Haemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies against arboviruses of the families Togaviridae and Bunyaviridae in birds caught in southern Moravia, Czechoslovakia

A total of 295 birds belonging to 19 species of 7 families of wild Passeriformes were examined by haemagglutination-inhibition test. The birds were caught for an international research program "Balt" at the time of autumn migration (August-September 1984). Their blood sera were examined for antibodies against 6 arbovirus antigens of the genera Alphavirus (Sindbis-SIN) and Flavivirus (tick-borne encephalitis-TBE, West Nile-WN) and family Bunyaviridae (Tahyna-TAH, Calovo-CVO and Bhanja-BHA). Antibodies against all studied viruses were detected at different frequencies: SIN 6.4%, TBE 7.1%, WN 9.7%, TAH 16.3%, CVO 12.1%, and BHA 1.0%.     

Book reviews

Recent Advances in Turkey Science. Edited by C. Nixey and T. C. Grey, Poultry Science Symposium Number 21. London, Butterworths, ISBN 0 408 00971 3

Egg and Eggshell Quality. Sally E. Solomon, 1991, 149 pp., illustrated. London, Wolfe Publishing Ltd., £35.00, ISBN 0 7234 1647 8.

Aleen Cust, Veterinary Surgeon, Britain's First Woman Vet. Connie M. Ford, 1990, 109 pp., £5.99, Bristol, Biopress Ltd., The Orchard, Clanage Road, ISBN 0 948737 11 5.

Avian Incubation. Edited by S. G. Tullett, 1991, xiv + 335 pp., illustrated. London, Butterworth‐Heinemann. £00.00, $00.00. ISBN 0–7506–1002–6.

A Colour Atlas of Diseases & Disorders of the Domestic Fowl & Turkey. Edited by C. J. Randall, second edition, 1991, 175 pages, 432 illustrations in colour. London, Wolfe Publishing Ltd, £35, ISBN 0723416281.     

The anti-proteolytic activity of blood and ovarian follicular fluid in sheep after stimulation with serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and administration of Antisergon]

The synthesis and secretion of trypsin (trypsin model serine protease) inhibitors are regulated in ovarian follicles by gonadotropins. The superovulation stimulations with 400 IU FSH, 1000 IU PMSG, 1000 IU HCG, 750 IIU PMSG + 750 IU HCG influence in a different way the trypsin inhibiting activities (TIA) of blood plasma (BP) (Figs 1 and 2) and follicular fluid (fig. 3); this points to a possibility of local effects. An increase in the average values of TIA in BP was statistically significant during the whole experiment: P less than 0.05 to P less than 0.001 (following the administration of PMSG+HCG, or PMSG, and HCG); Antisergon administered in 68 hours after PMSG reduced this increase. The changes in the fraction of low-molecular TIA in BP (after BP treatment with perchloric acid) were of converse nature; a decrease in the average values ranged from P less than 0.02 to P less than 0.001 (following PMSG or other stimulations). Antisergon did not influence this decrease. The changes observed on particular days of the trial (Figs. 1 and 2) also indicate different effects of the preparations, mainly of the component LH, which resulted in the occurrence of large nonovulating follicles (greater than 10 mm--"cystic" ones). No such follicles were observed in nonstimulated ewes and after FSH stimulation. The administration of antisergon (goat's antiserum against PMSG) 68 hours after PMSG administration did not prevent their creation. The TIA of follicular fluid (FF) of antral follicles was on average tenfold in comparison with that of blood plasma; and the TIA FF of follicles greater than 10 mm was higher (up to P less than 0.001) than the TIA FF of follicles less than 10 mm. The administration of Antisergon in shorter intervals following PMSG administration (12, 24, 48 and 58 hours) influenced the average values of TIA BP in 120 hours (since PMSG administration) in dependence on time (Tab. I). The effects of Antisergon administered in 12 and 24 hours after PMSG administration on the TIA BP were insignificant if it was administered in 48 and 58 hours the TIA BP increased (P less than 0.02; P less than 0.001) in comparison with the interval of 12 hours. The TIA FF of follicles less than 5 mm, 5-10 mm and greater than 10 mm varied in dependence on the time intervals of Antisergon administration (Fig. 4). The statistical significance of these changes in shown in Tab. II.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

An exploration of Cryoprotective compounds for fowl spermatozoa

1. Glycerol is an effective cryoprotective for fowl spermatozoa, but after thawing the frozen semen it must be reduced in concentration from the level adequate to protect spermatozoa during freezing, otherwise it has a contraceptive action.

2. A series of alternative cryoprotective compounds were tested for their effect on fertility when fowl spermatozoa were inseminated fresh in their presence. Under these circumstances dimethylsulphoxide, dimethylaceta‐mide, ethane‐diol, propane‐diol and methylpyrrolidone did not depress fertility when used in concentrations equivalent to that of glycerol or in amounts reported previously to be non‐toxic and adequate to protect cells during freezing.

3. Dimethylacetamide was compared with propane‐diol for use in freezing fowl semen and the former enabled encouraging levels of fertility to be obtained.     

Acetaminophen toxicosis in a cat

A seven month old domestic shorthaired male cat was presented with a known history of acetaminophen ingestion. Clinical findings included icterus, depression, hypothermia, tachypnea and pronounced edema of the head and neck. Treatment was aimed at providing substrate to assist in conjugation of the drug and reversing methemoglobinemia. Administration of oral acetylcysteine, ascorbic acid and IV fluids was insufficient in this case due to a delay in initiation of treatment. The salient postmortem findings were icterus, subcutaneous and pulmonary edema and evidence of hemolysis in the liver, spleen and urinary tract.     

Behavior of ewes and lambs subjected to restraint fostering

The objective of this study was to investigate the development of maternal-filial social attachments between ewes and alien lambs using the technique of "restraint fostering." Forty-eight to 72 h after parturition, 22 Targhee -type ewes were separated from their natural lambs, placed in restraining devices ( stanchions ) and each exposed to a single alien lamb. After a period of 1 or 4 d of restraint, the ewes were subjected to five 10-min lamb acceptance tests over a 48-h period. The observer recorded butts and butt attempts by the ewe and successful and unsuccessful suckle attempts by the lamb. The ewe-lamb pairs were then housed in pens with other groups of ewes and lambs and observed intermittently for acceptance behaviors. Six of the 14 ewes restrained for 4 d and none of the eight ewes restrained for 24 h met the criterion for successful adoption within 48 h. After being housed in group pens, adoptions were achieved by three ewes in the 1-d group and an additional four ewes in the group restrained for 4 d. Ewes restrained for 24 h were significantly more aggressive toward fostered young than ewes restrained for 4 d. In addition, the proportion of successful suckling attempts was significantly lower for lambs fostered on ewes in the 1-d group. Both groups showed a decline in butts and butt attempts over successive acceptance tests, but while the proportion of successful suckling attempts declined for lambs housed with 1-d ewes, they increased over time for lambs fostered on ewes restrained for 4 d.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Specificities of antinuclear antibodies detected in dogs with systemic lupus erythematosus

Five hundred and eighty dogs with at least one clinical sign compatible with a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were entered in a prospective study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of antinuclear antibodies (ANAb). SLE was diagnosed in 38 of these dogs (group A) which fulfilled at least four American Rheumatism Association (ARA) criteria; of these, sixteen had ANAb titers greater than or equal to 4096. The 23 dogs which met three or two ARA criteria (group B) had an ANAb geometric mean titer (GMT) of 259. Dogs (group C) with only 1 criterium had an ANAb GMT of 75. Anti-ds-DNA Ab were present in 6 dogs from group A (16%), and 2 dogs from group B (9%). Anti-histone Ab were present among dogs from group A, B and C with frequencies of 81%, 67% and 26%, respectively. Among dogs from group A, the ANAb titers and the levels of anti-histone Ab correlated positively when individual sera were considered. Antibodies against the soluble nuclear antigen (SNA) were detected in 74%, 39% and 13% of the dogs from groups A, B and C, respectively. Antibodies initially described in human SLE also exist in SLE dogs. Anti-Sm Ab were found in 24% of dogs in group A. With anti-RNP Ab the frequency was still lower (10%). However, two other types of anti-SNA Ab against RNAse and trypsin-resistant antigens, not found in human "reference sera", were often detected. The first type (anti-type 1 Ab) was found in 26% and 9% of group A and group B, The first type (anti-type 1 Ab) was found in 26% and 9% of group A and group B, respectively; the second type (anti-type 2 Ab) is less frequent, and was found in 13% and 17% of group A and B, respectively. It appears that testing for anti-Sm, anti-type 1 and anti-histone Ab should be performed in order to improve the diagnosis of SLE in dogs.