The effect of temperature on agglutination activity of coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch (Walbaum) antiserum

Abstract. The effects of temperature on the activity of antisera from coho salmon ( oncorhynchus kisutch ) and from rabbit were compared. Agglutination activity of salmon anti-Aeromonas salmonicida serum declined following incubation at 55°C whereas rabbit antiserum lost agglutination activity after incubation at 65°C.     

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.     

Variation in the C:N ratio of substrate mineralized during forest humus decomposition

Laboratory incubations of sieved (<2mm) forest humus were used to study the response of C and N mineralization to perturbation. Considerable variation in the ratio of mineralized C to mineralized N was observed. This ratio widened with increasing temperature. At constant temperature, addition of P stimulated CO₂-C evolution and reduced NH₄⁺-N production, also widening the C:N ratio of substrate mineralized. Addition of weak base stimulated mineralization of N more than C, reducing the C:N ratio of substrate mineralized. Addition of weak acid, mineral-N, or excessive amounts of water inhibited CO₂-C evolution while stimulating production of NH₄⁺-N, resulting in a “negative correlation” between the two, and reducing the C:N ratio of substrate mineralized still further.Results were interpreted in terms of effects on microbial biomass. A relatively benign treatment (P addition) may promote microbial growth and respiration, reducing net N availability. A moderate perturbation (addition of weak base) favors new organisms growing partly at the expense of microbial necromass. These organisms will mineralize some necromass-N, increase net N mineralization, and reduce the C:N ratio of substrate mineralized. Under severe conditions (addition of acid) the C:N ratio of substrate mineralized approaches that of the microbial biomass itself, suggesting that the biomass is the primary substrate mineralized. Microbial mortality is likely to be a significant factor affecting the supply of N in field situations, and should be included in any general model of soil N mineralization processes.     

Growth and metabolism in somatotropin-treated steers: III. Protein synthesis and tissue energy expenditures

Rates of in vivo protein synthesis in intercostal, sartorius and semitendinosus muscle and in the heart, liver, kidneys, rumen and jejunum were determined in 20 growing Hereford steers treated for 112 d with daily subcutaneous injections of either saline (S) or recombinantly derived bovine somatotropin (rBST; 20.6 mg/d). In vitro rates of protein synthesis and energy expenditures associated with Na+, K+ transport also were determined in external intercostal muscle, liver, kidneys and jejunum. Neither in vivo nor in vitro tissue protein fractional synthetic rates (mg/[g protein.d]), using either the plasma (P) or intracellular fluid (ICF) phenylalanine specific radioactivity for the precursor pool, were affected by rBST treatments. Energy expended on Na+, K+ transport was greater (P less than .1) in the livers of rBST-treated steers, which would increase the maintenance energy expenditures of these steers. Protein accretion rates in the liver, kidneys, stomach, hide, and head, feet and tail of rBST-treated steers were greater (P less than .05) than in S steers. Tissue amino acid profiles were not affected by rBST treatments except in the rumen, where profiles suggested that less collagen was present in rumen wall tissue protein of rBST steers. Plasma phenylalanine entry rates also were not affected by rBST treatment; muscle protein synthesis accounted for a minimum of 20% of this entry rate.     

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.