Long-term clinical observations on feline immunodeficiency virus infected asymptomatic carriers.

Eleven feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infected asymptomatic carrier (AC) cats were observed for 2 years for development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Four of the 11 (36.4%) showed progression of the clinical stage. Persistent generalized lymphadenopathy was noted in three cats as the first sign of illness after the AC phase, while the other showed lymphadenopathy with signs of AIDS-related complex. In all four cats the AIDS-related complex stage lasted for 10 months or longer, and two showed progression of the disease into AIDS. The two cats showing AIDS illnesses died within approximately 1 year after they had developed persistent generalized lymphadenopathy. Pathology confirmed the diagnosis of AIDS characterized by the presence of depletion lesions in the lymphoid organs, and of severe infections of an opportunistic nature. The overall mortality of FIV infected AC cats during a 2 year period was two out of 11 (18.2%). These cats showed decreased concanavalin A mitogen response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells as the disease progressed.     

The effect of fatty acids in the feed on xanthine dehydrogenase activity in the Japanese quail]

The aim of the present study is to determine the effect of different fatty acids on the amino acid catabolism judged on the level of xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH). The model system of protein depletion with subsequent repletion was used in the trial consisted of Japanese quails 71 days old. In the period of protein repletion, the fatty acid (stearic, palmitic, oleic, linolenic, linoleic and lauric, respectively) was used instead of common fatty compound in the diet. Specific activities of XDH in liver, kidneys and pancreas of quails were tested dynamically from the first to the eighth day of feeding. It was demonstrated that neither lauric, palmitic nor oleic acid, respectively, had an effect on the development of the specific activity of XDH (Fig. 3). Stearic acid as a sole fatty compound in the diet however evoked reactibility of XDH in liver or in pancreas in different way as in kidneys (Fig. 4). The dynamics of the XDH development in kidneys was practically identical than that in the control. However, XDH in liver and pancreas raised statistically already from the first day of feeding. The effects of linoleic and linolenic acids on the development of specific activity of XDH were organ selective, too (Fig. 5). XDH in kidneys was shown in the same manner as in the control group. In liver and pancreas, however, the specific activity of XDH was diminished markedly just from the first day of feeding.     

Growth activity of bovid herpesvirus 1 in bovine follicular oocytes with cumulus cells.

Bovine follicular oocytes collected from bovine ovaries were exposed to bovid herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1). After washings, these oocytes were cultured to mature. As a result BHV-1 could not be removed from the oocytes and could replicate in the oocytes with cumulus cells, but not in the oocytes without the cells. Moreover, the specific fluorescence for BHV-1 was detected in the cumulus cells by a indirect immunofluorescent technique. Therefore these findings suggested BHV-1 could be absorbed in the oocytes but the replication of BHV-1 was done in the cumulus cells.     

Analytical methods for mycotoxins

Biological, physico-chemical and immunochemical methods are available today for solving the multiple problems which turn up in the course of mycotoxin diagnosis and mycotoxin research. In this review, selected analysis techniques are presented and their limits and possibilities are discussed. The biological methods (chicken-embryo-test, skin irritation test, cell cultures) indicate only toxicities, mostly without further specification for mycotoxins. In contrast, modern physico-chemical analysis (DC, HPLC, CLC, MS) allows the detection of defined mycotoxins in the picogram range; these methods should be employed or official and judicial purposes. The recently developed immunochemical methods (RIA, EIA) are characterized by a simple sample preparation, a short test duration and a high sensitivity; they could be used as a screening method in the course of mycotoxicological control of food and feed.     

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in raccoons.

Serum samples from 427 raccoons (93 from Pennsylvania, 45 from New Jersey, 72 from South Carolina, 68 from Virginia, 30 from Iowa, and 119 from Ohio) were evaluated for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in dilutions of 1:25, 1:50, and 1:500. The distribution of T gondii antibody titers was less than 1:25 for 212 raccoons (49.6%), 1:25 for 34 raccoons (7.9%), 1:50 for 117 raccoons (27.4%), and greater than or equal to 1:500 for 64 raccoons (14.9%). Tissue cysts were seen in the liver, and tachyzoites were in the brain of a raccoon with abnormal neurologic signs and concurrent infection with canine distemper virus. Organisms in the liver were stained with anti-T gondii serum, and the raccoon had a T gondii titer of 1:160 in the agglutination test.     

Anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies detected in sera of dogs naturally infected with Babesia gibsoni.

Due to the potential for anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies as possible enhancers of erythrocyte destruction, the presence of serum anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies in 31 dogs with Babesia gibsoni infection admitted to a veterinary hospital was investigated by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting analyses. This infection resulted in an increase of anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies in 84% (IgG) and 74% (IgM) of 31 infected dogs, respectively. This was confirmed by the similarity in the protein profiles of the erythrocyte membrane antigens immunoblotted with rabbit antiserum to dog erythrocyte membrane antigens and infected dog serum. These results suggest the production of anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies was induced by B. gibsoni infection.     

Theileria parva: the immune status of calves born of dams immunised against East Coast fever

Eight Friesian cross cows three months pregnant to a single Friesian bull were immunised against East Coast fever by infection with Theileria parva (Muguga) sporozoite stabilate and treatment with pyrrolidino-methyl tetracycline. They were challenged with the homologous stock four times before calving and a fifth time after calving, and resisted all five challenges which killed all of the five groups of five susceptible controls. Calves born to these hyperimmunised dams were fully susceptible on challenge with the same stabilate, as were susceptible cows from the same farm and their calves. In both instances the calves died three to seven days earlier than the cows which were approximately 10 times heavier. These results show that one- to two-month-old taurine calves from artificially immunised dams are not protected from experimental T parva sporozoite challenge and that there is no inherent calfhood resistance to East Coast fever.     

Laryngeal paralysis in immature and mature dogs as one sign of a more diffuse polyneuropathy

Six dogs with laryngeal paralysis had clinical, electrophysiologic, and pathologic evidence of a more generalized polyneuropathy. Three of the dogs were young Dalmatians, one was a young Bouvier des Flandres, and two were older, large-breed dogs. The results of this study suggest that laryngeal paralysis in dogs may frequently be one clinical sign of an underlying, more generalized polyneuropathy. Two forms of this generalized polyneuropathy may exist: an early form, as seen in young dogs with congenital or hereditary disease, and a delayed-onset form that is usually found in older dogs with so-called idiopathic laryngeal paralysis, some of which may have hypothyroidism.     

Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin after intravenous and oral administration of enrofloxacin in dogs

Rung, K., Riond, J.-L. & Wanner, M. Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin after intravenous and oral administration of enrofloxacin in dogs. J. vet
Four dogs were given 5 mg/kg body weight enrofloxacin intravenously (i.v.) and orally (p.o.) in a cross-over study. Plasma concentrations of the active ingredient enrofloxacin and its main metabolite ciprofloxacin were determined by a reversed phase liquid chromatographic method. Pharmacokinetic parameters of both substances were calculated by use of statistical moments and were compared to those of enrofloxacin described in the veterinary literature. Mean enrofloxacin t _½λZ was 2.4 h, mean Cl_s was 27.1 ml/min-kg, and mean V_ss was 7.0 1/kg. After i.v. and p.o. administration, concentrations of ciprofloxacin exceeding minimal inhibitory concentrations of several microorganisms were reached (C_max= 0.2 ng/ml, max = 2.2 h after intravenous administration; C_max= 0.2 (ig/ml, t _max= 3.6 h after oral administration). A considerable part of the antimicrobial activity is due to ciprofloxacin, the main metabolite of enrofloxacin.     

The effects of time of incubation on the relation between charge and pH of soil

Samples of two Andisols and two Ultisols from southern Chile were incubated with acid or with lime for up to 60 d at 25°C or for 1 day at 40°C or at 60°C. The changes in positive and negative charge were measured. The Andisols reacted slowly at 25°C. They lost protons to the solution at high _pH, thus increasing the negative charge on the soils and decreasing the pH of the solution. They gained protons at low _pH, thus increasing the positive charge on the soils and increasing the _pH of the solution. The Ultisols reacted more quickly but again charge and _pH changed through time. For all samples, the rate of reaction was increased by incubating at 60°C. Brief incubation at 60°C produces a similar relation to that obtained after longer incubation at 25°C. This provides a convenient means by which measurements can be made more quickly.