Comparison of the specificty of human and bovine tuberculin PPD for testing cattle. 1--Republic of Ireland.

A tuberculin testing trial in cattle was carried out in the Republic of Ireland to compare the specificity for bovine tuberculosis of a human purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculin (Weybridge) with that of a bovine PPD (Rotterdam), and to determine whether discrimination between specific and non-specific reactions to mammalian tuberculin is better with doses of tuberculins smaller than those traditonally used for testing cattle. Tests were carried out in 510 cattle, 395 of which were shown by post mortem examination to be tuberculous and 115 non-tuberculous. Three dilutions at five-fold intervals of both mammalian tuberculins were used together with two dose levels of avian tuberculin PPD (Weybridge), and all reactions were measured both by increase in skin fold thickness and by diameter of induration. In the environment of this trial, the bovine PPD was shown to be more specific for bovine tuberculosis than the human PPD, and particularly in differentiating from "skin tuberculosis". There was no indication of greater specificity at lower doses of tuberculin. Measurement of induration diameter proved a satisfactory alternative method of reading tuberculin reactions in cattle under field conditions.     

Plasma protein alterations in cattle suffering from acute peritonitis.

Modification of the normal plasma protein picture has been studied in plasma samples from cows suffering from spontaneously arisen (17 cases) or experimentally induced acute peritonitis (5 cases) using polyacrylamide electrophoresis. Considerable differences were found in the postalbumin region during peritonitis. One protein component increased in size, while another disappeared. Two weak components in normal samples were replaced by four discrete protein bands. These modifications were not detected in any of 10 plasma samples from cows suffering from other diseases than peritonitis or in any of 35 samples from clinically healthy animals. The modifications were visible 12-16 h after injection of the provoking agent and were remarkably alike from one case to the next.     

Control of the cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae), in cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.

Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walpers, is a major dietary staple in tropical Africa where it is most often cultivated. The production is, however, greatly hampered by severe infestation and damage by insect pests including the cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora Koch. The damage and bionomics of the aphid are briefly introduced. Chemical, cultural, physical and biological methods, and use of plant resistance for A. craccivora control in cowpea are reviewed. Finally, prospects for integrated pest management are discussed     

Viruses in the northern potato-producing regions of Saudi Arabia

Agar double diffusion tests and, later, ELISAs were used to detect viruses associated with potato in 242 samples collected in 16 trips to Tabuk and Hail, northern regions of Saudi Arabia, in four consecutive growing seasons (autumn 1989, spring and autumn 1990 and spring 1991). Eleven different viruses were detected in Tabuk and 12 in Hail. The viruses detected in Tabuk were alfalfa mosaic (AMV), cucumber mosaic (CMV), tobacco mosaic (TMV), potato leaf roll (PLRV), tomato spotted wilt (TSWV), tobacco ringspot (TRSV) and potato A, M, S, X and Y. The same viruses, plus potato yellow dwarf (PYDV), were detected in Hail. AMV was most frequently and CMV least frequently detected in Tabuk, whereas in Hail the most and least common were PVA and PLRV respectively.     

Eutypa canker and dieback of almonds

Eutypa canker and dieback of almonds was first recorded in commercial plantations in Greece in mid-1980 and confirmed as due to the ascomycetous fungus Eutypa lata. The disease manifests itself by the formation of cankers at the point of the junction of the branches and the trunk and is associated with pruning wounds made by the growers in order to confront the'non-infectious bud failure'disorder or to remove unwanted limbs close to the crotch. Pathogenicity tests made on young trees of cv. Texas with different isolates originated from grapevine, almond, apricot and pear showed significant differences in virulence. Pathogenicity tests carried out on 20 different almond cultivars gave a significant indication of the existence of tolerant and susceptible cultivars.     

Flow Cytometry Identification of X- and Y-Chromosome-Bearing Goat Spermatozoa

Flow cytometric sorting technology was used to measure the difference in DNA content between X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa in bucks. Spermatozoa were analysed by flow cytometry to characterize X- and Y-chromosome-bearing sperm populations and to quantify the DNA difference between them. Two symmetrical, overlapping and clearly separated peaks, corresponding to X- and Y-bearing spermatozoa, were detected. The difference in fluorescence intensity between the peaks was 4.4 +/- 0.03% without any significant inter- or intra-animal variations. Therefore, the identification and selection of high-purity samples of sperm populations for sex sorting is easier in bucks compared with other domestic species.     

The Influence of Opioid Peptides on Steroidogenesis in Porcine Granulosa Cells

The present studies were undertaken to examine the influence of mu (beta-endorphin, DAMGO, FK 33-824), delta (met-enkephalin, leu-enkephalin, DPLPE) and kappa opioid receptor agonists (dynorphin A, dynorphin B, U 50488) used at different doses (1-1000 nM) alone and in combination with LH (100 ng/ml) on steroidogenesis in porcine granulosa cells derived from large follicles. The effects of mu, delta and kappa receptor agonists on both basal and LH-induced progesterone (P4) secretion were negligible. Agonists of mu opioid receptors reduced basal androstenedione (A4), testosterone (T) and oestradiol (E2) release. Co-treatment with LH entirely abolished the inhibitory effect of these agonists on A4 and E2 secretion and resulted in an increase in T release. The addition of delta receptor agonists was followed by a decrease in basal A4, T and E2 secretion. The cells incubated in the presence of LH increased the androgen production and abrogated the inhibitory effect of delta agonists on E2 output. Basal A4, T and E2 release was also suppressed by kappa receptor agonists. The presence of LH in culture media extended the inhibitory effect of these opioids on E2 output and caused either abolition of the inhibitory influence of kappa agonists or even augmentation of both androgen release in response to the opioids. In conclusion, these data support the involvement of three major types of opioid receptors in the regulation of porcine granulosa cell steroidogenesis.