Publications

acute canine distemper encephalitis is associated with rapid neuronal loss and local immune activation.	for most virus infections of the central nervous system (cns), immune-mediated damage, the route of inoculation and death of infected cells all contribute to the pathology observed. to investigate the role of these factors in early canine distemper neuropathogenesis, we infected ferrets either intranasally or intraperitoneally with the neurovirulent canine distemper virus strain snyder hill. regardless of the route of inoculation, the virus primarily targeted the olfactory bulb, brainstem, hippo ...	2010	20016033
animal models for the preclinical evaluation of candidate influenza vaccines.	at present, new influenza a (h1n1)2009 viruses of swine origin are responsible for the first influenza pandemic of the 21st century. in addition, highly pathogenic avian influenza a/h5n1 viruses continue to cause outbreaks in poultry and, after zoonotic transmission, cause an ever-increasing number of human cases, of which 59% have a fatal clinical outcome. it is also feared that these viruses adapt to replication in humans and become transmissible from human to human. the development of effecti ...	2010	20021306
corynebacterium mustelae sp. nov., isolated from a ferret with lethal sepsis.	a non-lipophilic coryneform bacterium, strain 3105(t), was isolated from various tissues of a ferret with lethal sepsis. the strain was characterized by phenotypic and chemotaxonomic methods, which suggested an assignment of the isolate to the genus corynebacterium. strain 3105(t) exhibited the following peculiar features that made it possible to differentiate it phenotypically from all other corynebacteria: its distinctive 'humid cellar'-like odour, strong adherence to agar and a greenish-beige ...	2010	19661496
memogain is a galantamine pro-drug having dramatically reduced adverse effects and enhanced efficacy.	memogain (gln-1062) is an inactive pro-drug of galantamine, the latter being a plant alkaloid approved for the treatment of mild to moderate alzheimer's disease. memogain has more than 15-fold higher bioavailability in the brain than the same doses of galantamine. in the brain, memogain is enzymatically cleaved to galantamine, thereby regaining its pharmacological activity as a cholinergic enhancer. in animal models of drug-induced amnesia, memogain produced several fold larger cognitive improve ...	2010	19669943
ovariohysterectomy in ferrets.	surgical sterilization of ferrets is a relatively common surgical procedure. it is usually done as a method of contraception and to prevent diseases associated with the reproductive system. this column will describe the anatomy, principles, possible complications and outcomes of surgical ovariohysterectomy in ferrets.	2010	20410897
neural ensemble codes for stimulus periodicity in auditory cortex.	we measured the responses of neurons in auditory cortex of male and female ferrets to artificial vowels of varying fundamental frequency (f(0)), or periodicity, and compared these with the performance of animals trained to discriminate the periodicity of these sounds. sensitivity to f(0) was found in all five auditory cortical fields examined, with most of those neurons exhibiting either low-pass or high-pass response functions. only rarely was the stimulus dependence of individual neuron discha ...	2010	20371828
chronic detachable headphones for acoustic stimulation in freely moving animals.	a growing number of studies of auditory processing are being carried out in awake, behaving animals, creating a need for precisely controlled sound delivery without restricting head movements. we have designed a system for closed-field stimulus presentation in freely moving ferrets, which comprises lightweight, adjustable headphones that can be consistently positioned over the ears via a small, skull-mounted implant. the invasiveness of the implant was minimized by simplifying its construction a ...	2010	20346981
do ferrets perceive relative pitch?	the existence of relative pitch perception in animals is difficult to demonstrate, since unlike humans, animals often attend to absolute rather than relative properties of sound elements. however, the results of the present study show that ferrets can be trained using relative pitch to discriminate two-tone sequences (rising vs. falling). three ferrets were trained using a positive-reinforcement paradigm in which sequences of reference (one to five repeats) and target stimuli were presented, and ...	2010	20329865
[new drugs for small animals in 2009].	in 2009, five active pharmaceutical ingredients were released on the german market for small animals. those are the analgesic buprenorphin (buprenovet®), the cytostatic masitinib (masivet®), the antiepileptic phenobarbital (phenoleptil®) and the cyclooxygenase-2-inhibitors mavacoxib (trocoxil®) and robenacoxib (onsior®). six additional substances were authorized for additional species. benazepril, cefalexin, ivermectin und ramipril are now available for cats, emodepsid in combination with praziq ...	2010	22215315
the descending corticocollicular pathway mediates learning-induced auditory plasticity.	descending projections from sensory areas of the cerebral cortex are among the largest pathways in the brain, suggesting that they are important for subcortical processing. although corticofugal inputs have been shown to modulate neuronal responses in the thalamus and midbrain, the behavioral importance of these changes remains unknown. in the auditory system, one of the major descending pathways is from cortical layer v pyramidal cells to the inferior colliculus in the midbrain. we examined the ...	2010	20037578
effect of conditioned stimulus parameters on timing of conditioned purkinje cell responses.	pavlovian eyeblink conditioning is a useful experimental model for studying adaptive timing, an important aspect of skilled movements. the conditioned response (cr) is precisely timed to occur just before the onset of the expected unconditioned stimulus (us). the timing can be changed immediately, however, by varying parameters of the conditioned stimulus (cs). it has previously been shown that increasing the intensity of a peripheral cs or the frequency of a cs consisting of a train of stimuli ...	2010	20032243
lesions of the auditory cortex impair azimuthal sound localization and its recalibration in ferrets.	the role of auditory cortex in sound localization and its recalibration by experience was explored by measuring the accuracy with which ferrets turned toward and approached the source of broadband sounds in the horizontal plane. in one group, large bilateral lesions were made of the middle ectosylvian gyrus, where the primary auditory cortical fields are located, and part of the anterior and/or posterior ectosylvian gyrus, which contain higher-level fields. in the second group, the lesions were ...	2010	20032231
disseminated idiopathic myofasciitis in ferrets.	first described in 2003, disseminated idiopathic myofasciitis (dim) has emerged as a new disease in young, domestic ferrets. dim is a severe inflammatory condition that affects primarily muscles and surrounding connective tissues. the disease is characterized by rapid onset of clinical signs, high fever, neutrophilic leukocytosis, and general lack of response to therapeutic intervention. until recently dim was considered fatal, but a few surviving ferrets indicate there may be an effective treat ...	2010	20682436
activation of nmda receptors is necessary for the recovery of cortical binocularity.	classic experiments have indicated that monocular deprivation (md) for a few days during a critical period of development results in a decrease in the strength of connections mediating responses to the deprived eye, leading to a dramatic breakdown of cortical neuron binocularity. despite the substantial functional change in the visual cortex, recovery from the effects of md can be obtained if binocular vision is promptly restored. while great efforts have been made to elucidate the mechanisms re ...	2010	20457852
animal models for influenza virus pathogenesis and transmission.	influenza virus infection of humans results in a respiratory disease that ranges in severity from sub-clinical infection to primary viral pneumonia that can result in death. the clinical effects of infection vary with the exposure history, age and immune status of the host, and also the virulence of the influenza strain. in humans, the virus is transmitted through either aerosol or contact-based transfer of infectious respiratory secretions. as is evidenced by most zoonotic influenza virus infec ...	2010	21442033
clinical and pathologic features of an adenomatous polyp of the colon in a domestic ferret (mustela putorius furo).	a 6-year-old castrated male domestic ferret (mustela putorius furo) with a 4-week history of intermittent diarrhea and straining during defecation had an intraluminal mass in the descending colon identified by abdominal ultrasound. the histopathological diagnosis of the resected mass was an adenomatous polyp of the colon. no post-operative complications were identified over a 32-month follow-up period.	2010	21286327
lentiviral vectors and cystic fibrosis gene therapy.	cystic fibrosis (cf) is a chronic autosomic recessive syndrome, caused by mutations in the cf transmembrane conductance regulator (cftr) gene, a chloride channel expressed on the apical side of the airway epithelial cells. the lack of cftr activity brings a dysregulated exchange of ions and water through the airway epithelium, one of the main aspects of cf lung disease pathophysiology. lentiviral (lv) vectors, of the retroviridae family, show interesting properties for cf gene therapy, since the ...	2010	21994643
the first case of feline infectious peritonitis-like pyogranuloma in a ferret infected by coronavirus in japan.	a male ferret, which was purchased from abroad at 9 months of age, had shown significant weight loss starting at 13 months of age. the ferret subsequently showed decreasing motor activity and recumbency and was euthanized at 14 months of age. at necropsy, a white, quail egg-sized mass was found in the mesentery. histopathologically, multifocal granulomas consisting of necrotic foci, macrophages, fibroblasts and plentiful fibrous connective tissues were observed in the mesenteric mass. surroundin ...	2010	22319227
ear mite infestation in four imported dogs from thailand; a case report.	otodectes cynotis, ear mite or ear canker mite, is the most common cause of otitis external in cats (approximately 50%) and to a lesser extent in dogs, foxes and ferrets. the mite is living on the epidermal surface of auditory canal without burrowing into the tissue and feeding on tissue fluids and debris. in most of the cases they induce hypersensitivity reactions in the host. four puppies; siberian husky, cocker spaniel, terrier and mixed pekignese with different genders and ages were referred ...	2010	22808403
sensory and motor innervation of the crural diaphragm by the vagus nerves.	during gastroesophageal reflux, transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation and crural diaphragm (cd) inhibition occur concomitantly. modifying vagus nerve control of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation is a major focus of development of therapeutics for gastroesophageal reflux disease, but neural mechanisms that coordinate the cd are poorly understood.	2010	19732773
a miniaturized assay for influenza neuraminidase-inhibiting antibodies utilizing reverse genetics-derived antigens.	antibodies to neuraminidase (na) contribute to protection during influenza virus infection, but na inhibition (ni) titers are not routinely analyzed in vaccine trials. one reason is the cumbersome nature of the conventional thiobarbituric acid (tba) ni assay, which uses chemical methods to quantify free sialic acid following incubation of na with substrate in the presence of serum. in addition, the assay is complicated by the need to use virus of a hemagglutinin (ha) subtype novel to the host to ...	2009	21462400
cortical membrane potential dynamics and laminar firing during object motion.	when an object is introduced moving in the visual field of view, the object maps with different delays in each of the six cortical layers in many visual areas by mechanisms that are poorly understood. we combined voltage sensitive dye (vsd) recordings with laminar recordings of action potentials in visual areas 17, 18, 19 and 21 in ferrets exposed to stationary and moving bars. at the area 17/18 border a moving bar first elicited an on response in layer 4 and then on responses in supragranular a ...	2009	19753323
sensory activity differentially modulates n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor subunits 2a and 2b in cortical layers.	activity-dependent modulation of n-methyl-d-aspartate (nmda) receptors containing selective nr2 subunits has been implicated in plastic processes in developing and adult sensory cortex. aiming to reveal differential sensitivity of nr2 subunits to sustained changes in sensory activity, we utilized four paradigms that blocked, reinstated, or initiated sensory visual activity. laminar prevalence of n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor subunit 2a- (nr2a)- and n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor subunit 2b- (nr2b ...	2009	19596055
re: in support of ferrets.		2009	19472524
neoplasitic diseases in ferrets in japan: a questionnaire study for 2000 to 2005.	the objective of this study was to collect epidemiological data on neoplasms in pet ferrets in japan. a questionnaire to collect information was made available to japanese veterinary practitioners through the web site of the japanese society of exotic pet medicine. completed questionnaires were returned from 29 practices, and 945 neoplasms met the criteria for inclusion in the study. neoplasms were found in every organ system except the respiratory system; the endocrine (418; 44.2%), integumenta ...	2009	19420840
radiographic measurement of cardiac size in 64 ferrets.	as ferrets can suffer from a wide variety of cardiac disorders, indicators for detecting cardiac abnormalities on plain chest radiography are necessary. a total of 64 ferrets without heart disease underwent radiography in the right lateral (rl) and ventrodorsal positions (vd), and the lengths of the rl-sixth dorsal vertebra (6th dv), rl- and vd-long axis (la) and rl- and vd-short axis (sa), rl- and vd- vertebral heart size, vd-length of the eighth costa (lec) and vd-thoracic width at the eighth ...	2009	19346707
developmental changes in brainstem neurons regulating lower airway caliber.	premature infants are at risk for lower airway obstruction; however, maturation of reflex pathways regulating lower airway patency is inadequately studied. we hypothesized that postnatal maturation causes developmental change in brainstem efferent airway-related vagal preganglionic neurons (avpns) within the rostral nucleus ambiguus (rna) that project to the airways and in pulmonary afferent fibers that terminate in the nucleus tractus solitarius (nts). ferrets aged 7, 14, 21, and 42 d received ...	2009	19190536
temporal coherence in the perceptual organization and cortical representation of auditory scenes.	just as the visual system parses complex scenes into identifiable objects, the auditory system must organize sound elements scattered in frequency and time into coherent "streams." current neurocomputational theories of auditory streaming rely on tonotopic organization of the auditory system to explain the observation that sequential spectrally distant sound elements tend to form separate perceptual streams. here, we show that spectral components that are well separated in frequency are no longe ...	2009	19186172
rapid modifications in calretinin immunostaining in the deep layers of the superior colliculus after unilateral cochlear ablation.	calretinin (cr) is a calcium-binding protein that plays an important role in the homeostasis of intracellular calcium concentration in the auditory pathway. to test if hearing loss could lead indirectly to modifications in levels of this calcium-binding protein in neurons and neuropilar structures outside of the lemniscal auditory pathway, cr-immunostaining was evaluated in the superior colliculus (sc) in adult ferrets at 1, 20 and 90 days after unilateral cochlear ablation. the results demonstr ...	2009	19017539
in vitro and in vivo characterization of new swine-origin h1n1 influenza viruses.	influenza a viruses cause recurrent outbreaks at local or global scale with potentially severe consequences for human health and the global economy. recently, a new strain of influenza a virus was detected that causes disease in and transmits among humans, probably owing to little or no pre-existing immunity to the new strain. on 11 june 2009 the world health organization declared that the infections caused by the new strain had reached pandemic proportion. characterized as an influenza a virus ...	2009	19672242
phosphodiesterase inhibition increases creb phosphorylation and restores orientation selectivity in a model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.	fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (fasd) are the leading cause of mental retardation in the western world and children with fasd present altered somatosensory, auditory and visual processing. there is growing evidence that some of these sensory processing problems may be related to altered cortical maps caused by impaired developmental neuronal plasticity.	2009	19680548
partial direct contact transmission in ferrets of a mallard h7n3 influenza virus with typical avian-like receptor specificity.	avian influenza viruses of the h7 subtype have caused multiple outbreaks in domestic poultry and represent a significant threat to public health due to their propensity to occasionally transmit directly from birds to humans. in order to better understand the cross species transmission potential of h7 viruses in nature, we performed biological and molecular characterizations of an h7n3 virus isolated from mallards in canada in 2001.	2009	19682381
successful treatment of a retrobulbar adenocarcinoma in a ferret (mustela putorius furo).		2009	19684347
use of animal models to understand the pandemic potential of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses.	it has been 40 years since the last influenza pandemic and it is generally considered that another could occur at any time. recent introductions of influenza a viruses from avian sources into the human population have raised concerns that these viruses may be a source of a future pandemic strain. therefore, there is a need to better understand the pathogenicity of avian influenza viruses for mammalian species so that we may be better able to predict the pandemic potential of such viruses and dev ...	2009	19695381
immune response to and histopathology of campylobacter jejuni infection in ferrets (mustela putorius furo).	campylobacter jejuni is 1 of the most common enteric bacterial pathogens worldwide. the mechanisms of pathogenesis remain obscure, in part because of limitations of small animal models. young ferrets develop diarrhea when fed c. jejuni, but their pathology and the immune response after infection have not been examined in detail. in the present study, we examined the pathogenesis of c. jejuni cg8421 and associated immune responses in ferrets. after oral infection with c. jejuni cg8421, 86.7% of t ...	2009	19712577
vaccination focusing immunity on conserved antigens protects mice and ferrets against virulent h1n1 and h5n1 influenza a viruses.	immunization against conserved virus components induces broad, heterosubtypic protection against diverse influenza a viruses, providing a strategy for controlling unexpected outbreaks or pandemics until strain-matched vaccines become available. this study characterized immunization to nucleoprotein (np) and matrix 2 (m2) by dna priming followed by parenteral or mucosal boosting in mice and ferrets. dna vaccination followed by boosting with antigen-matched recombinant adenovirus (rad) or cold-ada ...	2009	19729082
bacterial and parasitic diseases of ferrets.	the domestic ferret, mustela putorius furo, is a popular companion animal and is used in biomedical research. when compared with other companion mammals, primary bacterial and parasitic infections are less common in domestic ferrets. in countries such as the united states, pet ferrets are generally kept indoors, and the risk for exposure to primary bacterial and parasitic infectious agents is low. companion, breeding, and working ferrets are commonly kept outdoors in other parts of the world, pl ...	2009	19732708
measurement of neutralizing antibody responses against h5n1 clades in immunized mice and ferrets using pseudotypes expressing influenza hemagglutinin and neuraminidase.	neutralizing antibody is associated with the prevention and clearance of influenza virus infection. microneutralization (mn) and hemagglutination inhibition (hi) assays are currently used to evaluate neutralizing antibody responses against human and avian influenza viruses, including h5n1. the mn assay is somewhat labor intensive, while hi is a surrogate for neutralization. moreover, use of replication competent viruses in these assays requires biosafety level 3 (bsl-3) containment. therefore, a ...	2009	19732860
the delayed phase of cisplatin-induced emesis is mediated by the area postrema and not the abdominal visceral innervation in the ferret.	the anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin induces an acute (approximately 24 h) and delayed (approximately 24-72 h+) emetic response in humans; whereas the mechanism mediating the acute phase has been characterised, the delayed phase is relatively poorly understood. we have used nerve lesions (abdominal vagus, vx; greater splanchnic nerve, gsnx) and area postrema ablation (apx) in the ferret model of cisplatin (5 mg/kg, i.p.) delayed emesis and demonstrated that vx and vx+gsnx did not sig ...	2009	19733218
an early 'classical' swine h1n1 influenza virus shows similar pathogenicity to the 1918 pandemic virus in ferrets and mice.	the 1918 pandemic influenza virus has demonstrated significant pathogenicity in animal models and is the progenitor of 'classical' swine and modern seasonal human h1n1 lineages. here we characterize the pathogenicity of an early 'classical' swine h1n1 influenza a virus isolated in 1931 compared to the pathogenicity of the 1918 pandemic virus and a seasonal h1n1 virus in mice and ferrets. a/swine/iowa/31 (sw31) and the 1918 influenza viruses were uniformly lethal in mice at low doses and produced ...	2009	19733889
evaluation of vaccines for h5n1 influenza virus in ferrets reveals the potential for protective single-shot immunization.	as part of influenza pandemic preparedness, policy decisions need to be made about how best to utilize vaccines once they are manufactured. since h5n1 avian influenza virus has the potential to initiate the next human pandemic, isolates of this subtype have been used for the production and testing of prepandemic vaccines. clinical trials of such vaccines indicate that two injections of preparations containing adjuvant will be required to induce protective immunity. however, this is a working ass ...	2009	19457991
lipid vesicle size of an oral influenza vaccine delivery vehicle influences the th1/th2 bias in the immune response and protection against infection.	previous studies, using parenteral administration of antigen in lipid vesicles, have indicated a possible role for vesicle size in determining the th1/th2 bias of the resulting immune response. we have also demonstrated that the incorporation of bile salts into lipid vesicles (bilosomes) allows successful induction of mucosal and systemic immunity via the oral route. the following study was therefore carried out to determine whether size could also influence the th1/th2 bias in the immune respon ...	2009	19464545
somatosensory and multisensory properties of the medial bank of the ferret rostral suprasylvian sulcus.	in ferret cortex, the rostral portion of the suprasylvian sulcus separates primary somatosensory cortex (si) from the anterior auditory fields. the boundary of the si extends to this sulcus, but the adjoining medial sulcal bank has been described as "unresponsive." given its location between the representations of two different sensory modalities, it seems possible that the medial bank of the rostral suprasylvian sulcus (mrss) might be multisensory in nature and contains neurons responsive to st ...	2009	19466399
gsk's novel split-virus adjuvanted vaccines for the prevention of the h5n1 strain of avian influenza infection.	although influenza pandemics occur infrequently, they are unpredictable. given that humans had not been previously exposed to the novel h5n1 strain, few (if any) individuals have any degree of immunity to the strain. glaxosmithkline plc (gsk) has developed two inactivated split h5n1 vaccines adjuvanted with gsk's proprietary oil-in-water emulsion as03: gsk-1562902a (produced in dresden, germany) and gsk-1557484a (produced in québec, canada). the vaccines principally use an a/vietnam strain virus ...	2009	19479667
effects of calcitonin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, human recombinant bone morphogenetic protein-2, and parathyroid hormone-related protein on endodontically treated ferret canines.	the purpose of this study was to determine whether human recombinant bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhbmp-2), calcitonin gene-related peptide (cgrp), calcitonin (ct), or parathyroid hormone-related protein (pthrp) promoted reparative tertiary dentin or osteodentin formation in ferret canines.	2009	19482187
reassortment between avian h5n1 and human h3n2 influenza viruses in ferrets: a public health risk assessment.	this study investigated whether transmissible h5 subtype human-avian reassortant viruses could be generated in vivo. to this end, ferrets were coinfected with recent avian h5n1 (a/thailand/16/04) and human h3n2 (a/wyoming/3/03) viruses. genotype analyses of plaque-purified viruses from nasal secretions of coinfected ferrets revealed that approximately 9% of recovered viruses contained genes from both progenitor viruses. h5 and h3 subtype viruses, including reassortants, were found in airways ext ...	2009	19493997
the identification of a novel phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, 1-ethyl-5-{5-[(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)methyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl}-n-(tetrahydro-2h-pyran-4-yl)-1h-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-4-amine (eppa-1), with improved therapeutic index using pica feeding in rats as a measure of emetogenicity.	clinical utility of phosphodiesterase 4 (pde4) inhibitors as anti-inflammatory agents has, to date, been limited by adverse effects including nausea and emesis, making accurate assessment of emetic versus anti-inflammatory potencies critical to the development of inhibitors with improved therapeutic indices. in the present study we determined the in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory potencies of the first-generation pde4 inhibitor, rolipram, the second-generation inhibitors, roflumilast and ci ...	2009	19498103
characterization of antibodies against ferret immunoglobulins, cytokines and cd markers.	ferret igg and igm were purified from normal serum, while ferret iga was purified from bile. the estimated molecular weights of the immunoglobulin gamma, alpha and mu heavy chains were found to be 54kda, 69kda and 83kda, respectively. for immunological (elisa) quantification of ferret immunoglobulins, we identified and characterized polyclonal antibodies towards ferret igg, igm and iga. we also identified 22 monoclonal antibodies (mabs) raised mostly against human cd markers which cross-reacted ...	2009	19505731
the expression of heat shock protein 70 in the dental pulp following trauma.	traumatic dental injuries vary in severity from mild concussion to avulsion. all organisms respond to stress by inducing the synthesis of a group of proteins known generically as heat shock proteins. the activation of these proteins is an essential cellular mechanism designed to protect against a variety of environmental stresses. it is probable that the production of these proteins is increased in the cells of the traumatized dental pulp, however, this has not as yet been demonstrated. the degr ...	2009	19519864
morphological study of the lingual papillae in the ferret (mustela putorius furo).	we used four ferrets (mustela putorius furo) and observed these animals dorsal tongue surface morphology via scanning electron microscope and light microscope. in this investigation, we focused on the food habits and discussed the morphology of the lingual papillae from the viewpoint of comparative anatomy. the ferret has conically-shaped filiform papillae in the posterior, middle and anterior region of the tongue body, and circular-distributed filiform papillae in the lingual apex region. the f ...	2009	19522302
rabies in ferret badgers, southeastern china.	ferret badger-associated human rabies cases emerged in china in 1994. we used a retrospective epidemiologic survey, virus isolation, laboratory diagnosis, and nucleotide sequencing to document its reemergence in 2002-2008. whether the cause is spillover from infected dogs or recent host shift and new reservoir establishment requires further investigation.	2009	19523299
ucp1 and oxidative capacity of adipose tissue in adult ferrets (mustela putorius furo).	the main mass of brown adipose tissue is located in the interscapular region in rodents, while certain species, such as humans, have a tissue that resembles the brown depot, but in different locations. ferrets have been described as a useful model in different studies because of their similarity with humans. here we have characterised the oxidative capacity (cytochrome c oxidase activity) and the pattern of ucp1 production in different adipose tissue depots (retroperitoneal, inguinal and intersc ...	2009	19535042
zoonotic potential of highly pathogenic avian h7n3 influenza viruses from pakistan.	h5 and h7 avian influenza viruses can become highly pathogenic in chickens after interspecies transmission. these viruses have transmitted directly to humans from birds in eurasia and africa (h5n1), the netherlands (h7n7), and canada (h7n3). here we report antigenic, sequence, and phylogenetic analyses of h7n3 viruses isolated from chickens in pakistan from 1995 to 2002. we compared the pathogenic and zoonotic potential of the pakistani viruses in avian and mammalian hosts. in chickens, all of t ...	2009	19535120
transmission and pathogenesis of swine-origin 2009 a(h1n1) influenza viruses in ferrets and mice.	recent reports of mild to severe influenza-like illness in humans caused by a novel swine-origin 2009 a(h1n1) influenza virus underscore the need to better understand the pathogenesis and transmission of these viruses in mammals. in this study, selected 2009 a(h1n1) influenza isolates were assessed for their ability to cause disease in mice and ferrets and compared with a contemporary seasonal h1n1 virus for their ability to transmit to naïve ferrets through respiratory droplets. in contrast to ...	2009	19574347
pathogenesis and transmission of swine-origin 2009 a(h1n1) influenza virus in ferrets.	the swine-origin a(h1n1) influenza virus that has emerged in humans in early 2009 has raised concerns about pandemic developments. in a ferret pathogenesis and transmission model, the 2009 a(h1n1) influenza virus was found to be more pathogenic than a seasonal a(h1n1) virus, with more extensive virus replication occurring in the respiratory tract. replication of seasonal a(h1n1) virus was confined to the nasal cavity of ferrets, but the 2009 a(h1n1) influenza virus also replicated in the trachea ...	2009	19574348
pandemic influenza. ferrets shed light on new virus's severity and spread.		2009	19574354
removal of either n-glycan site from the envelope receptor binding domain of moloney and friend but not akv mouse ecotropic gammaretroviruses alters receptor usage.	three n-linked glycosylation sites were removed from the envelope glycoproteins of friend, moloney, and akv mouse ecotropic gammaretroviruses: gs1 and gs2, in the receptor binding domain; and gs8, in a region implicated in post-binding cell fusion. mutants were tested for their ability to infect rodent cells expressing 4 cat-1 receptor variants. three mutants (mo-gs1, mo-gs2, and fr-gs1) infect nih 3t3 and rat xc cells, but are severely restricted in mus dunni cells and lec8, a chinese hamster c ...	2009	19584017
visual influences on ferret auditory cortex.	multisensory neurons are now known to be widespread in low-level regions of the cortex usually thought of as being responsible for modality-specific processing. the auditory cortex provides a particularly striking example of this, exhibiting responses to both visual and somatosensory stimulation. single-neuron recording studies in ferrets have shown that each of auditory fields that have been characterized using physiological and anatomical criteria also receives visual inputs, with the incidenc ...	2009	19595754
das181 inhibits h5n1 influenza virus infection of human lung tissues.	das181 is a novel candidate therapeutic agent against influenza virus which functions via the mechanism of removing the virus receptor, sialic acid (sia), from the adjacent glycan structures. das181 and its analogues have previously been shown to be potently active against multiple strains of seasonal and avian influenza virus strains in several experimental models, including cell lines, mice, and ferrets. here we demonstrate that das181 treatment leads to desialylation of both alpha2-6-linked a ...	2009	19596886
mapping the micromechanical properties of cryo-sectioned aortic tissue with scanning acoustic microscopy.	although the gross mechanical properties of ageing tissues have been extensively documented, biological tissues are highly heterogeneous and little is known concerning the variation of micro-mechanical properties within tissues. here, we use scanning acoustic microscopy (sam) to map the acoustic wave speed (a measure of stiffness) as a function of distance from the outer adventitial layer of cryo-sectioned ferret aorta. with a 400 mhz lens, the images of the aorta samples matched those obtained ...	2009	19603080
disruption of neuroendocrine stress responses to acute ferret odor by medial, but not central amygdala lesions in rats.	investigations of the neural pathways associated with responses to predators have implicated the medial amygdala (mea) as an important region involved in defensive behaviors. to our knowledge, however, the involvement of the mea in neuroendocrine responses to predator odor exposure has not been investigated. therefore, the present study examined the effects of mea disruption in rats exposed to ferret or control odor on hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (hpa) axis activation. bilateral lesions ...	2009	19615352
dynamics of spectro-temporal tuning in primary auditory cortex of the awake ferret.	we previously characterized the steady-state spectro-temporal tuning properties of cortical cells with respect to broadband sounds by using sounds with sinusoidal spectro-temporal modulation envelope where spectral density and temporal periodicity were constant over several seconds. however, since speech and other natural sounds have spectro-temporal features that change substantially over milliseconds, we study the dynamics of tuning by using stimuli of constant overall intensity, but alternati ...	2009	19619629
abnormal axons in the albino optic tract.	there have been suggestions that the misrouting of axons at the optic chiasm leading to the abnormal ratio of crossed to uncrossed axons in the optic tract of albinos is a consequence of abnormal timing of ganglion cell axon outgrowth. the sequence of genesis of ganglion cell classes and their axon outgrowth is correlated with the deep-to-superficial distribution of their axons by size in the mammalian optic tract. optic tract axon order in albino and normally pigmented ferrets was, therefore, e ...	2009	19628745
effects of beta-carotene supplementation on adipose tissue thermogenic capacity in ferrets (mustela putorius furo).	we previously described that the intake of pharmacological doses of beta-carotene (bc) resulted in higher body weight gain in the ferret (mustela putorius furo), an animal model that resembles human subjects in terms of intestinal bc absorption and metabolism. these results were some way unexpected considering the condition of bc as a vitamin a precursor and the previous data in rodents showing these compounds as thermogenic activators. here, we aimed to characterise in the ferret whether the me ...	2009	19631020
beta-carotene affects oxidative stress-related dna damage in lung epithelial cells and in ferret lung.	beta-carotene (bc) was found to enhance lung cancer risk in smokers. this adverse effect was unexpected because bc was thought to act as an anti-oxidant against cigarette smoke-derived radicals. these radicals can directly or indirectly damage dna, leading to the formation of pro-mutagenic dna lesions such as 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dg) and 3-(2-deoxy-beta-d-erythro-pentafuranosyl)pyrimido[1,2-alpha]purin-10(3h)-one deoxyguanosine (m(1)dg). later, it was suggested that high co ...	2009	19638427
zanamivir-resistant influenza viruses with a novel neuraminidase mutation.	the neuraminidase inhibitors zanamivir and oseltamivir are marketed for the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza and have been stockpiled by many countries for use in a pandemic. although recent surveillance has identified a striking increase in the frequency of oseltamivir-resistant seasonal influenza a (h1n1) viruses in europe, the united states, oceania, and south africa, to date there have been no reports of significant zanamivir resistance among influenza a (h1n1) viruses or any other hum ...	2009	19641000
the edinger-westphal nucleus represents different functional cell groups in different species.	in all vertebrates, including humans, the edinger-westphal nucleus (ew) forms a circumscribed cell group dorsomedial to the oculomotor nucleus (niii). traditionally the ew is considered the location of parasympathetic preganglionic neurons of the ciliary ganglion, mediating pupillary constriction and accommodation. in a comparative study in rat, ferret, monkey, and human, the location of cholinergic neurons within and around the niii, which includes motoneurons of the extra-ocular muscles and th ...	2009	19645879
(r)-(3-amino-2-fluoropropyl) phosphinic acid (azd3355), a novel gabab receptor agonist, inhibits transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation through a peripheral mode of action.	gastroesophageal reflux disease (gerd) affects >10% of the western population. conventionally, gerd is treated by reducing gastric acid secretion, which is effective in most patients but inadequate in a significant minority. we describe a new therapeutic approach for gerd, based on inhibition of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (tlesr) with a proposed peripherally acting gaba(b) receptor agonist, (r)-(3-amino-2-fluoropropyl)phosphinic acid (azd3355). azd3355 potently stimulated re ...	2009	19648470
microliths in the parotid of ferret investigated by electron microscopy and microanalysis.	the present investigation is an attempt to determine the occurrence, elemental composition and formation of microliths in the parotid of ferret. parotids from four normal ferrets were examined by electron microscopy and x-ray microanalysis. crystalline microliths were found in phagosomes of acinar cells, which occasionally contained secretory material, and in phagosomes situated between mitochondria of striated ductal cells. crystalline microliths and microliths that consisted of granular materi ...	2009	19659902
experimental infection of pigs with the human 1918 pandemic influenza virus.	swine influenza was first recognized as a disease entity during the 1918 "spanish flu" pandemic. the aim of this work was to determine the virulence of a plasmid-derived human 1918 pandemic h1n1 influenza virus (reconstructed 1918, or 1918/rec, virus) in swine using a plasmid-derived a/swine/iowa/15/1930 h1n1 virus (1930/rec virus), representing the first isolated influenza virus, as a reference. four-week-old piglets were inoculated intratracheally with either the 1930/rec or the 1918/rec virus ...	2009	19224986
progress and prospects: techniques for site-directed mutagenesis in animal models.	in the past 2 years, new gene-targeting approaches using adeno-associated virus and designer zinc-finger nucleases have been successfully applied to the production of genetically modified ferrets, pigs, mice and zebrafish. gene targeting using these tools has been combined with somatic cell nuclear transfer and germ cell transplantation to generate gene-targeted animal models. these new technical advances, which do not require the generation of embryonic stem cell-derived chimeras, will greatly ...	2009	19225549
interdependent encoding of pitch, timbre, and spatial location in auditory cortex.	because we can perceive the pitch, timbre, and spatial location of a sound source independently, it seems natural to suppose that cortical processing of sounds might separate out spatial from nonspatial attributes. indeed, recent studies support the existence of anatomically segregated "what" and "where" cortical processing streams. however, few attempts have been made to measure the responses of individual neurons in different cortical fields to sounds that vary simultaneously across spatial an ...	2009	19228960
the sparseness of neuronal responses in ferret primary visual cortex.	various arguments suggest that neuronal coding of natural sensory stimuli should be sparse (i.e., individual neurons should respond rarely but should respond reliably). we examined sparseness of visual cortical neurons in anesthetized ferret to flashed natural scenes. response behavior differed widely between neurons. the median firing rate of 4.1 impulses per second was slightly higher than predicted from consideration of metabolic load. thirteen percent of neurons (12 of 89) responded to <5% o ...	2009	19244512
vestibular syndrome due to a choroid plexus papilloma in a ferret.	a 6-year-old, castrated male ferret (mustela putorius furo) was presented with progressive neurological signs consisting of a right-sided head tilt and ataxia. neurological examination revealed hemiparesis and absence of proprioception on the right side, consistent with central vestibular syndrome. measurement of blood glucose excluded hypoglycemia due to insulinoma. contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed the presence of an intracranial mass, consistent with either granuloma or neoplasia ...	2009	19258423
alcian blue and pyronine y histochemical stains permit assessment of multiple parameters in pulmonary disease models.	utilization of a combined alcian blue and pyronine y histochemical method for the assessment of multiple parameters in the respiratory tract of various species is described. acidic mucins were deep blue (sialylated mucins), red (sulfated mucins), or variably purple (mixture of sialylated/sulfated mucins), and differential mucus production was readily detected in a murine respiratory syncytial virus vaccine model of pulmonary inflammation. elastic fibers stained red in the walls of pulmonary arte ...	2009	19261646
crosstalk between adipose-derived stem/stromal cells and vocal fold fibroblasts in vitro.	to explore adipose-derived stem cell/fibroblast interactions as a potential remodeling pathway for vocal fold scar.	2009	19263411
trans-species amplification of prp(cwd) and correlation with rigid loop 170n.	chronic wasting disease (cwd) is an efficiently transmitted spongiform encephalopathy of cervids. whether cwd could represent a threat to non-cervid species remains speculative. here we show that brain homogenates from several cwd-susceptible non-cervid species, such as ferrets and hamsters, support amplification of prp(cwd) by spmca, whereas brain homogenates from cwd-resistant species, such as laboratory mice and transgenic mice expressing human prp(c) [tg(huprp) mice], do not. we also investi ...	2009	19269662
regulation of antiarrhythmic drug propafenone effects on the c-type kv1.4 potassium channel by pho and k+.	the effects of the antiarrhythmic drug propafenone at c-type kv1.4 channels in xenopus laevis oocytes were studied with the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique. defolliculated oocytes (stage v-vi) were injected with transcribed crnas of ferret kv1.4 delta n channels. during recording, oocytes were continuously perfused with control solution or propafenone. propafenone decreased the currents during voltage steps. the block was voltage-, use-, and concentration- dependent manners. the block was ...	2009	19270818
the public health impact of avian influenza viruses.	influenza viruses with novel hemagglutinin and 1 or more accompanying genes derived from avian influenza viruses sporadically emerge in humans and have the potential to result in a pandemic if the virus causes disease and spreads efficiently in a population that lacks immunity to the novel hemagglutinin. since 1997, multiple avian influenza virus subtypes have been transmitted directly from domestic poultry to humans and have caused a spectrum of human disease, from asymptomatic to severe and fa ...	2009	19276438
characterization of brain development in the ferret via mri.	animal models with complex cortical development are useful for improving our understanding of the wide spectrum of neurodevelopmental challenges facing human preterm infants. mri techniques can define both cerebral injury and alterations in cerebral development with translation between animal models and the human infant. we hypothesized that the immature ferret would display a similar sequence of brain development [both gray (gm) and white matter (wm)] to that of the preterm human infant. we des ...	2009	19287340
contrast independence of cardinal preference: stable oblique effect in orientation maps of ferret visual cortex.	the oblique effect was first described as enhanced detection and discrimination of cardinal orientations compared with oblique orientations. such biases in visual processing are believed to originate from a functional adaptation to environmental statistics dominated by cardinal contours. at the neuronal level, the oblique orientation effect corresponds to the numerical overrepresentation and narrower tuning bandwidths of cortical neurons representing the cardinal axes. the anisotropic distributi ...	2009	19302161
cryptococcosis in domestic animals in western australia: a retrospective study from 1995-2006.	a retrospective study of cryptococcosis in domestic animals residing in western australia was conducted over an 11-year-period (from 1995 to 2006) by searching the data base of murdoch university veterinary teaching hospital and the largest private clinical pathology laboratory in perth. cryptococcosis was identified in 155 animals: 72 cats, 57 dogs, 20 horses, three alpacas, two ferrets and a sheep. there was no seasonal trend apparent from the dates of diagnosis. taking into account the common ...	2009	19306217
adult deafness induces somatosensory conversion of ferret auditory cortex.	in response to early or developmental lesions, responsiveness of sensory cortex can be converted from the deprived modality to that of the remaining sensory systems. however, little is known about capacity of the adult cortex for cross-modal reorganization. the present study examined the auditory cortices of animals deafened as adults, and observed an extensive somatosensory conversion within as little as 16 days after deafening. these results demonstrate that cortical cross-modal reorganization ...	2009	19307553
intranasal vaccination with 1918 influenza virus-like particles protects mice and ferrets from lethal 1918 and h5n1 influenza virus challenge.	influenza vaccines capable of inducing cross-reactive or heterotypic immunity could be an important first line of prevention against a novel subtype virus. influenza virus-like particles (vlps) displaying functional viral proteins are effective vaccines against replication-competent homologous virus, but their ability to induce heterotypic immunity has not been adequately tested. to measure vlp vaccine efficacy against a known influenza pandemic virus, recombinant vlps were generated from struct ...	2009	19321609
prion protein library of recombinant constructs for structural biology.	a survey of plasmids for 51 prion protein constructs from bank vole, cat, cattle, chicken, dog, elk, ferret, frog, fugu, horse, human, pig, sheep, turtle, and wallaby, and for 113 mouse prion protein constructs and variants thereof, is presented. this includes information on the biochemistry of the recombinant proteins, in particular on successful and unsuccessful expression attempts. the plasmid library was generated during the past 12 years in the context of nmr structure determination and bio ...	2009	19348007
canine distemper virus selectively inhibits apoptosis progression in infected immune cells.	morbillivirus infections are characterized by severe leukopenia and immune suppression that develop even before the onset of clinical signs. to characterize in more detail the fate of the immune cells during the critical first week, we evaluated the overall viability, level of apoptosis, cell cycle status, and extent of infection in different immune tissues of ferrets inoculated with a lethal canine distemper virus (cdv) strain. initial experiments with mdck cells, a canine epithelial cell line, ...	2009	19357171
isolation and genetic characterization of h5n2 influenza viruses from pigs in korea.	due to dual susceptibility to both human and avian influenza a viruses, pigs are believed to be effective intermediate hosts for the spread and production of new viruses with pandemic potential. in early 2008, two swine h5n2 viruses were isolated from our routine swine surveillance in korea. the sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of surface proteins revealed that the sw/korea/c12/08 and sw/korea/c13/08 viruses were derived from avian influenza viruses of the eurasian lineage. however, although ...	2009	19359528
regional patterns of cerebral cortical differentiation determined by diffusion tensor mri.	the morphology of axonal and dendritic arbors in the immature cerebral cortex influences the degree of anisotropy in water diffusion. this enables cortical maturation to be monitored by the noninvasive technique of diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (dti). herein, we utilized dti of postmortem ferret brain to quantify regional and temporal patterns in cortical maturation. we found that diffusion anisotropy within the isocortex decreases over the first month of life, coinciding closely i ...	2009	19363145
development of a live-attenuated influenza b deltans1 intranasal vaccine candidate.	we discovered a unique, single amino acid mutation in the influenza b m1 protein promoting viral growth of ns1 truncation mutants in vero cells. due to this mutation, we were able to generate an influenza b virus lacking the complete ns1 open reading frame (deltans1-b virus) by reverse genetics, which was growing to titers of 8log(10)tcid(50)/ml in a vero cell culture-based micro-carrier fermenter. the deltans1-b vaccine candidate was attenuated in ifn-competent hosts such as human alveolar epit ...	2009	19366569
opportunities for the replacement of animals in the study of nausea and vomiting.	nausea and vomiting are among the most common symptoms encountered in medicine as either symptoms of disease or side effects of treatments. developing novel anti-emetics and identifying emetic liability in novel chemical entities rely on models that can recreate the complexity of these multi-system reflexes. animal models (especially the ferret and dog) are the current gold standard; however, the selection of appropriate models is still a matter of debate, especially when studying the subjective ...	2009	19371333
minimal molecular constraints for respiratory droplet transmission of an avian-human h9n2 influenza a virus.	pandemic influenza requires interspecies transmission of an influenza virus with a novel hemagglutinin (ha) subtytpe that can adapt to its new host through either reassortment or point mutations and transmit by aerosolized respiratory droplets. two previous pandemics of 1957 and 1968 resulted from the reassortment of low pathogenic avian viruses and human subtypes of that period; however, conditions leading to a pandemic virus are still poorly understood. given the endemic situation of avian h9n ...	2009	19380727
assessment of cytologic evaluation of preputial epithelial cells as a diagnostic test for detection of adrenocortical disease in castrated ferrets.	to determine whether results of cytologic evaluation of preputial epithelial cells correspond to results of a serum endocrine hormone assay and clinical signs associated with adrenocortical disease in castrated ferrets.	2009	19405901
single- and multiple-clade influenza a h5n1 vaccines induce cross protection in ferrets.	the rapid evolution, genetic diversity, broad host range, and increasing human infection with avian influenza a (h5n1) viruses highlight the need for an efficacious cross-clade vaccine. using the ferret model, we compared induction of cross-reactive immunity and protective efficacy of three single-clade h5n1 vaccines and a novel multiple-clade h5n1 vaccine, with and without mf59 adjuvant. reverse genetics (rg) was used to generate vaccine viruses containing the hemagglutinin (ha) and neuraminida ...	2009	19406182
molecular development of the lateral geniculate nucleus in the absence of retinal waves during the time of retinal axon eye-specific segregation.	when retinal waves are inhibited binocularly, eye-specific segregation of retinal axons is disrupted, and retinal axons from the two eyes remain intermingled in the lateral geniculate nucleus (lgn). this effect of binocular retinal wave inhibition is mediated by the lack of activity-dependent competition between retinal axons from the two eyes, but it is unknown whether this effect is also mediated by the developmental arrest of the lgn in an immature state. here we find developmental markers of ...	2009	19409202
immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a live attenuated h5n1 vaccine in nonhuman primates.	the continued spread of highly pathogenic h5n1 influenza viruses among poultry and wild birds, together with the emergence of drug-resistant variants and the possibility of human-to-human transmission, has spurred attempts to develop an effective vaccine. inactivated subvirion or whole-virion h5n1 vaccines have shown promising immunogenicity in clinical trials, but their ability to elicit protective immunity in unprimed human populations remains unknown. a cold-adapted, live attenuated vaccine w ...	2009	19412338
the ferret model for influenza.	a major challenge in influenza research is the selection of an appropriate animal model that accurately reflects the disease and protective immune response to influenza infection in humans. ferrets are exquisitely susceptible to infection with human influenza viruses and are widely believed to be the ideal small animal model for influenza research. mice have also been used for influenza vaccine research for decades. ferrets are used as an animal model for the study of influenza because they are ...	2009	19412910
the mouse model for influenza.	a major challenge in influenza research is the selection of an appropriate animal model that accurately reflects the disease and protective immune response to influenza infection in humans. ferrets are exquisitely susceptible to infection with human influenza viruses and are widely believed to be the ideal small animal model for influenza research. mice have also been used for influenza vaccine research for decades. although human influenza viruses generally cause disease in mice only if they ar ...	2009	19412911
paradoxical effects of the hypnotic zolpidem in the neonatal ferret.	hypnotic drugs designed to treat insomnia in adults are now increasingly used in children, but the effects of these compounds on neonatal sleep are poorly understood. we investigated the hypnotic effects of the commonly prescribed non-benzodiazepine sleep agent zolpidem (ambien) on sleep architecture and electroencephalographic (eeg) activity in the neonatal ferret. six ferret kits were surgically prepared for eeg/electromyographic (emg) recordings using techniques adopted for use in neonatal an ...	2009	19428639
detection of group c rotavirus in juvenile ferrets (mustela putorius furo) with diarrhea by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction: sequencing and analysis of the complete coding region of the vp6 gene.	nine juvenile ferrets (mustela putorius furo) with a history of diarrhea were severely dehydrated and had distended abdomens and thin-walled small intestines that contained gas and fluid. histologically, small intestines exhibited acute superficial atrophic enteritis. transmission electron microscopy of the small intestine showed rotavirus-like particles within apical vacuoles. reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rt-pcr) was negative for group a rotavirus. a group c rotavirus-specif ...	2009	19429992
investigation of the biological indicator for vaccine efficacy against highly pathogenic avian influenza (hpai) h5n1 virus challenge in mice and ferrets.	to investigate the biological indicator for vaccine efficacy against hpai h5n1 virus challenge of varying clades, two inactivated whole-virus h5n1 vaccines containing the hemagglutinin (ha) and neuraminidase (na) genes of either clade 2.2 a/em/korea/w149/06 (rgkoreaw149/06 x pr8) or clade 2.5 a/ck/korea/es/03 (rgkoreaes223n/03xpr8) virus in the background of a/pr/8/34 (h1n1) were generated by reverse genetics. administration of the vaccines (2-dose 1.77, 3.5, 7.5 or 15microg of ha) elicited high ...	2009	19446184