The experimental production of big liver and spleen disease in broiler breeder hens

SUMMARY Big liver and spleen disease (BLS) was reproduced experimentally by intravenous (IV) and oral (PO) administration of BLS inocula to susceptible broiler breeder hens 34 to 36 weeks of age. Serological and pathological signs of BLS similar to those seen in the natural disease occurred in inoculated and in-contact birds. Splenomegaly was the earliest and often the only necropsy finding, with hepatomegaly and kidney enlargement occurring in some birds later in the course of the disease. After IV administration, serum antigen was detected between 2 and 4 weeks, and antibody between 3 and 5 weeks. After PO administration, antigen was detected between 2 and 4 weeks, and antibody between 3 and 6 weeks. Antibody persisted in all birds to the end of the experiment (6 weeks), and horizontal transmission probably occurred since in-contact birds developed BLS. Liver probably contained the highest concentration of BLS agent because it had the highest infectivity.     

Comparison of solvent systems for extracting herbicide residues from weathered field soils

The extraction from several field soils of the four herbicides benzoylprop-ethyl, nitrofen, profluralin, and tri-allate applied at least 6 months previously was compared using six solvent systems. The residues extracted were quantified using gas chromatographic techniques. Similar recoveries were achieved using 30% aqueous acetonitrile or acetonitrile + water + glacial acetic acid mixtures. The presence of the acetic acid was found to increase residues extracted only in the case of tri-allate. Methanol and 10% aqueous acetonitrile were slightly less efficient in recovering residues from the weathered field soils whereas acetone tended to be a poor solvent for the extraction of the chemicals studied.     

Sampling Shrimp Populations in Hatcheries

Abstract.– Shrimp populations were estimated with volumetric sampling techniques during different phases of hatchery operations. Factors considered which might effect precision of estimates included stage age, density and temperature. Estimates of nauplii were obtained with coefficient of variation values smaller than 3% when nauplii were concentrated in 20-L buckets and smaller than 8% when released in 13,000 L of water in larval rearing tanks. In both cases estimates were of sufficient precision to make management decisions for routine hatchery work. A technique was developed for estimating shrimp populations in larval rearing tanks with coefficient of variation values smaller than 15%. Volumetric sampling of postlarvae older than PL₄, in larval rearing tanks was highly variable due to the tendency of shrimp to congregate and attach to tank walls and bottoms. A direct relationship was observed between postlarval density and the precision of population estimates in harvest buckets. Water temperature and postlarval age did not affect precision at the densities and ages studied. These findings have important implications for commercial transactions. Industry standards utilizing coefficient of variation are recommended for larvae and postlarvae population estimates.     

The effects of IgG2 and of antigen concentration on prozoning in the complement fixation test for bovine brucellosis.

Addition of Brucella-specific IgG2 to solutions of Brucella-specific IgG1 initially induced prozoning and at higher concentrations prevented all reaction in the complement fixation test (CFT) for bovine brucellosis. Some infected cattle may be diagnosed as brucellosis-free due to a high ratio of specific IgG2 to IgG1. Increasing the concentration of antigen in the CFT reduced the tendency to prozone.     

Porcine circovirus diseases

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is a member of the family Circoviridae, a recently established virus family composed of small, non-enveloped viruses, with a circular, single-stranded DNA genome. PCV2, which is found all over the world in the domestic pig and probably the wild boar, has been recently associated with a number of disease syndromes, which have been collectively named porcine circovirus diseases (PCVD). Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS) and reproductive disorders are the most relevant ones. Among them, only PMWS is considered to have a severe impact on domestic swine production. PMWS mainly affects nursery and/or fattening pigs; wasting is considered the most representative clinical sign in this disease. Diagnosis of this disease is confirmed by histopathological examination of lymphoid tissues and detection of a moderate to high amount of PCV2 in damaged tissues. Since PMWS is considered a multifactorial disease in which other factors in addition to PCV2 are needed in most cases to trigger the clinical disease, effective control measures have focused on the understanding of the co-factors involved in individual farms and the control or elimination of these triggers. PDNS, an immuno-complex disease characterized by fibrino-necrotizing glomerulonephritis and systemic necrotizing vasculitis, has been linked to PCV2, but a definitive proof of this association is still lacking. PCV2-associated reproductive disease seems to occur very sporadically under field conditions, but it has been characterized by late-term abortions and stillbirths, extensive fibrosing and/or necrotizing myocarditis in fetuses and the presence of moderate to high amounts of PCV2 in these lesions. Taking into account that scientific information on PCV2 and its associated diseases has been markedly expanded in the last 8 years, the objective of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge of the most relevant aspects of PCV2 biology and PCVD.     

Osteochondrosis of the elbow: a review of the pathogenesis and a new approach to treatment

SUMMARY To test the hypothesis that joint incongruity contributes to the pathogenesis of elbow osteochondrosis, the left and right radius and ulna of 20 young large breed dogs were measured to determine any variation in length and to observe any incongruity of the elbow joint. Both lame and normal dogs were included in the study. Nine of the 20 dogs had marked disparity in radial and ulnar lengths yet only one had obvious elbow joint incongruity. The use of a sliding osteotomy for the treatment of fragmented coronoid process and a lengthening osteotomy for the treatment of an ununited anconeal process is also discussed. All four dogs treated with a sliding osteotomy showed a marked clinical improvement, and two of the three dogs treated with a lengthening osteotomy showed radiographic fusion of the anconeal process.