Elsevier Acta Medica Okayama 2405-8440 10 11 2024 Bacterial DNA and serum IgG antibody titer assays for assessing infection of human-pathogenic and dog-pathogenic Porphyromonas species in dogs e31872 EN Masako Tai-Tokuzen Department of Periodontics and Endodontics, Division of Dentistry, Okayama University Hospital Takashi Ito Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital Kazuya Tamura Department of Pathophysiology-Periodontal Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Haruko Hirayama Department of Animal Resources, Advanced Science Research Center, Okayama University Hirohito Ogawa Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Shin Nakamura Center for Collaborative Research, Department of Oral Science and Translational Research, Nova Southeastern University Keisuke Okubo Department of Periodontics and Endodontics, Division of Dentistry, Okayama University Hospital Kazuhiro Omori Department of Pathophysiology-Periodontal Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Tadashi Yamamoto Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, The Center for Graduate Medical Education (Dental Division), Okayama University Hospital Katsumi Mominoki Department of Animal Resources, Advanced Science Research Center, Okayama University Shogo Takashiba Department of Pathophysiology-Periodontal Science, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Periodontal disease is highly prevalent in both humans and dogs. Although there have been reports of cross-infection of periodontopathic bacteria, methods for assessing it have yet to be established. The actual status of cross-infection remains to be seen. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of bacterial DNA and serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody titer assays to assess infection of human-pathogenic and dog-pathogenic Porphyromonas species in dogs. Four experimental beagles were used for establishing methods. Sixty-six companion dogs at veterinary clinics visiting for treatment and prophylaxis of periodontal disease were used and divided into healthy, gingivitis, and periodontitis groups. Periodontal pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis and Porphyromonas gulae were investigated as target bacteria. DNA levels of both bacteria were measured using species-specific primers designed for real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Serum IgG titers of both bacteria were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).<br> PCR primers were confirmed to have high sensitivity and specificity. However, there was no relationship between the amount of bacterial DNA and the severity of the periodontal disease. In addition, dogs with periodontitis had higher IgG titers against both bacteria compared to dogs in the healthy and gingivitis groups; there was cross-reactivity between the two bacteria. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of IgG titers against both bacteria showed high sensitivity (>90 %) and specificity (>75 %). Since both bacteria were distinguished by DNA assays, the combination of these assays may be useful in the evaluation of cross-infection. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

The Japanese Society of Veterinary Science Acta Medica Okayama 0916-7250 81 8 2019 Risk assessment for hepatitis E virus infection from domestic pigs introduced into an experimental animal facility in a medical school 1191 1196 EN Hirohito Ogawa Department of Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Haruko Hirayama Department of Animal Resources, Advanced Science Research Center, Okayama University Satsuki Tanaka Department of Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Norio Yata Department of Animal Resources, Advanced Science Research Center, Okayama University Hikaru Namba Department of Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Nobuko Yamashita Department of Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Kenzo Yonemitsu Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University Ken Maeda Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University Katsumi Mominoki Department of Animal Resources, Advanced Science Research Center, Okayama University Masao Yamada Department of Virology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is known to cause zoonotic infections from pigs, wild boars and deer. Domestic pigs have been used as an experimental animal model in medical research and training; however, the risks of HEV infection from pigs during animal experiments are largely unknown. Here, we retrospectively investigated the seroprevalence and detection rates of viral RNA in 73 domestic pigs (average 34.5 kg) introduced into an animal experimental facility in a medical school during 2012-2016. We detected anti-HEV immunoglobulin G antibodies in 24 of 73 plasma samples (32.9%), though none of the samples were positive for viral RNA. Plasma samples of 18 pigs were sequentially monitored and were classified into four patterns: sustained positive (5 pigs), sustained negative (5 pigs), conversion to positive (6 pigs) and conversion to negative (2 pigs). HEV genomes were detected in 2 of 4 liver samples from pigs that were transported from the same farm during 2016-2017. Two viral sequences of the overlapping open reading frame (ORF) 2/3 region (97 bp) were identical and phylogenetically fell into genotype 3. A 459-bp length of the ORF2 region of an amplified fragment from a pig transported in 2017 was clustered with the wbJYG1 isolate (subgenotype 3b) with 91.5% (420/459 bp) nucleotide identity. Based on our results, we suggest that domestic pigs introduced into animal facilities carry a potential risk of HEV infection to researchers, trainees and facility staff. Continuous surveillance and precautions are important to prevent HEV infection in animal facilities. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.