Effects of dietary molybdenum on nematode and host during Haemonchus contortus infection in lambs.

The addition of molybdenum (0.05 mmol kg-1 dry-matter) to the diet of lambs given a trickle infection of Haemonchus contortus larvae (500 third stage larvae d-1 over six weeks) reduced mean faecal egg counts (epg) from 3952 to 2312 +/- 402 by 32 days (P less than 0.02) and greatly reduced the mean number of worms recovered from the abomasum 14 days after infection ceased (907 compared with 4167: P less than 0.01). Infection reduced haemoglobin concentrations less in lambs given molybdenum although the difference was small relative to the reduction in worm burden. Lambs not given molybdenum had low intraepithelial mast cell counts in the abomasal mucosa and less abomasal hypertrophy than expected from abomasal parasitism. Molybdenum did not consistently reduce the copper status of the host or the parasite. Previous exposure to molybdenum greatly reduced protein but not proteinase activity in, or secreted by, adult worms cultured for eight hours. It is suggested that molybdenum either increased the inflammatory response which preceded worm rejection or that it indirectly enhanced that reaction by reducing the effectiveness of copper-dependent, anti-inflammatory enzymes in the gastrointestinal mucosa.     

Serological differentiation of five bluetongue virus serotypes in indirect ELISA.

The serological reactivity in indirect ELISA of five different bluetongue virus (BTV) serotypes (4, 10, 15, 16 & 20) was compared using polyclonal antisera raised against virus particles and an outer structural protein, VP2. Rabbit and sheep antisera against BTV-10 produced higher ELISA values with their homologous antigens than with heterologous serotypes. A hyperimmune rabbit serum specific for virus particles was able to distinguish heterologous serotypes from each other, but a sheep serum from an infected animal was not. An antiserum directed against VP2, the protein responsible for serotype specificity in neutralization tests, was not serotype-specific in ELISA and cross-reacted with other serotypes. The discriminatory ability of a BTV-4 antiserum was improved by cross-absorption with heterologous antigens. This greatly reduced the ELISA signals with heterologous serotypes and produced an antiserum that was effectively serotype-specific.     

Use of monoclonal antibodies against human HLA II antigens for the detection of bovine B lymphocytes and macrophages]

The crossreactivity of mouse monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) (Tab. I) prepared against human HLA-DR and HLA-DP antigens was studied in various bovine cells: lymphocytes from lymph nodes and peripheral blood, adherent (B) and nonadherent (T) lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes and platelets. In the immunofluorescence test, MoAbs Bra13, Bra14, Bra20, Bra22, Bra30, Bra70, HL-38 reacted with bovine B lymphocytes and monocytes, but not with other tested cells (Tab. III, IV). These antibodies, except Bra22, were positive with B lymphocytes in the complement dependent cytotoxic test (Tab. II). The similarity of the bovine antigens and HLA-DR antigens determined by used MoAbs was also proved by immunoblotting. Monoclonal antibodies Bra38 and BraFB6 did not react with the bovine cells and separated antigens. The epitope (HLA-DR) recognized by the antibody Bra38 is probably absent in cattle. The presence of HLA-DP analogue determined by the antibody BraFB6 has not been confirmed. The crossreactive MoAbs could be used for the detection of B lymphocytes and macrophages in veterinary immunology.     

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus-specific immune responses in cattle following immunization with modified-live and inactivated vaccines. Analysis of the specificity and activity of serum antibodies.

Cattle were immunized with vaccines containing modified-live or inactivated bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and serum antibody responses were analyzed. Compared with preinculation values, at Day 14 after two biweekly immunizations with modified-live or inactivated vaccines there were significant increases in BRSV-specific titers in the sera of cattle that received both types of vaccines, as determined by a whole cell ELISA. Using a blocking ELISA and radioimmune precipitation it was determined that there was recognition of the fusion (F) protein by antibodies from cattle that received both types of BRSV antigens: however, virus neutralization assays revealed that only cattle that received modified live virus, either in monovalent or polyvalent vaccines, developed neutralizing antibodies to BRSV after two immunizations. These results indicate that inactivation of BRSV can lead to a dissociation between serological recognition of the F protein and virus neutralization in vaccinated cattle.     

Ovarian follicular characteristics, embryo recovery, and embryo viability in heifers fed high-fat diets and treated with follicle-stimulating hormone.

Postpubertal beef heifers (n = 55) were used to examine the effects of high-fat diets, independently of energy intake, on nonesterified fatty acid and lipoprotein metabolic patterns, ovarian follicular dynamics, and embryo recovery/viability after FSH superstimulation. High-lipid (HL) diets (5.4% added fat) increased (P < .01) serum concentrations of cholesterol, but not of nonesterified fatty acids, during the 35-d period before FSH treatment. Development of medium-sized (5 to 9.9 mm) follicles was enhanced (P < .05) during this period in heifers fed the HL diet. The HL diet increased total cholesterol (P < .05) and progesterone (P = .14) concentrations in follicular fluid obtained at ovariectomy (n = 10) 60 h after the onset of FSH treatment, but neither estradiol-17 beta nor androstenedione was affected. Granulosa cells recovered from FSH-induced, estrogen-active follicles in heifers fed the HL diet produced greater quantities of progesterone (P = .06) and less estradiol-17 beta (P < .05) in vitro than did granulosa cells from heifers fed the normal lipid diet. Dietary treatment did not influence FSH-stimulated recruitment of medium and large follicles, number of ovulations, embryo recovery, or embryo viability. Data suggest that increments in dietary fat intake can alter specific aspects of ovarian steroidogenic potential and can increase the population of medium-sized follicles theoretically available for maturation and harvest during the estrous cycle. However, conditions that limited the latter process in the current experiment are not understood and require further investigation.     

Kinetics of hydration and effect of liquid uptake on specific gravity of small hay and silage particles.

Kinetics of hydration of ground hay and silage particles (2-mm screen), determined by a pycnometric technique, was best described by a two- and one-pool exponential model, respectively. Fractional rates of hydration of the large pool, detected in hay particles only, and of the small pool present in both hay and silage particles averaged .135 and .021 min-1, respectively. When hydration was complete, liquid associated with particles averaged 1.16, 1.90, and .83 g/g of insoluble DM for bromegrass hay, alfalfa hay, and alfalfa silage, respectively. Functional specific gravity, which accounts for the effect of associated gas volume, averaged 1.54, 1.46, and 1.54, but unit specific gravity, calculated to include the effect of gases and liquid of hydration, averaged 1.22, 1.14, and 1.26 for bromegrass hay, alfalfa hay, and alfalfa silage, respectively. Preservation of forage as silage not only lowered gas volume, but also reduced water-holding capacity, both of which contribute to greater unit specific gravity and faster rate of escape from the rumen. In addition, estimates of unit specific gravity of approximately 1.2 indicate that even in the absence of associated gas, hydrated forage particles would tend to escape the rumen at a slower rate than that achieved by more dense particles.     

Pulmonary artery and aortic pressure changes during high intensity treadmill exercise in the horse: effect of frusemide and phentolamine.

Intravenous frusemide (1.0 mg/kg bwt) or phentolamine (0.33 mg/kg bwt) was given to 7 horses 1 h before exercise and their effects on pulmonary artery and aortic pressure changes during strenuous exercise were examined. Short-term near-maximal treadmill exercise (10 m/sec, 3 degrees incline) produced increases in heart rate, mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), mean aortic pressure (AP), and packed cell volume (PCV). Frusemide did not affect heart rate, PAP or PCV during exercise. Frusemide significantly decreased mean AP by 10 to 15 mmHg during exercise. Phentolamine produced an increase in heart rate relative to control only early in exercise but not during later, more strenuous, exercise. Phentolamine had no statistically significant effect on AP, PAP, or PCV, but a significant reduction was observed between 180 and 230 sec of exercise when PAP and AP were standardised against heart rate. Frusemide did not prevent horses from haemorrhaging during exercise in this study. Treatment with phentolamine did not sufficiently reduce the PAP and AP to test our hypothesis that a reduction in PAP and AP would eliminate EIPH.