The regional differences of the pH-value in the vagina,cervix, and uterus of cows during interestrus

This study aimed to ascertain the pH value of the vagina, cervix, and uterus in cows during interoestrus. Measurements were made with an ambulant, digital pH meter with a flexible probe and a measuring frequency of one value per second. The genital tract (vagina, cervix, uterus) of 50 cows were analyzed with this instrument immediately post mortem. The sexual health of the animals was evaluated via clinical, histological, and microbiological tests. Statistically significant regional differences in the pH value were documented (p < 0.01). Whereas a decrease was measured between the values for the vagina (6.92 +/- 0.51) and the cervix (6.22 +/- 0.31), increased values were measured in the uterus (6.62 +/- 0.32). The physiological pH value in the genital tract of the cow should be taken into consideration for the development of new therapeutic measures in terms of the local application of probiotically active bacterial strains.     

Detection of leptospiral antigens in kidney and liver of cattle

This study was designed to investigate the presence of leptospiral antigens in kidney and liver of naturally infected cattle using an immunoperoxidase (IP) staining and Levaditi's staining methods. A total of 39 cattle suspected from leptospirosis were examined histologically and immunohistochemically for the presence of leptospiral antigens. The leptospiral antigens were detected in 16 out of 39 cases (seven kidneys, three livers, and six kidneys and livers) when IP staining method was used, whereas leptospiral antigens were detected in 6 out of 39 cases (four kidneys and two livers) when Levaditi's staining method was used. This study ascertained that IP staining was more sensitive method than Levaditi's staining method for demonstrating the presence of leptospirosis in cattle.     

Bronchopneumonia and polyarthritis due to Mycoplasma bovis in a calf

This case report describes gross lesions and histopathological findings in a 3-months-old calf originating from a feedlot with approximately 400 cattle. In this animal and additional 14 cattle of similar age, which were kept together in the same stable, swollen joints had occurred suddenly. The examination of this calf showed that a severe polyarthritis induced by haematogenous spread of Mycoplasma bovis following bronchopenumonia was present, which was characterised by necrotising lesions of the joint capsules and severe cartilage erosions.     

Field evaluation of a coproantigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of canine echinococcosis in a rural Andean village in Peru

One hundred and six dogs (61 males and 45 females) were examined for Echinococcus granulosus infection in a farming cooperative in the central highlands of Peru during November 1998. Canine echinococcosis was diagnosed using direct microscopic examinations of purged feces following arecoline purging and a coproantigen-detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for E. granulosus. Mean age was 2 years with a range of 3 months to 9 years. The overall prevalence of canine echinococcosis using the ELISA test was 79% (84/106). Seventy-four dogs were successfully purged with arecoline. The frequency of canine echinococcosis was 82 (61/74) and 34% (25/74) by the coproantigen ELISA test and arecoline purging, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the coproantigen ELISA test was 88 and 95%, respectively. We found this assay to be especially advantageous in remote geographical areas. In future control programs against echinococcosis in Peru and other areas where E. granulosus is endemic the coproantigen ELISA should be used for the surveillance of the dog population.     

Hepatozoon spp.: report of some cases in dogs in Brasília, Brazil

Canine hepatozoonosis is a disease caused by the tick-borne protozoan Hepatozoon spp. It has been reported in the United States, southern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Far East. In Brazil, canine hepatozoonosis is an emerging protozoal tick-borne disease, and is characterized by distinct clinical signs. The objective of this study was to analyze the laboratory findings of some hepatozoonosis cases in dogs in Brasília, Brazil, and their clinical signs. The animals of this experiment showed low parasitemia, similar to H. americanum, but the clinical signs presented were similar to H. canis. According to our observations and in agreement with O'Dwyer et al. [Vet. Parasitol. 94 (2001) 143], the Brazilian Hepatozoon appears more to resemble the species found in the eastern Hemisphere than with H. americanum of North America, or could be caused by a new species. Our data revealed that hepatozoonosis could be considered endemic in Brasília.     

Eradication of Prototheca zopfii infection in a dairy cattle herd

Protothecosis is a severe form of mastitis in dairy cows caused by colorless algae of the genus Prototheca. Since P. zopfii is highly resistant to all known chemotherapeutics, infected cows must be removed from the herd. Eradication measures are difficult since many chronically infected cows may become intermittent shedders. Therefore, cultural methods are insufficient for control measures. In order to eradicate Prototheca zopfii-mastitis in dairy cattle herds, two isotype specific indirect ELISA for detection of IgA and IgG1 in whey were used in a dairy herd highly affected with protothecal mastitis. All cows (n = 313) were tested four times in intervals of six months. Milk specimens were examined in parallel by cultivation and serologically using two indirect ELISA systems for specific IgA and IgG1 in whey. Cows tested Prototheca positive were consequently separated from the herd and slaughtered. At the first examination, 15.6% of the animals were found positive by culture, and 23.3% were positive in at least one of the ELISA systems. Within two years, protothecal prevalence and incidence decreased to zero indicating that the eradication strategy used was successful. In summary, serological identification of P. zopfii-infected lactating cows is an useful tool to eradicate protothecal bovine mastitis in infected herds.     

Adherence to various host cell lines of Mycoplasma bovis strains differing in pathogenic and cultural features

Mycoplasma bovis is known to be responsible for pneumonia and arthritis in calves, as well as mastitis in dairy cows. Despite clear evidence of its pathogenic potential, little is known about mechanisms of cytadherence and the molecular factors involved. The purpose of this work was to compare adherence rates of M. bovis field strains to different host cell lines and study the effects of cloning and sub-culturing M. bovis strains on their adherence properties. Eighteen metabolically labeled M. bovis strains isolated from different pathological backgrounds were examined in adherence trials using four different host cell lines, i.e. embryonic bovine lung (EBL), embryonic bovine trachea (EBTr), Madin Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) and rabbit kidney (RK) cells. Although large interstrain variations in adherence rates (3.4-19.1%) were measured they could not be correlated to the pathological background (pneumonia, arthritis or mastitis). Adherence rates to the fibroblast cell line (EBTr) were significantly lower than those to the three epithelial cell lines (EBL, MDBK and RK). The only non-pathogenic strain (221/89) exhibited lower adherence rates than three isolates from clinical mastitis. Interestingly, adherence rates were significantly reduced after in vitro passaging. In contrast, no effect of single cloning of strains on adherence was observed. There was no general correlation between expression of variable surface proteins (Vsps) as monitored by immunoblotting and adherence rates, although alterations in Vsp expression profiles were seen as a consequence of passaging. As there is probably a large number of adhesins, variable and non-variable, on the surface of M. bovis cells the issue is very complex, and the most active components have yet to be identified.     

Serotype C foot-and-mouth disease virus isolates from India belong to a separate so far not described lineage

Complete 1D gene sequences of 13 Indian foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) type C field isolates and a vaccine strain (C-Bombay/64) were determined. All the field isolates showed a greater genetic homogeneity (95-100%) among themselves and were 19.7-21.2% divergent from the vaccine strain. In the phylogenetic analysis, the Indian field isolates formed a separate lineage (lineage VII) different from the previously identified six lineages (lineage I-VI) in type C FMDV [J. Virol. 66 (1992) 3557]. The vaccine strain was grouped with European lineage (lineage II). Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of antigenic sites A and C of field isolates showed no significant variation from the vaccine strain. One-way serological relationship determined in ELISA showed antigenic closeness of the field isolates with C-Bombay/64.     

Effect of freezing goat milk samples on recovery of intramammary bacterial pathogens

With the aim of evaluating the effect of freezing goat milk samples on recovery of intramammary pathogens, 1200 milk samples from udder halves with subclinical intramammary infection were studied. Samples (20 ml) were frozen at -20 and at -80 degrees C. Thawing was carried out at room temperature at 7, 14, 21, 28, 58, 118, 178, 236 and 730 days after collection and bacteriological analyses were carried out to determine the number of colony forming units/ml (CFU/ml). Mixed model statistical analysis showed that bacterial group, temperature of storage, interaction of bacterial group and temperature of storage and the interaction of bacterial group, time and temperature of storage were statistically significant effects. For coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS), least squares means of log CFU/ml recovered at -20 and -80 degrees C were not different. Nevertheless, for Gram negative bacilli (GNB) a significant decrease was detected in samples frozen at -20 vs. -80 degrees C. At both temperatures and at different times of storage, significant increases were detected between log CFU/ml of CNS and values on day zero. At -20 degrees C, a significant decrease in GNB recovery was detected between freezing days zero and 730. This difference was not detected when goat milk samples infected by GNB were frozen at -80 degrees C. The results show that frozen milk samples can be useful in goat subclinical mastitis control programs.