Anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies detected in sera of dogs naturally infected with Babesia gibsoni.

Due to the potential for anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies as possible enhancers of erythrocyte destruction, the presence of serum anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies in 31 dogs with Babesia gibsoni infection admitted to a veterinary hospital was investigated by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting analyses. This infection resulted in an increase of anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies in 84% (IgG) and 74% (IgM) of 31 infected dogs, respectively. This was confirmed by the similarity in the protein profiles of the erythrocyte membrane antigens immunoblotted with rabbit antiserum to dog erythrocyte membrane antigens and infected dog serum. These results suggest the production of anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies was induced by B. gibsoni infection.     

Influence of 17-α-Methyltestosterone on Red Tilapia Under Two Thermal Regimes

Fingerling red tilapia ( Oreochromis mossambicus ± O. niloticus ) were orally administered 17-α-methyltestosterone (MT) under a warmwater (27.0 ± 0.5 C) and coolwater (21.5 ± 0.5 C) thermal regime. In the warmwater experiment, fish received either 0, 1, 5, 10, 30, 60, or 100 mg MT/kg feed for 75 days. In the coolwater experiment, fish received 0, 10, or 60 mg MT/kg feed for 75 days followed by a 34 day withdrawal period. After 75 days, fish receiving 60 mg MT/kg feed (best treatment) in the warmwater and coolwater experiments exhibited significantly higher growth rates than controls by 35.3 and 45.8%, respectively. Likewise, feed conversion among groups receiving 60 mg MT/kg feed in the warmwater and coolwater experiments were significantly better than the controls (1.14 versus 1.30 and 1.44 versus 1.77, respectively). During the withdrawal period, no significant differences in growth rates or feed conversion were observed between the control and treatment groups. MT treatment significantly affected the body composition (whole body and empty carcass) of the red tilapia in both experiments, elevating percent moisture and protein values, but depressing percent fat values. Results demonstrated that incorporation of MT into fingerling diets offers potential for extending the period when tilapias actively feed and grow in temperate climates.     

Apocrine adenocarcinoma in a golden hamster.

An apocrine adenocarcinoma was observed in the subcutis of the abdomen of golden hamster. Histologically, the tumor cells irregularly formed multiple layers of cysts and some detached cells were presented in the cystic space. PAS stain with alpha-amylase digestion revealed PAS-positive alpha-amylase-resistant granules in the cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, cytokeratin was demonstrated in the tumor cells. By electron microscopy, the tumor cells had an oval nucleus with invagination, abundant cytoplasmic organelles and microvilli protruding into the intercellular spaces.     

Measurement of nitrate leaching losses from arable plots under different nitrogen input regimes

Abstract. Leaching losses of nitrate-nitrogen were measured from a set of eight hydrologically isolated plots on a clay loam soil over the period from September 1987 to February 1990. Variable drainflow recovery from the plots hampered accurate estimation of nitrate loading, but results suggest that, when inorganic nitrogen fertilizer is applied up to the recommended amount, there is little influence of the amount applied on the amount leached. We did, however, observe the following effects on nitrate leaching: leguminous green manure incorporated in autumn increased leaching of nitrate-nitrogen by 10–15 kg per hectare during the winter; autumn cultivation caused some increase in leaching compared with no cultivation in one year; some systematic variations in nitrate leaching occurred between years and between plots, but were unrelated to treatments.
From the results we conclude that green manuring does not provide sufficient nitrogen for organically grown crops on this soil but contributes significantly to nitrate leaching, and that growing spring cereals, with the land remaining in stubble as long as possible in autumn, may be the best strategy to minimize nitrate leaching.     

The internet and the future of equine practice.

The Internet is a fast-growing technology that allows information (text as well as images) to be shared across the world in an instant. As computer systems, software, and Internet services become less expensive options, the world becomes more experienced and comfortable with these technologies. In the foreseeable future, equine veterinarians are likely to be better educated about diseases and treatments, better connected with specialists for consultations on difficult cases, able to respond to client communications more efficiently, able to accurately educate clients, and able to communicate with colleagues from across the country and the world. Additionally, there is likely to be a time when using the Internet and computers is profitable in all these ways as well as economically. Improving doctor-client relationships and patient care are goals for all veterinarians, and the Internet holds the technology to render these now and in the future.     

The significance of the structural characteristics of the agent for the problems of immunization against blue tongue]

Bluetongue virus (BTV), an arthropod-borne virus, is transmitted primarily by biting midges of the genus Culicoides. Some insect species, which might serve as a potential vector, are prevalent in Central Europe. In sheep, bluetongue is acute and mortality is high, whereas in cattle, goats and most wild ruminants the infection is usually clinically inapparent. Viremia is of short duration in sheep, but cattle experience a prolonged viremia and provide a reservoir for the dissemination of BTV. At least 24 different BTV serotypes have been identified. Antigenic variations occur in the polypeptides of the outer viral capsid and the segmented nature of the viral genome provides the potential for evolution of the virus by a mechanism of reassortment. This renders the use of polyvalent vaccines inefficient and emphasizes the significance of import/export restrictions on ruminants from BTV endemic areas.     

Purification and characterization of hepatic triacylglycerol lipase isolated from rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

Trialcylglycerol (TG) lipase was isolated and partially purified from rainbow trout liver. Triacylglycerol lipase activity was assayed by measuring¹⁴C-oleic acid release from¹⁴C-triolein.¹⁴C-oleic acid release was linear for up to two hours. Optimal activity occurred at pH 7.0 and 15°C. Most of the lipase activity was recovered in the cytosolic fraction. A 27,000-fold purification was achieved after Sepharose (Bio-gel A 0.5 M, 200–400 mesh) chromatography of a resuspended 20% ammonium sulfate fraction. The molecular weight of the trout hepatic lipase as determined by size-exclusion chromatography and by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was 40–43 kD. Lipase-mediated hydrolysis of TG resulted in the production of diacylglycerols, monoacylglycerols, and fatty acids. Kinetic analysis indicated that V_max=0.016 nmol/h/mg protein and that K_m=0.28 mM triolein. Lipolytic activity was enhanced in the presence of cAMP/ATP-Mg²⁺. These results suggest that the liver of trout possesses a neutral TG lipase that is responsible for mobilizing stored TG and is catalytically activated by phosphorylation.A part of this work was presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Zoologists, December 26–30, 1990, San Antonio, TX.     

Cystocentesis in dogs and cats]

The technique of cystocentesis in dogs and cats was studied. The indications and contraindications of this method are discussed, using illustrations.     

Surgical treatment of lameness.

Digital diseases are commonly seen in cattle. Cattle affected by digital disorders do not always respond to conservative therapy and require surgery. Surgical procedures for the common digital disorders are described, with emphasis on the different approaches to the distal interphalangeal joint.     

Genomic imprinting effects on dairy- and fitness-related traits in cattle

Data from the official milk recording scheme of the Austrian Simmental population were analysed to estimate variance components due to genomic imprinting. Traits regarded were milk yield, fat and protein content, persistency, days open (first, second and third lactation) and herd life. All dairy traits were preadjusted for BLUP herd‐year effects. After applying some data restrictions, the number of records ranged from 3391 (persistency, third lactation) to 33 993 (days open, first lactation). Two different estimation approaches were used: (i) estimation of the maternal and paternal gametic component by a dam and sire model, respectively, and (ii) estimation of the animal and an additional gametic component (maternal or paternal) by treating gametes as homozygous diploid individuals. All models also accounted for year of first calving and the cytoplasmic effect of maternal lineages. In tendency, the results of both approaches were fairly well in line with each other. For the majority of the investigated traits, no substantial imprinting effects were detected. Significant evidence of genomic imprinting on a multiple type I error ≤ 0.10 was only found for protein content and days open. For protein content in the second and third lactation, the proportions of variance due to the paternal gametic effect exceeded those of the maternal by 0.096 and 0.152, respectively. For days open in the second lactation, however, the proportion of variance of the maternal gamete effect exceeded that of the paternal by 0.036. In tendency, indication of paternal imprinting was found for all fitness‐related traits. For true and functional herd life, significant differences (pairwise type I error ≤ 0.05) of 0.040 and 0.032 were found between the proportions of variance due to the maternal and paternal gamete effect. Significant variance components of cytoplasmic effects (multiple type I error ≤ 0.01) were found for first lactation of milk yield (0.020), for first, second and third lataction of persistency (0.026, 0.035 and 0.033) and of days open (0.029, 0.016 and 0.022) and for true and functional herd life (0.019 and 0.029).