The effect of delaying the onset of laying in pullets with a low‐calcium diet on subsequent egg production

1. A low‐calcium diet (0.5 g calcium/kg) was used to prevent the onset of laying in young pullets.

2. It was fed at 16 weeks of age to five separate groups (groups 2 to 6) each of 50 to 60 birds.

3. Group 2 was fed on a normal layers’ diet at 23 weeks of age, group 3 at 27 weeks, group 4 at 31 weeks, group 5 at 35 weeks and group 6 at 55 weeks while the control group (group 1) of similar size to groups 2 to 6 was subjected to a normal commercial treatment for laying stock.

4. In all the experimental groups the onset of sexual maturity occurred normally, but only one or two eggs were laid before laying ceased under the influence of the treatment.

5. Laying re‐started when the hens were fed on a normal diet and production rapidly rose to a high level.

6. Groups 1, 2 and 3 differed little in the total number of eggs produced up to 72 weeks of age.

7. In all experimental groups there were fewer very small, small and medium eggs than in the control group.

8. It is suggested that the use of a low‐calcium diet before the onset of lay may have advantages which could be exploited on a commercial scale.     

Estimating adrenal cortical function in dogs with ACTH.

The peripheral blood response to intramuscular injection of 10 units ACTH in dogs was investigated because no experimental evidence for the standardization of this procedure for clinical use was available. Following the injection of ACTH in sodium chloride solution, neutrophilia, monocytosis, eosinopenia, and lymphopenia occurred. With the exception of eosinopenia, the greatest change in the concentration of each cell type in peripheral blood occurred between 2 and 4 hours post injection. The maximum change in eosinophil numbers occurred between 4 and 6 hours post injection. When all cell types were considered, 4 hours post injection was the most suitable time to measure the cellular response in peripheral blood in dogs which respond to ACTH. The data indicate that change in the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes (N/L) prior to and at 2 to 4 hours after ACTH injection in normal dogs was a sensitive index of response and occured sooner than eosinopenia. The extent of change in the N/L ratio was such that accuracy in interpretation could be obtained by counting as few as 40 cells.     

Pathology of mastitis in cows, goats and swine. A review]

The literature concerning pathogenesis, pathological physiology and pathological anatomy in bovine, caprine and ovine mastitis is reviewed. The evoluation of infectious mastitis is divided in the three following phases: transmission-, invasion- and establishphase. The pathological anatomy about Mastitis acuta haemorrhagica et necroticans, Mastitis catarrhalis acuta, Mastitis catarrhalis chronica, Mastitis suppurativa and Mastitis granulomatosa is discussed.     

Serological evidence of the occurrence of bluetongue in Iraq.

Precipitating antibodies against bluetongue were detected in sheep and goat serum samples collected from animals slaughtered in Baghdad abattoir. Out of 294 sheep serum samples and 110 goat serum samples examined, 28 and 18 samples respectively showed precipitating activity. In addition, examination of sheep serum samples collected from localities where clinical cases similar to bluetongue were previously reported revealed the presence of bluetongue precipitating antibodies in 101 sera out of 198 samples examined. This is the first report confirming the occurrence of bluetongue in Iraq.     

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.