Familial stomatocytosis--hypertrophic gastritis (FSHG), a newly recognised disease in the dog (Drentse patrijshond)

A newly recognised disease, which we have given the provisional name of familial stomatocytosis-hypertrophic gastritis (FSHG), is described in two families of dogs of the Drentse partrijshond breed. The affected dogs consisted of 3 females and 5 males, 3 to 19 (mean 9.5) months of age at admission. The main clinical problems were diarrhoea, icterus, and ataxia and paresis of the pelvic limbs. Laboratory evaluation revealed abnormal red cell shape (stomatocytosis), increased osmotic fragility, haemolytic anaemia, and increased liver enzymes and serum bilirubin. Gastroscopic and histopathologic examination of the gastric mucosa revealed hypertrophic gastritis resembling Ménétrier's disease in man. Histologic findings in the liver were suggestive of progressive liver disease. Cysts were found in the kidneys of the five oldest patients. Electroneurography in 2 dogs revealed polyneuropathy. In the parents of 2 patients (sister and brother), there were no clinical or laboratory abnormalities. An autosomal recessive hereditary defect of lipid metabolism is suspected.     

Identification by isoelectric focusing of creatine kinase-MM isoforms in the plasma and striated muscle of pigs

Total creatine kinase (CK) and CK-MM isoforms were determined in plasma and longissimus dorsi muscle extracts from normal pigs. Based on their total CK activity, the pigs were divided into two groups. Pigs of group 1 (n=16) had a mean plasma total CK of 298±16 U/L and the distribution of the CK-MM isoforms was 65.7±2.5% CK-MM₃, 18.9±1.6% CK-MM₂ and 15.3±1.5% CK-MM. In group 2 (n=18; 826±75 U/L total CK) four isoforms were observed: 3.1±0.9% CK-MM, 67.9±3.0% CK-MM₃, 21.5±2.3% CK-MM₂ and 7.5±1.3% CK-MM₁. The differences between the two groups of pigs were significant (p<0.001) for CK-MM₁ and the presence of CK-MM. Four CK-MM isoforms were also detected in longissimus dorsi muscle homogenates: 45.6±8.1% CK-MM, 32.6±11.7% CK-MM₃, 16.6±2.3% CK-MM₂ and 5.1±2.8% CK-MM₁. The release of CK-MM isoforms from muscle into plasma seems to be unrelated to the concentration of these isoforms in striated muscle.     

Comparative infectivity for axenic and specific-pathogen-free chickens of O2 Escherichia coli strains with or without virulence factors

Adhesion to epithelial respiratory cells, iron acquisition, and production of K1 polysaccharide capsules have been proposed as potential virulence factors of avian Escherichia coli. These factors were studied by inoculating groups of axenic or specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens intratracheally with O2 E. coli strains after previous challenge with a wild strain of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). In all experiments, the association between IBV and an E. coli strain endowed with the three virulence factors previously mentioned resulted in the most severe pathological effects, as measured by mortality, weight gains, lesions, and reisolation of E. coli from internal organs. An E. coli strain devoid of virulence factors was able only to induce mild pathological effects restricted to the respiratory tract when combined with IBV. Both E. coli strains were more invasive in axenic chickens than in SPF chickens. These results confirm the probable involvement of the three factors studied in the pathogenic properties of avian E. coli. This model can be used to assess the role of virulence factors, by comparing pairs of positive and negative isogenic strains.     

Analysis of In vitro Fertilizing Capacity to Evaluate the Freezing Procedures of Boar Semen and to Predict the Subsequent Fertility

A porcine in vitro fertilization (IVF) system and seminal quality parameters of frozen–thawed boar semen were used to assess the effectiveness of two different thawing rates of frozen boar semen, and to address the question of whether differences between fertility of ejaculates could be predicted in a limited field trial. In the first experiment, two thawing procedures were analysed (37°C, 30 s; 50°C, 12 s) and no differences in sperm quality were found. However, when the procedure was 50°C, 12 s the IVF results showed a higher number of sperm per penetrated oocyte and a near 10 points higher rate of pronuclear formation. In the second experiment, the fertility results obtained in the limited field trial show to be efficient enough for application in a commercial use, especially for three of the employed boars (fertility ≥80%). In this limited study, the conventional seminal parameters are not accurate enough to discriminate good and bad boars in relation to fertility. On the contrary, parameters of in vitro penetrability are more precise to predict subsequent fertilities. As conclusion, the IVF fertilization system seems to be a good tool to evaluate the quality of frozen–thawed boar semen previous to its commercial way, to verify the bank semen storage quality and a good way to assay new sperm freezing procedures, as it is the more precise evaluating method in estimating the potential fertilizing ability.     

Cross protection studies on Bordetella bronchiseptica in mice using an intracerebral challenge model.

Protective activities of heat-inactivated (60 degrees C for 30 min) merthiolate preserved Bordetella bronchiseptica and B. pertussis bacterins were compared in intraperitoneally immunized mice challenged intracerebrally (i.p./i.c.) or intraperitoneally (i.p./i.p.). In the i.p./i.c. assay (Kendrick test), a B. pertussis bacterin protected mice against challenge with B. pertussis 18-323, as well as against phase I cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic strains of B. bronchiseptica. A B. bronchiseptica bacterin, prepared from a phase I cytotoxic strain, gave protection against two phase I B. bronchiseptica strains, irrespective of their cytotoxin-production. A non-cytotoxic phase I strain of B. bronchiseptica elicited protection against the homologous strain only. Neither cytotoxic nor non-cytotoxic B. bronchiseptica strains protected mice challenged with B. pertussis 18-323. Vaccines prepared from phase III strains of B. bronchiseptica were not protective at all against any of the challenge strains. No such differences in the protective activities of the bacterins could be detected by the i.p./i.p. method. They seem to cross-protect equally well. The results indicate that the Kendrick test may be useful in testing potency of different B. bronchiseptica bacterins.     

Effect of birthweight, total protein, serum IgG and packed cell volume on risk of neonatal diarrhea in calves on two California dairies.

The objective of the study was to determine if there was a relationship between hematological, immunological and physiological variables of newborn calves and risk of diarrhea during the neonatal period. Four hundred and seventeen heifer calves from two dairies (A and B) in the San Joaquin Valley of California were enrolled at birth and scored daily, to 28 days of age, for evidence and severity of diarrhea (0 to 3). Calves were weighted at birth and blood sampled at two to five days of age to determine packed cell volume (PCV), total protein (TP) and IgG serum concentration. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine if age at onset of the first diarrhea episode and length of the first episode were associated with the hypothesized variables (PCV, TP, IgG and birthweight). The IgG concentration was not associated with the age at onset of diarrhea (p = 0.6052, Dairy A; p = 0.4393, Dairy B) but a high IgG concentration was associated with a decreased length of episode (p = 0.0325, Dairy A; p = 0.0912, Dairy B), particularly for calves born in the winter on dairy A (p = 0.0211). For calves born in the winter, those with either a high or a low birthweight had diarrhea at a younger age (p = 0.0102, Dairy A; p = 0.0020, Dairy B). Associations were also found for PCV and TP with both the age at onset and length of the first episode of diarrhea. Results suggest that parameters measurable at, or shortly after birth may have important prognostic value in evaluating risk of calf diarrhea.     

Dynamics of chlorinated pesticide residues in long-term storage of canned food

Meat tins denoted as pork in natural juice, beef with bacon, luncheon meat and liver paté, all produced in a food-processing plant, were stored under definite conditions (temperature 21 degrees C, relative humidity 73%) for three years. Before the long-term storage and then in half-year intervals, the contents of the residues of chlorinated pesticides, including HCB (hexachlorobenzene), gamma-HCH (gamma isomer of hexachlorocyclohexane) and pp'DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis/p-chlorofenyl/-ethylene), were determined in the above-mentioned final products by the method of gas chromatography. As suggested by the records of the changes in the pesticide residue contents in the meat tins during their long-term storage, the average contents of all chlorinated carbohydrates gradually decrease with the length of storage and the "reduction" of residues varies with the kind of final product and with the pesticides. In HCB the reduction ranged from 18.4 to 34.4%, in gamma-HCH from 36.2 to 80.4% and in pp'DDE from 23.9 to 48.9%.     

The anti-proteolytic activity of blood and ovarian follicular fluid in sheep after stimulation with serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and administration of Antisergon]

The synthesis and secretion of trypsin (trypsin model serine protease) inhibitors are regulated in ovarian follicles by gonadotropins. The superovulation stimulations with 400 IU FSH, 1000 IU PMSG, 1000 IU HCG, 750 IIU PMSG + 750 IU HCG influence in a different way the trypsin inhibiting activities (TIA) of blood plasma (BP) (Figs 1 and 2) and follicular fluid (fig. 3); this points to a possibility of local effects. An increase in the average values of TIA in BP was statistically significant during the whole experiment: P less than 0.05 to P less than 0.001 (following the administration of PMSG+HCG, or PMSG, and HCG); Antisergon administered in 68 hours after PMSG reduced this increase. The changes in the fraction of low-molecular TIA in BP (after BP treatment with perchloric acid) were of converse nature; a decrease in the average values ranged from P less than 0.02 to P less than 0.001 (following PMSG or other stimulations). Antisergon did not influence this decrease. The changes observed on particular days of the trial (Figs. 1 and 2) also indicate different effects of the preparations, mainly of the component LH, which resulted in the occurrence of large nonovulating follicles (greater than 10 mm--"cystic" ones). No such follicles were observed in nonstimulated ewes and after FSH stimulation. The administration of antisergon (goat's antiserum against PMSG) 68 hours after PMSG administration did not prevent their creation. The TIA of follicular fluid (FF) of antral follicles was on average tenfold in comparison with that of blood plasma; and the TIA FF of follicles greater than 10 mm was higher (up to P less than 0.001) than the TIA FF of follicles less than 10 mm. The administration of Antisergon in shorter intervals following PMSG administration (12, 24, 48 and 58 hours) influenced the average values of TIA BP in 120 hours (since PMSG administration) in dependence on time (Tab. I). The effects of Antisergon administered in 12 and 24 hours after PMSG administration on the TIA BP were insignificant if it was administered in 48 and 58 hours the TIA BP increased (P less than 0.02; P less than 0.001) in comparison with the interval of 12 hours. The TIA FF of follicles less than 5 mm, 5-10 mm and greater than 10 mm varied in dependence on the time intervals of Antisergon administration (Fig. 4). The statistical significance of these changes in shown in Tab. II.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)