Three cases of disputed paternity in dogs resolved by the use of DNA fingerprinting

DNA fingerprinting with the probes 33.15 and alpha-globin 3'HVR has been used to resolve three cases of disputed paternity in dogs. For each pedigree it was necessary to establish which bands in the DNA fingerprints of the offspring were of paternal origin, and then establish which putative sire carried all these bands. In the first case, a litter of Rhodesian Ridgebacks, twelve DNA bands were informative in establishing paternity. In the second case, a litter of Afghan hounds, five DNA bands established paternity, Lastly, in a litter of Border collies, five DNA bands established paternity. In each case a single dog only sired the entire litter.     

New predators for biocontrol under glass

Several species ofOrius are under investigation in the UK, Europe and North America for the biological control of thrips, especially western flower thrips(Frankliniella occidentalis). The available species are briefly compared and findings on effectiveness and oviposition ofO. laevigatus are reported.     

Pharmacokinetics of articaine hydrochloride and its metabolite articainic acid after subcutaneous administration in red deer (Cervus elaphus)

AIM: To develop and validate a simple and sensitive method using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for quantification of articaine, and its major metabolite articainic acid, in plasma of red deer (Cervus elaphus), and to investigate the pharmacokinetics of articaine hydrochloride and articainic acid in red deer following S/C administration of articaine hydrochloride as a complete ring block around the antler pedicle.

METHODS: The LC-MS method was validated by determining linearity, sensitivity, recovery, carry-over and repeatability. Articaine hydrochloride (40?mg/mL) was administered S/C to six healthy male red deer, at a dose of 1?mL/cm of pedicle circumference, as a complete ring block around the base of each antler. Blood samples were collected at various times over the following 12 hours. Concentrations in plasma of articaine and articainic acid were quantified using the validated LC-MS method. Pharmacokinetic parameters of articaine and articainic acid were estimated using non-compartmental analysis.

RESULTS: Calibration curves were linear for both articaine and articainic acid. The limits of quantifications for articaine and articainic acid were 5 and 10?ng/mL, respectively. Extraction recoveries were >72% for articaine and >68% for articainic acid. After S/C administration as a ring block around the base of each antler, mean maximum concentrations in plasma (C_max) of articaine were 1,013.9 (SD 510.1) ng/mL, detected at 0.17 (SD 0.00) hours, and the C_max for articainic acid was 762.6 (SD 95.4) ng/mL at 0.50 (SD 0.00) hours. The elimination half-lives of articaine hydrochloride and articainic acid were 1.12 (SD 0.17) and 0.90 (SD 0.07) hours, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The LC-MS method used for the quantification of articaine and its metabolite articainic acid in the plasma of red deer was simple, accurate and sensitive. Articaine hydrochloride was rapidly absorbed, hydrolysed to its inactive metabolite articainic acid, and eliminated following S/C administration as a ring block in red deer. These favourable pharmacokinetic properties suggest that articaine hydrochloride should be tested for efficacy as a local anaesthetic in red deer for removal of velvet antlers. Further studies to evaluate the safety and residues of articaine hydrochloride and articainic acid are required before articaine can be recommended for use as a local anaesthetic for this purpose.     

The use of incidence counts for estimation of cereal aphid populations. 3. Population development and the incidencedensity relation

The relation between the population density of the cereal aphid,Sitobion avenae, and the proportion of wheat tillers infested is examined. Three of the six models considered require the assumption that the aphids' spatial configuration can be described by a single statistical distribution; as this is not true forS. avenae these models are unsuitable. When the other three models were applied to field sample data, only that of Nachman (1981) yielded a regression equation that remained constant throughout the development of the aphid population.Samenvatting Om in de praktijk gebruik te kunnen maken van incidentie (de fractie bezette halmen) voor het schatten van graanluispopulaties moet dezelfde relatie tussen dichtheid en incidentie tijdens het hele groeiseizoen gelden. Uit analyses van veldgegevens voor de graanluisSitobion avenae blijkt dat wel het geval te zijn, zodat bepalingen van incidentie kunnen worden gebruikt om de populatiedichtheid betrouwbaar te schatten.     

Safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity of a modified-live equine influenza virus vaccine in ponies after induction of exercise-induced immunosuppression

OBJECTIVE: To determine safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity of an intranasal cold-adapted modified-live equine influenza virus vaccine administered to ponies following induction of exercise-induced immunosuppression. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: Fifteen 9- to 15-month old ponies that had not had influenza. PROCEDURE: Five ponies were vaccinated after 5 days of strenuous exercise on a high-speed treadmill, 5 were vaccinated without undergoing exercise, and 5 were not vaccinated or exercised and served as controls. Three months later, all ponies were challenged by nebulization of homologous equine influenza virus. Clinical and hematologic responses and viral shedding were monitored, and serum and nasal secretions were collected for determination of influenza-virus-specific antibody isotype responses. RESULTS: Exercise caused immunosuppression, as indicated by depression of lymphocyte proliferation in response to pokeweed mitogen. Vaccination did not result in adverse clinical effects, and none of the vaccinated ponies developed clinical signs of infection following challenge exposure. In contrast, challenge exposure caused marked clinical signs of respiratory tract disease in 4 control ponies. Vaccinated and control ponies shed virus after challenge exposure. Antibody responses to vaccination were restricted to serum IgGa and IgGb responses in both vaccination groups. After challenge exposure, ponies in all groups generated serum IgGa and IgGb and nasal IgA responses. Patterns of serum hemagglutination inhibition titers were similar to patterns of IgGa and IgGb responses. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that administration of this MLV vaccine to ponies with exercise-induced immunosuppression was safe and that administration of a single dose to ponies provided clinical protection 3 months later.     

A DNA vaccine encoding MPB83 from Mycobacterium bovis reduces M. bovis dissemination to the kidneys of mice and is expressed in primary cell cultures of the European badger (Meles meles)

Nucleic acid (DNA) vaccination against tuberculosis in the European badger (Meles meles) is one approach to addressing the escalating problem of bovine tuberculosis in Great Britain. The aim of vaccination is to reduce the burden of tuberculosis within the badger population and the shedding of Mycobacterium bovis to levels that would break the transmission of infection to cattle. To this end, the vaccine would be required to limit the amount of disseminated tuberculosis in the badger, especially dissemination to the kidney from where M. bovis can be shed in the urine. A promising candidate DNA vaccine encoding a 26 kDa major antigen (MPB83) of M. bovis was evaluated in a mouse model of disseminated M. bovis infection. Using the DNA vaccine, protection against infection of the kidney was found to be greater than that achieved with the current live vaccine, Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG). Kidney tissue and skeletal muscle from the badger was used to derive primary cell cultures in which to examine the expression of MPB83 following transfection with the DNA vaccine. Kidney cortex gave rise to a monotypic culture of epithelial cells whilst the muscle gave rise to a mixed culture of fibroblasts and myoblasts. During culture the myoblasts differentiated into multinucleated myotubes, verified by immunofluorescent detection of mammalian desmin. Successful expression of MPB83 by transfected epithelial and myotube cells was confirmed by immunofluorescence using a monoclonal antibody specific to the protein. These observations fulfil the early requirements for the development of a DNA vaccine for badger tuberculosis.     

蛋雏鸡传染性喉气管炎的诊治

鸡传染性喉气管炎(ILT)是由鸡传染性喉气管炎病毒引起的以剧烈咳嗽、气喘、高度呼吸困难和气管内有血样渗出物等为特征的一种急性呼吸道传染病.育成蛋鸡感染该病多有报道,而蛋雏鸡感染发病比较少见.本文以一起48日龄海兰褐蛋雏鸡传染性喉气管炎病例为题材,从发病情况、临床症状、病理剖检变化、诊断、防治等几个方面对该病做了详尽阐述.     

猪败血性链球菌与附红细胞体混合感染病例

猪败血性链球菌病是猪链球菌感染引起的一种急性败血性传染病,猪附红细胞体病是由猪附红细胞体寄生于猪红细胞而引起的一种散在的热性、溶血性传染病.本文以某猪场这2种病混合感染病例为题材,从发病基本情况、临床症状、剖检变化、实验室检验、防治措施等6个方面对该混合感染病例做了详尽的阐述.