The immunohistochemical detection of Mycoplasma bovis and bovine viral diarrhea virus in tissues of feedlot cattle with chronic, unresponsive respiratory disease and/or arthritis.

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of selected pathogens in the tissues of a group of feedlot cattle with chronic disease (most often respiratory disease and/or arthritis). Samples of lung and joint tissues from 49 feedlot animals that had failed to respond to antibiotic therapy were tested by immunohistochemical staining for the antigens of Mycoplasma bovis, Haemophilus somnus, Pasteurella (Mannheimia) hemolytica, and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Mycoplasma bovis was demonstrated in over 80% of cases, including in 45% of joints and 71% of lungs tested. Mycoplasma bovis was the only bacterial pathogen identified in the joints. Haemophilus somnus and Pasteurella (Mannheimia) haemolytica were found in 14% and 23% of cases, respectively, and were confined to the lungs in all instances. Infection with BVDV was demonstrated in over 40% of cases. Mycoplasma bovis and BVDV were the most common pathogens persisting in the tissues of these animals that had failed to respond to antibiotic therapy.     

Identification of the surface components of Trypanosoma evansi.

125I-labelling was used to characterise the surface components of five stocks of Trypanosoma evansi. Two components of 67 and 60.5 kD were labelled in two of the stocks, a single 60.5 kD component in two other stocks and no components in the remaining stock. These differences are probably related to the labelling method and biochemical differences between the stocks.     

Response time of broiler chickens to cimaterol: meat tenderness, muscle composition fiber size, and carcass characteristics.

The response time to cimaterol (CIM), a beta-adrenergic agonist, by broiler chickens for carcass characteristics, muscle composition, muscle fiber size, catheptic enzyme activity, and tenderness was determined. Two trials were conducted in which chickens were fed a control diet (CON) containing 0 ppm of CIM or a diet containing 1 ppm of CIM. Trial 1 consisted of 55, 31-d-old broiler chickens individually fed for up to 48 h. At 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 48 h, five CON and five CIM-fed chickens were killed. Trial 2 consisted of 160, 33-d-old broiler chickens group-fed for up to 14 d. At 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 d, 10 CON and 10 CIM-fed chickens were killed. The breast muscle (BM) and leg muscle (LM) weight, cathepsin B and L activities, DNA, RNA, and protein concentration, and BM shear force value (SFV) were measured in both trials. Thigh muscle (TM) SFV were measured in Trial 2 only. Fiber size of BM was measured (five birds per treatment) at d 2, 6, 10, and 14. In Trial 1, BM weight and SFV were lower in CIM-fed birds at 6 h (P less than .05). In Trial 2 BM SFV were higher at d 8 (P = .06) and d 10 (P less than .05) in CIM-fed chickens. The SFV of CIM-fed chickens were higher at d 4, 8, 10, 12, and 14 (P less than .05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Muscle relaxants in canine anaesthesia 2: Clinical application

There are a variety of factors which are likely to influence the action of muscle relaxants in canine anaesthesia. These include age, body temperature and muscle diseases. Of the anaesthetic agents it is only the inhalational anaesthetic agents which significantly increase the duration of action of muscle relaxants. Antibiotic therapy particularly with the aminoglycoside antibiotics is likely to increase their duration of action. The indications for the use of muscle relaxants and the main contraindications such as the absence of anaesthetic equipment and the inability to ensure unconsciousness are discussed. The choice of anaesthetic technique together with a discussion on the premedication induction and maintenance of anaesthesia are important factors when using relaxants as is the technique of artificial ventilation. The various advantages and disadvantages of neuromuscular block monitoring are discussed as is the reversal of neuromuscular block.     

Characterization of Brucella canis protein antigens and polypeptide antibody responses of infected dogs

The cytoplasmic protein antigens (CPAg) of Brucella canis were characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and analysis of 35S-labeled polypeptides. Approximate molecular weights of the immunoreactive polypeptides were determined by migration patterns of the immunoprecipitated polypeptides after SDS-PAGE or Western immunoblotting of sera collected at various times after experimental infection of dogs. Polypeptides were specifically precipitated by sera of infected dogs, but not from the sera of normal or false-positive (seropositive, non-infected) animals. During the initial month after infection, proteins with molecular weight masses (MW) of approximately 18, 22, 31, 42 and 54 kDa were commonly recognized. A 20-kDa polypeptide was first recognized at 8-10 weeks after infection, but it was detected inconsistently after 6 months. Additional polypeptides detected from 2 to 12 months post-infection had MW of 22, 66-68 and, less regularly, 42, 60, 82, 100 and greater than 200 kDa. The polypeptides most consistently recognized in sera from B. canis-infected dogs had MW of 18, 22 and 68 kDa.