The induction and kinetics of an anti-DNP IgE response in dogs

Twenty-eight dogs immunized to dinitrophenol-ascaris (DNP-ASC) at birth and then three times at two week intervals produced serum anti-DNP antibody. The IgM response was detected one week after primary immunization and lasted for up to five weeks. The IgE and IgG antibody response in general was not present until week three but persisted through the immunization schedule. Although variation in the level and duration of the antibody response was detected between individual dogs, each dog did have a response that included all three isotypes examined.     

Detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus genome in leukocytes from persistently infected cattle by RNA-cDNA hybridization.

A bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) cDNA library was constructed. One cloned complementary DNA sequence was used as a probe to detect BVDV RNA by hybridization in infected cell cultures and in mononuclear leukocytes from persistently infected cattle by dot blot and in situ hybridization. The cDNA probe hybridized with all cytopathic and noncytopathic BVDV isolates tested. The hybridization results were consistent with results obtained using conventional subculturing and immunofluorescent staining methods and by inoculation of seronegative test cattle.     

Fine Structural Aspects of Postnatal Development of Feline Lung

Lung development was studied in late prenatal, 1-, 7-, 14-, and 21-days postnatal and adult cats. Cats were born with a few alveoli, and the lungs appeared to have patches of primitive air spaces (saccules). The saccules of prenatal kittens were thick walled, very cellular, and lined by type II pneumocytes. Eosinophils were observed in the septum, intraepithelially, and in the alveolar space of growing cats. Secondary septa were flanked by a double capillary network and divided saccules into multiple shallow alveoli. Septation was irregular and time dependent and not completed by day 231 of postnatal life. Elastic fibers accumulated at the tip of the septa, seemingly playing an important role in alveolar formation. Type II pneumocytes were located at the base of the secondary septa in growing cats, thus strengthening secondary septa to withstand the stresses of respiration. Pores of Kohn were not observed in growing cats.     

The effect of footrot on body weight and wool growth of sheep

Body weight and traits associated with production of wool were measured over a 2-year period between 1985 and 1987 in south-western New South Wales in a flock of Merino wethers experimentally infected with footrot. The disease was allowed to spread freely amongst 150 of the flock but kept at very low prevalence in the remaining 50 by preventive footbathing during transmission periods. Severe, underrunning footrot had a significant adverse effect on body weight, for each year of the trial. Body weight was most severely reduced at times of the year when footrot was spreading among animals and lesions were severe. The mean body weight of the infected group at the end of the 2 years of observation was 7.3 kg (11.6%) below that of the control group. Footrot also depressed wool growth, with the mean clean fleece weight of the infected group being 0.4 kg (8%) lighter than that of the controls at each of the 2 annual shearings. There were no consistent differences between the groups for the other wool characteristics measured.     

Cross-protective immunity and the serological classification system for Bacteroides nodosus

The relationship between the serological classification system for serogroup B and for serogroup H of Bacteroides nodosus and cross-protection between subgroups within these serogroups was examined. Protection against ovine footrot following vaccination was achieved against other subgroup strains provided sufficient cross-reactive antibody was induced by shared pilus antigens. Within serogroup B, better cross-protection against one subgroup was obtained with a pili vaccine than a whole cell vaccine which correlated with higher pilus antibody titres induced by the former. For serogroup H, a lack of cross-protection and serological reactivity between subgroups was demonstrated, which indicates that the prototype strain of subgroup H2 should be designated a new serogroup.     

Transient glucose malabsorption in two horses fact or artefact?

Two horses, presented for investigation of chronic weight loss despite normal to increased feed intake, had flat oral glucose absorption curves, suggesting malabsorption. The cause of the apparent malabsorption was not evident grossly or on light microscopic examination of the intestinal tract. Both horses survived long term and at follow-up examination had regained weight and their capacity to absorb glucose. These cases illustrate that flat glucose absorption curves may occur in horses with no obvious intestinal lesions, that they may revert to normal and that the results of these tests should be interpreted with caution.