Foot-and-mouth disease virus: Immunogenicity and structure of fragments derived from capsid protein VP3 and of virus containing cleaved VP3

Peptide fragments were obtained from the immunogenic capsid protein VP₃, ca. 24 kilodaltons (kd), of foot-and-mouth disease virus type A₁₂ 119ab by three procedures: (1) spontaneous proteolysis of in virion VP₃ in tissue cultures to produce a 15 kd peptide, designated S fragment; (2) trypsin treatment of purified virus to produce a 16 kd peptide, designated T fragment; and (3) cyanogen bromide cleavage of purified VP₃ to produce a 13 kd fragment. Following isolation and purification by gel electrophoresis, VP₃ and each of the three fragments were immunogenic for livestock. Lyophilization appeared to impair the immunogenicity of VP₃. In addition, viruses containing VP₃ fragments produced either by the spontaneous- or trypsin-induced proteolysis were as immunogenic as virus with its VP₃ intact. Amino acid sequencing of N-terminal regions revealed that the S fragment was homologous with the N-terminus of VP₃, whereas the 13 kd fragment possessed a unique N-terminus. Thus, putative common immunogenic amino acid sequences would appear to reside within an overlap region of the 15 kd S and 13 kd fragments. Sequencing of cDNA prepared to viral genome RNA provided three kinds of information: it (1) placed the above overlap region in the second and third quarters of VP₃; (2) demonstrated that the codons for the C-terminus of VP₁ and N-terminus of VP₃ are contiguous; and (3) supported earlier evidence that these same codons program a chain reversal where VP₁ and VP₃ are joined in the precursor polyprotein.     

A XERORADIOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE DEVELOPING QUARTERHORSE FOREDIGIT AND METACARPOPHALANGEAL REGION FROM SIX TO TWELVE MONTHS OF AGE

The purpose of the project was to provide a reference for radiographic anatomy of the developing equine foredigit and metacarpophalangeal region. Using xeroradiographic techniques, both foredigits and metacarpophalangeal regions of six Quarter Horse foals were radiographed at 1 day of age and then at 2-week intervals until the foals were 6 weeks old. The foals were then radiographed at 4-week intervals until they were 12 months old. The period from birth to 6 months has been described in a previous report. This paper deals with the period from 6 to 12 months of age. Lateromedial and dorsopalmar xeroradiographs of each foredigit and metacarpophalangeal region and a dorsal 65° proximal-palmarodistal oblique view of the distal part of the digit were made at each examination. Foals were weighed and were measured at the withers immediately prior to each examination. Representative xeroradiographs were selected and appropriately labeled to demonstrate normal radiographic anatomy of these regions. Earliest radiographic visualization of distal epiphyseal ossification in metacarpal 2 and metacarpal 4 was extremely variable and ranged from 4 to 38 weeks. It was not possible to determine accurately the ages at which distal physes of the small metacarpal bones closed. In one foal, three of four of these physes were closed at 26 weeks, while in another foal, none had closed when last radiographed at 54 weeks. Radiographic closure of the proximal physis of the middle phalanx ranged from 18 to 30 weeks (mean = 26 weeks). Radiographic closure of the proximal physis of the proximal phalanx ranged from 22 to 38 weeks (mean = 30 weeks). Radiographic closure of the distal physis of metacarpal 3 ranged from 18 to 38 weeks (mean = 29 weeks).     

COMPARISON BETWEEN COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC AND SURGICAL FINDINGS IN NINE LARGE-BREED DOGS WITH LUMBOSACRAL STENOSIS

In a three-year prospective study, computed tomographic (CT) and surgical findings were compared for nine large breed dogs with lumbosacral stenosis. Surgically-excised tissue was examined histologically in seven dogs and additional necropsy evaluation was performed in one dog. The CT abnormalities observed at sites of confirmed cauda equina compression were: loss of epidural fat, increased soft tissue opacity, bulging of the intervertebral disc margin, spondylosis, thecal sac displacement, narrowed intervertebral foramen, narrowed vertebral canal, thickened articular process, articular process subluxation, articular process osteophyte, and telescoped sacral lamina. The CT characteristics of lumbosacral degenerative disease and discospondylitis were similar to those described in humans. In three dogs, CT findings at the site of cauda equina compression were consistent with congenital or developmental spinal stenosis, but the method of surgical exposure precluded confirmation. Epidural fibrosis (eight dogs) and multi-level CT abnormalities (six dogs) were identified but the cause(s) and significance were unknown.     

PAROSTEAL OSTEOSARCOMA OF THE CERVICAL VERTEBRA IN A DOG

A 12-year-old Maltese terrier was evaluated for progressive tetraparesis and neck pain. On radiographs, there was a periosteal reaction involving the fourth cervical vertebra. Myelographically, there was extradural compression of the spinal cord associated with the lesion. The dog was euthanized and necropsied. Histopathologic diagnosis was parosteal osteosarcoma of the vertebra.     

Early Larval Growth of Pacific Halibut Hippoglossus stenolepis

Growth of Pacific halibut Hippoglossus stenolepis larvae was studied in the laboratory during 1989 and 1991. Larvae increased in length from 6.3 mm at hatching to 9.9 mm 20 d post-hatch. The average daily length increment was 0.17 mm. Dry weight of the larvae increased from an average of 210 μg at hatching to 570 μ g on day 20, providing a specific growth rate of 4.99. During the same period, mean yolk sac weight decreased from 1,390 μ g to 646 μ g, resulting in a yolk to body conversion efficiency of 48.5%. At hatching, the larval body made up only 13% of total dry weight. On day 20, the larval body made up 46.9% of the total weight. Larvae started feeding at a length of 12 mm after about 90% of their yolk sac had been absorbed.     

A cohort study of coagulase negative staphylococcal mastitis in selected dairy herds in Prince Edward Island.

The epidemiology and importance of coagulase negative staphylococcal (CNS) mastitis in Prince Edward Island had not been documented. To investigate this, a cohort of 84 cows at seven farms were quarter sampled eight times over a lactation, commencing with samples taken prior to drying off in the previous lactation. Thirteen species of CNS were isolated. The quarter prevalence of CNS mastitis varied from 4.8% to 6.4% in the first five months of lactation and increased to 14.2 to 16.6% in the last four months of lactation. The geometric mean somatic cell counts (SCC) for quarters infected with CNS and uninfected quarters were 90 x 10(3) and 64 x 10(3) respectively (difference significant at p > 0.005). The two month new infection risk of CNS was 9.0% while the two month elimination risk was 74.4%. Infection with CNS did not alter the risk of subsequent infection with Staphylococcus aureus. The results from this project support the classification of CNS as a minor pathogen in mastitis control programs.