Restriction endonuclease patterns of bovine herpesvirus type 1 isolated from bovine mammary glands

Restriction endonuclease analysis was used, in conjunction with viral neutralization and growth-curve experiments, to compare a bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) isolate, originally obtained from bovine mammary gland lesions, with a standard BHV-1 strain, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus. Although differences were not detected by viral neutralization or growth-curve experiments, restriction fragment patterns generated by Bam HI, Eco RI, Hind III, and Hpa I, revealed definite differences between the isolate and the prototype strain. Additionally, Eco RI, Hind III, and Hpa I patterns revealed that the mammary gland isolate had DNA-fragment patterns characteristic of infectious pustular vulvovaginitis strain of BHV-1, type 2b. Seemingly, type-2b isolates, similar to types 1 and 2a, may be capable of causing divergent types of infection of variable severity in cattle.     

Salmonella Isolations from Snakes and Other Reptiles

Bacteriological examination of faeces and swabs from fourteen species of reptiles predominantly constrictors, yielded six serotypes of Salmonella as well as Arizona hinshawii, Proteus species, Citrobacter freundii and Enterobacter species. Organisms isolated were identified using conventional bacteriological methods and yielded two serotypes of salmonellae not previously identified in Canada: Salmonella nima and Salmonella 58:a.     

Lead poisoning in sandhill cranes.

Seven Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) and 6 greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) were exposed to lead-base paint containing 27% lead. One bird of each subspecies died enroute to the hospital, with a clinical history of anorexia, weakness, and open-mouth breathing of 36 hours' duration. There were no gross lesions, and microscopic lesions were limited to focal hepatic necrosis and hemosiderosis. Two of each subspecies of cranes developed clinical signs of lead poisoning, which included anorexia, weakness, green diarrhea, regurgitation, and open-mouth breathing. Diagnosis of lead poisoning was confirmed on the basis of blood lead concentrations ranging from 146 microgram/100 ml to 378 microgram/100 ml. These 4 cranes were treated successfully with calcium disodium edetate intramuscularly. Seven of the birds remained clinically normal despite high blood lead levels, especially in the greater sandhill cranes.     

Hepatocyte growth factor transduces different intracellular signals in aortic and umbilical venous endothelial cells

Endothelial cells are important for maintenance of vascular integrity by producing a variety of bioactive molecules such as nitric oxide (NO). Recent evidence has suggested that there are some differences in characteristics between endothelial cells from different origins. Here we examined responses of two typical endothelial cells to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which induces endothelium-dependent relaxation of microvessels. Stimulation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) with HGF increased endothelial NO synthase activity, accompanied with an increase of activity-related site-specific phosphorylation of protein kinase B/Akt. However, HGF stimulated phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) only in HUVEC, but not in BAEC, while it induced phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAPK in both cells. These results suggest that HGF transduces different intracellular signals between aortic and umbilical venous endothelial cells, and that the differences might represent divergent endothelial responses to growth factors, especially those that activate receptor-tyrosine kinases.     

Fertility of dairy cows in Northern Ireland

A comprehensive database was established on the milk production and reproductive performance of dairy cows in 19 selected herds in Northern Ireland, varying in size, management system and genetic merit. Data were obtained for 2471 cows, 1775 of which calved in a second year, and 693 were culled from the herd for specific reasons. The estimated mean rate of heat detection (assessed by the interheat interval during the main breeding season) in all the herds was 71 per cent, with a range from 53 to 92 per cent The average conception rate to first insemination was 37.1 per cent (range 21 to 66 per cent). The average calving interval for the retained cows was 407.2 days (range 359 to 448 days). Twenty-eight per cent of the cows that calved were culled, with infertility being the largest single reason (26.8 per cent of the cows culled). There were major differences in reproductive performance between the herds, but heat detection rate, conception rate and calving interval did not appear to be affeded by a herd's genetic merit. The herds with shorter calving intervals were characterised by better heat detection efficiency (83 v 61 per cent, P<0.01), a shorter interval from calving to first insemination (74 v 97 days; P<0.05), a higher conception rate to first insemination (45 v 34 per cent, P>0.10) and a lower removal rate (23 v 37 per cent, P<0.01). Furthermore, the cows in these herds had lower body condition scores (BCS) in the dry period (3.0 v 3.3; P<0.05) but lost less body condition in early lactation (0.3 v 0.6 BCS units, P<0.05). These results show that dairy herd fertility in Northern Ireland is generally low and similar to that previously reported for England and the USA, but that in some herds changes in herd management practices improved the cows' fertility.     

Virucidal efficacy of four new disinfectants

Virucidal efficacy was evaluated for four recently available disinfectants: chlorine dioxide, potassium peroxymonosulfate, a quaternary ammonium compound, and citricidal (grapefruit extract). Sodium hypochlorite (3%) and tap water were used as positive and negative controls respectively. Feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus, and feline parvovirus were exposed to the manufacturers' recommended dilutions of the evaluated disinfectants. Both chlorine dioxide and potassium peroxymonosulfate completely inactivated the three viruses used in this study. These disinfectants can aid in controlling nosocomial transmission of viruses with less of the deleterious effects of sodium hypochlorite. The quaternary ammonium compound evaluated in this study and citricidal were not effective against feline calicivirus and feline parvovirus.