Follicullar Development and Embryo Recovery Following 3 versus 8 FSH Injections in Heifers

Ovarian follicular dynamics and embryo yield were studied during 2 different FSH regimens for superovulation of cattle. Twenty heifers were given intramuscular injections of FSH (total of 35 mg NIH) either once daily for 3 days (Group 3×1) or twice daily for 4 days (Group 4×2). At 72 h after the first FSH injection, each animal was injected with 0.75 mg cloprostenol. Inseminations were performed at 12 h and 24 h after the onset of heat. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed on the day of the first FSH injection, the day of cloprostenol injection, the day of insemination and finally on the day of embryo recovery (day 6 or 7 after heat). The numbers of small (2–4 mm), medium (5–9 mm) and large (>10 mm) size follicles were recorded. The total number of corpora lutea, eggs and transferable embryos were recorded on the day of embryo recovery. No differences were found between the 2 groups in either of the parameters studied (p>0.05). It can be concluded that treatment with this FSH preparation once daily for 3 days gives a folliculogenic and superovulatory response similar to a treatment regimen where it is given twice daily for 4 days.     

Experimental Yersinia enterocolitica placentitis in sheep.

A strain of Yersinia enterocolitica of O serogroup 6,30 isolated from the liver of an aborted ovine fetus was inoculated intravenously into a group of pregnant ewes at about 90 days gestation and produced placentitis with abortion or delivery of infected lambs about 50 days later. Y. enterocolitica of the same serogroup was recovered from the necrotic placental cotyledons and most other fetal tissues and could be isolated from vaginal discharges of the ewes for a least 2 weeks after abortion. Histological changes were consistent with an acute bacterial necrotizing placentitis and systemic infection of the fetus. Subsequent pregnancies in the ewes proceeded to term without evidence of infection.     

Unilateral arytenoid lateralisation and extra-luminal polypropylene ring prostheses for correction of tracheal collapse in the dog

The surgical repair of tracheal collapse in 25 dogs is described. The initial presenting signs included coughing, dyspnoea, gagging, retching, exercise intolerance, cyanosis and collapse. Diagnosis was based upon the clinical signs, plain radiography and tracheal endoscopy. The collapse was corrected by the application of a number of extraluminal polypropylene prosthetic rings applied to the affected trachea. Additionally, a left arytenoid lateralisation was also performed. The perioperative complication rate was approximately 4 per cent, while the success rate was 75 per cent. The technique reduces the likelihood of catastrophic postoperative complications associated with iatrogenic laryngeal paralysis which is a possible complication of placement of extraluminal tracheal support devices.     

A device for determining the sorptivity of soil aggregates

A device that infiltrated water over a small circular surface area having a radius ranging between 1.45 mm and 2.5 mm was used to measure the sorptivity of initially air-dry aggregates of size greater than 20 mm. The small infiltration area caused the water uptake to be dominated by capillarity that allowed the use of a simple formula to obtain the sorptivity from the steady-state flow rate that occurred very early after the start of imbibition. The results of measurements of sorptivity made on a fine sand agreed with those obtained from measurements on one-dimensional water infiltration into columns of the sand. Sorptivity measurements on stabilized aggregates of a clay soil and on air-dried field aggregates of a clay soil were easily made. The simplicity and rapidity of the method allowed measurements to be conveniently replicated.     

Onchocerca gutturosa and Onchocerca lienalis in cattle: variation in length of microfilariae by site of recovery

Dermal microfilariae recovered from specimens obtained from umbilical and cervical sites of cattle infected with adult Onchocerca gutturosa alone or with adults of O gutturosa and O lienalis were measured and compared with uterine microfilariae obtained directly from gravid female worms of each species. Uterine microfilariae of O gutturosa were longer than dermal microfilariae obtained from cattle harboring only adults of O gutturosa. Dermal microfilariae were recovered from umbilical and cervical sites in these cattle. Those found at the cervical site had lengths equal to or greater than lengths of microfilariae recovered from the umbilical site. There was a significant (P less than 0.0001) shift in length across populations of microfilariae of O gutturosa from various sites in its bovine host, with a progressive decrease in length between microfilariae recovered from the worm's uterus, microfilariae from the cervical dermis, and microfilariae from the umbilical dermis, respectively. A similar direct comparison was not possible for microfilariae of O lienalis, because none of the cattle was infected with only adult worms of this species. In an indirect comparison, microfilariae of O lienalis were identified at the umbilicus, but their presence in the cervical region could not be determined unequivocally because of confounding of microfilariae length by concurrent infection with O gutturosa. Uterine microfilariae from O lienalis were longer than uterine microfilariae of O gutturosa, although a degree of overlap in the range of measurements existed between species.     

Release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha from bovine alveolar macrophages stimulated with bovine respiratory viruses and bacterial endotoxins

The release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-) from cultured bovine alveolar macrophages (BAM) was evaluated following stimulation of BAM with bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1), parainfluenza-3 (PI-3) virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), Escherichia coli 0111:B4 endotoxin, Pasteurella haemolytica type 1 endotoxin, Pasteurella multocida endotoxin, and virus/endotoxin combinations. A cytotoxic assay system using Georgia bovine kidney cells as targets was used to measure TNF- activity. The cytotoxic activity was neutralized by an anti-human TNF- monoclonal antibody.

Stimulation of BAM with 1 median tissue culture infectious dose (TCID₅₀) of live or ultraviolet (UV)-inactivated PI-3 virus/cell resulted in release of TNF- in significantly (P<0.05) higher amounts than sham-induced BAM. The quantities of TNF- released after live or UV-inactivated BHV-1 or BRSV induction were not significantly higher than sham-induced BAM. E. coli 0111:B4, P. haemolytica type 1 and P. multocida endotoxins stimulated TNF- release in a dose-dependent manner. Sequential exposure of BAM to 1 TCID₅₀ per cell of either live BHV-1, PI-3 virus or BRSV and then 5 μg ml⁻¹ of either E. coli 0111:B4, P. haemolytica type 1 or P. multocida endotoxin caused a significant (P<0.05) reduction in detectable TNF- in seven of nine virus/endotoxin combinations tested, when compared with 5 μg ml⁻¹ of endotoxin alone. Parainfluenza-3 virus/endotoxin combinations stimulated higher TNF- release when compared with other virus/endotoxin combinations. Five out of six test animals had serum-neutralizing antibodies to PI-3 virus, one out of six had serum-neutralizing antibodies to BHV-1, and two out of six had serum-neutralizing antibodies to BRSV, suggesting a possible relationship between serum neutralizing antibodies and TNF- release from in vitro cultivated BAM.     

Eastern equine encephalitis in a flock of emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae).

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) was diagnosed in a flock of emus in southeastern Louisiana. The outbreak involved juvenile and adult breeders ranging in age from 20 to 36 months, with an attack rate of 76% and a case fatality rate of 87%. The diagnosis was confirmed by isolation and characterization of the viral agent, and by detection of EEE antibody in two recovered emus. High mortality was preceded by marked depression, hemorrhagic diarrhea, and emesis of blood-stained ingesta. On postmortem examination, hemorrhagic enteritis and multiple petechia of viscera were observed. Microscopic changes included severe necrosis of hepatocytes, intestinal mucosa, and necrotizing vasculitis of the spleen and lamina propria of the intestine. No nervous system lesions were observed. This outbreak occurred concurrently with EEE in horses and was attributed to unseasonably heavy rainfall with an abundance of arthropod vectors and proximity to free-living reservoir host species.     

Chronic diarrhea associated with intestinal anomalies in a six-year-old dog.

A 6-year-old mixed-breed dog was referred because of chronic diarrhea, which had begun after antibiotic treatment for pulmonary disease. Intestinal bacterial overgrowth was presumptively diagnosed on the basis of intestinal mucosal cytologic examination and low serum cobalamin concentration. When the diarrhea did not respond to treatment, contrast radiography was performed and a short small intestine was found. The diarrhea could not be managed by medical treatment, and the dog was euthanatized. Necropsy revealed 2 blind intestinal pouches attached to a 46-cm length of small intestine connecting the stomach and colon. The dog's deteriorating condition was attributable to necrosis and rupture of 1 of the pouches.     

Potential of a recombinant antigen as a prophylactic vaccine for day-old broiler chickens against Eimeria acervulina and Eimeria tenella infections.

A genetically engineered Eimeria tenella antigen (GX3262), produced as a fusion protein with beta-galactosidase and identified with a monoclonal antibody, induced partial but significant protection in young broiler chickens against experimental E. tenella and Eimeria acervulina infections. The antigen appears to share a T-helper cell epitope with the parasite as evidenced by (a) booster inoculation with either the recombinant antigen or with a small number of live oocysts enhanced the protective immunity in GX3262 primed chickens, and (b) ability of the antigen to induce in vitro stimulation of T-cells from chickens immunized with antigen or parasite. These observations suggest the feasibility of a single vaccination of 1 or 2-day-old broilers with GX3262 to induce an acceptable degree of protective immunity. The implications of the observations reported here are far reaching in terms of a practical coccidiosis vaccine for poultry, and show for the first time that 1-day-old broiler chickens can be efficiently vaccinated with a recombinant antigen against one or more species of Eimeria.