The effect of exploratory laparotomy on the serum and peritoneal haptoglobin concentrations of the pony.

Serum haptoglobin concentration was used as an indicator of the acute phase response in ponies undergoing exploratory laparotomy. Preoperative, 1 h intraoperative, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h postoperative blood samples and 48 h postoperative peritoneal fluid samples were obtained for haptoglobin analysis. A spectrophotometric assay based on cyanmethemoglobin binding capacity (CyanBC) was used to determine haptoglobin concentrations. The preoperative reference range for serum haptoglobin concentrations in these ponies was 25-60 mg CyanBC/dL. Intraoperative and 3 h postoperative blood samples had decreased haptoglobin concentrations when compared to preoperative values. Serum haptoglobin concentrations began to rise by the 6 h postoperative sample and were generally elevated above preoperative values by the 24 h postoperative sample. Two of the ten ponies had mild signs of postoperative colic which were associated with twofold elevations in serum haptoglobin concentrations and fivefold elevations in peritoneal fluid haptoglobin concentrations.     

Feline leukemia virus detection by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue from cats with lymphosarcoma.

The prevalence of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) antigen and DNA was assessed in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissues from 70 cats with lymphosarcoma (LSA). Tissue sections were tested for FeLV gp70 antigen using avidinbiotin complex (ABC) immunohistochemistry (IHC); DNA was extracted and purified from the same tissue blocks for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of a 166 base pair region of the FeLV long terminal repeat (LTR). Results were related to antemortem FeLV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serum p27 antigen, anatomic site of LSA, and patient age. Viral DNA was detected by PCR in 80% of cases and viral antigen by IHC in 57% of cases. Seventeen cases were PCR-positive and IHC-negative; one case was PCR-negative and IHC-positive. Clinical records included FeLV ELISA results for 30 of 70 cats. All 19 ELISA-positive cats were positive by PCR and IHC; of the 11 ELISA-negative cats that were negative by IHC, seven were positive by PCR. When evaluated according to anatomic site, FeLV DNA and antigen were detected less frequently in intestinal LSAs than in multicentric and mediastinal tumors. Lymphosarcoma tissues from cats < 7 yr were several fold more likely to be positive for FeLV antigen by IHC than were tumors from cats > or = 7 yr. However, there was no significant difference in PCR detection of FeLV provirus between LSAs from cats < 7 yr and those > or = 7 yr.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Salinity Effects on the Growth and Ion Contents of Some Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and Lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.) Varieties

The effect of salinity on seed germination, plant yield parameters, and plant Na, Cl and K concentrations of chickpea and lentil varieties was studied. Results showed that in both crops percentage emergence was significantly reduced by increasing NaCl levels (0–8dSm^?1). From the plant growth studies it was found that differences existed among chickpea and lentil varieties in their response to NaCl application. In chickpea, the variety Mariye showed the comparatively lowest germination percentage and the lowest seedling shoot dry weight in response to salinity and was also among the two varieties which had the lowest relative plant height, shoot and root dry weight and grain yield at maturity. Similarly, variety DZ-10-16-2, which was the second best in germination percentage and the highest in terms of seedling shoot dry weight, also had the highest relative plant height, shoot and root dry weights, and grain yield at maturity. In lentil, however, such relationships were less pronounced. Chloride concentration (mg g^?1) in the plant parts at salt levels other than the control was about 2–5 times that of Na. K concentration in the plants was significantly reduced by increasing NaCl levels. Chickpea was generally more sensitive to NaCl salinity than lentil. While no seeds were produced at salinity levels beyond 2dSm^?1 in chickpea (no seeds were produced at this salt level in the most sensitive variety, Mariye), most lentil varieties could produce some seeds up to the highest level of NaCl application. Overall, varieties R-186 (lentil) and Mariye (chickpea) were the most sensitive of all varieties. On the other hand, lentil variety NEL-2704 and chickpea variety DZ-10-16-2 gave comparatively higher mean relative shoot and root dry weights, and grain yield, thus showing some degree of superiority over the others. The observed variations among the varieties may be useful indications for screening varieties of both crops for salt tolerance.     

Plasma cholesterol and lipoprotein concentrations in the dog: The effects of age, breed, gender and endocrine disease

A combined ultracentrifugation and precipitation technique was used to quantify the plasma lipoprotein concentrations of control dogs (n=33) and dogs with diabetes mellitus (n=11), hyper-adrenocorticism (n=14), hypothyroidism (n=10) and obesity (n=20). In addition, the effect of breed type, age and gender on the lipoprotein phenotype was assessed. Breed type and age were found to have no effect upon cholesterol and lipoprotein concentrations but the high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration was greater in intact females than intact males. Cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher than those of the control group in dogs with diabetes mellitus (P<0·01), hyper-adrenocorticism (P<0·01) and hypothyroidism (P<0·001). In dogs with diabetes mellitus this was due to increased concentrations of very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) (P<0·01) and HDL-C (P<0·05). The concentrations of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P<0·05) were significantly increased in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism, while in the hypothyroid dogs, VLDL-C (P<0·05), LDL-C (P<0·001) and HDL-C (P<0·05) were significantly higher than the control group. The cholesterol and lipoprotein concentrations in the obese population were not significantly different from control dogs.     

Transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus from persistently infected sows to contact controls.

The objective of this study was to determine if porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) could persist in non-pregnant sows and if persistently infected sows could transmit virus to naive contact controls. Twelve PRRSV-naive, non-pregnant sows (index sows) were infected with a field isolate of PRRSV and housed in individual isolation rooms for 42 to 56 days postinfection. Following this period, 1 naive contact sow was placed in each room divided by a gate allowing nose-to-nose contact with a single index sow. Index sows were not viremic at the time of contact sow entry. Virus nucleic acid was detected by polymerase chain reaction, and infectious virus was detected by virus isolation in sera from 3 of the 12 contact sows at 49, 56, and 86 days postinfection. All 3 infected contacts developed PRRSV antibodies. Virus nucleic acid was detected in tissues of all of the 12 index sows at 72 or 86 days postinfection. Nucleic acid sequencing indicated that representative samples from index and infected contacts were homologous (> 99%) to the PRRSV used to infect index sows at the onset of the study. This study demonstrates that PRRSV can persist in sows and that persistently infected sows can transmit virus to naive contact animals.     

Teratogenicity testing of BI 58 EC (38% dimethoate) in chicken embryos with special respect to degradation of the active ingredient.

The insecticide formulation BI 58 EC was tested for teratogenicity in chicken embryos, with particular reference to degradation of the active ingredient (dimethoate) after the treatment of embryonated eggs. The pesticide was diluted in water to a concentration level of 0.8%, and the emulsion was injected into the air space in a volume of 0.1 ml/egg, or hen's eggs were treated by the immersion technique. Residues of dimethoate were measured in the samples on days, 13, 15 and 19 of the incubation of chicken embryos, and morphological examinations were performed simultaneously. Analytical chemistry data indicated a slower degradation of dimethoate in embryos after the immersion of eggs, and cyllosis was remarkable in this group among the sporadic developmental anomalies. The liver tissues of both treated groups exhibited severe fatty infiltration.     

泛酸可改善猪的躯体成分

猪对维生素的需要量主要取决于性能测定时某种能导致最大生长的维生素在日粮中的浓度。然而，某些维生素还可引起一些代谢效应，从而除了可改变生长率之外还可能改变生长的组分。     

Characterisation of cross-reactivity of virus neutralising antibodies induced by feline panleukopenia virus and canine parvoviruses

It was recently reported that canine parvoviruses (CPV) had entered cat populations and induced disease in infected cats, while they had affected only dogs in the past. It is important to determine whether conventional feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV) vaccines protect against recent CPV infections. In this study, the cross-reactivity of virus-neutralising (VN) and haemagglutinin-inhibition (HI) antibodies in cats induced by FPLV and CPV s were examined. Lower cross-reactivities of VN and HI antibodies against each CPV strain were observed in cats experimentally inoculated with FPLV or vaccinated with an inactivated FPLV vaccine. In addition, we revealed the existence of a novel type of FPLV, which reacted weakly with antibodies induced by the conventional FPLV vaccine.