Immunological Profile in Clinical Practice

Veterinary Research Communications - Pugliese, A., De Majo, M. and Pugliese, M., 2007. Immunological profile in clinical practice. Veterinary Research Communications, 31(Suppl. 1), 121–124     

Cerebrospinal fluid creatine kinase activity in horses with central nervous system disease: 69 cases (1984-1989)

The CSF creatine kinase (CK) activity was determined in 70 CSF samples from 69 horses with CNS disease. Abnormal values (greater than or equal to 1 IU/L) were determined from 32 CSF samples, and normal values (less than 1 IU/L) were found in 38 samples. Increased CK activity was most frequently associated with a diagnosis of equine protozoal myelitis; CK activity was not increased in 11 horses with cervical compressive myelopathy. Other diagnoses, in which CSF CK activity was increased included trauma (n = 1), idiopathic epilepsy (n = 2), botulism (n = 2), articular facet fracture (n = 1), intervertebral disk protrusion (n = 1), and toxemia (n = 1).     

Development of an inactivated vaccine for the protection of cattle against Aujeszky's disease

The effects of an inactivated strain of Aujeszky's disease vaccine in cattle were investigated. It has not been possible to use vaccines licensed for use in pigs successfully in cattle even though cattle develop neutralizing antibodies to these vaccines. The addition of zinc compounds to the vaccines resulted in protection in cattle. The basis for the use of zinc is discussed. A mutant based vaccine was effective following local administration, but was not when administered parenterally. Anti-prostaglandin was not effective either, despite its successful use in sheep when administered with BHV1. The vaccine presents a prospect for immunising dogs and cats, and the addition of zinc compounds to other drugs and inducers is discussed.     

Extent and duration of virulent virus excretion upon challenge of pigs vaccinated with different glycoprotein-deleted Aujeszky's disease vaccines

Different deleted Aujeszky's disease vaccines were compared for their ability to induce an immunity which suppresses virus excretion optimally upon infection. Groups of pigs were vaccinated once with attenuated deleted Aujeszky's disease vaccine (gI, gX or gp63 negative), suspended in phosphate buffered saline. Two additional groups were vaccinated with a gI deleted vaccine virus suspended in an oil-in-water emulsion. Other groups were vaccinated twice with gI deleted inactivated vaccines. The three control groups included were: pigs immune after infection, unvaccinated pigs and pigs receiving vaccine without known deletion in the envelope. Experimental challenge took place 3 or 4 weeks after the only or the last vaccination. The number of excreting pigs, the duration of excretion and the virus titers excreted, were determined for all the groups. All the pigs vaccinated with glycoprotein deletion vaccines suspended in phosphate buffered saline, excreted virus for 2 to 6 days after challenge. A 100 to 1000 fold reduction in excreted virus titers was obtained in vaccinated pigs compared to unvaccinated ones. Some vaccines suppressed virus excretion better than others, but no correlation could be made between the type of deletion (gI, gX or gp63) and the degree of reduction in virus excretion. Similar results were obtained with two applications of inactivated vaccines. The lowest number of excreting pigs, the lowest duration of excretion and the lowest titers were obtained in groups vaccinated with the attenuated vaccine suspended in an oil-in-water emulsion. No vaccine suppressed virus excretion totally.     

Plasma estradiol-17ß concentrations in the cow during induced estrus and after injection of estradiol-17ß benzoate and estradiol-17ß cypionate -a preliminary study

Plasma estradiol-17 beta concentrations were investigated in cows during induced estrus and after an intramuscular injection of 10 mg of estradiol-17 beta benzoate and estradiol-17 beta cypionate to determine a withdrawal period for both preparations. After the estradiol-17 beta benzoate injection, the plasma estradiol-17 beta concentration was higher than the physiological maximum of 24 pg/ml obtained during induced estrus for a period of 114 +/- 10 h (mean +/- SEM). For estradiol-17 beta cypionate the corresponding value was 170 +/- 17 h (mean +/- SEM). A withdrawal period of 7 days for the benzoate ester and of 10 days for estradiol-17 beta cypionate is therefore proposed. These results were confirmed by biopsies taken at the injection site 8 and 15 days after the injection of estradiol-17 beta benzoate and estradiol-17 beta cypionate, respectively. In these biopsies no residues of estradiol-17 beta nor of its esters could be detected.