Evaluation of sources of propagating-material for sweet-potato production

The yield and variability of sweet-potato cultivars (Ipomoea batatas L.) propagated from high-yielding plants (clonal) was compared with those of random field material. Clonal propagation was based on selection for one season and produced few yield responses.A yield comparison was made of a high- and a low-yielding commercial source of cultivar ‘White Maltese’. The former, which represented continuous selection based on yield and disease incidence, produced higher yields than the low-yielding source. In all experiments and for all cultivars, a yield increase through selection was not consistently associated with a reduction in variability.Propagation from heat-treated and apparently virus-free plants produced a 140% yield increase over virus-infected field material.     

Serum and abomasal antibody response of sheep to infections with Haemonchus contortus

Serum and abomasal IgA, IgG and IgM antibody response against adult worm, L3 and egg antigens of Haemonchus contortus was monitored by the ELISA technique after one or two infections with this nematode. Following the first infection, antibody levels in serum did not change materially. After administration of a challenge dose of infective larvae, antibodies of the three immunoglobulin classes in infected animals rose slightly, but this rise appeared later than the fall in the faecal egg counts. In contrast, in abomasal mucosa, IgA anti-larval antibody levels, which did not increase materially after the primary infection, rose rapidly after a transient inhibition when sheep were challenged. A close temporal relationship was observed between the rise in local anti-worm IgA antibodies and the self-cure reaction, but antibody levels fell rapidly after worm diminution. The local antibody response was thus considered to be related to immunity of sheep to H. contortus.     

Fine structure and invasive behaviour of the early developmental stages of Theileria annulata in vitro

The interaction, in vitro, between bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes and sporozoites of Theileria annulata (Ankara) was studied by light and electron microscopy. Beginning five minutes following incubation, samples were taken for Giemsa-stained smears and glutaraldehyde-fixed pellets, for light and electron microscopy, respectively. Sporozoites of T. annulata measure an average of 0.9 microns long, 0.8 microns broad and possess a limiting unit membrane, the pellicle; a round-to-ovoid, eccentrically situated, non-chromocentric nucleus; double-membraned, tubular, acristate mitochondria; varying numbers of anisocytic, densely osmiophilic and pleomorphic organelles, the rhoptries which together with the polar ring form the apical complex; and numerous, loosely scattered, electron-dense ribosomal particles. As early as 5 min of incubation, sporozoites had made contact with, and penetrated, lymphocytes. Sporozoites consistently attached to the lymphocyte plasmalemma by their basal end, possibly at specific receptor sites. Apparently only a proportion of lymphocytes (up to 40% and more commonly 10-20%) were susceptible. Two subpopulations of the susceptible lymphocytes were observed; one which appeared to have receptor sites localized on one pole of the plasmalemma and the other subpopulation in which the receptor sites were distributed evenly around the plasmalemmal surface. Within individual susceptible lymphocytes, the number of interiorized sporozoites increased from 1 to 3 at 5-10 min to as many as 15 or more parasites at around 60 min of incubation. Theileria annulata sporozoites were interiorized by the invagination of the host cell plasmalemma which remained intact throughout the process but later fragmented. Within 30 min of interiorization, each sporozoite underwent dedifferentiation by the loss of its rhoptries and transformed into a trophozoite. Around 24 h, the trophozoite, a uninucleate, motile and feeding stage of the parasite, developed into a schizont by an acentric, closed mitosis.     

The effects of dl-tetramisole and rafoxanide on tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes of Haemonchus contortus, in vitro

Various enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) viz., aconitase (E.C. 4.2.1.3), isocitrate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.42), succinate dehydrognease (E.C. 1.3.99.1), fumarate reductase (NADH: fumarate oxido-reductase), fumarase (E.C. 4.2.1.2) and maltate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.37) were detected in adult Haemonchus contortus (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae), in vitro. Low activities of aconitase and isocitrate dehydrogenase suggested that the TCA cycle has a minor function and the pathway of CO₂ fixation is the major pathway in the energy metabolism of the parasite. In vitro incubation in Tyrode's solution had no significant effect on TCA cycle enzymes and the worm was able to maintain normal metabolism for 12 h.The effects of dl-tetramisole and rafoxanide on various enzymes of the TCA cycle were studied in adult H. contortus. At 50 μg ml^?1 varying degrees of succinate dehydrogenase and fumarate reductase activities were observed. At the same concentration, the activities of other enzymes remained unaltered.     

Localization of culture-derived soluble Babesia bovis antigens in the infected erythrocyte

Immunoprecipitates derived from crossed immunoelectrophoresis of Babesia bovis culture supernatant fluid against a polyspecific anti-B. bovis serum were used to produce monospecific rabbit antibodies to individual B. bovis antigens. These antibodies were utilized in an immunofluorescence test to identify the location of the respective antigens within the infected erythrocyte. Two antigens were found on or near the erythrocyte membrane, while a third antigen was directly associated with the parasite itself.     

The activity of closantel as an equine antiparasitic agent

Eighteen pony foals were experimentally infected with 500 third stage larvae of Strongylus vulgaris at 2 weeks, and at 2, 4, 6 and 8 months after birth. For the duration of the study, all foals were kept in the same pasture with their mothers to allow natural infection with other parasites by exposure to a contaminated environment. Twelve of the foals were utilized in groups of 3 and treated orally five times at two month intervals starting at one month of age with closantel at doses of 5, 10, 20 or 40 mg kg-1. Ten months after birth the foals were necropsied to determine the parasitic burdens in the gastrointestinal tracts and the cranial mesenteric arteries. The results indicate a high antiparasitic activity of closantel against larval stages of Gasterophilus intestinalis and S. vulgaris, as well as against adult S. vulgaris, S. edentatus, Anoplocephala perfoliata and Triodontophorus spp., when used at doses of 20 or 40 mg kg-1.     

Survival and infectivity of Dicrocoelium dendriticum eggs under field conditions in NW Spain

A study was made of the survival of Dicrocoelium dendriticum eggs in sheep faeces in an area with a temperate climate (NW Spain). It appears that mortality is independent of the age of the eggs and that there is a marked seasonality within the period of time considered (20 months). A study was also carried out on the infectivity of D. dendriticum eggs by experimental infections of suitable intermediate hosts. The data show that no loss took place in infectivity during the period of study (15 months).     

The role of lipoteichoic acids on the adherence of Streptococcus equi to epithelial cells

The effect of the presence of lipoteichoic acids (LTA) on a strain of Streptococcus equi was investigated. The LTA were extracted in a crude form from the S. equi strain and were found to sensitize sheep red blood cells so that they agglutinated with antibodies specific to purified LTA of group A streptococci. The crude LTA preparation was also able to inhibit the specific haemagglutination reaction involving group A streptococcal LTA and LTA antibodies. Neither the purified LTA from group A streptococci nor the anti-LTA serum interfered with the adherence of S. equi to equine epithelial cells.     

In vitro studies on feline panleucopaenia virus. Standardisation of haemagglutination-inhibition test for feline panleucopaenia virus antibody

Standardised procedure for obtaining reproducible haemagglutination-inhibition results for FPV antibody which correlate with serum-neutralization titres was described. Optimal conditions were found to be Alsevers anticoagulant, PBS/0.05% BSA (pH 6.8) as buffer, especially washed round bottom microplates, determination of maximally sensitive porcine erythrocytes, use of reproducible erythrocyte concentrations, inactivation of serum samples at 56 degrees C for 30 min and serum treatment with koalin pH 9.0. The concentration of erythrocyte used for estimation of haemagglutination units in H1 test should not differ from that used as indicator in the test. Predilution of serum beyond 1:4 associated with false results. Reproducible method for removing natural agglutinins in serum by adsorption with erythrocytes was described.     

Ecology of Rhodococcus equi

A selective broth enrichment technique was used to study the distribution of Rhodococcus equi in soil and grazing animals. Rhodococcus equi was isolated from 54% of soils examined and from the gut contents, rectal faeces and dung of all grazing herbivorous species examined. Rhodococcus equi was not isolated from the faeces or dung of penned animals which did not have access to grazing. The isolation rate from dung was much higher than from other samples and this was found to be due to the ability of R. equi to multiply more readily in dung. Delayed hypersensitivity tests were carried out on horses, sheep and cattle, but only horses reacted significantly. The physiological characteristics of R. equi and the nature of its distribution in the environment suggested that R. equi is a soil organism.