Viral and bacterial agents associated with experimental transmission of infectious proventriculitis of broiler chickens.

Proventriculitis of broilers can be reproduced by oral inoculation of day-old chicks with a proventricular homogenate from affected 3-wk-old broilers. The objective of the following studies was to isolate from this homogenate viral and bacterial isolates that could produce proventriculitis. A monoclonal antibody to infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was used to precipitate virus from the homogenate. A primary chicken digestive tract cell culture system was also used to isolate virus from a 0.2-microm filtrate of the homogenate, and a bacterium was also isolated from the homogenate. In trial 1, day-old birds were orally inoculated with either proventriculus homogenate or monoclonal antibody immunoprecipitated IBDV (MAB-IBDV). At 4, 7, 14, and 21 days postinfection (PI), 12 birds from each treatment group were subjected to necropsy. In trial 2, day-old birds were orally inoculated with either infectious proventriculus homogenate, suspect virus isolated in cell culture and propagated in embryo livers and spleens, or a bacterial isolate. Twelve birds from each treatment were subjected to necropsy at days 7, 14, 21, and 28 PI. In trial 3, treatments were maintained in negative pressure isolation chambers, and an additional treatment included virus plus bacterial isolate. Twenty-four birds from each treatment were subjected to necropsy at day 21 PI. In trial 1, infectious homogenate decreased body weight and relative gizzard weights at 4, 7, 14, and 21 days PI. Proventriculus relative weight was increased at days 7, 14, and 21 PI, and proventriculus lesion scores were increased at days 14 and 21 PI. Bursa/spleen weight ratios were decreased at day 14, and feed conversion was increased at days 4 and 21. The MAB-IBDV treatment decreased proventriculus and gizzard relative weights at day 4 PI, increased proventriculus lesion scores and bursa/spleen weight ratios at day 14, and decreased heterophil/lymphocyte ratios at day 21. In trial 2, all infected birds had significantly higher mean relative proventriculus weights at 21 days PI and had higher 4-wk mean proventriculus scores as compared with both control groups. In trial 3, birds treated with homogenate and birds treated with both suspect virus and the bacterial isolate had significantly higher proventriculus lesion scores; higher relative weights of proventriculus, gizzard, liver, and heart; lower body weights; and lower relative bursa weights compared with the saline control group. These studies suggest that infectious proventriculitis has a complex etiology involving both viral and bacterial infection.     

Sinnesphysiologische Untersuchungen an Schmetterlingsraupen und ihre praktische Bedeutung

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Literarische Berichte

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Puncture Wounds of the Navicular Bursa in 38 Horses A Retrospective Study

The medical records of 38 horses with puncture wounds of the navicular bursa were reviewed. Only 12 horses had a satisfactory outcome (breeding or riding). Of the remaining 26 horses, 19 were euthanized, five were sold due to persistent severe lameness, one died, and one was lost to long-term follow-up. Different combinations of conservative management prior to surgical debridement and drainage of the navicular bursa were unsuccessful in resolving the condition. Horses that were treated surgically within 1 week of the injury and had a hind leg affected had the best chance of a satisfactory outcome. Additional wound debridement was necessary in 15 horses after initial surgical treatment. The most common complications encountered were navicular bone osteomyelitis and sepsis of the deep digital flexor tendon. Thirteen of 14 horses that had rupture of the deep digital flexor tendon and subluxation of the distal interphalangeal joint had an unsatisfactory outcome. One mare subsequently developed ankylosis of the distal interphalangeal joint and was a useful brood mare. Two horses that had biaxial palmar digital neurectomy because of persistent lameness were later euthanized because of navicular bone fracture and rupture of the deep digital flexor tendon. Results from limited numbers of bacterial cultures and antibiotic sensitivities suggest that penicillin and an aminoglycoside antibiotic should be used as initial antibiotic therapy. Immediate surgical debridement and appropriate antibiotic treatment are recommended as the minimum therapy for penetrating wounds of the navicular bursa in horses.     

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies directed against swine leukocytes

Hybridomas were produced from fusions of the SP2/0 mouse myeloma with splenic cells from: 1) an outbred Sprague Dawley rat immunized with swine peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) cells; 2) a (CBA/NDub X BALB/c Dub) F1 mouse immunized with concanavalin A (Con A) activated swine PBM cells and 3) a (BALB/c Dub X C3H/He Dub) F1 mouse immunized with swine thymocytes. The resulting supernatants were screened by a microcytotoxicity assay for activity against swine PBM cells. Four hybridomas (MSA1, MSA2, MSA3 and MSA4) were selected, cloned and characterized by their cell reactivity and effect on mitogenic assays. MSA1 and MSA2 belong to the rat IgG2b subclass. MSA3 and MSA4 are of the mouse IgG2a subclass. These monoclonal antibodies reacted in the following manner: MSA1 with monocytes, granulocytes, red blood cells and bone marrow cells; MSA2 with subset of T cells; MSA3 with B cells and subsets of T cells and monocytes (class II molecule) and MSA4, a pan-T cell reagent (E-rosette receptor). The involvement of the various cell types reactive to the different monoclonal antibodies in the mitogenic response of swine PBM cells to Con A, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or pokeweed mitogen (PWM) was investigated by cellular depletion with monoclonal antibody plus complement. Cellular depletion of PBM cells with the following monoclonal antibodies plus complement treatment resulted in: MSA1, almost total reduction in the mitogenic response to low doses of Con A or PWM; MSA2, partial reduction in the proliferative responses to any concentration of Con A, PHA or PWM; MSA3, partial reduction in proliferative responses to low concentrations of Con A or PWM and 4) MSA4, total elimination of any proliferative response to Con A, PHA or PWM.