Optimization of blood sampling time for isolation of antigen binding single-domain antibodies from immunized llamas.

Single-domain antibody fragments (VHHs) binding specific antigens are often isolated by llama immunization and phage display selection. We determined the optimal blood sampling time for generating phage display libraries with a high frequency of antigen-binding VHHs. Two llamas were immunized with 7 antigens.

Invited review: Improved control of Johne's disease in dairy cattle through advancements in diagnostics, testing, and management of young stock.

Johne's disease (JD; paratuberculosis) control programs have been regionally implemented across the globe, but few have successfully eradicated the pathogen (Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis; MAP) causing this disease. The limited success may partly be attributed to excluding young stock (calves and replacement heifers or bulls) from testing strategies aimed at identifying MAP-infected cattle.

Efficacy of Phase I and Phase II Bacterin Vaccines in a Pregnant Ewe Challenge Model.

The bacterium can cause the disease Q-fever in a wide range of animal hosts. Ruminants, including sheep, are thought to play a pivotal role in the transmission of to humans; however, the only existing livestock vaccine, namely, Coxevac (Ceva Animal Health Ltd., Libourne, France), a killed bacterin vaccine based on phase I strain Nine-Mile, is only approved for use in goats and cattle.

Metabolomic changes in polyunsaturated fatty acids and eicosanoids as diagnostic biomarkers in Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP)-inoculated Holstein-Friesian heifers.

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative organism of Johne's disease, a chronic granulomatous enteritis of ruminants. We have previously used naturally MAP-infected heifer calves to document metabolomic changes occurring in MAP infections. Herein, we used experimentally MAP-inoculated heifer calves to identify biomarkers for MAP infections.

First Case of Human Brucella canis Infection in the Netherlands.

A patient was diagnosed with Brucella canis following exposure to infected dogs in her breeding facility. Transboundary spread of B. canis through (illegal) import of infected dogs to non-endemic countries in Europe suggest that B.

Defining Fatty Acid Changes Linked to Rumen Development, Weaning and Growth in Holstein-Friesian Heifers.

After birth, as effectively monogastric animals, calves undergo substantial physiological changes to become ruminants by 3 months of age and reach sexual maturity at approximately 15 months of age. Herein, we assess longitudinal metabolomic changes in Holstein-Friesian (HF) heifers from birth until sexual maturity during this developmental process. Sera from 20 healthy, HF heifers were sampled biweekly from 2 weeks of age until 13 months of age and then monthly until 19 months of age.

Metabolomic Changes in Naturally MAP-Infected Holstein-Friesian Heifers Indicate Immunologically Related Biochemical Reprogramming.

Johne's disease, caused by subsp. (MAP), causes weight loss, diarrhoea, and reduced milk yields in clinically infected cattle. Asymptomatic, subclinically infected cattle shed MAP bacteria but are frequently not detected by diagnostic tests.

Classification and prediction of Mycobacterium Avium subsp. Paratuberculosis (MAP) shedding severity in cattle based on young stock heifer faecal microbiota composition using random forest algorithms.

Background: Bovine paratuberculosis is a devastating infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). The development of the paratuberculosis in cattle can take up to a few years and vastly differs between individuals in severity of the clinical symptoms and shedding of the pathogen.

Survey on Colostrum Management by Dairy Farmers in the Netherlands.

Colostrum feeding is essential for the transfer of passive immunity and health of newborn calves. Information on current colostrum management practices to reduce calf morbidity and mortality is important but lacking for Dutch dairy herds. We therefore conducted a survey to investigate colostrum management strategies on Dutch dairy farms.

Isotype-specific Antibody Responses to Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis Antigens Are Associated With the Use of Biologic Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: The role of Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis [MAP] in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], especially Crohn's disease [CD] is controversial due conflicting results and lack of reproducibility and standardised tests. The current study focuses on the role of MAP in disease progression and genetic susceptibility, as MAP is likely one of many factors involved in the complex pathogenesis of IBD, potentially affecting a subgroup depending on genetic susceptibility.

Methods: Serum from 812 patients was evaluated with seven immunoglobulin [Ig] isotype-specific serology tests assessing humoral response to three different MAP antigens.

Experimental Coxiella burnetii infection in non-pregnant goats and the effect of breeding.

Q fever is a zoonosis caused by the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. In Europe, small ruminants are the main source of human Q fever. Small ruminant herds can be infectious during several lambing seasons.

Subspecies DNA and Antibodies in Dairy Goat Colostrum and Milk.

subspecies (MAP) is endemic in the Dutch dairy goat population causing economic loss, and negatively influencing welfare. Moreover, there are concerns about a potential zoonotic risk. Therefore the industry's objectives are to decrease MAP prevalence, limit economic losses as well as reduce the concentration of MAP in (bulk) milk.

The Role of Phosphatidylinositol Mannosides in the Serological Diagnosis of Mycobacterial Infections.

Accurate diagnosis of mycobacterial infections, such as bovine tuberculosis and paratuberculosis, remains challenging. Available direct diagnostic tests aimed at detecting the pathogen are highly specific but lack sensitivity, depending on the stage of infection and the prevalence of infection in a population. The sensitivity of indirect diagnostic assays that measure the host immune response to infection is similarly affected by disease characteristics.

Application of Transcriptomics to Enhance Early Diagnostics of Mycobacterial Infections, with an Emphasis on ssp. .

Mycobacteria cause a wide variety of disease in human and animals. Species that infect ruminants include and ssp. (MAP).

Viable Coxiella burnetii Induces Differential Cytokine Responses in Chronic Q Fever Patients Compared to Heat-Killed Coxiella burnetii.

Cytokine responses of chronic Q fever patients to the intracellular bacterium have mostly been studied using stimulation of immune cells with heat-killed due to the extensive measures needed to work with viable biosafety level 3 agents. Whether research with heat-killed can be translated to immune responses to viable is imperative for the interpretation of previous and future studies with heat-killed Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of chronic Q fever patients ( = 10) and healthy controls ( = 10) were stimulated with heat-killed or viable of two strains, Nine Mile and the Dutch outbreak strain 3262, for 24 h, 48 h, and 7 days in the absence or presence of serum containing anti- antibodies. When stimulated with viable , PBMCs of chronic Q fever patients and controls produced fewer proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 [IL-6], tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-1β) after 24 h than after stimulation with heat-killed In the presence of Q fever seronegative serum, IL-10 production was higher after stimulation with viable rather than heat-killed ; however, when incubating with anti- antibody serum, the effect on IL-10 production was reduced.

The antibody response in the bovine mammary gland is influenced by the adjuvant and the site of subcutaneous vaccination.

Intramammary infections in cattle resulting in mastitis have detrimental effects on cows' well-being, lifespan and milk production. In the host defense against S. aureus mastitis antibodies are thought to play an important role.

A cross sectional study on Dutch layer farms to investigate the prevalence and potential risk factors for different Chlamydia species.

In poultry several Chlamydia species have been detected, but Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia gallinacea appear to be most prevalent and important. Chlamydia psittaci is a well-known zoonosis and is considered to be a pathogen of poultry. Chlamydia gallinacea has been described more recently.

LukMF' is the major secreted leukocidin of bovine Staphylococcus aureus and is produced in vivo during bovine mastitis.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major human and animal pathogen and a common cause of mastitis in cattle. S. aureus secretes several leukocidins that target bovine neutrophils, crucial effector cells in the defence against bacterial pathogens.

Pregnancy boosts vaccine-induced Bovine Neonatal Pancytopenia-associated alloantibodies.

Although maternal vaccination is generally considered to be safe, the occurrence of Bovine Neonatal Pancytopenia (BNP) in cattle shows that maternal vaccination may pose a risk to the offspring. Pregsure BVD-induced maternal alloantibodies cause BNP in newborn calves. The occurrence of BNP years after last Pregsure BVD vaccination indicates that alloantibody levels may remain high in dams.

Pathogenicity of Bovine Neonatal Pancytopenia-associated vaccine-induced alloantibodies correlates with Major Histocompatibility Complex class I expression.

Bovine Neonatal Pancytopenia (BNP), a fatal bleeding syndrome of neonatal calves, is caused by maternal alloantibodies absorbed from colostrum and is characterized by lymphocytopenia, thrombocytopenia and bone marrow hypoplasia. An inactivated viral vaccine is the likely source of alloantigens inducing BNP-associated alloantibodies in the dam. In this study the specificity of BNP alloantibodies was assessed and was linked to the pathology of BNP.

The role of placental MHC class I expression in immune-assisted separation of the fetal membranes in cattle.

The bovine fetus, like that of other species, is a semi-allograft and the regulation of materno-fetal alloimmunity is critical to prevent its immunological rejection. In cattle, a materno-fetal alloimmune response may be beneficial at parturition. It is hypothesized that upregulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I on the fetal membranes toward the end of gestation induces a maternal alloimmune response that activates innate immune effector mechanisms, aiding in the loss of the adherence between the fetal membranes and the uterus.

The within host dynamics of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis infection in cattle: where time and place matter.

Johne's disease or paratuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), occurs in domestic and wild animals worldwide, causing a significant economic loss to livestock industries. After a prolonged incubation time, infected cattle shed MAP bacilli into feces and spread the disease to an uninfected animal population.