Surface proteins of Breda virus

The serotypes 1 and 2 of Breda virus from feces of experimentally infected gnotobiotic calves were studied with respect to their sedimentation and density properties in sucrose gradients and their structural polypeptides; Berne virus, the proposed prototype of the new family Toroviridae, was included for comparison. After Breda-1 virus had been stored at 4 C for a prolonged period, it showed a heterogeneous sedimentation behavior (480 to 520 Svedberg units [S]) and density (1.18 to 1.21 g/ml) indicative of its poor state of preservation. In contrast, freshly prepared Breda-2 virus sedimented at 350 S and showed a buoyant density of 1.18 g/ml; these values compare well with those of Berne virus (400 S and 1.16 g/ml, respectively). Efficient purification of the Breda viruses could be achieved by a 2-step method, involving pelleting by ultracentrifugation followed by isokinetic and isopyknic sucrose gradient centrifugation. Radioiodinated purified virus showed polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 105,000, 85,000 37,000, and 20,000; another labeled protein of 65,000 D is of doubtful virus specificity. Mouse immune serum raised against Breda-2 virus recognized the polypeptides of the homologous virus and the 2 highest molecular weight proteins of Breda 1 virus in radioimmune precipitation. The same serum inhibited hemagglutination of the heterologous serotype to a low, but significant, degree and efficiently neutralized the infectivity of Berne virus. These observations are taken as indications that the 105,000- and 85,000-D polypeptides represent surface structures of torovirions, probably peplomeric proteins.     

Primary isolation and identification of avian rotaviruses from turkeys exhibiting signs of clinical enteritis in a continuous MA 104 cell line

Avian rotaviruses were isolated from turkeys with enteritis using MA 104 cell line. MA 104 cells were suitable for primary isolation and propagation of avian rotaviruses. Trypsin appeared essential for the enhancement of infectivity and the occurrence of cytopathic effect (CPE). Serum neutralization (SN), electron microscopy (EM), and analysis of genomic RNA were done to identify and confirm the identity of rotaviruses. Electrophoretic migration patterns of genomic RNA from avian rotaviruses were examined, and they were compared with those from mammalian rotaviruses. The migration patterns differed between these groups.     

Tetrodotoxin- and resiniferatoxin-induced changes in paracervical ganglion ChAT- and nNOS-IR neurons supplying the urinary bladder in female pigs

The aim of the present study was to establish the effect of intravesical administration of resiniferatoxin (RTX) and tetrodotoxin (TTX) on the chemical coding of paracervical ganglion (PCG) neurons supplying the urinary bladder in the pig. In order to identify the PCG neurons innervating the bladder, retrograde tracer Fast Blue was injected into the bladder wall prior to intravesical RTX or TTX administration. Consequent application of immunocytochemical methods revealed that in the control group 76.82% of Fast Blue positive PCG neurons contain nitric oxide synthetase (nNOS), and 66.92% contain acetylcholine transferase (ChAT). Intravesical infusion of RTX resulted in a reduction of the nNOS-IR neurons to 57.74% and ChAT-IR to 57.05%. Alternative administration of TTX induced an increase of nNOS-IR neurons up to 79.29% and a reduction of the ChAT-IR population down to 3.73% of the Fast Blue positive PCG cells. Our data show that both neurotoxins affect the chemical coding of PCG cells supplying the porcine urinary bladder, but the effects of their action are different. Moreover, these results shed light on the possible involvement of NO-ergic and cholinergic neurons in the mechanisms of therapeutic action exerted by RTX and TTX in curing the overactive bladder disorder.     

Investigation of the best suture pattern to close a stuffed Christmas turkey

Instructions on how to debone and stuff a turkey are available, but what is the best way to close it up? A randomised trial involving 15 turkeys was performed in order to evaluate skin disruption scores and cosmetic outcomes following the use of different suture patterns. Turkeys were deboned, stuffed and cooked according to guidelines of the US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Services. After stuffing, they were randomly assigned to one of five closure groups: simple continuous Lembert; simple continuous Cushing; simple continuous Utrecht; simple continuous; or staples. Turkeys were cooked at 180 °C for two hours ensuring core temperature reached 75 °C. Suture line integrity was evaluated after removal of the sutures and the cosmetic aspect was graded. Before cooking, the Utrecht pattern and skin staples offered the best cosmetic result. After removal of the sutures, the skin remained intact only in the stapled group. All other suture patterns disrupted the skin after removal of the sutures, rendering the turkey less cosmetically appealing for serving. Closure of a stuffed turkey was best performed using skin staples to achieve the best cosmetic results. Using this technique you will be able to impress family and friends at a Christmas dinner, and finally show them your surgical skills.     

Salter-Harris type III fractures of the distal humerus in two dogs

Salter-Harris type III fractures of the distal humerus in a four-month-old male Labrador Retriever and a male crossbreed dog (estimated to be 3.5-months-old) are reported. Both fractures were treated with open reduction and interfragmentary compression by lag screw fixation. Both fractures healed and full limb use was regained at four weeks postoperatively. The occurrence of this unusual fracture type may be related to the physeal closure pattern of the distal humeral physis, and a different mechanism of injury compared to the more common Salter-Harris type IV fracture seen in this region.     

Effects of dietary yeast extract on turkey stress response and heterophil oxidative burst activity

1. Effective nutritional approaches to counteract the negative effects of stress may provide food animal producers with useful alternatives to antibiotics. In this study, turkeys were fed on a standard diet, or the same diet supplemented with yeast extract (YE), to determine if YE would improve disease resistance in a stress model.

2. At 16 weeks of age, half of the birds were exposed to a bacterial challenge using a coarse spray of the pen environment. A subset of control and challenged birds was also treated with dexamethasone (Dex) prior to challenge (Dex/challenge). At 18 weeks, another subset was subjected to a 12?h transport stress protocol (Challenge/transport). All birds were bled and necropsied the morning after transport. The numbers and proportions of blood cells and the heterophil oxidative burst activity (OBA) were determined. Serum corticosterone (Cort) levels of male birds were measured using a commercial ELISA kit. Body weight and gain were increased by YE during week 1.

3. YE decreased mortality and bacterial isolation following Dex/challenge only in females. Cort levels in male turkeys were decreased by YE and Dex treatment. OBA was higher in males and in birds given YE and was reduced by challenge and transport.

4. These results suggest there may be gender differences in the turkey stress response and that dietary YE has potential for modulating the impact of stress on innate immunity of turkeys.