Hematologic values arid cellular morphologic features were evaluated for 38 healthy adult llamas. Reference ranges were determined for PCV, reticulocyte concentration, leukocyte concentration, and leukocyte differential counts. The approach used in this study was to focus on hematologic values that may be determined by use of techniques readily available to the practicing veterinarian and nonveterinary laboratory. Unique cellular morphologic features commonly observed and interpreted as normal included large granular lymphocytes, hyposegmented eosinophil nuclei, folded erythrocytes, and hemoglobin crystals.

Glutamine has been shown to be an important metabolic substrate of enterocytes in many animals, including cats, dogs, hamsters, human beings, monkeys, rabbits, rats, and sheep. To determine whether glutamine is important in the metabolism of cells of the equine gastrointestinal tract, we examined transintestinal differences in glutamine concentrations in the arterial and venous circulation, and measured activity of the major glutamine catabolizing enzyme, glutaminase. Arteriovenous differences provide an index of the amount of a given substrate removed by the tissue across which the measurements are made, and commonly are expressed as a percentage of substrate removed, or percent extraction. Arteriovenous differences for glutamine were determined in 7 anesthetized adult horses (weight, 450 to 500 kg) before and after an IV glutamine infusion. The mean baseline arterial glutamine concentration (+/- SEM) was 572 +/- 24 microM; this concentration quadrupled (to 2,167 +/- 135 microM, P < 0.01) 1 minute after IV bolus infusion of a 17.5-g glutamine load. Baseline extraction by the portal-drained viscera was 7.5 +/- 1.5%; this value increased to 18 +/- 2% at 1 minute (P < 0.01) and had returned to baseline values 60 minutes later. Arteriovenous differences were greatest across the jejunum (11.8 +/- 1.8% in the baseline period vs 33.1 +/- 3.1% at 1 minute, P < 0.001), with smaller differences across the colon, suggesting that the jejunum was the more avid utilizer of glutamine. Glutaminase activity was 4.38 +/- 0.16 and 4.00 +/- 0.60 micromol/mg of protein/h under standard conditions in jejunal and ileal mucosa, respectively. Kinetic studies of jejunal glutaminase revealed the enzyme to have a Km of 3.81 +/- 0.35 mM and a Vmax of 8.08 +/- 0.54 micromol/mg of protein/h, suggesting that the small intestine of horses has a high capacity to extract and metabolize circulating glutamine.

A retrospective study was designed to determine the distribution of equine monocytic ehrlichiosis among the equine population in New York state, and to identify factors associated with risk of disease. Serum samples submitted to the diagnostic laboratory of the university during the period from January 1985 through December 1986 were examined for antibodies to Ehrlichia risticii, using the indirect fluorescent antibody technique. Factors evaluated included geographic origin and date of submission of the sample, and age, breed, and sex of the horse. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify which factors were significantly associated with the risk of seropositivity to E risticii, while simultaneously controlling for other factors. Of the 2,579 tested samples, 1,950 (76%) had positive results. Factors significantly associated with risk of seropositivity to E risticii were: breed of the horse (Thoroughbreds were 3 times more likely to have been exposed to E risticii, compared with non-Standardbred, non-thoroughbred breeds); sex (female horses were 2.7 times more likely to have been exposed, compared with male horses); age of the horse (the risk of being exposed to E risticii increased with age, peaked at around 12 years, and decreased thereafter); and month of submission (horses tested during November and December had the highest odds of being seropositive [odds ratio = 2.1], and horses tested during March through April were least likely to be seropositive [odds ratio = 0.5], compared with horses tested during January and February).

Development of age-dependent resistance to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli was studied, using isolated enterocytes and brush border membranes (BBM) from 7-day-old and 7-week-old pigs. Binding of 125I-labeled heat-stable (125I-STa) enterotoxin to enterocytes and BBM was specific, temperature- and time-dependent, saturable, and partially reversible. Scatchard analysis revealed a single class of receptors. Mean +/- SD avidity of binding (apparent affinity constant, Ka) of 125I-STa to enterocytes from 7-day-old and 7-week-old pigs was 2.14 +/- 0.29 X 10(8) and 2.72 +/- 0.25 X 10(8) L/mol, respectively. Numbers of STa receptors were calcuated to be 64,903 +/- 2,900/enterocyte for 7-day-old pigs and 53,029 +/- 3,117/enterocyte for 7-week-old pigs. Numbers of STa receptors expressed per milligram of BBM protein from 7-day-old pigs were 2.66 X 10(11), compared with 2.29 X 10(11) for BBM from 7-week-old pigs. By 5 minutes after addition of STa to reaction mixtures, intracellular cyclic guanosine monophosphate concentration increased 13.9-fold in enterocytes from 7-day-old pigs and 8.7-fold in enterocytes from 7-week-old pigs. The particulate guanylate cyclase activity associated with BBM from 7-week-old pigs was slightly more sensitive to low amounts of STa, compared with BBM from 7-day-old pigs; however, differences were not observed at intermediate and high amounts. These data indicate that lack of a secretory response to STa by older pigs is not attributable either to decreased numbers of STa receptors or to decreased signal response between the STa receptor and membrane-bound guanylate cyclase. Development of age-dependent resistance by porcine small intestine to STa appears to be attributable to steps in the secretory pathway that respond to increased concentration of cyclic guanosine monophosphate.

Plasma disposition of aditoprim, a new dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor, was studied in healthy cows and cows with endotoxin-induced mastitis. A single dose of 5 mg of aditoprim/kg of body weight was administered IV to 5 healthy cows and to the same cows 3 weeks later at 2 hours after intramammary infusion of 0.1 mg of endotoxin into the rear quarters. Mastitis developed in all endotoxin-infused quarters and cows had systemic signs of disease (fever, tachycardia, depression) from 2 to 10 hours after infusion of endotoxin. Pharmacokinetic characteristics of aditoprim in healthy cows were a large volume of distribution (6.28 L/kg), a systemic clearance of 0.82 L/h/kg, and an elimination half-life of 7.26 hours. In cows with mastitis, plasma concentrations of aditoprim were lower between 5 and 26 hours after injection. The systemic clearance (1.00 L/h/kg) and the volume of distribution (12.25 L/kg) were significantly higher in cows with mastitis, but elimination half-life was not significantly different. The lower plasma concentrations of aditoprim between 5 and 26 hours after injection in cows with mastitis are explained by fluid compartment shifts and/or blood flow changes induced by mastitis, although increased elimination of aditoprim in cows with mastitis cannot completely be ruled out. The antibacterial activity of aditoprim is nearly the same as that of trimethoprim. The longer elimination half-life time of aditoprim, however, indicates that it may have a pharmacotherapeutic advantage over trimethoprim.

Tablets containing praziquantel, pyrantel embonate, and febantel were tested for efficacy against helminths in dogs. A single treatment with this drug combination gave 100% reductions in Toxocara canis and Taenia hydatigena in experimentally induced infections in dogs. In dogs with naturally acquired infections, treatment gave > 97 to 98% reductions in fecal egg counts attributable to Toxascaris leonina, T canis, and Uncinaria stenocephala. Efficacy against Trichuris vulpis was > 92%.

An ELISA was compared with the plaque-reduction serum neutralization (PRSN) test, for detection of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) antibodies in cattle in a vesicular stomatitis enzootic region of Mexico. A total of 325 bovine serum samples were screened for VSV antibodies. The PRSN test was performed, using Vero cells. The ELISA contained gradient-purified VSV Indiana (Lab strain) and VSV New Jersey (Hazelhurst) as the antigens. Regression analysis and weighted kappa statistic were used to estimate measures of agreement between the 2 assays for detection of VSV antibodies. The ELISA method proved useful for serodiagnosis of vesicular stomatitis. The ELISA and PRSN test results were highly correlated for detection of VSV antibodies.

Effects of 1 hour of colonic volvulus and 3 hours of reperfusion on concentrations of thromboxane (TXB2) and prostacyclin (6-keto-PGF 1-alpha) in portal, pulmonary arterial, and jugular blood were determined by radioimmunoassay to assess the site of production and clearance of these eicosanoids from the circulation in 5 anesthetized ponies. Colonic volvulus had no significant effect on mean arterial pressure or TXB2 concentrations, but significantly (P < 0.05) increased 6-keto-PGF 1-alpha. concentrations in all blood samples. Immediately after colonic reperfusion, all eicosanoid concentrations were significantly (P < 0.05) increased. Then, TXB2 returned to baseline values, whereas 6-keto-PGF 1-alpha, concentrations remained significantly (P < 0.05) high for the remainder of the study. Eicosanoid concentrations were significantly (P < 0.05) greater in portal blood than in pulmonary arterial and jugular blood samples at all periods. This suggests that the splanchnic circulation is the primary site of eicosanoid production during and after colonic volvulus and the liver appears to provide most of the circulatory clearance of thromboxane and prostacyclin.

The effects of 2 liquid formula diets differing in protein source were evaluated in orphan foals. The response of 7 foals fed a diet containing casein as the protein source, and 6 foals fed a diet containing a combination of whey and casein, was compared with the response in a reference group of 8 mare-raised foals. Orphaned foals were fed 150 kcal/kg of body weight/d, divided into 6 equal feedings of 25 kcal/kg. Formula intake was comparable among the experimental groups, and foals fed the liquid formula diet grew as well as mare-raised foals. There was no difference among groups in mean daily body weight gain, wither height, heart girth, body temperature, pulse, respiration rate, capillary refill time, or skin tenting. Insulin and blood glucose concentrations increased in both groups of foals fed formula diets, returning to prefeeding values within 4 hours. Differences among groups were found for serum alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, cholesterol, creatinine, and glucose values; all other serum chemical values were comparable among groups. Plasma amino acid determinations revealed that arginine and ornithine were significantly lower in foals in both experimental groups than in reference foals, suggesting that arginine may have been the limiting amino acid in these diets. Diarrhea developed in foals in all treatment groups, but in most cases was self-limiting. These results suggest that the protein source of liquid formula diets may be less important in foals than in infants.

Forty-eight cattle were used in 4 experiments; 6-week-old calves in experiments 1-3 (n = 24) and 10-month-old heifers in experiment 4 (n = 24). In experiments 1-3, 7 groups of 3 calves each were inoculated SC with 5 strains of Brucella abortus: virulent strain 2308 (2 groups), vaccine strain 19 (2 groups), and mutant strains RB51, 19 delta 31K, and 19 delta SOD. Sera and lymph node tissues were examined at 2-week intervals for evidence of infection. At postinoculation (PI) week 12, 2 calves in each group were given dexamethasone for 5 days. Calves were then euthanatized and lymphoid tissue, spleen, liver, and bone marrow were examined for evidence of B abortus. Calves given strain 2308 had large numbers of bacteria in their lymph nodes, marked granulomatous lymphadenitis in the deep cortex, and loss of lymphoid cells in superficial cortical areas. In addition, they had high serum antibody titers at PI week 16. Calves given strain 19, or genetic mutants derived from strain 19, cleared bacteria from lymph nodes more rapidly, had less lymphoid destruction, and developed antibody titers that did not persist for 16 weeks. The RB51 strain (rough) was cleared most rapidly from lymphoid tissues and induced serum antibody responses only to the core of the lipopolysaccharide molecule. Treatment of calves with dexamethasone did not cause B abortus to reappear in tissues of any calves, nor did serum antibody titers increase. In experiment 4, designed to compare the effects of age, 4 groups (n = 4) of 10-month-old heifers were given 1 B abortus strain each (19, RB51, 19 delta 31K, or 19 deltaSOD), using the same methods. Results of bacteriologic culturing and antibody responses were similar to those in the calves, except that strain RB51 persisted longer in heifers. Results of these studies indicated that, in cattle, the genetically engineered deletion mutants of B abortus do not cause unusual lesions, do have characteristics that closely resemble the parental strain, and could be candidates for use in a live vaccine.