Characteristics of Dorsal Lingual Papillae of the Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus)

The morphology of dorsal lingual papillae of the Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) was studied by using light and scanning electron microscopy. Filiform and lenticular papillae were considered as mechanical papillae but fungiform and vallate papillae were considered as gustatory papillae. Filiform papillae were distributed mostly in the anterior two-thirds region of the tongue. Each filiform papilla consisted of one primary papilla and a few smaller secondary papillae. Lenticular papillae were distributed on the torus linguae. The larger papillae were arranged in two parallel lines medially whereas the smaller papillae were laterally located. Most of the fungiform papillae were found on the lateral margins of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue. These papillae were small and round. Intra-epithelial taste buds were located on the dorsal surface of each papilla. The vallate papillae were arranged in two rows on each rim of the torus linguae. Each round- and flat-shaped vallate papilla was surrounded by a prominent gustatory groove and an annular pad. A few taste buds were observed in the lateral epithelium of the papillae. The keratinization of the covering stratified squamous epithelium of the mechanical lingual papillae was relatively thicker than those of the gustatory papillae. The lingual papillae of the Bactrian camel exhibited some different characteristics from other domestic ruminants. These morphological characteristics of the tongue of the Bactrian camel might have evolved to assist the camel in prehension and manipulating of the inorganic stiff plants that grow in its environment and therefore might relate to the feed and feeding habits of the animal.     

Immunoperoxidase evaluation of pneumonic lesions in calves naturally infected with Pasteurella haemolytica

Immunoperoxidase technique was applied for pathological study on naturally occurring pneumonic tissues of calves from which Pasteurella haemolytica was isolated. Multifocal necrosis occurred in the lungs of 25 out of 42 calves (59.5%) and P. haemolytica antigen was detected in 22 out of the 25 calves (88.0%). The calves were divided into 3 groups according to the number of P. haemolytica isolated. The positive rate of the bacterial antigen detected by the technique was 66.6% (28/42) on the average, reaching up to 85.7% (18/21) in the group from which the largest number of P. haemolytica was isolated.     

Hemolytic anemia and red blood cell metabolic disorder attributable to low phosphorus intake in cows

Hypophosphatemia was induced in 2 cows by reducing phosphorus content in their feed after parturition. Serum inorganic phosphorus (Pi) values decreased to 1 mg/dl within 10 days after parturition; and RBC adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and reduced glutathione values decreased to 50 and 70% of baseline values, respectively. Methemoglobin concentration was moderately higher than normal. These changes preceded the onset of hemolysis, and anemia progressed with decreases in PCV, hemoglobin concentration, and RBC counts. Serum Pi resumed its normal value when anemia was most severe. This RBC disorder was confirmed to be characteristic of hemolytic anemia in cows resulting from hypophosphatemia. The RBC glycolytic intermediates, total triose phosphate (combined glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate content) and fructose-1,6-diphosphate, greatly increased in vivo and in vitro with decreases in serum or plasma Pi and RBC ATP. From our results, we concluded that inadequate Pi in the plasma impairs the function and viability of RBC by hindering the production of ATP via disturbance of reactions at the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase step.     

Bovine postparturient hemoglobinemia: hypophosphatemia and metabolic disorder in red blood cells

Mechanism of hemolysis in postparturient hemoglobinemia was studied in 7 cows. Cows 1 to 5 had a history of hemoglobinemia at a previous calving, but hemoglobinemia did not occur during the present parturition. Cow 6, a daughter of cow 4, and cow 7 from another farm, developed postparturient hemoglobinemia and had hemoglobinuria on days 20 and 21 and 10 to 17 after calving, respectively. During the time cows 6 and 7 had hemoglobinuria, both cows had a marked decrease in serum inorganic phosphorus, RBC adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), and reduced glutathione, and a significant (P less than 0.01) increase in methemoglobin concentration. In cow 6, these changes were observed before the onset of hemoglobinuria, indicating metabolic disorder of RBC. After phosphate administration IV, serum inorganic phosphorus was corrected, and RBC ATP was increased above base-line value. During the time cows 6 and 7 had hemoglobinuria, PCV, hemoglobin concentration, and RBC count decreased progressively and reached nadir values, 40% to 50% of baseline values, on day 22 in cow 6 and on day 19 in cow 7. Cows 6 and 7 were anemic, even after serum inorganic phosphorus and RBC ATP values returned to acceptable values. Glycolytic disorder and depletion of ATP, resulting from phosphorus deficiency, appeared to be a primary and essential step leading to hemolysis in postparturient hemoglobinemia in cows 6 and 7.     

Precise, simple screening for resistance in potato varieties to common scab using paper pots

Resistance to common scab pathogen Streptomyces turgidiscabies of seven potato varieties was compared in the field with a newly developed paper pot method. Seedlings raised in soil in paper pots containing inocula at 1 × 10³ to 10⁷cfu/g soil were transplanted into a scab-free field and grown for 3 months. The disease severity of the seven varieties in the field trials differed in iteration and from year to year, even though their resistance levels were approximately similar at the expected levels. With the paper pot method, the seven varieties had different resistance levels, which were almost completely consistent with the results of the field trials, at more than 1 × 10⁵cfu/g soil. Significant differences in disease severity between resistant and susceptible varieties were observed (P = 0.05) for 2 years, and the resistance level of the varieties was elucidated.