Isolation and identification of Aegyptianella pullorum (Rickettsiales, Anaplasmataceae) in wild turkeys from North America

Isodiagnosis of blood from Rio Grande wild turkeys from southern Texas revealed a small, intraerythrocytic rickettsia, Aegyptianella pullorum Carpano, 1928, in 24 of 300 samples. Identification of this first isolate from North America was made using both light and transmission electron microscopy. It is suggested that the translocation of wild turkeys from Texas to other states could spread this pathogen to both wild birds and domestic poultry.     

Mitogenic responses of baboon (Papio cynocephalus) peripheral blood mononuclear cells. A possible role for monocytes

Removal of carbonyl iron-adherent/phagocytic cells from baboon peripheral blood mononuclear cells generally resulted in a depressed blastogenic response to both pokeweed mitogen and concanavalin A. In the majority of cases, no alteration in dose requirement nor shift in kinetics was apparent. Staining for peroxidase activity indicated a reduced proportion of monocytes in the population of cells treated with iron. Therefore, the results of this study strongly suggest a potentiating role for monocytes in lectin stimulation of baboon lymphocytes.     

Filariasis and microfilariasis in parrots in the eastern islands of Indonesia

From 1978 to 1983, 411 bird submissions consisting of 911 birds were received in our laboratory for diagnosis. Filariasis occurred in four submissions (0.97% of total) consisting of four birds (0.44% of total), and microfilariasis was diagnosed in 34 submissions (8.27% of total) consisting of 123 birds (13.5% of total). Adult filariae were found in the abdominal air sacs of two cockatoos and two red lories and identified as Cardiofilaria sp. Although filariasis and microfilariasis in birds are found world-wide, there seems to have been no report made previously in Indonesia.     

Multiple embryo-transplant offspring produced from quartering a bovine embryo at the morula stage

A non-surgical embryo collection was completed on a day 7 superovulated Chianina donor cow. Because all but two of the ova from the collection were unfertilised and a surplus of potential recipients was available, one embryo (an excellent quality late morula) was dissected into four equal portioned 'quarter' embryos using a simplified micromanipulation procedure. Each quarter embryo was then placed in a 0.25 ml French straw and non-surgically transplanted to four different crossbred beef recipient females. The remaining embryo was similarly transplanted to a herd mate recipient as an intact embryo. One recipient returned to oestrus, one recipient had an extended post transfer cycle and the two remaining recipients produced a live quarter embryo transplant calf each within 24 hours of the other. The intact embryo placed in a herd mate recipient did not produce a transplant calf. To the authors' knowledge, these transplant offspring are the first live births reported from a non-surgically collected later-stage bovine morula (day 7), which had been dissected into quarters and then individually transplanted non-surgically to recipient females. The procedure was relatively simple to perform and was completed in less than one hour.     

Response of growing-finishing pigs to decreasing floor space allowance and(or) virginiamycin in diet

Five hundred forty crossbred pigs were utilized in four trials (10 replications) at two stations to determine the separate and interacting effects of decreasing floor space allowance with or without the addition of virginiamycin to the diet on performance of growing-finishing pigs. Pigs were allowed .37, .33 or .28 m2/pig during the growing phase (23 to 55 kg) and .74, .66, .56 m2/pig during the finishing phase (55 to 100 kg) and fed either a corn-soybean meal control diet or the control diet plus 11 mg of virginiamycin/kg of diet. Floor space allowances were achieved by varying pen size, so the number of pigs and feeder space per pig were constant for all pens. During the growing phase, daily gain (P less than .01) daily feed intake (P less than .05) and feed conversion ratio (P less than .05) decreased as floor space allowance decreased. During the finishing phase and for the total test period, daily gain (P less than .01) and feed conversion ratio (P less than .05) were reduced but daily feed intake was not affected (P greater than .05) by restricted floor space allowance. The addition of virginiamycin to the diet had no effect on pig performance. The virginiamycin X floor space allowance interaction was not significant, suggesting that pigs fed a diet with or without virginiamycin responded similarly to restricted floor space allowance. The data suggest that the addition of virginiamycin to the diet was ineffective in overcoming the decrease in performance of growing-finishing pigs caused by crowded conditions.     

Isolation of poxvirus from debilitating cutaneous lesions on four immature grackles (Quiscalus sp.).

Poxvirus was isolated from nodules on four immature grackles (Quiscalus sp.) collected in two residential areas of Victoria, Texas. All of the birds were emaciated and had nodules on the eyelids, bill, legs, toes, and areas of the skin on the wings, neck, and ventral abdomen. These pox nodules were extensive and probably interfered with both sight and flight. The preliminary diagnosis was confirmed by virus isolation, histopathology, and electron microscopy. Poxvirus was isolated on the chorioallantoic membrane of embryonated hen's eggs and in Muscovy duck embryo fibroblast cell culture. Phaenicia calliphoridae (blowfly) larvae were found in one of the pox nodules, raising the possibility of mechanical transmission of the virus by contaminated adult blowflies.     

Nutrient digestibilities of soft winter wheat, improved triticale cultivars, and pearl millet for finishing pigs

A replicated 4 x 4 Latin square digestion trial was conducted to determine apparent nutrient digestibilities and N and energy balances for soft red winter wheat, Beagle 82 triticale, Florico triticale, and pearl millet using finishing pigs fitted with ileal T-cannulas. Fortified experimental diets contained 97.5% of each respective grain. Nitrogen and amino acid digestibilities of soft winter wheat and triticale were similar (P greater than .13) when measured near the end of the small intestine and over the total digestive tract. Ileal digestibilities of alanine, isoleucine, leucine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine were higher (P less than .05) for pearl millet than for the other grains. Total tract N and amino acid digestibilities were all higher than ileal digestibilities. Gross energy and DM digestibilities determined at the small intestine were higher (P less than .05) for wheat and pearl millet than for Beagle 82 triticale, with the Florico variety being intermediate in energy digestibility. Total tract digestible and ME concentrations followed essentially the same pattern as ileal GE digestibility and were 2 to 3% higher (P less than .05) for wheat and pearl millet than Beagle 82 triticale. Florico triticale had similar (P greater than .05) DE but was 1.3% lower (P less than .05) in ME content than wheat.     

Antibiotic and sulfonamide residues from Food Safety Inspection Service bob veal calf tissues by region, from October 1987 to September 1988

Of 3,095 bob veal carcasses declared positive to the calf antibiotic and sulfonamide test (CAST) performed by USDA-FSIS personnel during the fiscal year 1988, 967 were submitted to USDA-FSIS laboratories for intensified antimicrobial evaluation of kidney, liver, and muscle specimens. In the western region, CAST-positive specimens were analyzed from certified calves, that is, calves declared free of antimicrobials by their producers. In the midwestern and eastern regions, 20% of the CAST-positive carcass submissions were certified and 20% had not been certified. Among the regions, neomycin was the most commonly reported agent from kidney specimens; however, there were some distinct differences among regions (24.6% of the specimens in the Midwest, 37.4% in the East, and 46.8% in the West). Reports of gentamicin in specimens also were different among regional laboratories (9.0% in the Midwest, 12.1% in the East, 3.1% in the West). Sulfamethazine was less frequently reported by the western laboratory, never exceeding 2% among the 3 tissues tested, whereas the eastern and midwestern laboratories had at least 1 tissue type that was greater than or equal to 9%. Not all specimens were subjected to sulfonamide evaluation. Regional patterns were noticed for unidentified microbial inhibitors, which were most evident for liver in which 24.6% of the specimens at the western laboratory were classified as having unidentified microbial inhibitors, and only 6.3% of specimens at the eastern laboratory were classified as having unidentified microbial inhibitors.     

Fumonisin B1 concentrations in feeds from 45 confirmed equine leukoencephalomalacia cases

During the fall of 1989 and winter of 1990, numerous reports of equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) occurred from many regions of the United States. Typically, horses were consuming feed partially or entirely composed of corn and/or corn screenings. From October 1989 through May 1990, samples from 55 confirmed or suspected ELEM cases were received at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Ames, Iowa, for fumonisin B1 analysis. Samples from 9 cases in 1984-1985 were also obtained. Fumonisin B1, a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium moniliforme, causes ELEM, but little is known of naturally occurring toxic or safe levels in feeds. To determine what levels of fumonisin B1 in feeds are associated with ELEM, 45 selected cases were studied. The fumonisin B1 concentrations ranged from less than 1 ppm to 126 ppm, with the majority of the samples above 10 ppm. All types of feeds were included: corn, screenings, sweet feeds, and commercially pelleted rations. The length of exposure varied from 7 to greater than 35 days. Horse feed samples not associated with ELEM were also collected and analyzed. None of the nonproblem feed samples contained fumonisin B1 levels greater than 8 ppm.