Rotavirus as a cause of diarrhea in pigs.

A rotavirus (reovirus-like agent) was associated with diarrheal diseases occurring in 1- to 4-week-old suckling pigs in 8 herds and in weaned pigs in 2 herds. Transmissible gastroenteritis virus was also detected in 2 of these herds, as was enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in 5 herds. Morbidity was generally greater than 80% in pigs of the affected age group within these herds, and mortality from diarrhea ranged from 7 to 20%. The disease due to rotavirus in suckling pigs appeared similar to the syndrome commonly referred to as milk scours, white scours, or 3-week scours. Diarrhea and villous atrophy, resembling that seen in transmissible gastroenteritis, occurred in naturally infected pigs and in gnotobiotic pigs experimentally infected with rotavirus. Diagnosis was accomplished by immune electron microscopy of intestinal contents and by immunofluorescent staining of enterocytes. A massive infection of enterocytes with rotavirus was demonstrated by immunofluorescence, which helps explain the pathogenesis of this disease. The apparent rarity of clinical rotaviral infections in suckling pigs greater than 7 days old is probably due to the acquisition of passive immunity from immune sows.     

Evaluation of a live avirulent Escherichia coli vaccine for K88+, LT+ enterotoxigenic colibacillosis in weaned pigs.

Live, avirulent Escherichia coli vaccine strains were constructed and tested for efficacy in preventing colibacillosis in 4-week-old pigs. Either or both of 2 plasmids were inserted into avirulent E coli strain G58-1 (0101:NM). These plasmids were pPMC4, which encodes for LTb subunits of heat-labile enterotoxin, and pDHF1, which encodes for K88ac fimbriae. Litter- and weight-matched pigs were removed from sows when they were 10 days old and vaccinated orally with the constructed strains or with G58-1 (negative control vaccine) when they were 2 weeks old and 5 days later. All pigs were challenge-inoculated with virulent E coli strain 3030-2 (O157:K88, LT+, STb+) 2 weeks after the first vaccination. Only 1 pig vaccinated with G58-1/pPMC4/pDHF1 developed diarrhea and none died following challenge inoculation. Seventeen of 31 control pigs developed diarrhea and 11 died. Of 18 pigs vaccinated with G58-1/pDHF1 then challenge-inoculated with the virulent strain, 5 developed diarrhea and 2 died. Fifteen of 18 litter- and weight-matched controls developed diarrhea and 8 died. When compared with G58-1 (negative control), G58-1/pPMC4 afforded no protection to pigs challenge-inoculated with 3030-2.     

Experimental rotavirus infection in three-week-old pigs

Thirteen 3-week-old pigs that had been allowed to nurse for the first 16 to 18 hours after birth were orally inoculated with 1 x 10(6.5) TCID50 of porcine rotavirus. All developed diarrhea, anorexia, and vomiting by postinoculation (PI) hour 30. These signs had abated by PI day 6. Villus blunting in the small intestine was most severe in the jejunum and ileum of pigs euthanatized between PI days 3 and 5. Villi had returned to nearly normal length by PI day 6, although fused villi were seen in a few locations in the distal portion of the jejunum and in the ileum. Virus was detected in the feces of inoculated pigs by isolation in cell cultures and by electron microscopy during the 7-day course of the experiment. There was 1 extraintestinal virus isolation from the lung of 1 pig at PI day 2. Infection and disease developed in the presence of serum-neutralizing antibody obtained by nursing seropositive sows. There was no significant change in neutralizing antibody titers in the 3-week-old pigs over the course of the experiment. In this experimental work, a model to study rotavirus infection in 3-week-old pigs has been developed.     

Comparison in gnotobiotic pigs of lesions caused by verotoxigenic and non-verotoxigenic Escherichia coli

To compare the pathogenesis of calf and rabbit strains of E. coli, gnotobiotic pigs were infected with 10(10) colony forming units (cfu) of verotoxigenic strain RDEC-1 or S102-9, or a non-verotoxigenic E. coli (X114/83). Pigs were killed 4 days later, and intestinal tissue was fixed and examined by light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. Strains S102-9 and RDEC-1 caused diarrhea, attached to enterocytes, and effaced microvilli, confirming that the calf and rabbit strains possessed similar mechanisms of pathogenicity. Non-verotoxigenic strain X114/83 did not cause diarrhea, but in 5/5 piglets it was detected in histological sections adherent to enterocyte surfaces. Exfoliated enterocytes were seen in 4/5. Bacteria attached to enterocytes by "cups" and "pedestals," with effacement of microvilli, were seen by electron microscopy in 1/5 piglets. It was concluded that strain S102-9 appears to be an animal equivalent of human enterohemorrhagic E. coli, that verotoxin is not essential in the pathogenesis of attaching and effacing lesions, and that the lesions induced by S102-9 are more severe in gnotobiotic pigs than in gnotobiotic or conventional calves.     

Pathogenicity of Escherichia coli O115:K"V165" strains isolated from pigs with diarrhea

Eighteen strains of Escherichia coli serogroup O115:K"V165" isolated from 1- to 8-week-old pigs with diarrhea were tested for toxigenicity, pathogenicity in pigs and mice, serum resistance, mannose-resistant hemagglutination (MRHA), F165 and other surface antigens, colicin V (Col V), aerobactin, and biotype. Twelve strains were positive for heat-stable enterotoxin (STb), MRHA-negative, and F165-negative; 5 strains were enterotoxin-negative, MRHA-positive, and F165-positive; and 1 strain was MRHA-positive, but F165- and enterotoxin-negative. Six of the 12 STb-positive strains moderately colonized the ileum of newborn colostrum-deprived pigs within 24 hours after inoculation. Two of the colonizing strains were able to induce watery diarrhea. All 12 STb-positive strains were nonpathogenic for adult mice and were serum-sensitive; 11 of 12 were Col V-negative, 9 of 12 did not produce aerobactin, and 10 of 12 belonged to biotypes other than 1 or 2. All 6 enterotoxin-negative strains colonized the small and large intestines, associated with peritoneal serosal surfaces, and induced septicemia and polyserositis in newborn colostrum-deprived pigs 1 to 2 days after inoculation. In contrast, 3 STb-positive strains poorly colonized the intestines and did not induce septicemia in pigs at 3 days after inoculation. All 6 enterotoxin-negative strains were Col V-positive, produced aerobactin, and belonged to biotype 1 or 2. Of the 5 enterotoxin-negative, F165-positive strains, only 4 were pathogenic for intraperitoneally inoculated adult mice and were serum-resistant. The enterotoxin-negative, F165-negative strain was neither serum-resistant nor mouse-pathogenic.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Response of early-weaned pigs to an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (K88) challenge when fed diets containing spray-dried porcine plasma or pea protein isolate plus egg yolk antibody

Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) infection and resulting scours is a major problem for young pigs, especially when purified plant proteins are fed rather than spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP). The effect of supplementing a pea protein isolate (PPI)-based diet with egg yolk antibodies (EYA) from laying hens immunized with ETEC K88 antigen on piglet performance, incidence of scours, and gut histology was studied in a 14-d trial. Ninety-six 10-d-old weaned pigs were assigned to five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design to give six replicate pens per treatment. The treatments were PPI without EYA (PPI-EYA), PPI with EYA (PPI+EYA), SDPP without EYA (SDPP-EYA), SDPP with EYA (SDPP+EYA), or a combination of PPI and SDPP (PPI+SDPP). Diets were formulated to similar nutrient levels and provided for ad libitum intake. Blood from all pigs was taken on d 0, 7, and 14 for determining plasma urea N (PUN). On d 7, pigs were orally challenged with 6 mL of 10(10) cfu/ mL ETEC K88. Piglets were weighed on d 7 and 14. On d 7, 8, and 14, four pigs per treatment were sacrificed to study the histology of the small intestine. Weekly feed intake, BW changes, and gain:feed were determined. Fecal swabs from 10 pigs per treatment were taken for a PCR test to detect K88 E. coli. Feed efficiency over the 14-d period was not affected (P > 0.78) by dietary treatment. Mean ADFI on an as-fed basis was lower (P < 0.002) in piglets fed PPI-EYA (64.3 g/d) compared with PPI+EYA (94.8 g/d) or SDPP (102 g/d) during wk 1. Piglets fed PPI-EYA tend to have a lower (P < 0.026) overall ADG (84 g/d) than those fed PPI+EYA (123 g/d) or SDPP (127 g/d) (P < 0.006)-based diets. Although scours was evident in all groups of pigs 6 h after the challenge, most of the piglets fed EYA- or SDPP-containing diets recovered 10 to 72 h postchallenge, whereas those fed PPI-EYA continued to have severe diarrhea, resulting in 33% mortality. The PCR results showed that a greater (P < 0.01) percentage of piglets fed PPI-EYA compared with those fed SDPP- or EYA-containing diets continued to shed ETEC K88 at the end of the 14-d study. Piglets fed PPI-EYA had shorter villi (P < 0.01), higher intestinal pH (P < 0.013), and higher PUN (P < 0.05) than those fed the SDPP- or EYA-containing diets during the entire 14-d study. It was concluded that specific EYA and SDPP could provide passive control of ETEC infection and potentially improve feed intake and weight gain in young pigs fed PPI.     

Preweaning mortality risks and recorded causes of death associated with production factors in swine breeding herds in Japan

Preweaning mortality risks, recorded death reasons and related factors for preweaning mortality were studied in 105 breeding herds. Preweaning mortality risk at the herd level was calculated as the difference between the number of pigs born alive in farrowed litters and the number of weaned pigs divided by the number of pigs born alive in litters that farrowed and weaned. The mean of annual preweaning mortality risk was 10.7%. In regression analysis, higher mortality risks were associated with higher parity at farrowing, greater numbers of pigs born alive, and longer lactation length. The period from July to September had a higher mortality risk than that from April to June. The means of cause-specific proportional mortality ratios (PMR) in trauma with low viability and scours were 80.4 and 6.2%, respectively. Sows with pig age 0-1 day during lactation had the highest daily PMR. Sows with pig age 0 to 7 days had higher PMR due to trauma and low variability than those with pig age 8 days older. Sows with pig age over 7 days had higher PMR due to scours than those with pig age 0-7 days. Careful management at farrowing and in early lactation on high parity sows with large litters should be considered to prevent piglets from death due to trauma and low viability, and appropriate herd health programs should be implemented for reducing preweaning mortality due to scours during late lactation.     

Lectin-binding capacity of glycoconjugates in Escherichia coli 09:K103:NM, 987P+ST+-infected porcine lower small intestines

Composition of glycoconjugates were investigated in Escherichia coli 09:K103:NM, 987P+ST+-infected lower small intestines of 1-week-old pigs by the use of twenty one biotinylated-labelled lectins with avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. Piglets with experimental group were inoculated by feeding 5 ml of culture inoculum (5 x 10(9) colony-forming units/ml) with 15 ml of milk replacer. At the onset of diarrhea, experimental piglets and time-matched control piglets were euthanatized using electrocution, necropsied, and tested by lectin histochemistry. As compared with control, staining intensity of seven lectins altered in ileal villus brush border and goblet cells of pigs inoculated with the pathogen.     

Infection of pigs with transmissible gastroenteritis virus from contaminated carcases

Sixteen 6-month-old pigs were exposed to transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus by placing them in close contact with piglets infected at 1 week of age. Fourteen of the older pigs were slaughtered between 1 and 5 d after exposure to infection and their carcases dressed in simulated abattoir conditions. Samples of muscle, bone marrow and carcase lymph nodes were stored at -25 degrees C for at least 30 d and then homogenised and fed to groups of 1-week-old and 3-week-old pigs. Four of 12 one-week-old pigs died and TGE virus was isolated from intestinal contents of one of these. All pigs of both age groups developed neutralising antibody to TGE virus over the ensuing 4 w. The results indicate that carcases from pigs infected with TGE virus can represent a source of infection for susceptible pigs given access to them.     

Molecular and immunohistochemical detection of assemblage E, Giardia duodenalis in scouring North Dakota calves

Despite many reports on the shedding of Giardia parasites by scouring calves, the role of Giardia as a cause of calf diarrhea is still controversial. To elucidate the role of Giardia duodenalis in calf scours, diagnostic samples from 189 scouring calves were tested by different assays during a 1-year-study period. Giardia antigens were detected in 22/189 scouring calves by a fecal-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and 10 of these were positive for assemblage E, G. duodenalis by polymerase chain reaction. Giardia trophozoites were demonstrated by immunohistochemistry in intestinal sections from five calves in which the parasites were spatially distributed in areas of microscopically detectable enteritis. Our data suggest that under certain circumstances, Giardia may cause intestinal lesions leading to calf scours. Gnotobiotic calf-based infectivity studies are needed if the pathogenicity of Giardia in calves is to be definitively determined.     

Response of early-weaned pigs to an enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (K88) challenge when fed diets containing spray-dried porcine plasma or pea protein isolate plus egg yolk antibody,zinc oxide,fumaric acid,or antibiotic

The effect of feeding diets containing either spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) or pea protein-isolate (PPI) supplemented with either egg yolk antibodies (EYA) from hens immunized with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) (K88 and F18) antigens, ZnO, fumaric acid (FA), or carbadox (AB) on pig performance, incidence of scours, and gut morphology was studied in a 14-d experiment. Ninety 10-d-old weaned pigs were assigned to six dietary treatments in a completely randomized design to give five pens per treatment with three pigs per pen. The diets were SDPP without EYA (SDPP - EYA), PPI without EYA (PPI - EYA), PPI with EYA (PPI + EYA), PPI with ZnO (PPI + ZnO), PPI with FA (PPI + FA), or PPI with AB (PPI + AB). Diets were formulated to similar nutrient levels, with AB, EYA, FA, and ZnO at 0.25, 0.5, 2.0, and 0.4% of the diet, respectively. Pigs were weighed and bled on d 0, 7, and 14 to determine plasma urea N (PUN). Pigs were orally challenged with a 6-mL dose of 10(10) cfu/mL ETEC (K88) on d 7. On d 14, three pigs per treatment were killed to obtain sections of the small intestine for histological measurements. Weekly feed intake, BW changes, and gain:feed were determined. Incidence of scours and scour scores were monitored and fecal swabs were taken before and after ETEC challenge for PCR test to detect ETEC (K88). Feeding SDPP or supplementing PPI-based diets with EYA, ZnO, FA, or AB did not affect (P > 0.05) ADG, ADFI (as-fed basis), or gain:feed throughout the study. However, pigs fed PPI - EYA tended to have lower (P = 0.08) ADFI during wk 2 (137.9 g/d) and lower (P < 0.10) ADG from d 0 to 14 (100.1 g/d) than those fed the SDPP - EYA (156.6 g/d), PPI + EYA (151.2 g/d), PPI + ZnO (158.9 g/ d), PPI + FA (155.4 g/d), and PPI + AB (152.6 g/d) diets. Although scours was evident in all pigs 8 h after the ETEC challenge, it lasted only 3 to 5 d in pigs fed SDPP or PPI supplemented with EYA, ZnO, FA, or AB. Pigs fed PPI - EYA continued to have severe diarrhea, resulting in 40% mortality vs. 13% or less in the other groups. The PCR results showed that 81% of PPI-fed pigs continued to shed ETEC K88 7 d after ETEC challenge. Pigs fed PPI-EYA had shorter villi (P < 0.05), reduced villi:crypt ratio (P < 0.003), and higher intestinal pH (P < 0.001) and PUN (P < 0.001) than those fed SDPP or PPI supplemented with EYA, ZnO, FA, and AB. In conclusion, SDPP, EYA, ZnO, FA, and AB may have provided passive control to ETEC (K88) infection and potentially enabled young pigs to efficiently utilize a PPI-based diet.     

Experimental Eimeria debliecki infections in nursing and weaned pigs

Three litters of six, 3-day-old nursing pigs were inoculated via a stomach tube with 8.0 X 10(5), 1.6 X 10(6) or 5.0 X 10(6) sporulated oocysts of Eimeria debliecki and four groups of six, 4-week-old weaned pigs were inoculated with 8.0 X 10(5), 1.6 X 10(6), 5.0 X 10(6) or 1.0 X 10(7) sporulated oocysts of E. debliecki to determine its pathogenicity. Clinical coccidiosis or deaths did not result from infections. Infections were confined to the jejunum and occasionally the duodenum. Microscopic lesions of mild to moderate villous atrophy were observed in one nursing pig given 5.0 X 10(6) oocysts and three weaned pigs given 1.6 X 10(6), 5.0 X 10(6) and 1.0 X 10(7) oocysts and examined 5 days post-inoculation. Pathogenic bacteria or viruses were not demonstrated in any pigs. Results of this study indicate that E. debliecki is not a cause of neonatal or weaning diarrhea in pigs.     

Effect of graded levels of niacin supplementation of a semipurified diet on energy and nitrogen balance, growth performance, diarrhea occurrence, and niacin metabolite excretion by growing swine

Thirty-six crossbred barrows with an average initial age of 42 d and BW of 13.8 kg were placed in individual metabolism crates in a 35-d experiment to evaluate the supplementation of a semipurified diet with graded levels of crystalline niacin. Response criteria were energy and N balance, growth performance, occurrence of niacin deficiency diarrhea, and urinary excretion of the niacin metabolite N(1)-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxylamide (PYR). The basal diet met the true ileal Trp requirement of growing swine, and supplementation with 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, or 44 mg of niacin/kg made 6 treatments. Pigs were observed for scours twice daily, and pig BW and feed consumption were determined weekly. Total urine collections and fecal grab samples were made twice daily from each pig from d 28 to 35. Pigs fed the diet containing 14 mg of niacin/kg absorbed and retained more (P < 0.05) grams of N/d, had a greater N digestibility (%, P < 0.05), a greater ADFI and ADG (P < 0.10), and no diarrhea (P < 0.05) compared with pigs fed the diet containing 6 mg of niacin/kg, and pigs fed the diet containing 10 mg of niacin/kg were intermediate in ADG. There were no additional improvements in the response criteria with niacin supplementation greater than 14 mg/kg. Urinary PYR criteria (mg/L and mg/d) were greater (P < 0.001) for pigs fed the diet containing 44 mg of niacin/kg than for pigs fed the diets containing 6 to 22 mg of niacin/kg. However, urinary PYR criteria for pigs fed the diets containing 6 to 22 mg of niacin/kg did not differ from each other, indicating that PYR was not a sensitive indicator of niacin status for growing swine. Niacin treatment did not affect the percentages of N retained/N absorbed, N retained/N intake, DE, or ME. In conclusion, 14 mg of crystalline niacin/kg of semipurified diet adequate in Trp was the minimum concentration of niacin that maximized N utilization and growth performance, and prevented niacin deficiency diarrhea of growing swine in the current experiment. Because practical feed ingredients may be sources of available endogenous niacin, supplementation of practical diets with 100% of the current NRC requirement for niacin should provide adequate niacin for growing swine.     

猪伪狂犬病野毒感染的临床诊断、血清学调查以及控制措施

目的为某规模化猪场猪伪狂犬病病毒野毒株感染防控工作提供科学的免疫防控方案。方法对某发病猪群（采用Bartha-K61经典毒株疫苗进行了猪伪狂犬病免疫）进行流行病学调查,并采用ELISA方法检测其猪伪狂犬病gB抗体和gE抗体水平。结果根据调查、解剖和血清抗体检测结果,初步确诊该发病猪群为猪伪狂犬病野毒感染。通过采取紧急免疫伪狂犬病HB2000毒株疫苗、调整免疫程序和配合药物治疗等措施,育肥猪死亡率从2.56%降低至0.60%;除了4周龄及12周龄猪群外,其余猪群伪狂犬病野毒抗体水平全部下降;种公猪、8周龄、10周龄、14周龄猪群伪狂犬病野毒抗体阳性率均为0。结论Bartha-K61经典毒株疫苗并不能提供完全的保护力,通过紧急免疫与流行毒株同源性较高的HB2000毒株疫苗,加强生物安全管理工作,能够有效控制猪伪狂犬病野毒感染。     

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum infection in southwestern Ontario and its association with diarrhea in neonatal dairy calves

Cryptosporidium parvum infection was detected in 203 (40.6%) of 500 Ontario dairy calves aged 7 to 21 d, on a convenience sample of 51 farms with a history of calf diarrhea. Within-farm prevalence ranged from 0% to 70%, and both shedding and intensity of shedding were significantly associated with diarrhea. This parasite appears to be common in Ontario dairy calves and important as a cause of dairy calf scours in the province.     

Scanning electron microscopy and fluorescent in situ hybridization of experimental Brachyspira (Serpulina) pilosicoli infection in growing pigs

Two groups of six 8-week-old pigs were challenged with 1x10(9) cfu Brachyspira (Serpulina) pilosicoli or Serpulina intermedia daily for 3 consecutive days to study the pathology of porcine colonic spirochetosis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with oligonucleotide probes targeting ribosomal RNA specific for B. pilosicoli and the genus Brachyspira/Serpulina. Six pigs served as noninoculated controls. The animals were euthanatized successively between postinoculation days 14 and 24. B. pilosicoli was reisolated in feces from all of the inoculated pigs; however, only two pigs developed transient watery diarrhea. S. intermedia was reisolated from four of the inoculated pigs, but clinical signs were not observed. Gross examination of the B. pilosicoli-infected pigs revealed dilated large intestines with a hyperemic mucosa, whereas the large intestines of the S. intermedia-inoculated pigs and the control pigs appeared normal. SEM examination of B. pilosicoli-infected pigs revealed degenerated epithelial cells and spirochetal colonization of the colonic mucosa in four pigs. By FISH, B. pilosicoli cells were found colonizing and invading the surface epithelium and the crypts in all the pigs. Spirochetal crypt colonization markedly exceeded the occurrence of spirochetes on the mucosal surface. SEM examination of S. intermedia-inoculated pigs revealed no abnormalities, and Serpulina cells were detected only sporadically in the otherwise normal-appearing mucosa of four pigs by FISH. The results provide further evidence that B. pilosicoli is associated with colitis in pigs, although the gross lesions are mild. The spirochete is capable of colonizing the large intestine, inducing mucosal damage, invasion of the crypt and surface epithelium, and focal infiltration of the lamina propria. In addition, the study shows the applicability of FISH for specific identification of B. pilosicoli in formalin-fixed tissue.     

Colonization of the small intestine of weaned pigs by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli that lack known colonization factors.

Intestinal colonization of 3-week-old weaned pigs by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains that were originally isolated from weaned pigs with fatal diarrhea and that lacked K88, K99, F41, and 987P adhesins (4P- ETEC) was studied by histologic, immunofluorescent, and electron microscopic techniques. In the first experiment, 16 principal pigs were inoculated orogastrically with ETEC strain 2134 (serogroup O157: H19) or 2171 (serogroup 0141:H4), and eight control pigs were not inoculated. In the second experiment, 24 principals were inoculated with ETEC strain 2134, and 12 controls were inoculated with a nonenterotoxigenic strain of E. coli. Principal and control pigs were necropsied at intervals from 24 to 72 hours after inoculation of principals to provide the tissues used for this report. Results from the two experiments and with both ETEC strains were similar and therefore were combined. Adhesion by 4P- ETEC was demonstrated in ileum but not in cecum or colon in 22/40 principal pigs sampled at 24 to 72 hours after orogastric inoculation. Adherent bacteria were most apparent on the intestinal villi covering Peyer's patches. Only occasional adherent bacteria were detected in ileal sections from a few (4/20) of the control pigs. Adherence by 4P- ETEC was characterized by "patches" of bacteria closely associated with the lateral surfaces and less frequently with the tips and the bases of intact villi. In most cases, the adherent bacteria were separated from epithelial cell microvilli and other bacterial cells by a 50-400-nm space. Filamentous bacterial appendages bridged this space and formed a network among adjacent bacteria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of age on activation of porcine intestinal guanylate cyclase and binding of Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin (STa) to porcine intestinal cells and brush border membranes.

Development of age-dependent resistance to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli was studied, using isolated enterocytes and brush border membranes (BBM) from 7-day-old and 7-week-old pigs. Binding of 125I-labeled heat-stable (125I-STa) enterotoxin to enterocytes and BBM was specific, temperature- and time-dependent, saturable, and partially reversible. Scatchard analysis revealed a single class of receptors. Mean +/- SD avidity of binding (apparent affinity constant, Ka) of 125I-STa to enterocytes from 7-day-old and 7-week-old pigs was 2.14 +/- 0.29 x 10(8) and 2.72 +/- 0.25 x 10(8) L/mol, respectively. Numbers of STa receptors were calculated to be 64,903 +/- 2,900/enterocyte for 7-day-old pigs and 53,029 +/- 3,117/enterocyte for 7-week-old pigs. Numbers of STa receptors expressed per milligram of BBM protein from 7-day-old pigs were 2.66 x 10(11), compared with 2.29 x 10(11) for BBM from 7-week-old pigs. By 5 minutes after addition of STa to reaction mixtures, intracellular cyclic guanosine monophosphate concentration increased 13.9-fold in enterocytes from 7-day-old pigs and 8.7-fold in enterocytes from 7-week-old pigs. The particulate guanylate cyclase activity associated with BBM from 7-week-old pigs was slightly more sensitive to low amounts of STa, compared with BBM from 7-day-old pigs; however, differences were not observed at intermediate and high amounts. These data indicate that lack of a secretory response to STa by older pigs is not attributable either to decreased numbers of STa receptors or to decreased signal response between the STa receptor and membrane-bound guanylate cyclase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ecological studies of Yersinia enterocolitica. II. Experimental infection with Y. enterocolitica in pigs

Fattening pigs were inoculated with the human pathogenic strains of Yersinia enterocolitica, biovar 4 serovar 3 phagovar 8 and biovar 2 serovar 5.27. Each pig received 2.6 × 10⁹ organisms by catheter into the stomach and thereafter 10% sodium bicarbonate solution, by the same route. The serovar 3 strain became established in the intestines of four out of six 11-week-old pigs and in all three 24-week-old pigs. Serovar 5.27 established in the intestines of all four 10-week-old pigs. In these pigs, both serovars were excreted in the feces at 10²?10⁶ cells g^?1 for a few weeks. However, the serovar 5.27 was excreted in the feces at less than 10^3·3 cells g^?1 for 2 weeks by 24-week-old pigs. Horizontal transmission with the serovar 5.27 strain was observed on the 5th–11th day, and the bacteria were present in the intestines during the 2nd week. However, the serum titers to O-agglutinin were 1/10 and less, but in one pig, the titer was 1/40 against serovar 5.27 strain.     

Diarrheal condition in dogs associated with viruses antigenically related to feline herpesvirus

Viruses with properties consistent with herpesvirus were isolated from dogs with diarrhea. The viruses were shown to be antigenically related to feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) by virus neutralization tests. It was also observed that a canine herpesvirus (CHV) prototype, D004, and two field isolates from fatal CHV infections in 2-week-old and 6-week-old puppies were neutralized at a low level by antiserum to FHV-1. Reciprocal neutralization tests with CHV antiserum against FHV-1 were negative. These results indicated that viruses related to FHV-1 can infect the dog and that there appears to be uni-directional virus neutralization of CHV by FHV-1 antibody.