Effects of dietary molybdenum on nematode and host during Haemonchus contortus infection in lambs.

The addition of molybdenum (0.05 mmol kg-1 dry-matter) to the diet of lambs given a trickle infection of Haemonchus contortus larvae (500 third stage larvae d-1 over six weeks) reduced mean faecal egg counts (epg) from 3952 to 2312 +/- 402 by 32 days (P less than 0.02) and greatly reduced the mean number of worms recovered from the abomasum 14 days after infection ceased (907 compared with 4167: P less than 0.01). Infection reduced haemoglobin concentrations less in lambs given molybdenum although the difference was small relative to the reduction in worm burden. Lambs not given molybdenum had low intraepithelial mast cell counts in the abomasal mucosa and less abomasal hypertrophy than expected from abomasal parasitism. Molybdenum did not consistently reduce the copper status of the host or the parasite. Previous exposure to molybdenum greatly reduced protein but not proteinase activity in, or secreted by, adult worms cultured for eight hours. It is suggested that molybdenum either increased the inflammatory response which preceded worm rejection or that it indirectly enhanced that reaction by reducing the effectiveness of copper-dependent, anti-inflammatory enzymes in the gastrointestinal mucosa.     

无核葡萄胚发育及早期离体培养的研究:Ⅲ.培养方式对离体胚发育的影响

对5个无核葡萄品种的试验表明,不同培养方式对离体胚发育的影响是很明显的,其中4个品种胚发育率液体培养高于固体培养,‘京早晶’在液体培养中胚发育率高达73.7%,是目前国内外胚发育率最高的报道;液体培养比固体培养胚的发育程度高,发育整齐,无畸形胚,易成苗.     

Use of progesterone in microspheres for maintenance of pregnancy in mares.

Administration of progesterone in poly(d-,l-lactide) microspheres was used to maintain pregnancy in mares after luteolysis was induced by treatment with prostaglandin F2 alpha at day 14 of pregnancy. Mares were given vehicle only (control, n = 6) or 0.75 g (n = 7), 1.5 g (n = 8), or 2.25 g (n = 5) of microencapsulated progesterone at days 12 and 22 of pregnancy. Serum progesterone concentrations were determined daily, and pregnancy was evaluated by transrectal ultrasonography on alternate days. Significantly (P less than 0.05) more mares given 1.5 or 2.25 g of progesterone (6 of 8 and 4 of 5 mares, respectively), but not those given 0.75 g (3 of 7 mares), maintained pregnancy through day 32, compared with control mares (0 of 6). Progesterone concentrations decreased significantly (P less than 0.025) in all groups after administration of prostaglandin F2 alpha at day 14, and significant (P less than 0.05) effects of time and treatment on progesterone concentrations were found between days 12 and 22, and 22 and 32. Although treatment with 1.5-g and 2.25-g doses of microencapsulated progesterone improved maintenance of pregnancy, compared with that of vehicle-treated controls, administration of 2.25 g of microencapsulated progesterone appeared to be most efficacious in maintenance of pregnancy during the study interval.     

Subconjunctival cyst associated with Thelazia gulosa in a calf.

A large subconjunctival cyst of 4 weeks' duration was surgically excised from the left eye of a 7-month-old Simmental calf. Two white, partially mineralized, approximately 1-cm-long, fertile female nematodes subsequently identified as Thelazia gulosa were found embedded in the cyst wall. Thelazia spp are generally regarded as nonpathogenic or mildly pathogenic in cattle in North America, despite reported infection rates ranging from 12.2 to 34.2%. Additionally, parasitic subconjunctival nodules associated with Thelazia spp rarely have been reported in the past, and cyst formation has not been described. It was postulated that in this calf, immature or adult worms may have penetrated normal tissue barriers, or entered via an earlier conjunctival wound, and created an inflammatory response with subsequent cyst formation.     

Ovarian follicular characteristics, embryo recovery, and embryo viability in heifers fed high-fat diets and treated with follicle-stimulating hormone.

Postpubertal beef heifers (n = 55) were used to examine the effects of high-fat diets, independently of energy intake, on nonesterified fatty acid and lipoprotein metabolic patterns, ovarian follicular dynamics, and embryo recovery/viability after FSH superstimulation. High-lipid (HL) diets (5.4% added fat) increased (P < .01) serum concentrations of cholesterol, but not of nonesterified fatty acids, during the 35-d period before FSH treatment. Development of medium-sized (5 to 9.9 mm) follicles was enhanced (P < .05) during this period in heifers fed the HL diet. The HL diet increased total cholesterol (P < .05) and progesterone (P = .14) concentrations in follicular fluid obtained at ovariectomy (n = 10) 60 h after the onset of FSH treatment, but neither estradiol-17 beta nor androstenedione was affected. Granulosa cells recovered from FSH-induced, estrogen-active follicles in heifers fed the HL diet produced greater quantities of progesterone (P = .06) and less estradiol-17 beta (P < .05) in vitro than did granulosa cells from heifers fed the normal lipid diet. Dietary treatment did not influence FSH-stimulated recruitment of medium and large follicles, number of ovulations, embryo recovery, or embryo viability. Data suggest that increments in dietary fat intake can alter specific aspects of ovarian steroidogenic potential and can increase the population of medium-sized follicles theoretically available for maturation and harvest during the estrous cycle. However, conditions that limited the latter process in the current experiment are not understood and require further investigation.     

茶多酚(TP)对家禽免疫功能的研究

选用14日龄健康的海佩科内用仔鸡48羽,随机分成试验(24羽)和对照(24羽)两组.试验组在饲粮中添加0.25％的茶多酚(TP),研究TP对鸡免疫功能的作用.试验结果表明,TP对自然感染法氏囊病鸡,有明显提高(p<0.05)鸡血液中红细胞C_(3b)受体和免疫复合物的含量及保护鸡脾脏正常的免疫功能,同时也发现TP对公母鸡法氏囊的重量有不同影响.本试验表明,TP具有提高家禽免疫功能的作用.     

Proliferative response of mammary gland mononuclear cells to recombinant bovine interleukin-2.

Methods of augmenting bovine mononuclear cell responsiveness during physiological transitions of the udder may enhance resistance of the mammary gland to intramammary infections. Interleukin-2 is required for proliferation of T-lymphocytes and may contribute to B-lymphocyte proliferation. Recombinant bovine interleukin-2 (rBoIL-2) was evaluated as a potential immunoenhancer of bovine mammary gland mononuclear cells. Bovine mononuclear cells were isolated from five primiparous Holstein cows at 14-18 and 28-32 days of involution and at 7-13 days prior to parturition. Bovine blood and mammary gland mononuclear cells were highly responsive to rBoIL-2. Response of mammary gland mononuclear cells to rBoIL-2 was comparable with response of blood mononuclear cells. These data suggest that rBoIL-2 may be an effective immunoenhancer of bovine mononuclear cells during the non-lactating and prepartum periods.     

Large granular lymphoma in an FIV-positive and FeLV-negative cat

The clinical course of a feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)-negative and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-positive cat affected with a large granular lymphocyte lymphoma is presented. Cyto-logical examination showed neoplastic cells in the pleural effusion and in two abdominal masses. Bone marrow and peripheral blood were moderately involved and chemotherapy was used to control the tumour. Cytochemistry, immunohis-tochemistry and ultrastructural studies were applied to define the cellular lineage; cytochemistry suggested a T-cell lineage.     

A recombinant-based feline immunodeficiency virus antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

We have developed an antibody detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the identification of animals infected by feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). The ELISA solid-phase antigen consists of recombinant FIV gag proteins expressed in bacteria. The proteins are purified from bacterial lysates as insoluble inclusion bodies. In the case of bacterially expressed p24gag, it is shown that all of the linear, sequential epitopes presented by viral p24 during infection are retained. Purified preparations can be substituted for solid-phase whole virus in the IDEXX PetChektm immunoassay. The antibody ELISA duplicates the sensitivity and specificity of the whole virus based PetChek plate assay.