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Biomedical subjects

V Moennig

Publications and source records attributed to V Moennig.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The hog cholera virus.

Hog cholera virus (HCV) is a spherical enveloped particle of about 40-60 nm dia. The viral genome is a single strand RNA of about 12,000 bases with positive polarity. One single large open reading frame codes for presumably four structural, i.e. three glycoproteins and a core protein, and about three to five nonstructural proteins. The functional role is not yet fully clear for all viral proteins. HCV belongs to the pestivirus group and it is closely related to bovine viral diarrhoea and border disease viruses. The relationship extends to morphology, antigenicity, host spectrum and molecular properties. Pestiviruses hold generic status in the family Flaviviridae.

Animals

Infection of ovine fetal brain cell cultures with cytopathogenic and non-cytopathogenic bovine viral diarrhoea virus.

The in vitro cell tropism of non-cytopathogenic (ncp) and cytopathogenic (cp) bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) was studied in primary dissociated brain cell cultures derived from ovine fetuses of different gestational ages. The cell types infected were identified by double immunofluorescence using antibodies against BVDV and cell type-specific markers. In cultures infected with ncp BVDV viral antigen was present in neurofilament (NF 200 kDa)-positive neurons, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive astrocytes and fibronectin-expressing cells. Estimation of the percentages of individual cell types infected with ncp BVDV indicated a tropism for NF 200-positive neurons. In cultures infected with cp BVD virus cytopathic changes were observed beginning at 40 hours post infection. Viral antigen was present in vacuolated NF 200-, GFAP- and fibronectin-positive cells. In comparison with non-infected control cultures a considerable reduction of the number of the different cell types was seen.

Animals

Heterogeneous expression of the non-structural protein p80/p125 in cells infected with different pestiviruses.

In order to analyse the expression of the non-structural (ns) protein p80/p125 in cells infected with different pestiviruses at the protein level, radioimmunoprecipitations with the pestivirus-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) BVD/C16 were performed. Cell lysates infected with cytopathic (cp) and non-cytopathic (ncp) bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus strains and isolates, and with hog cholera (HC) virus strains were analysed. From cpBVD virus-infected cells, the MAb precipitated one or more proteins corresponding to ns p125, displaying a marked size heterogeneity. In contrast, the lower Mr ns p80 proteins from all cpBVD virus strains and isolates analysed had identical electrophoretic motility. The ncpBVD virus strains displayed either one single band or a doublet of the p125 protein and no p80 cleavage products. The p125 proteins precipitated from HC virus-infected cells showed no size heterogeneity. The possibility is discussed that multiple recombination events, including both insertions or deletions in the genomes of ncpBVD viruses, may lead to the heterogeneous expression of the ns p125 in cpBVD virus populations.

Animals

An antigen capture test for the detection of cattle viremic with bovine viral diarrhoea virus--a comparison with BVD virus isolation from buffy coat cells in bovine kidney cells.

An antigen capture enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) viral antigen in peripheral blood lymphocytes of cattle was used for the screening of 241 animals. The test used a monoclonal antibody directed against a conserved antigenic domain of a nonstructural protein (p125/p80) of pestiviruses for antigen capture. Bound antigen was detected with a pestivirus-specific polyclonal peroxidase conjugate. In parallel the samples were analysed by routine virus isolation procedures based on cell culture. Virus isolation and antigen capture EIA were positive in 54 cases. The latter test scored one additional sample.

Animals

Distribution of bovine virus diarrhoea viral antigens in the central nervous system of cattle with various congenital manifestations.

Distribution of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) antigens in the central nervous system (CNS) of 26 cattle persistently BVDV infected, 11 cattle with mucosal disease (MD), and 32 calves with congenital brain malformations was studied using monoclonal antibodies against BVDV epitopes. In persistently infected cattle and in cattle with MD, a widespread infection of neurons was present. Predilection sites for BVDV antigens were the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus. In calves with congenital encephalopathies, viral antigen-containing neurons could only be detected in the CNS of four animals. From the topographical distribution of BVDV antigens in these four postnatal cases with end-stage lesions, no conclusions could be drawn concerning the pathogenesis of BVDV-induced encephalopathies.

Animals

[Persistent BVD virus infections in a cattle breeding facility--a case report].

Comprehensive serological and virological monitoring for bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus was applied in a dairy herd. Out of 83 calves 26 persistently infected animals were identified. Four viremic calves showed clinical signs of disease, the others displayed no symptoms. Viral isolates from persistently infected animals were homogenous with respect to their antigenicity. The results of virological and serological investigations allowed an almost complete reconstruction of events following the introduction of BVD virus into the herd. This case illustrates the potentially dangerous and damaging effects of unidentified virus carriers in cattle herds. Strategies for the identification of virus-shedding animals and the limitation of economical losses are discussed.

Animals

[Changes in the dynamics of viral infectious diseases].

Modern methods of molecular biology are suitable to analyse evolutionary processes in the area of infectious diseases. Visible expression of this evolution is the emergence of "new" infectious agents, e.g., canine parvovirus, the agent of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome and phocine distemper virus. In addition a gradual change of disease syndromes may be observed, e.g., classical and African swine fever and myxoma. These processes are based on genomic changes of the respective infectious agents, i.e., point mutations and recombinations. Especially RNA viruses are prone to genomic change, and the plasticity of their genomes enables them to adapt to varying selective pressures. Human activities in agriculture, global commerce and tourism may enhance and precipitate microbial evolution.

Animals

The development of an international reference panel of monoclonal antibodies for the differentiation of hog cholera virus from other pestiviruses.

A panel of 30 monoclonal antibodies was defined and characterized with respect to the binding capacity in immunoperoxidase assay to different strains of pestivirus. Using the panel it was possible to identify specifically all strains and isolates of hog cholera virus, hog cholera vaccines derived from 'C' strains, and most strains of bovine viral diarrhoea/border disease (BVD/BD) viruses (including those isolated from pigs). A small proportion of BVD/BD isolates from pigs and ruminants reacted only with the monoclonals specific for pestivirus group antigen. It is recommended that monoclonal typing methods be introduced into official procedures for the diagnosis of hog cholera/classical swine fever.

Animals

Immunofluorescence studies of biotype-specific expression of bovine viral diarrhoea virus epitopes in infected cells.

The expression of biotype-specific epitopes in cells infected with cytopathic (cp) and non-cytopathic (ncp) bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) was analysed by immunofluorescence. Four monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against different epitopes on the viral glycoprotein gp48 were used. With cells infected with cpBVDV strain NADL, the four MAbs yielded a strong and granular cytoplasmic fluorescence. The same pattern was observed when cells were infected with ncpBVDV 7443 with two of the MAbs (BVD/C12, BVD/C42). In contrast, reactivity with the other two MAbs (BVD/C38, BVD/C46) was restricted to a narrow perinuclear zone. These biotype-specific differences were not observed either with a gp53-specific MAb, or with an MAb specific for the non-structural protein p125/p80. Double immunofluorescence staining of living cells with a polyclonal BVDV-specific serum and with the MAbs revealed that expression of viral proteins on the surface of cells infected with cp- or ncpBVDV, respectively, was not detectable.

Animals

Clinical, post mortem and virological findings after simultaneous inoculation of pigs with hog cholera and bovine viral diarrhoea virus.

The clinical course, post mortem lesions as well as virological and serological results after simultaneous intranasal inoculation of pigs with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) and hog cholera virus (HCV) are described. Five groups of four weaners received constant doses of BVDV strain OSLOSS/2482 and tenfold decreasing doses of HCV strain ALFORT/187. Doses of 1,000 and 100 TCID50 of HCV in groups A and B of pigs led to fever and severe clinical signs in all animals of two groups, whereas at higher dilution of inoculum two, three or four animals survived without any clinical signs in the respective groups (C-E). Leucocyte samples taken from febrile animals and from normal pigs on five consecutive days were inoculated into both fetal calf kidney (FCK) and PK (15) cell cultures. Virus isolates were differentiated with BVDV and HCV specific monoclonal antibodies. HCV viraemia was detected in febrile animals exclusively, and BVDV viraemia occurred in not affected animals on days 3 to 7 post inoculation. Neutralizing antibodies (nab) against BVDV appeared before HCV nab in surviving animals of groups C and D after receiving low doses of HCV (10 or 1 TCID50). No BVDV nab were detected in group E that had received such a high dilution of HCV in addition to BVDV that theoretically no HCV was applied.

Animals

Detection of alphaviruses in a genus-specific antigen capture enzyme immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies.

A genus-specific antigen capture assay using similar combinations of monoclonal antibodies for capture and detection of 24 alphaviruses belonging to the seven serocomplexes was developed. The sensitivity of the test ranged from 10(3.4) 50% tissue culture infective doses/ml for o'nyong-nyong virus to 10(6.1) 50% tissue culture infective doses/ml for Middelburg virus. The antigen capture test uses a combination of cross-reacting monoclonal antibodies directed against the nucleocapsid protein and envelope glycoprotein E1 of Semliki Forest virus.

Aedes

[A new enzyme immunoassay for the detection of antibodies against the bovine viral diarrhea virus].

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using the nonstructural protein p125/80 of the bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus as antigen, was used for screening BVD-specific antibodies in 468 bovine sera. The results were compared with those obtained in a standard neutralization test (NT). Both tests reacted positive with 457 sera. The ELISA gave positive results with eight sera which were negative in the NT whereas one serum was positive in the NT and negative in the ELISA. Two sera could not be tested in the NT because they were toxic for the cultured cells. In addition the sera were screened in an ELISA using the equivalent heterologous nonstructural protein of hog cholera virus as antigen. The results obtained in both ELISAs showed a correlation of 94%.

Animals

[A sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the serological detection of antibodies against the European hog cholera virus].

An ELISA for the detection of antibodies against hog cholera virus (HCV) was developed. The HCV-specific glycoprotein gp53 served as diagnostic antigen after immobilization using a monoclonal capture antibody. Due to the higher affinity of HCV-specific antibodies to the viral gp53, sera cross reacting with bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus were discriminated by the slope of the titration curves.

Animals

[Use of monoclonal antibodies for the differential diagnosis of pestivirus infections in swine].

Monoclonal antibodies (mab) specific for hog cholera virus (HCV), bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) or pestivirus were applied for the differential diagnosis of pestivirus infections in pigs. Field virus isolated from 8 confirmed classical swine fever outbreaks and one suspect case was propagated in PK(15) cell cultures and identified by direct immunofluorescence (IFA) and peroxidase linked antibody (PLA) assays. Peroxidase-linked HCV, BVDV and pestivirus specific mab were applied in direct PLA for differentiation. Nine isolates were classified as members of the genus pestivirus. Eight isolates showed a positive reaction with an HCV mab. One isolates reacted with BVDV specific mab only. For further characterization an indirect PLA was performed using a collection of different HCV and BVDV specific mabs. Some of the HCV isolates also showed a weak reaction with BVDV specific mab.

Animals