Studies of bovine Mycoplasma mastitis. 2. Testing of various culture media and culture methods for the isolation of Mycoplasma from milk samples]

The recipes Medium-I broth, Medium-B broth, and Weissenseemycoplasma broth as well as Medium-I agar, Medium-B agar, and MRL agar were tested for their applicability to culturing mycoplasma from milk samples, using the direct and indirect techniques. No dependable information on the occurrence of mycoplasma was obtainable from tested material unless several nutritive media and techniques were combined. Medium I, for which almost no imported substances were needed, was in no way inferior to common international nutritive substrates. Its use in conjunction with the indirect culturing technique is recommended for routine diagnosis.     

Pharmacologic and toxicologic properties of humic acids and their activity profile for veterinary medicine therapy

Humic acids derive from a class of natural substances in humic substances. The chemical properties of certain defined humic acid products enable their application in diseases of the digestive system of mammals when combined with metabolic disorders, especially in rearing age. The simple administration (via feed), their exceptional safety and the absence of side effects (e. g. allergy, resistance) as well as no residue formation in animal derived products allow a broad application of these substances in veterinary medicine, even when regarding ecotoxicological aspects.     

The synergism of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and influenza A virus in experimentally-infected mice

Models for infecting mice with Influenza A-Virus (A/PR 8/34, H0N1) and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (serotype 9) were developed in Han: NMRI-mice. After infecting mice with sublethal doses of one of the infectious agents, or both together as a mixed infection, animals were subsequently exsanguinated and the lungs washed by bronchoalveolar lavage. Clinical symptoms were recorded daily, examination of lung lavage fluid and sera as well as histology of the lungs were done. An increase in mortality, weight reduction and total cell yield of lung lavage fluid was observed after mixed infection. Compared to mixed infections total protein content and elastase in sera and lung lavage fluid after singular ones were raised not as much. In lung lavage fluid the total cell yield was increased more marked. These alterations indicate a synergistic effect of viruses and bacteria, developed by mixed infection as well as a bacterial infection on top of a viral one. Histopathologically the lung alterations were found to depend on the infectious agent and the mode of infection.     

Studies of bovine mycoplasma mastitis. 1. Review of literature on the occurrence of bovine mastitis with Mycoplasma involvement]

The clinical pattern as well as the pathologico-anatomic or histological changes due to mycoplasma mastitis are neither specific nor pathognomic. Mastitis pathogens so far described included M. bovis, M. bovigenitalium, A. laidlawii, A. axanthum, M. alkalescens, M. canadense, M. dispar, M. bovirhinis, strains of Group 7 according to Leach, strain ST 6, and ureaplasma strains. In the GDR, enzootic mastitis has been confined to A. laidlawii and A. axanthum.     

Metabolism of 15N-14C-acetylurea in the sheep]

3 male sheep (phi 48.3 kg) were fed a semisynthetic diet containing acetyl urea as sole protein source and 15N-14C labelled acetyl urea (urea-C labelled) by intraruminal tube. A half life period of 4 hrs was established for the removal of labelled acetyl urea from the TCE-soluble portion of the ruminal fluid. The degree of 14C labelling in ruminal proteins was very low whereas the extent of 15N labelled protein synthesis was quite marked reaching a maximum between the 18th and 24th hour of experiment. The steepest rise of 15N incorporation into ruminal proteins was found to occur between 8 to 12 hrs after start of the experiment, i.e. at the time of peak level of 15N returned from 15N urea via the rumino-hepatic circulation. 23.3% of the amount of 14C activity administered (mean of all 3 experimental animals) was excreted through respiration. The curve patterns of both isotopes in the TCE soluble portion of the ruminal fluid were similar to that of the degasified TCE soluble portion of the blood blasma. At the peak time (8 hrs) a concentration of the nitrogen isotope of about 4 atom% excess of 15N was observed. The level of 14C labeling in blood plasma proteins was insignificant when compared with that of 15N labelling. The ratio at the peak time was 1:10; the same ratio was found for ruminal proteins. From this it can be concluded that the process of labelling of blood plasma proteins proceeds mainly through microbial protein synthesis. Sheep I and III excreted an average of 60.6% of 14C activity and 57.0% of the administered excess of 15N in the urine. 6 hrs after the beginning of the experiment 81% of the amount of urinary 14C activity was found to occur as acetyl urea; after 48 hrs this amount had decreased to 50%. All experimental sheep excreted a urinary sediment consisting mainly of acetyl urea. The level of faecal 14C excretion (1.4%-2.9% of the amount administered) was considerably lower than that of 15N excretion (9.1%--15.6% of the administered dose). The TCE soluble fraction of the faeces contained up to 2% of the 14C dose and 3% of the 15N dose. The true digestibility data of 15N from 15N acetyl urea varied between 96.4% and 98.2%. An average of 40.9% was obtained for the 15N balance over the 7-day trial period.