Humoral recognition of lipopolysaccharide core antigens of gram-negative bacteria in neonatal swine

Serologic recognition of common lipopolysaccharide core antigens has been related to enhanced resistance to gram-negative bacterial disease in several species. Class-specific titers (IgG, IgM) were determined by direct ELISA, using intact Escherichia coli (J5) as a plate antigen. Serum samples were obtained from 224 neonatal swine between the ages of 36 and 60 hours. The mean (+/- SEM) log10 IgG titer against gram-negative core antigens was 1:1,713 +/- 0.4718 and the mean log10 IgM titer was 1:202 +/- 0.5644. The IgG titer was directly related with litter size, birth weight, and serum total IgG concentration; IgM titer was directly related with dam parity and serum total IgG concentration.     

Kinetics method for the quantitation of anthocyanidins, flavonols, and flavones in foods.

Flavonoids are important dietary constituents owing to their health-promoting properties. As a result, simplified analytic techniques are required for the population of databases with food values so that associations between dietary intake and disease risk/incidence can be established. The current research provides a simplified sample preparation procedure for the accurate estimation of food anthocyanidins, flavones, and flavonols as aglycons. Traditionally, flavonoid aglycons have been formed by acidic hydrolysis. However, some flavonoid aglycons are slowly degraded by acid. A procedure has been developed whereby anthocyanidins and flavonols are deglycosylated with HCl in 50% aqueous methanol and the resulting aglycons subsequently quantified by application of pseudo-first-order kinetics to their degradation. Flavones are also deglycosolated under similar conditions but, at appropriate temperatures, their aglycons are stable in acid, so kinetics were not required for the quantitation of this subclass of flavonoids. Catechins and flavanones were rapidly degraded under the hydrolytic conditions used in these studies.     

Purification of carbonic anhydrase isozyme VI (CA-VI) from swine saliva.

Salivary or secreted carbonic anhydrase (CA), which constitutes a new class of CA, designated CA-VI, was isolated. Swine CA-VI purified from swine saliva by inhibitor-affinity chromatography and ion exchange chromatography had a specific activity of 5,468 units/mg. The molecular weight was 250,000, as determined by gel filtration under non-denaturing conditions, and the subunit molecular weight was found to be 37,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, indicating that swine CA-VI consists of 7 subunits. The treatment of the enzyme with endo-N-acetylglucosaminidase F reduced its subunit molecular weight from 37,000 to 35,000 and 32,000. We raised a rabbit antibody against purfied swine CA-VI. Double immunodiffusion showed that anti-swine CA-VI serum reacted with swine CA-VI and swine saliva, but not with hemolysate (containing CA-I and CA-Il) or muscle extracts (containing CA-III). The concentration of CA-VI in swine saliva, measured using single radial immunodiffusion, was 0.027 +/- 0.017 mg/mg total protein.     

Pathotypes of Synchytrium endobioticum in Germany

Results are given of a survey on the occurrence of pathotypes (races) of Synchytrium endobioticum (potato wart) in both parts of re-unified Germany. An assortment of six differential cultivars appears to be sufficient to distinguish between the seven presently important German wart pathotypes. A total of ten pathotypes was recorded. Two West and two East German pathotypes seem to be identical, based on the results obtained with presently available cultivars. In contrast to pathotype 1 (common race) which prior to 1945 was distributed over the whole German territory, the 'new' pathotypes seem to prefer the central and south German mountain areas.     

Follicullar Development and Embryo Recovery Following 3 versus 8 FSH Injections in Heifers

Ovarian follicular dynamics and embryo yield were studied during 2 different FSH regimens for superovulation of cattle. Twenty heifers were given intramuscular injections of FSH (total of 35 mg NIH) either once daily for 3 days (Group 3×1) or twice daily for 4 days (Group 4×2). At 72 h after the first FSH injection, each animal was injected with 0.75 mg cloprostenol. Inseminations were performed at 12 h and 24 h after the onset of heat. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed on the day of the first FSH injection, the day of cloprostenol injection, the day of insemination and finally on the day of embryo recovery (day 6 or 7 after heat). The numbers of small (2–4 mm), medium (5–9 mm) and large (>10 mm) size follicles were recorded. The total number of corpora lutea, eggs and transferable embryos were recorded on the day of embryo recovery. No differences were found between the 2 groups in either of the parameters studied (p>0.05). It can be concluded that treatment with this FSH preparation once daily for 3 days gives a folliculogenic and superovulatory response similar to a treatment regimen where it is given twice daily for 4 days.     

Protection of chickens from Newcastle and Marek's diseases with a recombinant herpesvirus of turkeys vaccine expressing the Newcastle disease virus fusion protein.

Recombinant strains of herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) were constructed that contain either the fusion protein gene or the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase gene of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) inserted into a nonessential gene of HVT. Expression of the NDV antigens was regulated from a strong promoter element derived from the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat. Recombinant HVT strains were stable and fully infectious in cell culture and in chickens. Chickens receiving a single intra-abdominal inoculation at 1 day of age with recombinant HVT expressing the NDV fusion protein had an immunological response and were protected (> 90%) against lethal intramuscular challenge at 28 days of age with the neurotropic velogenic NDV strain Texas GB. Recombinant HVT expressing the NDV hemagglutinin-neuraminidase provided partial protection (47%) against the same challenge. Chickens vaccinated with recombinant HVT vaccines had low levels of protection against NDV replication in the trachea when challenged ocularly. Recombinant HVT vaccines and the parent HVT strain provided similar levels of protection to chickens challenged with the very virulent RB1B strain of Marek's disease virus, indicating that insertion of foreign sequences into the HVT genome did not compromise the ability of HVT to protect against Marek's disease.     

Pyrenophora japonica occurring on barley in South Africa

A Pyrenophora teleomorph was recently found on barley stubble in South Africa. Single-ascospore isolates, mated on water agar containing sterile pieces of barley stubble, produced the teleomorph within 12 months of incubation at 15°C in the dark. Based on morphological characteristics and symptom expression on barley plants, the teleomorph is ascribed to P. japonica (anamorph Drechslera tuberosa ). This is the first report describing the occurrence of the teleomorph of D. tuberosa in South Africa.     

Onchocerca gutturosa and Onchocerca lienalis in cattle: variation in length of microfilariae by site of recovery

Dermal microfilariae recovered from specimens obtained from umbilical and cervical sites of cattle infected with adult Onchocerca gutturosa alone or with adults of O gutturosa and O lienalis were measured and compared with uterine microfilariae obtained directly from gravid female worms of each species. Uterine microfilariae of O gutturosa were longer than dermal microfilariae obtained from cattle harboring only adults of O gutturosa. Dermal microfilariae were recovered from umbilical and cervical sites in these cattle. Those found at the cervical site had lengths equal to or greater than lengths of microfilariae recovered from the umbilical site. There was a significant (P less than 0.0001) shift in length across populations of microfilariae of O gutturosa from various sites in its bovine host, with a progressive decrease in length between microfilariae recovered from the worm's uterus, microfilariae from the cervical dermis, and microfilariae from the umbilical dermis, respectively. A similar direct comparison was not possible for microfilariae of O lienalis, because none of the cattle was infected with only adult worms of this species. In an indirect comparison, microfilariae of O lienalis were identified at the umbilicus, but their presence in the cervical region could not be determined unequivocally because of confounding of microfilariae length by concurrent infection with O gutturosa. Uterine microfilariae from O lienalis were longer than uterine microfilariae of O gutturosa, although a degree of overlap in the range of measurements existed between species.