Characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from lesions of horses.

Seventy-six Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from various lesions of horses were characterized. All of the 76 strains were identified as biotypes B (38.2%) and C (61.8%). Of 55 strains tested, 42 (76.4%) were differentiated into 7 coagulase types. Coagulase types V and VII were predominant in the metritis strains. Coagulase type II was found most frequently in the strains from phlegmon, dermatitis, sinusitis, empyema sinus, and nasal catarrh. Forty-two (55.3%) of the 76 strains were differentiated into 24 phage patterns. Twenty (58.8%) of 34 typable strains from metritis were lysed by the human group I phage 52, and group II phages 3A, 3C, 55 and 71. Forty-five (59.2%) of the 76 strains were resistant to 1 or more of 6 antibiotics. Strains resistant to penicillin G, irrespective of source, were most frequent (95.6%). Forty (93.0%) of 43 strains resistant to penicillin G alone or in combination with other antibiotics produced beta-lactamase. Only 8 (10.5%) of the 76 strains produced enterotoxins A (n = 2), B (n = 1) or C (n = 5), and they all were isolated from metritis. Only 1 strain isolated from phlegmon and 2 from metritis produced exfoliative toxin (ET) and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), respectively. The latter 2 strains also produced enterotoxin C. The results of the present study showed the first evidence of the presence of both ET- and TSST-1-producing S. aureus isolated from horses.     

Uterine disorders diagnosed by ventrotomy in 47 rabbits

The type, ages of occurrence, primary complaints, clinical signs and mortality in forty-seven cases of uterine disorders diagnosed by ventrotomy in rabbits were analyzed retrospectively. Endometrial hyperplasia (29.8%) was most frequently observed, followed by uterine adenocarcinoma (21.3%). Tumorous lesions were seen in 46.8% of the cases. The age of occurrence ranged from two years and two months to seven years and six months, with a peak at four to five years of age. The most common primary complaint was bleeding (62.2%), followed by mammary gland abnormality (12.8%) and increased abdominal circumference (10.6%). Physical examinations revealed mammary gland disorders such as mammary cysts in 31.9% of the cases. Uterine disorders were detected by palpation in 15 out of 32 cases with a primary complaint of bleeding. Ultrasonography showed uterine disorders in 21 out of 24 cases, suggesting that ultrasonography could be useful in the diagnosis of uterine disorders. The outcome seemed to be influenced by physical status rather than malignancy of lesions. The mortality was higher in cases with symptoms such as anorexia, emaciation, severe anemia, and dehydration.     

Vesicular stomatitis virus (New Jersey strain) infection in two California dairy herds: an epidemiologic study

The course of vesicular stomatitis in cattle was investigated in 2 dairy herds (A and B) located in the southern San Joaquin Valley of California. Cattle were examined and specimens were obtained for virus isolation and for serologic survey for one year after an epizootic in December 1982. All 33 lactating cows selected for study had oral lesions, but only 19 (58%) were drooling or frothing around the mouth. Lesions on feet and teats were not observed. The healing time (longer than has been reported previously) for oral lesions ranged from 34 to 59 days. The mean serum neutralizing antibody titer for all cows tested in both herds 21 days after clinical signs were first observed was greater than 1:512. The mean titer decreased in the first 11 months after the epizootic, but remained greater than 1:128, and then increased during December 1983. Vesicular stomatitis virus/New Jersey strain was not isolated from 239 blood samples, 235 swab specimens of oral cavities, 38 swab specimens of oral epithelium, 206 urine specimens, or 232 fecal specimens collected from cows; however, it was isolated from tongue epithelium of 3 cows at 1, 4, and 21 days after signs of frothing were first noticed. For 20 lactating cows brought into dairy A during the epizootic, a mean time of 8.9 days elapsed between time of entry and appearance of clinical signs of vesicular stomatitis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparison of virulence of various hantaviruses related to hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in newborn mouse model

The virulence of hantaviruses that are antigenically related but have different genetic characteristics from the prototype of hantavirus, Hantaan (HTN) virus, was examined in newborn mice. The H5 and B78 strains of the Amur (AMR) genotype, the Bao14 strain of the Far East (FE) genotype, and the 76-118 strain of HTN virus were inoculated subcutaneously (1focus-forming unit; FFU) into newborn mice. All of the AMR and FE genotype viruses inoculated mice were died by 16 days post-infection (dpi) and 21 dpi, respectively, while 50% of the HTN virus inoculated mice survived until 30 dpi. The AMR and FE genotype viruses inoculated mice had high viral titers in the lung (1.3x10(6) to 1.3x10(8) FFU/gram [g] tissue) , brain (2.1x10(7) to 1.2x10(9) FFU/g tissue), and kidney(2.5x10(5) to 1.6x10(7) FFU/g tissue), and showed a detectable level of antibodies (titers 1:16-1:32) at 14 dpi. In contrast, the HTN virus infected mice had viruses only in the lungs at low titers (1.1-5.3x10(5) FFU/g tissue). Observations of body-weight changes revealed that the AMR and FE genotype viruses inoculated mice had lower growth rates than the HTN virus inoculated mice. These data suggest that the AMR and FE genotype viruses are more virulent than the HTN virus in newborn mice.     

Epidemiological survey of Border disease virus among sheep from northern districts of Japan

The first epidemiological survey of Border disease virus (BDV) was undertaken in small ruminants in Japan. Ovine sera, collected from the northern prefectures of Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate, were examined for the presence of antibodies against BDV using the neutralization peroxidase-linked antibody test. Twenty-nine (17.6%) of one hundred and sixty-five samples were seropositive for BDV. Results were specific, excluding cross-reactions with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Only one sample (0.6%) was positive for BVDV, and was negative for BDV. Despite serological evidence of virus circulation, there have been no clinical cases of border disease in sheep in Japan. Although no diagnostic measures were performed, the infection did not appear to be associated with a reduction in ewe fertility nor with lamb mortality.     

Effect of a Large Dose of Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on Hepatic Peroxisome in Cynomolgus Monkeys (Macaca Fascicularis)

To elucidate the effect of a large dose of di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) agonist, on hepatic peroxisomes, we orally administered 1,000 mg/kg/day, once daily, to 3 male and 4 female cynomolgus monkeys for 28 days consecutively. Light-microscopic and electron microscopic examinations of the liver were carried out in conjunction with measurement of the hepatic fatty acid β-oxidation system (FAOS), carnitine acetyltransferase (CAT) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) activities, which are peroxisomal and/or mitochondrial enzyme activities. Electron microscopically, enlargement of the mitochondria was observed with lamellar orientation of the cristae along the major axis. Although the number of peroxisomes showed a tendency to increase when compared with those in a biopsied specimen before treatment, no abnormality in morphology was observed. A slight increase in CPT activity was noted at termination. No changes were noted in hepatic FAOS or CAT activity. In conclusion, although repeated oral treatment of cynomolgus monkeys with a large dose of DEHP induced a subtle increase in the numbers of peroxisomes with slight enlargements of the mitochondria, this low-sensitivity response to peroxisome proliferators in cynomolgus monkeys was considered to be closer to the response in humans than that in rodents.     

Bovine haptoglobin: single radial immunodiffusion assay of its polymeric forms and dramatic rise in acute-phase sera.

Using purified bovine haptoglobin (Hp) and specific antisera, a single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) assay method has been developed to measure the serum Hp level in cattle. Bovine Hp is a highly polymerized protein showing heterogeneous molecular forms in serum. After treatment with cysteine or glutathione, Hp was partially reduced to a homogeneous form, suitable for SRID assay. This method gives values comparable to those obtained by hemoglobin-binding capacity assay, and has the advantage of being simple and convenient. Although serum Hp was not detectable in healthy cattle, it was found more than 50-fold after invasive surgery, indicating that Hp is a characteristic acute-phase protein in cattle.     

Simultaneous observation of the GnRH pulse generator activity and plasma concentrations of metabolites and insulin during fasting and subsequent refeeding periods in Shiba goats

The time course of GnRH pulse generator activity and plasma concentrations of energy substrates and insulin were simultaneously observed in female goats during 4-day fasting and subsequent refeeding in the presence or absence of estrogen for a better understanding of the mechanism of energetic control of gonadotropin secretion in ruminants. The GnRH pulse generator activity was electrophysiologically assessed with the intervals of characteristic increases in multiple-unit activity (MUA volleys) in the mediobasal hypothalamus. In estradiol-treated ovariectomized (OVX+E2) goats, the MUA volley intervals increased as fasting progressed. Plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acid and ketone body increased, while those of acetic acid and insulin decreased during fasting. The MUA volley intervals and plasma concentrations of those metabolites and insulin were restored to pre-fasting levels after subsequent refeeding. In ovariectomized (OVX) goats, changes in plasma metabolites and insulin concentrations were similar to those in OVX+E2 goats, but the MUA volley intervals were not altered. The present results demonstrated that fasting suppressed GnRH pulse generator activity in an estrogen-dependent manner. Changes in plasma concentrations of energy substrates and insulin during fasting were associated with the GnRH pulse generator activity in the presence of estrogen, but not in the absence of the steroid in female goats.