Experimental and natural infection with the enzootic leukosis virus of cattle

A trial was performed with heifers at the age of six to seven months. The animals were experimentally infected with the lymphocytes of a virus-productive donor. Infection was produced in all the nine cases, as demonstrated by means of the positive syncytial test. As indicated by the results of the trial, the antibodies to the enzootic bovine leucosis virus (BLV) were produced soon after experimental infection. A high sensitivity of the serum-neutralization test and the ELISA method was demonstrated in this connection: by these methods, the antibodies were identified already two to three weeks after experimental infection whereas by the immunodiffusion test they could be detected only after five weeks. Twenty-four animals were exposed to natural contact infection. Within 270 days of the trial, the disease after contact was recorded only in one heifer out of the four that were in close contact with the experimentally infected animals. In this case, as compared with experimental infection, the antibodies were produced much later--after 85 to 93 days. Leucosis was recorded in none of the remaining animals. The reasons why such a favourable result was obtained were the thorough disinfection of the stables after blood collections and the strict observance of the aseptic conditions. The results of experimental infection in three cows were identical with those obtained in young cattle. In the experimentally infected dairy cows, antibodies in milk were determined by the ELISA method. As found, in milk the antibodies to BLV appear two to three weeks later than they do in serum. The ELISA method of BLV antibody detection can be used for the identification of infected animals in herds where enzootic bovine leucosis occurs.     

Reproductive roles predict sexual dimorphism in internal and external morphology of lake whitefish,Coregonus clupeaformis

Abstract – The different reproductive roles of the sexes can predict the direction and magnitude of sexual dimorphism of external and internal morphology. Males should have enlarged structures that enhance the acquisition of mating opportunities, whereas females are predicted to have enlarged organs that are associated with the production of eggs. We tested these predictions in male and female lake whitefish, a species in which both sexes have similar overall body size and shape. After controlling for body size, male lake whitefish had significantly longer jaws and pectoral and pelvic fins, larger hearts, and more muscle than females. Sexual dimorphism in relative muscle mass may be one of the most fundamental morphological differences between males and females. Females had relatively heavier livers than males. Because the liver is important for the breakdown of fats and vitellogenesis, selection should favour an enlarged liver in females for the processing of energy and the production of large numbers of eggs.     

Protection of turbot, Scophthalmus maximus (L.), and rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Richardson), against vibriosis using two different vaccines

Abstact. The potency of a whole-cell bacterin (WCB) and a toxoid enriched whole-cell vaccine (WCEB) administered intraperitoncally into rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Richardson), were compared. The most effective vaccine was further evaluated by bathing turbot, Scophthalmus maximus (L.). These vaccines were composed of three strains of V. anguillarun , of the serotypes 01 and 02. Both vaccines conferred the highest protection against strains of serotype 01 within 4 weeks. With the toxoid enriched vaccine giving the best results (77 RPS). When trout were revaccinated after 7 weeks with this vaccine, good protection was achieved against strains of serotypes 01 and 02. Interestingly, when the WCEB was administered by bath to turbot, acceptable levels of protection against strains of both serotypes were obtained after 4 weeks of immunization.     

Adrenergic and peptidergic innervation of the trachealis muscle in the normal horse: a preliminary report

The tone of respiratory smooth muscle is largely determined by the input from autonomic nerves. The distribution of adrenergic and selected nonadrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) nerves in the normal equine trachealis muscle was investigated using immunohistochemistry. The smooth muscle of the trachealis was found to contain numerous nerves immunoreactive for an enzymatic marker of adrenergic nerves, as well as many nerves immunoreactive for a putative NANC neurotransmitter, peptide histidine isoleucine, a potent bronchodilator. The tissues surrounding the respiratory smooth muscle contained numerous nerves immunoreactive for the neuropeptides substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide, which can cause marked vasodilation and bronchoconstriction. The complex innervation of the equine trachea should be kept in mind when interpreting the results of physiological experiments.     

Oxalate Nephrosis and Renal Sclerosis After Renal Transplantation in a Cat

A 10-year-old castrated domestic shorthair cat received two renal allografts, 14 days apart, for the treatment of chronic renal failure. Oxalate nephrosis developed in both allografts, and they became nonfunctional. During the transplantation period, the cat was not exposed to exogenous sources of oxalate, and there was no evidence of primary type 2 hyperoxaluria before surgery. Urologic surgery, in particular renal transplantation, has been identified as a factor that can precipitate renal failure in human patients with decompensated renal function and hyperoxaluria. If hyperoxaluria was present before surgery in this cat, it was most likely caused by increased absorption or decreased metabolism of dietary oxalate.     

Characteristics of cytotoxic cells induced by Toxoplasma lysate antigen in mouse spleen.

Spleen cells from Toxoplasma lysate antigen (TLA)-sensitized BALB/c mice showed the strong cytotoxic activity against both natural killer (NK)-sensitive cells (YAC-1 and RL male-1) and NK-insensitive cells (P-815), when incubated with TLA or recombinant human IL-2 (rhIL-2). The increment of TLA concentration in culture medium increased the cytotoxic activity. Treatment of effector cells; spleen cells from TLA-sensitized mice incubated with TLA, with anti-asialo GM1 or anti-Thy-1 plus complement inhibited the cytotoxic activity of effector cells, whereas treatment with anti-mouse Lyt-2.2 serum plus complement had no effect on the cytotoxic activity. Treatment of spleen cells from TLA-sensitized mice with anti-asialo GM1 and/or anti-Thy-1 plus complement inhibited cytotoxic activities of effector cells. These results suggested that spleen cells sensitized with TLA both in vivo and in vitro were asialo GM1 positive and Thy-1 positive, and the majority of cytotoxic cells induced by TLA were similar to lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells induced by IL-2.     

Impact of bovine somatotropin administration beginning at day 70 of lactation on serum metabolites, milk constituents, and production in cows previously exposed to exogenous somatotropin.

Metabolic and production responses are reported for 72 cows treated with bovine somatotropin (BST) for 30 days starting at day 70 of lactation. Of these 72 cows, 48 had been exposed in the preceding lactation to long-term treatment with BST at 3 dosages and 24 (controls) had not been given BST. Approximately half of the cows in each group were parity-2 cows, the rest were older. Comparisons between groups were made separately for parity-2, and older cows. Analyses, using pretreatment values of each variable as a covariate, indicated that older cows, but not parity-2 cows, significantly (P less than 0.05) increased milk production during treatment. Parity-2 cows, however, had a significantly higher milk fat percentage than controls following treatment. Cows treated with 51.6 or 86 mg BST/d in both parity groups had significantly higher serum-free fatty acids than controls. Estimated net energy balances were significantly lower for older treated cows, but did not significantly differ from controls for parity-2 treated cows. Older cows in the 86 mg of BST/d group tended to have higher concentrations of blood glucose than did older control-group cows. Treatment with BST did not significantly increase serum ketone concentrations in any group of animals, and none of the cows developed clinical ketosis during this period. Estimated net energy balance (ENEB) during treatment was a significant (P less than 0.05) covariate for free fatty acid concentrations in older cows and for milk fat percentage in parity-2 cows. Covariate adjusted analyses, using ENEB during treatment as a covariate, indicated that lipolytic stimuli already acting may be enhanced by treatment with BST, but a negative energy balance was not a necessary precondition for free fatty acid concentrations to increase following somatotropin treatment. Similarly, milk fat percentages for parity-2 treated cows were significantly (P less than 0.05) higher during treatment than controls when ENEB during treatment was used as a covariate. Increased milk fat concentrations in parity-2 treated cows were not associated with significant increases in the ratio of C18:C4-10 milk fatty acids, indicating that increased milk fat resulted from either an increase in incorporation of C18 fatty acids into milk fat coupled with an increase in de novo mammary synthesis of C4-10 milk fatty acids or an increase in C12-16 fatty acids that may arise either from increased tissue mobilization, from diet, or from de novo mammary synthesis.