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.     

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.     

Crystalluria. Observations, interpretations, and misinterpretations

Crystalluria results from oversaturation of urine with crystallogenic substance. However, oversaturation may occur as a result of in vitro as well as in vivo events. The microscopic appearance of crystals only represents a tentative identification of their composition because variable conditions associated with their formation, growth, and dissolution may alter their appearance. Definitive identification is dependent on physical methods such as optical crystallography, x-ray diffraction, and electron microscopic analysis.     

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.     

磷对奶牛红细胞膜脂质的影响

对１５例临床上有明显低磷血症的奶牛血清磷、红细胞膜脂质成分进行了测定。结果表明，低磷血症奶牛血清磷、红细胞膜磷脂明显降低；红细胞膜胆固醇及膜胆固醇／磷脂摩尔比值（ｎｃｈ／ｎｐｌ）明显升高，与健康对照组牛相比差异极显著（Ｐ＜０．０１）；直线相关分析表明，血清磷与红细胞膜磷脂之间呈极显著正相关（ｒ＝０．９１７，ｙ＝１０．８５２ｘ＋３．１９６，Ｐ＜０．０１）；与红细胞膜胆固醇以及ｎｃｈ／ｎｐｌ之间分别呈显著负相关（ｒ＝－０．９４０，ｙ＝２．８５０ｘ－１．０７２，Ｐ＜０．０１；ｒ＝－０．９２０，ｙ＝１．９６８ｘ－１．４０１，Ｐ＜０．０１）。此外，红细胞膜微粘度与膜磷脂之间呈显著负相关（ｒ＝－０．９５４，ｙ＝１９．１２２ｘ－４．３８４，Ｐ＜０．０１），而与膜胆固醇以及ｎｃｈ／ｎｐｌ之间呈显著正相关（ｒ＝０．９８８，ｙ＝０．９２７ｘ＋０．９６４，Ｐ＜０．０１；ｒ＝０．９７８，ｙ＝－０．２９３ｘ＋１．１１３，Ｐ＜０．０１）。结果表明，磷是红细胞膜脂质成分改变的先决因素，而后者又是红细胞膜流动性及膜结构、功能发生变化并导致膜损伤的一个重要因素。