Lymphocyte transformation test in the calf]

Studies into the effects of the environment on health and performance of agricultural animals are of clear-cut relevance to farming practice. The theoretical and practical importance of lymphocyte transformation to any assessment of immunological reactivity under defined environmental conditions, therefore, is reported in this paper. Communicated is methodical experience obtained from isolation of lymphocytes from peripheral blood of calves, lymphocyte culturing, and morphological evaluation of lymphocyte transformation. Views are given on the suitability of the lymphocyte transformation test. The following results have been obtained: Centrifugation of defibrinated blood, using "Visotrast-370", is recommended for lymphocyte isolation. Morphological evaluation will ensure a high degree of precision when 1 x 10(6) cells in one millilitre culturing fluid are to be cultured over three days, the culturing fluid consisting of 20 per cent of autologous serum and 80 per cent of Eagle medium, antibiotics, and a portion of 1-vol.% of phytohaemagglutinin (Wellcome). The lymphocyte transformation test, for its methodical accuracy, is good enough to detect and identify environmental effects on immunological reactivity of calf. It is likely to reflect the immunological response to an antigen application.     

Rotaviral diarrhea in pigs: brief review.

Rotavirus is a name given to a group of viruses that have similar characteristics and are generally capable of causing diarrhea in the young. Infection of pigs with porcine rotavirus is common and widespread and can result in diarrhea, especially in 1- to 4-week-old pigs. This virus is frequently associated with a diarrheal syndrome popularity known as "white scours," "milk scours," or "3-week-old scours." Pigs less than 1 week old are infrequently infected, presumably because of adequate passive immunity. The infection resembles enzootic transmissible gastroenteritis. Diagnosis can be made by immunofluorescent staining of mucosal scrappings from the small intestines.     

AN OESOPHAGEAL DIVERTICULUM IN A DOG

An 11-month-old male Miniature Poodle was found to regurgitate small volumes of fluid and food particles due to a diverticulum in the thoracic oesophagus. The diverticulum was removed surgically. Histologically the wall contained extensive scar tissue. Longterm recovery was uneventful and 5 months after surgery the dog is in good health     

Experimental infection of eastern cottontail rabbits Sylvilagus floridanus) with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus.

Experimental infection of eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus caused acute keratoconjunctivitis and a fatal systemic infection. The clinical syndrome was characterized initially by blepharospasm and ocular discharge. The rabbits were markedly depressed on post-exposure day (PED) 5 and were dead or moribund on PED 6. The virus was readily recovered from liver and adrenal gland tissue on PED 6 and from conjunctival swabs on PED 1 to 6. Histopathologic studies revealed a few necrotic foci in the liver and multiple focal to diffuse necrosis of the adrenal glands. Viral isolation and immunofluorescence tests were used to demonstrate a direct association between infectious bovine rhinotracheitis viral antigens and the lesions.     

Influence of a mycoplasma respiratory tract infection on sheep erythrocyte and complement receptor-bearing cell composition in the respiratory tract of swine.

Pulmonic and peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations in healthy and Mycoplasma suipneumoniae-infected pigs were compared. The T- and the B-lymphocyte populations were counted, the B cells by the complement receptor (zymosan-complement rosettes) technique and the T cells by the ED-rosette technique (sheep RBC-dextran rosettes). The T cells were found to predominate among pulmonic, as well as blood, lymphocytes. Pulmonic B-cell and blood T-cell percentages were increased after mycoplasma respiratory tract infection. However, blood B-cell and pulmonic T-cell percentages were not significantly affected. A significant (P less than 0.001) correlation between pulmonic and blood T-lymphocyte compositions was found; conversely, no correlation was observed between blood and pulmonic B-cell percentages. These data could imply that pulmonic B cells are predominantly involved in local immune reactions after a mycoplasma respiratory tract infection.     

Responses of immune and nonimmune adult rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) to adenovirus SV-20.

Adenovirus SV-20 (ASV-20) was inoculated subcutaneously into adult rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), and various immunologic parameters were studied. Similar changes were observed in macaques that had anti-ASV-20 serum-neutralizing antibodies prior to inoculation and in those lacking detectable antibodies. There were absolute decreases in numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), erythrocyte-rosetting lymphocytes, complement-receptor lymphocytes, and Fc-receptor lymphocytes. These changes were most significant (P less than 0.05) on postinoculation days (PID) 3 and 7. Mitogenic responsiveness to concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, and pokeweed mitogen in cultured PBL from immune and nonimmune macaques was depressed on PID 3, 7, and 14. Ultraviolet-inactivated ASV-20 caused moderate suppression of phytohemagglutinin-induced mitogenesis when viral particles and lectin were added simultaneously to PBL cultures. Plasma cortisol (hydrocortisone) values were not significantly altered following inoculation of ASV-20. High titers of anti-ASV-20 antibody developed by PID 7 in nonimmune macaques, and previously immune macaques showed a booster effect in the same time period. Antibody titers were still increased 120 days after inoculation. There was no clinical evidence of an adverse effect of ASV-20 infection in these macaques.     

Adrenal gland function in the horse: effects of cosyntropin (synthetic) and corticotropin (natural) stimulation.

The plasma concentration of hydrocortisone was determined in mares given either cosyntropin (100 IU, given IV) or corticotropin (200 IU, given IM). Plasma hydrocortisone concentrations of the mares treated with cosyntropin increased by 46%, 57% and 80% at 30, 60, and 120 minutes, respectively, when compared with base-line values; these values returned to base line at 240 minutes. In mares treated with corticotropin, mean plasma hydrocortisone concentrations increased by 42%, 143%, 101% and 155% at 30, 60, 120, and 240 minutes, respectively, when compared with base-line values. Differences in total leukocyte count, total eosinophil count, and plasma concentrations of electrolytes (calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium) of cosyntropin- and corticotropin-treated mares, and these values in control animals were not significant. Results of the present study indicated that the horse responds to small dosages of cosyntropin (IV) in a prompt and reproducible manner as determined by plasma hydrocortisone values. Response to corticotropin was slow and less consistent. Thus, administration of cosyntropin to the horse, according to test results with paired samples collected (before administration and again at 2 hours after injection), was found to be a prompt and meaningful test of adrenal gland function.