The immunoprophylaxis of of rotavirus infections in lambs.

The effect of colostrum or serum feeding on subsequent rotavirus infections was investigated in neonatal gnotobiotic lambs. Immunity after feeding colostrum did not depend on absorption of passively acquired antibody into the circulation. Protection against clinical disease depended on the volume of colostrum ingested. The protection afforded by feeding serum was specific, since serum free of rotavirus antibody failed to confer protection. Immune serum fed at a rate of 2.5 ml per kg twice daily protected against rotavirus infection. Also, it was shown by intraperitoneal inoculation of immune serum that protection could occur in the absence of ingested antibody, presumably by transfer of antibody into the gut. The implications of these findings for immunoprophylaxis of rotavirus diarrhoea in lambs and calves are discussed.     

A comparison of red and white light and high and low dietary protein regimes for growing pullets

Medium‐weight hybrid pullets were used to test the effects of (a) providing red instead of white light from 3 to 18 weeks of age and (b) feeding a diet containing 15\ per cent crude protein from 6 to 12 weeks followed by one containing 12 \ per cent crude protein to 18 weeks of age instead of feeding the first‐mentioned diet from 8 to 18 weeks of age.

Results showed that these alternative rearing practices had only a small influence on performance. On balance, any immediate advantages resulting from the use of red light and/or low‐protein food were outweighed by disadvantages which arose in the subsequent laying period.     

Development of a combined clostridial and Pasteurella haemolytica vaccine for sheep

The efficacy of a multicomponent clostridial vaccine containing Pasteurella haemolytica antigens was tested in specific pathogen free or conventionally reared lambs exposed to experimental infection with P haemolytica serotypes A1, A2 or A6. In four experiments assessment was based upon the findings of clinical, pathological and bacteriological examinations. Three experiments carried out in conventionally reared lambs demonstrated protection against challenge infection with P haemolytica serotypes A1, A2 and A6 in vaccinated lambs. However, the inconsistency of the disease induced in these experiments emphasised the need to perform definitive studies in specific pathogen free conditions. The final experiment was carried out with specific pathogen free lambs and confirmed the efficacy of the multicomponent clostridial vaccine containing P haemolytica antigen in protecting against the effects of infection with P haemolytica serotype A6. In addition, this experiment indicated that the inclusion of several components in a vaccine did not affect the efficacy of an individual antigenic component.     

Granulated lysozyme as an alternative to antibiotics improves growth performance and small intestinal morphology of 10-day-old pigs

Lysozyme is a 1,4-β-N-acetylmuramidase that has antimicrobial properties. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of a purified granulated lysozyme, compared with antibiotics, on growth performance, small intestinal morphology, and Campylobacter shedding in 10-d-old pigs. Forty-eight pigs (n = 16 per treatment), with an initial BW of 4.0 ± 0.1 kg (P > 0.40), were weaned at 10 d of age, blocked by litter and sex, and assigned to pens (8 pigs/pen). Each block was randomly assigned to consume 1 of 3 liquid dietary treatments for 14 d: a control diet, the control diet + lysozyme (100 mg/kg of diet), or the control diet + antibiotics (neomycin and oxytetracycline, 16 mg/kg of diet). Pigs were weighed and blood was sampled on d 0, 7, and 14. Blood was analyzed for plasma urea N and IgA. After 14 d of treatment, pigs were killed and samples of the jejunum and ileum were collected and fixed to measure villus height and crypt depth. Rectal swabs were taken on d 0, 7, and 14 of treatment, and samples of ileal and cecal contents were taken at d 14 of treatment to determine the presence of Campylobacter. Pigs consuming lysozyme and antibiotics gained BW at a faster rate than did control pigs over the course of the study (402 ± 12 and 422 ± 14 g/d, respectively, vs. 364 ± 14 g/d; P < 0.02), resulting in heavier ending BW (9.9 ± 0.3, 9.9 ± 0.3, and 9.0 ± 0.2 kg for pigs in the lysozyme, antibiotic, and control groups, respectively; P < 0.03). Immunoglobulin A decreased and plasma urea N increased over the course of the study (P < 0.1), regardless of dietary treatment (P > 0.6). Crypt depth was increased in pigs fed lysozyme- and antibiotic-treated diets, compared with pigs fed the control diet, in both the jejunum (60.0 ± 2.8 and 62.2 ± 3.0 μm, respectively, vs. 50.7 ± 3.1 μm; P < 0.03) and ileum (76.0 ± 7.5 and 72.2 ± 5.0 μm, respectively, vs. 52.4 ± 3.5 μm; P < 0.02). Villus height did not differ in the jejunum (P > 0.2) but was increased in the ileum of pigs consuming the lysozyme- and antibiotic-treated diets, compared with pigs fed the control diet (312 ± 20 and 314 ± 10 μm, respectively, vs. 263 ± 15 μm; P < 0.4). Small intestinal total mucosa and mucosal protein concentrations, as well as disaccharidase-specific activities, were not altered by lysozyme or antibiotics (P > 0.05). Campylobacter was detected in 27% of control samples but in only 5% of samples from pigs fed antibiotics and 8% of samples from pigs fed lysozyme (P < 0.01). Thus, granulated lysozyme is a suitable alternative to antibiotics for 10-d-old pigs consuming manufactured liquid diets.     

Postmortem titin proteolysis is influenced by sarcomere length in bovine muscle

The calpain protease system, in particular, μ-calpain is involved in the disassembly of specific myofibrillar proteins, resulting in tenderization of meat postmortem. Given the size, complexity, and integral nature of titin to the structure of the sarcomere, it is plausible that the length of a sarcomere may alter the susceptibility of various domains of titin to cleavage by the calpains. Therefore, we hypothesized titin degradation differs in a sarcomere-length-dependent manner in beef. After slaughter, beef carcasses were split and sides were either suspended by the Achilles tendon (normal suspension, NS) or by the aitchbone (hip suspension, HS). Immediately after suspension, samples were dissected from the LM, psoas major (PM), and semitendinosus (STN) muscles to serve as 0-d controls. After 24 h, 4 steaks were removed from each muscle and randomly assigned to 1-, 4-, 7-, or 10-d aging treatments. After the assigned aging period, myofibrils were purified for determination of sarcomere length. Warner-Bratzler shear force analysis was also performed to evaluate differences in tenderness. Muscle proteins were solubilized and subjected to SDS-VAGE (vertical agarose gel electrophoresis) to evaluate titin degradation. Sarcomere lengths differed (P < 0.0001) between contralateral muscles of NS and HS carcasses. Quantification of SDS-VAGE gels revealed less (P < 0.05) intact titin in the PM muscle of NS carcasses at each aging period compared with the PM of HS carcasses. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were detected in the disappearance of intact titin among suspension methods in the LM or STN. These data demonstrate that suspension method alters proteolysis of titin and suggest an increase in sarcomere length may contribute to the susceptibility of titin to postmortem proteolysis in beef.     

Antelopes in The Pleistocene of Southern Africa

The study area of 2 786 ha contained over 200 springbok. The data were gathered during 78 separate day visits over four years. The most important social groups were (1) nursery herds of females and young; (2) harem herds similar to (1) but containing one adult male; (3) bachelor herds of males; and (4) solitary males. Other groupings, e.g. mixed adults of both sexes, were very uncommon. About twice as many adult females were to be found in harem herds as in nursery herds. The mean size of female herds (1 and 2 above) was between seven and nine animals (range 2-40) and of bachelor herds about five animals (range 2-14). Rutting and lambing tended to be seasonal. The lambing peak appeared to be about mid-September, though lambs were seen in every month September-April. It is suggested that lambing is correlated with the onset of Spring rains. Courtship activity seemed to be most intense during February-April. The adult sex ratio was about 85 males : 100 females.     

Bartonella species detection in captive, stranded and free-ranging cetaceans

We present prevalence of Bartonella spp. for multiple cohorts of wild and captive cetaceans. One hundred and six cetaceans including 86 bottlenose dolphins (71 free-ranging, 14 captive in a facility with a dolphin experiencing debility of unknown origin, 1 stranded), 11 striped dolphins, 4 harbor porpoises, 3 Risso's dolphins, 1 dwarf sperm whale and 1 pygmy sperm whale (all stranded) were sampled. Whole blood (n = 95 live animals) and tissues (n = 15 freshly dead animals) were screened by PCR (n = 106 animals), PCR of enrichment cultures (n = 50 animals), and subcultures (n = 50 animals). Bartonella spp. were detected from 17 cetaceans, including 12 by direct extraction PCR of blood or tissues, 6 by PCR of enrichment cultures, and 4 by subculture isolation. Bartonella spp. were more commonly detected from the captive (6/14, 43%) than from free-ranging (2/71, 2.8%) bottlenose dolphins, and were commonly detected from the stranded animals (9/21, 43%; 3/11 striped dolphins, 3/4 harbor porpoises, 2/3 Risso's dolphins, 1/1 pygmy sperm whale, 0/1 dwarf sperm whale, 0/1 bottlenose dolphin). Sequencing identified a Bartonella spp. most similar to B. henselae San Antonio 2 in eight cases (4 bottlenose dolphins, 2 striped dolphins, 2 harbor porpoises), B. henselae Houston 1 in three cases (2 Risso's dolphins, 1 harbor porpoise), and untyped in six cases (4 bottlenose dolphins, 1 striped dolphin, 1 pygmy sperm whale). Although disease causation has not been established, Bartonella species were detected more commonly from cetaceans that were overtly debilitated or were cohabiting in captivity with a debilitated animal than from free-ranging animals. The detection of Bartonella spp. from cetaceans may be of pathophysiological concern.