Summary
Due to its impact on animal health and pig industry, African swine fever (ASF) is regarded as one of the most important viral diseases of pigs. Following the ongoing epidemic in the ...Transcaucasian countries and the Russian Federation, African swine fever virus was introduced into the Estonian wild boar population in 2014. Epidemiological investigations suggested two different introductions into the southern and the north‐eastern part of Estonia. Interestingly, outbreak characteristics varied considerably between the affected regions. While high mortality and mainly virus‐positive animals were observed in the southern region, mortality was low in the north‐eastern area. In the latter, clinically healthy, antibody‐positive animals were found in the hunting bag and detection of virus was rare. Two hypotheses could explain the different behaviour in the north‐east: (i) the frequency of antibody detections combined with the low mortality is the tail of an older, so far undetected epidemic wave coming from the east, or (ii) the virus in this region is attenuated and leads to a less severe clinical outcome. To explore the possibility of virus attenuation, a re‐isolated ASFV strain from the north‐eastern Ida‐Viru region was biologically characterized in European wild boar. Oronasal inoculation led to an acute and severe disease course in all animals with typical pathomorphological lesions. However, one animal recovered completely and was subsequently commingled with three sentinels of the same age class to assess disease transmission. By the end of the trial at 96 days post‐initial inoculation, all animals were completely healthy and neither virus nor viral genomes were detected in the sentinels or the survivor. The survivor, however, showed high antibody levels. In conclusion, the ASFV strain from north‐eastern Estonia was still highly virulent but nevertheless, one animal recovered completely. Under the experimental conditions, no transmission occurred from the survivor to susceptible sentinel pigs.
Summary
This study targeted the assessment of a potential African swine fever virus (ASFV) carrier state of 30 pigs in total which were allowed to recover from infection with ASFV “Netherlands'86” ...prior exposure to six healthy sentinel pigs for more than 2 months. Throughout the whole trial, blood and swab samples were subjected to routine virological and serological investigations. At the end of the trial, necropsy of all animals was performed and viral persistence and distribution were assessed. Upon infection, a wide range of clinical and pathomorphological signs were observed. After an initial acute phase in all experimentally inoculated pigs, 66.6% recovered completely and seroconverted. However, viral genome was detectable in blood samples for up to 91 days. Lethal outcomes were observed in 33.3% of the pigs with both acute and prolonged courses. No ASFV transmission occurred over the whole in‐contact phase from survivors to sentinels. Similarly, infectious ASFV was not detected in any of the tissue samples from ASFV convalescent and in‐contact pigs. These findings indicate that the suggested role of ASFV survivors is overestimated and has to be reconsidered thoroughly for future risk assessments.
In the European Union, African swine fever (ASF) affects wild boar (
Sus scrofa
) populations in several Member States. Knowledge of population connectivity is important for the implementation of ...control measures, in particular the establishment of effective barriers. Population genetic comparisons of neighbouring populations can be very helpful in this respect. The present study investigated the genetic differentiation of wild boar in eastern Germany. This region has been affected by ASF since September 2020. A total of 1,262 wild boars from 31 hunting grounds (populations) in ASF-affected and ASF-free districts were sampled over a total area of almost 100,000 km². The study area encompassed a network of geographical factors that promote (roads, rivers, cities) or inhibit (natural areas, habitat corridors) genetic differentiation between wild boar populations. The genetic differentiation of the areas was based on 12 microsatellite markers. Three different Bayesian algorithms were used to analyse the data. The results were combined into a common approach with 9 clusters. Based on the cluster distribution in each population, the connectivity between the areas was quantified. The strongest differentiation was found along an imaginary line along the lower Elbe valley through Berlin and the A11 freeway to the Szczecin Lagoon. In contrast, the Mecklenburg Lake District and the south-east of the study area showed strong connectivity between areas. The special features of the landscapes along the lower Elbe valley, which was assessed as highly connective, and the high barrier effect of the A11 freeway in contrast to the other freeways in the study area show that barrier effects cannot be generalised in principle, but are actually determined by the circumstances of individual structures. The results of the connectivity analysis were compared with the distribution of viral lineages and variants. The genotypes of the wild boar populations and the ASFV lineages and variants showed a good explanatory approach for the observed disease dynamics in the study area. The newly gained knowledge on barriers and regionally different connectivity between wild boar populations can support considerations and measures for the containment of ASF in the affected areas by improving the understanding of wild boar dispersal dynamics.
Summary
In 2014, highly virulent African swine fever virus (ASFV) was introduced into the Baltic States and Poland, with new cases being reported almost every week from wild boar and also from ...domestic pigs. Contrary to initial predictions that the disease would either die out due to the high virulence of the virus strain or spread rapidly in westerly direction, the infection became endemic and spread slowly. The unexpected disease epidemiology led to the hypothesis that hitherto unconsidered factors might contribute to virus persistence and dispersal. To check whether arthropod species feeding and developing on infected carcasses might be involved, larvae of two commonly found blowfly species, Lucilia sericata and Calliphora vicina, were experimentally bred on ASFV‐infected spleen tissue. After different time intervals, developing larvae and pupae were tested for infectious virus and viral DNA. By qPCR, contamination of the blowfly larvae and pupae with ASFV‐DNA could be demonstrated even after several washing steps, proving the uptake of virus during feeding in the larval stage. However, infectious virus could never be isolated. By contrast, the larvae appeared to have inactivated ASFV in the offered tissue, which might be explained by the known anti‐biotic effect of salivary secretions. It is concluded that immature blowfly stages do not play a relevant role as reservoirs or mechanical vectors of ASFV.
Emergency vaccination with live marker vaccines represents a promising control strategy for future classical swine fever (CSF) outbreaks, and the first live marker vaccine is available in Europe. ...Successful implementation is dependent on a reliable accompanying diagnostic assay that allows differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA). As induction of a protective immune response relies on virus-neutralizing antibodies against E2 protein of CSF virus (CSFV), the most promising DIVA strategy is based on detection of E
-specific antibodies in infected swine. The aim of this study was to develop and to evaluate a novel E
-specific prototype ELISA (pigtype CSFV E
Ab), which may be used for CSF diagnosis including application as an accompanying discriminatory test for CSFV marker vaccines. The concept of a double-antigen ELISA was shown to be a solid strategy to detect E
-specific antibodies against CSFV isolates of different genotypes (sensitivity: 93.5%; specificity: 99.7%). Furthermore, detection of early seroconversion is advantageous compared with a frequently used CSFV E2 antibody ELISA. Clear differences in reactivity between sera taken from infected animals and animals vaccinated with various marker vaccines were observed. In combination with the marker vaccine CP7_E2alf, the novel ELISA represents a sensitivity of 90.2% and a specificity of 93.8%. However, cross-reactivity with antibodies against ruminant pestiviruses was observed. Interestingly, the majority of samples tested false-positive in other E
-based antibody ELISAs were identified correctly by the novel prototype E
ELISA and vice versa. In conclusion, the pigtype CSFV E
Ab ELISA can contribute to an improvement in routine CSFV antibody screening, particularly for analysis of sera taken at an early time point after infection and is applicable as a DIVA assay. An additional E
antibody assay is recommended for identification of false-positive results in a pig herd immunized with the licensed CP7_E2alf marker vaccine.
Based upon a simple cosmological model with no expansion, we find that the rotational terms appearing in the Gödel universe are too small to explain the Pioneer anomaly. Following a brief summary of ...the anomaly, cosmological effects on the dynamics of local systems are addressed – including a derivation of the equations of motion for an accelerated Pioneer-type observer in a rotating universe. The rotation or vorticity present in such a cosmological model is then subjected to astrophysical limits set by observations of the cosmic microwave background radiation. Although it contributes, universal rotation is not the cause of the Pioneer effect. In view of the related fly-by anomalies, frame-dragging is also discussed. The virial theorem is used to demonstrate the non-conservation of energy during transfers from bound to hyperbolic trajectories.
Summary
Emergency vaccination with live marker vaccines represents a promising control strategy for future classical swine fever (CSF) outbreaks, and the first live marker vaccine is available in ...Europe. Successful implementation is dependent on a reliable accompanying diagnostic assay that allows differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA). As induction of a protective immune response relies on virus‐neutralizing antibodies against E2 protein of CSF virus (CSFV), the most promising DIVA strategy is based on detection of Erns‐specific antibodies in infected swine. The aim of this study was to develop and to evaluate a novel Erns‐specific prototype ELISA (pigtype CSFV Erns Ab), which may be used for CSF diagnosis including application as an accompanying discriminatory test for CSFV marker vaccines. The concept of a double‐antigen ELISA was shown to be a solid strategy to detect Erns‐specific antibodies against CSFV isolates of different genotypes (sensitivity: 93.5%; specificity: 99.7%). Furthermore, detection of early seroconversion is advantageous compared with a frequently used CSFV E2 antibody ELISA. Clear differences in reactivity between sera taken from infected animals and animals vaccinated with various marker vaccines were observed. In combination with the marker vaccine CP7_E2alf, the novel ELISA represents a sensitivity of 90.2% and a specificity of 93.8%. However, cross‐reactivity with antibodies against ruminant pestiviruses was observed. Interestingly, the majority of samples tested false‐positive in other Erns‐based antibody ELISAs were identified correctly by the novel prototype Erns ELISA and vice versa. In conclusion, the pigtype CSFV Erns Ab ELISA can contribute to an improvement in routine CSFV antibody screening, particularly for analysis of sera taken at an early time point after infection and is applicable as a DIVA assay. An additional Erns antibody assay is recommended for identification of false‐positive results in a pig herd immunized with the licensed CP7_E2alf marker vaccine.
This report summarizes a trade study of different options of a bioregenerative Life Support System (LSS) and a subsequent conceptual design of a hybrid LSS. The evaluation was based mainly on the ...terrestrial testbed projects MELISSA (ESA) and BIOS (Russia). In addition, some methods suggested by the Advanced Life Support Project (NASA) were considered. Computer models, including mass flows were established for each of the systems with the goal of closing system loops to the extent possible. In order to cope with the differences in the supported crew size and provided nutrition, all systems were scaled for supporting a crew of six for a 780
day Mars mission (180 days transport to Mars; 600 days surface period) as given in the NASA Design Reference Mission Scenario Hoffman, S.J., Kaplan, D.L. Human exploration of Mars: the Reference Mission of the NASA Mars Exploratory Study, 1997. All models were scaled to provide the same daily allowances, as of calories, to the crew. Equivalent System Mass (ESM) analysis was used to compare the investigated system models against each other. Following the comparison of the terrestrial systems, the system specific subsystem options for Food Supply, Solid Waste Processing, Water Management and Atmosphere Revitalization were evaluated in a separate trade study. The best subsystem technologies from the trade study were integrated into an overall design solution based on mass flow relationships. The optimized LSS is mainly a bioregenerative system, complemented by a few physico-chemical elements, with a total ESM of 18,088
kg, which is about 4 times higher than that of a pure physico-chemical LSS, as designed in an earlier study.
Background
Though patient needs are key drivers of treatment decisions, they are rarely systematically investigated in routine care.
Objective
This study aimed at analysing needs and expectations ...from the patient perspective in the German and Swiss psoriasis registries PsoBest and Swiss Dermatology Network of Targeted Therapies (SDNTT) with respect to treatment choice, age and gender.
Methods
The German and Swiss psoriasis registries observe patients recruited at first‐time use of systemic drugs. Within 10 years, clinical Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), Body Surface Area (BSA) and patient‐reported outcomes are documented, including the Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI) and the Patient Benefit Index (PBI), characterizing patient needs for treatment. The analysis data set includes n = 4894 patients from PsoBest and n = 449 from SDNTT with mean follow‐up time of 7.5 months.
Results
A total of 5343 patients registered between 2008 and 2016 were included in the analyses (at baseline: 59.6% male, mean age 47.6 years ± 14.5, PASI 14.2 ± 9.7, BSA 22.7 ± 19.7, DLQI 11.3 ± 7.2). The most important patient needs were to ‘get better skin quickly’ and to ‘be healed of all skin defects’.
Subgroup analyses by age revealed significant differences in needs, especially higher needs regarding social impairments in patients younger than 65 years. Patients 65 years or older attributed more importance to sleep quality, less dependency on medical visits, fewer side‐effects and confidence in the therapy. Out of 25 items reflecting patient needs, 20 items were rated significantly more important by women than men, with the greatest differences regarding feeling of depression, sleep quality and everyday productivity. Divided by treatment, needs were rated differently, recommending individualized and targeted choice of therapy.
Conclusion
Age and gender stratify patient needs. Women showed higher expectations and rated specific needs in psoriasis treatment higher than men. Analysing the patient needs on an individual level will facilitate shared decisions by patient and physician in finding the optimal personalized treatment.
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