Parvovirus-like enteropathy in Missouri turkeys

A viral enteric disease of young turkeys characterized by stunting of affected birds, diarrhea, and increased mortality is described. Eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were found in the absorptive epithelial cells of the ileum. Electron microscopy of formalin-fixed tissue revealed that the intestinal inclusions contained numerous loosely packed 15-to 20-nm hexagonal particles. The size, shape, and intranuclear location have been used to tentatively identify these particles as parvoviruses.     

Physiological responses of newborn Bos indicus and Bos indicus x Bos taurus calves after exposure to cold

Brahman (n = 9) and 1/2 Simmental x 1/4 Brahman x 1/4 Hereford (n = 11) calves were utilized to determine the influence of exposure to cold on the physiology of the neonate. All calves were removed from their dams within 20 min of birth and prior to suckling. Calves were assigned randomly within breed to either a warm (W; 31 degrees C) or cold (C; 4 degrees C) environmental treatment group. Jugular blood samples were collected via indwelling catheters at 20-min intervals for 180 min. At 100 to 120 min of sampling, all calves were given 1.2 liters of colostrum from their dams via stomach tube. At 120 min, C calves were placed in the W environment. Calf vigor score (CVS) and rectal temperature were determined at each time blood was collected. Serum or plasma was analyzed for glucose (GLU), lactate (LAC), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), hemoglobin (HEM), triglyceride (TRG), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), insulin (INS), cortisol (CORT) and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration. Rectal temperature was lower (P less than .01) in C Brahman than in W Brahman and C or W crossbred calves. Crossbred calves had higher (P less than .01) CVS than Brahman calves. Calves in W had lower (P less than .01) GLU than C calves. Brahman calves had higher GLU, LAC, BUN, TRG, T3, T4 and CORT (P less than .05) than crossbred calves. The C Brahman calves had the highest (P less than .05) TRG, CORT, T3 and T4 of all groups. Concentration of NEFA were higher (P less than .01) in C than in W calves.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

In vivo lipopolysaccharide injection alters CD4+CD25+ cell properties in chickens

In chickens, thymic CD4(+)CD25(+) cells are characterized as regulatory T cells. The objectives of this experiment were to study the effects of an in vivo lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection on the percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+) cells in peripheral organs and the suppressive properties of splenic CD4(+)CD25(+) cells in chickens. Chickens were injected with LPS and CD4(+)CD25(+) cells were analyzed at 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 d post LPS injection. The LPS injection increased CD4(+)CD25(+) cell percentage approximately 5-fold in the blood at 1 d post LPS injection (P < 0.001), 3-fold in the thymus at 3 d post LPS injection (P = 0.001), and 2.5-fold in the spleen at 2 d post LPS injection (P = 0.001) compared with the no-LPS-injected group. The LPS injection did not alter the CD4(+)CD25(+) cell percentage in the cecal tonsil (P = 0.162), lung (P = 0.098), or bone marrow (P = 0.071) at any time point measured. At 2 d post LPS injection, splenic CD4(+)CD25(+) cells lost their suppressive ability (P < 0.001). At 5 d post LPS injection, splenic CD4(+)CD25(+) cells not only regained their suppressive ability, but also became supersuppressive (P < 0.001). Splenic CD4(+)CD25(+) cells at 5 d post LPS injection produced 5.5-fold more (P = 0.005) IL-10 mRNA than splenic CD4(+)CD25(+) cells at 0 and 2 d post LPS injection. In conclusion, chicken regulatory T cells are differentially activated to facilitate immune response during the early stage of inflammation and to facilitate immune suppression at a later stage of inflammation.     

Monofrequency forced oscillation technique for the investigation of pulmonary function in calves: in vitro and in vivo studies

Parameters derived from the non-invasive and simple monofrequency forced oscillation technique were compared with classical parameters of ventilatory mechanics in order to assess its usefulness for the investigation of pulmonary function in calves. To facilitate this comparison, theoretical derivations were coupled with in vitro measurements, using an artificial lung model, and with in vivo studies. These studies compared the oscillatory resistance parameters (R_os and Re) and the respiratory system compliance (C_rs) against the classical pulmonary resistance (R_L) and the dynamic compliance (C_dyn), respectively. Ros and Re were highly correlated (r0·87) with R_L and the comparison between Crs and C_dyn gave a similarly high correlation (r0·88). Given its simplicity, its correspondence with classical parameters and its rapidity and reproducibility, monofrequency forced oscillation technique seems well suited for the investigation of pulmonary function under field conditions.     

Isolation of bovine ovarian inhibin, its immunoneutralization in vitro and immunolocalization in bovine ovary

A purification scheme involving gel permeation chromatography, anion exchange chromatography and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was used to isolate from bovine follicular fluid (FF) biologically-active inhibin of molecular weight 32 kDa. Chromatographic fractions were monitored for inhibin-like biological activity (ILA) using a simplified bioassay procedure in which a suppression of total basal FSH production by rat pituitary cells in monolayer culture indicates the presence of ILA. Approximately 3 mg protein having an ILA potency (ED50 value in in vitro bioassay) of 1.7 ng/ml was obtained from 4 1 crude bovine FF (260 g protein; ILA potency 3750 ng/ml) reflecting an approximate 2200-fold purification factor with an overall recovery of about 3%. The isolated material appeared as a single major UV absorbance peak on RP-HPLC and as a single band (32 kDa) when subjected to SDS-PAGE (15% gel) under non-reducing conditions. Under reducing conditions the molecule dissociated into 2 subunits of apparent molecular weight 22 and 14 kDa confirming that it is probably identical to the 31/32 kDa form of bovine ovarian inhibin previously reported by two other independent research groups. An antiserum raised in a chicken against the isolated material completely neutralized the suppressive effects of both 32 kDa inhibin and bovine FF on basal production of FSH by rat pituitary cells in vitro but only partially reversed the suppressive effects of both porcine and human FF. Immunohistochemical staining of sections of bovine ovary and of isolated preparations of bovine granulosa cells using this antiserum confirmed that granulosa cells are a major source of inhibin. The observation that specific immunostaining was not confined to these cells, however, suggests that they may not be the exclusive source of immunoreactive inhibin in the bovine ovary.     

Colour-Doppler sonography of the musculophrenic vein in cows

The goal of the present study was to examine the musculophrenic vein of 29 healthy Swiss Braunvieh cows using colour-Doppler sonography to determine vessel morphology and diameter, and blood flow velocity. The hair over the reticular region was clipped, and the left musculophrenic vein was examined before and 10 min after sedation using 0.03 mg/kg xylazine. The musculophrenic vein appeared as a vessel with a diameter of 0.5–1.1 cm located in the diaphragmatic musculature. The spectral display was a broad band structure with a wave-like shape. The Doppler measurement point was 1.5–2.7 cm from the body surface. The diameter of the vein and the blood flow velocity did not differ significantly before and after sedation. Before sedation, the mean diameter (±SD) of the musculophrenic vein was 0.7 (0.2) cm, the maximum blood flow velocity 90.2 (38.6) cm/s, the mean blood flow velocity 60.4 (22.3) cm/s and the minimum blood flow velocity 41.4 (24.2) cm/s. There were significant correlations (r = 0.45–0.90) between blood flow velocity before and after sedation and between minimum, maximum and mean blood flow velocities.     

In vitro antiviral activity of dehydroepiandrosterone and its synthetic derivatives against vesicular stomatitis virus

In this work the antiviral activity of 20 dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) analogs with different substituents at positions C-3, C-15, C-16 and C-17 were evaluated against vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in Vero cell cultures. The selectivity indexes (SI) obtained with DHEA and epiandrosterone (EA) were 50 and 72.6, respectively. The work showed that the compounds 21-norpregna-5,17(20)-dien-3β,16α-diyl-diacetate, 17,17-ethylendioxyandrostan-5,15-dien-3β-ol and 3β-hydroxypregn-17(20)-en-16-one had higher SI values than ribavirin, which was used as a reference drug. The antiviral mode of action of DHEA was also investigated against VSV replication in Vero cells, and time of addition experiments showed that DHEA mainly affected a late event in the virus growth cycle. Analysis of RNA and protein synthesis indicated that DHEA adversely affected positive strand RNA synthesis and viral mature particle formation.     

Evaluation of a Transcondylar Toggle System for Stabilization of the Cranial Cruciate Deficient Stifle in Small Dogs and Cats

Objective— To evaluate use of a transcondylar toggle system (TCTS) for stabilization of the cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) deficient stifle in small dogs and cats. Study Design— Prospective clinical study. Animals— Small dogs (<7 kg; n=14) and cats (2) with CrCL‐associated lameness of <3 months duration and a tibial plateau angle <32°. Methods— Affected animals had an extracapsular CrCL repair using the TCTS. Lameness score, muscle atrophy, osteoarthritis (OA) score, and range of motion (ROM) were evaluated preoperatively, and at 6 weeks and 7–10 months postoperatively. Results— Operative time was 75 ± 16 minutes. Fifty‐six percent required >1 bone tunnel attempts. One dog required revision at 2 weeks because of suture loosening. All stifles were stable at 6 weeks postoperatively. Fifteen animals were available for follow‐up (7–10 months). Lameness improved significantly at 6 weeks (P<.0001), whereas muscle atrophy was worse at 6 weeks (P=.008) but improved at 7–10 months (P<.0001). OA scores were unchanged at 6 weeks (P=.08) but were significantly worse at 7–10 months (P<.0001). ROM remained unchanged at 6 weeks (P=1) and 7–10 months (P=.6). Conclusions— The medially placed toggle provides a reliable short‐term proximal anchor for the extracapsular suture with outcomes similar to other extracapsular techniques. The aiming device and drill bit are not recommended in their current form. Clinical Relevance— The TCTS appears to be a well‐tolerated technique for proximal suture anchoring in extracapsular CrCL repair in small dogs and cats where instrumentation and anatomic constraints preclude other techniques.