Effect ofFusarium roseum (Gibberella zea) on pregnancy and the estrous cycle in gilts fed molded corn on days 7–17 post-estrus

A laboratory produced corn culture ofFusarium roseum (Gibberella zea) was fed as 10% of the total diet to bred and non-bred gilts on days 7–17 postestrus. The corn culture contained both zearalenone and deoxynivalenol by analysis, and caused considerable feed refusal. Although 6 of 10 bred gilts fed the corn culture appeared to be pregnant by ultrasound testing between days 40–50 post-breeding, none of them farrowed. Progesterone analyses indicated that none of the 10 gilts cycled normally during the 20 week observation period. Three maintained high serum progesterone (>10 ng/ml) during the entire period. Progesterone analyses were similar in 5 non-bred gilts fed the corn culture in that none of them cycled normally in 20 weeks. The retention or loss of corpora lutea could not be attributed to levels of luteininzing hormone, as no relationship was found between concentrations of progesterone and luteinizing hormone. This experiment indicates that limited dietary exposure of female swine toFusarium roseum infected corn can result in embryonic loss and disruption of normal reproductive cycling for an extended length of time.     

Quantitative estimation of spermatogenesis in bulls (Bos indicus) in a tropical environment of Nigeria

Spermatogenesis in bulls (Bos indicus) indigenous to Nigeria, and the significance of Sertoli cell index (SCI) as a measure of testicular degeneration were studied. The mean testicular weights and dimensions were lower than reported forBos taurus breeds. The diameters of the seminiferous tubules were lower than reported forBos taurus, although within the same range. Inter-month and intra-month variations were highly significant (P<0.01). A mean annual spermatogenesis of 77.60% was reported. Active spermatogenesis was observed throughout the year, with a peak during the rainy season and extending toward the predry season. This was consistent with previous reports. Severe testicular degeneration was found to influence spermatogenesis. This was reflected in the decrease in SCI. Mild degeneration had no significant effect on spermatogenesis, and did not significantly change the SCI. The SCI was defined as the ratio of the number of germinal cells to the number of Sertoli cells in the same cross sections of tubules.     

Water pollution and the ulcer syndrome in the cod (Gadus morhua)

One and a half-2 1/2 year old cold living in Danish coastal waters suffer from a specific ulcer syndrome, which occurs only in waters polluted with town sewage or effluents from sugar and cellulose plants. Although the etiology of the primary lesions is unknown (virus?, stress?), the development of ulcers depends upon a bacterial infection.Vibrio anguillarum was the most common bacterium involved in both local and generalized infections in these cod. The prevalence ofVibrio anguillarum was greater in polluted than in unpolluted areas, and the response to an outlet of wastewater from a sugar plant was an immediate increase in the number ofVibrio anguillarum in water and sediment. There was, however, no simple relationship between the prevalence ofVibrio anguillarum and the frequency of the ulcer syndrome. The observed heterogeneity among strains ofVibrio anguillarum from different localities requires a more intensive study of the taxonomy and serology of these strains. In the future the ulcer syndrome in cod and the prevalence ofVibrio anguillarum (and other Vibrios) might be important measurements in programmes for monitoring marine pollution.     

Preliminary report on the pulmonary pathology associated with subcutaneous injections ofDirofilaria immitis antigen

Thickening of alveolar septa was seen in a dog given subcutaneousD. immitis antigen, whereas control animals had normal lung structure at autopsy.     

Tick-borne fever: A review

The literature on tick-borne fever is reviewed. Tick-borne fever is a rickettsial disease of sheep and cattle characterised by high fever and severe leucopaenia. The causative agent,Cytoecetes phagocytophila invades the neutrophils and monocytes and is transmitted by the tickIxodes ricinus. There is very little information on the pathogenesis and immunogenesis of the disease but there is ample evidence that infected animals are predisposed to other diseases. Animals infected with tick-borne fever resist reinfection for a variable period of time. The organisms may persist in the blood of recovered animals for up to two years. Humoral antibodies are produced two weeks after infection and continue to be detected for many months but their significance on protective immunity is not clearly established.     

A study of cattle infected with Brucella abortus and which showed aberrant serological reactions

SUMMARY Sixty cows, 48 of which had been vaccinated with live Brucella abortus strain 19 (S19) or with killed B. abortus strain 45/20 (S45/20) and 12 of which were unvaccinated animals, were challenged with B. abortus strain 544. Ten of the 27 cattle found to be infected after challenge showed aberrant serological reactions to the Rose Bengal Plate test, serum agglutination test and/or complement fixation test. These 10 cattle were all previously vaccinated with S19 or S45/20. It was concluded that infection in cattle vaccinated with S19 or S45/20 may be more difficult to detect than infection in animals that have no history of vaccination.     

Evaluation of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the detection of cattle infected with Brucella abortus

One group of 51 cattle was vaccinated with B. abortus S19 (S19) and a further 51 cattle were vaccinated with B. abortus S45/20 (S45/20). Forty-eight cattle (24 from each group) and a control group of 12 cattle were subsequently challenged with B. abortus S544. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect specific IgG and IgM antibodies in these groups. All cattle vaccinated with S19 had high levels of IgG and IgM, but the S45/20 vaccine produced detectable antibody in only a few cattle. In those cattle where the challenge induced infection, the mean levels of IgG and IgM were much higher than those of the uninfected cattle in the same groups. When the isolation of B. abortus was compared at slaughter with the serological results, the ELISA, when used to detect specific IgG, was more sensitive but less specific than the serum agglutination test, complement fixation test and indirect haemolysis test, and more sensitive and more specific than the Rose Bengal test.     

Serological response of cattle after vaccination and challenge with Brucella abortus

New and currently used serological procedures were evaluated using sera from cattle that were challenged with B. abortus S544 (S544) after vaccination with either B. abortus S19 (S19) or B. abortus 45/20 (S45/20) as calves or adults. In animals vaccinated with S19, titres to the indirect haemolysis test (IHLT) rose more slowly, declined more rapidly and involved fewer animals than did titres to the complement fixation test (CFT). In animals vaccinated with S45/20 the rough antigen complement fixation test (RCFT) showed persistent titres. At slaughter the IHLT and CFT were found to be more specific and more sensitive than the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Serum Agglutination Test (SAT) in the detection of cattle infected with B. abortus.     

THE EFFECT OF CHALLENGE WITH VIRULENT BRUCELLA ABORTUS ON BEEF CATTLE VACCINATED AS CALVES OR ADULTS WITH EITHER BRUCELLA ABORTUS STRAIN 19 OR 45/20

SUMMARY Groups of female calves were vaccinated subcutaneously with the standard dose of Brucella abortus strain 19 (S19) or with B. abortus 45/20 (S45/20). These calves and non-vaccinated control calves were mated at 15 months of age and challenged by way of the conjunctival sac with B. abortus strain 544 (S544). The incidence of abortion, stillbirths, weakling calves and healthy calves was observed after challenge and specimens were collected for culture at parturition and slaughter. Fifteen healthy calves were born to 18 animals vaccinated with S19, 12 were born to 18 animals vaccinated with S45/20 and 2 were born to 8 animals that were not vaccinated. B. abortus was isolated from 5 of the animals vaccinated with S19, 13 of the animals vaccinated with S45/20 and 9 of the 12 animals that were not vaccinated. Only one of the 5 infected animals vaccinated with S19 was vaccinated as an adult.     

A comparison of the potency of several Brucella allergens used to detect brucellosis in cattle

The potency of Brucella allergens prepared from a smooth Brucella abortus strain S-99, mucoid strain Leewarden, rough strain 45/20, and rough Brucella melitensis strain B-115 was assessed. The potency of these allergens was compared with that of a standard allergen prepared from smooth Brucella abortus S-99 that efficiently detected bovine brucellosis in other studies. Eight cattle experimentally inoculated with Brucella abortus 544 were tested with the allergens 4 and 10 weeks after infection, and again 8 months after infection. All the allergens effectively detected infection but there was a clear distinction in the mean skin reactions 48 and 72 h after injection of the allergens. The skin reactions provoked by the allergens prepared from smooth or mucoid strains of Brucella were most pronounced 48 h after injection. Skin reactions provoked by allergens prepared from rough strains of Brucella were strongest 72 h after injection. Allergens prepared from smooth or mucoid Brucella strains were more potent in detecting brucellosis than those prepared from rough strains of Brucella.Abbreviations Bruc/OCB Brucellergen OCB - cfu colony-forming units - CFT complement fixation test - ID-DLO Institute voor Dierhouderij en Diergezondheid-Dienst Landbouwkundig Onderzoek - ICFTU international complement fixation units - IU international units - LPS lipopolysaccharide - SAT serum agglutination test - SDTH skin delayed-type hypersensitivity     

Use of serology and real time PCR to control an outbreak of bovine brucellosis at a dairy cattle farm in the Nile Delta region,Egypt

Background

Bovine brucellosis remains one of the most prevalent zoonotic infections affecting dairy cattle in developing countries where the applied control programs often fail. We analyzed the epidemiologic pattern of bovine brucellosis in a dairy cattle herd that showed several cases of abortions after regular vaccination with RB51 (B. abortus vaccine). In 2013 thirty dairy cows, from a Holstein-Friesian dairy herd with a population of 600 cattle, aborted five months post vaccination by a regular RB51 vaccine. Blood samples were drawn from milking cows and growing heifers, as well as heifers and cows pregnant up to 6 months. These samples were collected in June 2013 (n?=?257) and May 2014 (n?=?263) and were tested by real time (rt)-PCR as well as serological tests, in particular Rose Bengal Test (RBT), Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) and Fluorescence Polarization Assay. Tissue specimens were also collected from an aborted fetus and cultured. Isolates were subjected to bacteriological typing tests at the genus and species levels.

Results

Five months post vaccination with RB51 vaccine, Brucella (B.) DNA was detected in blood samples of cows by rt-PCR. The serological tests also revealed the spread of Brucella field strains within the herd in 2013. Four Brucella isolates were recovered from specimens collected from the aborted fetus. These isolates were typed as follows: one B. abortus RB51 vaccine strain and three isolates of B. abortus field strain. The seropositive cows with positive rt-PCR might indicate an infection by the Brucella field strain; while the positive rt-PCR results from seronegative animals may either be due to circulating RB51 vaccine DNA in vaccinated animals or to circulating field strain in infected animals before seroconversion.

Conclusion

The results herein suggest that PCR can be a good supplementary tool in an outbreak situation, if an assay is available that can differentiate vaccine and field strains with a high analytical sensitivity. We recommend using RBT and ELISA in parallel in outbreak situations, to identify as many infected animals as possible during the initial screenings. This test procedure should be repeated for at least three successive negative tests, with one month interval.

     

Immunogenicity of adenovirus and DNA vaccines co-expressing P39 and lumazine synthase proteins of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella abortus</Emphasis> in BALB/c mice

Brucella poses a great threat to animal and human health. Vaccination is the most promising strategy in the effort to control Brucella abortus (B. abortus) infection, but the currently used live vaccines interfere with diagnostic tests and could potentially result in disease outbreak. Therefore, new subunit vaccines and combined immunization strategies are currently under investigation. In this study, immunogenicity and protection ability of a recombinant adenovirus and plasmid DNA vaccine co-expressing P39 and lumazine synthase proteins of B. abortus were evaluated based on the construction of the two molecular vaccines. Four immunization strategies (single adenovirus, single DNA, adenovirus/DNA, DNA/adenovirus) were investigated. The results showed that the immunization strategy of DNA priming followed by adenovirus boosting induced robust humoral and cellular immune responses, and it significantly reduced the numbers of B. abortus in a mouse model. These results suggest that it could be a potential antigen candidate for development of a new subunit vaccine against B. abortus infection.     

Zeranol and adult steers

Abstract

Extract

Madam:- The growth rate response obtained in yearling steer cattle to zeranol treatment have been extensively documented in New Zealand ⁽¹⁾ McKenzie, J.R. 1981. Effect of growth implants on sheep and cattle production. Proc. N.Z. Soc. An. Prod., 41: 294–296.  [Google Scholar] ⁽²⁾ McNerney, D.M. 1985. Effect of zeranol on beef steer growth rate in four geographical locations of New Zealand. N.Z. vet. J., 33: 19–19. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] ⁽⁴⁾ Scales, G.H. 1984. Beef Cattle, Implants for Increased Production AgLink FPP 523, Wellington: N.Z. Ministry of Agriculture &; Fisheries.  [Google Scholar] and overseas literature. I wish to record the result of growth responses in two-year-old steer cattle.     

Aspects of reproduction in New Zealand dairy herds 1. Gestation length

Abstract

Extract

In New Zealand dairy cattle, the average gestation length is commonly accepted as 282 days. This is slightly longer than that reported in European and American studies of Jersey and Holstein or Friesian cattle (Anderson and Plum, 1965 Anderson, H. and Plum, M. 1965. Gestation length and birth weight in cattle and buffaloes: A review. J. Dairy Sci., 48: 1224–1235. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]; O'Conner et al., 1968 O'Conner, L. K., Wood, P. D. P. and Smith, G. F. 1968. A note on the differences between geographical areas in the gestation length and birth weight of British Friesian calves. Anim. Prod., 10: 125–128.  [Google Scholar]). A feature of these reports and previous New Zealand studies is the differing variation associated with the mean gestation lengths. Part of this may be due to sex, season, breed of sire, age of dam and unspecified herd effects, but is largely the result of excluding or including abnormal gestation periods. The criteria for determining normality have been rather arbitrary in most cases. Abnormally short and long gestation periods may result from disease or from incomplete data recording for conception dates.     

Some observations on reproductive performance in selected commercial beef herds

Abstract

Extract

Although the opinion has been expressed (Andrews, 1971 Andrews, E. D. 1971. Cobalt deficiency in sheep and cattle. N.Z. Dept. Agric. Bull., : 180–180.  [Google Scholar]) that cobalt deficiency among cattle has virtually disappeared in New Zealand and that specimens for laboratory examination are rarely required, 15 to 20% of the liver samples submitted by veterinarians to the Animal Health Reference Laboratory for vitamin B₁₂ assay are from cattle. Diagnostic criteria for cobalt (vitamin B₁₂) deficiency cy have long been established for sheep but not for cattle In view of the continuing requests for vitamin B₁₂ analyses on bovine livers, it was desirable to establish normal values for clinically normal cattle so that results of routine diagnostic analyses could be more readily interpreted.     

leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo vaccination against leptospira interrogans serovar balcanica infection

Abstract

Extract

Sir, — Leptospira interrogans serovar balcanica is now recognised as a widespread infection among opossums in New Zealand ⁽²⁾ Hathaway, S. C, Blackmore, D. K. and Marshall, R. B. 1978. The serologic and cultural prevalence of Leptospira interrogans serovar balcanica in opossums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in New Zealand. J. Wild Dis., 14: 345–350. [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] and the possibility of domestic stock acting as accidental hosts has recently been demonstrated. ⁽³⁾ Mackintosh, C. G., Marshall, R. B. and Blackmore, D. K. 1980. Leptospira interrogans serovar balcanica in cattle. N.Z. vet. J., 28: 268–268. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] With the recent development of hardjo vaccines ⁽¹⁾ Flint, S. H. and Liardet, D. M. 1980. A Trivalent leptospiral vaccine with emphasis on a Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo component to prevent leptospiruria. N.Z. vet. J., 28: 263–266. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] ⁽⁴⁾ Marshall, R. B., Broughton, E. S. and Hellstrom, J. S. 1979. Protection of cattle against natural challenge with Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo using a hardjo - pomona vaccine. N.Z. vet. J., 27: 114–116. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] for controlling infection with this serovar in the maintenance hosts, stock could be left vulnerable to infection with other prevalent serovars such as balcanica.     

Parainfluenza type 3 virus in cattle with upper respiratory disease

Abstract

Extract

Parainfluenza type 3(Pl₃) virus has been associated with upper respiratory disease of cattle in many countries (Hoerlein et al., 1959 Bögel, K. 1961. Virologische Undersuchungsbefunde bei Kalbern mit respiratoris-chem Syndrom unter besonderer Berucksichtigung der Parainfluenza 3 Myxovirus. Mh. Tierheilk, 13: 129–129. 162. [Cited by Jolly, R. D., (1967), N.Z. vet. J., 15: 43–4.] [Google Scholar]; Bögel, 1961 Campbell, R. S. F. 1972. “Virus diseases of cattle. Virology and Virus Disease”. In Proc. No. 16 of Course for Veterinarians, 132–132. University of Sydney.  [Google Scholar]; Reisinger, 1962 Carter, Margery E. and Hunter, R. 1970. Isolation of parainfluenza type 3 virus from sheep in New Zealand. N.Z. vet. J., 18: 226–227. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]; Jolly and Ditchfield, 1965 Curtis, R. A. and Sutton, R. H. 1972. Chronic granular rhinitis (nasal catarrh) of cattle. N.Z. vet. J., 20: 125–125. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]). However, PI₃ virus has not been isolated from cattle with respiratory disease in New Zealand although a serological study found that 89.3% of cows had significant levels of antibody against PI₃ virus (Pastier and Hansen, 1966). In most cases infections are subclinical, and there is little evidence to suggest that PI₃ virus is an important cause of disease in New Zealand cattle (Jolly, 1967 Fastier, L. B. and Hansen, N. F. 1966. The occurrence of antibodies to bovine virus diarrhoea, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and parainfluenza 3 viruses in sera from New Zealand cattle. N.Z. vet J., 14: 27–32. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]). This communication records an outbreak of upper respiratory disease in cattle from which PI₃ virus was isolated.     

The incidence of Brucella abortus,Leptospira pomona,and Vibrio fetus antibodies in beef cattle in the Gisborne district

Abstract

Extract

Following the use of pregnancy diagnosis as an aid to farming beef cattle herds as described by McFarlane (1955) McFarlane, D. 1955. Massey Agricultural College Sheepfarming Annual, 1955: 66–66.  [Google Scholar], it became apparent that many cows already inoculated with Strain 19 were aborting after pregnancy diagnosis. These abortions occurred only on a small proportion of the properties, so that it was unreasonable to assume that they were in any way associated with the physical interference at pregnancy diagnosis.     

A limited serological survey of North Island cattle for antibody to a number of endemic viruses

Abstract

Extract

Little published data is available on the distribution and prevalence of viral diseases in the New Zealand cattle population. Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus(4) Abinanti, F. R., Hoelein, A. B., Watson, R.L and Heuber, R. J. 1961. Serological studies of myxovirus para-influenza 3 in cattle and the prevalence of antibodies in bovines. J. Immunol., 86: 505–511.  [Google Scholar] (5) Bakos, K and Dinier, Z. 1960. Identification of a bovine mucosal disease virus isolated in Sweden as myxovirus parainfluenza 3. Nature, 185: 549–550.  [Google Scholar] (7) Dawson, P. S. 1963. The nature of substances present in normal bovine sera inhibiting the activity of parainfluenza 3 virus. J. Comp. Path., 73: 428–436.  [Google Scholar] and bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD) virus (5) Bakos, K and Dinier, Z. 1960. Identification of a bovine mucosal disease virus isolated in Sweden as myxovirus parainfluenza 3. Nature, 185: 549–550.  [Google Scholar] (7) Dawson, P. S. 1963. The nature of substances present in normal bovine sera inhibiting the activity of parainfluenza 3 virus. J. Comp. Path., 73: 428–436.  [Google Scholar] (l0) Dean, R. A. and Burgess, G. W. 1976. A survey of New Zealand cattle sera for antibodies to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus. N.Z. vet. J., 24: 198–200. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar] appear on serological grounds to be widespread. A serological survey by Fastier and Hansen (7) Dawson, P. S. 1963. The nature of substances present in normal bovine sera inhibiting the activity of parainfluenza 3 virus. J. Comp. Path., 73: 428–436.  [Google Scholar] also suggests that parainfluenza type 3 (PI₃) virus is common in the North Island.