Ultrastructural observations on autolytic changes of atrial specific granules in pig heart.

The progressive autolytic changes of atrial specific granules (ASGS) up to 24 hours after death were studied electron microscopically. Tissue samples taken from the left auricular myocardium of four pig hearts at 0, 0.5, 1.5, 3.5, 6, 12 and 24 hours post mortem were fixed for 24 hours by immersion in 2.5 per cent cacodylate buffered glutaraldehyde (pH 7.4). Two pig hearts were kept at 20 degrees C and two at 4 degrees C. Although typical autolytic changes were seen in many organelles, no remarkable modifications in aspect, distribution, content and diameter of ASGS were observed in all samples. The results of this study indicate that ASGS are not morphologically affected by the autolytic processes, at least during the first 24 hours. Hence, the electron microscopic evaluation of ASGS does not need a particular fixation method such as perfusion. This may eliminate technical problems when slaughterhouse material is used.     

Proliferative osteitis of the femoral greater trochanter and humeral medial epicondyle as a cause of lameness in sows.

Thirteen chronically lame female breeding pigs were examined clinically and post mortem. Of the eight sows with hindleg lameness, one showed detachment of the ischial tuberosity and a second showed detachment of the ischial tuberosity on the left and a mid-shaft femoral fracture on the right. Two showed no lesions apart from a change in the positional relationship between the femoral head and the greater trochanter, resulting in a lowering of the femoral head. In the remaining four sows an apparently unreported condition was seen, which produced a proliferative osteitis of the greater trochanter. All five animals lame in the forelimb showed varying degrees of proliferative osteitis of the medial epicondyle of the humerus. Advanced cases could be palpated in the live animal. It is proposed that proliferative osteitis may be a response, at the point of attachment of the muscle masses of the major limbs, to the trauma of over exertion.     

Immunologic responses in healthy random-source cats fed N,N-dimethylglycine-supplemented diets.

The immunomodulatory capacities of N,N-dimethylglycine (DMG) were examined in random-source cats. Blood mononuclear leukocytes of healthy adult cats that had negative results to tests for FeLV and feline immunodeficiency virus were exposed in vitro to various concentrations of DMG (10 to 1,000 micrograms/ml) and were evaluated for proliferative responses to T- or B-cell phytomitogens. Although increased, mean lymphocyte blastogenic responses to phytolectins in DMG-treated cultures did not differ significantly from responses of untreated cultures. For in vivo studies, cats were given a solution containing either 100 mg of DMG or a control solution without DMG orally at 8 AM and 6 PM for 40 consecutive days. On post-treatment day 24 and 25, mean blastogenic responses to phytolectins in DMG-treated and control cats inoculated 10 days earlier with an inactivated feline virus vaccine were similar. Cats given DMG and inoculated twice in a 3-week interval with a commercial vaccine containing inactivated feline herpesvirus-1 and feline calicivirus had significantly (P = 0.045) lower virus neutralizing serum antibody titers against feline herpesvirus-1, compared with titers of control cats, whereas feline calicivirus titers were similar in both groups. On day 25, mean serum interferon activity, induced after IV inoculation of Newcastle disease virus, was significantly (P = 0.021) lower in the DMG-treated cats. Results of this study of DMG in healthy cats failed to demonstrate enhancement of either specific or nonspecific immunity.     

Blindness associated with toxoplasmosis in canaries.

Seven of 30 canaries in an aviary in New Zealand developed ophthalmic problems. Clinically, 5 birds had unilateral and 2 birds had bilateral lesions characterized by conjunctivitis, crusty exudates on eyelids, and collapse of the eyeball. Microscopic lesions in 12 of 14 eyes examined included inflammation of the choroid and retina, with osseous replacement of the globe in some. Numerous Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites were seen in the detached retina and vitreous humor of acutely affected birds. The diagnosis of toxoplasmosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining with T gondii antiserum. Affected birds had encephalitis, and T gondii was localized in the brains of these by immunohistochemical examination and by use of bioassays in mice. Toxoplasmosis should be considered in differential diagnosis of ophthalmitis in canaries.     

Comparison of a vaccine strain and field isolates of avian reovirus by T1-oligonucleotide mapping.

Total RNA of eight avian reovirus isolates and the S1133 strain were compared by RNase T1-oligonucleotide mapping. The viruses were propagated in Vero cell cultures, and viral genomes were extracted from purified virions for comparison. Pairwise comparisons of the oligonucleotide maps showed genetic variation among reovirus isolates ranging from 78% to 99%. The T1 fingerprints of the RNA of isolates 1103, 724, 615, and 684 differed slightly from the standard S1133 strain, suggesting that the vaccine strain might have changed and became part of the circulating reoviruses. In contrast, when compared with the vaccine strain, isolates 902, 644, and 6207 showed greater differences in the fingerprint pattern. This genomic diversity may be due to the differences in immunological status of the affected avian population and/or due to simultaneous coinfection with different reovirus strains.     

Increasing number of Salmonella paratyphi B isolates from slaughtered poultry sent in to the national Salmonella reference laboratory.]

In the last years the number of isolations of Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar paratyphi B (S. paratyphi B) sent to the national salmonella reference laboratory of Germany has increased steadily. Most of the isolates originated from fowl or poultry products. The bacteriological, serological and biochemical properties of the isolates were investigated. Special emphasis was given to the utilization of d-tartrate which subgroups the serovar. All of them belonged to the d-tartrate positive variant, which is generally considered less virulent for humans and was formerly called S. java. The performance of various tests is compared and in addition the possibility of the spread within the production line is discussed.     

Staining pattern of the brush border and detection of cytoplasmic granules in the uriniferous tubules of female DBA/2Cr mouse kidney: comparison among various fixations and stains.

The proximal straight tubules of the female mouse kidney exhibit heavy periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining in their brush borders and numerous cytoplasmic granules. In the present study, the female DBA/2Cr mouse kidney was examined, using various fixatives (formalin, PFA, PLP, Zamboni's, Bouin, or Carnoy solution) and various staining methods (HE, PAS, alcian blue, periodic acid methenamine-silver (PAM), toluidine blue, azan, or Congo red). Under azan and PAM, the staining pattern of the brush border was similar to that of PAS, and few effects of the fixative were observed. Cytoplasmic granules were clearly detected with PAM as well as PAS. However, these granules were not detected with Carnoy solution. Furthermore, distribution of granules differed between PAS and PAM.     

Pilot study of the effect of acemannan in cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus.

Acemannan, a complex carbohydrate shown to stimulate interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor alpha and prostaglandin E2 production by macrophages, has also demonstrated antiviral activity in vitro against human immunodeficiency virus, Newcastle disease virus and influenza virus. A pilot study was undertaken to determine acemannan's effect in 49 feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infected cats with clinical signs of disease (Stage 3, 4 or 5), 23 of which had severe lymphopenia. Cats received acemannan either by intravenous (Group 1) or subcutaneous (Group 2) injection once weekly for 12 weeks, or by daily oral (Group 3) administration for 12 weeks. Upon entry into the study, cats were randomly assigned to one of the three groups. Laboratory analyses were performed at the beginning of the study and at Weeks 6 and 12. Cats were allowed to continue with a predetermined maintenance regimen of acemannan after completing the 12-week study. Thirteen cats died during the course of treatment. Upon necropsy, the most frequent histopathologic findings were neoplastic, kidney and pancreatic disease. Friedman's two-way ANOVA test showed no significant differences in efficacy among groups administered acemannan by the different routes. Therefore, groups were combined and a signed-ranks test was used to determine changes over time. A significant increase was seen in lymphocyte counts (P < 0.001). Neutrophil counts decreased significantly (P = 0.007), as did incidence of sepsis (P = 0.008). When cats entering with lymphopenia were analyzed separately, a much greater increase in lymphocyte counts was noted (235%) compared with non-lymphopenic cats (42%). A survival rate of 75% was found for all three groups. Thirty-six of 49 animals are alive 5-19 months post-entry. These results suggest that acemannan therapy may be of significant benefit in FIV-infected cats exhibiting clinical signs of disease.     

Evaluation of abomasal outflow diversion as an experimental model of hypochloremic, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis in lactating cows.

Four adult, lactating dairy cows were subjected to diversion (loss) of gastric contents through a T-shaped cannula placed in the cranial part of the duodenum just distal to the pylorus. Diversion was continued for 10 to 12 hours, at which point the cows were very weak and depressed. The volume of effluent during this period ranged from 37.3 to 46.8 L, with the largest volume being produced during the first four hours. All cows became dehydrated, with mean packed cell volume and total plasma protein concentration increasing 30% and 19.6%, respectively, but with only a slight increase in plasma creatinine concentration. Plasma Cl- concentrations decreased from a mean of 97.3 mEq/L at the beginning of diversion to a mean of 87.2 mEq/L at eight hours. This was followed by a plateau or slight increase in concentrations over the final hours of diversion. Plasma K+ concentration followed a similar pattern, decreasing from a mean of 3.9 mEq/L to a mean of 2.94 mEq/L at six hours, followed by increasing values until termination of diversion. No changes in plasma Na+ concentration were noted, except for a mild decrease in one cow. Plasma calcium concentrations decreased significantly, reaching 6.6 +/- 0.6 mEq/L at the end of diversion. Venous pH, plasma HCO3- concentration, and plasma base excess concentration increased during the first four to eight hours of diversion, followed by a gradual decline. Although a mild hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis resulted from diversion of abomasal outflow in all cows, substantiated by a mild increase in plasma strong ion difference, the changes observed were not as great as expected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)