Responses of immune and nonimmune adult rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) to adenovirus SV-20.

Adenovirus SV-20 (ASV-20) was inoculated subcutaneously into adult rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), and various immunologic parameters were studied. Similar changes were observed in macaques that had anti-ASV-20 serum-neutralizing antibodies prior to inoculation and in those lacking detectable antibodies. There were absolute decreases in numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), erythrocyte-rosetting lymphocytes, complement-receptor lymphocytes, and Fc-receptor lymphocytes. These changes were most significant (P less than 0.05) on postinoculation days (PID) 3 and 7. Mitogenic responsiveness to concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, and pokeweed mitogen in cultured PBL from immune and nonimmune macaques was depressed on PID 3, 7, and 14. Ultraviolet-inactivated ASV-20 caused moderate suppression of phytohemagglutinin-induced mitogenesis when viral particles and lectin were added simultaneously to PBL cultures. Plasma cortisol (hydrocortisone) values were not significantly altered following inoculation of ASV-20. High titers of anti-ASV-20 antibody developed by PID 7 in nonimmune macaques, and previously immune macaques showed a booster effect in the same time period. Antibody titers were still increased 120 days after inoculation. There was no clinical evidence of an adverse effect of ASV-20 infection in these macaques.     

Prolactin and colibacillus-induced fluid transport in ligated intestinal segments.

Two experiments, using the ligated intestinal segment technique, were conducted to determine whether the pituitary hormone prolactin (PRL) could reduce Escherichia coli-induced fluid loss into the small intestine of 2- to 3-week-old pigs. Inoculation of 10(6) to 10(8) enteropathogenic E coli organisms into ligated jejunal segments caused a significant accumulation of luminal fluid within 12 hours. In the first experiment, intraluminal inoculation with 0.5 mg of ovine PRL along with the bacteria did not have any effect on fluid accumulation. Systemic IV treatment of the animals with 1.0 mg of ovine PRL at 3-hour intervals, beginning either immediately after or 9 to 10 hours before intestinal ligation, did not significantly (P less than 0.05) reduce fluid accumulation as compared with control animals. In the second experiment, IM administration of 100 microgram of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) at 3-hour intervals, beginning 6 hours before intestinal ligation, significantly (P less than 0.05) increased circulating PRL concentrations, as measured by radioimmunoassay. However, TRH treatment did not reduce the accumulation of luminal fluid in E coli-inoculated segments.     

Longitudinal studies of naturally acquired Brucella abortus infection in sheep.

Naturally acquired Brucella abortus infections were studied during consecutive pregnancies in eight sheep and in their lambs over a period of 40 months to evaluate epizootiologic aspects of natural infection in sheep. Brucella abortus was isolated from the ewes following 16 of 26 natural terminations of pregnancy: from 5 of 6 ewes in the first year, from six of eight ewes in the second year, from two of six ewes in the third year, and from three of six ewes in the fourth year. Vaginal swab samples and milk samples were the most consistent source of the brucella organisms. Brucella abortus was isolated from three ewes when standard tube test seroagglutination titers were less than 1:100. In contrast, results of supplemental tests (card, 2-mercaptoethanol, complement-fixation, and Rivanol) remained positive during the study. During the 40 months, B abortus was isolated from 4 of 4 aborted fetuses, 2 of 5 stillborn lambs, 10 of 37 living lambs, and as an indicator of continuing infection, from 6 of 12 lambs born during the fourth year. Although B abortus has a definite host preference for cattle, this study demonstrated that under appropriate management conditions, sheep may be naturally infected and may remain infected for more than 40 months. Epizootiologic evaluation of all factors, including husbandry practices and exposure potential, should be utilized in determining the need to test other species that may have been exposed to cattle infected with B abortus.     

Effects of hormonal therapy on the microbiology of seborrheic dogs.

Quantitative and qualitative bacterial assays were performed on the skin of three dogs with endocrine-related primary metabolic seborrhea. After the dogs were treated (thyroid supplementation or castration, bacterial analyses were again performed on the same sites. Before therapy, the dogs had a cutaneous flora composed mainly of Staphylococcus aureus coagulase-positive organisms. After therapy, there was a significantly lower bacterial count, and two of the dogs had floras consisting mainly of coagulase-negative cocci. During the study, the two dogs that reverted bacteriologically to a normal cutaneous microenvironment became normal dermatologically. The third dog improved, but continued to have minor signs of seborrhea.     

Fossil grass anthoecia within miocene rhinoceros skeletons: diet in an extinct species

Silicified anthoecia (fertile le'mmas and paleas) of grasses (Berriochloa communis, Berriochloa primaeva, and Berriohldoa cf. nova) were found in, the oral cavity and rib cage articulated skeletons of Teleoceras major buried in late Clarendonian volcanic ash in. Nebraska The plant fossils, thought to be food residues, help clarify, the enigmatic paleobiological role, of Teleocears, which had hippotamus-like porportions but very high-crowned teeth. Telecoceras was probably amphbious, but siliceous grasses formed a significant portion of its diet.     

Isoenzyme variation in piroplasms isolated from bovine blood infected with Theileria annulata and T parva.

Blood from calves infected with Theileria annulata and T parva was freed from host cell elements and the piroplasms liberated from the red cells by ammonium chloride lysis. Lysates of the purified piroplasms and control host cell material were examined electrophoretically for several enzymes. Zymograms stained for glucose phosphate isomerase showed distinct differences between the host cell enzyme pattern and parasite enzyme patterns. The isoenzyme pattern of T annulata piroplasms differed from the isoenzyme pattern of T parva piroplasms.