Paramunization of FeLV-positive cats with PIND-AVI]

84 FeLV-positive cats were continually treated with the paramunity inducer (immunomodulator) PIND-AVI (23 healthy cats once a week, 61 diseased cats up to 3 times a week), the frequency depending on their general condition. The ELISA control tests were repeated after 4 to 6 weeks. Paramunization was continued in cats still viremic until remission of viremia. 21 healthy cats already reacted negatively to the first control ELISA, the 2 others after 8 weeks of paramunization. Within an observation time of 18 to 30 months there were no relapses. 49 of the 61 diseased cats (80.3%) reacted negatively to the first control. 5 cats (8.2%) had died at the beginning of the treatment. 5 cats (8.2%) showed a remission of viremic after being paramunized continually for 7 to 20 weeks. 2 cats (3.3%) remained viremic throughout the observation time (more than 2 years). None of the animals had a relapse. Neither had any of 9 chronically diseased cats, known to have been viremic for 3 to 12 months at the beginning of paramunization. The importance of the results of these paramunization tests for the treatment of various retrovirus infections of human beings and animals is briefly discussed.     

Practice observations of cross protection between bovine and porcine herpesviruses]

In many cattle herds in Lower Saxony the serologic IBR/IPV = BHV-1-status is known because since 1988 the bovine herpes virus infection (BHV 1), the infectious rhinotracheitis and pustular vulvovaginitis (IBR/IPV) are being fought. Through extensive investigations in five districts in the Weser-Ems area, it was found that cows infected by bovine herpes virus (BHV 1) are also protected to a high degree against infection by porcine herpes suis virus (SHV 1). An interpretation of the observed cross protection is not yet possible; further research is necessary.     

Experiences in the paraimmunization of cats in veterinary practice

The inducer PIND-AVI was used prophylactically and therapeutically to test the effects of paramunization in a SPF cat colony and in various small animal practices. Prophylactic paramunization significantly improved the breeding results in the SPF cat colony. Mortality declined from 44.6% to 3.4%. The corresponding placebo groups were also tested thereby demonstrating the significance of the results. In comparison, the treatment of acutely diseased cats (all of the same litter or the same colony) showed that paramunization can also be used as an additional measure to the conventional therapy of infectious diseases with different etiology. Furthermore, it is possible that this measure alone can limit the incidence of disease providing the dosage is high enough and treatment is long enough (at least 3-5 days). The course of disease is thereafter mild and complications can be hindered. Chronic and recurrent infections (e.g., dermatitis and gingivitis) can be controlled with repeated paramunization. Prophylactic paramunization decreases the danger of an acute infection and provides for the newborn's fast adaptation to a contaminated environment. It also reduces the consequences of an exogenous and endogenous immune suppression.     

Use of paramunization in raising pigs

The fundamentals of paramunization are briefly discussed to provide better understanding of paramunization of pigs. Veterinary practice and experimental studies demonstrate the usefulness, efficacy and harmlessness of paramunization of pigs. Mortality, morbidity as well as weight gain in piglets are used to evaluate the effect of the inducers PIND-AVI and/or PIND-ORF on piglets which have been treated shortly after birth. The therapeutic effect of paramunization has been studied in herds with enzootic pneumonia. Paramunization is especially suitable in stimulating the immune system, in treating immune deficiencies, in the prophylaxis of the stress syndrome (e.g. induced by transport, weaning, changing stalls, etc.) and in treating pluricausal, multifactorial infectious diseases such as enzootic pneumonia, rhinitis atrophicans, "crowding" disease. Paramunization of pigs is discussed, using PIND-ORF as an example of a biological inducer. Paramunization as a biological method to stimulate immunity provides a new concept of prophylaxis and therapy opposed to the uncontrolled use of chemicals in pig production.     

The clinical effectiveness of FSH-P for induction of superovulation in cattle]

The clinical efficacy of FSH-P for the initiation of superovulation in cattle was examined on 1000 animals of the Deutsche Schwarzbunte and Rotbunte breeds of RPN Verden during the years 1988 and 1989. In untreated cattle only one embryo is found (R. J. Mapletoft 1983, Roselius 1989). In the group of the FSH-P treated animals, the number of transferable embryos was 5.8 +/- 3.6. The 25% percentile was 3 and the 75% percentile was 8. A seasonal dependence was not found.     

Estimation of infectious dose and viral shedding rates for infectious pancreatic necrosis virus in Atlantic salmon,Salmo salar L., post‐smolts

Infectious dose and shedding rates are important parameters to estimate in order to understand the transmission of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV). Bath challenge of Atlantic salmon post‐smolts was selected as the route of experimental infection as this mimics a major natural route of exposure to IPNV infection. Doses ranging from 10² to 10^?4 50% end‐point tissue culture infectious dose (TCID₅₀) mL^?1 sea water were used to estimate the minimum infectious dose for a Scottish isolate of IPNV. The minimum dose required to induce infection in Atlantic salmon post‐smolts was <10^?1 TCID₅₀ mL^?1 by bath immersion (4 h at 10 °C). The peak shedding rate for IPNV following intraperitoneal challenge using post‐smolts was estimated to be 6.8 × 10³ TCID₅₀ h^?1 kg^?1 and occurred 11 days post‐challenge. This information may be incorporated into mathematical models to increase the understanding of the dispersal of IPNV from marine salmon sites.     

Incidence of white muscle disease, a viral like disease associated with mortalities in hatchery-reared postlarvae of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) from the south-east coast of India

Incidence of post‐larval mortalities of 30–100% was reported from commercial freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) hatcheries in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu (south‐eastern states of India) since 2001. Infected postlarvae (PL) exhibited clinical symptoms with lethargy, anorexia and whitening of abdominal muscles and the disease was identified as white muscle disease (WMD). The waterborne infection of WMD was induced in the laboratory by exposing uninfected and healthy M. rosenbergii PL to the filtered muscle homogenates of the naturally infected PL, resulting in mortality that reached 99% within 10 days post infection. Histopathological examination of the infected animals revealed highly necrotic musculature. Degenerated muscle areas showed aggregations of melanized nuclei, many of which looked like inclusion bodies. Bacteriological examination of affected PL showed the presence of Staphylococcus spp. as a predominant organism, while laboratory challenge of healthy PL with this bacterial isolate did not reproduce WMD.     

Immunization of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque, against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Fouquet): killed versus live vaccines

Abstract. Fish surviving infection with the pathogenic ciliated protozoan, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Fouquet, 1876), become resistant to subsequent infection by the parasite. The acquired immunity suggests that development of a vaccine against the parasite may be possible. Because of the advantages of immunoprophylaxis for treatment of the disease, an effort has been made to determine whether fish exposed to killed parasite preparations can resist subsequent lethal challenge. Both the route of administration and the effects of stage specific antigens have been examined. Channel catfish vaccinated by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection or bath immersion with killed I multifiliis tomites show 100% mortality following a standard challenge protocol. Similarly, 100% mortality was observed in test groups injected with tomite cilia. In both cases, a consistent difference in days to death between control and test group animals was observed. Although complete mortality was seen with fish injected with tomite preparations, fish vaccinated with killed trophonts (the feeding stage of the parasite) had a much greater degree of protection with approximately 50% of fish surviving an otherwise lethal challenge. Finally, animals injected intraperitoneally with live tomites showed nearly complete immunity and were identical in their response to fish which survive natural infection. The response of fish vaccinated with live parasites indicates that animals injected intraperitoneally can develop surface immunity and that i.p. injection is a suitable route of administration for potential I. multifiliis vaccines.     

A Method for In vivo Propagation of the Necrotizing Hepatopancreatitis Bacterium (NHPB) in Litopenaeus vannamei

The necrotizing hepatopancreatitis bacterium (NHPB) is difficult to preserve and has not been propagated in vitro. NHPB can be maintained continuously by simply adding specific pathogen free (SPF) shrimp to tanks containing NHPB‐infected shrimp. However, obtaining large amounts of highly concentrated infectious material free of contaminating bacterial flora for repeating challenge experiments was found to be exceedingly difficult using the current published methods. Therefore, a system was implemented using visible implant elastomer (VIE) tags to identify animals within a propagation tank by introduction group. Utilizing this method allowed for continuous reproduction of NHP within propagation tanks and provided researchers with access to infectious material allowing for consistent replication of challenge experiments and concentrated material for preservation.     

Immunosuppression in juvenile carp, Cyprinus carpio L.: the effects of the corticosteroids triamcinolone acetonide and hydrocortisone 21-hemisuccinate (cortisol) on acquired immunity and the humoral antibody response to Ichthyophthirius multifiliis Fouquet

Abstract. Juvenile carp, Cyprinus carpio L., were immunized against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis following controlled exposure to the infective theront stage. On challenge, with a potentially lethal dose of theronts, all immunized fish survived, in contrast to 100% mortality in non-immunized fish. Fourteen days following exposure to the challenge infection, immune and non-immune fish were injected intraperitoneally with either triamcinolone acetonide or hydrocortisone 21-hemisuccinate (cortisol) at doses of 100 μg or 10 μg/g body weight. Controls, including immunized and non-immunized fish, were injected with saline or left untreated. Six days following corticosteroid administration, fish were exposed to challenge infections of I multifiliis. All fish treated with corticosteroid developed heavy infections with up to 100% mortality. Repeat experiments gave comparable results. Serum antibody levels recorded in similarly treated fish at intervals of 12 h and/or 1 week following corticosteroid administration were found to be relatively unaffected. The results are discussed in relation to the immune response to I multifiliis .     

Mandibular fractures in cattle--treatment and results

The results of a retrospective investigation of 25 cases of mandibular fractures in cattle are reported; 19 animals were treated and 6 slaughtered without therapy. Five cases of unilateral fracture of the pars molaris healed with conservative therapy, whereas the same method of treatment was unsuccessful in four cases with compound fractures (2 x pars incisiva, 1 x diastema, 1 x pars molaris) and in one with multiple fractures of the corpus and ramus of the mandible. For animals with symphyseal fractures, surgical fixation using cerclage wire (three cases) proved successful, as did percutaneous fixation in six animals with fractures of the diastema or body of the mandible. The fractures healed well in 14 out of 19 treated cattle and the animals were retained, on average, for a further four years.     

The occurrence of hyena disease in young cattle]

Eight juvenile cattle with symptoms of hyena disease are described. This represents the first occurrence of the condition in the Republic of Poland. The growth of the affected animals was retarded, with a marked difference in longitudinal growth of the femoral, humeral, tibial and metatarsal bones. The animals showed altered nickel, manganese and inorganic phosphate concentrations, which may be related to the disease. The genetic studies did not reveal any aetiological factors.     

Salmonid fish viruses and cell interactions at early steps of the infective cycle

A flow cytometric virus-binding assay that directly visualizes the binding and entry of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV), infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) and virus haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) to several cell lines was established. The highest efficiency of binding was shown by the BF-2 cell line and this was used to study, at the attachment level, the interactions of these cells with salmonid fish viruses in coinfections, and to further determine if the earliest stage of the viral growth cycle could explain the previously described loss of infectivity of IHNV when IPNV is present. Our results demonstrated that IPNV binds to around 88% of cells either in single or dual infections, whereas IHNV attachment always decreased in the presence of any of the other viruses. VHSV binding was not affected by IPNV, but coinfection with IHNV reduced the percentage of virus-binding cells, which suggests competition for viral receptors or co-receptors. Internalization of the adsorbed IHNV was not decreased by coinfection with IPNV, so the hypothetical competence could be restricted to the binding step. Treatment of the cells with antiviral agents, such as amantadine or chloroquine, did not affect the binding of IPNV and VHSV, but reduced IHNV binding by more than 30%. Tributylamine affected viral binding of the three viruses to different degrees and inhibited IPNV or IHNV entry in a large percentage of cells treated for 30 min. Tributylamine also inhibited IHNV cytopathic effects in a dose-dependent manner, decreasing the virus yield by 4 log of the 50% endpoint titre, at 10 mm concentration. IPNV was also inhibited, but at a lower level. The results of this study support the hypothesis that IHNV, in contrast to VHSV or IPNV, is less efficient at completing its growth cycle in cells with a simultaneous infection with IPNV. It can be affected at several stages of viral infection and is more sensitive to the action of antiviral compounds.     

Metacarpal and metatarsal fractures in cattle. Treatment and results

94 cattle with 97 metacarpal or metatarsal fractures were presented at the Department of Veterinary Surgery of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit?t, Munich, between 1970 and 1987. The cause of fracture was incorrect traction during assisted delivery in almost one third (30.9%) of cases. Eighty-two animals were treated. 59 out of 73 cattle treated conservatively and 7 out of 9 which were operated, could be healed. In 38 animals the fracture healed without malpositioning; 28 developed a shortening or bending of the affected limb, which, with the exception of one case, did not functionally impair the animals. Complications occurred in 22 patients (= 26.9%); in closed fractures the reason was predominantly due to dislocation of the fragments within the cast, whereas an osteomyelitis was usually the cause in the case of the open fractures.     

Stomach ulcers in the horse--clinical and gastroscopic findings in 12 horses (1989-1990)

Twelve horses with clinical symptoms of a gastric disorder were studied by gastroscopy. Symptoms of gastric disorders were periprandial colic, bruxism, ructus and reflux. Preliminary to gastroscopy the horses were fasted for 24 h. Access to water was not restricted. The gastroscopy could be conducted easily using a fiberscope 2.5 m in length and 11 mm in outer diameter. While ulcers were present in the squamous fundus of all horses only one horse showed ulceration of the glandular fundus. Solitary ulcers near the margo plicatus were found in horses with mild clinical symptoms. In contrast, diffuse gastroesophageal ulceration was accompanied by severe clinical symptoms. Four horses were affected by an acute gastroesophageal ulceration with gastric reflux and subsequent aspiration pneumonia. Two of those horses suffered from acute gastric ulceration 3-4 days following laparatomy. All horses were treated with cimetidine (5 mg/kg bwt/q.i.d.) until clinical symptoms ceased.     

The influence of haemocyte number on the resistance of the freshwater crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus Dana, to the parasitic fungus Aphanomyces astaci

Abstract. The number of circulating haemocytes in crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus Dana, was reduced after injection of yeast cell walls (Zymosan) into the animals. Crayfish harbouring the parasitic fungus A. astaci as a 'latent' infection in melanized areas in the cuticle died due to unrestricted growth of unmelanized hyphae when they were injected with Zymosan. The β–1,3–gIucan laminaran, introduced into the haemocoel of P. leniusculus harbouring A. astaci hyphae in the cuticle, also caused a decrease in the total haemocyte counts (THC), but these animals survived the treatment and no unmelanized hyphae of A, astaci were found. The recovery of THC was found to be more rapid after laminaran injection than after Zymosan injection, which could explain why laminaran treated crayfish retained their resistance and could combat the A. astaci hyphae in the cuticle. The importance of the number of haemocytes in defence and well-being of crayfish is discussed.     

感染溶藻弧菌对日本蟳肝胰腺免疫功能的影响

摘 要：为探讨日本蟳感染溶藻弧菌的致病机理,采用溶藻弧菌人工感染健康日本蟳,分析了感染前后日本蟳肝胰腺 PO、SOD和LSZ活性变化及注射免疫多糖后的免疫保护率,并研究了细胞超微结构的病理组织学。结果表明：日本蟳感染溶藻弧菌后,肝胰腺中PO、SOD和 LSZ的活性均受到不同程度的影响,感染6~12 h,3种酶的活性均有一个上升的过程,但之后随时间的延长呈现下降趋势;免疫感染组因感染弧菌前注射了免疫多糖,日本蟳肝胰腺中PO、SOD和LSZ酶活性均显著高于感染组的酶活性,感染7 d后的免疫保护率高达72.73％,表明免疫多糖可提高酶的活性,使机体的抗病菌能力增强。超微结构显示：对照组日本蟳肝胰腺细胞结构形态正常,上皮细胞表面的微绒毛排列整齐,各细胞器结构完整;免疫组内质网、糖原颗粒和线粒体丰富,微绒毛排列致密;感染组肝胰腺组织受到明显的损伤,细胞和部分微绒毛脱落、受损;线粒体和粗面内质网变形、水肿或仅剩一空泡;核高度异染色质化,核膜破裂。与感染组相比,免疫后感染组具有形态结构较正常的细胞核、整齐致密的微绒毛和丰富的溶酶体,但依然可见水肿的内质网和狭长畸变的线粒体。     

Quantitative expression (Walbaum) of immunological factors in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), after infection with either Flavobacterium psychrophilum, Aeromonas salmonicida, or infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus

To further enhance our understanding of immunological gene expression in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, after infection with naturally occurring pathogens, a series of probes and primers were developed for the quantification of immune factors. Separate groups of specific-pathogen-free rainbow trout were infected with either Flavobacterium psychrophilum, Aeromonas salmonicida or infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV). Three different concentrations of each pathogen were used and samples from infected and mock-infected fish were taken at either 1 or 5 days after infection. Ten fish were sampled at each time point for individual sections of liver, spleen and head kidney. Organ specimens from five of the fish were used to re-isolate and quantify the pathogen at the time the samples were taken. Total RNA was extracted from the organs of the remaining five animals. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction with fluorescent-labelled probes, the RNA from these organs was examined for the level of expression of the following immunological factors; an interferon related protein (MX-1), interleukin-8 (IL-8), the cytotoxic T-cell marker CD-8 and complement factor C3 (C3). They were also measured for the level of beta-actin, which was used as a standardization control for cellular RNA expression. Infection with IHNV produced the greatest change in expression level for all the immunological related factors examined in this study. IHNV elicited the best dose response profile, which was typically seen at 5-days post-infection for MX-1, C3, IL-8 and CD-8. Infection with A. salmonicida and F. psychrophilum showed elevated, but variable expression levels for several of the genes tested.     

Effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) or Aroclor 1254 on the resistance of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, to infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus

Abstract. Sublethal exposure of rainbow trout fry, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) did not significantly affect mortality or mean time to death following challenge with infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV). Rainbow trout fry were fed experimental diets containing 0, 5. 50 or 500 μg/g of the technical polychlorinated biphenyl mixture, Aroclor 1254, for 30 days or were injected intraperitoneally with graded single doses of TCDD. Fish from each treatment group were challenged by immersion exposure to IHNV. At early time points following virus challenge, histopathologic lesions due to virus disease were more severe and occurred more frequently in virus-challenged fish which received either toxicant than in virus-challenged control fish. Taken together, these findings suggest that rainbow trout are less sensitive than mammalian species to the sublethal effects of these structurally related toxicants on resistance to viral disease. However, a subtle effect of these chemicals on the pathogenesis of the virus disease is suggested by the histopathologic data.