Association of tumor-associated antigen on the proliferation of bovine leukemia virus-infected lymphoblastoid B-cell lines.

The association of tumor-associated antigen (TAA) on the proliferation of BLV-infected lymphoblastoid B-cell lines (BL2M3 and BL312) was investigated. Flow cytometric analysis of the expression of TAA with monoclonal antibody (mAb) c143 showed high expression of TAA on the surfaces of BL2M3 and BL312 cells. A large amount of TAA was found in the culture supernatant of BL2M3 and BL312 cells as well as in the lysates of BL2M3 and BL312 cells. Culture supernatant but not lysates of BL2M3 and BL312 cells promoted the growth of either BL2M3 cells or BL312 cells. Furthermore, this growth promoting activity in culture supernatants of BL2M3 and BL312 cells was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner when cultured with mAb c143. These results suggested that TAA may be involved in the growth factor-mediated cell growth of bovine B-lymphoblastoid cell lines expressing TAA on their cell surface.     

Intravenous catheterisation of foetus and mare in late pregnancy: management and respiratory, circulatory and metabolic effects.

The uterine and umbilical vessels of 12 pregnant ponies were catheterised to study foetal metabolism. The effects of this procedure on maternal and foetal cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic and adrenocortical activity were monitored during and after surgery. Premedication with acepromazine-butorphanol-detomidine was followed by induction of anaesthesia with detomidine and ketamine and maintenance, using mechanical ventilation, with halothane in oxygen and nitrous oxide. Mean maternal arterial blood pressure was greater than 70 mmHg during anaesthesia and arterial oxygen tension remained over 100 mmHg. The foetuses were adequately oxygenated but were hypercapnic and lactic acidaemic. Most maternal and foetal blood gases and metabolites had returned to normal by 24 h, although foetal plasma lactate fell more slowly. The maternal adrenocortical discharge was less severe than reported previously and plasma cortisol had fallen to basal levels by 48 h after surgery. Foetal plasma cortisol remained low and did not change during or after surgery. Arterio-venous metabolite and gas tension differences across the uterine and umbilical circulations were slightly greater at operation than in the recovery period, suggesting that uteroplacental perfusion may have been impaired during surgery. Post-operative recovery of the mare and foetus was satisfactory and subsequent problems associated with the foetal catheters were not related to the anaesthesia or surgery.     

The Phytotoxicity of Various Graminicides in Durum Wheat in Greece

The effect of three herbicides, diclofop-methyl (DM), imazamethabenz-methyl (IM) and fenoxaprop-ethyl (FE), was investigated at the recommended rate (×) and double the recommended rate (2×) in a durum wheat crop. FE had the smallest effect on root system characteristics, while IM had the greatest effect. For all herbicides, the double rate treatment gave a greater statistical reduction than the single rate for root system characteristics. FE had the smallest effect on the activity of aerobic microorganisms, while DM gave the greatest reduction, 10 days after application, and all three herbicides reduced earthworm abundance. DM gave the smallest reduction in the number of tillers and in plant height, while the double rate of IM gave the greatest reduction. For all three herbicides, double the recommended rate resulted in a significant reduction in the weight of 1000 seeds, while no statistically significant deviations were noted at the recommended rate. Finally, the use of all three herbicides resulted in significantly lower statistical yields compared to the sample (control plot), although there were no significant statistical differences among them, for either recommended or double recommended rates.     

Comparison of three in vitro techniques to estimate benzimidazole resistance in Haemonchus contortus of sheep

Three in vitro assays to detect benzimidazole resistance, namely, the egg-hatch assay, tubulin-binding assay, and a larval-development assay, were evaluated by estimating the level of benzimidazole resistance in three field isolates of Haemonchus contortus compared with a susceptible reference strain. Comparisons were also made with estimates of benzimidazole resistance of the three field strains obtained from an in vivo controlled anthelmintic efficacy test. All three in vitro tests showed similar, consistent results which also suggested greater sensitivity than the in vivo assay. These results indicate that selection of an in vitro technique to determine benzimidazole resistance should therefore be based on considerations other than precision, such as technical expertise, availability of equipment, cost and speed in which diagnosis is required.     

Matching spatial databases and quantitative models in land resource assessment

Abstract. Good land management needs information about land resources and the processes taking place in the landscape. In practical land evaluation this information is often expressed in terms of land qualities. The original survey data are stored in geographical information systems where they can be used to estimate the values of appropriate land qualities. Land qualities are complex attributes of land used in planning that may be derived from the original attributes through empirical threshold or regression models, or from process-based deterministic or stochastic simulation models. In order to improve estimates of the distribution of land qualities in space and time, and hence to improve planning decisions, the models require data with a much better spatial resolution than is usually available. The problems and dangers associated with the ad hoc linkage of simulation models and GIS are discussed. Particular attention needs to be paid to the problems of error propagation and costs and benefits when using models.     

Diagnosis of sarcocystosis in sheep using the indirect fluorescence test and ELISA]

The indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was compared with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of specific antibodies to Sarcocystis sp. A set of 275 ovine blood samples was examined by both reactions. Cystozoites of Sarcocystis gigantea were used as the corpuscular antigen for the IFAT. For the diagnostics of sarcocystosis by the ELISA technique used the sandwich test of the antibody titration with a soluble antigen which was also prepared from S. gigantea macrocysts. Our studies confirmed that this antigen did not cross-react with Toxoplasma gondii. Titre 40 was determined as the limit one for the IFAT and titre 80 for the ELISA; which was confirmed by the direct detection of cysts in the muscles (Svobodová, 1989). The results of both methods are shown in Table I. 76.7% of the blood samples reacted positively in the IFAT and 83.6% in the ELISA. These methods were found to be suitable and can be utilized for the intravital routine diagnostics.     

Use of a shrub (Medicago arborea) to control water erosion on steep slopes

Abstract. The effect of Medicago arborea on erosion on a burnt area was studied in experimental plots near Valencia, Spain, between 1989 and 1992. Its growth and development was studied, and its effect was compared with the natural vegetation (matorral) and bare soil. Medicago decreased soil loss by 41.7% and runoff by 25.7% compared with bare soil. However, under natural vegetation soil loss was 27.5% less than under Medicago.     

Genomic variability among globally distributed isolates of equine arteritis virus.

Equine arteritis virus (EAV), a non-arthropod borne togavirus, has been shown to have a global distribution. To date, no major antigenic variation has been demonstrated between EAV isolates from different geographic origins. In this study, the genomic RNA of EAV isolates obtained from horses of different breeds in various countries around the world was oligonucleotide fingerprinted. Comparisons of these fingerprints were used to determine the extent of genomic variation among such isolates. Comparisons among isolates from North American horses revealed, for the most part, oligonucleotide homologies of less than 60%. Only 29 of the 98 comparisons revealed greater than 60% oligonucleotide homology. Nonetheless, several comparisons indicated a close epidemiologic relationship between isolates from horses of different breeds located in different states. Though all European isolates were of Standardbred origin and were from horses located in northern European countries, the majority had oligonucleotide homologies of less than 60%. Where oligonucleotide homology was apparent, it was, with one exception, greater than 70%. The two isolates from New Zealand had 93.2% oligonucleotide homology. This is indicative of an extremely close epidemiologic relationship. Comparisons between EAV isolates from around the world revealed oligonucleotide homologies between viruses from North America, Europe and New Zealand. In several instances, this homology was greater than 70% and in one case greater than 80%. No oligonucleotide homology was evident in comparisons involving the virus from South Africa. The high level of genomic conservation between certain EAV isolates of disparate geographic origins may reflect dissemination of the virus associated with the international movement of horses. The extent of genomic variation demonstrated between most of the EAV isolates used in this study confirms the need for further investigation of genomic heterogeneity among strains of this virus before techniques that rely upon nucleic acid hybridization can be effectively applied as diagnostic procedures.     

Toxic peripheral neuropathy with demyelination in Sprague-Dawley rats given CGS 21595--a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor.

Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were given CGS 21595, a pro-drug that is almost immediately metabolized to CGS 19213, a naphthoquinone that acts as a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor. The compound was administered by gavage to five groups of Sprague-Dawley rats (group Nos. 1, 5, n = 30; group Nos. 2-4, n = 20) at daily doses of 0, 50, 150, 500, or 1,000 mg/kg for 13 weeks. Rats in the higher dose groups had a reduced weight gain, but significant neurologic signs were not observed. A peripheral neuropathy consisting predominantly of myelin destruction in the spinal nerve roots and sciatic nerves in male rats treated with greater than or equal to 150 mg/kg CGS 21595 and in female rats treated with greater than or equal to 50 mg/kg CGS 21595 for 13 weeks. This lesion was not fully reversible after a recovery period of 4 weeks. Lesions consisted of ballooning of myelin sheaths, infiltration by macrophages, demyelination, and occasional areas of remyelination. Axons were generally preserved, and the brain and spinal cord were not affected. Male and female rats in all treatment groups had cytoplasmic hyaline droplets in the proximal renal tubules. This change was reversible after 4 weeks and was not associated with any other adverse effects on the kidney.