Veterinary Medicine Commons^™

The Effects Of Heparin Concentration, Storage Time, And Temperature On The Values Of Hematological Parameters In Cyprinus Carpio, Malgorzata Witeska, Justyna Biardzka, Joanna Kniaz

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The results of hematological analyses may be affected by preanalytical factors such as sampling procedure, type and concentration of anticoagulant, or conditions and time of blood storage. In the present study the effects of various concentrations of heparin (0-200 IU/cm3) and different times (2, 24, or 48 h) and temperatures (4 or 22 °C) of blood storage on the values of hematological parameters in Cyprinus carpio were evaluated. Increase in heparin concentration resulted in a decrease in frequency of erythroblasts, a reduction of leukocyte and thrombocyte counts, and a decrease in oxidative metabolic activity of phagocytes. Storage for 2 h …

Intestinal Barrier And Mucosal Immunity In Broilers, Thai Betong, And Native Thai Praduhangdum Chickens, Sirin Theerawatanasirikul, Nunyarat Koomkrong, Autchara Kayan, Chaiwat Boonkaewwan

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The intestinal barrier includes physical and chemical components for preventing the invasion of pathogenic and toxic agents. The aim of this study was to investigate small intestinal morphology, antimicrobial peptides, and tight junction (TJ) distribution among broilers, Thai Betong chickens, and native Thai Praduhangdum chickens. Intestinal samples from 40 chickens of each breed were collected. The results of the histological and morphological examination revealed that the duodenum of all breeds had the maximum villus height compared to the other parts. The intestinal tract of both Betong and Praduhangdum chickens was low in the number of mucin and goblet cells. In …

Investigation Of The Presence Of Mycoplasma As An Etiologic Agent Of Inflammatory Airway Diseases In Thoroughbred Racehorses In İstanbul Province, Alper Mete, Naci̇ye Yakut Özgür

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Mycoplasma equirhinis and Mycoplasma felis are thought to be infectious etiologic agents of inflammatory airway disease (IAD), which, after musculoskeletal injuries, is the second most common cause of poor performance in thoroughbred racehorses. The aims of this study were to investigate for the first time the presence of M. equirhinis, M. felis, and other Mycoplasma spp. in the lower respiratory tract of racehorses in İstanbul Province in Turkey and to statistically evaluate the association between clinical signs of IAD and the presence of mycoplasmas. Tracheal wash (TW) samples were collected from 111 English and Arabian thoroughbred horses that showed clinical …

Effect Of Fluorogestone Acetate And Ecg On Reproductiveparameters In Lactating Pırlak Ewes, Muhammed Nevzat Algan, Mehmet Uçar, Oktay Yilmaz

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

It was aimed to determine the effect of intravaginal sponges impregnated with different doses of fluorogestone acetate (FGA) on some reproductive parameters in 360 Pırlak ewes at 30-60 days postpartum. The positive control group (n = 130) was treated with 30 mg of FGA for 12 days. On the sponge removal day, 600 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin was injected intramuscularly and rams were joined into flocks 36 h later. Halved intravaginal sponges containing FGA were applied in the experimental group (n = 100) with the same protocol as in the positive control group. The estrous behavior of ewes in …

Mycoplasma Arginini: High Frequency Involvement In Goat Pneumonia, Rekha Valsala, Rajneesh Rana, Arun Thachappully Remesh, Vijendra Pal Singh

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Mycoplasmas are an important class of bacteria associated with caprine pneumonia. Some of the main species involved are M. mycoides subsp. capri, M. capricolum subsp. capricolum, and M. capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae. In addition, there are frequent reports of M. arginini involvement. In the present study an attempt was made to see the association of various mollicutes in caprine pneumonia. In total 244 pneumonic goat lung samples collected over a 10-year period (2003-2012) were screened for the isolation and identification of associated mollicutes. The identification was done on the basis of biochemical tests, growth inhibition test, PCR, and sequencing. The most …

The Physiological Stress Response To Acute Thermal Exposure Inblack Sea Trout (Salmo Trutta Labrax Pallas, 1814), Zeynep Dengi̇z Balta, Süleyman Akhan, Fi̇kri̇ Balta

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In this study, we aimed to investigate the acute stress responses of Black Sea trout to acute thermal fluctuations. Black Sea trout (184.22 g mean weight) were transferred from a private trout farm to a research center and restocked in a fiberglass square tank. After acclimation to culture conditions (at a water temperature of 15 °C) for 2 weeks, the fish in the experiment were exposed to 25 °C water temperature for 30 min, and the stress responses of the fish were examined at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 h. After acute thermal shock, cortisol and …

Meat Quality Traits Of Male Herik Lambs Raised Under An Intensive Fattening System, Mustafa Uğurlu, Bülent Eki̇z, Bülent Teke, Mustafa Salman, Fi̇li̇z Akdağ, İsmai̇l Kaya

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of the study was to determine certain meat quality traits of Herik lambs finished under the intensive husbandry conditions. Twenty single male lambs with an average final weight of 42 kg were used in the study. Concentrate feed and fresh water were given ad libitum, whereas 300 g of alfalfa per lamb per day was provided. At 24 h postmortem, the pH levels were 5.51, 5.63, and 5.24 for musculus longissimus dorsi, musculus semitendinosus, and musculus semimembranosus, respectively. The corresponding Warner-Bratzler shear force values (P < 0.001) of cooked meat were 3.359, 2.318, and 3.601 respectively. At 24 h postmortem, the L*(42.18) and a* (19.95) values of Herik lambs were near the acceptable values of L*(34-35) and a*(19.00). At 72 h postmortem, cooking loss and water holding capacity were 34.78% and 10.55%, respectively. Chemical composition traits, namely dry matter (26.35%), protein (22.21%), ether extraction (2.98%), and ash percentage (1.02%), were similar to those of other indigenous breeds. Consequently, these results indicated that the meat of Herik lambs may be suitable for sale after the lambs are raised under an intensive fattening system.

One-Step Real-Time Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (Rt-Lamp): Evaluation And Its Application For The Detection Of Foot-And-Mouth-Disease Virus And Its Serotypes, Sidra Maryam, Tahir Rasheed, Asma Latif, Rabab Zahra, Aamer Bin Zahur, Aitezaz Ahsan, Muhammad Afzal, Umer Farooq

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Availability of a rapid and sensitive diagnostic technique is key in successful prevention and control of infectious diseases like foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Existing conventional diagnostic tests for FMD are laborious and time-consuming with low sensitivity and specificity. Molecular-based techniques are costly and difficult, involving refined apparatus like a thermal cycler. In the present study, the technique of real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) was standardized for diagnosing FMDV and its serotypes, evaluated using field samples, and compared with the existing real-time PCR in Pakistan. RT-LAMP amplified the target 3D gene using specific primers at 65 °C for 60 min and the …

Aggressive Osteoblastoma Of The Cervical Vertebrae In A Turkish Angora Cat, Hyun Kim, Youngsu Lee, Kihoon Kim, Jiyong Kim, Saejong Yoo, A-Jin Lee, Hwi Yool Kim, Dai Jung Chung

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Aggressive osteoblastoma is a type of bone tumor rarely reported in veterinary literature. Osteoblastoma may be misdiagnosed as an osteosarcoma, which is a well-understood malignant bone tumor. Owing to poor prognosis, animals diagnosed with osteosarcoma are not always treated. In the present case, we diagnosed the tumor as aggressive osteoblastoma on the basis of macroscopic, microscopic, radiographic, and immunohistologic findings. The patient was treated via resections of the osteoblastoma and lived without metastasis for 3 years. This is the first reported case of aggressive feline osteoblastoma of the cervical vertebrae and will be useful for diagnosing and managing aggressive osteoblastoma.

Diselementosis As A Risk Factor Of Embryo Loss In Lactating Cows, Sergey Shabunin, Anatoliy Nezhdanov, Vitaliy Mikhalev, Elena Lozovaya, Anton Chernitskiy

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of this research was to reveal the impact of bioelemental status of dairy cows on intrauterine growth restriction and embryo death at early gestation stages. The research included 22 Holstein cows with average annual dairy productivity of 6400-7600 kg. All animals were subjected to transrectal ultrasonography to determine corpus luteum and pregnancy status, and their blood was sampled for biochemical analyses on the 19th-22nd, 28th-32nd, and 38th-45th days of gestation. Zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium blood contents were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium were determined with an automatic biochemistry analyzer. Protein-bound …

Factors That Affect Whether Arabian Horses Have Earnings During Their First Year Of Racing, Doğukan Özen, İsmayi̇l Safa Gürcan

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study of Arabian horses in Turkey evaluates factors that may affect the possibility of having earnings during the first year of horses? racing careers. A total of 2046 Arabian horses were included in the study population; 1020 Arabian horses (49.85%) did not earn any money during their first year of racing. To explore the shared characteristics of those that had earnings, a retrospective study was done with racing records of Arabian horses that were born between 2008 and 2011. The factors were ownership status, sex, age at first race, type of stud farm, and racing on one or both …

Estradiol 17 Beta-Dehydrogenase 5 Is Involved In Aflatoxin B1 Transportation, Yanling Yang, Yaling Huang, Linmao Zeng, Yuanyuan Gao, Yu Li, Yanguang Ji, Shihua Wang, Kunzhi Jia, Zhenhong Zhuang

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Numerous studies have focused on the mechanism of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) metabolism and its carcinogenic mechanism, but how AFB1 is transported into hepatocytes and how it is transferred inside hepatocytes remains unknown. In this study, the AFB1-interacting protein, estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase 5 (Akr1c6), was identified with an immobilized affinity chromatography technique and LC-MS/MS. The interaction between Akr1c6 and AFB1 was confirmed with ELISA, and the results showed that Akr1c6 could efficiently bind AFB1. Anti-Akr1c6 polyclonal antibody from rabbit was prepared, and the IC50 values of AFB1 to BRL (normal big rat liver cells) and NRK (normal rat kidney cells) were …

Water Ph Effects On Survival, Reproductive Performances, And Ultrastructure Of Gonads, Gills, And Skins Of The Javanese Medaka (Oryzias Javanicus), Ahmad Fadhil Mohd Salleh, Mohammad Noor Amal Azmai, Nurrul Shaqinah Nasruddin, Syaizwan Zahmir Zulkifli, Ferdaus Mohamat Yusuff, Wan Norhamidah Wan Ibrahim, Ahmad Ismail

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The Javanese medaka (Oryzias javanicus) has the potential to be developed as a test organism. It also exhibited many characteristics that are similar to those of well-known laboratory fishes. This study determined the effects of water pH on the survival, reproductive performances, and ultrastructure of the gonads, gills, and skins of the Javanese medaka. This study confirmed that Javanese medakas treated with pH 6-7 displayed the lowest mortality, but increased in egg production and hatchability. This supposition is supported by strong evidence from the oocytes and testes stage analyses, including histological examinations. The ultrastructure of gills and skins of fish …

Effect Of Phytase On True Total Tract Digestibility Of Phosphorus In Full-Fat Rice Bran Determined In Pigs By Regression Method, Walter Lucca, Marcos Ceron, Matheus Lucca, Lucas Casagrande, Leonardo Rocha, Irineo Zanella, Vladimir Oliveira

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The goal of this study was to determine the effect of phytase on true total tract digestibility of phosphorus (TTDP) and endogenous losses of phosphorus (ELP) of full-fat rice bran (FFRB) by simple linear regression. Twelve castrated pigs in the growing phase with an average live weight of 57.00 ± 2.50 kg were used. The experiment lasted 36 days, divided into three periods of 12 days each. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks in a 2 × 3 factorial scheme, with two levels of fungal phytase (0 and 750 FTU $\mathbb{kg}^-1$ ) and three levels of phosphorus (P) coming …

Characteristics Of Pelt Follicles And Their Relationship With Pelt Quality In Fat-Tailed Gray Shirazy Sheep, Mazaher Safdarian, Majid Hashemi, Mohammad Reza Hashemi

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The purpose of the present investigation was to measure pelt follicle characters after birth and to determine the relationship among pelt and follicle characters in fat-tailed Gray Shirazy sheep. Skin samples were taken from 150 lambs at 1 and at 120 days of age and from their parents (18 rams and 150 ewes) using a biopsy punch (8 mm in diameter) from the right mid-side of the body. Several sections of 8 µm were then prepared, mounted, and stained on glass slides to determine follicle characteristics. The least square means of primary (P) follicle density/mm2 in skin of 1- and …

Antibacterial Activity Of Bryophyte Species Against Paenibacillus Larvae Isolates, Eli̇f Sevi̇m, Yildiz Baş, Gonca Çeli̇k, Müberra Pinarbaş, Ari̇f Bozdeveci̇, Turan Özdemi̇r, Rahşan Akpinar, Nuretti̇n Yayli, Şengül Alpay Karaoğlu

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study was performed to determine the antibacterial activity of methanol extracts of 23 bryophyte species against Paenibacillus larvae isolates that cause American foulbrood diseases in honeybee larvae. The honey and larva samples were collected from nine different locations of Rize in Turkey. A total of 22 gram-positive spore-forming bacteria were isolated from the larva and honey samples. According to the results of morphological, biochemical, and molecular (16S rRNA gene sequencing) tests, 10 isolates of the 22 gram-positive spore-forming bacteria were identified as P. larvae. A total of 10 bryophyte species (Polytrichum formasum, Polytrichum commune, Calliergonella cuspitada, Calliergonella lindbergi, Metzgeria …

Proteomics And Sequence Analysis Of A 30-Kda Saliva Protein Of Indonesian Local Goat (Capra Hircus) Using Maldi-Tof/Tof-Ms And Related Techniques, Ruslin Ruslin, Maskur Maskur, Enny Yuliani, Sulaiman Ngongu Depamede

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study aimed to analyze and sequence a protein with molecular weight of approximately 30 kDa found in the saliva of the Indonesian local goat (Capra hircus) using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight/time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS) and related techniques. Saliva was collected from 50 healthy male and female local goats of 4-30 months old. The results showed that the average value of the total saliva protein was 669 ± 251.293 µg/mL, in the range of 350-1550 µg/mL. Mascot search and NCBI BLAST search revealed that the peptides were "PREDICTED: short palate, lung, and nasal epithelium carcinoma-associated protein 2A-like", with …

The Protective Efficacy Of Immunoglobulin Y From Immunized Chickens Against Salmonella Infections In Mice, Hasan Hüseyi̇n Hadi̇mli̇, Zafer Sayin, Gökçenur Sani̇oğlu Gölen

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of immunoglobulin Y (IgY) obtained from chickens immunized with Salmonella vaccines. Chickens were vaccinated three times with inactivated monovalent, bivalent, and combined vaccines. Immunized hen eggs were collected after the third vaccination and IgYs were purified. In total, 100 mice were orally challenged with Salmonella serotypes. After the challenge, IgYs were orally administered to mice. Mice were observed for morbidity and mortality. Fecal samples from the mice were also cultured for the reisolation of Salmonella serotypes. The antibody titers in the serum samples of vaccinated chickens were higher than those …

Effects Of Season On Semen Parameters And Relationships Between Selected Semen Characteristics In Hypor Boars, Krzysztof Górski, Stanislaw Kondracki, Anna Wysokinska

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the season of the year on the quality of Hypor boar semen and to determine the correlations between selected semen characteristics in particular seasons. Ejaculates from Hypor boars were analyzed for volume, sperm concentration, percentage of spermatozoa with normal motility, total number of spermatozoa, and the number of insemination doses per ejaculate. Microscopic slides were prepared from semen samples. Each sample was evaluated for the morphology of spermatozoa. Spermatozoa with normal morphology were counted, as well as those with both major and minor abnormalities. Spermatozoa were measured for morphometric …

Morphological Abnormalities Of Blood And Bone Marrow Leukocytes And Age-Related Changes In Different Leukocyte Counts In The American Mink (Neovison Vison), Aleksandra Kizhina, Lyudmila Uzenbaeva, Viktor Ilyukha, Nikolay Tyutyunnik

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The sapphire mink is a unique animal model to study cellular morphology. It demonstrates abnormal leukocytes like in patients with Chédiak-Higashi syndrome. We aimed to determine the morphologic features of blood and bone marrow leukocytes in the sapphire mink and dark-brown mink (wild type). In addition, were assessed age-related changes in total white blood cell (WBC) and differential WBC counts. We conclude that the sapphire mink has a morphological leukocyte defect (abnormal granules). We observed that abnormal granules formed at an early stage of bone marrow leukocyte maturation. It was shown that the leukocyte profile of young mink differs from …

Involucrin Expression In Three-Dimentional Cell Culture And Prognostic Parameters Of Canine Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Scc) In Canine Patients And In Ultraviolet Radiation Induced Cultured Cells, Nongnut Assawawongkasem

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The objectives of this study are 1) to demonstrate the involucrin (INV) expression and prognostic parameters in normal skin and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), 2) to develop the artificial epidermis in dog and 3) to study the effect of INV expression on pathogenesis of ultraviolet radiation induced CSCC in dog.The first experiment is to determine the protein expression by Immunofluorescence technic (IFC) and mRNA expression of INV,Cytokeratin 10 (CK10), Ki67 and p53 normal skin(n=6) and CSCC (n=6) in dog.The protein expression pattern was demonstrated that INV and CK10 were positive in intra-cytoplasmic pattern in nucleated epidermis. While, intra-nuclear pattern …

Identification Of Serum Proteomic Profile In Canine Lymphomas, Piyanoot Fonghem

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Lymphoma is the third most commonly diagnosed, malignant hematopoietic tumor in dogs, and it is similar to human non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Proteomics refer to the large-scale study of proteins, including their structures as well as their complex protein mixtures. It also involves identifying the changes in the protein isoforms and posttranslational modifications expressed by genetic material under defined specific conditions. This study was aimed at identifying the serum proteomic profiles of canine lymphoma compared with healthy dogs by using Tandem Mass Tag (TMT). Blood samples from twenty lymphoma and four healthy dogs were collected. All cases were categorized according to the …

Fatigue Study Of Cancellous And Cortical Stainless Steel Screws Used With Polymethymethacrylate And The Sop Plate System For The Immobilisation Of Vertebral Fracture And Luxation In Canine Cadavers, Mingrath Mekavichai

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Globally, vertebral fracture and luxation (VFL) are one of the most common neurological injuries in dogs and cats. The standard care for vertebral body stabilisation of canine VFL are screws with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and the string of pearls (SOP) plate system fixation. The VFL with implants are usually exposed to force in a repetitive or cyclic loading fashion. Indeed, stress on the implant cyclically at a load significantly less than its ultimate tensile strength can cause fatigue failure, one of the major causes of implant breakage. This study aims to compare the failure mode of four different implants using a …

Cytolytic Toxin Production By Staphylococcus Aureus Is Dependent Upon The Activity Of The Protoheme Ix Farnesyltransferase, Emily Stevens, Maisem Laabei, Stewart Gardner, Greg A. Somerville, Ruth C. Massey

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Staphylococcus aureus is a medically important pathogen with an abundance of virulence factors that are necessary for survival within a host, including the production of cytolytic toxins. The regulation of toxin production is mediated by the Agr quorum sensing system, and a poorly defined post-exponential growth phase signal independent of Agr. As part of a recent genome wide association study (GWAS) to identify novel loci that alter the expression of cytolytic toxins, a polymorphism in the cyoE gene, which encodes a protoheme IX farnesyltransferase, was identified. This enzyme is essential for processing heme into the electron transport chain for use …

Comparison Of Conception Rates In Beef Cattle Inseminated With Either Sexedultra™ Sex-Sorted Semen Or Conventional Semen In Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination (Ftai) Protocols, Benjamin R. Crites

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Estrous synchronization and artificial insemination (ESAI) are reproductive technologies that cattlemen can use to improve the reproductive performance of their herds. Controlling the gender ratio of the calf-crop can also improve the opportunity for increased revenue and profit. Producers are able to shift and/or control the gender ratio of their calf crop by incorporating sex-sorted semen into their AI programs. However, decreased conception rates to AI have been previously observed when sex-sorted semen was used in comparison to conventional semen of the same sires. The objective of the first study was to determine if conception rates will differ …

The Effects Of Methamphetamine Exposure On Cardiovascular Development In Combination With Hypoxia In Danio Rerio, Sarah Donaldson

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of methamphetamine combined with hypoxia on the development and function of the cardiovascular system in Danio rerio embryos. It was hypothesized that the combined effect of the drug and decreased oxygen concentration would result in decreased cardiac parameters due to underdevelopment of the ventricle and vessels resulting from cardiomyopathy and lack of blood flow to tissues. It was found that methamphetamine exposure correlated to an increase in stroke volume, caudal artery and vein diameters and RBC velocities alone, while having a multiplicative effect of increasing arterial RBC velocity when combined …

Canine Emotions As Seen Through Human Social Cognition, Miiamaaria V. Kujala

Animal Sentience

It is not possible to demonstrate that dogs (Canis familiaris) feel emotions, but the same is true for all other species, including our own. The issue must therefore be approached indirectly, using premises similar to those used with humans. Recent methodological advances in canine research reveal what dogs experience and what they derive from the emotions perceptible in others. Dogs attend to social cues, they respond appropriately to the valence of human and dog facial expressions and vocalizations of emotion, and their limbic reward regions respond to the odor of their caretakers. They behave differently according to the …

Rapid Typing Of Mannheimia Haemolytica Major Genotypes 1 And 2 Using Maldi-Tof Mass Spectrometry, John Dustin Loy, Michael L. Clawson

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Genotype 2 M. haemolytica predominantly associate over genotype 1 with the lungs of cattle with respiratory disease and ICEs containing antimicrobial resistance genes. Distinct protein masses were detected by MALDI-TOF MS between genotype 1 and 2 strains. MALDI-TOF MS could rapidly differentiate genotype 2 strains in veterinary diagnostic laboratories.

Efficacy Of Urtoxazumab (Tma-15 Humanized Monoclonal Antibody Specific For Shiga Toxin 2) Against Post-Diarrheal Neurological Sequelae Caused By Escherichia Coli O157:H7 Infection In The Neonatal Gnotobiotic Piglet Model, Rodney A. Moxley, David H. Francis, Mizuho Tamura, David B. Marx, Kristina Santiago-Mateo, Mojun Zhao

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is the most common cause of hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome in human patients, with brain damage and dysfunction the main cause of acute death. We evaluated the efficacy of urtoxazumab (TMA-15, Teijin Pharma Limited), a humanized monoclonal antibody against Shiga toxin (Stx) 2 for the prevention of brain damage, dysfunction, and death in a piglet EHEC infection model. Forty-five neonatal gnotobiotic piglets were inoculated orally with 3 x 10⁹ colony-forming units of EHEC O157:H7 strain EDL933 (Stx1⁺, Stx2⁺) when 22–24 h old. At 24 h post-inoculation, piglets were intraperitoneally …

Branched Chain Α-Ketoacid Dehydrogenase Kinase 111–130, A T Cell Epitope That Induces Both Autoimmune Myocarditis And Hepatitis In A/J Mice, Bharathi Krishnan, Chandirasegara Massilamany, Rakesh H. Basavalingappa, Arunakumar Gangaplara, Guobin Kang, Qingsheng Li, Francisco A. Uzal, Jennifer L. Strande, Gustavo A. Delhon, Jean-Jack Riethoven, David J. Steffen, Jay Reddy

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Introduction: Organ-specific autoimmune diseases are believed to result from immune responses generated against self-antigens specific to each organ. However, when such responses target antigens expressed promiscuously in multiple tissues, then the immune-mediated damage may be wide spread.

Methods: In this report, we describe a mitochondrial protein, branched chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase (BCKD_k) that can act as a target autoantigen in the development of autoimmune inflammatory reactions in both heart and liver.

Results: We demonstrate that BCKD_k protein contains at least nine immunodominant epitopes, three of which, BCKD_k 71–90, BCKD_k 111–130 and BCKD_k 141–160, …