Immune response in pigs to Aujeszky's disease viruses defective in glycoprotein g1 or gX.

Two Aujeszky's disease virus glycoprotein genes, gX and g1, have been used to produce deletion mutants which have then been developed into vaccines. These deletions then allow differentiation between pigs infected with wild type virus and those given the vaccine. It is not clear whether the glycoproteins encoded for by these genes are needed to induce a full protective immune response, in which case deletion mutants would suffer from lack of potency. To test this, commercially available Aujeszky's virus vaccines which lacked either gX or g1 were compared and isogenic constructs were made which differed only in the absence or presence of gX and, or, g1. These constructs and vaccines were used to vaccinate the natural host of Aujeszky's disease, the pig, and potency was measured using challenge with wild type virus. In all cases vaccines which lacked g1 performed significantly less well than those in which g1 was present, whereas deletions of gX had no significant effect on vaccine performance.     

Distribution Et Écologie de Quelques MammifèRes de L’est du Congo

1. C. kraussi in the Swartkops river estuary in South Africa has a major breeding period in winter-spring (May-July/August) and a minor breeding period in summer (November-January).

2. A maximum of 43 per cent of ovigerous mature females was recorded. Females in the 8 and 9 mm carapace-size classes make the major contribution to the breeding effort.

3. Recruitment is very marked with 60-80 per cent of the population consisting of juveniles at times.

4. Both sexes live for about two years. Females hatching in winter-spring may breed first in summer at an age of about 16-18 months and then again in the following winter at an age of about two years. Females hatching in summer breed first in winter at an age of about 18 months and some in the following summer at an age of about two years.

5. Breeding and growth in C. kraussi is compared with that in other known callianassids, and discussed in relation to estuarine eco-systems and conservation measures.     

Elytron length and sexual dimorphism in Zonocerus elegans (Thunb.), (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae)

Adults of the African pyrgomorphid grasshopper, Zonocerus elegans Thunberg, exhibit strong alar polymorphism, especially in the male sex, with wings either vestigial or fully developed. Analysis of body and elytron lengths of about 400 insects revealed sexual dimorphism, females being larger than males, and showed a bimodal distribution for wing length. The difference in average wing length between long-winged and short-winged forms was 14 mm. Since the two distributions (short and long) do not overlap, they would correspond closely to the subsidiary infra-subspecific categories f. brachyptera and f. macroptera, respectively, although even wings of the lower macroptera range seem to be vestigial, i.e. imperfectly developed and useless for flight.     

California National Animal Health Monitoring System for meat-turkey flocks, 1988-1989: diagnostic testing results.

Six hundred fourteen meat turkeys were submitted for necropsy from 24 California ranches as part of the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS). Enteritis was the most frequent pathologic diagnosis in birds 18 days old or younger and the second most frequent diagnosis in birds 19-70 days old. Hemorrhagic enteritis was the most frequent diagnosis in birds aged 19-70 days. Tibial dyschondroplasia, bronchopneumonia, and ascaridiasis were ranked one through three in frequency of diagnoses in birds over 70 days of age. Salmonella was isolated from 71% of flocks tested, and Mycoplasma meleagridis was isolated from 33% of tested flocks over 70 days of age. Antibodies to several disease agents were detected, including hemorrhagic enteritis (100% of flocks over 70 days old) and Newcastle disease (63% of flocks over 70 days old).     

Intraocular hemorrhage in a goat with thrombocytopenia and metastasis of an adenocarcinoma in the iris

This case report describes the findings in a 10-year-old goat with metastasis of an adenocarcinoma in the iris. Two weeks before admission, the owner had noticed blepharospasm of the left eye. Clinical examination by the referring veterinarian revealed unilateral intraocular hemorrhage. The goat was referred to our clinic for further work-up. The rectal temperature was 40 degrees C. The most important haematological result was severe thrombocytopenia. There was mild corneal oedema of the left eye. Approximately 75 per cent of the anterior chamber was filled with non-coagulated blood. The fluid in the anterior chamber dorsal to the blood was cloudy, and the corpora nigra could not be seen clearly. All other internal parts of the eye could not be seen. Ultrasonography of the left eye confirmed cloudiness of the anterior chamber and revealed moderate thickening of the iris. The right prescapular lymph node was markedly enlarged. Cytological examination of a fine needle aspirate of the lymph node showed a mixed population of neoplastic cells. Based on immunohistochemical evaluation of the cells metastasis of a carcinoma was diagnosed. The goat was subjected to euthanasia, and a postmortem examination was carried out. The anterior chamber of the left eye contained blood, and the iris was thicker than normal and adhered to the posterior surface of the cornea. There were neoplastic alterations in the iris, the oesophagus, the lung lobes, the liver, the kidney and in the prescapular, retropharyngeal, mediastinal and hepatic lymph nodes. Histologically, a diagnosis of carcinoma was confirmed, but the origin of the tumour could not be determined.     

Thyroid hormones concentrations and ECG picture in the dog

Disorders of the thyroid gland activity are the most commonly encountered disturbances of endocrine origin in the dog. Hypo- or hyperthyroidism may disturb the function of the cardiovascular system and cause arrhythmias. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of thyroid gland activity on electrocardiogram (ECG) picture in the dog by comparing ECG curves of healthy dogs, dogs with hypothyroidism and dogs with cardiac insufficiency caused by endocardiosis of the mitral valve. The study was performed on 38 dogs, patients of the Department of Internal and Parasitic Diseases with Clinic for Horses, Dogs and Cats in Wroc?aw. The animals were assigned to 3 groups: Group I--control group, 13 clinically healthy dogs; Group II--14 dogs with diagnosed cardiac insufficiency caused by endocardiosis of the mitral valve; Group III--11 dogs with hypothyroidism. Clinical examination of the animals was conducted according to the following pattern: anamnesis, general clinical examination, cardiological examination (ECG, USG of the heart) and laboratory analysis (triacylglycerydes, cholesterol, T3, T4, FT4). In this study, the significant influence of thyroid gland activity on ECG picture of the evaluated dogs was found. In the dogs with hypothyroidism a decrease in the sino-atrial node activity was observed, which led to decreased heart rate. In dogs with hypothyroidism, the innerheart conduction was reduced, which was demonstrated by prolongation of the P wave, QRS complex and the QT interval.     

Evaluation of veld potential in east griqualand using beef cattle under two grazing management systems

Abstract

Beef production from veld, in the short term, was found to be greater under a continuous grazing system than under a rotational grazing system. Average daily gains decreased from a maximum in late‐spring and the highest three‐year mean value was 0,5 kg/animal/day. Livemass gains/ha were highest at a stocking rate of 2,2 animals/ha and were 131,4 kg/ha under continuous grazing and 88,6 kg/ha under rotational grazing. Estimated mean maximum gains/ha were 0,78 kg/ha/day at a stocking rate of 2,5 animals/ha under continuous grazing and 0,55 kg/ha/day at a stocking rate of 1,7 animals/ha under rotational grazing. However, optimum economic stocking rates were estimated to occur below those where beef production/ha was maximum.     

Ultrasonography of the urinary tract in 29 female Saanen goats

The left and right kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder and urethra of 29 female clinically healthy Saanen goats were examined via transcutaneous and transrectal ultrasonography. In order to establish reference values the examinations were performed using a 5.0 MHz linear transducer to scan the right caudal costal part of the abdominal wall, right and left dorsal flanks and right and left inguinal regions of standing goats. A 5.0 MHz intracavity probe was used for transrectal ultrasonographic examination of the urinary bladder and urethra. The kidneys were examined in longitudinal and cross section and assessed subjectively. They could usually be seen from the 12th intercostal space on the right side and dorsal right flank. The right kidney was 8.0 ± 0.67 cm long and the left was 8.4 ± 0.64 cm long. The ureters could not be visualized in any of the goats. The length of the urinary bladder was 5.1 ± 1.38 cm, and its largest cross-sectional diameter was 2.6 ± 1.01 cm. The urethra was seen in 23 goats and appeared as echogenic lines with no visible lumen. The transition from the neck of the bladder to the internal urethral orifice extended beyond the brim of the pelvis in only one goat.     

Population diversity of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine mastitis in Brazilian dairy herds

Population diversity was evaluated in strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine mastitis in Brazilian dairy herds by PCR-RFLP and sequencing of the 3'-terminal portion of the coagulase gene, and the susceptibility of strains to antimicrobials. The results showed great diversity in S. aureus population studied and the existence of predominant clones that account for most infections. No associations between the predominant types observed in the PCR-RFLP and the forms of presentation of the mastitis or to any of the different patterns of antimicrobial resistance were observed.