Serologic, virologic, and histopathologic observations of encephalomyocarditis virus infection in mummified and stillborn pigs

Stillborn and mummified swine fetuses from swine farms experiencing reproductive problems were investigated for evidence of infection with encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus by fetal serology, virus isolation, and histopathologic examination. Fetal sera or thoracic fluids of 478 abnormal fetuses collected during January through December 1987 were tested for the presence of antibody specific to EMC virus. Of 478 samples tested, 175 (36.6%) had EMC virus serum neutralizing antibody titers of 1:64 or greater. The samples positive for EMC virus antibody were obtained from 38 swine farms located in 9 states in the United States. In addition to serologic observations, tissue samples of some abnormal fetuses were examined for the presence of virus and histopathologic lesions. The EMC virus was isolated in 1 case from the fetuses of an aborted litter. The isolate was serologically identical to a reference EMC virus. Nonsuppurative encephalitis and myocarditis were observed in the fetal samples collected from 2 different herds. Thoracic fluid of 1 stillborn pig with lesions was positive for EMC virus antibody at a titer of 1:512. We suggest that a widespread reproductive problem recently experienced in several major swine-producing areas of the United States may have been caused by EMC virus infection.     

Hepatic lipidosis in pregnant cows on a dairy farm.

A syndrome very similar to hepatic lipidosis is described in dairy cows during the dry period. After being sent to pasture the animals did not eat well for undetermined reasons. The disease phenomena were mainly observed in animals carrying twins. At post mortem examination severe falty infiltration was found in the 3 animals made available for post mortem examination. Increase of the energy supply to the dry cows by addition of maize silage to the ration prevented new cases.     

Muscarinic receptor subtypes in equine tracheal smooth muscle

Selective muscarinic receptor antagonists were used to identify muscarinic receptor subtypes in equine trachealis strips. The M₁ receptor antagonist pirenzepine (10^–7 mol/L to 3 × 10^–5 mol/L) and the M₃ receptor antagonist 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine (4-DAMP, 10^–9 mol/L to 3 × 10^–7 mol/L³) dose dependently inhibited the contractile responses to electrical field stimulation (EFS) and exogenous acetylcholine (ACh). Schild plots yielded a pA₂ value for pirenzepine vs ACh of 6.75 ± 0.09, which is consistent with the affinity for M₂ or M₃ receptors, and a pA₂ value for 4-DAMP vs ACh of 8.47 ± 0.09, which is in agreement with the affinity for M₃ receptors. The M₂ receptor antagonist gallamine (10^–5 mol/L and 10^–4 mol/L) did not affect the response of trachealis to exogenous ACh and low-frequency EFS (0.1–2 Hz) but decreased the responses to high-frequency EFS (4–16 Hz). These results suggest that the muscarinic receptors mediating contractions induced by ACh in equine tracheal smooth muscle are of the M₃ subtype. The lack of an increase in the response to EFS following gallamine suggests that functional prejunctional inhibitory M₂ receptors are not present on the cholinergic nerves innervating equine tracheal smooth muscle.     

Recent studies on the enterotropic strain of avian infectious bronchitis virus

Avian infectious bronchitis (AIB) is an economically important disease of chickens. Recent studies have revealed enterotropism by at least one strain of AIB virus with pathological lesions in parts of the gut. This review highlights the findings of the studies so far made on this enterotropic strain of AIB virus.     

Light and electron microscopic studies of calf kidneys after exposure to subtoxic lead levels]

Eight calves were fed from the fourth to the twentieth week of age a milk powder diet containing 40 mg lead acetate per kg dry substance. This is twice the lead concentration legally permitted. In average, each animal has daily taken up 0.834 mg lead per kg body weight. Eight calves were used as controls. The animals gained the usual fattening weights and did not show clinical symptoms. Beginning with week 14, increased levels of blood urea were encountered in the animals which received lead in their diet. Morphologically, severe renal lesions were found in these calves. The kidneys were increased in weight, pale and of firm consistency. Histologically, fibrosis and periglomerular interstitial non-purulent nephritis were found. Light- and electronmicroscopically, numerous intranuclear inclusion-bodies typical for lead poisoning were demonstrated in epithelial cells of proximal tubules. The results show, that daily uptake of less than 1 mg lead per kg body weight must be considered as a toxic dose for calves, and not 5-7 mg as stated in literature.     

A specific DNA probe which identifies Babesia bovis in whole blood.

A genomic library of Babesia bovis DNA from the Mexican strain M was constructed in plasmid pUN121 and cloned in Escherichia coli. Several recombinants which hybridized strongly to radioactively labeled B. bovis genomic DNA in an in situ screening were selected and further analyzed for those which specifically hybridized to B. bovis DNA. It was found that pMU-B1 had the highest sensitivity, detecting 25 pg of purified B. bovis DNA, and 300 parasites in 10 microliters of whole infected blood, or 0.00025% parasitemia. pMU-B1 contained a 6.0 kb B. bovis DNA insert which did not cross-hybridize to Babesia bigemina, Trypanosoma evansi, Plasmodium falciparum, Anaplasma marginale, Boophilus microplus and cow DNA. In the Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA, pMU-B1 could differentiate between two B. bovis geographic isolates, Mexican strain M and Thai isolate TS4. Thus, the pMU-B1 probe will be useful in the diagnosis of Babesia infection in cattle and ticks, and in the differentiation of B. bovis strains.     

冻融中土壤的水热动态

根据在北京郊区的试验,认为土壤水冻融过程可分为三阶段,其中第二阶段有聚墒现象,平均聚墒8.6mm,所聚的墒在融化过程中又逐渐消失。气温回升至-2℃左右是冻层下部由冻到融的转折温度。冬灌水保存到来年春季的数量有限,本试验中1m 土层内平均不足20mm。