A seroepizootiologic study of five viruses in a swine-evaluation station.

This serologic study was done to gain information on the spread, maintenance, and effect upon performance of five porcine viruses. Blood samples were taken from two groups of 8- to 11-week-old pigs from a large number of Indiana swine herds in a performance-testing station 1 week after entry, 7 weeks after entry (one group only), and at slaughter. The sera were tested by indirect fluorescent antibody tests for antibodies to transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), swine influenza virus (SIV), hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (HEV), porcine adenovirus (PAV), and pseudorabies virus (PRV). Seroconversions to TGEV, HEV, and PAV occurred in a group of pigs entered in May and slaughtered in August (group 1). In the group that was entered in October and slaughtered in January (group 2), pigs developed antibodies to SIV, HEV, and PAV, but not to TGEV. Only 1 of the 434 pigs tested had antibodies to PRV, and there were no seroconversions to this virus. The only statistically valid effect of infection on performance was found in group 1 pigs, which had seroconverted to TGEV during the first 7 weeks of their stay. These pigs gained 0.077 kg less per day than pigs that did not develop antibodies to TGEV during that period. The pattern of serologic reactions was indicative of a relatively slow spread of these viruses in the groups. We interpret this as supporting the concept that a relatively slow spread of these viruses through large groups of pigs kept under conditions that are less than optimum for virus spread may be an important means of their interepizootic survival.     

Responses of immune and nonimmune adult rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) to adenovirus SV-20.

Adenovirus SV-20 (ASV-20) was inoculated subcutaneously into adult rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), and various immunologic parameters were studied. Similar changes were observed in macaques that had anti-ASV-20 serum-neutralizing antibodies prior to inoculation and in those lacking detectable antibodies. There were absolute decreases in numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), erythrocyte-rosetting lymphocytes, complement-receptor lymphocytes, and Fc-receptor lymphocytes. These changes were most significant (P less than 0.05) on postinoculation days (PID) 3 and 7. Mitogenic responsiveness to concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, and pokeweed mitogen in cultured PBL from immune and nonimmune macaques was depressed on PID 3, 7, and 14. Ultraviolet-inactivated ASV-20 caused moderate suppression of phytohemagglutinin-induced mitogenesis when viral particles and lectin were added simultaneously to PBL cultures. Plasma cortisol (hydrocortisone) values were not significantly altered following inoculation of ASV-20. High titers of anti-ASV-20 antibody developed by PID 7 in nonimmune macaques, and previously immune macaques showed a booster effect in the same time period. Antibody titers were still increased 120 days after inoculation. There was no clinical evidence of an adverse effect of ASV-20 infection in these macaques.     

Longitudinal studies of naturally acquired Brucella abortus infection in sheep.

Naturally acquired Brucella abortus infections were studied during consecutive pregnancies in eight sheep and in their lambs over a period of 40 months to evaluate epizootiologic aspects of natural infection in sheep. Brucella abortus was isolated from the ewes following 16 of 26 natural terminations of pregnancy: from 5 of 6 ewes in the first year, from six of eight ewes in the second year, from two of six ewes in the third year, and from three of six ewes in the fourth year. Vaginal swab samples and milk samples were the most consistent source of the brucella organisms. Brucella abortus was isolated from three ewes when standard tube test seroagglutination titers were less than 1:100. In contrast, results of supplemental tests (card, 2-mercaptoethanol, complement-fixation, and Rivanol) remained positive during the study. During the 40 months, B abortus was isolated from 4 of 4 aborted fetuses, 2 of 5 stillborn lambs, 10 of 37 living lambs, and as an indicator of continuing infection, from 6 of 12 lambs born during the fourth year. Although B abortus has a definite host preference for cattle, this study demonstrated that under appropriate management conditions, sheep may be naturally infected and may remain infected for more than 40 months. Epizootiologic evaluation of all factors, including husbandry practices and exposure potential, should be utilized in determining the need to test other species that may have been exposed to cattle infected with B abortus.     

A simple technique to differentiate between animals infected with Yersinia enterocolitica IX and those infected with Brucella abortus.

While both Brucella abortus and Yersinia enterocolitica IX have O antigens in common, they differ significantly with respect to motility. Thus Br abortus is always non-motile while Y enterocolitica is motile when grown at room temperature. The presence of yersinia H agglutinins in serum can be shown to be evidence of previous exposure to Y enterocolitica. These agglutinins are not generated by brucella infection. A rapid H agglutination test will serve to provide this differentiation without interference from cross-reacting O antigens.