Pasteurella haemolytica: purification of saline-extractable proteins by isoelectrofocusing

A procedure was developed for separating antigens associated with a saline extract of Pasteurella haemolytica serotype 1. Seven antigens were identified by immunoelectrophoresis to be associated with the extract. The extract was subjected to preparative isoelectrofocusing in a pH range of 3-10. The majority of extracted proteins were found to have pI's of 4-6, whereas the carbohydrate antigen(s) were distributed over a pI range of 3.0-8.0. The fractions that were of interest were pooled and refocused in a narrower pH range to improve resolution of the protein antigens. Specific antigens from defined pH ranges were pooled to form 6 antigen groups. These antigen groups were examined further by immunoelectrophoresis, analytical isoelectrofocusing, and sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weights of the proteins found in the capsular extracts ranged from 33 k to greater than 80 k. Injection of mice with capsular extract or antigen Groups 1-6 in Freund's incomplete adjuvant resulted in a serum antibody response to the various antigens as detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Significant protection (P less than 0.05) against challenge with virulent P. haemolytica was seen in mice injected with antigen Groups 2 and 4. Six calves were immunized with saline extract. These calves had greater resistance to experimental pneumonic pasteurellosis than did 6 non-vaccinated calves. A serum antibody response to the crude extract and to each antigen group was detected in vaccinated calves by an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay.     

Nondestructive Estimation of Standing Crop and Fuel Moisture Content in Tallgrass Prairie

Accurate estimation of standing crop and herbaceous fuel moisture content (FMC) are important for grazing management and wildfire preparedness. Destructive sampling techniques have been used to accurately estimate standing crop and FMC, but those techniques are laborious and time consuming. Existing nondestructive methods for estimating standing crop in tallgrass prairie have limitations, and few studies have examined nondestructive estimation techniques for FMC in this environment. Therefore, our objective was to develop robust models for nondestructive estimation of standing crop and FMC in tallgrass prairie. We calibrated and validated stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) and artificial neural network (ANN) models for standing crop and FMC using data collected in tallgrass prairies near Stillwater, Oklahoma. Day of year (DOY), canopy height (CH), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and percent reflectance in five wavelength bands were candidate input variables for the models. The study spanned two growing seasons and nine patches located within three pastures under patch burn management, and the resulting data set with > 3 000 observations was split randomly with 85% for model calibration and 15% withheld for validation. Standing crop ranged from 0 to 852 g m^? 2, and FMC ranged from 0% to 204%. With DOY, CH, and NDVI as predictors, the SMLR model for standing crop produced a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 119 g m^? 2 on the validation data, while the RMSE of the corresponding ANN model was 116 g m^? 2. With the same predictors, the SMLR model for FMC produced an RMSE of 26.7% compared with 23.8% for the corresponding ANN model. Thus, the ANN models provided better prediction accuracy but at the cost of added computational complexity. Given the large variability in the underlying datasets, the models developed here may prove useful for nondestructive estimation of standing crop and FMC in other similar grassland environments.     

Ovarian inhibition of pulsatile luteinizing hormone secretion in prepuberal holstein heifers

Fifteen prepuberal Holstein heifers were utilized to examine pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion before and after ovariectomy. Heifers were ovariectornized at 3, 6 or 9 months of age (n=5/group) and scheduled for blood sampling at 1 week before, 1 week after and 4 weeks following ovariectomy. During each 8 hr sampling period (0600–1400 hr), blood samples (10 ml) were collected via indwelling jugular canulae at 10 min intervals. Prior to ovariectomy, mean plasma LH concentration and both number and amplitude of LH pulses per 8 hr sampling period were similar (P>.05) among age groups, and the absence of a pulsatile LH secretion profile was accompanied by a low mean LH concentration. Within 1 week after ovariectomy, both number of LH pulses and mean LH concentrations increased (P<.O1) in all age groups. Between 1 and 4 weeks after ovariectomy, both amplitude of LH pulses and mean LH concentrations increased (P<.O1) when the data from the three age groups were combined. We conclude that ovarian inhibition of pulsatile LH secretion is established by 3 months of age and is maintained through 9 months of age. In addition, the initial elevation mean plasma LH concentration is due to greater pulse frequency, while the subsequent rise in mean LH concentration reflects increased amplitude of LH pulses.     

The recreational and commercial importance of feral swine in Florida: Relevance to the possible introduction of African swine fever into the U.S.A.

Florida has the largest population of feral swine in the U.S.A. Feral swine have recreational and economic importance to hunters, trappers, taxidermists, and also to dealers who sell feral swine to hunting clubs. Hunters spent over 522 00 man-days hunting feral swine during the 1980–1981 hunting year. They killed nearly 103 000 hogs which they valued at over $58 each, for a total value of nearly $6 million. Trappers caught 25 000 head valued at about $ 700 000, and landowners collected about $1.2 million in hunting lease fees. Taxidermists received about $389 000 in gross income from mounting feral swine. Sales of feral swine to hunting clubs amounted to about $81 000.

Sales of feral swine through commercial livestock auctions were limited to 1620 head valued at only $16 800 in 1980. Thus, feral swine are important to Florida from a recreational standpoint, but not from the perspective of commercial agriculture.

If African swine fever were to enter Florida, there are many socio-economic factors associated with feral swine that must be carefully evaluated for eradication to be successful.     

Effect of suckling intensity on human growth hormone binding, biochemical composition and histological characteristics of ovine mammary glands

Suckling both, or only one contralateral mammary gland during 15 days postpartum was utilized to study lactogenic hormone binding to mammary microsomal membranes and quantitative mammary morphology in ewes. Binding of radiolabeled human growth hormone was specific for lactogenic hormones. Non-radiolabeled human growth hormone, ovine and bovine prolactin and human placental lactogen effectively competed with radiolabeled human growth hormone for binding sites but ovine and bovine growth hormone were completely ineffective. Specific binding of radiolabeled human growth hormone to 600 μg of membrane protein averaged 23 ± 3% in all lactating glands. Neither days postpartum nor treatment of contralateral mammary glands substantially altered hormone binding in lactating glands. Specific human growth hormone binding (6 ± 0.5%) in non-suckled glands (15 days postpartum both udder halves) was significantly lower (P<0.01) than in lactating tissue but only a moderate and variable reduction in specific binding was measured in membranes from glands non-suckled for 15 days but contralateral to a suckled gland (14 ± 4%). Specific binding was approximately doubled in assays with 600 compared with 300 μg of membrane protein and the pattern of binding among variously suckled glands was not changed by treatment of membranes with 4 M MgCl₂ prior to assay. Most secretory cells from all lactating glands had rounded, basally displaced nuclei, apical fat globules, secretory vesicles and abundant densely stained basal cytoplasm (ergastoplasm). Alveolar lumenal area was maximal (50% of tissue area) and stromal tissue area was minimal. After 15 days of non-suckling (both udder halves) mammary cells were engorged with lipid, ergastoplasm was reduced and nuclei were irregularly shaped and randomly displaced compared with lactating tissue. In addition, lumenal area was reduced and stromal tissue more evident. Lack of suckling for 5 days had little apparent effect on mammary cytology. Like lactogenic hormone binding, mammary tissue morphology was only moderately altered by 15 days of non-suckling when the remaining gland was suckled. RNA concentration was lowest (2.1 ± 0.3 mg/g) in mammary tissue from ewes in which neither gland was suckled for 15 days postpartum but non-suckling interval had no significant effect when contralateral glands were suckled. DNA concentration was not significantly influenced by suckling treatments. Relative lactogenic hormone binding closely corresponded to changes in cytological and biochemical indices of secretory cell function.     

Survey of arabian foals in poland for immune system disorders

During the foaling seasons of 1983 and 1984, 228 (76%) of 300 Arabian foalsborn in Poland were analyzed for immune system disorders by performing leukocyte differential counts and by quantitating serum concentrations of IgM and IgG. IgM concentrations and absolute lymphocyte counts were within normal limits for all foals tested. Twelve foals (5.3%) demonstrated failure or partial failure of colostral IgG transfer (foal serum IgG < 400 mg/dl). All 12 foals survived. No cases of combined immunodeficiency, selective IgM deficiency or agammaglobulinemia were detected among the 228 foals tested.     

Electrophoretic comparison of the genomes of North American bluetongue viruses, one Australian bluetongue virus, and three other related orbiviruses

The genomes of U.S. bluetongue viruses, an Australian bluetongue virus, and three other related orbiviruses were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The genomes were comprised of ten segments of double-stranded (ds) RNA. Estimates of the molecular weights of the dsRNA segments revealed that the U.S. bluetongue serotypes were remarkably similar. Although the dsRNA profiles of the viruses exhibited common segments, each virus had a distinct dsRNA profile. The usefulness of the genome analysis as a diagnostic tool for identification and for epidemiologic studies is discussed.     

Potential Spread of Cheatgrass and Other Invasive Species by Feral Horses in Western Colorado

The invasive grass cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) presents major challenges for land management and habitat conservation in the western United States. Feral horses (Equus ferus caballus) have become overabundant in some areas of the West and can impact fragile semiarid ecosystems. Amid ongoing efforts to control cheatgrass in the Great Basin, we conducted a study to determine if feral horses contribute to the spread of cheatgrass through distribution via their feces. We collected feral horse fecal samples from Little Book Cliffs Herd Management Area in western Colorado in 2014. Fecal samples were dried, and 20 from each of 3 collection sessions were cultivated to examine germination success. Six species germinated from 18 samples (30%; mostly one plant per sample where germination occurred), including cheatgrass from 8% of samples. In a separate study we examined the diet of this same horse population using fecal plant DNA barcoding. Plant species that germinated were rare in the diet and germinated from fewer samples than expected relative to their detection in the diet. Our results suggest that feral horses could be contributing to cheatgrass propagation. Native ungulates and domestic cattle also have this potential. Although management of all large ungulates is necessary to mitigate cheatgrass spread, control of feral horse numbers is particularly necessary.