O milho (Zea mays) é um cereal amplamente cultivado no Brasil e no mundo. Sua produtividade pode ser afetada por diversos fatores incluindo a colonização fúngica. Em Fitopatologia, grãos afetados por fungos são denominados grãos ardidos e os gêneros mais encontrados em milho são Stenocarpella e Fusarium. Espécies de Fusarium podem causar podridões nas espigas e também podem produzir fumonisinas, toxina esta tóxica para animais e humanos e associadas ao desenvolvimento de diversas doenças. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a incidência de Fusarium ssp. com potencial toxigênico em amostras de grãos ardidos através da identificação da presença do gene fum5, responsável pela produção de fumonisinas pelo fungo, bem como quantificar os níveis de fumonisinas encontrados nessas amostras e comparação com os resultados obtidos de grãos assintomáticos. Um total de 100 amostras dos anos de 2006 e 2007 provenientes das principais regiões produtoras do Brasil foram submetidas à três análises. A primeira avaliou a incidência de Fusarium spp. nos grãos através do método do papel de filtro com congelamento e em 100% das amostras foi encontrado o fungo em níveis que variaram de 34 a 91%. A segunda análise utilizou a PCR para confirmação do gênero, identificação de espécies (F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum e F. subglutinans) e identificação da presença do gene fum5. A PCR confirmou 93% dos isolados como pertencentes ao gênero Fusarium. Os isolados negativos passaram por análise morfológica e todos foram confirmados. As PCRs para espécies identificaram 82% dos isolados como F. verticillioides, 3% como F. subglutinans e nenhum como F. proliferatum. A PCR para potencial toxigênico foi positiva para 81% dos isolados. A terceira análise consistiu na quantificação de fumonisinas (B1, B2 e B3 na proporção 5:3:1) através do método de ELISA e os níveis variaram de 4,4 a mais de 90 µg/g. Grãos assintomáticos da segunda safra de 2007 foram analisados separadamente para comparação. Em 100% das amostras houve incidência de Fusarium spp, variando de 74 a 87%. A PCR para confirmação do gênero foi positiva para 87% dos isolados e os demais passaram por análise morfológica e então confirmados. As PCRs para identificação de espécies mostrou 60% dos isolados como sendo F. verticillioides, 3% como F. subglutinans e nenhum como F. proliferatum. A maior concentração de fumonisinas nos grãos assintomáticos foi de 2,1 µg/g e em 53% das amostras não foram detectadas fumonisinas. Os resultados mostraram que há uma alta incidência de Fusarium spp. em grãos ardidos e assintomáticos. Grãos ardidos e assintomáticos têm Fusarium spp. com potencial toxigênico mas os níveis de fumonisinas encontrados nos grãos assintomáticos foram muito baixos em comparação com os encontrados nos grãos ardidos mostrando que, em condições adversas, esse fungo deixa de ser endofítico e passa a ser patogênico, podendo causar doenças na planta e produzir toxinas. Pelo fato das fumonisinas estarem concentradas nos grãos ardidos, a redução dessas toxinas da dieta deve ser baseada na eliminação dos mesmos através do controle do beneficiamento. / Maize is a cereal widely cultivated in Brazil and worldwide. Its productivity can be affected by numerous factors including fungal colonization. In pathological terms, affected grains by fungi are denominated rot grains and the two most prevalent genera found in maize are Stenocarpella and Fusarium. Species of Fusarium can cause rotting in the stalks and also produce fumonisins, which are toxic both for animals and humans since their occurrence is associated to many diseases. The present work aimed to analyse the incidence of Fusarium ssp. with toxigenic potential in rot grains samples through the identification of the presence of the gene fum5, responsible for the production of fumonisins, as well as to quantify the levels of fumonisins found in these samples and compare with the results obtained in asymptomatic grains. A total of 100 samples from the 2006 and 2007 harvests were collected from the main producing regions of Brazil and were submitted to three analyses. The first evaluated the incidence of Fusarium ssp. in the grains through the method of filter paper and freezing, which revealed incidences that varied from 34 to 91%. The second analysis used specific primers and PCR to confirm the genus and species (F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum and F. subglutinans) and to detect the presence of the fum5 gene. The results indicated that 93% of the isolates belonged to the genus Fusarium. The PCR - negative isolates were confirmed as Fusarium after morphological analysis. Eigthy two percent of the isolates were classified as F. verticillioides, 3% as F. subglutinans and none as F. proliferatum using speciesspecific PCR. The fum5 gene was detected in eighty one percent of the isolates. The third analysis consisted in the quantification of the fumonisins (B1, B2 e B3 in the proportion of 5:3:1) through the ELISA method and the levels varied from 4,4 to more than 90 µg/g. Asymptomatic grains from the second cropping season of 2007 were analyzed separately for comparison purposes. The incidence of Fusarium spp. in these varied from 74 to 87%. The PCR for confirmation of the genus was positive for 87% of the isolates. The PCRs for species identification showed 60% of the isolated as being F. verticillioides, 3% as F. subglutinans and none as F. proliferatum. The greater concentration of fumonisins in the asymptomatic grains was of 2,1 µg/g and in 53% of the samples fumonisins were not detected. Rot and asymptomatic grains presented Fusarium spp. with toxigenic potential but the levels of fumonisins found in the asymptomatic grains were much lower compared with rot grains, showing that, in adverse conditions, this fungus changes from endophytic to pathogenic, being able to parasitize the plant and to produce toxins. The fact that fumonisins levels are much higher in rot grains, a simple measure to reduce the levels of these toxins in the animal diet would be to eliminate them during processing.

Infecções causadas por STEC constituem problema de saúde pública, pois estão associadas à síndrome hemolítica urêmica e colite hemorrágica. A detecção de isolados STEC depende de um ensaio diagnóstico sensível, específico e de baixo custo. Neste sentido, o presente estudo teve como objetivo o desenvolvimento de um ELISA de captura utilizando anticorpos policlonais e monoclonais. Primeiramente definiu-se um meio de cultivo para maior expressão de Stx e produziu-se anticorpos monoclonais anti-Stx1 e anti-Stx2. Os resultados mostraram que o cultivo de isolados por 4h em caldo EC com ciprofloxacina induziu maior produção de Stx no sobrenadante bacteriano, e o anticorpo monoclonal anti-Stx1 produzido reconheceu a subunidade A de ambas as toxinas, além de apresentar maior constante de afinidade que o anti-Stx2. Desta forma, o ELISA de captura foi padronizado com 250 mg/ml da fração IgG do soro policlonal anti-Stx1 e anti-Stx2 na sensibilização e 2,5 mg/ml de anticorpo monoclonal anti-Stx1 na captura da toxina, apresentando 80,7% de sensibilidade e 100% de especificidade. / STEC infection is a public health problem, causing hemolytic-uremic syndrome and haemorrhagic colitis. The detection of STEC isolates depends on a sensitive, specific and low cost diagnostic method. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop a capture ELISA using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. For this purpose, first of all a growth media that induce better expression and production of Stx was defined and monoclonals anti-Stx1 e anti-Stx2 antibodies were produced. The results show that the growth of the isolates for 4hs in EC broth with ciprofloxacin increased the production of Stx in the bacterial supernantant, and the monoclonal anti-Stx1antibody produced was able to recognize the A subunit of both toxins, besides showing higher affinity constant than anti-Stx2. Thus, the capture ELISA was standardized using 250 mg/ml of the IgG enriched fraction of rabbit anti-Stx1 sera and anti-Stx2 for coating and 2,5 mg/ml of monoclonal anti-Stx1 antibody for the capture of the toxin, showing 80,7% of sensibility and e 100% de specificity.

La rage est une zoonose mortelle, susceptible d’atteindre autant les mammifères sauvages et domestiques que l’Homme. Elle est à l’origine d’environ 70 000 décès humain déclarés par an, majoritairement des enfants dans les pays en développement. Le chien, réservoir majeur de l’espèce RABV, est à l’origine de 98-99% de ces décès. Quatorze espèces de Lyssavirus, circulant majoritairement chez les chiroptères sont actuellement reconnues. La vaccination, associée à des mesures sanitaires, reste le meilleur outil de prévention et de maîtrise de la maladie. A l’heure actuelle, seule la sérologie permet de contrôler l’efficacité de la vaccination antirabique, le développement des anticorps neutralisants étant le premier témoin d’une immunité protectrice. Les travaux s’appuyant sur la séroneutralisation virale, et notamment ceux auxquels j’ai participé, ont mis en évidence l’influence de différents facteurs dont certains ont conduit à préconiser des modifications de protocoles vaccinaux. Ils ont également permis d’assurer le suivi de l’efficacité de la vaccination individuelle ou de groupe sur le terrain et de contribuer à son amélioration. Les tests de séroneutralisation sont également utilisés dans le cadre de l’épidémiosurveillance de populations animales non vaccinées. La mise en œuvre de ces tests chez les chiroptères en France, après leur adaptation au Lyssavirus d’intérêt que j’ai menée à bien, a permis d’obtenir des informations sur la circulation des espèces virales EBLV-1 et EBLV-2, sur une base uniquement sérologique pour ce dernier. D’autre part, elle a permis de mettre en évidence au sein d’une même colonie des phénomènes de transition sérologique au cours du temps, dont l’étude mériterait d’être approfondie. Les tests de séroneutralisation sont cependant difficilement transférables aux pays où la rage est très présente, du fait de ressources limitées. Mes travaux, proposant l’utilisation d’un test ELISA comme méthode alternative, ont contribué à remettre en cause le dogme du recours nécessaire à la séroneutralisation. Ce test, couplé à un système de collecte d’échantillons sanguins adapté au terrain, devrait améliorer le suivi de l’efficacité des campagnes de vaccination de la faune sauvage comme des animaux domestiques, y compris dans les pays d’enzootie où la qualité des prélèvements de sang ne peut être assurée. Ainsi, les outils d’évaluation de la réponse immunitaire humorale sont des outils très précieux au service de la lutte et de la surveillance de la rage animale dans le monde. Mes travaux, complémentaires à ceux réalisés par d’autres équipes, ont contribué à rendre envisageable l’objectif prioritaire des organisations internationales : l’éradication de la rage canine dans le monde à l’horizon 2030. Il est cependant nécessaire de les poursuivre pour améliorer les outils disponibles et d’en proposer de plus adaptés, afin d’atteindre l’ensemble des objectifs d’éradication, de la rage canine comme de la rage selvatique / Rabies is a deadly zoonosis that can affect wild and domestic mammals as much as humans. About 70,000 human deaths are reported each year, mostly in children from developing countries. Dogs, which are the major reservoir and source of the RABV species, account for 98-99% of these deaths. Currently, fourteen species of Lyssavirus, mainly circulating in chiroptera, are officially recognized. Vaccination, combined with sanitary measures, remains the best tool for preventing and controlling the disease. To date, only serology has allowed to control the effectiveness of rabies vaccination, as the production of neutralizing antibodies is the first evidence of protective immunity. Studies based on viral seroneutralisation, including my own studies, have highlighted the influence of various factors. Some of them have led to recommend modifications of vaccine protocols. They also contributed to monitor the effectiveness of individual or group vaccination field programmes and to improve these programmes. Seroneutralisation tests are also used in the context of the epidemiological surveillance of unvaccinated animal populations. I first successfully adapted these tests to lyssaviruses of interest in France. In a second step, their implementation in chiropters in France provided information on the circulation of EBLV-1 and EBLV-2 species, (only on a serological basis for the latter). This survey also allowed to highlight, within a specific colony, a phenomenon of serological transition over time, which should deserve to be studied further. However, seroneutralisation tests are difficult to be implemented in countries where rabies is very prevalent, mainly because of limited resources. My work, which recommends the use of an ELISA test as an alternative method, contributed to questioning the dogma of the necessary use of seroneutralisation tests. This test, coupled with a blood sampling system adapted to the field, should improve the monitoring of the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns for both wildlife and domestic animals, including in enzootic countries, where the quality of the blood samples cannot be guaranteed. Humoral immune response assessment tools are very valuable tools for the control and surveillance of animal rabies all around the world. My work, complementary to those carried out by other teams, has helped to make the priority objective of international organizations possible, i.e. the eradication of canine rabies in the world by 2030. However, further works are needed to improve the available tools and to propose more adapted ones, in order to achieve all the goals of eradication, for both canine and sylvatic rabies

As zoonoses urbanas, doenças que afetam muitos indivíduos em países tropicais, especialmente crianças, são infecções que podem ser adquiridas pelo homem através do contato com animais de estimação, pela ingestão de carne ou água contaminada. Para sua prevenção, é fundamental a educação para medidas de higiene e profilaxia com relação ao manuseio dos alimentos, animais de estimação e higiene pessoal. Isto poderia ser feito através de ensino intensivo, ministrado por profissionais treinados durante o primeiro ciclo do Ensino Fundamental. No presente trabalho, estudamos este tipo de ensino e a prevalência destas doenças, usando a toxoplasmose como modelo, em 164 alunos do primeiro ciclo do ensino fundamental da Escola Estadual Antonio de Pádua Vieira, com coleta de saliva. Foi desenvolvido ELISA de alta sensibilidade em saliva concentrada por etanol. Após 12 (doze) meses, a fixação do conteúdo foi avaliada por questionário. Havia uma prevalência de 50% de contato com Toxoplasma gondii nessa população, mostrando a relevância do problema. As crianças sob intervenção mostraram fixação do conhecimento, para ambas as fontes principais de contaminação mostrando a importância da intervenção, em comparação com crianças sem intervenção. As crianças sem toxoplasmose mostraram uma melhor eficiência na fixação da informação. Nossos dados sugerem que intervenções curtas têm um grande efeito de fixação de informações em escolares e que a saliva pode ser um material para a detecção de contato com a toxoplasmose. / Urban zoonoses affect large proportion of the population in tropical countries, specially school children. Those infections could be acquired by contact with pets, or ingestion of water or meat contaminated by agents. Education in preventive hygiene measures, as adequate cleaning and cooking are essential in this age group. Intensive teaching during short interventions by trained personal could be effective. Here, we study this type of educational intervention, using toxoplasmosis as a model, in 164 school children in the first years of elementary grades in a public São Paulo school, E.E.P.G. Antonio de Pádua Vieira, with saliva sampling. We had standardize a specific anti T. gondii IgG assay in etanol concentrade saliva. After 12 months, the knowledge of this population was tested by questionnaire. There are a 50% prevalence of contact with T.gondii during the intervention, showing the importance of zoonosis in this group. After one year, most children who assisted the intervention recalled correctly the main transmission ways of the zoonosis, showing fixation by short intervention, as compared to non-intervened shoolchildren of the same age group. Children who had no contact with T.gondii show higher recall proportion. Our data suggest that shorts interventions are effective in the knowledge fixation in schoolchildren and that saliva, a non invasive sampling, could be an alternative material for detection of contact with toxoplasmosis.

Neste trabalho foi desenvolvido um Dot-ELISA capaz de detectar anticorpos anti-Plasmodium vivax, anti-Plasmodium falciparum, anti-Trypanosoma cruzi e anti-Treponema pallidum, simultaneamente. O teste foi padronizado e aplicado em amostras de pacientes com malária, doença de Chagas e sífilis e comparado com testes de referência. Foi utilizado no estudo 52 amostras de pacientes com doença de Chagas, 43 pacientes com sífilis, 103 indivíduos com infecção presente (primo-infectado e não primo-infectados) ou passada de malária, indivíduos com anticorpos heterólogos, 30 indivíduos com leishmaniose 100 indivíduos saudáveis. O Dot-ELISA-Multi apresentou 100% de especificidade para todos os antígenos nas amostras de indivíduos saudáveis e com anticorpos heterólogos, com exceção do antígeno TESA que obteve 99%. A sensibilidade obtida foi de 100% em indivíduos chagásicos e 88% em pacientes com sífilis. Em indivíduos com malária a sensibilidade obtida foi de 90% para PvMSP119 (antígeno de P. vivax) e 47% para Pf-Zw (antígeno de P. falciparum). A positividade do teste em indivíduos não parasitados com histórico de malária foi de 92%. Nas amostras de malária observou-se que em indivíduos que tinham tido ultimo episódio de P. vivax, associação negativa foi observada entre o tempo passado desde o último episódio e reatividade de Dot-ELISAMulti PvMSP119, e associação positiva entre o número de episódios de malária e reatividade de Dot-ELISA-Multi Pf-Zw. Indivíduos cujo o último episódio foi por P. falciparum, o Dot-ELISA-Multi Pf-Zw apresentou associação positiva com o número de episódios ocorridos. O comparado com os testes de referência utilizados apresentou um nível muito bom de concordância para TESA, EAE, PvMSP119 e um nível bom de concordância para Pf-Zw / In the present study, a Dot-ELISA was assembled to test antibodies against Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma cruzi and Treponema pallidum and was standardized and evaluated in serum samples from patients with malaria, Chagas disease and syphilis, in comparison with reference tests. The study was carried out on serum samples from 52 patients with chronic Chagas disease, 103 individuals with current (parasitemic) or past malaria (aparasitemic), 43 patients with syphilis, 30 with leishmaniosis, 21 individuals with heterologous antibodies and 100 blood donors. The diagnostic performance of Dot-ELISA-Multi for serum samples from patients with heterologous antibodies and from healthy blood donors, an overall 100% specificity was obtained for all antigens but TESA. A 100% sensitivity was observed in serum specimens from chronic-chagasic patients and 88% in serum specimens from syphilis patients. For malaria samples, the positivity was 90% for PvMSP119 and 47% for Pf-Zw antigen. In past malaria individuals, positivity was 92%. Sera from subjects who had had a P. vivax-malaria last episode presented negative association between time elapsed since their last malaria episode and results from Dot-ELISA-Multi PvMSP119; while positive association was observed between number of malaria episodes and results from Dot-ELISA-Multi Pf-Zw. For individuals who had had a P. falciparum-malaria last episode, Dot-ELISAMulti Pf-Zw results showed positive association with number of malaria episodes only. Altogether, concerning the reactivity of the five antigens of the Dot-ELISAMulti, as compared with their respective reference tests, we have observed a very good level of concordance for TESA, EAE, PvMSP119 and for Tp-Zw and a good level for Pf-Zw

Neste trabalho foi desenvolvido um Dot-ELISA capaz de detectar anticorpos anti-Plasmodium vivax, anti-Plasmodium falciparum, anti-Trypanosoma cruzi e anti-Treponema pallidum, simultaneamente. O teste foi padronizado e aplicado em amostras de pacientes com malária, doença de Chagas e sífilis e comparado com testes de referência. Foi utilizado no estudo 52 amostras de pacientes com doença de Chagas, 43 pacientes com sífilis, 103 indivíduos com infecção presente (primo-infectado e não primo-infectados) ou passada de malária, indivíduos com anticorpos heterólogos, 30 indivíduos com leishmaniose 100 indivíduos saudáveis. O Dot-ELISA-Multi apresentou 100% de especificidade para todos os antígenos nas amostras de indivíduos saudáveis e com anticorpos heterólogos, com exceção do antígeno TESA que obteve 99%. A sensibilidade obtida foi de 100% em indivíduos chagásicos e 88% em pacientes com sífilis. Em indivíduos com malária a sensibilidade obtida foi de 90% para PvMSP119 (antígeno de P. vivax) e 47% para Pf-Zw (antígeno de P. falciparum). A positividade do teste em indivíduos não parasitados com histórico de malária foi de 92%. Nas amostras de malária observou-se que em indivíduos que tinham tido ultimo episódio de P. vivax, associação negativa foi observada entre o tempo passado desde o último episódio e reatividade de Dot-ELISAMulti PvMSP119, e associação positiva entre o número de episódios de malária e reatividade de Dot-ELISA-Multi Pf-Zw. Indivíduos cujo o último episódio foi por P. falciparum, o Dot-ELISA-Multi Pf-Zw apresentou associação positiva com o número de episódios ocorridos. O comparado com os testes de referência utilizados apresentou um nível muito bom de concordância para TESA, EAE, PvMSP119 e um nível bom de concordância para Pf-Zw / In the present study, a Dot-ELISA was assembled to test antibodies against Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma cruzi and Treponema pallidum and was standardized and evaluated in serum samples from patients with malaria, Chagas disease and syphilis, in comparison with reference tests. The study was carried out on serum samples from 52 patients with chronic Chagas disease, 103 individuals with current (parasitemic) or past malaria (aparasitemic), 43 patients with syphilis, 30 with leishmaniosis, 21 individuals with heterologous antibodies and 100 blood donors. The diagnostic performance of Dot-ELISA-Multi for serum samples from patients with heterologous antibodies and from healthy blood donors, an overall 100% specificity was obtained for all antigens but TESA. A 100% sensitivity was observed in serum specimens from chronic-chagasic patients and 88% in serum specimens from syphilis patients. For malaria samples, the positivity was 90% for PvMSP119 and 47% for Pf-Zw antigen. In past malaria individuals, positivity was 92%. Sera from subjects who had had a P. vivax-malaria last episode presented negative association between time elapsed since their last malaria episode and results from Dot-ELISA-Multi PvMSP119; while positive association was observed between number of malaria episodes and results from Dot-ELISA-Multi Pf-Zw. For individuals who had had a P. falciparum-malaria last episode, Dot-ELISAMulti Pf-Zw results showed positive association with number of malaria episodes only. Altogether, concerning the reactivity of the five antigens of the Dot-ELISAMulti, as compared with their respective reference tests, we have observed a very good level of concordance for TESA, EAE, PvMSP119 and for Tp-Zw and a good level for Pf-Zw

Veterinært speciale, 27 ECTS point. / Haves kun i elektronisk udg.

Einleitung Die Frühsommer-Meningoenzephalitis (FSME) zählt europaweit zu den bedeutendsten Zecken-übertragenen Krankheiten und ist verantwortlich für mehrere tausend Tote jedes Jahr. Hauptüberträger in Zentraleuropa ist Ixodes ricinus, der Gemeine Holzbock. In Deutschland konzentrieren sich die humanen Fälle vorrangig auf Süddeutschland mit anteilig 83,8% der Fälle, wobei anhand einer Falldefinition, die sich auf humane Meldedaten stützt, Risikogebiete definiert werden. Dabei wird ein Landkreis dann als Risikogebiet gewertet, wenn in einem Fünf-Jahresintervall die Inzidenz von einem Fall pro 100.000 Einwohnern pro Jahr überschritten wird. In Sachsen erscheint diese Risikoabschätzung erschwert, da hier nur wenige sporadische Fälle gemeldet werden. Jedoch wurde im April 2014 der Vogtlandkreis als erstes sächsisches Risikogebiet ernannt. Ziele der Untersuchungen Eine Risikobewertung, die sich alleine auf humane gemeldete Erkrankungsfälle stützt, erscheint überholt, weshalb schon in der Vergangenheit nach einem optimalen Sentineltier für Seroprävalenzstudien gesucht wurde. Im Rahmen dieser Dissertation wurden zwei Veröffentlichungen angefertigt, in denen mithilfe von Seroprävalenzstudien bei Wildtieren und bei Hunden das Risiko für eine Infektion mit der FSME in Sachsen bewertet werden sollte. Materialien und Methoden In der ersten Veröffentlichung wurden 1.886 Wildtierseren, vorrangig von Wildschweinen, auf das Vorhandensein von Antikörpern gegen das FSMEV untersucht. Die zweite Veröffentlichung befasste sich mit 331 Seren von Hunden, die Sachsen in den letzten fünf Jahren nicht verlassen hatten. Für die Untersuchung wurde zunächst ein ELISA (Enzyme-linked-immunosorbent Assay) und zur Bestätigung der positiven Proben ein SNT (Serumneutralisationstest) durchgeführt. Ergebnisse Bei den Wildtierseren wurde eine Gesamtprävalenz von 10,5% ermittelt. Im aktuell ernannten Risikogebiet Vogtlandkreis wurden 20% seropositive Tiere gefunden, im Kreis Meißen sogar 23% flächendeckend nachgewiesen. Sieben der untersuchten Hundeseren waren positiv, wobei vier Tiere hiervon Hunde von Förstern waren. Die positiven Proben kamen aus den Landkreisen Mittelsachsen (1), Erzgebirgskreis(1), Leipziger Land (2) und Sächsische-Schweiz-Osterzgebirge (3). Schlussfolgerungen In ganz Sachsen konnten Antikörper gegen das FSMEV gefunden werden was auf ein flächendeckendes Vorkommen des Virus in Sachsen hinweist. Die Eignung von Wildtieren und Hunden als Sentinels wurde bestätigt. Die jeweiligen Vor- und Nachteile werden dargestellt. Eine stichprobenhafte Untersuchung auf FSME im Rahmen von Screeningprogrammen könnte auch zukünftig zur besseren Lokalisation von FSMEV-Naturherden in Sachsen beitragen. Weiterhin ungeklärt bleibt die Diskrepanz zwischen der hohen ermittelten Seroprävalenz bei den Wildtieren und den wenigen humanen gemeldeten Fällen. Auch die Hundestudie konnte hierzu keine weiteren Informationen liefern. Eine Impfung ist vor allem für Menschen sinnvoll, die sich im Vogtlandkreis aufhalten.

Die Virushepatitis gehört weltweit zu einer der häufigsten viralen Erkrankungen. Doch durch die Entwicklung von immer effizienteren Impfstoffen kann bei einer frühzeitigen Immunisierung eine Infektion verhindert werden. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, ein Patientenkollektiv zu untersuchen, welches eine Impfung mit einem Hepatitis B-Impfstoff erhalten hatte, und dieses mit Probanden zu vergleichen, die nicht immunisiert waren. Diese Proben wurden auf ihre serologische und zelluläre Reaktivität mittels ELISA und ELISpot untersucht. Im ELISA zeigte sich bei 95 % der geimpften Personen eine positive Serokonversion nach zurückliegender Hepatitis B-Impfung. Um den Impfstatus genauer zu analysieren und bei seronegativen geimpften Probanden den zellulären Arm des Immun-systems zu verifizieren, wurde mittels ELISpot die IFN-γ-Sekretion von HBs-reaktiven T-Zellen untersucht und mit den Ergebnissen, welche in der Serologie gewonnen wurden, verglichen. Dabei zeigte sich, dass die zelluläre Untersuchung bei 43 von 94 untersuchten Patientenproben (46 %) ein positives Ergebnis aufwies. Zweiundzwanzig der 48 geimpften Patienten (46 %) hatten eine antigenspezifische IFN-γ-Sekretion und 21 der 46 Proben der aktuell nicht geimpften Patienten fielen im ELISpot positiv aus. Bei zwei seronegativ geimpften Patienten konnte jeweils ein positives Ergebnis im ELISpot gezeigt werden. Ein direkter Zusammenhang zwischen der Höhe des anti-HBs-Titers im ELISA und Anzahl der spot-bildenden Zellen im ELISpot konnte nicht gezeigt werden. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit zeigen, dass die serologische Untersuchung mittels ELISA weiterhin als Goldstandard verwendet werden soll, um den aktuellen Schutz gegenüber einer Hepatitis B-Infektion zu verifizieren. Durch die zelluläre Untersuchung mit dem ELISpot-Verfahren kann bei weiterer Testoptimierung in Zukunft eine Nachweismethode für seronegative Geimpfte entwickelt werden. Vor allem sollten diese mit Hilfe des ELISpots genauer analysiert werden, um gegebenenfalls bei nicht vorhandener humoralen Immunität und einer ebenfalls fehlenden zellulären Immunität prophylaktische Maßnahmen einzuleiten.

Background: In recent years, several new ELISAs for the detection of antibodies against the porcine reproductive and respiratory disease virus (PRRSV) in pig serum have been developed. To interpret the results, specificity and sensitivity data as well as agreement to a reference ELISA must be available. In this study, three commercial ELISAs (INgezim PRRS 2.0 - ELISA II, Priocheck® PRRSV Ab porcine – ELISA III and CIVTEST suis PRRS E/S PLUS - ELISA IV, detecting PRRSV type 1 antibodies) were compared to a standard ELISA (IDEXX PRRS X3 Ab Test - ELISA I). The serum of three pigs vaccinated with an attenuated PRRSV live vaccine (genotype 2) was tested prior to and several times after the vaccination. Furthermore, serum samples of 245 pigs of PRRSV positive herds, 309 pigs of monitored PRRSV negative herds, 256 fatteners of assumed PRRSV negative herds with unknown herd history and 92 wild boars were tested with all four ELISAs. Results: ELISAs II and III were able to detect seroconversion of vaccinated pigs with a similar reliability. According to kappa coefficient, the results showed an almost perfect agreement between ELISA I as reference and ELISA II and III (kappa > 0.8), and substantial agreement between ELISA I and ELISA IV (kappa = 0.71). Sensitivity of ELISA II, III and IV was 96.0%, 100% and 91.5%, respectively. The specificity of the ELISAs determined in samples of monitored PRRSV negative herds was 99.0%, 95.1% and 96.4%, respectively. In assumed negative farms that were not continually monitored, more positive samples were found with ELISA II to IV. The reference ELISA I had a specificity of 100% in this study. Conclusions: All tested ELISAs were able to detect a PRRSV positive herd. The specificity and sensitivity of the tested commercial ELISAs, however, differed. ELISA II had the highest specificity an ELISA III had the highest sensitivity in comparison to the reference ELISA. ELISA IV had a lower sensitivity and specificity than the other ELISAs.