Verification by polymerase chain reaction of vertical transmission of Theileria sergenti in cows

To evaluate the transplacental transfer of Theileria sergenti infection in cattle, we used DNA probes to detect T. sergenti in 6 pregnant cows and their calves. All the animals were monitored by parasitologic, serologic, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for a predicted 875-base-pair (bp) DNA product and a 684-bp amplicon detected by nested PCR in the blood and spleens of aborted fetuses. An open reading frame (ORF) starting at nucleotide 170 and terminating at position 1021 was shown to code for a polypeptide of 283 amino acid residues. All 6 dams and 5 calves were positive for T. sergenti in all tests. One calf was positive only with nested PCR. We conclude that transplacental transmission of T. sergenti is a significant problem. The relevance of the data in the programmed introduction of new (especially pregnant) animals into established clean herds needs serious consideration with regard to control of theileriosis and other tickborne diseases.     

Genetic diversity of herbicide-resistant and -susceptible Avena fatua populations in North Dakota and Minnesota

Genetic diversity within and among 20 herbicide-resistant (HR) and 16 herbicide-susceptible (HS) Avena fatua multi-field populations was determined using 82 polymorphic loci resulting from two intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers and one long-primer random amplified polymorphic DNA (LP-RAPD) primer. Collections from the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota, sampled in 1964 and 2000, represented A. fatua populations before and after intensive exposure to herbicides. A 1995 collection from south-west North Dakota represented A. fatua exposed to low herbicide selection. Despite differences in years of herbicide exposure among collections, both HR and HS populations from every collection maintained nearly similar levels of ISSR and RAPD diversity. Genetic differentiation among populations (G_ST) varied from 11% to 13% among HR populations and from 9% to 16% among HS populations, indicating that 84–91% of total variation remained within HS or within HR populations. Minimal difference in gene diversity between HR and HS is consistent with multiple origins of resistance, where HR A. fatua most likely evolved from diverse founding individuals.     

Ultrasonographic and Gross Pathological Findings in the Mammary Glands of Weaned Sows Having Suffered Recidiving Mastitis Metritis Agalactia

In a large pig breeding herd with high prevalence of post-parturient diseases of the sows, weaned sows of different parity groups with (n = 663) or without (n = 1125) recidiving mastitis metritis agalactia (MMA) in their previous history were subjected to ultrasonography. A total of 114 of 663 sows with recidiving MMA in their previous history and with ultrasonographic visible mammary gland changes, and 157 of sows without recidiving MMA in their previous history were culled and subjected to gross pathological and bacteriological examination of their mammary glands. The sows having suffered MMA had more (p < 0.001) hyperechogenic images in their mammary glands compared with the sow having suffered no recidiving MMA. Abdominal glands were more (p < 0.01) prone to pathological changes compared with the pectoral ones. Sows of high parity had more hyperechogenic images and gross pathological changes in their mammary glands compared with the sows of low parity.     

Histopathological and hematological findings in myeloid leukemia induced by a new feline leukemia virus isolate

Myeloid leukemia was induced by a new feline leukemia virus isolate FeLV-AB/GM-1 in a high proportion of cats. The latency period was short. Three to 5 weeks after infection early changes were detectable in the bone marrow, and cats developed leukemia 5 to 8 weeks after infection. The results of the present histological and cytological studies suggested that there were two stages in the development of leukemia. The first stage appeared to be equivalent to the syndrome of bone marrow dysplasia or preleukemia which, however, converted rapidly to leukemia. Cytopenia(s) were the main hematological findings in all preleukemic and leukemic cats. White blood cell counts were low or normal, but the number of leukemic and abnormal cells increased in the peripheral blood with the progression of the disease. This reliable model system lends itself to further studies to elucidate the pathogenesis of myeloproliferative disorders.     

Quantitation of natural antibodies to infectious bursal disease in Nigerian indigenous chickens

Serum samples collected from 687 indigenous chickens located in small scattered groups in four states of Nigeria were examined for antibodies to infectious bursal disease (IBD) virus by the agar-gel precipitation (AGPT) and counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIEOP) tests. 51 of the positive samples were further titrated by each of the two techniques. CIEOP detected more positive reactors (74.59%) than AGPT (58.95%). CIEOP also detected higher antibody levels among the reactors [geometric mean titre (GMT) of 51 samples was 23.02] when compared to AGPT. GMT of the same 51 samples was 21.8. The prevalence of antibodies to IBD virus in the indigenous chickens ranged from 64.7 to 77.7% CIEOP reactors between states. Since reports of IBD outbreaks among these chickens are rare unlike the situation among commercial poultry flocks, it was concluded that local chickens probably act as carriers of IBD virus.