Cross protection studies on Bordetella bronchiseptica in mice using an intracerebral challenge model.

Protective activities of heat-inactivated (60 degrees C for 30 min) merthiolate preserved Bordetella bronchiseptica and B. pertussis bacterins were compared in intraperitoneally immunized mice challenged intracerebrally (i.p./i.c.) or intraperitoneally (i.p./i.p.). In the i.p./i.c. assay (Kendrick test), a B. pertussis bacterin protected mice against challenge with B. pertussis 18-323, as well as against phase I cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic strains of B. bronchiseptica. A B. bronchiseptica bacterin, prepared from a phase I cytotoxic strain, gave protection against two phase I B. bronchiseptica strains, irrespective of their cytotoxin-production. A non-cytotoxic phase I strain of B. bronchiseptica elicited protection against the homologous strain only. Neither cytotoxic nor non-cytotoxic B. bronchiseptica strains protected mice challenged with B. pertussis 18-323. Vaccines prepared from phase III strains of B. bronchiseptica were not protective at all against any of the challenge strains. No such differences in the protective activities of the bacterins could be detected by the i.p./i.p. method. They seem to cross-protect equally well. The results indicate that the Kendrick test may be useful in testing potency of different B. bronchiseptica bacterins.     

Effect of Completion of Vernalization on Generative Development of Winter Rape (Brassica napus L. var. oleifera) Plants

Germinating seeds and young plants of winter rape var. Górczañski were vernalized for 56–63 days under conditions of 9-hour day, at the temperature 2 and 5 °C and in continuous darkness at the temperature 2 °C. After vernalization the plants grew under conditions enabling to complete vernalization: in a glass-house at the temperature day/night 15/10 °C and in semi natural conditions of open vegetation hall in the period from June till August. After sub-optimal vernalization further growth of the plants at lowered temperature increased its effectiveness (completion of vernalization). Depending on the degree of the vernalization of the plants the completion of their vernalization was both obligatory, i.e. conditioning the acquisition of the ability of generative development, and facultative i.e. accelerating this development. It has been demonstrated that the population of plants of the examined variety is strongly differentiated not only with respect of vernalization requirements in the particular plants, but also what regards the effectiveness of vernalization completion. New observations have been made indicating that the mechanisms controlling the successive phases of generative development, i.e. phase of forming flower buds and the flowering phase are not identical which may be interpreted as indicating that the "flowering factor" is polymorphous.     

Analysis of Growth and Productivity of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea) in Relation to FYM, Nitrogen and Source of Fertilizer

A field experiment was conducted during the winter seasons of 1992–93 and 1993–94 at Anand to study the effect of FYM, nitrogen and source of fertilizer on growth and yield of mustard [ Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj & Cosson]. The results showed significant variation in leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), dry matter production and seed yield. The direct effect of farmyard manure (FYM) was conspicuous in improving the growth of mustard. FYM application at 10 tonnes ha⁻¹ significantly increased the LAI, CGR and dry matter accumulation per plant at almost all the stages during first year study (1992–93) and in pooled analysis. Similarly, nitrogen application registered maximum LAI, CGR at 75 kg level and RGR and NAR at 50 kg level at almost all the during both years. Sulphur carrying source (Ammonium sulphate plus single super phosphate) increased all stages growth characters. Maximum dry matter accumulation per plant and seed yield were recorded with highest levels of FYM (20 tonnes ha⁻¹), N (75 kg ha⁻¹) and source having S. Seed yield was strongly associated with LAI and dry matter accumulation per plant at all the stages.     

Enzootic abortion in a goat herd, caused by mixed infection with Coxiella burnetii and Chlamydia psittaci. Case report]

We report on an outbreak of enzootic abortion in a herd of goats with high losses caused by mixed infection with Coxiella burnetii and Chlamydia psittaci. Both agents could be detected by microscopic investigation of smears from afterbirths by Giménez staining and by a capture enzyme-linked immunofluorescence assay (Capture ELIFA). Additionally, Coxiella burnetii was isolated from the same tissues in BGM cell cultures. Serological investigations with CF, indirect ELIFA, and IF tests revealed high antibody titers against both agents in most animals. Coxiella antigen was still detected 91 days later in milk samples of two infected goats by Capture ELIFA.     

Differentiation and transplantation antigens on the surface of mononuclear cells of cattle, horses and dogs

The determination of differentiation and transplantation antigens will be of growing importance in immune diagnosis for individual animals as well as for breeding purposes in populations. Differentiation antigens characterize subsets of cell populations and indicate their functional capacity while transplantation antigens represent markers of individuals of a species. Occurrence and significance of these antigenic systems are briefly reviewed.     

The determination of creatinine in blood and plasma of small animals using the dry chemical system Reflotron

The reagent carrier Reflotron-Creatinine was tested for its suitability for whole blood and plasma samples of dogs and cats. It showed a very good correlation between the results of Reflotron-Creatinine and the reference method. Using plasma the results of both methods were extremely close. Using whole blood with a hematocrit of up to 50% good results could be achieved. If the hematocrit exceeded 50% large deviations could result.     

Interferon in sheep]

There is only limited information on sheep interferon available. Recent publications have reported on: 1. an interferon (IFN) alpha subtype, which is secreted by the fetal trophectoderm into the lumen of the uterus between the 10th and 21st day of gestation. It was therefore named ovine trophoblast protein (oTP-1), and is responsible for signalling pregnancy to the ewe via high affinity receptors in the endometrium. It is thought that oTP-1 acts by directly influencing prostaglandin metabolism. 2. the role of lentivirus-induced interferon (LV-IFN) in the pathogenesis of Maedi/Visna. The results indicate that LV-IFN limits viral replication and therefore contributes to virus persistence and is also responsible for a chronic inflammatory process. 3. the mitogen- or antigen-dependent induction of ovine interferon gamma (IFN gamma) and its characterization.     

Vererbung des β-Glucangehaltes der Haferkaryopse

Inheritance process for β-glucan content in oat caryopsis
Due to the fact that there are only few studies concerning β-glucans in oat caryopsis with regard to plant-breeding aspects, three oat crosses were performed (cross 19 = low × high, cross 86 = low × low, cross 98 = high × high). In all of the three oat crosses, lower β-glucan content (% DM) was recorded in F, than in F, indicating that the β-glucan content (% DM) at a higher heterozygoty grade is lower than at a reduced heterozygoty grade. This points to a dominant inheritance of lower β-glucan content (% DM). A tendency towards the female β-glucan content (% DM) could not be proven. Thus, it can be started from a nuclear genetic inheritance of the β-glucan content (% DM). In most cases, the experiments showed a normal distribution of β-glucan content (% DM), indicating for several genes a quantitative inheritance of β-glucan content (% DM). By means of the regression of the F₃-lines to the F₂-plants, the narrow-sense heritability could be calculated for the cross 86 (h²= 0.51***) and the cross 98 (h²= 0.48***). The heritability for the cross 19 was not significant.     

Antimicrobial therapy for gastrointestinal diseases.

Antibiotics will always be needed in horses for many types of infections, but the adverse consequences also must be considered. For the conditions described in this article, there is justification for antibiotic therapy. The intestinal problems that antibiotics can induce are among the risks from their administration to horses. Disruption of the endogenous bacterial population, colitis, and diarrhea are the most common complications from antibiotic therapy.