The use of n‐paraffin‐grown yeast as the main source of protein in diets for chicks

1. n‐Paraffin‐grown yeast and a mixture of soyabean meal and fish meal were compared in the net protein utilisation (NPU) test, and as protein supplements in diets for broilers up to 4 weeks of age.

2. The difference between the NPU values, 0.66 for yeast and 0.80 for the soyabean meal and fish meal mixture, could largely be attributed to the high nucleic acid content of the yeast.

3. Chicks given the diet containing yeast (190 g/kg) did not grow as rapidly as those given the soyabean meal and fish meal reference diet, and the reduced growth could only partly be explained by a marginal deficiency of methionine.

4. Food conversion efficiency with the yeast diet was improved by maize oil while responses to α‐tocopheryl acetate and sodium selenite were inconsistent.

5. Chicks grew well when yeast replaced fish meal in the mixture of soyabean meal and fish meal, and when fish meal (194 g/kg diet) was the sole protein supplement.     

Comparisons of frequencies and egg shell characteristics of broken and intact eggs within diverse populations of chickens

1. Differences were found among eight populations of White Plymouth Rock pullets in the frequency of broken eggs.

2. The shells of such eggs were thinner than those of intact eggs in seven of the populations.

3. The number of defective eggs, the specific gravity of the eggs, and the percentage hen‐day egg production of normal eggs were significantly correlated within populations with the incidence of broken eggs.

4. No significant correlations were found within populations between the incidence of egg breakage and either egg weight, body weight, or shank length.     

Treatment of the repeat breeder cow syndrome in Kenya

Summary One hundred repeat breeder dairy cows have been studied in detail. Although clinically 60 per cent of them were normal bacteria were isolated from the uteri of the majority (90 per cent). Thirty per cent of these isolates were mixed.Intra-uterine infusion of the uteri with diluted Lugol's Iodine solution, supplemented in a few cases by antibiotic therapy, resulted in a 62 per cent conception rate compared with 26 per cent in the control group. It is concluded that dilute Lugol's Iodine is a useful treatment for repeat breeder cows under conditions similar to those described.

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Tratamiento Del Sindrome De Vacas Repetidoras En Kenya

Resumen Se estudíaron en detalle 100 vacas repetidoras destinadas a la producción de leche, en Kenya. Aunque el 60 por ciento de ellas parecía normal clinicamente, se aislaron bacterias del útero de la mayoría (90 por ciento). El 30 por ciento de los aislamientos fue mixto.La infusión intrauterina de una solución diluída de Lugol, combinada en algunos casos con antibióticos, resultó en una proporción del 62 por ciento de concepciones, comparada con el 26 por ciento del grupo control. Se concluye, que la solución de Lugol diluída es útil para el tratamiento del síndrome de vacas repetidoras, bajo condiciones similares a las aquí descritas.

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Traitement Du Syndrome De L'Accouplement Repete Chez La Vache Au Kenya

Résumé Cent vaches laitières ont été examinées avec soin. Bien que 60 p. 100 d'entre elles aient été considérées comme normales, des germes ont été isolés de l'utérus de la majorité d'entre elles (90 p. 100). Dans 30 p. 100 des cas, la population microbienne était mixte.Des injections intra-utérines d'une solution diluée de Lugol accompagnée dans quelques cas par de l'antibiothérapie ont fait que le groupe traité à un taux de fécondité de 62 p. 100 contre 26 p. 100 dans le groupe témoin. Les auteurs concluent que la solution iodée de Lugol constitute un traitement utile chez les vaches contre ce syndrome, dans les conditions semblables à celles décrites.

     

Kinetics of NDV specific antibodies in chickens—V. Analysis of frequency distributions of antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus by investigation of random samples in chicken flocks

Chicks and chickens maintained under commercial conditions were vaccinated against Newcastle Disease via drinking water. Prior and after different times of vaccination blood samples were drawn from different numbers of birds and checked for HI antibodies. The modes of distribution of the antibody titers within the random sample were assayed. The following results were obtained:

1. 1. On the basis of the distribution of the serum titers can be concluded whether the antibody level within a flock is increasing or decreasing.

◦ —A right steep asymmetry can be observed up to 20 days post vaccination.

◦ —In the phase of maximal antibody levels an almost symmetric distribution of the titers is present.

◦ —In later times (more than three weeks p. vacc.) the distribution shows a left steep asymmetry (Poisson distribution).

2. 2. A poisson distribution is also observable during the elimination of maternal antibodies of chicks until complete elimination.

3. 3. The mode of distribution of the HI titers in sera of day-old chicks correlates with the mode of distribution of the dams. Therefore, conclusions are possible from the status of the chicks to the dams and reverse.

4. 4. Factors which interfere with the mode of distribution are:

◦ —Two or more peaks after vaccination of chickens. This indicates an uneven immune response within the flock.

◦ —Distributions with several peaks may also occur if flocks are composed of day-old chicks from parent flocks with different levels of antibody titers.

New data on the mechanism of action of immuno-adjuvants: Applications in veterinary medicine

Certain natural or synthetic peptidoglycans which act as watersoluble adjuvants represent a new family of drugs which can act selectively on certain lymphoid cells, B or T cells or macrophages. Some of these molecules can inhibit the immune response.We have developed a technique which enables either normal membranous vesicles, (cellular surface on the outside, RSO), or inverted vesicles, (cellular surface on the inside, IO), to be taken from a murine plasmacytoma. Some peptidoglycans act on the RSO vesicles, others on the IO vesicles, in every case by activating and/or inhibiting membranous enzymes such as 5-nucleotidase and Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase.It is likely that the immuno-adjuvants act selectively and that the same substance can activate or inhibit according to the dose used.

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Kurzfassung Bestimmte natürliche oder synthetisch hergestellte Peptidoglykane (wasserlösliche Adjuvanzien) sind eine neue Familie pharmakodynamischer Agenzien, die elektiv auf bestimmte Lymphoidzellen, B-Zellen, T-Zellen oder Makrophagen wirken. Bestimmte Moleküle können die Immunreaktion inhibieren. Es wurde ein Verfahren erarbeitet, mit dem aus einem Plasmozytom bei Ratten oder Mäusen Membranbläschen gewonnen werden konnten, die entweder richtig geformt (Zelloberfläche aussen, RSO) oder umgekehrt (Zelloberfläche innen, IO) sind. Manche Peptidoglykane wirken auf RSO, andere auf IO; in allen Fällen ist diese Wirkung gekennzeichnet durch die Activierung und/oder Inhibierung von Membranenzymen wie der 5-Nukleotidase und der Na+/KA—ATPase.Voraussichtlich haben die Immunitätsadjuvanzien eine Zielspezifität und derselbe Stoff kann je nach Dosierung stimulierend oder inhibierend wirken.Riassunto Gli adiuvanti idrosolubili, che sono peptido-glicani naturali o sintetici, costituiscono una nuova famiglia di agenti farmacodinamici in grado di agire selettivamente su alcune cellule linfoidi, le cellule B, T o macrofagi. Alcune molecole possono inibire la reazione immunitaria.Gli autori hanno messo a punto una tecnica che permette di ottenere, partendo da un plasmocitoma murino, vescicole membranose girate nel senso giusto (superficie cellulare rivolta all-esterno RSO) o rovesciate (superficie cellulare all'interno, IO). Alcuni peptido-glicani sono attivi sulle RSO, altrillo sono sulle IO; in ambedue i casi detta attività è caratterizzata dall-attivazione e/o dall'inibizione di enzimi membranosi come la 5 nucleotidasi e la Na⁺/K⁺ ATP-asi.Si puo ipotizzare che gli adiuvanti dell'immunita posseggano una specificita di bersaglio, e che la medesinna sostanza possa rivelarsi stimolante od inibitoria a seconda della dose impiegata.

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Resume Les adjuvants hydrosolubles que sont certains peptidoglycanes naturels ou synthétiques représentent une nouvelle famille d'agents pharmacodynamiques capables d'agir électivement sur certaines cellules lymphoides, cellules B, T ou macrophages. Certaines molécules peuvent inhiber la réponse immunitaire.Nous avons mis au point une technique permettant d'obtenir à partir d'un plasmocytome murin des vésicules membranaires tournées dans le bon sens (surface cellulaire à l'extérieur, RSO) ou inversées (surface cellulaire à l'intérieur, IO). Certains peptidoglycanes sont actifs sur les RSO, d'autres sur les IO: dans tous les cas cette activité est caractérisée par l'activation et/ou l'inhibition d'enzymes membranaires telles que la 5-nucléotidase et la Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase.Il est prévisible que les adjuvants de l'immunité ont une spécificité de cible et qu'une même substance peut se révéler stimulante ou inhibitrice selon la dose utilisée.

     

Tolerance breaking by lymphocyte activating factor induced by Escherichia coli O138 lipopolysaccharide from homologous macrophages.

Following an antigenic dose of 10 microgram or a tolerogenic dose of 200 microgram of Escherichia coli O138 lipopolysaccharide (LPS), BALB/c mice were examined on day 14 for percentages of theta-bearing cells. A considerable increase in T cells was noticed in lymphocytes from tolerant draining lymph nodes, and furthermore these cells did not possess receptors for LPS when tested for rosette inhibition. However, when the supernatant from 1 X 10(7) macrophages, pretreated with 150 microgram LPS, was given to tolerant mice on day 7, by day 14 tolerance was found to be broken, anti-LPS IgG was present in circulation and the draining lymph node contained T cells specifically committed to LPS. The change from suppressor to helper T cell activity is discussed in relation to enhancement of the immune response.