Diagnosis of sarcocystosis in sheep using the indirect fluorescence test and ELISA]

The indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was compared with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of specific antibodies to Sarcocystis sp. A set of 275 ovine blood samples was examined by both reactions. Cystozoites of Sarcocystis gigantea were used as the corpuscular antigen for the IFAT. For the diagnostics of sarcocystosis by the ELISA technique used the sandwich test of the antibody titration with a soluble antigen which was also prepared from S. gigantea macrocysts. Our studies confirmed that this antigen did not cross-react with Toxoplasma gondii. Titre 40 was determined as the limit one for the IFAT and titre 80 for the ELISA; which was confirmed by the direct detection of cysts in the muscles (Svobodová, 1989). The results of both methods are shown in Table I. 76.7% of the blood samples reacted positively in the IFAT and 83.6% in the ELISA. These methods were found to be suitable and can be utilized for the intravital routine diagnostics.     

Sarcocystosis in slaughterhouse sheep

The occurrence of sarcocystosis was studied in the sheep produced in the vicinity of Brno and killed in the slaughterhouse. Adspection, the homogenization method and the digestion method were used for the detection of muscular cysts. Antibodies to sarcocystosis were determined in the blood serum by the indirect fluorescence method. The total number of sheep examined was 157; sarcocysts were detected in the muscle of 102 sheep (64.9%). The highest incidence was recorded in ewes: 60 ewes (80%) out of 75 were positive. Out of the 157 blood serum samples examined by the indirect fluorescence method, antibodies were found in 105 samples (66.9%). The antibody response was 77.3% in ewes, 63.4% in lambs and 46.6% in rams. The highest titres (640-10 240) were obtained in 16 lambs and 26 ewes.     

Distribution of S-Alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides in some Allium species. Identification Of a new flavor precursor: S-ethylcysteine sulfoxide (Ethiin)

The content of S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides, important nonvolatile flavor precursors, was determined in 15 different Allium species by means of gas chromatography. The method employed is based on derivatization of S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides with ethyl chloroformate followed by their reduction with sodium iodide. The total content of S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides varied considerably in the wide range between 0.02 and 1.3% fresh weight. Not only the total content but also relative proportions of individual derivatives varied to a great extent. A novel S-alkylcysteine derivative, S-ethylcysteine sulfoxide (ethiin), not previously reported to occur in Allium species, was found in most of the samples examined in trace amounts. None of the other S-alk(en)ylcysteine sulfoxides, for example, isopropyl, (Z)-1-propenyl, butyl, or pentyl, were detected in any of the samples analyzed, limiting possible levels of each of these components to 相似文献   

Sarcocystosis in lambs]

We studied the problems of sarcocystosis of lambs in regard to the transfer of antibodies over ewes to lambs. Antibodies in the blood serum of 26 ewes found out by help of indirect immunofluorescent reaction (NFR) varied within the range from 640 to 5120 titres, while in six cases their level was higher than in blood. In none of new-born lambs there were proved antibodies to the sarcocystosis before the drinking of colostrum but three days later we already detected antibodies in the dilution 1:4 to 1:128. Then we studied the titre dynamics of antibodies in weaned lambs. In the age of 10-18 weeks we proved only low titres of antibodies, from the 20th to the 24th weeks the titres gradually increased and from the 26th to the 30th weeks the level of antibodies increased significantly (5120 titres) with its maximum on about the 28th week. Animals had no clinic symptoms of disease. In the other part of the work we examined the muscular substance of 342 lambs, killed in the slaughter house, by a digestive method and we carried out the blood serologic examination (NFR). Microcysts were found out in 35.67% of lambs while macrocysts were so in none of them. Specific antibodies of sarcocystosis were detected in 94.44% of young animals. A high discrepancy of the both methods (61.69%) in young animals is a result of a significant antibody reaction at still undeveloped muscular cysts.     

Eutypella parasitica naturalised in Bohemian and Polish Silesia

In 2015 and 2016, the North American maple tree pathogen Eutypella parasitica was identified in Bohemian and Polish Silesia. To date, the pathogen has been recorded in 35 locations over an area of approximately 400 km². It has been found primarily in natural stands in Silesia in several types of ravine and alluvial forests, in other natural or commercial forests, in riparian stands and in open landscapes. The proportion of diseased maples ranged between approximately 1% and 50% in certain locations. Acer pseudoplatanus was confirmed as the main host but infections were also detected on A. platanoides and A. campestre. E. parasitica damages the most valuable sycamore timber and represents a clear risk for maple cultivation in the region.     

Development of sarcocystosis in experimentally infected calves

In seven calves we studied experimental invasions by sporocysts of the Sarcocystis cruzi (S. bovicanis) species, isolated from faeces of dingo dogs. Out of clinical changes, an increase in body temperature to 39.6 to 40.5 degrees C is characteristic in the fourth to the eighth week of disease, relaxed attitude of animals, progressive thinning down, anaemia of mucous membranes, diarrhoea and total dehydration. The post-mortem examination completes this observation with generalized hyperplasia of lymphatic nodes to haemorrhagic lymphadenitis and small petechial haematomata on serous coats, particularly on epicardium. Schizonts in the endothelium of capillaries in various organs were evaluated as specific lesions, demonstrated within 26 days from invasion in one calf. From 46 days after invasion we found muscular cysts in three other calves. The titres of sera in all experimental calves obtained with the NFR method are also evaluated as specific. Invaded calves died gradually between the 26th and 59th day, control calves were slaughtered and no sarcocysts were found.     

Chlorinated pesticide residues and polychlorinated biphenyls in fish from various locations in Czechoslovakia

Samples of 14 fishes (175 samples on the whole) were examined in 1984 to 1986 for residues of chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls. Residues of the given substances were present in all the samples. The contents of chlorinated pesticide residues in fish are influenced mainly by the food spectrum; significant influence was also exerted by the contamination of the environment where the fish lived, by the age of the fish, and by the amount of their body fat in which the lipophile chlorinated carbohydrates are stored. No tolerance limits have been proposed in Czechoslovakia for the residues of chlorinated carbohydrates in fish bodies, except for the sum of DDT = 2.00 mg per kg of fat. When the data on the fish samples were compared with the highest admissible content of chlorinated pesticides per unit mass of fish muscle tissue tolerated in the FRG and the content of PCB tolerated in the USA, the fish from the Vltava river downstream of Prague fail to comply with these FRG and US regulations; all fish from all other places comply with them. Owing to large differences in the contents of fat in muscle between different fishes, it is more conclusive from the point of view of food hygiene to express the results as data per 1 kg of muscular tissue; these data represent real contents in fish as foodstuff.     

Incidence of seizures associated with iopamidol or iomeprol myelography in dogs with intervertebral disk disease: 161 cases (2000–2002)

Objective – To compare the incidence of seizures in dogs with intervertebral disk disease after iopamidol or iomeprol myelography, and to assess whether the incidence of seizures differed between the 2 agents when severity of neurological deficits, location of cord compression, duration of anesthesia, site of myelogram, volume of contrast, and concentration of contrast were evaluated. Design – Retrospective study. Setting – Veterinary teaching hospital. Animals – One hundred and sixty‐one client‐owned dogs with intervertebral disk disease. Interventions – Subarachnoid injection of contrast medium. Measurements and Main Results – One hundred and sixty‐one dogs with intervertebral disk disease were subjected to myelography using iopamidol (n=74) or iomeprol (n=87). Cranial myelography was performed in 31 dogs, caudal myelography in 125 and both cranial and caudal myelography in 5. Seizures occurred in 23 of 161 (14%) dogs. There was no significant difference overall between iopamidol and iomeprol myelography. However, in dogs with thoracolumbar disk extrusion and paraplegia, seizures occurred more frequently after caudal myelography using iopamidol compared with iomeprol. Conclusions – Both iomeprol and iopamidol are suitable for myelography in dogs. Iomeprol is recommended for caudal myelography in paraplegic dogs with thoracolumbar disk extrusion due to the higher incidence of seizures in this group when iopamidol was used.