Influence of the three RN genotypes on chemical composition, enzyme activities, and myofiber characteristics of porcine skeletal muscle.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of the RN genotype on skeletal muscle characteristics in pigs sharing otherwise the same polygenic background. Animals were genotyped for RN on the basis of RTN (Rendement Technologique Napole) records using segregation analysis methods. Samples of longissimus (L) and semispinalis capitis (S) muscles were taken from 39 rn+/rn+, 38 RN-/rn+ and 37 RN-/RN- pigs slaughtered at 108 +/- 8.6 kg live weight. Activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), citrate synthase (CS), and beta-hydroxy-acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase (HAD) were measured on both muscles to assess glycolytic, oxidative, and lipid beta-oxidation capacities, respectively. Histological examinations and chemical analyses were performed on L muscle. The energetic metabolism of the white L muscle was more oxidative in RN-/RN- than in rn+/rn+ pigs, as shown by increased CS and HAD activities (P < .001), decreased LDH activity (P < .001), larger cross-sectional area of IIA (P < .05) and IIB-red (P < .05) fibers, higher relative area of IIA fibers ( P < .05), and lower relative area of IIB-white fibers (P < .001). No significant difference was found between heterozygous and homozygous carriers of the RN- allele, except for CS activity, which was lower in RN-/rn+ than in RN-/RN- pigs. In L muscle, the RN- allele led to a large increase in glycolytic potential (+3.5 phenotypic SD between homozygotes) and lightness (+.7 SD), and a decrease in ultimate pH, dry matter, and protein contents (-1.7 to -2 phenotypic SD for these three traits), with an almost completely dominant effect. No differences were found between genotypes for intramuscular fat and hydroxyproline contents. In the red S muscle, the presence of RN- had no influence on enzyme activities. These results indicate that the RN genotype greatly influences compositional and histochemical traits and metabolic enzyme activities in a muscle type-dependent manner, with a completely or incompletely dominant effect of the RN- allele.     

Prevalence and clinical implications of anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomes of horses.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and clinical implications of anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomes of horses. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 80 horses on 10 farms in a 5-county region of northeast Georgia. PROCEDURE: On each farm, horses were stratified in descending order according to pretreatment fecal egg count (FEC), blocked into groups of 4, and then randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups: no treatment (controls), and treatment with pyrantel pamoate, fenbendazole, or ivermectin. Fecal samples were collected 24 hours prior to treatment and 2, 4, and 6 weeks after treatment for determination of FEC. Mean percentage of reduction in FEC was then calculated for each treatment group. For horses from each farm, the efficacy of each anthelmintic was categorized on the basis of mean percentage of reduction in FEC at 2 weeks after treatment (< 80% reduction = ineffective; 80 to 90% reduction = equivocal; and > 90% reduction = effective). RESULTS: Pyrantel pamoate was effective at reducing FEC in horses from 7 farms, ineffective in horses from 2 farms, and equivocal in horses from 1 farm. Fenbendazole was ineffective at reducing FEC in horses from 9 farms and equivocal in horses from 1 farm. Ivermectin was effective at reducing FEC in horses from all 10 farms. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that cyathostome resistance to fenbendazole is highly prevalent, and resistance to pyrantel pamoate is high enough to warrant concern. Resistance to ivermectin was not detected. On the basis of these data, it appears that ivermectin continues to be fully effective in horses. However, too few farms were used in this study to determine the prevalence of cyathostome resistance to ivermectin. Therefore, the efficacy of ivermectin should continue to be monitored closely.     

Galactose epimeraseless mutants of Salmonella typhimurium as live vaccines for calves.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a galactose epimeraseless mutant of Salmonella typhimurium administered as an oral vaccine to one week old calves and to investigate properties of galactose epimeraseless mutants which affect their virulence and immunogenicity. The galactose epimeraseless mutant S. typhimurium strain G30D caused diarrhea and fever in three calves to which it was administered orally at a dose of 10(10) organisms; all three calves died following challenge with virulent S. typhimurium ten days postvaccination. Mild illness developed in four calves vaccinated with a dose of 9 X 10(6) organisms and one of these calves survived challenge. Three unvaccinated calves died following challenge. The vaccine organism persisted in tissues and was shed for a prolonged period by calves which received 10(10) organisms. Studies of characteristics of galactose epimeraseless mutants of S. typhimurium showed that, in the presence of galactose, there is selection for secondary mutants which are galactose resistant. The studies indicate that galactose epimeraseless mutants of S. typhimurium are not good candidate live vaccine organisms for use in calves.     

Seroprevalence of Q fever (coxiellosis) in sheep from the Southern Marmara Region, Turkey

Little information is available in Turkey on Q fever, a zoonose caused by Coxiella burnetii and transmitted from domestic ruminants. This study aimed at investigating the seroprevalence in sheep flocks from three provinces (Bursa, Balikesir and Canakkale). Serosurvey was undertaken on 42 flocks, which were categorised by sizes. Sera were collected randomly from specific age groups within the young population. CHEKIT Q-fever ELISA kit was used to identify the infection in sheep. The results showed that 20% (n=151) of sheep were seropositive. A total of 34 flocks (81%) revealed at least one seropositive animal. Higher seroprevalence was observed in Balikesir region. Larger flocks resulted more infected than medium and small flocks. An association was found between seropositivity and age, when the primiparous ewes (1-year old) had higher antibodies rates than newborn sheep (aged less than 10 months) or biparous ewes (2 years old). These results showed that Q fever infection was common and circulating in the studied region, hence encourage efforts to propose measures that could reduce the spread and the zoonotic risk.     

Spatial epidemiology of the Asian honey bee mite (Varroa destructor) in the North Island of New Zealand

We describe the spatial epidemiology of Varroa destructor infestation among honey bee apiaries in the greater Auckland area of the North Island of New Zealand. The study population was comprised of 641 apiaries located within the boundaries of the study area on 11 April 2000. Cases were those members of the study population declared Varroa-infested on the basis of testing conducted between April and June 2000. The odds of Varroa was highest in apiaries in the area surrounding transport and storage facilities in the vicinity of Auckland International Airport. A mixed-effects geostatistical model, accounting for spatial extra-binomial variation in Varroa prevalence, showed a 17% reduction in the odds of an apiary being Varroa infested for each kilometre increase in the squared distance from the likely site of incursion (95% Bayesian credible interval 7–28%). The pattern of spatially autocorrelated risk that remained after controlling for the effect of distance from the likely incursion site identified areas thought to be ‘secondary’ foci of Varroa infestation initiated by beekeeper-assisted movement of infested bees. Targeted investigations within these identified areas indicated that the maximum rate of local spread of Varroa was in the order of 12 km/year (interquartile range 10–15 km/year).     

Possible immunoenhancement of persistent viremia by feline leukemia virus envelope glycoprotein vaccines in challenge-exposure situations where whole inactivated virus vaccines were protective

Kittens immunized with purified native FeLV-gp70 or -gp85 envelope proteins developed ELISA, but not virus neutralizing, antibodies in their serum to both whole FeLV and FeLV-gp70. Kittens vaccinated with envelope proteins and infected with feline sarcoma virus (FeSV) developed smaller tumors than nonvaccinates, but a greater incidence of persistent retroviremia. Similarly, FeLV-gp70 and -gp85 vaccinated kittens were more apt to become persistently retroviremic following virulent FeLV challenge exposure than nonvaccinates. Kittens vaccinated with inactivated whole FeLV developed smaller tumors after FeSV inoculation and had a lower incidence of persistent retroviremia than nonvaccinates. The protective effect of inactivated whole FeLV vaccine against persistent retroviremia was also seen with FeLV challenge-exposed cats. Protection afforded by inactivated whole FeLV vaccine was not associated with virus neutralizing antibodies, although ELISA antibodies to both whole FeLV and FeLV-gp70 were induced by vaccination.