An ELISA was developed and tested for its ability to detect antibodies against Salmonella enteritidis in chickens. Various features of the ELISA were evaluated and optimized. The outer membrane protein antigens selected by use of the protein immunoblotting method made the assay specific and sensitive. The assay was evaluated in chickens experimentally infected with S enteritidis. Blood samples collected at weekly intervals after experimental infection with S enteritidis were analyzed by ELISA. Results of the ELISA were compared with those of conventional serum plate and microagglutination tests. The ELISA was more sensitive and specific in the detection of S enteritidis infection than the other 2 conventional tests.

Dynamic baroreflex sensitivity for increasing arterial pressure (DBSI) was used to quantitatively assess the effects of anesthesia on the heart rate/arterial pressure relationship during rapid (less than or equal to 2 minutes) pressure changes in the horse. Anesthesia was induced with IV administration of xylazine and ketamine and maintained with halothane at a constant end-tidal concentration of 1.1 to 1.2% (1.25 to 1.3 minimal alveolar concentration). Systolic arterial pressure (SAP) was increased a minimum of 30 mm of Hg in response to an IV bolus injection of phenylephrine HCl. Linear regression was used to determine the slope of the R-R interval/SAP relationship. During dynamic increases in SAP, a significant correlation between R-R interval and SAP was observed in 8 of 8 halothane-anesthetized horses. Correlation coefficients between R-R interval and sap were > 0.80 in 5 of 8 horses. Mean (+/- SD) DBSI was 4.8 +/- 3.4 ms/mm of Hg in anesthetized horses. A significant correlation between R-R interval and SAP was observed in only 3 of 6 awake horses during dynamic increases in SAP. Lack of correlation between R-R interval and SAP in 3 of 6 awake horses indicated that rapidly increasing SAP with an IV phenylephrine bolus is a poor method to evaluate baroreceptor-mediated heart rate changes in awake horses. Reflex slowing of heart rate in response to a rising arterial pressure appeared to have been overridden by the effects of excitement. Mean (+/- SD) DBSI (3 horses) was 7.3 +/- 3.3 ms/mm of Hg in awake horses.

Eighteen dogs with naturally acquired helminth infections were used to evaluate the efficacy of nitroscanate against Ancylostoma caninum, Dipylidium caninum, and Trichuris vulpis. Approximately 15 minutes before treatment, the dogs were given 100 to 200 g of canned dog food. Ten dogs were treated with nitroscanate (50 mg/kg of body weight, PO), and 8 dogs were given placebo tablets PO. The dogs were euthanatized and necropsied 10 days after treatment and helminths were recovered from the small intestine and cecum. On the basis of the number of worms recovered from treated dogs vs the number recovered from control dogs, we determined the efficacy of nitroscanate to be 99.6% against A caninum, 99.8% against D caninum, and 0% against T vulpis.

Bone marrow fibroblast colony-forming units (CFU-F) were evaluated in cats experimentally infected with different isolates of FeLV. Cats infected with the Kawakami-Theilen isolate of FeLV (FeLV-KT) had progressive decrease in the number of CFU-F at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after infection. The number of CFU-F in FeLV-KT-infected cats ranged from 38 to 70% of the preinoculation CFU-F value. Of 3 cats with FeLV-KT-induced suppression of CFU-F, 2 developed fatal nonregenerative anemia. Cats infected with the Rickard isolate of FeLV (FeLV-R) had more moderate decrease in the number of CFU-F at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after infection. The number of CFU-F in FeLV-R-infected cats ranged from 62 to 82% of the preinoculation CFU-F value. The FeLV-R-infected cats did not become anemic.

In a survey of 666 sheep at a slaughterhouse, gallstones (concretions with a diameter greater than or equal to 1 mm) were found in the gallbladder of 50 sheep (7.5%), sludge (concretions with a diameter < 1 mm) was found in 9 sheep (1.4%), and sludge plus gallstones were found in 7 sheep (1.1%). Gallstones and sludge were associated, and were more frequent in lambs and females, compared with adults and males. Qualitative analysis of the stones revealed all to be pigment (bilirubin) stones. There was a statistically significant increase of biliary bilirubin (total and indirect quota) only in sheep with gallstones plus sludge, compared with control sheep without sludge or gallstones. Concentrations of bilirubin, cholesterol, phospholipids, total and single bile aids, and total and ionized calcium were similar in the bile of sheep with gallstones, sludge, or both and control sheep. Bacteriologic analysis of the bile in 10 sheep with gallstones and 10 controls revealed bacteria in 50% of the first group and in 75% of the second group (Escherichia coli in all sheep and Salmonella spp also in 1 sheep with gallstones). These findings confirm our earlier findings of a high prevalence of black pigment gallstones in sheep. On that basis, we suggest that gallstones are associated with high total bilirubin concentration in the bile, and deconjugating bacteria are common in the biliary tract of these animals.

Platelet aggregation and release, platelet number, mean platelet volume, antithrombin-III activity, and fibrinogen concentration were evaluated in heartworm-negative and heartworm-infected dogs at baseline and on days 3, 10, and 21 after treatment with thiacetarsamide. Platelet reactivity was enhanced in a group of dogs naturally infected with Dirofilaria immitis, compared with 2 groups of heartworm-negative dogs, but platelet reactivity was not further enhanced after treatment with thiacetarsamide. A significant decrease in antithrombin-III activity was detected 21 days after treatment. The platelets from a group of laboratory Beagles implanted with 50 adult D immitis displayed enhanced reactivity 6 months after implantation, but by 18 months, platelet reactivity had returned to near, or less than, baseline. Platelet reactivity was enhanced after thiacetarsamide treatment in this group. Thiacetarsamide-associated changes were not observed in platelet number or size; antithrombin-III activity decreased, but the change was not significant. Fibrinogen concentration was increased significantly (P < 0.05) on day 10. Enhanced adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation was observed on days 3, 10, and 21 after treatment in heartworm-negative dogs. This change was not observed in 6 control Beagles not treated with thiacetarsamide. Although antithrombin-III activity was decreased on day 3 and fibrinogen concentration was increased on day 10, paralleling changes observed in the heartworm-infected dogs, the changes were not statistically significant. In this study, thiacetarsamide was procoagulatory in heartworm-negative dogs and may be an important contributing factor to the thromboembolism observed with adulticidal therapy.

The assessment of cutaneous microcirculation by laser-Doppler velocimetry (LDV) has been primarily limited to human studies. The purpose of this investigation was to establish normal values in various species and anatomic sites for blood flow, velocity, and volume as determined by LDV. Microcirculation was measured with a laser-Doppler velocimeter in 54 animals, 6 healthy animals from each of 9 species. The standard sites used were the buttocks, convex surface of the ear, metacarpal pad, humeroscapular junction, thoracolumbar junction, ventral portion of the abdomen, dorsal metacarpus (hooved animals), and ventral surface of the tail (horse). Significant differences in blood flow, velocity, and volume were measured between species and sites within species. The ventral portion of the abdomen consistently had the highest relative blood flow across all species except the monkey. Measurements in the canine metacarpal pad had a high SD, possibly indicating the stratum corneum and epidermis to be too thick for LDV. Our findings provide baseline data in several species, with application of LDV in comparative dermatologic research.

To test the effect of a parasite control program for cattle, 2 groups of similar composition were grazed on separate, but equivalent, improved pastures. Cattle in 1 group were treated with fenbendazole at 5.0 mg/kg of body weight at the time they were turned out on pasture in the spring and again at midsummer, when the cattle were moved to a new pasture. The control group was not treated. Parasite egg counts were significantly (P < 0.04) lower in the treated group. Trichostrongyle-type eggs were the most prevalent throughout the, year, except in the month of May, when Strongyloides papillosus eggs were predominant. The number of worms recovered from tracer calves was lower for those on pastures where the treated group grazed than for those on- the control group's pasture. The most consistently recovered parasite was Ostertagia ostertagi, and hypobiosis was observed.

The toxicity of zinc ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate (zineb), a widely used fungicide, was studied in four 4-week-old Friesian calves with immature rumen function. Calves were first subjected to liver biopsy, and thereafter, 3 of them were orally administered 200 mg of zineb/kg of body weight daily for 80 days, whereas the fourth calf served as control and remained untreated. Clinical, hematologic, and pathologic (including ultrastructural) findings were recorded. The distribution in body fluids and tissues of the parent compound and one of its main metabolites, ethylenethiourea (ETU), also was examined. Treated calves had unthrifty appearance and reduction in weight gain. They also had remarkable impairment of thyroid function, as reflected by reduction in serum concentrations of triiodothyronine and thyroxine and increase in weight of the thyroid gland associated with epithelial vacuolization and foci of hyperplasia. Moderate increase in liver glycogen content and impairment in maturation of germ cells were recorded consistently. Whereas zineb was widely distributed in body tissues, ETU accumulated mainly in the liver and the thyroid gland, although noticeable concentrations also were attained in muscle. Data were consistent with involvement of ETU mainly in the pathogenesis of thyroid gland lesions, and indicate that unweaned calves given zineb develop a clinicopathologic syndrome that does not differ qualitatively from that already described in adult cattle exposed to zineb.

Assay procedures for determining serum haptoglobin concentration and ceruloplasmin oxidase activity in dogs were validated, and reference values were established. Serum haptoglobin concentration is reported as milligrams per deciliter of cyanmethemoglobin binding capacity, whereas serum ceruloplasmin oxidase activity was determined by use of p-phenylenediamine as substrate. Both assays were used to analyze serum samples from 288 dogs. In each dog's case record, clinical history and final diagnosis were evaluated to determine whether the dog had an inflammatory condition. Complete blood cell counts were performed in 265 dogs, using simultaneously collected blood samples. Plasma fibrinogen concentration was determined for 161 dogs. A positive correlation (P < 0.01) was found for serum haptoglobin concentration and for ceruloplasmin oxidase activity, compared with WBC counts, segmented neutrophil and band neutrophil counts, and plasma fibrinogen concentration. Ceruloplasmin oxidase activity and haptoglobin concentration were up to 6 times more sensitive than fibrinogen concentration or leukocyte counts in detecting inflammation. Specificity of ceruloplasmin oxidase activity was comparable to fibrinogen concentration and leukocyte counts, whereas haptoglobin concentration was found to be slightly less specific. Specificity of haptoglobin concentration improved slightly (from 0.82 to 0.88) when dogs with a history of glucocorticoid administration were excluded from analysis. Predictive value of a negative test result (haptoglobin concentration < 125 mg/dl; ceruloplasmin oxidase activity < 20 IU/L) and predictive value of a positive test result for haptoglobin concentration and ceruloplasmin activity were comparable to or better than fibrinogen concentration or various oxidase leukocyte counts in detection of inflammation in a variety of disease conditions. We concluded that serum haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin oxidase assays could be used as adjuncts for diagnosis of the inflammation in dogs.