Seroprevalence of porcine and human influenza A virus antibodies in pigs between 1986 and 1988 in Hassia

1,268 sera collected from slaughtered pigs in Hassia (FRG) from 1986 to 1988 were tested for antibodies against porcine and human influenza A virus strains using the single radial haemolysis test (SRHT). Antibodies against the porcine strains (subtype H1N1) A/Swine/Arnsberg/1/81, A/Swine/Iowa/15/30 and A/New Jersey/7/76 were detected in 411 (32.4%), 318 (25.1%) and 304 (24.0%) of sera, respectively. Up to 1988 a slight increase (10%) in the seroprevalence to A/Swine/Arnsberg/1/81 was noticed, whereas the results obtained with the other strains showed little variation. Antibodies against the human H1N1 strain A/Singapore/6/86 were only found in sera collected 1987 and 1988 in rates of 1.6% and 3.0%. Serological indication of infections with the human H3N2 strains A/Victoria/1/75, A/Hong Kong/1/68 and A/Philippines/2/82 could be shown in 286 (22.6%), 178 (14.4%) and 135 (10.6%) of the serum samples. Within the three year period the rate of sera positive for antibodies against A/Philippines/2/82 increased from 6.5% to 23.0%, whereas no variation in the rates were found using the other H3N2 strains. Antibodies simultaneously against porcine (H1N1) and human (H3N2) virus strains were detected in 9.9% of all sera tested.     

Comparison of media to isolate Staphylococcus aureus from teat skin and milking unit liners.

Four procedures were compared for isolation of Staphylococcus aureus from swabbing solutions of teat skin and milking unit liners from commercial dairies. In 2 procedures, 0.1 ml of swabbing solutions were added to either 5 ml Vogel-Johnson or Baird Parker broth media and enriched at 37 degrees C, 4 h. Following enrichment, 0.1 ml culture was transferred to modified Baird-Parker agar and incubated at 37 degrees C, 48 h. In the other 2 procedures, 0.1 ml of swabbing solution was directly placed on either blood or modified Baird-Parker agar plates and incubated at 37 degrees C 48 h. Combining results from all methods, Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from 72 of 913 (7.9%) skin samples, and 34 of 268 liners (12.6%). On average, 43.1% (31/72) of the S. aureus isolates were found by the enrichment in liquid Vogel-Johnson procedure. The average isolation percentage for other methods ranged from 19.4% to 25.0%. Isolation of S. aureus from milking unit liner or teat skin swabbing solutions was approximately twice as likely after enrichment in Vogel-Johnson liquid media as opposed to other methods of isolation. This indicates that enrichment in Vogel-Johnson liquid media improved recovery of S. aureus from swabbing solutions.     

Plant interference and chemical toxins in upland pastures

Supernatants derived from desiccated plant material gathered from Agrostis/Festuca vegetation had an inhibitory effect on the germination and early development of seedlings of Trifolium repens cv. S184. Two compounds, o -hydroxyphenylpropionic acid and benzoic acid, were identified chromatographically and their structures confirmed by mass spectrometry. Commercial preparations of the two compounds were effective inhibitors at a concentration of 10⁻² and 10⁻³ m respectively when T. repens was used as the phytometer species. Benzoic acid lost its inhibitory effect when the pH of the two solutions was adjusted to pH 5·5. The roots of seedlings of white clover were severely distorted by o -hydroxyphenylpropionic add at 10⁻³ m . It is likely that phenolic acids, produced from the surface trash created by slot seeding procedures, interfere with the establishment of white clover in upland pastures.     

Progressive Dermal Collagenosis of Male Miniature Swine

Abstract— A unique dermatosis of male miniature swine is described. The disease occurs in post-pubertal pigs, and is characterized by symmetrical, indurated, plaques over the truncal region. Histologically, the dermis and panniculus are effaced by thick, interwoven bundles of collagen resulting in an absence of deep dermal elastin. Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of superficial dermal vessels, fibroblasts and fibrocytes are accompanied by perivascular infiltrates of lymphocytes, plasma cells and eosinophils. The pathogenesis of this unusual dermatosis, designated as “progressive dermal collagenosis of male miniature swine” is unknown. Résumé— Une dermatose originale du cochon nain mâle est décrite. La maladie apparait chez des cochons post pubertaires, et est caractérisée par des plaques sur le tronc, indurées et symétriques. Histologliquement, le derme et le pannicule sont envahis par d‘épais falsceaux de collagène, entrainant l'absence d’élastine dermique. Les vaisseaux du derme superficiei sont hyperplasiés et hypertrophiés, des fibroblastes et des fibrocytes sont accompagnés d'un infiltrat inflammatoire périvasculaire de lymphocytes, éosinophiles et plasmocytes. La pathogénie de cette affection peu commune, appelée “collagénose dermique progressive du cochon nain mâle” est inconnue. Zusammenfassung— Es wird eine einzigartige Hauterkrankung beim männlichen Miniaturschwein beschrieben. Die Krankheit tritt bei postpubertären Schweinen auf und wird durch symmetrische, indurierte Plagues im Rumpfbereich gekennzeichnet. Histologisch treten Dermis und Pannikulus gegenüber dicken, verflochtenen Kollagenbündeln in den Hintergrund, wodurch das tiefe, dermale Elastin verschwindet. Die Hypertrophie und Hyperplasie der oberflächlichen Hautgefäße, Fibroblasten und Fibrozyten wird von perivaskulären Infiltraten aus Lymphozyten, Plasmazellen und eosinophilen Granulozyten begleitet. Die Pathogenese dieser ungewöhnlichen Dermatose, die als “progressive dermale Kollagenose des männlichen Miniaturschweins” bezeichnet wird, ist unbekannt. Resumen El presente artículo es una descripción de una dermatosis única del macho cerdo miniatura. Le enfermedad aparece después de la pubertad, y se caracteriza por la aparición de placas simétricas sobre la región del tronco. El exámen histológico de la dermis y del tejido panicular revela la presencia de gruesas bandas de colágeno entrelazadas, lo cual tiene como resultado la ausencia de la capa de elastina profunda. La hipertrofia e hiperplasia de los vasos superficiales dérmicos, fibroblastos y fibrocitos, se ve acompañadas de infiltrados perivasculares de linfocitos, células plasmáticas y eosinófilos. La patogénesis de esta rara dermatosis Ilamada ‘colagenosis dérmica progresiva del cardo macho miniatura’, es desconocida.     

Growth patterns of two lines of Angus cattle selected using predicted growth parameters.

Linear functions of body weight and condition score at weaning and 18 mo of age were used to predict the mature weight (A) and maturing rate (k) parameters of an asymptotic growth model of Angus cows at the Subtropical Agricultural Research Station, Brooksville, FL. From 1981 through 1988 a heavy-mature-weight line (Line A) and a rapid-maturing line (Line K) were selected based on predicted A and k values. Linear contrasts (A-K) of least squares means for weight at fixed ages indicated that the weight difference between lines increased from birth to maturity during the period of the study. Animals from Line A were heavier (P less than .01) at all ages. A negative response in maternal ability, relative to increased growth potential of their calves, seems to have occurred in the cows of Line A. Mature weight was reached at approximately 4.5 yr of age in Line K and at approximately 5.5 yr in Line A. Brody's three-parameter and Richards' four-parameter functions were fitted to 2,855 quarterly weights of cows, from birth to 6.5 yr of age, to estimate the average growth curve for each line. Brody's model gave better estimates of weights from 18 mo to maturity, but the asymptotic residual mean squares were slightly higher because early weights were overestimated. Linear and nonlinear regression analyses of weight-age data and comparisons of degree of maturity at different premature ages showed differences in the growth patterns of the two lines selected for early predicted values of A and k.     

马鹿假台鹿采精技术的研究

对６头试验公鹿用假台鹿采精，采精前对特制的假阴道以药用凡士林为滑润剂，注水充气，温度为４０℃±１℃，以适宜的压力和滑润度，将其安装在人工制做的假台鹿内。拨赶公鹿于采精场诱其爬跨。结果，试验的６头公鹿中有４头能够采精，共２２头次，射精量平均每头次１．５４ｍｌ，精子密度为１８．６—３７亿／ｍｌ，精子活力在０．８以上。９３年每头次生产细管冻精１０６．２５支（４２５支／４头次），是同年电刺激采精法平均６４．４支／头次（９０２支／１４头次）的１．６５倍，此法既能采到质量高的精液，又比电采法省工、省时、省力、安全，是一种理想的马鹿采精方法。     

Plant protection problems caused by phytonematodes in Greece1

The major nematode pests of cultivated plants in Greece include root-knot nematodes Meloidogyne spp. (in almost all plants except citrus), cyst-forming nematodes Globodera rostochiensis, G. pallida (in potato), Heterodera avenae (in cereals), Ditylenchus dipsaci (in vegetables and ornamental plants) and Tylenchulus semipenetrans (in citrus). Based on observations made on samples examined at Benaki Phytopathological Institute, it was confirmed that serious infestation of new kiwi orchards with Meloidogyne spp. originated from seedlings infested at the nursery. Also the wide distribution of the nematode Tylenchulus semipenetrans in citrus orchards was mainly attributed to infested seedlings. The above observations led us, in 1985, to the decision to study the nematological fauna of nurseries in Greece.     

Transforming growth factor type beta (TGF-beta) and adipogenesis in pigs

The present study was performed on s.c. adipose tissue of fetal pigs at 35 to 110 d of gestation to examine the distribution of TGF-beta-positive cells, to localize TGF-beta immunoreactivity at the cellular level using electron microscopy (EM), and to determine the effect of TGF-beta on primary cultures of pig adipose tissue cells. Tissues for EM were fixed and embedded in LR white resin. Sections then were incubated with a polyclonal antibody specific for TGF-beta and TGF-beta was located using 20 nm colloidal gold conjugated second antibody. Tissues were fixed and embedded in paraffin for localization of TGF-beta at the light microscope (LM) level. Tissues were incubated with anti-TGF-beta followed by localization using biotinylated second antibody. Using LM, only a few cells stained positively for TGF-beta within developing blood vessels at 35 d. By 50 d, more TGF-beta-positive cells were associated with forming capillary networks. Between 70 d and 110 d, positively stained adipocytes usually were clustered around blood vessels. Cells surrounding hair follicles stained positive for TGF-beta between 90 to 110 d. Electron microscopy revealed TGF-beta labeling within fat cells. Fibroblasts and endothelial cells did not exhibit TGF-beta immunoreactivity. The addition of TGF-beta to primary cultures of s.c. adipose tissue cells from newborn pigs prevented lipid filling in fat cells. This effect was dose-dependent, with half-maximal inhibition occurring at 3 pM maximum inhibition occurred at 40 pM. These results indicate that TGF-beta may regulate angiogenic activity and lipid filling in s.c. adipose tissue of fetal pigs. Although TGF-beta was present in adipocytes and in cells associated with developing capillary networks, the physiological role of TGF-beta during early adipose tissue development is not known.