Lumbar spondylectomy in the subhuman primate.

Removal of the 2nd or 3rd lumbar vertebrae (or both) has been accomplished in the subhuman primate (Macaca mulatta). Variations between this animal and the dog in posture, vertebral column anatomy, and spinal cord blood supply made no apparent difference in the results when compared with those in previous experiments. All macaques were able to clinb and to use their hind legs in a normal manner within 3 days after surgical operation. Once hair had regrown over the surgical incision, persons not familiar with the animals were not able to identify the animals that had undergone surgical operation. If a single vertebra was removed, use of spinous process and a single vertebral body plate was sufficient to stabilize the vertebral column. Except for 1 rhesus macaque whose spinous process plates were removed 20 days after the operation, vertebral columns of macaques (n = 3) that underwent single spondylectomy healed in nearly normal alignment. With the removal of 2 lumbar vertebrae, the previously described stabilization procedure was not sufficient to prevent kyphotic deformity of the vertebral column. Spinous process plates from 1 macaque were removed after 64 days. However, all these macaques (n = 3) could climb and use their legs as well as others in the colony.     

An investigation into the basic virus-antibody neutralization reaction, with special regard to the reaction in the constant-virus/varying-serum neutralization test.

A study of the basic reaction in neutralization of virus (V) by virus-neutralizing antibody (VNA) was performed with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus and serum collected from naturally and experimentally infected cattle after the primary immunization phase. In constant-virus/varying-serum neutralization tests a direct proportionality between VNA titer and length of preincubation was observed and found to be in accordance with basic laws of neutralization. A deviation from this direct proportionality, which was partly attributed to the presence of a dissociable V-VNA complex, was seen with relatively short preincubation. Expressing a relationship between VNA titer, length of preincubation, and virus dose under conditions where a dissociable V-VNA complex can be ignored, a log. VNA/log. V equivalence factor of neutralization was introduced. A linear relationship was found between VNA titer, taken logarithmically, and preincubation temperature. A rise in temperature by 10°C gave an increase in VNA titer of approx. 1.2 in log₂. Formulae are presented for the neutralization rate factor corrected for a demonstrated invalidity of the percentage law, and for the relation between the neutralization rate factor and VNA titer. It is concluded that the results presented have elucidated the possibilities of improving the sensitivity of neutralization tests.     

The redox potential of growing cultures of Streptococcus bovis Orla-Jensen compared with other facultative anaerobes.

The changes of redox potential were measured in growing cultures of three strains of Streptococcus bovis, together with three strains of Staphylococcus aureus and one strain of each of Lactobacillus plantaram, Lactobacillus casei, and Eschericia coli. It was found that both S. aureus and E. coli could reduce the redox potential of the growth medium to very low values (between —400 mv and —600 mv), whereas the streptococci and lactobacilli were able to cause only slight or insignificant changes of the redox potential. Respirometric measurements confirmed that the capacity of oxygen consumption of S. bovis was very small compared to that of E. coli and S. aureus. On this basis the authors conclude that S. bovis in all probability is unable to contribute significantly to maintenance of the low redox potential of its natural habitat, the rumen. This function must be carried out by other bacteria, such as enterobacteria or staphylococci, which are capable of performing a true, aerobic respiration.     

Arbovirus isolations from mosquitoes in South Slovakia.

In the years 1973 and 1975 mosquitoes and some other Diptera (Tabanidae, Simuliidae, Hippoboscidae) were tested for virus. 13,924 mosquitoes, 75 horseflies and 60 blackflies were processed in 1973. Five strains of Tahyna virus were isolated from mosquito species Aedes vexans. 3,378 mosquitoes and 12 sheep keds were tested for virus in 1975. Twelve strains of Calovo virus were isolated from Anopheles maculipennis and one strain of Tahyna virus was obtained from Aedes vexans mosquitoes.     

Scanning electron microscopy of Setaria labiatopapillosa (Alessandrini, 1848) from cattle of Kazakhstan.

Surface structures of males and females of Setaria labiatopapillosa were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy at high magnification. It was found that the surface of buccal cavity, lateral appendages, vulva, anus and cloaca differs from the remaining cuticle. The shape of internal and external mouth papillae, amphids, deirids, postdeirid and phasmidial pore was studied. On the surface of the postdeirid are four small papillae arranged in a typical manner around the depression from which projects a needle-like formation. The ventral bands are formed by fine longitudinal parallel folds of the cuticle. Some anomalies in the localization of postcloacal papillae were observed.     

Herbicidal interference with the photochemical activities of chloroplasts (in vivo and in vitro) of certain crop and weed species

The independent modes of action of diuron and atrazine on the photochemical activities of chloroplasts (In vivo and in vitro) from the leaves of crop plants Pisum sativum and Pennisetum typhoides and the weeds Amaranthus viridis and Cyperus rotundus were investigated. Hill reaction activity (DCPIP photoreduction) of in vivo chloroplasts (chloroplasts isolated from herbicide-sprayed plants) was unaffected by treatment at sublethal or intermediate levels of diuron or atrazine while that of in vitro chloroplasts (chloroplasts incubated in the required herbicidal concentration) was severely inhibited. The ferricyanide catalyzed noncyclic photophosphorylation was markedly reduced in both the in vivo and in vitro chloroplast systems. N-Methyl phenozonium sulfate (PMS)-mediated cyclic photophosphorylation was inhibited in the in vivo system while a pronounced enhancement of activity was noticed in the in vitro chloroplasts. The rate of NADP⁺ photoreduction was severely inhibited in the in vitro chloroplasts. The unaffected in the in vivo system. The herbicidal effects on the photoreactions of isolated chloroplasts were compared with chloroplasts isolated from herbicide-sprayed plants.     

Effect of noise on the physiological functions in fowl. 2. Adaptation to noise of white leghorns and broilers]

Two experimental groups and series were compared (leghorns and broilers as well as two age groups of broilers) for their adaptive responses to repeated noise application. The noise was 100 dB and applied daily 30 minutes. The reference for comparison was the plasma-11-hydroxycorticosteroid concentration (11-OHKS). The results differed somewhat from those obtained earlier from one first short-time noise application, in that the rise in plasma glucocorticosteroid concentrations dropped from 431 to 210 per cent of the initial values in adult leghorns exposed to repeated noise stress over seven days. Adult broilers, however, did not exhibit any difference in the magnitude of rise of 11-OHKS concentrations by comparison between first and seven days of repeated stress. The initial values, however, were reached earlier by repeated noise application.     

First record of bacillary rickettsia-like organisms in European tick Dermacentor marginatus (Sulzer).

Bacillary rickettsia-like organisms (BRLO) were found in the tick Dermacentor marginatus. They are gram-negative and differ from common bacteria and reckettsiae both in the cultivation conditions and morphology. BRLO are non-pathogenic for ticks and guinea pigs. In our studies they were isolated on half-engorged females of D. marginatus, on which they are still maintained.