Observations on transplacental infection with bluetongue virus in sheep

Twenty-four ewes were inoculated with 1 of 2 strains of bluetongue virus type 4 at 40, 60, or 80 days of gestation. Two ewes aborted, 2 ewes died, and 1 was killed during the experiment, but their fetuses were recovered. At term, 2 mummified fetuses, 4 dead lambs, and 17 clinically healthy lambs were produced by 12 sheep, and the remaining 7 sheep were barren. Porencephaly and cerebellar dysgenesis were found in term lambs born to sheep inoculated at 40 and 60 days of gestation. Radiographic examination of 12 fetuses showed developmental ages far less than their chronologic age; 8 fetuses had skeletal growth-retardation lines, which were also observed in the dead lambs. A systemic lymphoreticular hyperplasia was observed in the dead lambs and in all lambs at 12 weeks of age; in 4 of the latter, granulomatous reactions were present in the liver and kidney. Lungs of the full-term lambs were reduced in weight and showed poor alveolar development and mononuclear cell infiltration, which persisted in the 12-week-old lambs. It was concluded that bluetongue virus is capable of causing not only gross abnormalities of the CNS, but also generalized growth retardation and fetal lymphoreticular hyperplasia.     

Comparative antigenic analysis of extracellular proteins of Bacteroides nodosus isolated from virulent and benign ovine footrot

Antigens in the extracellular protein (ECP) complexes of Bacteroides nodosus, isolated from sheep with either benign or virulent footrot, were studied by immunoelectrophoresis (IEP). Rabbit antisera against ECP from virulent and benign strains, were used in homologous and heterologous crossed IEP. Four precipitin peaks unique to the virulent strain, and five peaks unique to the benign strain were identified. In an attempt to characterize the different antigens in ECP, rabbit antisera were raised against an outer membrane protein (OMP, mol. wt. 35 000 daltons), pili and various proteases of virulent and benign strains of B. nodosus. No precipitin band was observed when ECP from both B. nodosus strains were reacted against anti-OMP and anti-pilus antisera. However, single precipitin bands unique to one protease from the benign strain and one protease from the virulent strain were identified. The results suggest that specific antigens other than proteases or pili are important in determining whether a B. nodosus isolate is virulent or benign.     

Neutrophil function in the dog: shape change and response to a synthetic tripeptide

Isolated dog neutrophils exposed to known chemotactic factors assumed a bipolar configuration in suspension. This response was initiated within 2 minutes with a gradual return to spherical shape. The rate of return to sphere was positively correlated with the dose of stimulant. Dog neutrophils exposed to N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) did not adapt to bipolar conformation and did not bind radiolabeled fMLP. These findings are consistent with other species (pig and cow) that also did not respond to fMLP.     

水杨酸对桃树花期抗寒性的影响

在华北和东北地区桃树花期低温(0℃左右)引起坐果率严重下降的现象时有发生。以管理手段延迟花期成本较高。水杨酸(SA)能诱导抗氰呼吸，有产热效应。本试验对施用外源SA降低桃树花期低温伤害的效应进行了研究，期望为桃树花期提供低成本的抗寒手段。     

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.     

植物病原荧光假单胞杆菌数值分类研究

 采用数值分类法研究了来自21种寄主植物96个病原荧光假单胞菌菌株(包括5株非荧光菌)的分类问题。结果表明,所有参试荧光菌菌株可分成两大组,第一组(组I)生长较慢,精氨酸双水解酶呈阴性,营养谱窄,多数菌株不利用DL-苯丙氨酸,L-苯丙氨酸,L-羟脯氨酸,L-异亮氨酸,L-色氨酸,L-瓜氨酸,DL-nor-缬氨酸,L-胱氨酸,单宁酸和鼠李糖作为唯一碳源,不能利用天冬氨酸作为唯一碳源和氮源,而第二组(组Ⅱ)的菌株可利用这些化合物。组I的菌株可分为10个亚组(I₁-I₁₀),亚组与致病变种或命名种基本对应,与寄主来源密切相关;亚组间的区别在于它们利用底物的能力不同。组Ⅱ均具有精氨酸双水解酶,营养谱广泛。     

Passive protection of mice with antiserum to neuraminidase fromPasteurella multocida serotype A:3

Antiserum to a partially purified neuraminidase fromPasteurella multocida, type A:3, was adsorbed with protease-digestedP. multocida type 3 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to remove LPS immunoreactivity. The LPS-adsorbed antineuraminidase caused a 77% reduction in the neuraminidase activity of homologousP. multocida in anin vitro enzyme neutralization test. All 14 mice passively immunized with the adsorbed antineuraminidase were protected against challenge infection with homologousP. multocida in a mouse protection test. Ten out of 14 mice in one group that received antisera containing antibodies to both neuraminidase and LPS were protected. In contrast, only 1 out of 14 mice that were immunized with pre-immune serum survived the challenge. These results suggest that antiserum toP. multocida neuraminidase was, at least partly, responsible for the protection observed in this study. Neuraminidase may be one of the immunogenic protective proteins present in aqueous extracts ofPasteurella multocida.     

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.     

Differential leucocyte responses to various degrees of food restriction in broilers, turkeys and ducks.

1. White blood cell responses of broilers, turkeys and ducks were examined at regular intervals after being subjected to various degrees of food restriction. 2. Restricted-fed broilers showed increases in heterophil and basophil numbers, together with a corresponding decrease in lymphocytes. The heterophil/lymphocyte ratio was raised. There were no differences between broiler strains. 3. After only one week of feeding restricted diets, heterophils were significantly raised in selected and unselected 2-week-old ducks. At 21 weeks of age, those ducks receiving 50% of food required to achieve their ad libitum-fed body weight had raised heterophils. 4. Ducks receiving food to achieve 25% of ad libitum-fed birds produced a marked basophilia, but no heterophilia. 5. After two weeks of food restriction, turkeys responded with significant heterophil/lymphocyte ratios following two degrees of restricted feeding. 6. It was concluded that in some poultry, a heterophilia may be the response to mild to moderate stress but a basophilia may result after severely stressing birds.     

绵羊瘤胃微生物胞外蛋白酶性质的研究

本试验测定了pH、温度和EDTA对纯化的绵羊的瘤胃微生物胞外蛋白酶活性的影响,并用一已知氨基酸排列顺序的肽段(由15个氨基酸组成)作为底物,进一步测定了蛋白酶的酶切位点。结果表明,(1)纯化蛋白酶的最适pH在6.0～6.5之间,最适温度为40℃左右。(2)不同浓度的EDTA(浓度分别为1,10,25,50,75和100mM)对蛋白酶活性没有影响,因而该酶属于丝氨酸蛋白酶类。(3)纯化蛋白酶是一种内肽酶,其酶切位点在组氨酸—酪氨酸(?)、天冬氨酸—丙氨酸(?)、亮氨酸—赖氨酸(?)和(或)缬氨酸—赖氨酸(?)相连的肽键。(4)胰蛋白酶和纯化的蛋白酶虽同属丝氨酸蛋白酶类,但前者对底物具有高度的专一性,后者对底物的专一性不强,这是瘤胃内饲料蛋白质强烈降解的主要原因之