Indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA), latex agglutination (IA), and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) methods were compared for evaluation of the serum antibody responses of dogs experimentally and naturally exposed to spotted fever-group rickettsiae. Selected sera (obtained on days 1, 42, 53, 124, 145, 236, 255, 264, and 292) were examined from three 8-month-old female Beagles inoculated with Rickettsia rickettsii on days 34 and 250 of the study. A second group of dogs comprised three 8-month-old female Beagles inoculated with R montana on days 34 and 102. Subsequently, these dogs were inoculated with R rickettsii on day 250. Serum samples were obtained from the second group of dogs on days 1, 96, 103, 132, 180, 215, 292, and 494. A third group consisted of 21 naturally exposed dogs, from which sequentially obtained serum samples were available, and which had clinical signs compatible with Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Clinical signs of disease in dogs of the third group resolved after treatment with tetracycline (22 mg/kg of body weight, Po, q 8 h) was instituted. At least 2 sequentially obtained serum samples from each dog were tested. In general, the first sample was obtained just prior to treatment and the convalescent serum samples were obtained at weekly or greater intervals thereafter. For correlation and reactivity data, an IFA test for IgG/IgM (using heavy and light chains-specific conjugate) was used as the reference standard for comparison of results with those of the other tests,.

Objective: This study aimed to reveal the coronary veins and the branches that join it to provide venous drainage of the heart in Southern Karaman sheep. Material-Method: Eight Southern Karaman sheep’s heart tissues were used in the study. Latex injection techniques were used to determine the coronary veins and the branches that join it for providing venous drainage of the heart.Result: In the study, vena cordis magna, vena cordis media, and vv. cordis dextra was observed as venous drainage providing vessels. The vena cordis magna began in the lower third of the sulcus interventricularis paraconalis, called vena interventricularis paraconalis. This vein reached the sulcus coronarius and continued as vena circumflexus sinister. Vena cordis media was named as vena interventricularis subsinosus in sulcus interventricularis subsinosus. The vv. cordis dextra was responsible for the venous drainage of the facies atrialis of the heart.Conclusion: In the evaluation of the study findings, it was determined that the coronary veins and the branches joined it of Southern Karaman sheep were mainly similar to other sheep breeds in the literature. Still, there were some anatomical differences, for example; vena distalis ventriculi sinistri was opening into vena circumflexus sinister, vena apicis cordis was absent, vena semicircumflexa dextri was present.

Venous blood samples were collected 283 ewes observed in nine different regions of Maysan province during the period from October 2012 to March 2013 for detecting toxoplasmosis by using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA-IgG) and latex agglutination test (LAT). Three groups of ewes pregnant, non-pregnant and aborted were selected for both tests, and the results showed that the rates of Toxoplasma seropositivity in aborted group is the highest, followed by pregnant group using the LAT test (73.33% and 65.38%) respectively, while the proportion of ewes aborted were the top (40%) in the ELISA test. The results of LAT and ELISA tests showed that Al –Musharah subdistrict is the highest in the seropositivity against Toxoplasma (78.26% and 39.13%) respectively. As for the relationship between age and Toxoplasma seropositivity, the results showed that the highest seropositivity rate in the age groups more than a year and two years (65.30% and 65.57%) respectively by using LAT test , and high seropositivity rate (32.65) in the age group more than a year with ELISA test. The statistical analysis showed no significant differences(p ≥ 0.05) between the LAT and ELISA tests with regard to Toxoplasma seropositivity

Objective-To determine the effect of experimental intraluminal distention on microvascular perfusion of the small colon in horses. Animals-6 mixed-breed healthy horses (mean age [+/- SD], 9.1 +/- 2 years). Procedure-Under general anesthesia, the small colon was exposed by celiotomy and 3 segments were demarcated. In 1 of these segments, intraluminal obstruction was created by placement of a latex balloon inflated to a pressure of 40 mm Hg (obstructed segment). The other segments were the sham-operated segment and the control segment. Microvascular perfusion was evaluated in the mucosal, submucosal, muscular, and serosal layers by injection of 15--µm-diameter colored microspheres into branches of the caudal mesenteric artery. Recovery of microspheres was performed by tissue digestion, washing, and centrifugation. Distribution of microspheres in the intestinal layers was evaluated by direct observation of stained frozen sections by light microscopy. Results-A significant reduction was observed in total microvascular perfusion of obstructed segments, which was 26.4% of that of control segments. This reduction was not evident in the mucosal layer. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance-Intraluminal distention of the equine small colon wall can promote ischemia by a reduction in microvascular perfusion in the intestinal wall. Intestinal layers do not seem to be affected to the same extent, because the absolute value for mucosal perfusion did not decrease in the obstructed segment.

Communications between the femoropatellar, medial femorotibial, and lateral femorotibial joints were studied, using fresh equine cadaver specimens. A total of 90 specimens from 45 horses were used. Horses were randomly assigned to 3 groups with 15 horses/group. Each group was assigned an injection site (femoropatellar joint, medial femorotibial joint, or lateral femorotibial joint), and red latex was injected into the respective location of each joint in each group. Immediately after injection, the joints were flexed and extended 100 times. The stifles were frozen in slight flexion, then cut into 1-cm sagittal sections. The communications between the femoropatellar and medial and lateral femorotibial joints were determined. None of the specimens in this study had communication between afl 3 joint compartments. When the femoropatellar joint was injected, 18 of 30 joints (60%) communicated with the medial femorotibial joint, and 1 of 30 (3%) communicated with the lateral femorotibial joint. Injection of the medial femorotibial joint revealed 24 of 30 (80%) joints that communicated with the femoropatellar joint, and 1 of 30 (3%) that communicated with the lateral femorotibial joint. Injection of the lateral femorotibial joint resulted in communication with the femoropatellar joint in 1 of 30 (3%) joints. Communication did not exist between the medial and lateral femorotibial joints.

Comparisons were made among rapid latex agglutination test and conventional biochemical tests used to identify Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus. Ninety-eight streptococci and 149 staphylococci isolated from bulk tank milk were tested. Sensitivity and specificity for the latex agglutination test used for identification of Str agalactiae were 97.6 and 98.2%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for the latex agglutination test used for identification of S aureus were 90.2 and 67.5%, respectively. Of 25 staphylococci considered false-positive by the latex agglutination test, 14 (56%) were considered tube coagulase-positive. Fifteen staphylococci considered false-positive by latex agglutination test had biotypes representative of S hyicus or S xylosus.

The vascular patterns to pelvic limb muscles were studied in 6 dogs (12 limbs) to identify muscles most suitable for transposition in the treatment of large wounds. Gross dissection of injected specimens and angiography were used to identify the vascular pedicles. The vascular pedicles to several muscles were generally consistent, and any variations would not interfere with most muscle transfers. The cranial part of the sartorius, gracillis, semitendinosus, and rectus femoris muscles were identified as suitable candidates for transfer. The caudal part of the sartorius, cranial tibial, and long digital extensor muscles have segmentalized vascular patterns that would limit its arc of rotation.

To study communications and boundaries of the middle carpal and carpometacarpal joints of the horse, 50 forelimbs were obtained from fresh cadaver specimens. Blue latex solution (20 +/- 2.5 ml) was injected into the middle carpal joint, and the specimens were frozen in extension. Frozen specimens were cut into 1-cm sagittal sections from the middle of the radius to the middle of the metacarpus. The communications between the middle carpal and carpometacarpal joints and the presence, length, and position of the distopalmar outpouchings of the carpometacarpal joint were recorded. The middle carpal and carpometacarpal joints always communicated between os carpale III (C3) and os carpale IV (C4). An additional communication between the joints existed in 17 (34%) of the specimens, 10 on the palmar aspect of C4, and 3 on the palmar aspect of os carpale II (C2). When os carpale 1 (C1) was present (n = 5), communication between C1 and C2 was observed in 4 of the 5 specimens. In all specimens, medial and lateral distopalmar outpouchings of the carpometacarpal joint were observed and were located between the axial surface of os metacarpale II (MC2) and os metacarpale IV (MC4) and the abaxial surface of the suspensory ligament. There was no significant difference between the lengths of the lateral (2.3 +/- 0.54 cm) or medial (2.6 +/- 0.75 cm) distopalmar outpouchings. Small extensions from the distopalmar outpouchings were seen and extended axially into the fibers of the suspensory ligament or between the suspensory ligament and the distal accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon. In one carpus, the middle carpal joint communicated with the antebrachiocarpal joint between the articulation of the os carpi intermedium (Ci) and the os carpi ulnare (Cu).

A total of 281 serum samples collected randomly from goats showing the signs of fever, abortion,repeat breeding and still births as well as from apparently healthy ones were subjected to LAT and MAT based on rLipL32 and rLipL41 antigens. A total of 16 (5.69%) samples were found positive to MAT, whereas rLipL32-LAT and rLipL41-LAT detected 35 (12.45%) and 23 (8.18%) samples as positive, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of rLipL32-LAT was 87.50% and 92.83%, respectively,while rLipL41-LAT yielded 75.00% and 97.35% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. LAT based on rLipL32 and rLipL41antigens could further be evaluated on a larger number of samples to ensure its utility as a screening test for the sero-epidemiological studies.