Efficacy testing of the porcine Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae inactivated vaccine in animal models
Jen-Huan Tsai
Abstract
Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae infection in pigs often occurs in growing-finishing pigs, and traditional inactivated bacterins can be administered to reduce losses for farmers. Current efficacy testing for A. pleuropneumoniae inactivated vaccines use mice as test animals. Some vaccines are added with the purified toxins ApxI, ApxII, APXIII, that play a role in the pathogenesis of A. pleuropneumoniae, and this can cause mice mortality. As a result, we tested the possibility of using pigs for vaccine efficacy testing. Preliminary results indicate that the use of pigs for vaccine efficacy testing is not only expensive but also difficult, and that minor modifications in mice immunization protocols would be a more fruitful avenue for further efficacy testing.
Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in Taiwan cattle
Chen-Shen Huang
Abstract
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an important zoonotic disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis. Although cattle are considered to be the main hosts of M. bovis, many mammals can be infected. Depending on the route of infection, characteristic nodular lesions can occur in the head, chest lymph nodes, or abdominal organs. The intradermal tuberculin test (ITT) is the standard method for testing bovine tuberculosis for the monitoring of the international cattle trade. It is also the standard method for bovine tuberculosis detection in Taiwan. The number of culture-positive herds decreased annually from 2012 to 2016 in Taiwan, whereas an increase in the number of positive cases has been observed in the past three years. Starting in 2019, multiple cows with brain lesions were observed in Taiwanese slaughterhouses. The 2019 M. bovis isolates were analyzed by two genotyping methods commonly used for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex: spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR. Analyses using MIRU-VNTR were based on 3 loci: ETR-A, ETR-B, and Qub11b. Six previously described genotypes were thus characterized.
The Rabies in the Americas 30th Annual Conference
Shu-Chia Hu，Shih-Ying Lee
Abstract
Two researchers from the Animal Health Research Institute attended the Rabies in the Americas (RITA) 30th Annual Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, USA from October 24th to November 3rd, 2019. The ten main topics covered at the conference were bat rabies, rabies in wildlife, epidemiology and surveillance, canine rabies elimination, rabies diagnostic methods, spatial and economic disease modeling, community engagement, vaccines and therapeutics, and human rabies treatment and prophylaxis. The round table discussions focused on four main aspects: boots on the ground, import/export regulations, rabies serology and vaccinations, and skunk rabies. Within each topic, researchers from different fields shared their ideas, experiences, and current results with the attendees. In this conference, AHRI presented the following findings: “Novel lyssaviruses identified in bats, Taiwan”, “Application of commercially available immunochromatographic test kits in wildlife rabies surveillance in Taiwan”, “Implementation summary of OIE Twinning Project for Rabies”, and “Pathogenicity investigation of Taiwan ferret badger rabies virus on Gem-faced civets”. The AHRI also participated in the Direct Rapid Immunohistochemistry Test (DRIT) workshop held at the Rabies Laboratory of Kansas State University. Through a questionnaire and implementation process, the participants were able to learn and analyze the key concepts behind standard analytical and operational procedures. The conference provided many opportunities for the collaborative communication of information and experiences between researchers from different countries and organizations, as well as for discussions on the latest developments in rabies research, surveillance, treatment and prophylaxis. Thus, this conference consolidated regional consensus, expanded mutual understanding and cooperation, and became a forum to promote healthy interaction. Participants also met and exchanged personal contact information, leaving the possibility for further collaboration in the future. In addition, the participation of industry, official, academic and research units from different fields highlighted the benefits of the ‘One-Health’ approach advocated by the OIE, FAO, and WHO.
Implementation of the OIE Twinning Project – Rabies diagnostics quality management training and start of collaborative trial at the Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife
Shih-Ying Lee
Abstract
The Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife is part of the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES-Nancy Laboratory) and is a OIE/WHO/EU reference laboratory for rabies. The Animal Health Research Institute (AHRI) signed the Rabies Pathogenicity Analysis Collaboration Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ANSES-Nancy in 2014, and since then AHRI has accomplished a number of rabies-related research projects as well as analyses of oral vaccines under the guidance of the ANSES-Nancy Laboratory. Moreover, the ANSES-Nancy Laboratory proposed a OIE Twinning Project for rabies with AHRI, and the project was approved by the OIE in June 2018. The 2018 Launch Meeting of the OIE Twinning Project for Rabies was co-organized by AHRI and ANSES-Nancy, with an unveiling ceremony for the inauguration of a regional Asian Laboratory Proficiency Testing Center for Rabies Diagnosis. Under the framework of the OIE Twinning Project, proficiency testing is one of the core work packages, and in 2020, AHRI will hold the first Asian proficiency testing of antigen diagnostics for rabies. Therefore, this year, a trainee was sent to the ANESE-Nancy Laboratory to study quality control procedures for rabies diagnostics and antigen batch production for proficiency testing, while at the same time interactively discussing the details involved in the maintenance and setup of effective proficiency testing procedures.