Sequential production of specific antibodies in serum and at the skin surface of cattle following intradermal vaccination with Dermatophilus congolensis

Studies of the temporal changes in specific antibody titres to D. congolensis in serum and washings from inoculated and uninoculated skin indicate that production of IgG1 and IgG2 antibody at the skin surface is a transudative process related to serum antibody concentration. Transport of IgM is likely to be based on a similar mechanism but that of IgA appears to depend on a local secretory process.     

The Prevention and Control of Epidemics of Acute Undifferentiated Diarrhea of Beef Calves in Western Canada

It is frequently evident that outbreaks of diarrhea occur in spite of apparent “good management” and “good calving conditions”. This observation underlies the fact that we still do not understand many of the epidemiological factors which contribute to calf diarrhea outbreaks. For example, we still lack biological criteria by which to judge the degree of crowding and the degree of stress. Nevertheless, application of the principles described above will prevent or decrease the severity of many annual epidemics. To be successful, a program of prevention and control should be discussed with producers long before the calving season, preferably during the preceding summer or fall. Implementation of a complete program may take several calving seasons and producers should be made aware that prevention by improved management is an on-going, evolutionary process. More and improved vaccines are becoming available; however, as is the case with most biologicals, their impact cannot be determined until after they have been used for several years. They should be recognized as only one of several managent tools at the disposal of the veterinarian and livestock producer.     

In Vitro Loss of Tensile Strength and Elasticity of Five Absorbable Suture Materials in Sterile and Infected Canine Urine

The loss of breaking strength and elasticity of five absorbable suture materials (polydioxanone [PDS-II], polyglycolic acid [PGA], polyglactin 910 [PG-910], polyglyconate [GTMC], and chromic gut) after in vitro incubation in sterile, Escherichia coli- and Proteus mirab/tfs-inoculated canine urine was studied. Biomechanical testing, in a controlled environment, was performed during the 28-day study period. Polydioxanone and chromic gut retained greater than 90% of their original strengths after 28 days of incubation in sterile urine and 87% of original strengths in E. co//-inoculated urine. Polyglyconate retained 24% and 18% of original strength, respectively, after incubation in sterile and E. co/i-inoculated urine for 28 days. Polyglycolic acid and PG-910 retained less than 30% of original strength in sterile urine and only 7% in E. co/i-inoculated urine after 21 days of incubation. In P. m/rabi/is-inoculated urine, loss of tensile strength and elongation was significant for all suture materials. Polyglycolic acid and PG-910 lost all strength after 24 hours of incubation. Polydioxanone lost all strength after 7 days of incubation, whereas GTMC retained 19% at day 7. Chromic gut retained 78% at day 7 and 16% after 21 days of incubation, however, the absence of normal phagocytic destruction of chromic gut in this in vitro study may have artificially elevated these values. In sterile urine with chemically modified pH, loss of strength and elongation was greater in alkaline urine than in neutral or acidic urine for all types of suture materials.     

Q fever (Coxiella burnetii) investigations in dairy cattle: persistence of antibodies after vaccination.

The immune response and persistence of antibodies were investigated in dairy cattle vaccinated with formalin-inactivated phase (ph) I Coxiella burnetii vaccine agglutinating antibody geometric mean titer (GMT) of 193.2 at 1 month after vaccination compared to a GMT of 2.0 for nonvaccinated calves. The agglutinating antibodies gradually decreased in vaccinated cattle, but the GMT remained approximately 4 times higher than that for the nonvaccinated group for at least 20 months. Results of serotests at 2 months after revaccination indicated a rapid increase in the GMT to 177.0 with agglutinating titers between 1:64 and 1:512.     

Cardiopulmonary effects of fentanyl-droperidol, nitrous oxide, and atropine sulfate in dogs.

The cardiopulmonary effects of droperidol-fentanyl, nitrous oxide, and atropine were evaluated in 12 adult male Beagle dogs. All dogs were surgically instrumented with a cardiac output thermistor and arterial and venous catheters and were prepared with a chronic tracheostomy. Each dog was used as its own control, and data obtained when dogs were nonanesthetized and nonmedicated were compared with data recorded after the test drugs were administered. The dogs were randomly allotted to 3 groups of 4 dogs each. Group I dogs were given droperidol-fentanyl alone intravenously (IV); group II dogs were given droperidol-fentanyl IV with 67% nitrous oxide; and group III dogs were given atropine sulfate intramuscularly followed by droperidol-fentanyl IV with 67% nitrous oxide. Minute volume was decreased in the 3 groups of dogs for 3 to 5 minutes after droperidol-fentanyl was injected. This resulted in respiratory and metabolic acidosis in all dogs, as indicated by increased arterial carbon dioxide tension, decreased pH, and increased base deficit. In addition, droperidol-fentanyl given alone caused a decrease in systolic pressure and a slight decrease in heart rate. Group 1 dogs were sensitive to auditory stimulation. Cardiovascular changes were not seen when nitrous oxide was added; however, analgesia and muscle relaxation were improved. Premedication with atropine sulfate resulted in increased cardiac output, heart rate, and diastolic pressure, and subsequent administration of droperidol-fentanyl with nitrous oxide caused a transient increase in mean arterial and systolic pressure. This last anesthetic regimen, along with assisted or controlled respiration, seems to provide an excellent anesthetic state with minimal cardiopulmonary depression.     

Periovulatory changes in peripheral plasma progesterone and estrogen concentrations in the mare.

Concentrations of progesterone and estrogen were measured in peripheral blood plasma samples from mares around the time of ovulation. Samples were collected every 2 hours from 36 hours before, to 26 hours after, ovulation and assayed by radioimmunoassay. Progesterone concentrations were between 60 and 100 pg/ml for the period 24 hours before ovulation through 8 hours after ovulation. By 10 hours after ovulation, concentrations increased to 140 pg/ml and, by 26 hours after ovulation, reached 346 pg/ml. Plasma estrogen concentrations did not change significantly throughout the same period.