Susceptibility of vaccinated swine and mice to generalized infection with specific serotypes of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

Swine were vaccinated with adsorbate bacterin made from Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae of serotype 2 and were subsequently allotted to 4 exposure groups, each of which was exposed to 1 of the strains of E rhusiopathiae of serotypes 1, 2, 9, or 10. Mice were vaccinated with the same bacterin and were subsequently allotted to 60 exposure groups which were exposed to 60 strains of E rhusiopathiae, comprising 10 strains each of serotypes 1, 2, 4, 9, 10, and 11. Response to challenge of immunity in swine was determined by the presence of clinical signs of acute generalized erysipelas; response in mice was determined by the quantal (live-dead) method. Vaccinated swine were as susceptible to the strain of serotype 10 as were nonvaccinated control swine, whereas vaccinated swine were immune and control swine were susceptible to the strains of serotypes 1 and 2. The strain of serotype 9 was not sufficiently virulent to induce acute generalized erysipelas, even in control swine. Arthritis was not prevented by vaccination, but its frequency and severity were less in vaccinated swine exposed to strains of serotype 1 or 2 than in those exposed to strains of serotype 9 or 10. Vaccinated mice were significantly (P less than 0.05) more susceptible to the strains of serotype 10 than to those of any other serotype tested.     

Physico‐chemical characteristics of Longissimus lumborum muscle in goats subjected to halal slaughter and anesthesia (halothane) pre‐slaughter

This study assessed the effect of halal slaughter and anesthesia pre‐slaughter followed by bleeding on meat quality characteristics of goats. Eleven male Boer cross goats were divided into two groups and subjected to either halal slaughter (HS) or anesthesia with halothane and propofol pre‐slaughter (AS). At pre‐rigor, HS had significantly lower (P < 0.05) muscle pH and glycogen than AS. However, no significant difference was observed in the pH and glycogen content between the treatments on 1, 3 and 7 days post mortem. The drip loss of HS was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than that of AS at all aging periods. Treatment had no effect on sarcomere length, myofibrillar fragmentation index and shear force values, loss of thiol groups and degradation of major myofibrillar proteins. It can be concluded that HS did not have deleterious effect on meat quality traits of goat when compared to AS.     

The feasibility of predicting the number of stems per tuber produced by potato seed stocks from measurements made before planting

Summary The number of stems per seed tuber produced by 17 seed stocks of cv. Record was determined in glasshouse and field experiments to assess the feasibility of predicting the number of stems produced in the field. Multiple regression analysis showed that seed tuber weight alone gave the most satisfactory fit to stems produced in the field, which was not improved by adding terms involving the number of stems produced in the glasshouse. Quadratic relationships between the number of above-ground stems per tuber and tuber weight were most appropriate for each stock, with the fitted curves for individual stocks differing only in the constant term. However, there were significant rank correlation coefficients between the constant terms for relationships between field stems and tuber weight and glasshouse stems and tuber weight, suggesting that in other cultivars and seed stocks a predictive glasshouse test might still be useful.     

A phylogenetic analysis of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV) isolates from six different regions of the UK and links to animal movement data

Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV) is a pestivirus which infects cattle populations worldwide and is recognised as a significant source of economic loss through its impact on health and productivity. Studies investigating the molecular epidemiology of BVDV can give invaluable information about the diversity of viral strains present in a population and this, in turn, can inform control programs, drive vaccine development and determine likely infection sources. The current study investigated 104 viral isolates from forty farms across the UK. Through phylogenetic and nucleotide sequence analysis of the 5′UTR and N^pro regions of the isolates investigated, it was determined that BVDV 1a was the predominant sub-genotype. However, BVDV 1b, 1e and 1i were also identified and, for the first time in the UK, BVDV 1d. Through analysis of animal movement data alongside the phylogenetic analysis of these BVD isolates, it was possible to link animal movements to the viral isolates present on several premises and, for the first time, begin to elucidate the routes of viral transmission. With further work, this type of analysis would enable accurate determination and quantification of the true biosecurity risk factors associated with BVDV transmission.