Comparative evaluation of specific vaccines and immuno-modulators in disease control of beef cattle

Two field trials were undertaken to evaluate specific vaccines and Biological Response Modifiers (B.R.M.) with regard to disease control of beef cattle. Clinical data and laboratory results strongly suggested a genetically determined resistance to transportation stress of some cattle breeds, with possible important consequences on the occurrence of multi-factor diseases. Plenty of calves showed detectable levels of serum interferon and a remarkable activation of at least some lymphocyte populations in the first days after arrival. In general, B.R.M.-treated cattle could better react against environmental pathogens, as evidenced by both clinical and laboratory findings. Several data emerged that even the efficacy of specific vaccines could be largely accounted for by a positive modulation of non-specific immunity; this latter feature can be mainly referred to adjuvants and/or some bacterial antigens.     

Glycoconjugates in the mandibular salivary gland of adult dogs revealed by lectin histochemistry

The glycosidic residues in the mandibular glands of five adult dogs were studied by using seven different lectin-horseradish peroxidase conjugates. In some cases a treatment with sialidase preceded the lectin staining. The mucous acinar cells contained oligosaccharides with α- and β-N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine and fucose residues, whereas the demilunar cells contained glycoconjugates rich in sialic acid linked to the penultimate disaccharide galactosyl((β1→3) N-acetylgalactosamine.     

Immunohistochemical localization of endometrial oestrogen and progesterone receptors in the cow

The presence and distribution of oestrogen and progesterone receptors have been investigated by means of immunohistochemical procedures in the uterus of two groups of cows: the first group underwent superovulatory hormonal treatment while the second group was used as a control group. After the immunohistochemical study no differences regarding the presence and distribution of hormone receptors seemed to be apparent between the two groups, so it was concluded that the topographical distribution and staining intensity of hormone receptors seem to be unaffected by hormonal superovulatory treatment.     

Light and scanning electron microscopy of Myxobolus porofilus sp. n. (Myxosporea: Myxobolidae) infecting the visceral cavity of Prochilodus lineatus (Pisces: Characiformes: Prochilodontidae) cultivated in Brazil

Myxobolus porofilus sp. n. is described infecting the visceral cavity of Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1836) cultivated in S?o Paulo State, Brazil. The plasmodial form of the parasite is 3-5 mm in length and appeared compressed between the wall of the visceral cavity and the pyloric caecum, reposing on this organ. The spores are small (length 5.7 +/- 0.3 microm, width 4.8 +/- 0.2 microm; mean +/- SD) and round to elliptical in frontal view. The valve surfaces are smooth and have sutural folds. The polar capsules are ovoid, small (length 1.6 +/- 0.1 microm, width 1.1 +/- 0.1 microm) and equal in size. The polar filaments have three turns aligned perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the capsule. A conspicuous polar filament pore is arranged at the anterior end of the spore. The only reaction observed upon histological analysis was the presence of a capsule of connective tissue surrounding the plasmodia. This is the first report of a myxosporean parasite in the Prochilodontidae.     

Characterization of biotype T ofBemisia tabaci associated withEuphorbia characias in Sicily

The T biotype ofBemisia tabaci (Gennadius, 1889), a population found colonizingEuphorbia characias L. plants on the Nebrodi-Peloritani mountains in Sicily, was biologically characterized. The minimum development time was 29.7 days at 28°C. Based on the regression of 1/dayvs T, the rate of development was calculated as 0.00206, the theoretical lower temperature threshold for development as 9.3°C, and the sum of effective temperatures as 485.1. At 25° C, egg-to-adult development was significantly shorter onDatura stramonium (30.1 days) than on eitherEuphorbia pulcherrima orEuphorbia characias (35.6 and 35.4 days, respectively). The fourth instar nymphs grown onD. stramonium had the typical oval outline and seven pairs of dorsal setae located on cone-like processes, often barely visible. The fourth instar nymphs and their pupal cases grown onE. characias had the outline deformed by the presence of hairs on the lower surface of the leaf. The pupae onD. stramonium were significantly larger (both longer and wider) than those reared onE. characias; on both host plants, female pupae were significantly larger than male ones. Analysis of variance showed that width of females onD. stramonium was significantly larger than the width of those reared onE. characias. Attempts at courtship between T- and Q-biotypes were observed, but adults from different biotypes were never seen mating. Only males were obtained from the seven heterologous crossing attempts, either way, whereas homologous, control breeding produced males and females. The T biotype was able to transmitTomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia begomovirus (TYLCSV) fromD. stramonium toD. stramonium, from tomato to tomato and from tomato toD. stramonium. Attempts to transmit TYLCSV fromD. stramonium to tomato were unsuccessful. The transmission efficiency was significantly lower when tomato was the test plant. The diverse biology and ecology of the T biotype confirm that it is genetically different from most Mediterranean biotypes. This paper is dedicated to the dear memory of our colleague Dr Claudio Arnò, who died on March 12, 2004, while this paper was being written.     

Synthesis and acaricidal activity of 3-aryl-5-arylmethyl-1, 3,4-oxa(thia)diazol-2(3h)-ones

A series of new 1,3, 4-oxa(thia)diazol-2(3H)-ones were synthesized and tested as acaricides. High activities against eggs of Tetranychus urticae (Koch) were found for derivatives bearing an ortho-halo-substituted phenyl group in position 3, and a benzyl group para-substituted by a branched C₃-C₆ alkoxy group in position 5 of the hetero-ring. The best compounds attained the miticidal potency of clofentezine.     

Histology, Ultrastructure and Carbohydrate Histochemistry of Pig Carpal Glands

The morphological differences between two types of secretory cells (clear and dark) from pig carpal glands were examined. The main difference is the presence in the dark cells of secretory granules of moderate electron density, made up of acidic and neutral glycoproteins. The possible functional purposes of the carpal glands and of glycogen present in both cell types are also discussed.     

Effects of certain herbicides on the oxidative decarboxylation of tryptophan by peroxidase

Non-enzymic and peroxidase-catalysed oxidative decarboxylations of tryptophan (TPP) were studied. The in-vitro rate of enzymic reaction was affected by various herbicides at low concentrations (10^?5?10^?4_M): dinoseb, 2,4-D, dichlobenil and benazolin acted as inhibitors; on the other hand, chlorpropham, bromacil, diphenamid and 4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5-triazin-2-ol (hydroxyatrazine) were stimulatory. The results of in-vivo experiments showed that chlorpropham and 2,4-D changed the activity of peroxidase from Brassica germinated seeds in vivo, as they do in vttro. Determinations of consumed TPP were carried out either by spectro-photometry or by chromatography.     

Diagnosis of equine arteritis virus infection in two horses by using monoclonal antibody immunoperoxidase histochemistry on skin biopsies

Two 5-year-old grade male horses presented with epiphora, rhinorrhea, conjunctival and nasal mucosal hyperemia, and dorsal and thoracic macropapular rash. Skin biopsies were collected from the affected areas, and serial sections were evaluated following hematoxylin and eosin and immunoperoxidase histochemistry staining by using a murine monoclonal antibody of the immunoglobulin G2A isotype recognizing the 30-kDa membrane protein of equine arteritis virus (EAV). In both horses, lesions consisted of mild to moderate diffuse superficial dermal edema and vasculitis with mild perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates, occasional endothelial hypertrophy, and single-cell necrosis of tunica media myocytes. Immunohistochemically, a few endothelial cells, myocytes, and pericytes containing intracytoplasmic EAV antigen were identified. Immunoperoxidase histochemistry of skin biopsies can be used as an ancillary test for the clinical diagnosis of equine viral arteritis in horses, especially when a cutaneous macropapular rash is evident.