Preparation and Preliminary Identification of Fluorescein Labeled Monoclonal Antibody against Canine Distemper Virus

[Objective] The aim of the present study was to develop a direct immunofluorescence method for the diagnosis of canine distemper （CD） with FITC-conjugated monoclonal antibodies （FITC-McAb）.[ Metbod] The McAb against CDV, designated as CE3, was purified with protein G and labeled with FITC through agitation method. After purification and identification, the optimal working concentration of FITC-labeled CE3 was determined. Then 61 clinical samples of suspected canine distemper were detected by direct immunofluorescence assay. [ Result] The absorption test, blocking test and specificity test showed that the labeled antibody had high specificity and sensitivity, but didn＇t have cross reaction with canine parvovirus （CPV）, canine parainfluenza virus （CPIV）, canine adenovirus （CAV） and rabies virus （RV）. The optimal working concentration was 1：80. The positive rate of clinical suspected samples was 48%. [ Conclusion] The direct immunofluorescence assay developed in this study was rapid, specific and convenient, and had great significance for the early diagnosis of canine distemper.

Urticarial Bullous Pemphigoid: A New Case Report

Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune bullous disease and it primarily affects the elderly population. It typically presents with tense bullae and severe pruritus. Non-bullous pemphigoid is a subtype of BP characterized by lacking the typical bullae formation with different presentations including erythematous, eczematous, urticarial, polycyclic, targetoid, nodular, lichenoid, vesicular and erythrodermic. Aim: to document a new case presentation of urticarial BP who was treated for several years as chronic urticarial and chronic eczema. Case Report: A 56-year-old male patient presented with a history of recurrent severely pruritic urticarial wheals for 4 years duration involving the lower abdomen, lower back, upper and lower extremities associated with excoriations, keratosis, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentations on resolved sites, diagnosed as urticarial BP on histopathology & direct immunofluorescence study (DIF) and was improved on systemic doxycycline therapy. Conclusion: BP can be presented with atypical manifestation. Urticarial BP is a rare variant of non-bullous pemphigoid that should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of an atypical urticarial wheal not responding to conventional therapy.

Relationship between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and occurrence of bronchial asthma

Objective: To study the relationship between Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) infection and asthma exacerbation. Methods: A prospective study of C. pneumoniae infection was conducted in 75 patients with asthma and 63 patients with respiratory tract infection, and 100 blood donors served as controls. The presence of infection was convinced by the polymerase chain reaction and direct immunofluorescence assay for C. pneumoniae DNA from throat swab specimens and micro-immunofluorescence testing for C. pneu-moniae-specific IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies. Results: Prevalence of specific IgG in asthma patients (81. 3%) was higher than that of the blood donors (68. 0%, P<0. 05) and was not significantly different from respiratory tract infection patients (68. 0%, P>0. 05). The acute C. pneumoniae infection rate of symptomatic asthma patients (59. 4%) was markedly higher than that of respiratory tract infection patients (34. 9% , P<0. 05). The average titer of C. pneumoniae IgG instead of IgA in asthma patients (48. 38±6. 94) was significantly higher than respiratory tract infection patients (24. 70±8. 77, P<0. 05). Other pathogens were identified in 12 of 21 (57. 1%) asthma patients with C. pneumoniae. The symptoms of 7 asthma patients with C. pneumoniae infection were improved through antibiotic treatment. Conclusion: The findings suggest a possible role of C. pneumoniae infection in asthma.