High-resolution computed tomography of the mammalian lung.

High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was performed in 21 isolated animal lungs, from 4 mammalian species (pigs, rabbits, dogs, sheep). Gross and subgross central and peripheral lung morphology was determined by HRCT. Three distinct types of lungs can be identified, principally based on the extent of interlobular septal development; the relationship of major vessels to airways; and the thickness of the visceral pleura. Type-I lung is found in pigs, sheep, and cattle; type-II lung is found in rabbits, dogs, cats, and monkeys; and type-III lung is found in human beings and horses. These mammalian lungs were compared with human lungs. The potential use of HRCT to investigate specific human lung diseases in the aforementioned species also was considered.     

Seroprevalence of ovine progressive pneumonia virus in various domestic and wild animal species, and species susceptibility to the virus

Ovine progressive pneumonia is caused by a lentivirus of known infectivity only for sheep and goats. Virus susceptibility of 11 other species of animals was examined. Species included cattle, chickens, deer, dogs, goats, hamsters, horses, mice, pigs, rabbits, and rats. Of these species, only goats and rabbits could be experimentally infected with the virus. The infection in rabbits was acute, and virus did not persist or induce antibody production as it does in sheep and goats. Sera obtained from several people working in close contact with the virus and from several wild species, with unknown exposure history, were tested for antibodies to viral antigens. All results were negative. Knowledge of the host range of this virus is important for scientific studies and for virus eradication programs.     

Microtechnique for quantitative platelet isolation from blood enabling electronic counting and sizing of animal and human platelets

A technique for rapidly separating platelets from small quantities of whole blood is described. The isolation method allowed for counting and sizing platelets by electronic means, and counts with this new method were closely correlated with those obtained by phase microscopy. Platelet sizing was possible because of the inert and isotonic nature of the density-gradient medium used in the procedure. The technique was applicable to samples of blood from persons, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, dogs, mice, rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits. The isolation of platelets from whole blood of various species of animals was necessary for electronic counting because of the great variation in sizes of platelets and erythrocytes and the variable sedimentation properties of animal blood.     

Evaluation of serological tests for detecting tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) antibodies in animals

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in animals is not well understood yet. TBE virus (TBEV) serology in several host species could be valuable for epidemiological analyses in the field as well as for the detection of clinical cases. However, performance and suitability of the available test systems are not well assessed. Therefore, we evaluated two commercial TBEV-ELISA kits in a pilot study and compared them for their suitability in veterinary applications. For this purpose, we tested 163 field collected goat sera and evaluated the results by serum neutralization test (SNT) as "gold standard". Twenty-eight SNT positive sera (17.2%) were detected. The best suited ELISA kit was used for determination of a species-specific cutoff for horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, mice, dogs, rabbits and monkeys with defined sera from animals without known or with improbable contact to TBEV. The level of non-specific ELISA results does not only differ between animal species but may also be influenced by the age of the tested animals. The number of sera which tested false positive by ELISA was higher in older than in young sheep. In order to obtain defined polyclonal sera as references, two dogs, cattle, goats, sheep, rabbits and pigs each, as well as one horse and 90 mice were immunized four times with a commercially available TBEV vaccine. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that commercial TBEV-ELISA kits are suitable for application in veterinary medicine for both, verification of clinical TBE cases and epidemiological screening. However, positive ELISA results should be verified by SNT. Only a very low number of false negative ELISA-results were found.     

Cross-reactivity between a monoclonal antibody that recognizes a tumor-associated antigen on bovine lymphosarcoma cells and blood lymphocytes from various mammalian species.

Tumor-associated antigens that are expressed in lymphosarcoma B cells of cattle with enzootic bovine leukosis had been analyzed in terms of their reactivity with 13 monoclonal antibodies (MAB). By use of flow cytometry and radioimmunoprecipitation, 1 of the MAB (c143) that recognized a tumor-associated antigen cross-reacted with blood lymphocytes (BL) from various mammalian species. By use of flow cytometry, the c143 MAB reacted with 10 to 49% of BL derived from human beings, mice, dogs, horses, pigs, llamas, sheep, goats, and cattle. Titer of the c143 MAB with BL from horses, pigs, human beings, and llamas ranged between 1:6.0 x 10(4) and 1:5.3 x 10(5); titer associated with BL of goats and sheep was 1:1.6 x 10(6); and that associated with BL of cattle was 1:4.3 x 10(7). The c143 MAB specifically immunoprecipitated 3 homologous proteins from cell extracts of caprine, ovine, and bovine BL (32-, 34-, and 36- to 37-kDa bovine proteins; 31-, 32-, and 36- to 37-kDa caprine proteins; and 31.5-, 33-, and 36- to 37-kDa ovine proteins), but none was immunoprecipitated from human, murine, canine, porcine, and llama BL. These results indicate that the avidity of the c143 MAB in binding to BL from ruminants (eg, goats, sheep, and cattle) is higher than that to BL from human beings, mice, dogs, horses, pigs, and llamas. In sheep, the c143 MAB could immunoprecipitate the aforementioned proteins from BL of the Suffolk breed, but not BL from the Corriedale breed, whereas the c143 MAB immunoprecipitated apparently identical proteins from BL of 4 breeds of cattle.     

Comparative studies on serum arginase and transaminases in hepatic necrosis in various species of domestic animals

Serum concentrations of arginase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) in dogs, cats, horses, cattle, sheep and pigs were determined before and after oral administration of CCl(4) at doses known to cause hepatic necrosis. Following CCl(4) administration, serum concentration of arginase and SGOT increased to a level of diagnostic significance in all animals. SGPT increased markedly in dogs and cats and marginally in 1 of 3 cattle and 2 of 3 pigs. In the surviving animals, the serum concentration of arginase returned to normal range much earlier than SGPT or SGOT. Based on the CCl(4) experimental toxicity results of this study, an elevated level of serum arginase would appear to be a reliable indicator of hepatic necrosis in both small and large animals whereas SGPT would be a reliable indicator of hepatic necrosis only in dogs and cats.     

Prevalence of leptospira species among farmed and domestic animals in Greece

A total of 1527 serum samples from pigs, goats, sheep, cattle and dogs in Greece were examined by the microscopic agglutination test and 11-8 per cent of them had antibodies against one or more Leptospira serovars at titres of 1/100 or more. The predominant serovar affecting farm animal species was Bratislava, and Copenhageni was common among dogs and the second most important serovar when all animals were considered together. Another prevalent serovar was Australis, but antibodies to Pomona were detected only in goats and cattle.     

Detection of streptococci from various serological groups in animals

During the period from 1985 to 1988 we determined 228 strains of streptococci isolated from samples of various sorts of biomaterials, mainly animals. From this set of streptococci we classified 207 strains into serological groups according to the Lancefield classification and about 30% strains into species by means of serological and biochemical methods. Most of the strains were allocated to group C (37.28%) and group Q (17.39%). 89 streptococci strains originated from pigs, 40 strains from horses, 13 from cattle, 12 from dogs, 9 from poultry and 8 from coypu. The other streptococci strains originated from other animal species or from different material. Most serological groups of streptococci were determined in pigs, less in cattle (7), in poultry (6), in dogs (6), in horses (5) and in coypu (3). Streptococci of the serological group Q were determined in as many as 9 animal species, group C in 8 species and group G in 6 species.     

Isolation of Legionella pneumophila from calves and the prevalence of antibodies in cattle, sheep, horses, antelopes, buffaloes and rabbits

The lungs of 139 calves presented for autopsy and 29 healthy slaughtered calves were examined for Legionella by culture and by direct immunofluorescence (DIF) with fluorescein-conjugated antisera. About 17% of the cadaver lungs and 4% of lungs from slaughtered animals were positive by DIF. Legionella organisms were only isolated from the lungs of two cadavers (L. pneumophila, serogroup 1). In a prevalence study of antibodies to Legionella in domestic and wild animals of various species, titers of greater than or equal to 64 were demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence in sera of 10% of dairy cattle, 5% of beef cattle, 4% of sheep, 22% of antelopes, 35% of horses, 36% of buffaloes and 0% of laboratory rabbits. The isolation of Legionella from lung tissue is evidence for a possible etiologic role of Legionella spp. in natural pathology of animals.     

Louse and mite infestation in domestic animals in northern Nigeria

Records of domestic animals brought to the Veterinary Entomology Laboratory for diagnosis of suspected lice and mite infestation over a 10 year period were analysed. From a total of 794 suspected cases, 137 (17.3%) and 247 (31.1%) were positive for lice and mange mites respectively. The most common lice species recorded were Linognathus vituli (66.7%) on cattle, L. ovillus (83.3%) on sheep, Haematopinus suis (100%) on pigs and Menacanthus stramineus (54.5%) on poultry. Other lice species recorded included Haematopinus bovis and Solenopotes capillatus on cattle, Damalinia ovis on sheep, Linognathus stenopsis and Menacanthus stramineus on goats, Goniocotes sp. on a horse, Linognathus setosus and Menacanthus stramineus on dogs, Goniodes gigas, Lipeurus caponis, Menopon gallinae and Chelopistes meleagrides on poultry. The most common mite species were Demodex folliculorum on cattle (96.9%) and on dogs (80.8%), Sarcoptes scabiei on pigs (100%) and Notoedres cati (80.3%) on rabbits. Other mite species included Psoroptes communis, Cheyletiella parasitivorax, Ornithonyssus gallinae and Dermanyssus gallinae.     

河南省南阳地区黄牛狂犬病防制研究

由河南省南阳地区患“怪叫病”黄牛脑组织分离鉴定了5株狂犬病病毒,建立了检测狂犬病病毒抗原的夹心间接斑点酶联免疫吸附试验、检测狂犬病病毒抗体和中和抗体的夹心阻断酶联免疫吸附试验和微量免疫酶试验.应用所建立的方法,结合小鼠中和试验,对疫区牛、马、猪、羊、犬、猫、鸡、鼠和蝙蝠9种动物的1138份血清标本进行了检测,结果发现阳性率达12.65%,其中疫点内牛、猪、犬、猫和鼠的阳性率更高,为20%左右.根据动物群中较高阳性率,亦即隐性感染动物的存在,提出了南阳地区黄牛狂大病除因疯犬或带毒犬咬伤所致者外,可能还有因其他动物如鼠等咬伤甚至非咬伤感染途径的存在.在确定病性以及上述流行病学调查的基础上,实施了以管(制)、免(疫)、灭(扑杀)为中心的综合防制措施,经3年的工作,收到了明显的防制效果.     

Detection of all Chlamydophila and Chlamydia spp. of veterinary interest using species-specific real-time PCR assays

The aim of the present study was to analyse the occurrence of chlamydiae in several mammalian host species. Clinical samples that previously tested positive in a Chlamydiaceae-specific real-time PCR were retested using six species-specific real-time PCR assays to identify the chlamydial species involved. Chlamydophila (Cp.) abortus was the agent most frequently found in cattle, sheep, horses, goats, and pigs. Detection in cattle of Cp. psittaci (11% of samples) and Chlamydia (C.) suis (9%), as well as Cp. psittaci in a goat sample was somewhat unexpected. DNA of two different chlamydiae was identified in 56 (12.7%) of 440 samples tested. Cp. felis was the predominant species found in cats, while in guinea pigs and rabbits only Cp. caviae was detected. Interestingly, the latter two pathogens were also identified in samples from dogs. The data show that mixed chlamydial infections are not rare and suggest an extended host range of individual species.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for canine serum ferritin, using monoclonal anti-canine ferritin immunoglobulin G

Immunoassay of serum ferritin is currently used to evaluate the clinical iron status of human beings, horses, cattle, and swine. Because ferritins are immunologically species specific, a separate assay must be developed for each species. We have developed an ELISA for serum ferritin in dogs, using a monoclonal anti-canine ferritin antibody. Ferritin standards were linear (r = 0.997) from 0 to 80 ng/ml. Recovery of ferritin from canine serum was 94%. Dilutions of pooled canine serum were linear from 0 to 50% (r = 0.994). Within-assay coefficient of variability was 5.5%, whereas assay-to-assay coefficient of variability ranged from 12.5 to 21%. This assay should provide a nonsurgical means of accurately estimating dogs' iron stores.     

Development and validation of a 3ABC indirect ELISA for differentiation of foot-and-mouth disease virus infected from vaccinated animals

Non-structural protein (NSP) 3ABC antibody is considered to be the most reliable indicator of present or past infection with foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in vaccinated animals. An indirect ELISA was established, using purified His-tagged 3ABC fusion protein as antigen, for detection of the antibody response to FMDV NSP 3ABC in different animal species. The method was validated by simultaneous detection of the early antibody responses to NSP and structural protein (SP) in FMDV Asia 1 infected animals. The performance of the method was also validated by detection of antibody in reference sera from the FMD World Reference Laboratory (WRL) in Pirbright, UK, and comparison with two commercial NSP ELISA kits. The results showed that the antibody response to SP developed more quickly than that to NSP 3ABC in FMDV infected animals. In contact-infected cattle, the antibody response to NSP 3ABC was significantly delayed compared with that to SP antibody. The early antibody responses to SP and NSP 3ABC in FMDV inoculated cattle and contact-infected or inoculated sheep and pigs were generally consistent. In pigs, 3ABC antibody was linked to the presence of clinical signs; however, in sheep, subclinical infection was detected by the development of 3ABC antibodies. Therefore, the antibody responses to 3ABC varied between host species. Eight out of 10 positive serum samples from FMD WRL were tested to be positive at cutoff value of 0.2. The rate of agreement with the ceditest FMDV-NS and the UBI NSP ELISA were 98.05% (302/308) and 93.2% (287/308), respectively. The prevalence of 3ABC antibodies reached 71.4% in some diseased cattle herds. The further work is required to evaluation the performance of this method in different animal species and different field situations.     

Antibodies to Berne virus in horses and other animals

After inoculation into 2 foals, Berne virus induced neutralizing antibody, but did not cause clinical symptoms. In a horizontal study of seropositive mares and their offspring, a decline of maternal antibodies and a sudden synchronous seroconversion in all foals were observed, again without clinical symptoms. The virus is widespread in the Swiss horse population and has been so during the last decade; rises in antibody titers were noted in 9% of paired sera sampled at random. Positive reactions were also obtained in serum neutralization tests and ELISA using small numbers of horse sera from Germany, France and the U.S.A. The results of neutralization tests and ELISA were correlated in 83% of random samples tested; 13% were neutralization-positive and ELISA-negative and in 4% the inverse was observed. Neutralizing activity was found in the sera of other ungulates (cattle, goat, sheep and pig), laboratory rabbits and 2 species of wild mice (Clethrionomys glareolus and Apodemus sylvaticus). Inconclusive results were obtained with feline and human sera; those from dogs and foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were consistently negative. The probable occurrence of antigenic variants in Berne-type viruses is discussed.     

New techniques to measure blood cholinesterase activity in domesticated animals.

A macromethod and a semimicromethod were developed to measure erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity in cattle, sheep, goats, horses, dogs, and swine, and to measure plasma cholinesterase activity in horses, dogs, and swine. Comparison of the 2 methods with erythrocytes of sheep, cattle, goats, and horses indicated both methods gave similar results. They can be done in a shorter time and are more sensitive than Michel's method. Normal deltapH values per minutes, with standard deviations for blood cholinesterase activity of animals of different ages, sexes, breeds, and species, were: 0.76 +/- 0.12/30; 0.65 +/- 0.10/15; 0.69 +/- 0.19/45; 0.78 +/- 0.11/45; 0.63 +/- 0.11/45; and 0.71 +/- 0.06/25 for sheep, cattle, goats, horses, dogs, and swine erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase, respectively; and 0.66 +/- 0.18/20; 0.67 +/- 0.20/30, and 0.46 +/- 0.05/60 for horses, dogs, and swine plasma cholinesterase, respectively. It was shown that either the chloride or the iodide salt of acetylcholine can be used as the enzyme substrate. tin blood samples stored at 5 C for 24 hours, there was no significant change of the enzymatic activity.     

A survey of domestic animals to detect serological responses against Legionella spp. by indirect fluorescent antibody.

One hundred ninety-six (196) animal sera were examined for antibodies against heat-killed antigens of Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1 to 5, L. bozemanii, L. dumoffii, L. gormanii and L. micdadei by the indirect fluorescent antibody technique. Only two animals (1%), both sheep, reacted against L. pneumophila serogroups at a titer of 256. However, 29% of the horses and 24% of the sheep tested were reactive to at least one non-L. pneumophila Legionella spp. antigen at a titer of 256. At a titer of 128, 72% of the pigs, 56% of the sheep and 50% of the horses were reactive to at least one Legionella spp. antigen. Despite the presence of high antibody titers against Legionella antigens, conclusive evidence of infection by these agents in animals is dependent upon further studies.     

泰氏锥虫抗原制备及实验室诊断研究

应用体外培养的泰氏锥虫制备可溶性抗原Ⅰ、抗原Ⅱ和代谢抗原.经测定,其蛋白含量每毫升分别为6.5mg、7.4mg和7.1mg.薄层等电聚焦电泳测定结果表明,抗原Ⅰ出现22条区带,抗原Ⅱ21条区带,代谢抗原28条区带,对照的伊氏锥虫琼脂免疫扩散抗原14条区带.经分析,泰氏锥虫抗原和伊氏锥虫抗原有4条区带在同一迁移率上.琼脂免疫扩散反应中,3种泰氏锥虫抗原均与相应免疫兔血清发生沉淀反应,抗原Ⅰ出现1条致密沉淀线,抗原Ⅱ和代谢抗原出现2～3条沉淀线,抗原效价为1:4～16.免疫电泳显示了类似的结果,抗原Ⅰ与免疫兔血清出现1条弧形沉淀线,抗原Ⅱ和代谢抗原与免疫兔血清出现了3条弧形沉淀线.间接血凝试验结果表明,泰氏锥虫自然感染牛血清效价为1:20～40,免疫兔血清为1:1280～5120.所制泰氏锥虫抗原对伊氏锥虫和媾疫锥虫血清也能很好地发生交叉反应,3份伊氏锥虫病马血清和3份伊氏锥虫人工感染兔血清血凝效价分别为1:10～40和1:8～1024;5份媾疫马血清有4份血凝效价为1:20～320.4份环形泰勒虫病牛血清均为阴性.     

Characterisation of recombinant immunoreactive antigens of the scab mite Sarcoptes scabiei

Sarcoptic mange (or scabies) is an important skin disease which can affect a variety of species including humans, cattle, goats, sheep, horses, pigs, rabbits, and dogs. Approximately 300 million people are affected worldwide and in lifestock animals the infestation may lead to substantial economic losses caused by depression in growth and feed conversion rates. Diagnosis of Sarcoptes infestation is difficult and only a few serological tests have been developed using whole mite antigen for diagnosis of mange in animals. Here we describe the isolation and characterisation of cDNAs of several immunoreactive clones and their recombinant expression in Escherichia coli. Three of the proteins contain repetitive sequences which suggests that they might be involved in immune evasion. The application of these antigens in serodiagnosis and the suitability for diagnosis is discussed.     

Three case studies involving Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona infection in mixed farming units

Three case studies involving Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona outbreaks within mixed farming systems in South Africa are described. On 2 farms, pigs constituted the main enterprise with cattle and sheep of secondary importance. On each of these 2 farms, abortion due to L. pomona in sows was confirmed by culture, and antibody titres to pomona were detected in cattle, sheep, horses and dogs. On the 3rd farm, a piggery was of secondary importance to cattle farming. Abortion and death in cows occurred on this farm and serology showed titres to various serovars, including pomona. L. pomona was also isolated from bovine urine, an aborted bovine foetus and kidneys from slaughtered pigs. This particular case study was regarded as clinically atypical in that adult Jersey cattle died of acute leptospirosis in a semiarid region of South Africa. In all 3 case studies, the poor management of pig effluent and of the drinking water and its sources played a pivotal role in the transmission of the disease. Inadequate vaccination of animals against Leptospira and poor record-keeping within the secondary farming enterprises were also contributing factors to the spread of leptospirosis.