Enhanced resistance to cattle grub infestation (Hypoderma lineatum de Vill.) in calves immunized with purified hypodermin A, B and C plus monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL).

The influence of an antigen-specific cellular and humoral immune response, stimulated by immunization, on survival of a challenge infestation of Hypoderma lineatum was investigated. Calves immunized with a purified combination of hypodermin A, B and C plus monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) developed a strong antigen-specific cellular immune response by completion of the immunization schedule which persisted to 12 weeks post-infestation. Responsiveness of peripheral blood lymphocytes to the mitogens concanavalin A and pokeweed was also elevated at 4 and 12 weeks post-infestation. Western blot analysis at the time of maximum grub counts demonstrated that immunized calves responded to hypodermin A, B and C while those receiving only MPL or infested controls responded only to hypodermin B and C. The antigen-specific antibody response as measured by ELISA at maximum grub count was significantly higher in vaccinated calves than in infested controls while the response in calves receiving only immunostimulator was also significantly elevated. Immunized (antigen plus MPL) calves produced 5.0 +/- 6.9 grubs per animal which successfully pupated while those receiving MPL alone produced 16.4 +/- 6.1 and infested controls produced 32.2 +/- 10.9 grubs per animal.     

Hydrologic pathways and chemical composition of runoff during snowmelt in Loch Vale Watershed,Rocky Mountain National Park,Colorado, USA

Intensive sampling of a stream draining an alpine-subalpine basin revealed that depressions in pH and acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) of surface water at the beginning of the spring snowmelt in 1987 and 1988 were not accompanied by increases in strong acid anions, and that surface waters did not become acidic (ANC<0). Samples of meltwater collected at the base of the snowpack in 1987 were acidic and exhibited distinct ‘pulses’ of nitrate and sulfate. Solutions collected with lysimeters in forest soils adjacent to the stream revealed high levels of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total Al. Peaks in concentration of DOC, Al, and nutrient species in the stream samples indicate a flush of soil solution into the surface water at the beginning of the melt. Infiltration of meltwater into soils and spatial heterogeneity in the timing of melting across the basin prevented stream and lake waters from becoming acidic.     

A 115-kD polypeptide immunologically related to erythrocyte band 3 is present in Golgi membranes

Band 3 multigene family consists of several distinct but structurally related polypeptides which are probably involved in the transport of anions across the plasma membrane of both erythrocytes and nonerythroid cells. A novel member of this family of polypeptides that resides in the Golgi complex was identified with antibodies to Band 3. The Golgi antigen had a larger molecular size and was antigenically distinct from Band 3 in the amino-terminal domain. It was expressed most prominently in cells that secrete large amounts of sulfated proteins and proteoglycans. This polypeptide may participate in sulfate transport across Golgi membranes.     

Comparison of antioxidant activity, anthocyanins, carotenoids, and phenolics of three native fresh and sun-dried date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) varieties grown in Oman

Fresh and sun-dried dates of three native varieties from Oman, namely, Fard, Khasab, and Khalas, were examined for their antioxidant activity and total contents of anthocyanins, carotenoids, and phenolics, as well as free and bound phenolic acids. All results are expressed as mean value +/- standard deviation (n = 3) on a fresh weight basis. Fresh date varieties were found to be a good source of antioxidants (11687-20604 micromol of Trolox equiv/g), total contents of anthocyanins (0.24-1.52 mg of cyanidin 3-glucoside equiv/100 g), carotenoids (1.31-3.03 mg/100 g), phenolics (134-280 mg of ferulic acid equiv/100 g), free phenolic acids (2.61-12.27 mg/100 g), and bound phenolic acids (6.84-30.25 mg/100 g). A significant (p < 0.05) amount of antioxidants and carotenoids was lost after sun-drying of dates, whereas the total content of phenolics and free and bound phenolic acids increased significantly (p < 0.05). Anthocyanins were detected only in fresh dates. Date varieties had different levels and patterns of phenolic acids. Four free phenolic acids (protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, and ferulic acid) and nine bound phenolic acids (gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and o-coumaric acid) were tentatively identified. Of the date varieties studied, Khalas, which is considered to be premium quality, had higher antioxidant activity, total carotenoids, and bound phenolic acids than other varieties. These results suggest that all date varieties serve as a good source of natural antioxidants and could potentially be considered as a functional food or functional food ingredient, although some of their antioxidant constituents are lost during sun-drying.     

Immunization of cattle against hypodermatosis (Hypoderma lineatum (deVill.) and H. bovis (L.)) using H. lineatum antigens

The feasibility of immunizing calves against Hypoderma lineatum and H. bovis with a crude H. lineatum larval extract or culture-derived antigen was investigated. Larval survival was followed through pupation. Grub appearance in the backs of both of the immunized groups was found to be 50% of that in the control groups. First appearance of H. bovis was significantly retarded in both immunized groups; however, H. lineatum was unaffected. Duration of H. bovis dropping was also shorter in animals receiving crude extract than in controls while duration of dropping of H. lineatum was not influenced by immunization. Survival of H. lineatum larvae to pupation was significantly reduced in animals immunized with crude larval extract, but not in those receiving culture-derived antigen. H. bovis survival was reduced by both treatments.     

Clinical and topographic magnetic resonance characteristics of suspected brain infarction in 40 dogs

Medical records of 40 dogs presented for evaluation of acute-onset, nonprogressive, intracranial dysfunction by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnosis of brain infarction were reviewed. Location of the brain infarcts was: 11 of 38, telencephalic; 8 of 38, thalamic/midbrain; 18 of 38, cerebellar; and 3 of 38, multifocal. Telencephalic infarcts developed within the territory of the middle cerebral (4/11), rostral cerebral (2/11), and striate (5/11) arteries. Thalamic/midbrain infarcts developed within the territory of perforating arteries of the caudal portion of the thalamus and rostral portion of the brainstem (8/8). All cerebellar infarcts (18/38) were within the territory of the rostral cerebellar artery or one of its branches. All infarcts appeared nonhemorrhagic, with marked contrast enhancement observed in only 3 of 38 dogs, all of which were imaged more than 7 days after the onset of signs of neurologic dysfunction. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences were available from 6 dogs, all imaged within 5 days of the onset of signs of neurologic dysfunction. Suspected infarcts were hyperintense on DWI sequences and were hypointense on the apparent diffusion coefficient map. Telencephalic infarcts caused abnormal mental status, contralateral postural reaction deficit, contralateral nasal hypalgesia, contralateral menace deficit, and ipsilateral circling. Thalamic/midbrain infarcts caused contralateral or ipsilateral postural reaction deficit, contralateral menace deficit, ipsilateral head tilt or turn, nystagmus, ventrolateral strabismus, and anisocoria. Cerebellar infarcts caused ipsilateral asymmetric cerebellar quality ataxia, head tilt, intermittent opisthotonus, nystagmus, and ipsilateral menace deficit with apparent normal vision.