Cross-protective immunity between equine encephalomyelitis viruses in equids

Eighteen equids were inoculated with eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) and 18 equids with western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) viruses to produce EEE virus- and WEE virus-immunized equids. Twelve surviving EEE virus-seropositive equids, 15 surviving WEE virus-seropositive equids, and 10 nonimmunized, seronegative equids (controls) were subsequently inoculated with an equine pathogenic (epizootic) strain of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus to determine cross-protective immunity. Challenge infection produced 90% mortality in control (nonimmunized) equids, and 40% mortality in WEE virus-seropositive equids; all EEE virus-seropositive equids survived. Postchallenge exposure VEE viremia levels in EEE virus- or WEE virus-seropositive equids were lower than those in the 10 nonimmunized VEE virus-inoculated control equids. Plaque-neutralizing antibody responses to VEE virus in the EEE virus- and WEE virus-seropositive equids were similar in time of onset and titer to the antibody responses of nonimmunized equids. Neutralizing antibody to the third equine encephalomyelitis virus (either EEE virus or WEE virus) was detectable in 19 of 27 equids after inoculation with the challenge virus, VEE. Demonstration of cross-protective immunity between EEE or WEE virus and VEE virus in equids confirmed field observations made during the VEE epizootic in Texas in 1971.     

Toxic effects of trace element excess

Excesses of many trace elements can cause direct toxic effects to cattle as well as indirect effects that can cause a secondary deficiency of other trace elements. Clinical signs may vary from poor growth and feed utilization to neurologic disorders. Toxic effects vary with the specific trace element in question, the total amount of that element in the diet, the age and condition of the animal, and the presence or absence of certain other dietary components. A diagnosis of toxic trace element interaction is based upon compatible clinical signs in affected animals as well as supporting chemical analyses.     

Caenorhabditis elegans: how good a model for veterinary parasites?

The organism about which most is known on a molecular level is a nematode, the free-living organism Caenorhabditis elegans. This organism has served as a reasonable model for the discovery of anthelmintic drugs and for research on the mechanism of action of anthelmintics. Useful information on mechanisms of anthelmintic resistance has also been obtained from studies on C. elegans. Unfortunately, there has not been a large-scale extension of genetic techniques developed in C. elegans to research on parasitic species of veterinary (or human) parasites. Much can be learned about the essentials of nematode biology by studying C. elegans, but discovering the basic biology of nematode parasitism can only be gained through comparative studies on multiple parasitic species.     

The influence of supplemental feed on growth and bone development of nursing foals

Thirty foals of mixed breeding, from two consecutive years, were used in two 120-d experiments to evaluate the effects of supplemental feeding (creep feed) on growth in nursing foals. At 10 d postpartum, foals were randomly assigned either to a creep-fed group (CF) or an unsupplemented group (NCF). Initial measurements of body weight (BW), height at the withers (WH), third metatarsal length (MtIII) and third metacarpal length (McIII) were made at 10 d of age and at 30-d intervals thereafter. Medial and lateral cortical peak values for radiographic bone density, cortical width and cortical area at the midpoint of the third metacarpal were used to assess bone quality. Creep feed containing National Research Council (NRC, 1978) recommended levels for all nutrients was offered at 1.5% of BW per day. When compared with unsupplemented foals, supplemented foals had greater gains in BW (P less than .05), in WH (P less than .10) and in MtIII (P less than .05). Mean gains during the trial in BW, WH, MtIII and McIII for the CF foals were 133.3 kg, 22.8 cm, 2.1 cm and 1.9 cm and for the NCF foals were 117.6 kg, 21.2 cm, 1.5 cm and 1.9 cm, respectively. The mean value for the lateral cortical peak was slightly lower (P less than .10) for the CF foals. No differences (P greater than .10) were observed for the medial cortical peak, cortical width or cortical area of the third metacarpal. The results of this study indicate that a creep feeding program that supplies NRC-recommended nutrient levels can increase the rate of skeletal growth with little decrease in quality of bone.     

Isolation and characterization of epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus from sheep and cattle in Colorado

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus was isolated from cattle and sheep in northeastern Colorado during July and August 1984. The isolates were identified as serotype 2 by plaque-inhibition serotyping, genome electropherotyping, and protein analysis.     

Identification and control of paratuberculosis in a large goat herd

Mycobacterium paratuberculosis infection was detected in 2 goats in 1974 and in 5 goats in 1975; 5 of which were from a single herd. The magnitude of the subsequent epizootic in the goat herd was not recognized until 1977, when results of bacteriologic culture of fecal and tissue specimens, antibody determinations (agar-gel immuno-diffusion test), and histopathologic studies became available. By 1984, paratuberculosis had been diagnosed in 124 goats. Nearly all the goats were being used in antiserum production and had been given Freund complete adjuvant and human antigens. From 1974 to 1986, herd size varied from 100 to 300. The yearly incidence of paratuberculosis decreased from 13.2% (27 of 204 goats) in 1977 to 0% in 108 goats in 1985. The prevalence was higher in does. In goats that arrived on the farm in 1975 and before, 49 of 121 (40.5%) does developed paratuberculosis vs 41 of 120 (34.2%) wethers. In goats arriving on the farm in 1976 and after, 25 of 274 (8.5%) does and 9 of 216 (4.1%) wethers developed paratuberculosis. The average incubation period was approximately 4 years from arrival on the farm in every year except 1978, regardless of whether the goat was born on the farm or was purchased elsewhere.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The effect of route of administration on the anthelmintic efficacy of benzimidazole anthelmintics in sheep infected with strains of Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis resistant or susceptible to thiabendazole

Observations of erratic anthelmintic activity of fenbendazole against known standardised thiabendazole-resistant strains of Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis in sheep were investigated. Fenbendazole at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg body weight was administered by oral, intra-ruminal or intra-abomasal routes, and was most effective against both resistant strains following intra-ruminal administration. In addition thiabendazole, oxibendazole, fenbendazole, parbendazole and mebendazole plus two unrelated compounds, levamisole and morantel tartrate, were used at one and a half times their suggested or recommended therapeutic dose rate against thiabendazole-resistant strains of H contortus and T colubriformis in sheep; each drug being administered by the intra-ruminal or intra-abomasal routes. Fenbendazole was more effective against both strains following intra-ruminal administration. Parbendazole was more effective against the resistant strain of T colubriformis following intra-ruminal administration. At the dose rate chosen for the other benzimidazoles used against these resistant strains, there was no difference in anthelmintic efficacy due to route of administration. Levamisole was highly effective against both resistant strains, irrespective of the route of administration. In the groups treated with morantel tartrate, the results obtained were difficult to interpret due to mortalities and a highly variable response in the surviving sheep. Fenbendazole, thiabendazole and mebendazole when used at their suggested or recommended therapeutic dose rate in sheep, were highly effective against known thiabendazole-susceptible strains of H contortus and T colubriformis following both intra-ruminal or intra-abomasal administration.     

Thrombolytic Therapy in Dogs and Cats

Objective: To review the thrombolytic agents most commonly used in humans, their mechanisms of action, potential uses, adverse effects, and reports of their use in dogs and cats.
Human data synthesis: Thrombolytic agents avaliable in human medicine include streptokinase, urokinase, tissueplasminogen activator (t-PA), single-chain urokinase plasma activator (scu-PA) and anisoylated plasminogen-strep-tokinase activator complex (APSAC). These agents were originally used for the management of proximal deep vein thrombosis and severe pulmonary embolism but more recently, use of these drugs has been extended to include the treatment of acute peripheral arterial disease, cerebrovascular disease (stroke) and acute coronary thrombosis. The most predictable side effect associated with the use of thrombolytic therapy is hemorrhage.
Veterinary data synthesis: Clinical experience with thrombolytic agents in small animals is limited to streptokinase and t-PA. It is possible, that as in humans, canine and feline patients with PTE and right ventricular dysfunction may benefit from thrombolytic therapy but there are no veterinary studies to support this theory to date. Successful use of streptokinase has been documented in a small number of canine patients with systemic thromboembolism. ⁶³ Thrombolytic therapy is relatively efficacious in cats with aortic thromboemboli but is associated with a high mortality rate. ^59,60,64 With regard to use of t-PA in veterinary medicine, the small number of animals treated with varying protocols makes it impossible to provide safe and effective dose recommendations at this time.
Conclusions: Future goals for thrombolytic therapy in veterinary medicine include determination of more specific clinical indications, as well as design of effective protocols that minimize mortality and morbidity.     

Adrenocortical suppression in the dog given a single intramuscular dose of prednisone or triamcinolone acetonide

Adrenocortical function was assessed in dogs given a single intramuscular dose of either prednisone or triamcinolone acetonide (TCA; or saline solution to controls) to determine the duration of adrenocortical suppression caused by 2 commonly used glucocorticoids. The glucocorticoids were administered at recommended therapeutic doses; therefore, dogs given prednisone received a greater amount of glucocorticoid activity than did in dogs given TCA. Basal and ACTH-stimulated plasma cortisol concentrations, as determined by radioimmunoassay, were obtained once a week. Total intravascular eosinophil concentration and skin responses to intradermally injected histamine phosphate were quantitated. Dogs given TCA showed suppressed basal and ACTH-stimulated plasma cortisol concentrations 1 week after injection; the latter change persisted 2 weeks after injection. Adrenocortical function in 1 of 4 dogs given TCA remained suppressed for 4 weeks. In contrast, prednisone did not significantly alter adrenocortical function. Although intravascular eosinophil concentrations did not vary among groups, skin responses to intradermally injected histamine phosphate were reduced 6 days after prednisone and TCA were given.     

Factors affecting red-winged blackbird response to methiocarb,an avian repellent

Two physiological responses (heart rate and respiration rate) and a behavioral response (keypecking rate) were measured to determine whether or not bait from and/or gastrointestinal content would influence the efficacy of an avian repellent on red-winged blackbirds. Methiocarb was administered under four conditions (i.e., cracked corn or pellet baits and food deprivation or nondeprivation). Results show that both physiological and behavioral responses to methiocarb are much more pronounced when it is administered in pellet form to food-deprived birds. These findings help explain some inconsistencies in results of field evaluations of methiocarb and illustrate the significance of formulation and the timing of treatment application as important factors in development of bird damage control agents and techniques.