Cytokines in mammary lymph and milk during endotoxin-induced bovine mastitis

Cytokine kinetics were examined in milk and in afferent and efferent lymph of the supramammary lymph node after intramammary infusion of endotoxin from Escherichia coli. Cows were sampled 0, 2 and 4h after infusion (p.i.). Neutrophils appeared in afferent lymph 2h p.i., and in efferent lymph and milk 4h p.i. The milk contained high concentrations of interleukin-8 (IL-8) at 2 and 4h p.i. IL-8 was also found in lymph, but at lower concentrations. The tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) concentration tended to increase in afferent lymph at 2h p.i., and increased in milk at 4h p.i. The level of IL-1beta increased at 4h p.i. in milk, but was not detected in lymph. Interferon-gamma was not detected in any sample, at any time. The results indicate a primary role for IL-8 in the recruitment of neutrophils into the gland, and suggest that IL-1beta and TNF-alpha are not necessary for IL-8 production and release in response to endotoxin.     

Diagnosis and management of hepatic copper accumulation in a Skye terrier

A one-year-old, neutered female Skye terrier presented with anorexia, vomiting, seizures and ascites. Portal venography demonstrated the presence of multiple acquired portosystemic shunts. Hepatic biopsy confirmed the presence of copper accumulation and fibrosis. Treatment included ursodeoxycholic acid therapy, colchicine and oral zinc. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case report detailing successful management of Skye terrier hepatopathy.     

Comparison of intradermal and serum testing for allergen-specific IgE using a Fcepsilon RIalpha-based assay in atopic dogs in the UK

Atopic dermatitis in dogs is a common allergic skin disease that affects substantial numbers of dogs in the UK. The purpose of this study was to compare the results of an intradermal test (IDT) and an in vitro test in a large cohort of dogs. Dogs were intradermal tested with Greer allergens (Greer Labs Inc, Lenoir, NC, USA) using standard techniques. At the same time blood samples were drawn and submitted for evaluation by ELISA using the ALLERCEPT Definitive Allergen Panels for allergen-specific IgE, a commercial assay that uses a biotinylated recombinant extracellular domain of the high affinity Fc-epsilon receptor alpha chain protein (Fcepsilon RIalpha). The allergens used in the two tests included grass, tree and weed pollens, moulds, flea saliva/whole flea extract and house dust mite species. The optical density readings from the ELISA for each allergen were compared with the results of the IDT for 265 dogs. The prevalence of positive reactions in the ELISA was equal to or greater than the results of the IDT in the case of almost all of the allergens, but two notable exceptions were the house dust mites Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. These two allergens were the most common positive reactions by IDT (prevalence D. farinae 78.9%, D. pteronyssinus 66.4%). The results of the two tests were significantly different (McNemar's test, P<0.05) for 16 of the 22 allergens. The sensitivities of the ELISA compared to the IDT (where there were more than 3 dogs with positive reactions in both tests) varied between 19.3 and 77.1% (D. pteronyssinus 19.3% and D. farinae 67.9%) and the specificities varied between 64.2 and 96.6% (D. pteronyssinus 96.6% and D. farinae 89.3%).     

Morphological relationship between intercalated duct and pancreatic islet in streptozotocin and/or camostat mesilate administrations in the chicken

Present electron microscopical and immunocytochemistrical studies elucidated some morphological relationship between intercalated duct (ICD) and pancreatic islet cells in the chicken in streptozotocin (STZ) and/or camostat mesilate (CM) administrations. Twenty-one chickens were set into four experimental groups: (1) control group, (2) STZ administration group, (3) CM administration group, and (4) STZ + CM administration group. Cytoplasms of ICD cells stained more strongly with eosin in STZ administration group than other groups, and electron-dense materials and intercalated processes between ICD and islet cells were also increasing in time dependence in STZ administration. Number of pancreatic islet in STZ + CM co-administration was about 3.1 times larger than other groups. Many small sized cells were detected at surrounding area of ICD and they incorporated 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine better than other experimental groups. Present morphological data suggested that ICD cells might support some tolerances of pancreatic endocrine cells against toxic substances and also involve in regeneration of new pancreatic islet cells in STZ + CM co-administration.     

高油玉米等比例替代普通玉米对生长肥育猪生产性能影响的评定

引言高油玉米是普通黄玉米中的一个特殊品种,它的含油量比普通黄玉米高。该玉米较高的含油量提高了生长肥育猪日粮中的能量浓度。高能量浓度的日粮具有进一步改善饲料报酬的潜力,生猪养殖者可从中获得经济效益。本研究旨在评定高油玉米和普通玉米对生长肥育猪生产性能的影响:平均日增重(ADG),平均日采食量(ADFI),饲料报酬(G:F),脂肪和腰肌厚度,胴体重和胴体品质的额外价格补贴,以及瘦肉率。试验期间为1999年2月至5月。1试验设计试验采用4个日粮处理,分别用普通玉米(NC)和高油玉米(HOC)配制,试验为16周(生长阶段8周,育肥阶段8周)。日粮…     

Recombinant Iss as a potential vaccine for avian colibacillosis

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) cause colibacillosis, a disease which is responsible for significant losses in poultry. Control of colibacillosis is problematic due to the restricted availability of relevant antimicrobial agents and to the frequent failure of vaccines to protect against the diverse range of APEC serogroups causing disease in birds. Previously, we reported that the increased serum survival gene (iss) is strongly associated with APEC strains, but not with fecal commensal E. coli in birds, making iss and the outer membrane protein it encodes (Iss) candidate targets for colibacillosis control procedures. Preliminary studies in birds showed that their immunization with Iss fusion proteins protected against challenge with two of the more-commonly occurring APEC serogroups (O2 and O78). Here, the potential of an Iss-based vaccine was further examined by assessing its effectiveness against an additional and widely occurring APEC serogroup (O1) and its ability to evoke both a serum and mucosal antibody response in immunized birds. In addition, tissues of selected birds were subjected to histopathologic examination in an effort to better characterize the protective response afforded by immunization with this vaccine. Iss fusion proteins were administered intramuscularly to four groups of 2-wk-old broiler chickens. At 2 wk postimmunization, chickens were challenged with APEC strains of the O1, O2, or O78 serogroups. One week after challenge, chickens were euthanatized, necropsied, any lesions consistent with colibacillosis were scored, and tissues from these birds were taken aseptically. Sera were collected pre-immunization, postimmunization, and post-challenge, and antibody titers to Iss were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Also, air sac washings were collected to determine the mucosal antibody response to Iss by ELISA. During the observation period following challenge, 3/12 nonimmunized chickens, 1/12 chickens immunized with 10 microg of GST-Iss, and 1/12 chickens immunized with 50 microg of GST-Iss died when challenged with the O78 strain. No other deaths occurred. Immunized chickens produced a serum and mucosal antibody response to Iss and had significantly lower lesion scores than nonimmunized chickens following challenge, regardless of the challenge strain. This study expands on our previous report of the value of Iss as an immunoprotective antigen and demonstrates that immunization with Iss can provide significant protection of chickens against challenge with three different E. coli strains.     

Agreement between direct, oscillometric and Doppler ultrasound blood pressures using three different cuff positions in anesthetized dogs

ObjectiveTo evaluate the agreement between invasive blood pressure (IBP) and Doppler ultrasound blood pressure (DUBP) using three cuff positions and oscillometric blood pressure (OBP) in anesthetized dogs.Study designProspective study.AnimalsNine adult dogs weighing 14.5–29.5 kg.MethodsThe cuff was placed above and below the tarsus, and above the carpus with the DUBP and above the carpus with the OBP monitor. Based on IBP recorded via a dorsal pedal artery catheter, conditions of low, normal, and high systolic arterial pressures [SAP (mmHg) <90, between 90 and 140, and >140, respectively] were induced by changes in isoflurane concentrations and/or dopamine administration. Mean biases ± 2 SD (limits of agreement) were determined.ResultsAt high blood pressures, regardless of cuff position, SAP determinations with the DUBP underestimated invasive SAP values by more than 20 mmHg in most instances. With the DUBP, cuff placement above the tarsus yielded better agreement with invasive SAP during low blood pressures (0.2 ± 16 mmHg). The OBP underestimated SAP during high blood pressures (?42 ± 42 mmHg) and yielded better agreement with IBP for mean (MAP) and diastolic (DAP) arterial pressure measurements [overall bias: 2 ± 15 mmHg (MAP) and 0.2 ± 16 mmHg (DAP)].ConclusionsAgreement of SAP determinations with the DUBP is poor at SAP > 140 mmHg, regardless of cuff placement. Measurement error of the DUBP with the cuff placed above the tarsus is clinically acceptable during low blood pressures. Agreement of MAP and DAP measurements with this OBP monitor compared with IBP was clinically acceptable over a wide pressure range.Clinical relevanceWith the DUBP device, placing the cuff above the tarsus allows reasonable agreement with IBP obtained via dorsal pedal artery catheterization. Only MAP and DAP provide reasonable estimates of direct blood pressure with the OBP monitor evaluated.