Immunogenicity of Brucella abortus salt-extractable proteins

The immunogenic properties of salt-extractable proteins and chromatographic fractions thereof from Brucella abortus were evaluated in lemmings (Dicrostonyx rubricatus). The efficacy of the Brucella proteins as immunogens was determined after challenge with virulent B. abortus strain 2308 and was based on protection against clinical signs and gross lesions of brucellosis, as well as on numbers of viable Brucella in the spleen. Vaccination of lemmings with as little as 0.1 microgram of salt-extractable proteins (CSP) suppressed splenic infection, resulting in reduced numbers of viable organisms per spleen of 5-6 logs compared to non-vaccinated controls. Protein fractions separated by column chromatography were generally effective in reducing splenic infection, and contained proteins with molecular weights of 30,000, 20,000 and 12,000. Vaccines containing chemically modified dodecanoyl-CSP offered no additional advantage over unmodified CSP vaccines.     

Practice versus family: the great balancing act

Dairy practice often requires substantial time commitments. Those veterinarians with families may find that if they do not actively budget some time for spouse and children, the family unit may suffer. A successful practice and meaningful family life are both possible if the doctor or doctors involved are willing to work for their achievement.     

Ionophores alter hepatic concentrations of intermediary carbohydrate metabolites in steers

The effects of ionophores on liver weight and function were determined in finishing steers (n = 24; avg weight 440 kg). Steers were group-fed one of three treatments (control, lasalocid or monensin at 33 mg/kg feed) for 46 d prior to slaughter. Three days prior to slaughter, blood was collected for the determination of serum Ca and Mg. At slaughter, the liver was removed, weighed, sampled, frozen in liquid nitrogen and subsequently analyzed for concentrations of carbohydrate metabolites and minerals. Liver weight (5.9 kg) was unaffected by treatment. Serum and hepatic Ca and Mg were not affected by ionophore treatment. Hepatic glycogen levels in steers fed ionophores were unaffected by treatment. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate was 21% lower (P less than .10) in hepatic tissue of steers fed ionophores, whereas dihydroxyacetone phosphate was 15 to 37% greater in hepatic tissue of steers fed monensin (P less than .20) or lasalocid (P less than .10). Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate was elevated more extensively by lasalocid than by monensin with increases of 72 (P less than .05) and 132% (P less than .001), respectively, over controls. Glycerol 3-phosphate levels were 37% (P less than .05) and 12% (NS) greater with these ionophores. Hepatic levels of pyruvate were elevated 12 (NS) to 36% (P less than .17) for monensin and lasalocid. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate levels were 25% lower (P less than .25) in hepatic tissue of steers fed ionophores than in hepatic tissue from control steers. Other metabolites of carbohydrate metabolism in hepatic tissue were not altered appreciably. Changes in levels of intermediary metabolites of carbohydrate metabolism suggest alterations in hepatic carbohydrate metabolism favoring gluconeogenesis in steers fed ionophores.     

Gas exchange in swine before, during and after motor activity of different intensity and length

4 female and 2 male untrained fattening pigs, weighing 43.9 +/- 1.6 kg at the beginning of the experiment underwent continuous measurement of VO2, VCO2, and rectal temperature, prior to, during, and after running on a horizontal exercise belt set to speeds of 0.7, 1.3, and 2.5 m.s-1. The highest values of VO2 and VCO2 (ml-min-1/kg-1) and rectal temperature (degrees C) were usually measured few minutes after running. They were 18.84 +/- 3.65 and 20.4 +/- 4.53 as well as 41.2 +/- 0.4, 28.41 +/- 4.07 and 33.26 +/- 5.92 or 41.3 +/- 0.5, 26.21 +/- 7.7 and 32.32 +/- 7.14 as well as 40.5 +/- 0.7, depending on the above belt speeds. Exercise belt speeds of 1.3 to 1.8 m.s-1 were found to be suitable for testing aerobic metabolic capacity of untrained young pigs.     

Effect of electrical stunning on somatosensory evoked potentials in chickens

The spontaneous EEG and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were examined in chickens before and after electrical stunning using a waterbath stunner. Fifty-four per cent of the birds became epileptic and lost their SEPs, and 17% were non-epileptic and appeared to retain their SEPs. It was concluded that there was a reasonably close association between the presence of epileptiform activity in the EEG and the absence of SEPs following electrical stunning, but that the absence of SEPs could be preferred as an indicator of an effective stun on conceptual grounds.     

Mucus synthesis in the goblet cells of the small intestine in experimental infection with the coccidium Isospora suis in piglets

The state of mucus synthesis in the goblet cells of the small intestine was studied in conventional piglets infected with a dose of 200,000 oocytes of the coccidium Isospora suis the first and fifth day after parturition. The synthesis of mucus and its chemical characteristics undergo significant changes during the third and fourth day after infection. The activity of acid and neutral mucous substances declines; their level and the physiological synthetic function of goblet cells begin to return to the normal during the period starting on the eight to tenth day after infection. However, there were no fully functioning goblet cells in the broken numerical ratio even at the end of the period of investigation, i.e. the 13th day after infection. The thin surface layer of mucus remained almost unchanged within the whole extent of the small intestine parts studied.     

Effect of endocytic and metabolic inhibitors on the internalization and intracellular growth of Brucella abortus in Vero cells.

Uptake, transfer to rough endoplasmic reticulum, and intracellular growth of Brucella abortus were studied in Vero cells treated with endocytic and metabolic inhibitors. Infection of Vero cells was suppressed when inhibitors of energy metabolism (iodoacetate, dinitrophenol), receptor-mediated endocytosis (monodansylcadaverine, amantadine, methylamine), or endosomal acidification (chloroquine, ammonium chloride, monensin) were added to the inoculum. Inhibition was not observed when these drugs were added after the inoculation period. Infection of Vero cells by B abortus was inhibited by dibutyryl-cyclic adenosine monophosphate and Vibrio cholerae enterotoxin, but was stimulated by dibutyryl-cyclic guanosine monophosphate and escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin a. Uptake of B abortus by Vero cells was not prevented by colchicine, but was abolished by cytochalasin B. Uptake of heat-killed B abortus and noninvasive E coli was similar to that of viable brucellae. Intracellular growth of B abortus was not affected by cycloheximide. Results indicate that: B abortus may be internalized by a receptor-mediated phagocytic process; transfer of B abortus from phagosomes to rough endoplasmic reticulum may require endosomal acidification; and replication of B abortus within the rough endoplasmic reticulum may not depend on protein synthesis by the host cell.