Background: Protein electrophoresis is widely applied in veterinary medicine, but is not used often in reptiles, in part because of lack of reference values. Objective: The goals of this study were to compare plasma protein profiles obtained by cellulose acetate electrophoresis (CAE) and agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE), measure precision and examine interference by sample hemolysis, and establish preliminary reference intervals for 2 reptile species. Methods: Heparinized plasma samples from healthy and diseased adult female Iguana iguana (n = 40) and Trachemys scripta (n = 60) were analyzed by CAE and AGE. Total protein concentration was measured by the biuret method. Electrophoresis results were compared using Bland-Altman plots and Passing-Bablok regression analysis. Precision and the effects of sample hemolysis were determined. Results from clinically healthy animals were used to determine reference intervals. Results: Five protein fractions were identified in both species, with bisalbuminemia observed in 23/40 iguanas. High correlation was observed between the 2 methods for all fractions, with few proportional and systematic errors. Coefficients of variation were lower using AGE vs CAE and for I. iguana vs T. scripta. Two additional bands were observed in hemolyzed samples from T. scripta; 1 additional band was observed for I. iguana. Minimum and maximum values were reported for healthy I. iguana (n = 14) and T. scripta (n = 22). Conclusions: Although both methods are acceptable, the performance of AGE was slightly better than that of CAE for analysis of plasma from reptiles. Furthermore, reptile electrophoretic patterns should be interpreted based on the method used, the species analyzed, and the quality of the plasma sample.

The induction of T cell mitogenesis through CD3 is a complex process that requires at least two signals. The first one can be provided by Sepharose-bound CD3. The second one is normally provided by monocytes. The signal provided by Sepharose-bound CD3 is unable by itself to induce mitogenesis in monocyte highly depleted cells (MHDC). We describe here that the monoclonal antibody (mAb) 72-5D3 belonging to CD45 (T200), which was not mitogenic by itself, could replace monocytes when MHDC were activated by Sepharose-bound CD3. That is to say, in the absence of monocytes, mAb 72-5D3 gave a second signal necessary for T cell proliferation. Using eleven anti-CD45 mAb from other investigators we show that this effect is not a peculiar characteristic of 72-5D3 mAb. The effect of the mAb 72-5D3 was only effective in CD4-positive cells and was not observed when MHDC were activated with either soluble CD3 or concanavalin A. As both phorbol myristate acetate and mAb 72-5D3 can replace monocytes, a comparative study of their effects was undertaken. Phorbol myristate acetate but not mAb 72-5D3 induced proliferation of MHDC when recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL2) was added. On the other hand mAb 72-5D3 induced IL2 production in MHDC activated by Sepharose-bound CD3 and increased the IL2 production in Sepharose-bound CD3-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In conclusion, data presented in this report indicate that the T200 molecule could be involved in T cell proliferation by giving a signal that induces the production of IL2 and bypasses the necessity of monocytes.

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The swine-origin pandemic (p) H1N1 influenza A virus causes mild upper-respiratory tract disease in most human patients. However, some patients developed severe lower-respiratory tract infections with fatal consequences, and the cause of these infections remain unknown. Recently, it has been suggested that different populations have different degrees of susceptibility to pH1N1 strains due to host genetic variations that are associated with inappropriate immune responses against viral genetic characteristics. Here, we tested whether the pathologic patterns of influenza strains that produce different disease outcomes in humans could be reproduced in a ferret model. Our results revealed that the severities of infection did not correspond to particular viral isolate and were not associated with the clinical phenotypes of the corresponding patients. Severe pathological outcomes were associated with higher viral replication, especially in alveolar areas, and with an exacerbated innate cellular immune response that was characterised by substantial phagocytic and cytotoxic cell migration into the lungs. Moreover, detrimental innate cellular responses were linked to the up-regulation of several proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines and the down-regulation of IFNα in the lungs. Additionally, severe lung lesions were associated with greater up-regulations of pro-apoptotic markers and higher levels of apoptotic neutrophils and macrophages. In conclusion, this study confirmed that the clinicopathological outcomes of pH1N1 infection in ferrets were not only due to viral replication abilities but also depended on the hosts’ capacities to mount efficient immune responses to control viral infection of the lung.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13567-014-0085-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Ferret systemic coronavirus infection (FSCV) is a systemic disease in ferrets that clinically and pathologically resembles the dry form of FIP. The present study describes abdominal imaging features of 11 ferrets with FSCV. Abdominal survey radiographs were available for eight ferrets and ultrasound examination for all cases. Loss of lumbar musculature, decreased peritoneal detail, presence of mid-abdominal soft-tissue masses and splenomegaly were the most significant radiographic signs in these patients. Ultrasonographic findings including peritonitis, abdominal lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, abdominal soft-tissue masses, nephromegaly and changes in the renal cortex echogenicity were recorded in the majority of cases with FSCV. As an imaging modality, ultrasound is superior to radiology when abdominal contrast is reduced, as it frequently occurs in these cases. However, although imaging techniques provide additional information in the antemortem diagnosis, they can not replace the definitive diagnosis based on histological and immunohistochemical results.