Physical characteristics and chemical composition of Greater Rhea (Rhea americana) eggs from wild and captive populations.

1. Eggs from wild and captive populations of Greater Rhea (Rhea americana) were studied to determine their physical and chemical characteristics. 2. Significant differences were found among populations in almost all chemical parameters studied, whereas within physical parameters only shell weight (as a proportion of the entire egg) and density showed differences. 3. Eggs from wild populations had the highest protein and linolenic acid and the lowest total lipid contents, while cholesterol levels of these eggs and of those from the largest captive area were the lowest.     

Pasteurella haemolytica A1 and Bovine Respiratory Disease: Pathogenesis

The severe fibrinonecrotic pneumonia associated with pneumonic pasteurellosis usually results from colonization of the lower respiratory tract by Pasteurella haemolytica biotype A, serotype 1(A1). Despite recent research efforts, the authors lack a detailed understanding of the interactions and host response to P. haemolytica in the respiratory tract. The authors hypothesize that management and environmental stress factors or viral infection alters the upper respiratory tract (URT) epithelium allowing P. haemolytica to colonize the epithelium. Once the URT is colonized, large numbers of organisms enter the lung where they interact with alveolar macrophages. Endotoxin, released from the bacteria, crosses the alveolar wall where it activates pulmonary intravascular macrophages, endothelium, neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, complement, and Hageman factor leading to complex interactions of cells and mediators. It is the progression of this inflammatory response with neutrophil influx that is ultimately responsible for the pulmonary injury. Leukotoxin is a major virulence factor of P. haemolytica that allows it to survive by destroying phagocytic cells. At subcytolytic concentrations it may also enhance the inflammatory response by activating cells to produce mediators and release reactive oxygen metabolites and proteases.     

Specificity of the carbon immunoassay (CIA) test for the diagnosis of Toxoplasma infections.

A rapid and low cost procedure, the carbon immunoassay (CIA) test, was evaluated for the diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infections. Using a closely related parasite (Besnoitia jellisoni) as antigen, and homologous or heterologous immune sera, it was demonstrated by light and electron microscopy that CIA is a very reliable and specific test. As it is neither expensive nor time-consuming, it can be recommended for general and routine laboratory use.     

Effects of Pasteurella haemolytica A1 leukotoxin on bovine neutrophils: degranulation and generation of oxygen-derived free radicals.

To further define the role of Pasteurella haemolytica A1 leukotoxin in the pathogenesis of bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis, its in vitro effects on bovine neutrophils were investigated. Leukotoxin-containing culture supernatant, from P. haemolytica, stimulated a neutrophil respiratory burst as measured by the generation of oxygen-derived free radicals O2- and H2O2. This effect was immediate because preincubation of neutrophils with the culture supernatant for 5 min or longer substantially suppressed this respiratory burst. This suppression was due to cytolysis of the neutrophils. Prolonged incubation of neutrophils with the same culture supernatant caused further cytolysis and degranulation. Heat-inactivated P. haemolytica culture supernatant that had lost its cytotoxic properties failed to stimulate respiratory burst by neutrophils. Furthermore, the respiratory burst, cytolysis and degranulation were abrogated only by leukotoxin-neutralizing monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, but not by antibodies against the lipopolysaccharide. These studies show that the leukotoxin component in the culture supernatant was responsible for the generation of oxygen-derived free radicals and proteolytic enzymes from neutrophils which may participate in direct lung injury.     

Differences in Reproductive Performance, Embryo Development, Interferon-tau Secretion by the Conceptus and Luteal Function in Ewe Lambs Synchronized in Oestrus before or after the Spontaneous Onset of Luteal Activity Preceding Puberty

In mid-September, 1 month before the insertion of intravaginal pessaries to induce sexual activity, blood samples were collected every 4 days from 16 ewe lambs aged 7 months, in order to determine the incidence of ovulations by measurement of plasma progesterone concentrations. It has been studied whether the response to a progestagen treatment of ewe lambs apparently close to puberty could be modified by the onset of the ovarian events preceding puberty. The effect of the presence or absence of ovulations prior to progestagen treatment on the potential reproductive performance (fertility, litter size and fecundity), embryo development [embryo quality and interferon-tau (IFNτ) secretion], luteal function (progesterone secretion in vitro ) and endometrial progesterone content was studied in seven ovulating (Ov+) and nine nonovulating ewe lambs (Ov−) on day 14 after mating. The best potential reproductive results were obtained with Ov+ animals, although these differences could not be initially attributed to either different progesterone secretion in vitro or concentration of endometrial progesterone. Irrespective of the experimental groups, secretion of progesterone by luteal tissue from ewe lambs with normal embryos was significantly greater (p<0.05) than that of animals with abnormal embryos or with no embryos. Normal embryos secreted a higher amount of IFN-τ than those embryos classified as abnormal (p<0.07). In conclusion, ewe lambs which exhibit luteal activity before puberty have the highest levels of reproductive performances after a progestagen treatment. Corpora lutea from ewe lambs with normal embryos had higher rates of progesterone secretion in vitro and their embryos had a higher IFN-τ production by the embryos, indicating greater capacity for subsequent development.     

Control of Johne's disease in four commercial dairy herds in Iowa

A 6-year study was conducted in 4 dairy herds in Iowa in which Johne's disease was diagnosed previously. Fecal specimens were collected at 6-month intervals from animals 2 years of age and over for mycobacteriologic examination. Serum samples were obtained at 3-month intervals and tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The antigen used in the ELISA was a potassium chloride extract of a field strain of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. The ELISA reactions were observed in 87% of the cows from which M. paratuberculosis was isolated. Dairy producers that participated in the Johne's control program reported reduced economic losses. Increased income was attributed to improved milk production, increased value of vaccinated animals sold as replacements to other dairy herds in which Johne's disease had been diagnosed, and the increased market value of slaughter animals removed from the herd.     

Susceptibility to onion-induced hemolysis in dogs with hereditary high erythrocyte reduced glutathione and potassium concentrations.

The hemolytic effect of onion consumption in dogs with hereditary high erythrocyte reduced glutathione and potassium concentrations (designated HK dogs) was compared with that in clinically normal dogs. Twelve hours after oral administration of boiled onions (200 g/dog), hemoglobin concentration decreased to 84.4% of the initial value in HK dogs; it decreased only to 90.5% in clinically normal dogs. At 24 hours, methemoglobin concentration was significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in HK dogs than in clinically normal dogs. The concentration of erythrocyte oxidized glutathione increased about fivefold at 10 hours in HK dogs, whereas it did not change during the experimental period in clinically normal dogs. In addition, at 12 hours, the proportion of erythrocytes containing Heinz bodies increased to 24.4% in HK dogs, but increased only to 1.2% in clinically normal dogs. Thus, results indicated that HK dogs were more susceptible to the oxidant action of onions than were clinically normal dogs.