Evaluation of intravenous administration of concentrated immunoglobulin G to colostrum-deprived foals.

Ten foals of various breeds were deprived of colostrum from birth to 36 hours of age, then were allotted to 2 groups. Foals of group 1 (n = 6) were given 20 g (200 ml) of purified equine IgG IV in a 10% solution, and foals of group 2 (n = 4) were given 30 g (300 ml) of the same preparation. Total administration time for each 10 g of IgG in 100 ml was approximately 10 minutes. Serum IgG concentration in foals was assessed prior to, between 24 and 48 hours, and at 7 and 14 days after IgG administration. Between 24 and 48 hours after IgG administration, mean serum IgG concentration in group-1 foals was 425 mg/dl (range, 350 to 480 mg/dl). Mean body weight for this group of foals was 50.3 kg (range, 43.3 to 54.7 kg). For group-2 foals, mean serum IgG concentration was 768 mg/dl (range, 640 to 920 mg/dl) between 24 and 48 hours after administration of IgG. Foals of this group had mean body weight of 43.2 kg (range, 36.5 to 47.5 kg). Serum IgG concentration in group-2 foals at 24 to 48 hours was significantly (P = 0.005) greater than that in group-1 foals. Mean total IgG recovery at 24 to 48 hours, calculated on the basis of 94.5 ml of plasma volume/kg of body weight, was approximately 100%. Values of IgG measured in all foals 1 and 2 weeks after administration of the IgG concentrate were equivalent to values expected after normal decay of passively acquired IgG.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Transcatheter arterial embolisation in four dogs with hepatocellular carcinoma

Four dogs with hepatocellular carcinoma were treated by transcatheter arterial embolisation. In all dogs, the tumour‐supplying arteries were selectively embolised with gelatine sponge particles. Post‐embolisation tumour volumes decreased relative to pre‐embolisation volumes in all dogs. No adverse reactions were observed in three dogs after treatment but one dog showed pancreatitis. These results suggest that transcatheter arterial embolisation is a feasible treatment for dogs with hepatocellular carcinoma.     

Protection of turkey poults from Bordetella avium infection and disease by pili and bacterins

The role of pili in protection against Bordetella avium infection in turkey poults was studied. An isolate that produced the largest number of pili under growth conditions developed in our laboratory was used for preparation of pili and bacterin and for challenge. The pili were isolated, purified, examined by electron microscopy, and tested for purity by gel electrophoresis. Poults were vaccinated with oil-adjuvant pili, formaldehyde- or merthiolate-inactivated bacterins, or a commercial bacterin. Poults were vaccinated once or twice subcutaneously at different ages and challenged intranasally with a pathogenic B. avium isolate 5 days following the last vaccination. A few vaccinated birds had very mild clinical signs. B. avium was isolated from the sinuses of a few vaccinated birds, and growth was scanty. The mean colony counts from tracheal sections was significantly higher (P less than 0.1) in unvaccinated challenged poults than in vaccinated challenged poults. It is postulated that B. avium pili are important immunogens in turkey poults.     

Evaluation of association between polymorphism within the thyroglobulin gene and milk production traits in dairy cattle

In dairy cattle, many studies have reported quantitative trait loci (QTL) on the centromeric end of chromosome 14 that affect milk production traits. One of the candidate genes in this QTL region – thyroglobulin (TG) – was previously found to be significantly associated with marbling in beef cattle. Thus, based on QTL studies in dairy cattle and because of possible effects of this gene on fat metabolism, we investigated the association of TG with milk yield and composition in Holstein dairy cattle. A total of 1279 bulls from the Cooperative Dairy DNA Repository Holstein population were genotyped for a single nucleotide polymorphism in TG used previously in beef cattle studies. Analysis of 29 sire families showed no significant association between TG variants and milk production traits. Within‐sire family analysis suggests that TG is neither the responsible gene nor a genetic marker in association with milk production traits.     

Carcase characteristics of a heavy Japanese quail line under introgression with the roux gene

1. The roux plumage sex-linked recessive gene may be used for early sexing of Japanese quail in crossbreeding production systems with wild-type and roux lines. However, associated effects of the gene on carcase and meat composition need to be assessed. 2. Quail carcases from pure Line K males and females (100% K), a heavy meat line which was used as the recipient line for the introgression of the roux gene, and from same-age roux or wild-type females from the second generation of introgression (75% K) were dissected. The effects of sex, line and plumage colour on carcase components and on protein and lipid contents of various tissues were estimated. 3. Expected sex differences in carcase weights were obtained, with marginally higher values for females. However, weights of parts and carcase yield (ratio of empty carcase weight without head, neck and feet over live body weight) were similar for both sexes in pure Line K which had a 68% carcase yield. Lipid contents in leg meat were higher in males (3.1%) than in females (2.7%). 4. The roux gene did not seem to have any major impact on carcase parts or composition. However, in roux birds, leg skin was marginally higher in lipids and pectoralis major lower in proteins than in wild-type ones.     

Genetic Variability in Phosphorus Acquisition and Utilization Efficiency from Sparingly Soluble P-Sources by Brassica Cultivars under P-Stress Environment

Plants display an array of classical strategies to maximize phosphate (Pi) acquisition from sparingly soluble P sources. Acclimation to Pi-stress via elegant Pi-starvation induced (PSI) adjustments would reduce our current overreliance on expensive, polluting and non-renewable Pi-fertilizers. Nevertheless, differences in the ability of various species to solubilize sparingly soluble P-sources have been often evidenced; inter-cultivar variations are scarcely documented. Brassica is known as an effective, non-mycorrhizal user of sparingly soluble P-sources. Various growth parameters and biomass accumulation by genetically diverse Brassica cultivars were determined in four experiments using hydroponics and quartz sand culture media. Role of PSI root mediated pH changes, organic anions (OAs) exudation and altered root architecture in mobilization and acquisition of sparingly soluble P-forms [Jordan rock-P (RP) at 2 g l⁻¹ and Ca₃(PO₄)₂ (TCP) at 0.2 g l⁻¹ respectively] was investigated. Cultivars showed considerable genetic variations in biomass accumulation, various growth parameters and root–shoot ratio. Concentration and total uptake of P, specific absorption rate of P, P-transport rate and P-utilization efficiency (PUE) were also significantly (P < 0.001) different for various cultivars and their dry matter was significantly correlated with P-uptake [r = 0.94** (significant at 1% level)]. P-tolerant cultivars showed substantial decrease in solution media pH because of H⁺ efflux and exuded more carboxylates than low P-sensitive cultivars under P-starvation. P-uptake by cultivars increased linearly with decreasing pH. The amount and types of OAs exuded from the roots of P-starved plants differed from those of plants grown under P-sufficient environment. In split pot study, with TCP and RP supplied spatially separated from other nutrients, efficient cultivars were still able to mobilize RP and TCP more efficiently than inefficient cultivars. In rhizobox study, the elongation rates of primary roots decreased but the elongation rates of the branched zones of primary roots and the length of lateral roots increased under P-starvation. Tested cultivars showed genetic diversity in accessing, mobilization, acquisition and utilization of Pi from sparingly soluble P forms. An arrange marriage of plant traits can explain cultivar’s access to different forms of sparingly soluble P, and in addition to altered lateral root topology and enhanced P-uptake and PUE, enhanced H⁺ efflux and OAs exudation are key factors in Pi scavenging from extra cellular sparingly soluble P-forms.     

Changes in the viscoelastic behaviour of the rumenal digesta mat of sheep fed on pasture or chaffed lucerne hay

We examined the changes in the physical properties of the digesta mat over a period of 24 h after cessation of feeding, in sheep that had been maintained on pasture or fed chaffed lucerne hay. The dry matter content of the digesta mat declined at similar rates in both dietary groups, although it was generally higher in sheep fed lucerne. Median particle size declined in the digesta mats of both dietary groups at similar rates in samples taken after 8 h, but median particle size was significantly greater in sheep fed chopped lucerne hay than in those fed grass. Thus, particles were not reduced to a common size suggesting that factors in addition to particle size governed the rate of breakdown of the rumen mat. The relationship between the elastic and loss moduli was of a consistent pattern in all samples taken from the rumen mat indicating that it behaved as a weak gel. The elastic and loss moduli of the digesta mats of sheep that had been fed pasture or chopped lucerne hay converged to similar values after 12 h and declined broadly at similar rates after this. The relationship between these two moduli and the dry matter content of the rumen mat were of similar curvilinear form for sheep on both diets. These findings suggest that the rate of breakdown of the rumen mat is more likely to be governed by its composite behaviour than by the size of the constituent particles.     

Discovery of a viral NLR homolog that inhibits the inflammasome

The NLR (nucleotide binding and oligomerization, leucine-rich repeat) family of proteins senses microbial infections and activates the inflammasome, a multiprotein complex that promotes microbial clearance. Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is linked to several human malignancies. We found that KSHV Orf63 is a viral homolog of human NLRP1. Orf63 blocked NLRP1-dependent innate immune responses, including caspase-1 activation and processing of interleukins IL-1β and IL-18. KSHV Orf63 interacted with NLRP1, NLRP3, and NOD2. Inhibition of Orf63 expression resulted in increased expression of IL-1β during the KSHV life cycle. Furthermore, inhibition of NLRP1 was necessary for efficient reactivation and generation of progeny virus. The viral homolog subverts the function of cellular NLRs, which suggests that modulation of NLR-mediated innate immunity is important for the lifelong persistence of herpesviruses.