From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2009-02-12 22:19:15 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] abstracts
To: fhl <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
Although cousins, rather than ferrets, the non-invasive pregnancy=20
detection among Martes might be the most useful of the current new=20
abstracts at PubMed for vets here if it works for ferrets, but there=20
is a CDV and vitamin A complete article link that may help some.=20=20
(BTW, for those worrying about how to achieve that better result:=20=20
unlike humans ferrets are not very prone to getting too much A; also=20
unlike humans (but like dogs) they appear to be able to wind up with=20
too much D more easily which can result in hypercalcemia.)
Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 2009;330:73-87.
Ferrets as a model for morbillivirus pathogenesis, complications, and=20
vaccines.
Pillet S, Svitek N, von Messling V.
INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, University of Quebec, 531, boul. des=20
Prairies, Laval, QC, H7V 1B7, Canada.
The ferret is a standard laboratory animal that can be accommodated in=20
most animal facilities. While not susceptible to measles, ferrets are=20
a natural host of canine distemper virus (CDV), the closely related=20
carnivore morbillivirus. CDV infection in ferrets reproduces all=20
clinical signs associated with measles in humans, including the=20
typical rash, fever, general immunosuppression, gastrointestinal and=20
respiratory involvement, and neurological complications. Due to this=20
similarity, experimental CDV infection of ferrets is frequently used=20
to assess the efficacy of novel vaccines, and to characterize=20
pathogenesis mechanisms. In addition, direct intracranial inoculation=20
of measles isolates from subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)=20
patients results in an SSPE-like disease in animals that survive the=20
acute phase. Since the advent of reverse genetics systems that allow=20
the targeted manipulation of viral genomes, the model has been used to=20
evaluate the contribution of the accessory proteins C and V, and=20
signalling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM)-binding to=20
immunosuppression and overall pathogenesis. Similarly produced green=20
fluorescent protein-expressing derivatives that maintain parental=20
virulence have been instrumental in the direct visualization of=20
systemic dissemination and neuroinvasion. As more immunological tools=20
become available for this model, its contribution to our understanding=20
of morbillivirus-host interactions is expected to increase.
PMID: 19203105
[In relation to that this complete and free article:
http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/137/8/1916
"2007 American Society for Nutrition J. Nutr. 137:1916-1922, August 2007
Nutrition and Disease
Disease Manifestations of Canine Distemper Virus Infection in Ferrets=20
Are Modulated by Vitamin A Status"
should prove of interest to at least some here.]
----
Vaccine. 2009 Feb 4. [Epub ahead of print]
Adjuvanted seasonal influenza vaccines and perpetual viral=20
metamorphosis: The importance of cross-protection.
Ansaldi F, Canepa P, Parodi V, Bacilieri S, Orsi A, Compagnino F,=20
Icardi G, Durando P.
Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa - CIRI-IV, Inter-
University Research Centre on Influenza, Via Pastore 1, 16132 Genoa,=20
Italy.
Vaccination is considered the most effective means of reducing=20
influenza burden, providing substantial benefits in terms of reduction=20
of morbidity, complications, hospitalizations and deaths, even if=20
vaccines have been associated with a reduced immune response and lower=20
effectiveness in older adults, in particular when a mismatch between=20
the vaccine and the circulating virus strains occurred. Several=20
strategies have been proposed to enhance vaccine protection against=20
drifted strains, including the use of adjuvants. Among oil-emulsion=20
adjuvants, MF-59 was approved for human use more than a decade ago and=20
it is largely used for adjuvantation of influenza vaccine. Recent=20
studies have demonstrated that addition of the MF-59 to subunit=20
influenza vaccine can lead to higher haemagglutination-inhibiting=20
seroprotection rates and to higher neutralization antibody titers=20
against drifted strains not included in the vaccine respect to non-
adjuvanted vaccine. Promising results were obtained using a new=20
generation of oil-in-water emulsion adjuvants, named AS, offering=20
cross-protection against heterologous challenge in ferrets.
PMID: 19200846
----
J Neuroendocrinol. 2009 Jan 22. [Epub ahead of print]
Prenatal Programming of Sexual Partner Preference: The Ram Model.
Roselli CE, Stormshak F.
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health and Sciences=20
University, Portland, OR 97239.
Abstract In our laboratory the domestic ram is used as an experimental=20
model to study the early programming of neural mechanisms underlying=20
same-sex partner preference. This interest developed from the=20
observation that approximately 8% of domestic rams are sexually=20
attracted to other rams (male-oriented) in contrast to the majority of=20
rams that are attracted to oestrous ewes (female-oriented). One=20
prominent feature of sexual differentiation in many species is the=20
presence of a sexually dimorphic nucleus (SDN) in the preoptic/
anterior hypothalamus that is larger in males than in females. Lesion=20
studies in rats and ferrets implicate the SDN in the expression of=20
sexual preferences. We discovered an ovine SDN (oSDN) in the preoptic/
anterior hypothalamus that is smaller in male- than in female-oriented=20
rams and similar in size to the oSDN of ewes. Neurons of the oSDN show=20
abundant aromatase expression that is also reduced in male-oriented=20
compared to female-oriented rams. This observation suggests that=20
sexual partner preferences are neurologically hard-wired and could be=20
influenced by hormones. Aromatase-containing neurons constitute a=20
nascent oSDN as early as d 60 of gestation, which becomes sexually=20
dimorphic by d 135 of gestation when it is 2 times larger in males=20
than in females. Exposure of fetal female lambs to exogenous=20
testosterone from d 30 to 90 of gestation resulted in a masculinised=20
oSDN. These data demonstrate that the oSDN develops prenatally and may=20
influence adult sexual preferences. Surprisingly, inhibition of=20
aromatase activity in the brain of ram fetuses during the critical=20
period did not interfere with defeminisation of adult sexual partner=20
preference or oSDN volume. These results fail to support an essential=20
role for neural aromatase in the sexual differentiation of sheep brain=20
and behaviour. Thus, we propose that oSDN morphology and male-typical=20
partner preferences may instead be programmed through an androgen=20
receptor mechanism not involving aromatisation.
PMID: 19207819
----
PLoS ONE. 2009;4(2):e4436. Epub 2009 Feb 11.
H5N1 Vaccine-Specific B Cell Responses in Ferrets Primed with Live=20
Attenuated Seasonal Influenza Vaccines.
Cheng X, Eisenbraun M, Xu Q, Zhou H, Kulkarni D, Subbarao K, Kemble G,=20
Jin H.
MedImmune, Mountain View, California, United States of America.
BACKGROUND: Live attenuated influenza H5N1 vaccines have been produced=20
and evaluated in mice and ferrets that were never exposed to influenza=20
A virus infection (Suguitan et al., Plos Medicine, e360:1541, 2006).=20
However, the preexisting influenza heterosubtypic immunity on live=20
attenuated H5N1 vaccine induced immune response has not been=20
evaluated. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Primary and recall B=20
cell responses to live attenuated H5N1 vaccine viruses were examined=20
using a sensitive antigen-specific B cell ELISpot assay to investigate=20
the effect of preexisting heterosubtypic influenza immunity on the=20
development of H5N1-specific B cell immune responses in ferrets. Live=20
attenuated H5N1 A/Hong Kong/213/03 and A/Vietnam/1203/04 vaccine=20
viruses induced measurable H5-specific IgM and IgG secreting B cells=20
after intranasal vaccination. However, H5-specific IgG secreting cells=20
were detected significantly earlier and at a greater frequency after=20
H5N1 inoculation in ferrets previously primed with trivalent live=20
attenuated influenza (H1N1, H3N2 and B) vaccine. Priming studies=20
further revealed that the more rapid B cell responses to H5 resulted=20
from cross-reactive B cell immunity to the hemagglutinin H1 protein.=20
Moreover, vaccination with the H1N1 vaccine virus was able to induce=20
protective responses capable of limiting replication of the H5N1=20
vaccine virus to a level comparable with prior vaccination with the=20
H5N1 vaccine virus without affecting H5N1 vaccine virus induced=20
antibody response. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that previous=20
vaccination with seasonal influenza vaccine may accelerate onset of=20
immunity by an H5N1 ca vaccine and the heterosubtypic immunity may be=20
beneficial for pandemic preparedness.
PMID: 19209231
----
[Below ones might apply to ferrets.]
Zh Evol Biokhim Fiziol. 2008 Nov-Dec;44(6):570-6.
[Comparative study of catalytic properties of mink and rat liver=20
monoamine oxidase]
[Article in Russian]
[No authors listed]
Comparative substrate-inhibitor analysis of catalytic properties of=20
monoamine oxidase (MAO) of liver mitochondrial of the American mink=20
Mustela vison Schreber and of liver of Wistar rat has been performed.=20
It has been established that MAO of mink, like MAO of rat, has=20
properties of classic mammalian MAO: it deaminates tyramine,=20
tryptamine, serotonin, benzilamine, beta-phenylethylamine and does not=20
deaminate histamine as well as does not have sensitivity to=20
semicarbazide. Study of kinetics of monoamine oxidase deamination has=20
allowed revealing both qualitative and quantitative differences=20
between these enzymes. Specificity of action on MAO, form A, of four=20
irreversible inhibitors--acridine derivative--has been established;=20
the specificity for the mink liver MAO was several times higher than=20
for the rat liver MAO. It is suggested that liver MAO of both species=20
of the studied animals has several isoenzyme forms or several centers=20
of substrate binding.
PMID: 19198157
----
Izv Akad Nauk Ser Biol. 2008 Nov-Dec;(6):713-7.
[Approaches to pregnancy diagnosis in the sable (Martes zibellina,=20
Mustelidae, Carnivora) by noninvasive methods: postimplantation period]
[Article in Russian]
[No authors listed]
To develop a reliable approach to pregnancy diagnosis in sables based=20
on noninvasive methods of hormonal status assessment, the=20
concentrations of immunoreactive compounds (IRC) binding with=20
antibodies to progesterone have been measured in the feces of females=20
at different stages of the reproductive cycle. The results show that=20
this concentration is higher in truly pregnant than in mated but=20
nonreproducing females. An increase in the IRC concentration relative=20
to its individual baseline level may be regarded as a reliable=20
indication of true pregnancy.
PMID: 19198077
----
Zh Obshch Biol. 2008 Nov-Dec;69(6):428-33.
[Toward exploration of morphological diversity of measurable traits of=20
mammalian skull. 2. Scalar and vector parameters of the forms of group=20
variation]
[Article in Russian]
Lisovski=C4=AD AA, Pavlinov IIa.
Any morphospace is partitioned by the forms of group variation, its=20
structure is described by a set of scalar (range, overlap) and vector=20
(direction) characteristics. They are analyzed quantitatively for the=20
sex and age variations in the sample of 200 skulls of the pine marten=20
described by 14 measurable traits. Standard dispersion and variance=20
components analyses are employed, accompanied with several resampling=20
methods (randomization and bootstrep); effects of changes in the=20
analysis design on results of the above methods are also considered.=20
Maximum likelihood algorithm of variance components analysis is shown=20
to give an adequate estimates of portions of particular forms of group=20
variation within the overall disparity. It is quite stable in respect=20
to changes of the analysis design and therefore could be used in the=20
explorations of the real data with variously unbalanced designs. A new=20
algorithm of estimation of co-directionality of particular forms of=20
group variation within the overall disparity is elaborated, which=20
includes angle measures between eigenvectors of covariation matrices=20
of effects of group variations calculated by dispersion analysis. A=20
null hypothesis of random portion of a given group variation could be=20
tested by means of randomization of the respective grouping variable.=20
A null hypothesis of equality of both portions and directionalities of=20
different forms of group variation could be tested by means of the=20
bootstrep procedure.
PMID: 19140333
Sukie (not a vet)
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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