in Fischer-344 rats showed=20
> reversible mild-to-moderate systemic toxicities without any severe=20
> or life-threatening toxicities. However, in all preclinical=20
> toxicity studies so far, no significant hematologic, biochemical or=20
> histopathologic changes have been found. Hepatic aldehyde oxidase=20
> activity was reduced in a dose-dependent fashion in the ferret=20
> liver, suggesting partial enzyme inactivation by this IPdwR=20
> schedule, but that is not found in Fischer-344 rats. The plasma=20
> pharmacokinetic profile in Rhesus monkeys showing biexponential=20
> clearance are similar to previously published data in athymic mice.=20
> In this paper, the authors review the development, mechanism of=20
> action, preclinical data and rationale for clinical studies.
> PMID: 17714027 [PubMed - in process]
> Br J Pharmacol. 2007 Aug 13; [Epub ahead of print]
>
> Links
> Purinergic P2X receptor activation induces emetic responses in=20
> ferrets and Suncus murinus (house musk shrews).
>
> Nagakura Y, Kakimoto S, Matsuoka N.
> 1Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc., Tsukuba, Ibaraki,=20
> Japan.
> Background and purpose:Despite the rapid progress made in=20
> understanding the significant role played by signalling via=20
> extracellular ATP in physiology and pathology, there has been no=20
> clear information generated on its involvement in the emetic=20
> response.Experimental approach:In the present study, the emetogenic=20
> potential of extracellular ATP signalling in mammalian species was=20
> examined using ferrets and Suncus murinus (house musk shrews). A=20
> slowly degradable ATP analogue, alpha,beta-methyleneATP (alpha,beta-
> meATP), was used to activate the P2X receptors, and either the non-
> selective P2 receptor antagonist, pyridoxal phosphate-6-
> azophenyl-2',4'-disulphonic acid (PPADS), or the specific P2X(3)=20
> homomer and P2X(2/3) heteromer antagonist, A-317491, were tested=20
> against the agonist-induced response.Key results:Intraperitoneal=20
> injection of alpha,beta-meATP produced significant emetic responses=20
> in ferrets (1 - 30 mg kg(-1)) and in Suncus murinus (5 - 50 mg kg
> (-1)). The responses occurred frequently within the first 10 min=20
> after administration, much less frequently from 11 to 60 min and no=20
> responses occurred later than 60 min. The emetic responses were=20
> completely inhibited by intraperitoneal pre-treatment with PPADS=20
> (100 mg kg(-1)) or A-317491 (100 mg kg(-1)). Abdominal surgical=20
> vagotomy did not reduce the emetic response in Suncus murinus=20
> significantly.Conclusions and implications:These results for the=20
> first time indicate that the activation of P2X receptors evokes=20
> emetic responses in mammalian species. The P2X(3) homomer and.or P2X
> (2/3) heteromer in the area postrema could be responsible for the=20
> emetic response. This finding contributes to the elucidation of the=20
> roles played by extracellular ATP signalling in various emetic=20
> symptoms.British Journal of Pharmacology advance online=20
> publication, 13 August 2007; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707418.
> PMID: 17700716 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
> J Neurophysiol. 2007 Aug 15; [Epub ahead of print]
>
> Links
> Adaptive changes in cortical receptive fields induced by attention=20
> to complex sounds.
>
> Fritz J, Elhilali M, Shamma S.
> Institute for Systems Research, University of Maryland, College=20
> Park, Maryland, United States.
> Receptive fields in primary auditory cortex (A1) can be rapidly and=20
> adaptively reshaped to enhance responses to salient frequency cues=20
> when using single tones as targets. To explore receptive field=20
> changes to more complex spectral patterns, we trained ferrets to=20
> detect variable, multi-tone targets in the context of background,=20
> rippled noise. Recordings from A1 of behaving ferrets showed a=20
> consistent pattern of plasticity, at the single neuron and=20
> population level, with enhancement for each component tone=20
> frequency, and suppression for inter-tone frequencies. Plasticity=20
> was strongest near neuronal best frequency, rapid in onset, and=20
> slow to fade. While attention may trigger cortical plasticity, the=20
> receptive field changes persisted after the behavioral task was=20
> completed. The observed comb filter plasticity is an example of an=20
> adaptive contrast matched filter, which may generally improve=20
> discriminability between foreground and background sounds, and we=20
> conjecture, may predict A1 cortical plasticity for any complex=20
> spectral target.
> PMID: 17699691 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
> J Virol. 2007 Aug 15; [Epub ahead of print]
>
> Links
> Disease Duration Determines Canine Distemper Virus Neurovirulence.
>
> Bonami F, Rudd P, von Messling V.
> INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, University of Quebec. Laval, QC,=20
> Canada.
> The Morbillivirus hemagglutinin (H) protein mediates attachment to=20
> the target cell. To evaluate its contribution to canine distemper=20
> virus neurovirulence, we exchanged the H proteins of the wild type=20
> strains 5804P and A75, and assessed the pathogenesis of the=20
> chimeric viruses in ferrets. Both strains are lethal for ferrets,=20
> however 5804P causes a two-week disease without neurological signs=20
> whereas A75 is associated with a longer disease course and=20
> neurological involvement. We observed that both H proteins=20
> supported neuroinvasion and the subsequent development of clinical=20
> neurological signs if given enough time, demonstrating that disease=20
> duration is the main neurovirulence determinant.
> PMID: 17699577 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
> Neuroscience. 2007 Aug 9; [Epub ahead of print]
>
> Links
> Stability of spectro-temporal tuning over several seconds in=20
> primary auditory cortex of the awake ferret.
>
> Shechter B, Depireux DA.
> Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine,=20
> University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
> The steady-state spectro-temporal tuning of auditory cortical cells=20
> has been studied using a variety of broadband stimuli that=20
> characterize neurons by their steady-state responses to long=20
> duration stimuli, lasting from about a second to several minutes.=20
> Central sensory stations are thought to adapt in their response to=20
> stimuli presented over extended periods of time. For instance, we=20
> have previously shown that auditory cortical neurons display a=20
> second order of adaptation, whereby the rate of their adaptation to=20
> the repeated presentation of fixed alternating stimuli decreases=20
> with each presentation. The auditory grating (or ripple) method of=20
> characterizing central auditory neurons, and its extensions, have=20
> proven very effective. But these stimuli are typically used with=20
> spectro-temporal content held fixed over time-scales of seconds,=20
> introducing the possibility of rapid adaptation while the receptive=20
> field is being measured, whereas the neural response used to=20
> compute a spectro-temporal receptive field (STRF) assumes=20
> stationarity in the neural input/output function. We demonstrate=20
> dynamic changes in some parameters during the measurement of the=20
> STRF over a period of seconds, even absent of a relevant behavioral=20
> task. Specifically, we find in the primary auditory cortex of the=20
> awake ferret, small but systematic changes in duration and breadth=20
> of tuning of STRFs when comparing the early (0.25-1.75 s) and late=20
> (4.5-6 s) segments of the responses to these stimuli.
> PMID: 17693032 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
> Vet Parasitol. 2007 Sep 30;148(3-4):187-92. Epub 2007 Aug 8.
>
> Links
> Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in wild carnivores=20
> from Spain.
>
> Sobrino R, Cabez=F3n O, Mill=E1n J, Pab=F3n M, Arnal MC, Luco DF,=20
> Gort=E1zar C, Dubey JP, Almeria S.
> Instituto de Investigaci=F3n en Recursos Cineg=E9ticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-
> JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.
> Serum samples from 282 wild carnivores from different regions of=20
> Spain were tested for antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii by the=20
> modified agglutination test using a cut-off value of 1:25.=20
> Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 22 of 27 (81.5%) of Iberian=20
> lynx (Lynx pardinus), 3 of 6 European wildcats (Felis silvestris),=20
> 66 of 102 (64.7%) red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 15 of 32 (46.9%)=20
> wolves (Canis lupus), 26 of 37 (70.3%) Eurasian badgers (Meles=20
> meles), 17 of 20 (85.0%) stone martens (Martes foina), 4 of 4 pine=20
> martens (Martes martes), 6 of 6 Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra), 4 of=20
> 4 polecats (Mustela putorius), 1 of 1 ferret (Mustela putorius=20
> furo), 13 of 21 (61.9%) European genets (Genetta genetta), and 13=20
> of 22 (59.1%) Egyptian mongooses (Herpestes ichneumon). Serological=20
> results indicated a widespread exposure to T. gondii among wild=20
> carnivores in Spain. The high T. gondii seroprevalence in Iberian=20
> lynx and the European wildcat reported here may be of epidemiologic=20
> significance because seropositive cats might have shed oocysts.
> PMID: 17689869 [PubMed - in process]
> Brain Res. 2007 Sep 5;1167:20-30. Epub 2007 Jun 12.
>
> Links
> Neuronal death in the lateral geniculate nucleus of young ferrets=20
> following a cortical lesion: Time-course, age dependence and=20
> involvement of caspases.
>
> Gautschi M, Clarke PG.
> D=E9partement de Biologie Cellulaire et de Morphologie (DBCM),=20
> Universit=E9 de Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 9, CH-1005 Lausanne,=20
> Switzerland.
> In humans and many other mammalian species, the behavioural=20
> consequences of a cortical lesion tend to be milder when it occurs=20
> early in life, and there is evidence that an important factor=20
> contributing to the behavioural sparing in the young is the=20
> formation of new thalamo-cortical connections by thalamic neurons=20
> initially connected with the lesioned area. However, this=20
> plasticity may be hindered by the secondary death of many of these=20
> neurons owing to the elimination by the primary lesion of their=20
> trophic support from the cortex. With the long-term aim of=20
> preventing this neuronal death, we have here characterised its=20
> timing in the lateral geniculate nucleus of ferrets following=20
> lesions of the visual cortex on postnatal days 5, 10, 20 or 35.=20
> After the earliest lesions (P5 or P10), this cell death began=20
> rapidly and occurred synchronously, being maximal at 48 h and=20
> declining to zero over the next few days. Following later lesions=20
> the cell death began more slowly and continued for longer. The=20
> dying neurons contained activated caspase-3 and fragmented DNA and=20
> their number 2 days after a P5 lesion was reduced by the broad-band=20
> caspase inhibitor z-VAD.fmk. These experiments open the way for a=20
> concerted effort to enhance adaptive plasticity by neuroprotection=20
> in the hours or days following a cortical lesion.
> PMID: 17678880 [PubMed - in process]
> J Nutr. 2007 Aug;137(8):1916-22.
>
> Links
> Disease manifestations of canine distemper virus infection in=20
> ferrets are modulated by vitamin A status.
>
> Rodeheffer C, von Messling V, Milot S, Lepine F, Manges AR, Ward BJ.
> McGill University Health Centre Research Institute, Faculty of=20
> Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Montreal General=20
> Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada.
> The measles virus (MV) causes half a million childhood deaths=20
> annually. Vitamin A supplements significantly reduce measles-
> associated mortality and morbidity. The mechanisms whereby vitamin=20
> A acts against MV are not understood and currently there is no=20
> satisfactory small animal model for MV infection. We report on the=20
> development of a ferret model to study antiviral activity of=20
> vitamin A against canine distemper virus (CDV). CDV is closely=20
> related to MV at the molecular level and distemper in ferrets=20
> mimics measles in humans. We infected vitamin A-replete (control)=20
> and vitamin A-depleted ferrets with CDV and assessed the ability of=20
> high-dose vitamin A supplements to influence CDV disease. In=20
> control ferrets, CDV infection caused fever, rash, conjunctivitis,=20
> cough, coryza, and diarrhea. In contrast, control ferrets that were=20
> given 30 mg of vitamin A did not develop typical distemper after=20
> infection and exhibited only a mild rash. The supplement did not=20
> negatively affect ferret health and resulted in a 100% increase in=20
> serum and liver vitamin A concentrations. We also found that=20
> profound vitamin A deficiency is inducible in ferrets and can be=20
> rapidly reversed upon high-dose vitamin A supplementation. Vitamin=20
> A deficiency caused anorexia, diarrhea, cataracts, behavioral=20
> abnormalities, and ultimately death, with or without CDV infection.=20
> All ferrets that received vitamin A supplements, however, recovered=20
> uneventfully from CDV infection. These results replicate many=20
> aspects of the observations of vitamin A therapy in humans with=20
> measles and suggest that CDV infection in ferrets is an appropriate=20
> model for the study of the antiviral mechanism of vitamin A.
> PMID: 17634264 [PubMed - in process]
> Vaccine. 2007 Jul 9;25(28):5220-31. Epub 2007 May 7.
>
> Links
> Adenovirus-based vaccine prevents pneumonia in ferrets challenged=20
> with the SARS coronavirus and stimulates robust immune responses in=20
> macaques.
>
> Kobinger GP, Figueredo JM, Rowe T, Zhi Y, Gao G, Sanmiguel JC, Bell=20
> P, Wivel NA, Zitzow LA, Flieder DB, Hogan RJ, Wilson JM.
> Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Health=20
> Canada, Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health,=20
> Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba,=20
> Winnipeg, Canada.
> A ferret model of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV=20
> infection was used to evaluate the efficacy of an adenovirus=20
> vaccine. Animals were subjected to heterologous prime-boost using=20
> vectors from human serotype 5 and chimpanzee derived adenoviruses=20
> (human AdHu5 and chimpanzee AdC7) expressing spike protein followed=20
> by intranasal challenge with SARS-CoV. Vaccination led to a=20
> substantial reduction in viral load and prevented the severe=20
> pneumonia seen in unvaccinated animals. The same prime-boost=20
> strategy was effective in rhesus macaques in eliciting SARS-CoV=20
> specific immune responses. These data indicate that a heterologous=20
> adenovirus-based prime-boost vaccine strategy could safely=20
> stimulate strong immunity that may be needed for complete=20
> protection against SARS-CoV infection.
> PMID: 17559989 [PubMed - in process]


Etc.
There are a number of new studies on cryopreservation of BFF=20
spermatazoa, also, recently



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