Experimental infection of lactating goats with Leptospira interrogans serovars pomona and hardjo

Pathogenesis of Leptospira interrogans serovars pomona and hardjo was evaluated in 14 lactating goats. Although mild clinical signs of leptospiral infection characterized by pyrexia and reduction in milk yield appeared in some animals, a consistent clinical pattern was not observed in the inoculated animals. The pomona serovar was isolated from the kidney of 1 of the 4 goats inoculated with serovar pomona. The hardjo serovar (strain UI 750) was isolated in the rabbit serum-supplemented bovine albumin polysorbate-80 liquid medium only from the mammary gland of 1 of 4 goats at 13 days after inoculation with serovar hardjo. The positive culture was detected after an 8-month incubation period.     

Dual infections of red deer (Cervus elaphus) by Leptospira interrogans serovars copenhageni and hardjo

On a property in the Nelson District, blood and urine samples were taken from red deer (Cervus elaphus) from which low (<1:100) antibody titres to serovar copenhageni and suspected leptospiral abortions had previously been reported. A total of 27 hinds were sampled. Microscopic agglutination test (MAT) titres in sera ranging from 1:32 to 1:128 were found in six animals. Thirteen leptospiral isolations were made from nine of the 27 urine samples. Four of these were typed as copenhageni and nine as hardjo. Two cultures were prepared from each urine sample and hardjo and copenhageni were both isolated from single urine samples from two animals. None of the 27 deer had serum MAT titres at 1:32 or above to copenhageni.     

Experimental infection of calves with Leptospira interrogans serotype szwajizak

This is a report on the experimental infection of cattle with Leptospira interrogans serotype szwajizak. The principal clinical features in three 4-week-old Holstein-Friesian heifers intravenously inoculated were fever, listlessness, anorexia, weakness, and diarrhea. Szwajizak was isolated from the blood for the first 5 to 8 days after inoculation. Leptospires were recovered from kidneys, but not from liver, spleen, brain, or urine. Two of the 3 calves produced homologous agglutinins, with maximum serum titers of 1:80 and 1:160. The sera of the 2 calves that developed szwajizak agglutinins showed cross reactivity with wolffi and hardjo antigens. There were not significant differences of plasma and urine constituents between the inoculated calves and the control calf. Endocardial hemorrhages and large soft black-red spleen were present in the 2 calves given the greatest numbers of leptospires. Histopathologically, kidney of all infected calves had multiple small foci of lymphoid cells, chiefly pasmacytes, which were present in periglomerular and interstitial areas.     

Development and initial evaluation of an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo antibodies in bovine sera.

Outer sheath antigen from Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo type hardjoprajitno and acetic acid extracted antigens from serovar hardjo types hardjoprajitno and hardjobovis were evaluated in an immunoassay for ability to detect hyperimmune rabbit serum to serovar hardjo. The degree of cross-reactivity with hyperimmune rabbit sera to L. interrogans serovars pomona, copenhageni, grippotyphosa, canicola and sejroe, and Leptospira biflexa serovar patoc was also measured for each antigen. All of the antigens reacted with the antiserum to L. interrogans serovar hardjo. The outer sheath antigen however, also showed wide cross-reactivity with the antisera to all of the serovars of L. interrogans tested and with the antiserum to L. biflexa serovar patoc. The acetic acid extracted antigen from either type hardjoprajitno, or type hardjobovis, showed a high degree of specificity for serovar hardjo antiserum. The hardjobovis acetic acid extracted antigen was characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting, and was incorporated into an indirect ELISA for detection of anti-serovar hardjo antibodies in bovine serum. This ELISA showed a relative specificity of 100% with 156 bovine sera which were negative at a dilution of 1:100 in the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) for L. interrogans serovars hardjo, pomona, sejroe, icterohaemorrhagiae, copenhageni, canicola, and grippotyphosa. The relative sensitivity of this assay with 192 bovine sera which had serovar hardjo MAT titres of > or = 100 was 95.3% (95% confidence limit = 2.99%). The degree of cross-reactivity with 289 bovine sera which had serovar pomona MAT titres of > or = 100 (with no detectable serovar hardjo MAT titres) was approximately 1.0%. This assay was: easily standardized, scored objectively, repeatable, semi-automated and used a non-hazardous antigen that can be routinely prepared in gram amounts.     

Addition of rabbit serum to EMJH medium improves isolation of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo

The addition of 2% pooled rabbit serum to semi-solid commercial EMJH medium with EMJH enrichment and 0,5 mg of 5-fluorouracil per ml was found to enhance the growth rate and success of isolation of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo from bovine urine. Cultures made on media without serum had to be kept for more than 130 days before being discarded as negative.     

Reclassification of North American leptospiral isolates belonging to serogroups Mini and Sejroe by restriction endonuclease analysis

The genomes of North American strains of leptospires belonging to serogroups Mini and Sejroe were analyzed and compared with those of reference strains by cleavage with restriction endonucleases. The isolates selected for this study, when typed by the serologic method, were identified as serovars szwajizak, hardjo, and balcanica. However, the results of restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) indicated that a different classification existed. The 2 isolates typed as serovar szwajizak seem to be georgia by REA. Isolates belonging to serovars balcanica and hardjo had REA patterns that differed from both reference strains. Differences were not observed in the REA patterns between balcanica and hardjo isolates. All hardjo and balcanica isolates examined are suggested to be classified into a previously described hardjo, REA subtype hardjobovis. Using the enzyme Hha1, these isolates were subdivided into 3 subgroups. When examining the REA pattern of the 17 reference strains in serogroup Sejroe, 3 identical pairs were observed: wolffi and roumanica; sejroe and polonica; and istrica and nyanza. The REA again indicated that it will be a valuable method for the classification of leptospires.     

关中奶山羊FGF2基因克隆、生物信息学分析及组织表达研究

【目的】对关中奶山羊成纤维细胞生长因子2（fibroblast growth factor 2，FGF2）基因进行克隆及生物信息学分析，并检测其在山羊各组织中的表达差异，为后续探究该基因的功能奠定基础。【方法】以关中奶山羊乳腺cDNA为模板，采用RT-PCR技术扩增并克隆关中奶山羊FGF2基因完整CDS区序列，进行相似性比对、系统发育树构建及生物信息学分析；运用实时荧光定量PCR方法检测FGF2基因在关中奶山羊心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肾脏、背最长肌、肺脏、乳腺和卵巢组织中的表达情况。【结果】关中奶山羊FGF2基因编码区长468 bp，可编码155个氨基酸，分子质量为17.26 ku，理论等电点为9.58，其中含量最高的是甘氨酸，占10.3%。相似性比对结果表明，关中奶山羊FGF2氨基酸序列与人、牛、马、兔、绵羊、虎鲸和野猪的相似性分别为98.7%、99.4%、100.0%、98.7%、99.4%、99.4%和62.6%。系统进化树显示，FGF2基因在不同物种间具有高度保守性，与马的亲缘关系最近。关中奶山羊FGF2蛋白不稳定指数为38.39，属于稳定亲水性蛋白质，不含跨膜结构和信号肽；FGF2蛋白二级结构含有α-螺旋、β-转角、延伸链、无规则卷曲，分别占比10.32%、14.19%、30.97%、44.52%。蛋白质互作预测分析显示，FGF2蛋白与FGFR、KDR、FGF1、FGFR4、MET和FGFR1等与乳腺生长发育相关的蛋白存在相互作用。实时荧光定量PCR检测到关中奶山羊FGF2基因在心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肾脏、背最长肌、肺脏、乳腺和卵巢中均有表达，在乳腺中表达水平最高，其次为卵巢，在背最长肌中的表达水平最低。【结论】关中奶山羊FGF2基因CDS区序列长468 bp，编码155个氨基酸，为亲水蛋白，二级结构以延伸链和无规则卷曲为主。FGF2基因在关中奶山羊泌乳高峰期的不同组织中均有表达。本试验结果为进一步探究FGF2基因在关中奶山羊乳腺发育中的作用及其具体功能提供了参考。     

Effect of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transplantation on the Mammary Tissue Development and Serum Hormone Level of Saanen Dairy Goat

The study was aimed to analyze the effect of transplanted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on the mammary gland development and serum hormone level of Saanen dairy goat.16 healthy goats with 2 months old and similar body weight were randomly divided into control group and experimental group. The BMSCs which was amplified to the P6 generation was injected to the goat via jugular vein,and the control group was injected with the same amount of normal saline. Feeding and management of the two groups were the same. Blood samples were collected monthly,and mammary gland tissue samples were collected at 3,5 and 7 months old. Frozen sections of mammary gland tissue was prepared, the ducts and acinus numbers were observed and recorded. The results showed that after transplantation of BMSCs,at 5 and 7 months old,the ducts and acinus number of goat in experimental group were significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05).At 5,7,8 and 9 months old,the serum E₂ level of goat in experimental group was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05);At 5 to 9 months old,the serum P level in experimental group was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05).At 7 to 9 months old,the serum PRL and INS levels in experimental group were significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05);At 8 and 9 months old,the serum levels of GnRH level in experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05).The serum LEP,CRH and ACTH levels were higher than that of the control group at the whole test process,but the difference was not significant (P>0.05).In conclusion, injection of BMSCs could increase the duct and acinus number of dairy goat mammary,improve the hormone level in serum,and promote mammary gland development.     

移植骨髓间充质干细胞对萨能奶山羊乳腺组织发育及血清激素水平的影响

试验旨在研究移植骨髓间充质干细胞（bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,BMSCs）对萨能奶山羊乳腺发育的影响。选取体重接近的2月龄健康萨能奶山羊16只,随机分为对照组和试验组。将扩增至P6代的BMSCs经颈静脉注射至奶山羊体内,对照组注射等量生理盐水,两组间饲养管理均相同。每月进行空腹采血,并分别在3、5和7月龄采集乳腺组织样品,制备乳腺组织冰冻切片,观察记录各组乳腺组织导管数和腺泡数。结果显示,移植BMSCs后,5和7月龄时,试验组奶山羊的导管数、腺泡数均显著高于对照组（P<0.05）。在5、7、8、9月龄时,试验组奶山羊血清中雌激素（E₂）水平显著高于对照组（P<0.05）;在5~9月龄时,试验组血清中孕酮（P）水平显著高于对照组（P<0.05）;在7~9月龄时,试验组血清中催乳素（PRL）和胰岛素（INS）水平均显著高于对照组（P<0.05）;8、9月龄时,试验组血清中促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）水平显著高于对照组（P<0.05）;整个试验过程中试验组血清中瘦素（LEP）、促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素（CRH）和促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）水平均高于对照组,但差异不显著（P>0.05）。综上所述,注射BMSCs能增加奶山羊乳腺导管数和腺泡数,提高血清中激素水平,从而促进乳房发育。     

Bovine abortion associated with Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo infection

During 1981, 265 bovine abortions were investigated by serological and histological methods for evidence of leptospiral infection. Leptospires were demonstrated in the tissues of 10 foetuses by a Levaditi silver impregnation technique. Serological testing of maternal sera indicated that Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo was associated with 5 of the abortions while the remaining 5 were due to L. interrogans serovar pomona infection. In cases of abortion associated with L. interrogans serovar hardjo leptospires were readily demonstrated in foetal liver, kidney, intestine and heart. They were demonstrated less often in lung and placenta and could not be found in foetal brain. Autolysis did not appear to interfere with the demonstration of leptospires by silver impregnation. No lesions attributable to leptospiral infection were seen in placentas but mild interstitial nephritis was found in some of the foetuses. Fourteen other cows had serological evidence of recent leptospiral infection but leptospires were not detected in foetal tissues. Histological examination of silver impregnated foetal tissues in combination with the microscopic agglutination test was shown to be an effective method for diagnosing abortion associated with L. interrogans serovar hardjo in cattle.     

Prevalence of antibodies to Leptospira serovars in sheep and goats in Alto Adige-South Tyrol

Serum samples from 313 sheep and 95 goats were collected during November 1993 in 26 localities in Alto Adige-South Tyrol and tested by microscopic agglutination test for antibodies to 28 serovars of the genus Leptospira. At the time of blood collection all the animals appeared healthy with no clinical sign suggestive of leptospirosis. The observed seroprevalence in sheep was 6.1%, whereas the seropositivity rate for goat serum samples was 2.1%. The highest serological prevalence in sheep was recorded for serovar castellonis, followed by poi, sejroe, hardjo subtype hardjobovis, copenhageni, and cynopteri. Titres to poi were the only ones found in goats. These findings, which are proof of Leptospira infection in Alto Adige-South Tyrol, indicate that foci of several serovars exist in this region.     

Dihydrostreptomycin treatment of bovine carriers of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo

Ten non-pregnant heifers, experimentally infected with Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo, were each given an intramuscular injection of dihydrostreptomycin at a dose rate of 25 mg kg-1. In five of these animals this treatment was repeated after 14 days. Treatment failed to remove established genital or renal infection in seven of the 10 heifers, although the number of organisms persisting was apparently reduced in these animals. Serovar hardjo infection persisted for at least 83 days in the oviduct and uterus and these tissues may be as important carrier sites for serovar hardjo as bovine kidney tissue.     

Isolation of Leptospira hardjo from kidneys of Ontario cattle at slaughter.

Kidneys from 117 cattle from 110 Ontario farms were examined at slaughter for leptospires. Leptospira hardjo (hardjo-bovis A) was isolated from 11 kidneys and L. kennewicki from one. The isolations were all made (12/89, 13.5%) from beef cattle from feedlots, no isolates being obtained from dairy or beef cattle from extensive farms (0/28). Isolations were only made from cattle with antibody titers (greater than or equal to 20) against the serovars recovered. Isolation was more sensitive than immunofluorescence in identifying leptospira, particularly in animals with low antibody titers against L. hardjo. Leptospira were isolated from two kidneys with multiple gross lesions of focal nephritis, but there was no correlation between the presence of scanty kidney lesions and isolations of leptospira. Leptospira hardjo infection appears to be common in Ontario feedlot cattle.     

Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides as the cause of a subauricular abscess and mastitis in a goat.

A 6-year-old female goat was admitted with right-sided subauricular swelling and facial nerve paralysis. Mastitis developed subsequently. The subauricular swelling localized to a mass and was excised. Mycoplasma mycoides subsp mycoides was cultured from samples obtained from the mass and mammary gland. After clinical improvement, the goat was discharged to the owner with instructions to isolate the goat and to submit milk samples from the rest of the herd for microbial culturing. Mycoplasma spp can spread to other tissues from an initial site of infection. In goats with clinical signs similar to those of the goat of this report, samples should be obtained for microbial culture on Mycoplasma medium. Goats infected with Mycoplasma spp should be isolated or culled because of the risk of transmission to uninfected animals.     

Seroprevalence and association with abortion of leptospirosis in cattle in Ontario.

Sera were collected using a systematic random sampling from 348 cattle herds in Ontario, in proportion to the cattle population in different areas. One cow in five from 296 dairy herds and one in three from 52 beef herds were sampled. The sera were analyzed for prevalence of antibodies to Leptospira interrogans serovar grippotyphosa, hardjo, icterohaemorhagiae and pomona using the microscopic agglutination test. Herd seroprevalence (one or more animals with titer greater than or equal to 80) in beef and dairy herds combined was grippotyphosa 2%, hardjo 13.8%, icterohaemorrhagiae 10.1% and pomona 25.8%; 39% of all herds showed evidence of leptospiral infection with one or more serovars; 44.2% of 52 beef herds had serological evidence of infection with serovar hardjo compared to 8.4% of 296 dairy herds (P less than 0.0001). Seroprevalence of other serovars was not significantly different between beef and dairy herds. The proportion of beef animals seropositive for hardjo and for pomona increased with age, particularly for hardjo; 26.5% of beef animals aged nine years or over were seropositive for hardjo. Dairy animals showed a significant rise of hardjo but not pomona titers with age. The seroprevalence of pomona infection was significantly higher in dairy cattle in eastern Ontario than in other regions. Thirty-four (6.1%) of 553 aborted bovine fetuses had leptospires detected by immunofluorescence techniques. Sixty-five percent of these fetuses were from submissions made between November and January. Leptospires were identified as serovar hardjo by specific immunofluorescence. There appeared, however, to be a paradoxical serological response in that eight aborting cows had antibody titers to pomona rather than hardjo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of vitamin E supplementation of sheep and goats fed diets supplemented with polyunsaturated fatty acids and low in Se

Vitamin E (VitE) and selenium (Se) are an essential part of the antioxidative functions of metabolism. There are situations of low supply of both micronutrients. As VitE is involved in ruminal biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and their protection against oxidation in metabolism, diets supplemented with PUFA may challenge VitE to an extent making recommended supplies insufficient. Twelve goats and sheep each were fed a diet supplemented with PUFA and characterised by low Se and limited VitE contents during the last 2 months of gestation and the first 2 months of lactation. The basal diet consisted of hay and concentrate. Six goats and sheep received extra VitE, while the control groups received no extra VitE. Blood and milk samples were taken. In addition, liver, heart muscle and spleen samples were obtained from the offspring after slaughtering at an age of 8 weeks. No significant changes were observed in serum Se and VitE. A significant increase in serum VitE concentrations between 2 and 4 weeks postpartum (pp) was evident in the supplemented kids. In 4, 6 and 8 weeks pp, the serum concentrations of VitE in the supplemented kids were significantly higher compared to the unsupplemented group. In the kids, VitE was higher in liver of the supplemented groups. There were no significant differences in response to extra VitE between sheep and goat. The kids responded to serum VitE different from that of lambs, as a significant difference was observed between supplemented and unsupplemented animals in the goat kids, but not the lambs. In conclusion, goats and sheep have to be viewed differently and may not be considered alike relating to VitE/Se metabolism and requirements, especially in young animals.     

Detection of leptospires in bovine semen by polymerase chain reaction

OBJECTIVE: In view of the considerable importance of venereal transmission of bovine leptospirosis, the objective of the present study was to compare the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), culture/isolation and serology to detect leptospire infection in bovine semen. DESIGN: Blood for serologic examination and semen for bacterial culture and PCR were collected from 20 bulls at artificial insemination centres in Brazil. Each animal was sampled twice for serology. RESULT: Forty-five percent (9/20) of the serum samples collected showed agglutinin titers to serovar hardjo in the first sample and 25% (5/20) had agglutinin titers to serovar hardjo in the second sample. Eighty percent (16/20) of semen samples were positive by PCR. Leptospires could not be isolated from any of the semen samples examined. CONCLUSION: Polymerase chain reaction can be a method of great potential for the detection of leptospires at artificial insemination centres.     

A serological study on Brucella abortus, caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus and Leptospira in dairy goats in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

In spite of the large number of goats found in several developing tropical countries, milk production remains unsatisfactory. The occurrence of infectious diseases, such as leptospirosis, brucellosis and caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) may in part be responsible for sub-optimal production. In this study, 1000 serum samples were tested for leptospirosis, 953 for brucellosis and 562 for CAE. All tested flocks presented at least one seroreactive animal for leptospirosis and for CAE. Reactivity to leptospirosis was 11.1%, and serovar hardjo was the most frequently found. Anti-B. abortus agglutinins were found in 0.5% of the samples presented and 14.1% were seroreactive to CAE. Leptospirosis was considered to represent the major infectious problem in the studied goat flocks. The occurrence of infectious diseases in the tested flocks may represent an important factor contributing to the decreased productivity of the animals. These findings may be similar to those observed in other developing countries and require further study to define the relationship between seropositivity and reduced production.     

Antibody response to genus- and serovar-specific leptospiral antigens in Leptospira-infected cows

In cows inoculated with Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona or hardjo, the 2-mercaptoethanol-sensitive microscopic agglutination test (MAT) antibody to the serovar appeared 3 to 8 days after inoculation and peaked at 10 to 20 days, whereas the 2-mercaptoethanol-resistant MAT antibody was predominant at 35 to 80 days. A persistent antibody response, probably associated with serovar-specific leptospiral antigens, was detected in the cows inoculated with serovar pomona, using a sonicated or an alkaline-extracted antigen derived from serovar pomona in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In contrast, a short-lived antibody response to the same antigens was demonstrated in cows inoculated with serovar hardjo, probably more typical of the response to genus-specific leptospiral antigens. Antigens derived from L biflexa serovar patoc only detected the latter type of antibody response in cows inoculated with serovar pomona or hardjo. Correlative studies revealed that the antigens derived from serovar patoc seem to be genus specific and serologically closely related, but not identical. The antigens derived from serovar pomona were genus specific on the basis of the early antibody response to leptospiral inoculation in the cows, but serovar specific based on the subsequent more persistent response to leptospiral inoculation. These antigens were also serologically closely related, but not identical. Examination of sera from cows that aborted and were MAT-positive for serovar pomona or hardjo revealed a more serovar-specific antibody response, indicating that there may have been a less recent leptospiral antigenic stimulus, thus emphasizing the caution with which results of the ELISA and other serologic assays for the detection of bovine leptospirosis must be interpreted.