Large granular lymphoma in an FIV-positive and FeLV-negative cat

The clinical course of a feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)-negative and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-positive cat affected with a large granular lymphocyte lymphoma is presented. Cyto-logical examination showed neoplastic cells in the pleural effusion and in two abdominal masses. Bone marrow and peripheral blood were moderately involved and chemotherapy was used to control the tumour. Cytochemistry, immunohis-tochemistry and ultrastructural studies were applied to define the cellular lineage; cytochemistry suggested a T-cell lineage.     

Immunocytochemical Study of the Ultimobranchial Tubule in Wistar Rats

A systematic immunohistochemical study of the ultimobranchial tubule (UBT) has been carried out in 45 Wistar rats of different ages (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 60 and 120 days). The existence of calcitonin immunoreactive cells in the UBT wall has been demonstrated in a 5-days old rat. In addition, immunohistochemical studies for thyroglobulin revealed positive staining in follicular cells connected to the UBT and, occasionally, in isolated cells lying within solid clusters from the UBT. These last results together with the continued and repeated existence of numerous mitosis and PAS (+) microfollicles, apparently rising from the UBT, support the hypothesis that the ultimobranchial body (UBB) may contribute partially to the formation of a part of the follicular component.     

The effect of porcine somatotropin supplementation in pigs on the lipid profile of subcutaneous and intermuscular adipose tissue and longissimus muscle.

The effect of porcine somatotropin (pST) on the lipid profiles of adipose tissue and muscle was investigated. Sixteen crossbred barrows were injected daily with either 3 mg of pST or a placebo. After slaughter, total lipid and fatty acid composition of raw subcutaneous (SC) adipose and intermuscular (IM) adipose tissue and longissimus muscle were determined. The SC adipose tissue from pST-treated pigs had a 7.5% decrease in total lipid content; specific fatty acids 16:0, 18:0, and 18:1(n-9)c decreased most. The IM fat from pST-treated pigs had lower levels of 16:0 and 20:0. There was no effect of pST treatment on the lipid profile of the longissimus muscle. The data suggest that pST treatment produces small but significant changes in the saturated fatty acid content of adipose tissue in pigs.     

Dietary preferences of domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats) grazing on natural Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian ranges. IV. Attempted description of the diet by micro-histological analyses of samples collected by shepherds, esophageal boluses and feces from cattle and sheep

A research program to study tropical pastures used by domestic livestock was implemented in Senegal. During field studies, numerous information was collected together with many samples with three main aims: pasture composition, diet composition and relationship between each other. The so-called method of epiderms, more often used in temperate areas, was chosen for analyzing and comparing the botanical composition of 105 samples, e.g., shepherd's hand-picking, alimentary bolus and faeces collected during a twelve-month period. In view of the results, some methodological problems are raised and discussed.     

Use of an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) in the detection of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), antibodies to Edwardsiella ictaluri

Abstract. The use of an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( elisa ) for the detection of channel catfish antibody to Edwardsiella ictaluri is described. Changes in agglutination titre in fish immunized with Edwardsiella ictaluri heat killed whole bacterins or lipopolysaccharides were reflected by corresponding changes in elisa readings. Relatively high correlations were observed among elisa OD readings, computed elisa titres and corresponding agglutination titres.     

Serum amyloid A protein (SAA) in horses: objective measurement of the acute phase response

A sensitive and precise immunoassay for equine serum amyloid A protein (SAA) was established and used to determine, for the first time, the circulating concentration of this protein in health and disease. As in other species, equine SAA was present only at trace levels in healthy animals but behaved as an extremely sensitive and rapidly responding acute phase reactant following most forms of tissue injury, infection and inflammation, objectively reflecting the extent and activity of disease. Measurements of SAA should make a significant contribution to diagnosis and management of viral and bacterial infection in horses, and routine serial assays could provide an objective criterion for monitoring prospectively the general health of horses in training and racing.     

Incidence of microscopically detectable degenerative characteristics in skeletal muscle of turkey

1. The incidence of microscopically detectable degenerative characteristics in 5 skeletal muscles (m. pectoralis thoracicus, m. supracoracoideus, m. biceps femoris, m. semitendinosus, m. femorotibialis medius) of turkeys was investigated. 2. Samples were obtained from 30 Large White turkey males 14, 16 and 18 weeks old. Hyaline degeneration, infiltration of mononuclear cells and necrotic fibres were observed. 3. Individual fibres varied greatly in size and muscle fibre nuclei were often shrunken and pyknotic. 4. Weak and/or uniform reaction for Ca++-ATPase and SDH in all types of muscle fibres and loss of alkaline phosphatase activity in cell membranes were noted. A positive reaction for acid phosphatase occurred in regions of perivascular infiltration and in necrotic muscle fibres. The majority of muscle fibres possessed high activity for phosphorylase a and b. 5. Based on the use of fluorescein alpha-bungarotoxin conjugate, motor end-plates appeared to be morphologically intact. Direct immunofluorescence with anti-chicken IgG showed positive reaction in muscle fibres undergoing necrosis and in the involved connective tissue. 6. Degenerative changes varied with age and were most marked in the oldest birds. 7. Because gross degenerative symptoms were absent from both the birds and the meat from them, the condition appears to be either different from or a precursor to the degenerative myopathy characterised by other authors.     

Requirement for MHC class II positive accessory cells in an antigen specific bovine T cell response

Purified populations of bovine antigen presenting cells (APCs) and T cells have been isolated from peripheral blood and characterised using various monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for cell surface markers. Bovine APCs were found in an adherent cell fraction and were non-specific esterase positive, phagocytic and expressed bovine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II determinants, all of which are typical macrophage characteristics. T cells were rigorously depleted of accessory cell function before being used in an antigen presenting cell assay. The generation of T helper cells in response to the soluble antigen, ovalbumin, was entirely dependent upon a critical number of APCs. Further the proliferative response was inhibited by several mAbs to bovine MHC class II molecules. Thus the interaction between bovine APCs and helper/inducer T lymphocytes (TH/I) appears to be similar to that in other species.     

Impact of postovulatory food deprivation on the ova transport, hormonal profiles and metabolic changes in sows.

The effect of food deprivation on ova transport, hormonal profiles and metabolic changes was studied in 20 crossbred multiparous sows during their second oestrus after weaning. To determine the time of ovulation, transrectal ultrasonographic examination was performed. The sows were divided into 2 groups, one control group (C-group), which was fed according to Swedish standards, and one experimental group (E-group). The E-group sows were deprived of food from the first morning meal after ovulation until slaughter. Blood samples were collected every second hour from about 12 h before expected ovulation in the second oestrus after weaning until slaughter and were analysed for progesterone, prostaglandin F2 alpha-metabolite, insulin, glucose, free fatty acids and triglycerides. All sows were slaughtered approximately 48 h after ovulation and the genital tract was recovered. The isthmic part of the oviduct was divided into 3 equally long segments and flushed separately with phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Uterine horns were also flushed with PBS. A significantly greater number of ova were found in the first and second part of the isthmus in the E-group (p = 0.05) while in the C-group most of the ova were found in the third part of the isthmus or the uterus (p = 0.01). The level of prostaglandin F2 alpha-metabolite was significantly higher in the E-group compared with the C-group. The concentration of progesterone increased in both groups after ovulation but there were no significant differences between the groups. The other blood parameters showed that the food-deprived sows were in a catabolic state. The 48 h period of fasting results, directly or indirectly in an delayed ova transport, which may be due to a delayed relaxation in the smooth circular muscle layer of the isthmus.