Isolation of picornavirus from feces and semen from an infertile bull.

Virus was isolated from semen and fecal samples from a bull with orchitis, testicular degeneration, aspermatogenesis, and loss of libido. Both isolates were classified as picornavirus, bovine enterovirus serotype I, on the basis of physical, chemical, and serologic characteristics. Veterinary practitioners that may suspect viral infection as a cause of bovine infertility should submit both semen and fecal samples for virus isolation and identification.     

Responses of immune and nonimmune adult rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) to adenovirus SV-20.

Adenovirus SV-20 (ASV-20) was inoculated subcutaneously into adult rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), and various immunologic parameters were studied. Similar changes were observed in macaques that had anti-ASV-20 serum-neutralizing antibodies prior to inoculation and in those lacking detectable antibodies. There were absolute decreases in numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), erythrocyte-rosetting lymphocytes, complement-receptor lymphocytes, and Fc-receptor lymphocytes. These changes were most significant (P less than 0.05) on postinoculation days (PID) 3 and 7. Mitogenic responsiveness to concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, and pokeweed mitogen in cultured PBL from immune and nonimmune macaques was depressed on PID 3, 7, and 14. Ultraviolet-inactivated ASV-20 caused moderate suppression of phytohemagglutinin-induced mitogenesis when viral particles and lectin were added simultaneously to PBL cultures. Plasma cortisol (hydrocortisone) values were not significantly altered following inoculation of ASV-20. High titers of anti-ASV-20 antibody developed by PID 7 in nonimmune macaques, and previously immune macaques showed a booster effect in the same time period. Antibody titers were still increased 120 days after inoculation. There was no clinical evidence of an adverse effect of ASV-20 infection in these macaques.     

The influence of temperature on the development of Moniezia expansa (Rudolphi, 1810) in oribatid mites

The life cycle of Moniezia expansa was studied experimentally using 10 species of oribatid mites as intermediate hosts. Four of them became infected, namely Scheloribates laevigatus (76.2%), Sch. latipes (70.8%), Liacarus coracinus (20%) and Platynothrus peltifer (1.1%). The last was found for the first time to serve as intermediate host of M. expansa in Czechoslovakia. The development of the cysticercoid of M. expansa in the oribatid mites at 28 degrees C and 85% relative humidity is completed within 27 days. At 18-20 degrees C and the same relative humidity the development lasts even 97 days.     

Scanning electron microscopic studies on males of trichinella species

Ultrastructure of the cuticle and pseudobursa of adult males of four species of Trichinella has been studied by SEM. T. nativa differs markedly from T. spiralis, T. nelsoni and Trichinella sp. in the form of the pseudobursa. Trichinella sp. differs only slightly from T. spiralis and T. nelsoni. The ultrastructure of the cuticle revealed no characters suitable for the differentiation of the taxons under study.     

DDT in northern pike (Esox lucius) from the Richelieu River, Québec, Canada, 1974-75

Concentrations of DDT, TDE, DDE, and sigma DDT were determined in homogenized whole fish samples of 129 northern pike (Esox lucius). These fish were netted between June 1974 and June 1975 in the first 10 km of the Richelieu River flowing in Canadian territory. Two years after the banning of DDT, sigma DDT levels ranged from 0.2 ppm fresh body weight in two-year-old specimens to 1.5 ppm in a six-year-old pike. Residues increased greatly with age, and significant seasonal variations in the sigma DDT levels were found in five- and six-year-old pike.