Poor serologic response to upper respiratory infection with Mycoplasma synoviae in turkeys

Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) was isolated from a flock of commercial tom turkeys in which a small percentage of the birds exhibited clinical signs and lesions typical of MS synovitis. However, serologic testing of such flocks revealed poor to inconsistent reactivity by agglutination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or hemagglutination inhibition; isolation of MS from such flocks proved to be very difficult. Turkeys were challenged with one of the isolates (K4463B) either by aerosol or systemically by a combination of intravenous, foot pad, and eyedrop routes. Turkeys challenged by the systemic route responded normally to all serologic tests, whereas those challenged by aerosol either responded very poorly on all serologic tests or were seronegative up to 6 wk postchallenge even though they were positive for MS by tracheal culture. These results suggest that turkeys may harbor an upper respiratory infection with MS while remaining serologically negative.     

Client donation program for acquiring dogs and cats to teach veterinary gross anatomy

A donor program for procuring dogs and cats to meet the needs of anatomical instruction was initiated six years ago at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. The program was initiated in order to comply with state regulations that preclude the use of shelter animals and to satisfy ethical objections of students and faculty. The donor program has successfully met the animal needs for teaching gross anatomy and, in addition, provides opportunities to integrate clinical perspectives and ethics beginning from the first year of veterinary education.     

转基因植物疫苗研究进展

众多研究表明,病毒的抗原决定簇及细菌毒素亚单位均能在转基因植物中成功表达,并保持良好的免疫原性.与现有的疫苗生产体系相比,植物生产疫苗具有安全、经济、稳定、高效等优势.本文概述了利用不同受体植物生产疫苗的研究现状、免疫原性评价及免疫原基因的优化表达策略.     

First report of a geminivirus causing leaf curl disease on Trigonella corniculata evidenced by PCR using degenerate primers

A leaf curl and mottle disease was observed naturally affecting plants of Trigonella corniculata. A geminivirus was detected in infected plants by PCR using degenerate geminivirus primers and by Southern hybridization with a probe specific to tomato leaf curl begomovirus. This is the first report of a member of the Geminiviridae naturally occurring in T. corniculata.     

Ovipositional response ofHelicoverpa armigera to different cotton genotypes

The ovipositional response ofHelicoverpa armigera (Hübner) to different cotton varieties and species was studied under caged conditions. Maximum oviposition (51.6 eggs/female) was recorded on LH 900, a variety ofGossypium hirsutum, and minimum oviposition (3.0 eggs/female) on G 27, a variety ofG. arboreum. Oviposition, in general, was low (3 to 6.5 eggs/female) onarboreum cottons as compared withhirsutum. Of the number of factors found to affect the oviposition ofH. armigera, the trichome length on the upper surface of the leaf, rather than the density, was positively correlated (r = 0.687*). Among different months in the cropping season, oviposition was maximum (552.7) during April. Oviposition was higher on leaves than on other plant parts.     

Purification and Biological Characterization of Host-Specific SV-Toxins from Stemphylium vesicarium Causing Brown Spot of European Pear

ABSTRACT Culture filtrates of a pathogenic isolate (IT37) of Stemphylium vesicarium, causing brown spot of European pear, induced veinal necrosis only on pear leaves susceptible to the pathogen. Two host-specific toxins, SV-toxins I and II, were purified from culture filtrates of IT37 by successively using Amberlite XAD-2 resin adsorption, cellulose thin-layer chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography under three different sets of conditions. Susceptible cultivars showed veinal necrosis at a SV-toxin I concentration of 0.01 to 0.1 mug/ml, whereas resistant cultivars were insensitive to the toxin at 1,000 mug/ml. SV-toxins I and II caused a dose-dependent increase in electrolyte loss from susceptible leaf tissues. No increase in electrolyte loss was detected in leaf tissues from resistant cultivars. The results of physiological studies indicated that SV-toxins appear to have an early effect on plasma membranes of susceptible leaves. Spores of a nonpathogenic isolate induced necrotic lesions on susceptible leaves in the presence of a small amount of toxin. SV-toxins were detected in intercellular fluids obtained from diseased leaves after inoculation with the pathogen. The results indicate that SV-toxins I and II produced by S. vesicarium can be characterized as host-specific toxins.     

The Pattern of Enteroviral Infections in a Herd of Swine

Twenty-six pigs from four litters in a healthy herd of swine were examined periodically for the fecal excretion of viruses by the use of porcine kidney cell cultures. Viruses were initially isolated from all pigs between 34 to 64 days of age. The pigs within each litter began shedding virus in their feces approximately at the same time, usually within one week, and the type of virus initially recovered was usually the same. Subsequently, waves of infection with different enteroviruses appeared to occur during the observation period of six months. At least six antigenically different viruses were isolated from this herd over a 26-month period. Most, if not all, of these viruses were considered to belong to the enterovirus group. No disease was associated with these enteroviral infections.

The colostrum and milk of sows contained significant amounts of enteroviral antibodies. Prior to nursing, the serum of new-born pig contained no enteroviral antibodies but, shortly after nursing, high titers of such antibodies were present in the serum. Antibodies were detected in the feces of suckling pigs.