Proteins in sporulated and unsporulated oocysts of Eimeria maxima were characterized, using monoclonal antibodies (MAB), ELISA, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and protein (western) immunoblotting techniques. Three MAB (EM1, EM2, and EM4) were produced against proteins of sporulated oocysts. The ELISA results indicated that EM1 was reactive with sporulated oocyst proteins, EM2 was reactive with sporulated and unsporulated oocyst proteins, and EM4 was reactive with unsporulated oocysts and proteins. Separation of proteins in E maxima sporulated and unsporulated oocysts by SDS-PAGE indicated that sporulated oocysts had proteins of approximately 200 kilodaltons (kD) and distinct protein bands at 21.5 and 45 kD. Using SDS-PAGE, unsporulated oocysts had less-distinct high molecular weight protein bands (> 200 kD), compared with sporulated oocysts, and a distinct protein band at 31 kD. Use of all 3 MAB yielded negative results in western blot analysis of fractions obtained by SDS-PAGE.

Cardiopulmonary function values were determined before and after surgical removal of adult heartworms in 25 dogs with spontaneous and 4 dogs with drug-induced caval syndrome (CS). Fifteen dogs with spontaneous CS (recovery group) and 4 dogs with drug-induced CS (drug-induced CS group) recovered after removal, and 10 dogs with spontaneous cs were euthanatized or died (nonsurviving group). Before heartworm removal, injected radiographic contrast medium was regurgitated from the right ventricle to the right atrium. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure and total pulmonary resistance were not statistically different between the recovery and nonsurviving groups of dogs, but the end-diastolic right ventricular pressure (mean +/- SD, 6.9 +/- 9.1 mm of Hg) and the a (8.7 +/- 9.2 mm of Hg)- and v (6.3 +/- 8.5 mm of Hg)-waves of the right atrial pressure curve in the recovery group were less, respectively, than the end-diastolic right ventricular pressure (17.3 +/- 6.0 mm of Hg) and the a (15.8 +/- 6.1 mm of Hg)- and v (21.4 +/- 6.9 mm of Hg)-waves in dogs of the nonsurviving group. After heartworm removal, contrast medium regurgitation disappeared, and cardiac output of the right ventricle increased in dogs of the recovery (from 2.08 +/- 0.72 to 2.38 +/- 0.68 L/min; P < 0.05) and drug-induced CS (from 1.42 +/- 0.19 to 1.88 +/- 0.26 L/min, P < 0.05) groups. However, regurgitation remained, and cardiac output did not increase in some dogs of the nonsurviving group. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure decreased significantly (from 37.7 +/- 18.3 mm of Hg to 32.0 +/- 16.1 mm of Hg; P < 0.01) at 1 week after heartworm removal in dogs of the recovery group, but not in those of the nonsurviving group. Total pulmonary resistance (from 12,612 +/- 7,670 dynes.sec.cm-5.kg of body weight to 9,776 +/- 6,089 dynes.sec.cm-5.kg; P < 0.01) and right atrial pressure (a-wave: from 8.7 +/- 9.2 mm of Hg to 4.1 +/- 5.6 mm of Hg; v-wave: from 6.3 +/- 8.5 mm of Hg to 2.1 +/- 4.6 mm of Hg) decreased after heartworm removal in dogs of the recovery group. Total pulmonary resistance (from 20,309 +/- 9,682 dynes.sec.cm-5.kg to 15,970 +/- 6,798 dynes.sec.cm.5.kg; P < 0.05) and right atrial pressure (a-wave: from 15.8 +/- 6.1 mm of Hg to 10.1 +/- 6.3 mm of Hg; v-wave: from 21.4 +/- 6.9 mm of Hg to 11.1 +/- 3.7 mm of Hg) also decreased in dogs of the nonsurviving group. However, pressures in the right side of the heart and total pulmonary resistance after heartworm removal were greater in dogs of the nonsurviving group than in dogs of the recovery group. At necropsy pulmonary arterial emboli containing dead heartworms were found in almost all dogs with spontaneous CS, but not in dogs with drug-induced CS. The severity of pulmonary arterial embolism correlated significantly with mean pulmonary arterial pressure before (r = 0.710; P < 0.01) and 1 week after (r = 0.728; P < 0.01) heartworm removal.

Milk samples were collected at onset of 508 episodes of clinical mastitis on a 1,700-cow dairy farm in Michigan. Daily milk production and disease events were recorded for all cows in the herd. Despite statistical association with severity of mastitis, this association was too weak for N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase) activity to be of great value as a prognostic test for clinical mastitis. High milk NAGase activity was significantly (P < 0.0001) associated with: increased duration of treatment; increased duration of clinical signs of mastitis; decreased daily milk production; and increased risk of the cow being culled because of mastitis. The NAGase value was combined with days in milk production, baseline milk production before mastitis onset, parity, and season of onset to predict the outcome of clinical cases as measured by the first 3 aforementioned variables. Statistical models explained little of the variability among cows in duration of treatment (R2 = 0.11), duration of clinical signs of infection (R2 = 0.11), and milk production change (R2 = 0.09).

The effect of methoxamine on retrograde flow of spermatozoa into the urinary bladder of domestic cats during electroejaculation and the incidence of retrograde flow during the collection of semen with an artificial vagina, or during mating was examined. In experiment 1, urine collected by cystocentesis prior to electroejaculation was azoospermic or contained few, nonmotile spermatozoa, whereas urine collected after electroejaculation contained more (P = 0.002) spermatozoa, and motile spermatozoa were evident in urine obtained from 6 of 8 cats. Administration of methoxamine hydrochloride (200 microgram/kg of body weight, IV) did not affect spermatozoal output or percentage of retrograde flow. Percentage of retrograde flow for control cats ranged from 61.18 to 92.95% (mean +/- SD, 80.00 +/- 14.28%) and for methoxamine-treated cats, ranged from 15.25 to 92.49% (mean +/- SD, 58.10 +/- 32.28%), but the difference was not significant. In experiment 2, an artificial vagina was used to collect semen from 5 of the 8 cats used in experiment 1. Urine collected by cystocentesis after ejaculation contained spermatozoa, and motile spermatozoa were evident in the urine from 4 of 5 cats. The mean (+/- SD) percentage of retrograde flow for these 5 cats was 46.82 +/- 31.67% (range, 14.56 to 90.32%). In experiment 3, each of the 5 cats that were used in experiments 1 and 2 were mated. Spermatozoa were recovered from the vagina of each mated female, and motile spermatozoa were also present in postejaculation urine obtained by cystocentesis from each of the 5 male cats. Mean total number of spermatozoa in the postmating urine was 29.42 +/- 33.58 X 10(6) (range, 0.22 X 10(6) to 76.05 X 10(6) spermatozoa). Anesthesia of cats with ketamine facilitated the obtention of urine by cystocentesis, but did not cause spermatozoal displacement into the urinary bladder. Results of this study confirm the fact that, in cats, appreciable numbers of spermatozoa are lost because of retrograde flow into the urinary bladder during electroejaculation. Recovery of spermatozoa from the urinary bladder after collection of semen with an artificial vagina or following natural mating, indicates that retrograde flow of spermatozoa is not an artifact derived from electrical stimulation but is a component of the ejaculatory process in cats.

A double-blind study was conducted to compare gastric ulcer healing time in nontreated dogs with that in dogs treated with either cimetidine or omeprazole. Single ulcers were created in the gastric antrum by use of a suction biopsy capsule. Each dog was given 25 mg of aspirin/kg of body weight orally for 20 days after ulcer induction. Five control dogs were given aspirin only (no anti-ulcer medication) during the 20-day study. Six dogs were given cimetidine at dosage of 10 mg/kg orally every 8 hours, and 6 dogs were given omeprazole orally at dosage of 2 micromole/kg (0.7 mg/kg) once daily. All dogs were examined endoscopically on days 5, 10, 15, and 20 and were given a score for the size of the mechanically created ulcer and a score for the degree of aspirin-induced gastritis. All dogs were euthanatized on day 21, and gastric lesions were examined histologically. Significant differences were not evident in ulcer healing scores or degree of aspirin-induced gastritis among treated and nontreated dogs on days 5, 10, 15, and 20. However, aspirin-induced gastritis was less severe in dogs of the omeprazole group than in dogs of the cimetidine or control group on each day observations were made. The effect of omeprazole given once daily was comparable with that of cimetidine given every 8 hours in lessening aspirin-induced gastritis.

During the years 1984 through 1987, 2,574 isolates of obligately anaerobic bacteria were isolated from samples submitted for analysis. The most common anaerobic isolates were members of the genus Bacteroides, representing 44.6% of the isolates. Of these, the most commonly isolated identifiable microorganisms were bile-resistant and nonpigmented, belonging to the B fragilis group of Bacteroides. Importantly, obvious predilections for any one species or group of Bacteroides were not apparent for animal or site (condition), except that the proportion of isolates belonging to the nonpigmented, bile-resistant group obtained from the respiratory tract was significantly (P < 0.005) higher than that not belonging to this group. On the other hand, the proportion of isolates of the nonpigmented, bile-resistant group obtained from abscesses was significantly lower than that not belonging to this group.

Sixty-three drugs, belonging to 10 chemical classes, were tested in vitro to determine effects on phagocytosis of 32P-labeled Staphylococcus aureus by neutrophils isolated from milk. Within each class, the number of antibiotics tested were: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID; 8), peptolids (2), aminoglycosides (8), tetracyclines and fusidic acid (4), beta-lactam antibiotics (25), secretolytic agents (2), macrolides (5), polypeptides (2), and antibacterial quinolones (8). Percentage of phagocytosis was determined after incubating (2 hours at 37 C) 12.5 X 10(6) viable neutrophils, 200 X 10(6) 32P-labeled S aureus with antibiotics and 5% skimmed milk. Concentrations of antibiotics tested were 1,000, 500, and 10 microgram/ml of incubation media. When compared with nonantibiotic controls at the highest drug concentration, the NSAID acetylsalicylic acid and centrophenoxine increased phagocytosis 23.2 and 8.8%, respectively, and benzydamine, indomethacin, phenylbutazone, ibuprofen, and acetominophen decreased phagocytosis 22.8, 14.2, 9.8, 27.0, and 18.2%, respectively. The peptolids novobiocin and pristinamycin decreased phagocytosis 24.5 and 22.0%, respectively. The aminoglycosides tobramycin, amikacin, and gentamicin decreased phagocytosis 21.1, 15.4, and 19.2%, respectively. For the tetracyclines and fusidic acid, minocycline and doxycycline decreased phagocytosis 39.8 and 54.2%, respectively. The beta-lactam antibiotics carfecillin, cephapirin sodium, and cephacetrile sodium decreased phagocytosis 11.2, 12.8, and 23.8%, respectively. The secretolytic agent, bromhexin, increased phagocytosis 10.8%. These data indicate that the potential for enhanced phagocytosis exists through use of some NSAID, and for depressed phagocytosis through use of aminoglycosides, peptolids, tetracyclines, and beta-lactams, as well as certain other NSAID.

Conjunctiva-associated lymphoid tissue (CALT) in the eyelids of chickens was studied by gross, histologic, and electron microscopic techniques. Structural features were characterized at 1 day of age and at posthatching week (PHW) 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16. Beginning at PHW 1, prominent lymphoid nodules containing a heterogenous population of lymphocytes, lymphoblasts, and macrophages were first observed within conjunctival folds and fissures of the lower eyelid. Nodules contained germinal centers by PHW 2 and plasma cells by PHW 4. The epithelium associated with these nodules was flat, had short, irregular microvilli, contained intraepithelial lymphocytes, and lacked goblet cells. High endothelial venules were located at the base of lymphoid nodules and contained lymphocytes within and below the cuboidal endothelium. In the upper eyelid, CALT was morphologically similar to lymphoid tissue in the lower eyelid, but nodules were smaller and more random, lacked association with epithelial folds and fissures, and were clustered around the opening of the nasolacrimal duct. By PHW 12, CALT was characterized by basal germinal centers outlined by collagenous stroma, suprafollicular plasma cells, columnar epithelium with goblet cells, and fewer intraepithelial lymphocytes. On the basis of these features, CALT in chickens has morphologic characteristics similar to other components of the mucosal immune system and, therefore, may have a role in mucosal immunity.

A rapid, simple chemosensitivity assay, assessing tumor cell nuclear uptake of doxorubicin hydrochloride, was evaluated in 16 dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma. Doxorubicin was administered to dogs in 5 biweekly treatments, and surgical resection was performed after the second or third treatment, The chemosensitivity assay was performed on biopsy specimens from all dogs before chemotherapy. It was repeated on tissue from resected tumors, and tumors were evaluated histologically to determine the degree of necrosis resulting from chemotherapy. Disease-free and total survival time correlated significantly (P < 0.05 in both cases) with the degree of postchemotherapy necrosis of the primary tumors. Significant correlation was not apparent between the percentage of tumor cells with nuclear uptake of doxorubicin (in either biopsy or resection samples) and disease-free or total survival time. The percentage of cells with nuclear uptake of doxorubicin in surgically resected tumors correlated significantly (P < 0.05) with percentage of necrosis,

The bulbospongiosus reflex, genitoanal reflex, and nerve conduction velocity of the dorsal nerve of the penis were evaluated in cats. Seven adult sexually intact or castrated male mixed-breed cats underwent surgical isolation of the bulbospongiosus (analagous to bulbocavenosus) branch, anal branch, and distal trunk of the pudendal nerve. The bulbospongiosus and genitoanal reflexes were recorded from the bulbospongiosus and anal branches, respectively, by electrical stimulation, in turn, of the distal pudendal trunk and the penis itself. Nerve conduction velocity of the dorsal nerve of the penis was calculated by measuring response latency differences in the anal branch after stimulation of 2 sites on the extruded penis. The bulbospongiosus reflex had response latencies of 8.1 to 10.3 ms (distal trunk stimulation) and 11.0 to 13.0 ms (penile stimulation). The genitoanal reflex had latencies of 8.1 to 10.5 ms (distal trunk stimulation) and 11.2 to 13.2 ms (penile stimulation). Response amplitudes diminished at stimulus rates of 5 to 10 Hz; responses were abolished at rates of 12 to 15 Hz, suggesting that the reflexes are polysynaptic. There was no significant difference between latency values for the bulbospongiosus and genitoanal reflexes. Mean +/- SD nerve conduction velocity in the dorsal nerve of the penis was calculated to be 3.8 +/- 0.34 m/s, which was considerably slower than that found in human beings. This may represent technical difficulties in performing the test in cats, but could also indicate a difference between cats and human beings in the predominant population of cutaneous sensory fiber types of the penis.