Total serum protein, serum protein fractions and serum immunoglobulins in colostrum-fed and colostrum-deprived calves.

Total serum protein levels, serum protein fraction levels, and specific serum immunoglobulin class or subclass levels were measured in colostrum-fed (CF) and colostrum-deprived (CD) calves during the first 144 hours after birth. Total serum protein values increased at 24 hours in the CF group and then decreased slightly at 144 hours. The increase in total serum protei5) in beta1-, beta2-, and gamma-globulins. The beta2- and gamma-globulin levels decreased by 144 hours, while the serum level of beta1-globulin continued to increase. The CD calves exhibited a significant decrease (P less than 0.05) in total serum protein at 24 hours, folhours, the level of beta1-globulin inlowed by a significant increase (P less than 0.05) at 144 hours. At 24 hours, the level of beta1-globulin decreased slightly, and the level of beta2- and gamma-globulins increased slightly. At 144 creased, and the level of gamma-globulin decreased. The beta2-globulin level did not change. At birth, immunoglobulin (Ig) M was detected in 5 of the 10 calves, IgG1 in 6 of the 10 calves, and IgG2 in 3 of the 10 calves. By 24 hours after birth, all CF calves had detectable levels of IgM, IgG1, and IgG2, and there were significant increases (P less than 0.01) in the mean serum levels of all 3 immunoglobulins. By 144 hours after birth, the serum levels of IgM, IgG1, and IgG2 decreased to various degrees. At 24 hours, the IgM level had not increased in CD calves; however, the level of IgG2 appeared to increase slightly, and the mean IgG1 level increased by approximately 50%. By 144 hours after birth, there was a significant increase (P less than 0.01) in the mean level of serum IgM. The level of IgG, also appeared to increase substantially, while the level of IgG2 appeared to increase slightly.     

C6-deficiency in rabbit serum and its restoration by normal rabbit serum or by normal bovine serum

The sera from 12 out of 29 half-sibs of the New Zealand White breed of rabbit were inactive, when used as complement, in blood-typing tests of bovine erythrocytes. This defect was found to be due to a deficiency in the activity of the component C6. A dilution of 1:380 of pooled normal rabbit sera and a dilution of 1:520 of pooled normal bovine sera were capable of restoring, to 63%, the haemolytic capacity of the defective rabbit sera. The rate of haemolysis varied from 4% to 100% when the defective sera were restored by sera from different sets of monozygous bovine twins.     

Inhibitory activity of heated ewe serum for ewe and ram serum complement

In the presence of an indicator antigen-antibody complex, the complement (C) activity in ewe and ram serum was reduced or abolished by addition of ewe serum that had been heated at 56 degrees C for 10 minutes. Pre-incubation of heated ewe serum at 39 degrees C for 30 minutes with the C source prior to addition of the indicator system or addition at the same time caused similar reductions in C activity. Results from the haemolytic, conglutinating and haemagglutinating activities studied indicate that the ewe serum inhibitor(s) reacts with activated classical or alternative activating pathway components and/or the third component of C (C3). The presence of a potent C inhibitor(s) in ewe serum probably accounts for the low sheep C titres with some assay systems. As the heated ewe serum did not appear to activate ewe or ram C per se, it is more appropriate to regard it as 'inhibitory' rather than 'anticomplementary'.     

Superovulation in the cow with pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin: effects of dose and antipregnant mare serum gonadotrophin serum.

The effects of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) dose and PMSG antiserum on superovulation in crossbred beef cows were studied. In experiment I, three groups were treated with 1200, 2400 or 3600 IU of PMSG and 48 h later with prostaglandin (PGF). The mean numbers of corpora lutea (CL), unovulated follicles, and total ova/embryos collected increased as the PMSG dose increased. The percent of fertilized ova and transferable embryos was lowest in the highest dose group (p < 0.05). In experiment II, all cows received 2500 IU of PMSG; groups 1 and 2 were treated with sheep anti-PMSG serum at 48 h or 60 h after PGF; group 3 cows were PMSG-only controls. The number of CL was lowest and the number of unovulated follicles highest in the PMSG-only group (p < 0.05). The number of CL was higher in group 2 (anti-PMSG at 60 h) than in the control group, with the anti-PMSG at 48 h not different from the other groups. Numbers of total ova/embryos, fertilized ova, and transferable embryos were higher (p < 0.05) in both antiserum-treated groups relative to the PMSG-only group. We conclude that superovulation of beef cows with PMSG and treatment with PMSG antiserum will induce a higher superovulatory response and will result in higher CL numbers and fewer unovulated follicles. Further, the variability in the superovulatory response to PMSG treatment was still evident when PMSG antiserum was administered.     

血清溶菌酶含量微量测定法

本试验经过反复摸索，成功地将血清溶菌酶含量测定法微量化，使其操作简便、快速，适用于大批量检测。另外，只需将反应条件稍作修改，便可用于检测不同浓度范围的溶菌酶。     

Alcaligenes faecalis infection in turkeys: effects on serum corticosterone and serum chemistry

The serum levels of corticosterone, total calcium, inorganic phosphorus, protein, sodium, and potassium were determined for turkey poults from 1 to 42 days of age. Corticosterone levels were higher at days 10, 14, 21, and 28 in Alcaligenes faecalis-infected turkeys than in uninfected poults. The corticosterone responses in this study indicate that A. faecalis infection stimulates adrenal cortical function even in the very young poult, which ordinarily does not show adrenal cortical responsiveness to various environmental and physical stressors. No differences were observed between infected and uninfected turkey poults in other serum chemistries.     

Prediction of serum ionized calcium concentration by serum total calcium measurement in cats

Feline serum samples (n = 434) were classified as hypercalcemic, normocalcemic, or hypocalcemic based on both total calcium (tCa) and ionized calcium (iCa) concentrations. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive diagnostic likelihood ratio (PDLR), and negative diagnostic likelihood ratio (NDLR) were calculated for prediction of hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia in all samples, in hypoalbuminemic cats, and in those with chronic renal failure (CRF) as compared with cats that had other conditions. Diagnostic discordance in prediction of iCa using tCa was 40%. Sensitivity of tCa in prediction of ionized hypercalcemia was low and specificity was high. The PDLR for prediction of ionized hypercalcemia or hypocalcemia was low in all cats, especially in those with CRF. Due to the high level of diagnostic discordance, tCa should not be used to predict iCa concentration. Concentration of iCa should be measured directly when accurate assessment of calcium status is needed.     

Relationships between serum serotonin and serum lipid levels, and aggression in horses

Levels of serum serotonin and serum lipids--triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein and very low-density lipoprotein, were determined in normal horses and horses diagnosed with aggression on the basis of a questionnaire survey. Blood serotonin levels in aggressive horses were found to be significantly lower than in non-aggressive horses (P < 0.01), but no association was found with respect to blood lipids.     

Equine serum lipids: serum lipoprotein profiles of Morgan and Thoroughbred horses.

The serum of lipoproteins of 10 Morgan and 8 Thoroughbred horses were examined by 2 methods of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A significant breed difference in the beta-lipoprotein to alpha-lipoprotein ratio was seen in gradient slab electrophoresis. A breed difference in the number of peaks, but no difference in beta-lipoprotein to alpha-lipoprotein ratio, was found in disc gel electrophoresis. These results have been correlated to indicate differences in charge of alpha-lipoprotein components and in size of beta-lipoprotein components between these 2 breeds of horses.     

Isolation and characterization of C-reactive protein and serum amyloid P component from bovine serum

C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid P component (SAP), which are known as acute phase reactants in human and many other animals, were purified from cow sera. Affinity chromatography using HE agarose gel was the most effective method to isolate both CRP and SAP from a large volume of bovine serum. Separation of CRP and SAP from the mixed preparation could be performed by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, gel permeation HPLC using TSK-G3000SW or affinity chromatography using phosphorylcholine derivatives of bovine serum albumin-conjugated Toyopearl HW 65. Bovine CRP and SAP were identified as genuine CRP- and SAP-class proteins by their cross reactivities with anti-human CRP and anti-human SAP, respectively, and by their homology in amino acid compositions compared with those of human CRP and SAP, respectively. Bovine CRP moved slower than beta-globulin, and bovine SAP moved in the beta-globulin region in agarose gel electrophoresis. Both of them gave single bands in native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Bovine CRP and SAP molecular weights were estimated to be 100,600 and 109,500 daltons respectively, by sedimentation equilibrium analysis. Bovine CRP showed 23K dalton subunits by sodium laurylsulfate-PAGE and bovine SAP showed 28K and 32K dalton subunits, both of which were glycosylated and had identical amino acid compositions, indicating that both CRP and SAP molecules are pentamers. In fact, they appeared to have pentameric disk-like configurations in electronmicroscopical examination.     

Goat serum, a substitute of bovine serum in cultivation of Babesia bovis.

Babesia bovis (a Mexican isolate) was cultivated in MASP culture system using goat serum in various concentrations as substitute of bovine serum. It was observed that 20% goat serum + 20% bovine serum + 60% Parker's medium 199 supported the growth of the parasite, which was maintained in this medium through 8 subcultures. The soluble exoantigen (vaccine) present in the culture supernatant is to be quantified and tested in vitro. Goat serum from slaughterhouses may be utilized for in vitro cultivation of the parasite and, expectedly, production of vaccine. This study may prove to be useful in reducing the cost of vaccine at least in tropical countries.