Common and stage-specific antigens of Theileria annulata.

Western blot analysis of Theileria annulata antigens was carried out using sera collected from cattle which had been immunised and challenged with either T. annulata sporozoites or schizont-infected cells. Three antigens between 71 and 73 kDa proved to be common to the three stages of parasite studied: sporozoites, schizonts and piroplasms. An antigen was found at 32 kDa which was specific to T. annulata piroplasms. Results were reproducible using sera from Morocco and the UK. At least one of the proteins at 71-73 kDa, but not that at 32 kDa were also recognised by sera from animals infected with Babesia species.     

Administration of porcine somatotropin by sustained-release implant: growth and endocrine responses in genetically lean and obese barrows and gilts.

Previous studies have documented the effectiveness of porcine somatotropin (pST) administered by daily injection in promoting lean tissue growth in lean and obese pigs and the influence of sex and genotype. The present study examined the accretive responses in pigs of different lines and sexes to a slow release formulation of pST (pST-SR). Implants that deliver 2.0 mg of pST/d were implanted in genetically lean and obese barrows and gilts at 65 +/- .7 kg BW (mean +/- SE). Pigs received no, one, or two implants (i.e., doses of 0, 2.0, and 4.0 mg of pST/d). Pigs (four per line x sex x dose) were housed individually and continuously supplied with fresh water and a 19% CP diet containing 1.08% lysine. Pigs were slaughtered on d 0 (four per line x sex) and at the end of the trial (approximately 42 d after implantation) for estimation of initial composition and calculation of accretion rates. Blood samples were collected at d 0, 7, 14, 28, and 42 to measure endocrine and metabolite responses to pST-SR. Sustained-release pST elevated (P < .05) circulating pST throughout the trial with peak concentrations at d 7. On d 7, serum pST concentrations in the pigs given 2.0 mg of pST-SR per day were 16-fold greater than those in control pigs, and in pigs given 4.0 mg of pST-SR per day pST concentrations were 33-fold greater than in controls. Elevated serum pST resulted in increased (P < .05) serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-II, insulin, and glucose and in reduced (P < .05) concentrations of urea nitrogen and IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-2. Gain was not influenced by pST-SR dose; however, feed consumption was reduced (P < .05) and efficiency of gain was increased (P < .05). Accretion of all body components except cold carcass weight, cecum, and untrimmed Boston butt and ham were changed (P < .05) with pST-SR administration. Heart and stomach were the only components of the carcass and offal whose accretion was not affected by line or sex. Increases in accretion of carcass components (< 75%) induced by sustained-release pST were considerably less than those measured in the organs (liver, 157%; lungs, 748%). The pST-SR treatment resulted in elevated serum concentrations of pST and its mediators and improved efficiency and composition of gain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Comparison of pathophysiologic changes in the lungs of calves challenge exposed with Escherichia coli-derived endotoxin and Pasteurella haemolytica, alone or in combination

Pulmonary responses to intratracheal challenge exposure with Pasteurella haemolytica, with or without Escherichia coli-derived endotoxin, E coli endotoxin alone, or saline solution were compared in anesthetized, mechanically ventilated neonatal calves. Baseline values for dynamic compliance, total pulmonary resistance, functional residual capacity, arterial blood gas tensions, hemogram, leukogram, and systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures were recorded for each calf. After baseline data were obtained, calves were challenge exposed with logarithmic-growth phase P haemolytica organisms with or without E coli endotoxin, E coli endotoxin alone, or saline solution (0.9% NaCl). Physiologic data were obtained immediately after challenge exposure and at various intervals over the next 6 hours. Calves challenge exposed with P haemolytica alone developed sever hypoxemia, had increased alveolar-arterial oxygen difference and threefold increases in total pulmonary resistance, became hypercarbic, had decreased functional residual capacity, and developed systemic hypotension without change in pulmonary arterial pressure. At necropsy, these calves had extensive multifocal areas of necrohemorrhagic and purulent pneumonia. Ratio of extravascular lung water to lung dry weight was not significantly increased in lung specimens obtained from calves challenge exposed with P haemolytica, but ratio of lung wet weight to dry weight was increased, indicating that increased lung wet weight was attributable largely to increased solids and not to fluid alone. (Extravascular lung water measurement excludes fluid from the vascular compartment.) Intratracheal challenge exposure with endotoxin failed to alter lung function and caused minor changes in lung structure consisting of focal areas of hemorrhage and edema.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The effect of biological isolation and a molt-inducing regimen on the recovery of Mycoplasma gallisepticum from commercial Leghorn hens

Two trials were conducted to determine the effect of induced molt on the reisolation of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) from commercial leghorn hens that had been eyedrop-inoculated with MG at 10 weeks of age. Chickens were maintained in a conventional floored chicken house on dry litter through 100 weeks of age. At age 64 weeks, 4 days (Trial 1), and at 100 weeks (Trial 2), hens were swabbed and cultured for MG and then molted in biological isolation units. Swabs were again taken at the end of each molt. No difference was observed in the number of MG isolations between molted hens and controls that did not undergo molting. However, a significant decrease in MG isolations was observed in both trials from swabs obtained when hens were housed on dry litter floors as compared with swabs taken from the same hens after 18 days (Trial 1) or 21 days (Trial 2) of confinement in isolation units.     

Destruction of Trichinella spiralis spiralis during the preparation of the "dry cured" pork products proscuitto, proscuittini and Genoa salami

Genoa salami, proscuittini and proscuitto were prepared from pork carcasses that were heavily infected experimentally with Trichinella spiralis spiralis. Genoa salami was prepared with salt concentrations of 2.0%, 2.75% and 3.3%. Proscuitto was prepared by two procedures approved by Agriculture Canada. At various times postpreparation, samples of the various cured products were taken and examined by pepsin digestion and rat bioassay for the presence of viable trichinae. Water activity and pH of the cured meat were also determined. Curing of the various products was shown to destroy the Trichinella larvae. Pepsin digestion revealed that larvae progressively became loosely coiled, uncoiled and more subject to digestion (ghost larvae) during the curing process. Rat bioassay revealed the presence of viable trichinae in the proscuitto prepared using a sodium chloride salt mixture at day 34 but not at day 48 postpreparation. All other bioassays carried out on Genoa salami between 13 and 42 days postpreparation, on proscuittini between days 27 and 69 and on proscuitto between days 34 and 69 were negative for viable trichinae. Under the conditions of this study, preparing Genoa salami with salt concentrations as low as 2% did not appear to affect the destruction of Trichinella larvae.     

Subcutaneously implanted tissue chambers — a pharmacokinetic study

The purpose of this study was to characterize the pharmacokinetics of a subcutaneously implanted tissue-chamber model. Thermoplastic tissue chambers were implanted in the paralumbar fossae of six steers. Starting 30 days after implantation, the distribution of intravenously administered antipyrine and phenylbutazone into the tissue chambers was studied. These pharmacokinetic experiments were repeated 10 days later to determine the effect of time after implantation on tissue-chamber distribution. Fifty days after implantation, tissue chambers were drained of transudate, refilled with sterile saline and the rate of influx of endogenous urea, creatinine and albumin was measured. Delayed diffusion of antipyrine and phenylbutazone into tissue chambers was well described using a compartmental model in which tissue-chamber fluid represented the third of three compartments arranged in series. The distribution of antipyrine into tissue chambers was greater than that of phenylbutazone; an observation which is well correlated with the high degree of protein binding of phenylbutazone. There was no effect of time on the penetration of the two agents. Rapid diffusion of urea and creatinine and extremely slow influx of albumin into chambers showed that these chambers formed true interstitial compartments.     

A Quantitative Study of Ganglion Cells in the German Shepherd Dog Retina

As in the number of mammals, the most prominent feature of the ganglion-cell layer in the retina of the German shepherd dog is the sharp increase in the density of ganglion cells in the central area. There is an area of maximum density and also a ‘cat-like’ visual streak, located dorsal to the optic disc. The isodensity lines of ganglion-cell distribution is roughly concentric. Their values vary from 5300-13 000 cells/mm² in the central area, with the cells densely packed, to 1000 cells/mm² or less in the periphery, where the cells are sparsely distributed. There were some individual differences amongst the animals studied, although all of them were pure-bred dogs. This suggests that the configuration of the retina in the canine species is not only dependent on the breed itself but also on some other parameters such as phylogenetic heritage, environment, aptitude, lifestyle, or even training.