Survey of veterinary surgeons on the introduction of serological testing to assess revaccination requirements

Despite the discussion of the use of serological testing in canine vaccination protocols, no study has been published that investigates the opinions of the veterinary profession regarding the use of the test to assess revaccination requirements in dogs. This paper presents the results of a study designed to fill this research gap which was completed in 2009. Veterinary surgeons were asked to complete a questionnaire on different aspects of canine vaccination and the introduction of serological testing to determine revaccination requirements. Of the 448 questionnaires distributed, 243 replies were received (54.2 per cent) and of these, a significant majority (169/243; 69.5 per cent) of respondents would consider introducing serological testing. An average of 53.5 per cent of respondents practised tri-annual revaccination for the core diseases. A significant number of respondents (86/140; 61 per cent) who placed low importance on vaccine overload would consider introducing serological testing into canine vaccination programmes (P=0.002).     

Rupture of an aortic sinus aneurysm in a 15-year-old broodmare

A 15-year-old, Standardbred broodmare with an aortic sinus aneurysm developed rupture of the aneurysm with subsequent rupture of a tricuspid valve chorda tendinae, tricuspid regurgitation, acute right-sided congestive heart failure, and pulmonary thromboembolism. Shunting of blood from the aorta through the ruptured aneurysm into the right ventricle resulted in decreased renal perfusion and acute renal failure. Initially, treatment of the mare with analgesics, fluids, and digoxin resulted in clinical improvement, but the mare's condition deteriorated after 8 days and the mare was euthanatized due to unrelenting pain and a poor prognosis. Echocardiography was useful in diagnosis of the cardiac disease in the broodmare.     

The failure of flurofamide to control ureaplasma in bovine semen.

The flurofamide sensitivities of 21 bovine ureaplasma isolates were determined using the metabolic inhibition method. The 21 isolates included seven each of vaginal, preputial and seminal origin. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of flurofamide ranged from 0.0125 to 0.2 meg/mL against a ureaplasma titer of 10(4) organisms/mL. The minimum lethal concentrations ranged from less than or equal to 0.1 to 3.2 mcg/mL. Flurofamide was then evaluated in a system comparable to the procedure for semen extension with respect to temperature, time and dilution. The compound was found to be ineffective in reducing ureaplasma numbers in this system at levels up to 1500 mcg/mL.     

Monoclonal antibodies identify phenotypically and functionally distinct cell types in the bovine lymphoid system

Monoclonal antibodies were produced against bovine lymphoid cells. The reactivities of the antibodies for membrane determinants were examined on both cell suspensions and cryostat tissue sections prepared from bovine blood, thymus, spleen and lymph nodes. The antibodies were putatively grouped into sets which reacted with monomorphic and polymorphic determinants associated with bovine class I and class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens (MAbs P12 and P3, and R1 and P2 respectively), or associated with differentiation antigens expressed on T cells and monocytes (MAb P5) or exclusively on monocytes (MAb P8). The antibodies were used to identify the surface phenotypes of cells which stimulate (R1+ P5+ P8+) and proliferate (R1- P5+ P8-) in the bovine mixed leukocyte cultures, and cells which proliferate in response to the mitogen, concanavalin A (R1- P5+).     

Immunomodulation with killed Propionibacterium acnes in guinea pigs simultaneously vaccinated with Brucella abortus strain 19

Immunomodulation with killed Propionibacterium acnes was attempted in guinea pigs simultaneously vaccinated with Brucella abortus strain 19. Two groups, each comprised of 9 guinea pigs, were injected by different routes (s.c. and or i.v.) with 1.4 mg of P. acnes and 5 X 10(8) CFU of B. abortus, S-19, while 3 other groups each received either P. acnes, B. abortus S-19, or saline (s.c.). The antibody titers to B. abortus measured at 6, 10 and 14 weeks after vaccination indicated no significant (P less than 0.01) response in the 2 groups immunopotentiated with P. acnes concurrent with B. abortus S-19 vaccination. The delayed hypersensitivity response to 3 Brucella antigens conducted 8 weeks after immunization did not show a significant difference between the B. abortus S-19 vaccinated group compared with the 2 groups immunopotentiated and vaccinated. However, the proliferative response of lymphocytes to the B. abortus soluble antigen diluted 1:100 indicated significantly enhanced blastogenesis in the (s.c.) immunopotentiated and immunized guinea pigs compared with the B. abortus S-19 vaccinated group. A slightly enhanced response was also observed in the group immunopotentiated (i.v.) and vaccinated (s.c.). The guinea pigs were challenged with B. abortus strain 2308 and necropsied 4 weeks later. The mean splenic CFU of the Brucella in the group immunopotentiated (i.v.) and vaccinated (s.c.) was significantly decreased when compared with the guinea pigs vaccinated with B. abortus S-19 alone. These findings indicated that P. acnes administered simultaneously with B. abortus S-19 vaccine was able to augment the immune response in guinea pigs. Immunomodulation as evidenced by enhanced clearance of B. abortus from the spleens of immunopotentiated animals was presumably brought about by activated macrophages or a T-cell mediated cytolytic mechanism or both.     

Phylogenetic studies on lymphokines. Fish lymphocytes respond to human IL-1 and epithelial cells produce an IL-1 like factor

The results obtained indicate, that catfish peripheral blood lymphocytes recognize and respond to human IL-1. The second part of this report is dealing with a substance produced by carp epidermal cells with functional similarities to mammalian IL-1.     

Evaluation of leukapheresis and thrombocytapheresis in the horse

Continuous-flow centrifugation leukapheresis techniques were used to collect 300-ml volumes of leukocyte-rich plasma from 5 nonmedicated horses and from 5 corticosteroid-stimulated horses. White blood cell counts and differential counts were performed on the horses before (base line) and up to 48 hours after leukapheresis. Systemic administration of hydrocortisone increased numbers of total WBC and neutrophils and improved harvest of these cells. Nonmedicated horses had a mean yield of 3.38 X 10(10) leukocytes in the 300-ml volume. Stimulated horses yielded a mean of 6.88 X 10(10) leukocytes. After leukapheresis, WBC counts decreased a mean of 38% in nonstimulated horses and decreased a mean of 30% in stimulated horses. By 6 hours after leukapheresis, circulating WBC counts of horses in both groups had returned to preleukapheresis values. The relationship between neutrophil yield and the 4 variables (preleukapheresis WBC count, preleukapheresis neutrophil count, preleukapheresis lymphocyte count, and the PCV of the leukocyte-rich plasma) were examined, using simple (pair-wise) correlation and multiple linear regression. A significant positive correlation was found between neutrophil yield and preleukapheresis WBC and neutrophil counts. Because sodium citrate was used in the collection system to prevent extracorporeal blood coagulation, ionized and total serum calcium concentrations were monitored before and after leukapheresis. Although total serum calcium concentrations remained unchanged, ionized calcium concentrations decreased approximately 33% from base-line values during the 2-hour leukapheresis procedures. Occasional mild muscle fasciculations were the only adverse clinical signs of citrate toxicity exhibited by the horses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Isolation of Leptospira interrogans serovar bratislava from sows in Iowa

Leptospira interrogans serovar bratislava was recovered from 2 of 10 sows examined from an Iowa slaughterhouse. Isolations were made from the kidney and genital tract of each sow. Serovar bratislava is not included in vaccines because it has not been previously isolated in the United States.     

Pharmacokinetics of metronidazole given to horses by intravenous and oral routes

Serum and peritoneal fluid concentrations of metronidazole were determined in 6 healthy adult horses given the drug (25 mg/kg) by IV or oral routes. The disposition of metronidazole in horses given the drug by the IV route conformed to a 2-compartment model with a distribution half-life of 0.16 hours, an elimination half-life of 2.9 hours, and a body clearance of 0.40 +/- 0.05 L/kg/hr. The oral absorption half-life was 0.40 hours, and the bioavailability, 85.0 +/- 18.6%. Peritoneal fluid concentrations were approximately equal to serum concentrations at all times, regardless of the route of administration. On the basis of reported minimal inhibitory concentrations for anaerobic bacteria, a dosage of 15 to 25 mg/kg given orally 4 times daily was recommended.