Antibody Development in Pigs Inoculated with Live or Killed Cultures of Brucella Abortus

As shown by density gradient ultracentrifugation and column chromatography, pigs formed IgM antibodies during the first week following vaccination with Brucella abortus, strain 19. At this time their sera reacted in both plate and tube agglutination but not in complement-fixation tests. A few days later, when IgG antibodies had developed, agglutination titers were still high and some activity was recorded in hemolytic complement-fixation tests. A similar sequence was observed in pigs repeatedly inoculated with phenol-killed suspensions of B. abortus. As the proportion of IgM to IgG antibodies decreased, agglutinin titers fell in relation to complement-fixing titers. In some animals the conglutinating complement absorption test became positive earlier than the plate agglutination.     

Ovarian teratoma and endometritis in a mare

An 8-year-old Arabian mare was admitted for a large ovarian anovulatory follicle. A clinical diagnosis of ovarian tumor and endometritis was established. Histological examinations revealed an ovarian teratoma and a grade II endometritis. Three months after unilateral ovariectomy, the mare was confirmed pregnant and eventually gave birth uneventfully.     

In vitro effects and in vivo efficacy of a novel cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor in cats with lipopolysaccharide-induced pyrexia

OBJECTIVE: To determine cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 selectivity, pharmacokinetic properties, and in vivo efficacy of firocoxib (ML-1,785,713) in cats. ANIMALS: 5 healthy male and 14 healthy female domestic shorthair cats. PROCEDURE: Selectivity of firocoxib for inhibiting COX-2 was determined by comparing the potency for inhibiting COX-1 with that of COX-2 in feline blood. Pharmacokinetic properties were determined after i.v. (2 mg/kg) and oral (3 mg/kg) administration in male cats. In vivo efficacy was evaluated in female cats with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pyrexia with administration of firocoxib 1 or 14 hours before LPS challenge. RESULTS: Blood concentrations resulting in 50% inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 activity in vitro were 75 +/- 2 microM and 0.13 +/- 0.03 microM, respectively, and selectivity for inhibiting COX-2 relative to COX-1 was 58. Firocoxib had moderate to high oral bioavailability (54% to 70%), low plasma clearance (4.7 to 5.8 mL/min/kg), and an elimination half-life of 8.7 to 12.2 hours. Firocoxib at doses from 0.75 to 3 mg/kg was efficacious in attenuating fever when administered to cats 1 or 14 hours before LPS challenge. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Firocoxib is a potent COX-2 inhibitor and is the only selective COX-2 inhibitor described for use in cats to date. It is effective in attenuating febrile responses in cats when administered 14 hours before LPS challenge, suggesting it would be suitable for once-a-day dosing. Because selective COX-2 inhibitors have an improved therapeutic index relative to nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in humans, firocoxib has the potential to be a safe, effective anti-inflammatory agent for cats.     

Studies of Johne's Disease in Canada: XII. Electrophoretic Analysis of Changes in Serum Proteins in Infected Cattle and Sheep

Electrophoretic examinations were made on sera collected monthly for a period of eleven months from ten cattle naturally or experimentally infected with Johne''s bacilli and from ten contact sheep. With one exception, the percentage estimates for the four major classes of serum proteins, albumin, alpha₁-, alpha₂-, beta- and gamma-globulins did not differ significantly in sera from infected and non-infected, presumably healthy cattle. One cow with a persistently high complement-fixing titre with Johne''s bacillus antigen, showed an exceptionally high proportion of gamma-globulin in its serum. The percentage of gamma-globulin tended to be higher in sera of contact sheep than in that of normal sheep sera but the monthly variation in the relative proportion of these and other globulins showed no evident relationship to the fluctuations observed in the specific complement-fixing and anti-complementary properties of these sera.     

The Effect of Unheated Normal Bovine Serum on the Complement-Fixing Activity of Heat Inactivated Bovine Antiserum with Homologous Antigen: III. Immunodiffusion Studies

Examination by immuno-diffusion methods in agar gel plates demonstrated that the supplementing fraction precipitated from normal bovine serum by dialysis against dilute buffer, pH 5.0 to 6.6, contains at least three main antigens, and a weaker fourth. Two of these antigens or antigen determinants appeared to be present in globulin fractions prepared by dilution with distilled water or differential precipitation with ammonium or sodium sulphate.     

Crop protection--what will shape the future picture?

The drivers which influence the types of crop protection most needed by agriculture are changing. A polarisation of approaches has resulted in the needs of organic agriculture and biotechnological agriculture, which can be identified as the current extremes of the spectrum, becoming very different. The main requirements of these two sectors are identified here and used as the basis for questioning future EU research requirements in crop protection. Factors affecting/influencing organic farming and the use of genetically modified crops are discussed in some detail.