The pathology of disseminated Aspergillus terreus infection in dogs

Disseminated Aspergillus terreus infection was diagnosed in ten previously healthy adult dogs--nine German shepherds and one dalmatian. The disease was characterized by the presence of multiple granulomas and infarcts in a wide range of organs. The kidney, spleen, and skeletal system were most commonly and severely affected. Fungal hyphae were demonstrated in large numbers within granulomas and thrombi, and A. terreus was readily isolated by culture. This disseminated mycosis appears unique; in this series of cases there was no apparent predisposing factor, portal of entry, or primary focus for dissemination of the infection.     

Association of tumor-associated antigen on the proliferation of bovine leukemia virus-infected lymphoblastoid B-cell lines.

The association of tumor-associated antigen (TAA) on the proliferation of BLV-infected lymphoblastoid B-cell lines (BL2M3 and BL312) was investigated. Flow cytometric analysis of the expression of TAA with monoclonal antibody (mAb) c143 showed high expression of TAA on the surfaces of BL2M3 and BL312 cells. A large amount of TAA was found in the culture supernatant of BL2M3 and BL312 cells as well as in the lysates of BL2M3 and BL312 cells. Culture supernatant but not lysates of BL2M3 and BL312 cells promoted the growth of either BL2M3 cells or BL312 cells. Furthermore, this growth promoting activity in culture supernatants of BL2M3 and BL312 cells was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner when cultured with mAb c143. These results suggested that TAA may be involved in the growth factor-mediated cell growth of bovine B-lymphoblastoid cell lines expressing TAA on their cell surface.     

Estrogen and progesterone receptor status of mammary carcinomas and correlation with clinical outcome in dogs.

Estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER, PR) were measured in cytosol fractions from 18 primary canine mammary carcinomas by use of biochemical assays. One or both receptors were detected (> 10 fmol/mg of cytosol protein) in 11 tumors: 5 ER and PR; 2 ER only; 4 PR only. Mean cytoplasmic receptor concentrations (fmol/mg of cytosol protein) were 22.8 +/- 2.9 (SEM) for ER and 51.0 +/- 10.3 for PR in tumors containing ER and PR, 28.8 +/- 12.1 for ER in tumors containing only ER and 13.2 +/- 1.5 for PR in tumors containing only PR. Estrogen or progesterone receptors or both were identified in 6 of 9 tubular adenocarcinomas, 4 of 5 papillary adenocarcinomas, and 1 of 1 squamous cell carcinoma. These receptors were not identified in solid carcinomas (n = 2) or a single spindle cell carcinoma. Although the number of cases was limited, survival times of dogs tended to be longest in those with tumors containing ER alone or in combination with PR, intermediate in those with tumors containing only PR, and shortest in those with tumors without ER or PR. A correlation was not apparent between receptor status and age, presence of ovaries, tumor size, or histologic classification of the tumor. In the analysis of this series, the extent of surgery (mastectomy of the involved gland vs unilateral or bilateral mastectomy) did not appear to influence the outcome of the disease, and metastasis to regional lymph nodes did not appear to be a reliable prognostic indicator.     

Rhinoscopy in dogs and cats]

Rostral and caudal rhinoscopy in dogs and cats facilitates the investigation of the nasal cavity and accurate biopsy. Rostral rhinoscopy can be performed by rigid endoscopes; caudal rhinoscopy requires flexible endoscopes. Deep anaesthesia or additional analgesia with local anaesthesia is necessary. The nasal cavity is assessed by its form, colour, surface of the mucous membrane, hyperemia, plaques, lesions, and the secretion is assessed by its quantity, colour and viscosity. Foreign bodies and neoplasia must also be looked for. Case reports with abnormal findings are described.     

Infection of bovine fetuses at 120 days' gestation with virulent and avirulent strains of bluetongue virus serotype 11.

Bluetongue virus infection in sheep and cattle during fetal development causes neuropathology. Two strains of bluetongue virus serotype 11 designated as UC-2 and UC-8 have different virulence patterns in newborn mice. These viruses have distinctly different electropherotype patterns on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicating a genetic difference in these two viruses of the same serotype. Four bovine fetuses each were inoculated intramuscularly with either UC-2 or UC-8, and one fetus was inoculated with placebo. The inoculation was made intramuscularly through the uterine wall at 120 days' gestation, and the bovine fetuses were recovered by cesarean section 12 or 20 days after inoculation. Fetal blood was collected for virus isolation and serology. Virus was reisolated from brain, blood, lung and liver. Both strains, UC-2 and UC-8, cause severe lesions in the 120 day fetuses. The encephalomalacic lesions occurred earlier and were more severe in fetuses inoculated with UC-8 as compared to those inoculated with UC-2. The subtle differences observed in the fetuses inoculated with the two different strains suggest that there is a difference in pathogenic potential of the two viruses. These differences do not appear to be completely dependent upon the host species.     

Feline immunodeficiency virus neurotropism: evidence that astrocytes and microglia are the primary target cells.

To investigate the neuropathogenesis of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection in vitro, we have utilized three populations of cultured feline neural cells (astrocytes, microglia, brain endothelium) to assess the relative susceptibility to FIV infection, ability to produce viral antigens, and effects of infection on cell survival. Astrocytes appeared to be the most susceptible to infection, followed by microglia, whereas brain endothelial cells were relatively resistant to infection. Astrocyte infection resulted in syncytium formation and cell death, while microglial cells remained persistently and productively infected, without obvious cytopathic effects. These results suggest that FIV entry into the central nervous system probably does not occur via infected endothelium and that both astrocytes and microglia are more likely target cells for the virus.     

Populations of Salmonella typhimurium in internal organs of experimentally infected carrier swine.

Experiments were conducted to determine comparative populations of Salmonella typhimurium in the most commonly infected body organs of long-term carrier swine. Naturally farrowed Salmonella-free pigs (n = 58) were orally exposed to S typhimurium when they were 47 days old. Necropsy of 3 to 5 randomly selected pigs was conducted at 3, 7, 10, 14, and 17 days and at 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, and 28 weeks after exposure. Mean populations (log10/g) of S typhimurium in palatine tonsils, ileum, cecum (wall and contents), ascending colon (wall and contents), and mandibular and ileocolic lymph nodes were estimated at each necropsy, using a most-probable-number method of bacteriologic examination. Populations of organisms in cecum and colon were similar to each other throughout the duration of the study. Mean populations (log10/g) associated with cecal and colonic walls decreased from 6.1 and 6.6, respectively, during the first postexposure (PE) week to less than or equal to 1.67 from PE weeks 4 to 28. Populations (log10/g) associated with cecal and colonic contents decreased from 5.6 and 5.5, respectively, at PE day 3 to 2.5 and 2.7, respectively, at PE week 4, and remained less than or equal to 2.8 until week 28. Populations (log10/g) associated with intestinal walls and contents were closely correlated during the study. Population (log10/g) in the ileum was greater than or equal to 5.3 from PE days 3 to 17, then varied between 5.4 and -0.4 up to PE week 28.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Xylazine and tiletamine-zolazepam anesthesia in horses

The cardiopulmonary and anesthetic effects of xylazine in combination with a 1:1 mixture of tiletamine and zolazepam were determined in 6 horses. Each horse was given xylazine IV or IM, as well as tiletamine-zolazepam IV on 4 randomized occasions. Anesthetics were administered at the rate of 1.1 mg of xylazine/kg of body weight, IV, 1.1 mg of tiletamine-zolazepam/kg, IV (treatment 1); 1.1 mg of xylazine/kg, IV, 1.65 mg of tiletamine-zolazepam/kg, IV (treatment 2); 1.1 mg of xylazine/kg, IV, 2.2 mg of tiletamine-zolazepam/kg, IV (treatment 3); and 2.2 mg of xylazine/kg, IM, 1.65 mg of tiletamine-zolazepam/kg, IV (treatment 4). Tiletamine-zolazepam doses were the sum of tiletamine plus zolazepam. Xylazine, when given IV, was given 5 minutes before tiletamine-zolazepam. Xylazine, when given IM, was given 10 minutes before tiletamine-zolazepam. Tiletamine-zolazepam induced recumbency in all horses. Duration of recumbency in group 1 was 31.9 +/- 7.2 (mean +/- 1 SD) minutes. Increasing the dosage of tiletamine-zolazepam (treatments 2 and 3) significantly (P less than 0.05) increased the duration of recumbency. Xylazine caused significant (P less than 0.05) decreases in heart rate and cardiac output and significant (P less than 0.05) increases in central venous pressure and mean pulmonary artery pressure 5 minutes after administration. Respiratory rate was decreased. Arterial blood pressures increased significantly (P less than 0.05) after xylazine was administered IV in treatments 1 and 3, but the increases were not significant in treatment 2. Xylazine administered IM caused significant (P less than 0.05) increases in central venous pressure and significant (P less than 0.05) decreases in cardiac output.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Flowering events in relation to smut susceptibility in pearl millet

In field experiments at ICRISAT, selected lines of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) resistant and susceptible to smut (Tolyposporium penicillariae) were evaluated for the timing of flowering events. In smut-resistant lines, the time from the boot-leaf stage (inoculation) to stigma emergence varied in the range 46–120 h, from boot to anther emergence 105–190 h, and from stigma emergence to anther emergence (protogyny period) 59–131 h; in smut-susceptible lines, the corresponding periods were 62–140 h, 146–200 h and 44–120 h, respectively. There were no significant correlations between timing of events and smut severity. Three cytoplasmically male-sterile lines showed longer protogyny periods and higher smut severity than their corresponding maintainer lines. Four lines having short protogyny periods (22–52 h) and resistance to ergot (Claviceps fusiformis) also showed high resistance to smut. Resistance to smut in most ergot-susceptible lines was independent of the timing of flow ering events, but in ergot-resistant lines it could be closely related to flowering events.     

Systemic and pulmonary antibody responses of calves to Pasteurella haemolytica after intrapulmonary inoculation.

Systemic and pulmonary antibody responses of calves to Pasteurella haemolytica were evaluated by measuring immunoglobulin production in blood for 9 days and in pulmonary lavage fluid for 7 days after intrapulmonary inoculation. Clinical signs, pulmonary lesions, pulmonary and systemic inflammatory response, and amount of antigen in lavage fluid were used to evaluate the response of calves to challenge with P haemolytica. The pulmonary response consisted of production of IgG, IgE, and IgM antibodies to P haemolytica antigens and a 17- to 68-fold increase of cells in lavage fluid 8 hours after inoculation, with a gradual decrease toward normal. Antibodies of the IgM isotype to P haemolytica were demonstrated as early as 8 hours through 7 days after inoculation in 3 of 3 calves. Of the anti-P haemolytica isotypes, IgM was found in the highest concentration. In all of the inoculated calves, IgE was found 1 to 2 days after inoculation, and IgG was found in 2 of 3 inoculated calves from day 1 through 7 after inoculation. Detection of IgG correlated with smaller pulmonary lesions. Immunoglobulin A was not detected in lavage fluid. Serum was evaluated for IgG and IgM antibody response to P haemolytica. Specific IgM was detectable 5 days after inoculation, and IgG was detectable 7 days after inoculation. Pasteurella haemolytica antigens were not detected in serum or plasma. A transient increase in neutrophil count was found 8 hours after inoculation, with return to baseline values by 24 hours after inoculation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)