Experimentally induced infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis: resistance of vaccinated cattle to homologous and heterologous strains of Moraxella bovis.

In studies to determine whether vaccination with one strain of Moraxella bovis would protect against challenge with virulent homologous or heterologous strains, calves were intramuscularly inoculated 3 times with formalin-killed M bovis, with 14 days between inoculations. Fourteen days after the 3rd vaccinal dose was given, all calves were exposed to homologous or heterologous virulent cultures of M bovis. The results indicated that vaccination with one strain of M bovis may induce protective immunity against homologous and heterologous challenge exposure; however, because vaccinated cattle resisted infection and disease produced by a homologous strain to a greater extent than they resisted those produced by heterologous strains, polyvalent vaccines or highly immunogenic common antigens may be needed to protect cattle against the numerous strains they might encounter under natural field conditions. There was minimal correlation between the presence of precipitating antibodies against the heterologous strains and the establishment of infection and disease.     

Surgical resection of a dysgerminoma in a mare

A mare was referred for further evaluation of a mass found in the left caudal abdomen during a routine postpartum reproductive palpation. The mare was clinically normal with no history of health problems. Ultrasonographic examination of the mass confirmed its presence, but the origin of the mass could not be accurately determined. Routine haematology and serum biochemistry results were within normal limits. The mare was initially treated conservatively with antibiotics, but the mass continued to increase in size, so it was surgically excised. The mass involved the left ovary. The mare showed transient abdominal pain after surgery, but developed no other complications and was in foal 7 months later. On histology, the mass was diagnosed as a dysgerminoma, a rare ovarian tumour of germ cell origin.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF THE EQUINE BICIPITAL TENDON REGION: A CASE HISTORY REPORT AND REVIEW OF ANATOMY

The equine shoulder region is difficult to investigate by conventional imaging modalities. Diagnostic ultrasound has proven valuable for investigation of soft tissue injuries of the human shoulder. In a horse with shoulder lameness, the authors employed diagnostic ultrasound to augment the use of conventional radiography. A defect in the subchondral bone layer of the medial humeral tuberosity, with adjacent bony fragments were clearly identified with ultrasound. Ultrasound was used for initial evaluation of the bicipital tendon and bursa. The technique was subsequently used to follow and evaluate the post-operative condition of the proximal cranial humerus, bicipital tendon and bursa in this patient. The bicipital regions of 2 immature and 3 adult normal horses were also examined with to illustrate the normal ultrasonographic anatomy of the cranial shoulder region.     

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis: evidence for genetic modulation of resistance in purebred Hereford cattle

A vaccination study was conducted in a herd of purebred Hereford cattle representing 4 selection (genetic) lines. For each of 2 years, half of the cattle were vaccinated with a pilus-enriched Moraxella bovis bacterin. Cows were vaccinated before parturition, and calves were vaccinated at 2 to 3 months of age. None of the cattle was vaccinated for 1 year preceding and 1 year after the 2 years in which cattle were vaccinated. There was a significantly (P less than 0.05) lower percentage of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) in calves during years cattle were vaccinated than during years cattle were not vaccinated. During years cattle were vaccinated, there were lower percentages of IBK in vaccinated calves when compared with the percentages of IBK in nonvaccinated calves. When calves were compared on the basis of selection lines, regardless of the vaccination group, there were consistent differences in the percentages that developed IBK. Although calves with pigmented and nonpigmented eyes (representing all 4 genetic lines) developed IBK, the genetic line of calves with the most pigmented eyes had the lowest (P less than 0.05) percentage of IBK. Also, across all genetic lines, there was less IBK in pigmented eyes than in nonpigmented eyes. Seemingly, vaccination of dams, before parturition, and young calves reduced the occurrence of severe IBK in a herd situation under natural exposure conditions. The resistance or susceptibility in cattle under good management may be influenced by genetic factors.     

Monophosphoryl lipid A-induced immune enhancement of Brucella abortus salt-extractable protein and lipopolysaccharide vaccines in BALB/c mice.

A study was conducted to determine the effect of monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) and trehalose dimycolate (TDM) as adjuvants on the protective responses in BALB/c mice vaccinated with Brucella abortus salt-extractable protein (BCSP) or proteinase-K-treated B abortus lipopolysaccharide (PKLPS). Mice were vaccinated with different doses of BCSP or PKLPS given alone or in combination with MPL or TDM. Mice were challenge-exposed 4 weeks later with virulent B abortus strain 2308. Two weeks after challenge exposure, the number of B abortus colony-forming units (CFU) per spleen, spleen weights, and spleen cell interleukin 1 production were measured. Serum IgG and IgM concentrations specific for vaccinal immunogens were measured before and after challenge exposure with B abortus. Spleen weights and mean B abortus CFU per vaccine group were significantly lower in BCSP- and PKLPS-vaccinated mice, compared with those of nonvaccinated control mice. Monophosphoryl lipid A enhanced the suppression of splenic infection when given with the BCSP vaccine, but not when given with the PKLPS vaccine. Trehalose dimycolate had no effect on mean CFU when given with BCSP, but incorporation of TDM resulted in a significant increase in mean CFU when given with PKLPS. Spleen weights in BCSP- or PKLPS-vaccinated mice were not different when these vaccines were combined with MPL or TDM. Because of the wide variation in the results, we could not conclude that vaccination with BCSP or PKLPS alone, or in combination with MPL altered spleen cell interleukin-1 production in B abortus-infected mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The effects of fungicides on soil fungal populations

Four fungicides, Captan, Dicloran, Thiram and Verdasan were applied at 28-day intervals for 12 consecutive months and their effects on soil fungal numbers and the incidence of individual species were studied. Immediately after application, these fungicides reduced the number of fungal propagules in soil by 23, 11, 36 and 50% respectively compared with control. Captan- and Dicloran-treated soils were rapidly recolonised within 7 days of the application of fungicides. The effects of Thiram and Verdasan were more persistent: the fungal numbers in soils treated with these fungicides did not recover sufficiently to reach control levels throughout the sampling period. Fewer species of fungi were isolated from Thiram- and Verdasan-treated soils than from Captan- and Dicloran-treated soils. Chrysosporium pannorum (Link) Hughes was the principal species isolated from Verdasan-treated soil and the fungus was isolated in increased numbers immediately after application of Verdasan than on subsequent sampling days. Cladosporium cladosporioides (Fres.) de Vries, Mortierella minutissima van Tiegh, Trichocladium asperum Harz, Trichoderma hamatum (Bon.) Bain, and Zygorhynchus moelleri Vuill. were found to be generally tolerant of all four fungicides. However, Botryotrichum piluliferum Sacc. and Marchai, Gliocladium roseum Bain., Humicola fusco-atra Traaen, Sepedonium chrysospermum (Bull.) Link ex Fr., and Trichoderma viride Pers. ex Fr. were generally intolerant of the fungicides but rapidly recolonised the treated soils. While the concentrations of Captan and Dicloran used were fungistatic to T. viride, Thiram and Verdasan were fungicidal.     

Characterization of Aloeride, a new high-molecular-weight polysaccharide from Aloe vera with potent immunostimulatory activity

We have characterized a new immunostimulatory polysaccharide called Aloeride from commercial aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) juice. Aloeride is between 4 and 7 million Da, and its glycosyl components include glucose (37.2%), galactose (23.9%), mannose (19.5%), and arabinose (10.3%). At 0.5 microg/mL Aloeride increased NF-kappa B directed luciferase expression in THP-1 human monocytic cells to levels 50% of those achieved by maximal concentrations (10 microg/mL) of LPS. Aloeride induced the expression of the mRNAs encoding IL-1beta and TNF-alpha to levels equal to those observed in cells maximally activated by LPS. Acemannan, the major carbohydrate component from aloe, used at 200 microg/mL in the macrophage assay resulted in negligible NF-kappa B activation. Analysis of acemannan and Aloeride using size-exclusion chromatography suggests that the low activity of acemannan is due to trace amounts of Aloeride. Although Aloeride comprises only 0.015% of the aloe juice dry weight, its potency for macrophage activation accounts fully for the activity of the crude juice.     

Nutrient Biogeochemistry of the Coastal Zone

The coastal seas are one of the most valuable and vulnerable of Earth's habitats. Significant inputs of nutrients to the coastal zone arrive via rivers, groundwater, and the atmosphere. Nutrient fluxes through these routes have been increased by human activity. In addition, the N:P:Si ratios of these inputs have been perturbed, and many coastal management practices exacerbate these perturbations. There is evidence of impacts arising from these changes (in phytoplankton numbers and relative species abundance, and deep-water oxygen declines) in areas of restricted water exchange. Elsewhere, the nutrient fluxes through the coastal zone appear to be still dominated by large inputs from the open ocean, and there is little evidence of anthropogenic perturbations.     

Identifying the origins of fishing gear ingested by seabirds: a novel multivariate approach

• 1. The global decline of albatrosses (Diomedidae: Procellariiformes) is thought to have occurred largely as a direct result of fishery‐related mortality. Albatrosses and other large petrels interact with fisheries in several ways, including scavenging used bait and discarded offal, which may contain hooks.
• 2. Hooks that are ingested by breeding birds are often fed to chicks which subsequently regurgitate them shortly before fledging.
• 3. In this study a series of mathematical (cladistic, cluster and principal components) analyses are applied to a sample of 241 items of fishing gear (hook, snood and hook/snood unit) collected from seabird nest sites on Bird Island, South Georgia, and 44 reference gear items provided by four South Atlantic regional fisheries.
• 4. The five separate analyses failed to assign most gear to a particular fishery or to identify any consistent annual trends. The homogeneous nature of the material, which was largely derived from the same manufacturers, meant that gear origin could not be determined. This suggests that hooks found at seabird colonies in this, and potentially other regions, will be of limited use in identifying offending fisheries, unless operators are obliged to deploy gear with unique marks in the future.
• 5. Nevertheless, it is suggested that this approach should work effectively where birds interact with a range of fisheries targeting different species using variable gear. This study therefore represents an innovative approach to the characterization of lost fishing gear with potentially widespread application. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.