A challenge-exposure model was developed for dose-dependent induction of subclinical (moderate) atrophic rhinitis (AR) in conventionally raised Dutch Landrace and Large White pigs, about 4 weeks old. Under favorable climatic and housing conditions, pigs were intranasally challenge-exposed with Pasteurella multocida-derived toxin (Pm-T) 3 days after pretreatment by inoculation with 1% acetic acid. Pigs were challenge-exposed with 1 of the following Pm-T doses: 0 (control), 5, 13, 20, or 40 microgram of Pm-T/ml of phosphate-buffered saline solution (PBSS), 0.5 ml/ nostril/d on 3 consecutive days. Five weeks after challenge exposure, subclinical moderate) AR status was defined as intermediate conchal atrophy (grade 2 for ventral conchae on a 0 to 4 scale and grade 1 or 2 for dorsal conchae on a 0 to 3 scale, respectively) and perceptible difference in change in brachygnathia superior (CBS) between control and challenge-exposed pigs between the beginning and end of the study. All Pm-T-exposed pigs had nasal damage that was dose-dependent. The higher Pm-T doses resulted in higher ventral conchae atrophy and dorsal conchae atrophy scores. The CBS increased with applied Pm-T dose, resulting in significant (P < 0.05) differences between controls (3.88 mm) and the 13-, 20-, and 40-microgram Pm-T-treated groups (7.77, 6.58, and 7.98 mm, respectively). In response to the applied dose, weight gain per week for Pm-T-exposed pigs was lower than that of controls after week 3 (P < 0.01). Difference from controls was 32, 54, 52, and 96 g/d/pig for 5-, 13-, 20-, and 40-microgram Pm-T-treated groups respectively, in the last 2 weeks. For Dutch Landrace and Large White pigs, intranasally administered Pm-T mimicked the pathogenic effect of in vivo infection with toxigenic Pm strains. The optimal model to induce subclinical AR appeared to be 13 microgram of Pm-T/ml (0.5 ml/nostril/d) on 3 consecutive days.

We characterized the clinicopathologic manifestations of experimentally induced endotoxin-induced mastitis. Responses to hypertonic fluid therapy also were assessed. Eight cows received 1 mg of endotoxin by in infusion in the left forequarter. Four hours after endotoxin administration, cows received 0.9% NaCl, 5 ml/kg of body weight (n = 4) or 7.5% NaCl, 5 ml/kg (n = 4) IV. Endotoxin-infused cows had expanded plasma volume, hyponatremia, transient hyperchloremia and hypophosphatemia, increased serum glucose concentration, and decreased serum activities of liver- and muscle-specific enzymes. Calculated plasma volume increased at 6 hours in cows receiving hypertonic NaCl, and at 12, 24, and 48 hours after endotoxin infusion in both groups. Concurrent observations of decreased serum protein concentration, erythrocyte count, and hematocrit supported observations of increased plasma volume. Relative plasma volume was greater in cows receiving hypertonic NaCl (124.3%) than in cows receiving isotonic NaCl (106.6%) at 6 hours after endotoxin infusion. Cattle receiving hypertonic NaCl had increased voluntary water intake after IV fluid administration. Increased water consumption was not accompanied by increased body weight, indicating probable occurrence of offsetting body water loss. Serum sodium concentration in cows receiving hypertonic NaCl was increased 2 hours after fluid administration, but the magnitude of the change was minimal (< 4 mmol/L) and transient, indicating rapid equilibration with either interstitial or intracellular spaces. Serum sodium concentration was decreased in cows receiving isotonic NaCl at 12, 24, and 48 hours after endotoxin administration, compared with concentration prior to endotoxin administration, indicating selective loss of sodium.

Polymyxin B and an antiserum against an Re mutant Salmonella typhimurium were evaluated for protective effect in an equine model of endotoxemia. Six 3- to 5-month-old foals were given endotoxin (0.25 micrograms/kg of body weight) IV after no pretreatment, or pretreatment with polymyxin B (6,000 U/kg, IV) or S typhimurium antiserum (1.5 ml/kg, IV). When given without pretreatment, endotoxin caused transient recumbency and increases in rectal temperature, and heart and respiratory rates. In addition, leukopenia and increases in circulating tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) activities were detected. Compared with results obtained when endotoxin was given alone, pretreatment with polymyxin B resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) lower maximal plasma TNF and IL-6 activities, and significantly lower rectal temperature and respiratory rate. In contrast, compared with effects of endotoxin given without pretreatment, use of antiserum was associated with significantly (P < 0.05) higher respiratory rate, maximal plasma IL-6 activity, and total TNF response (as determined by areas under curves of plasma TNF vs time). These results indicate that polymyxin B may have potential as a treatment for equine endotoxemia. Salmonella typhimurium antiserum had no positive effect in this model, and, under certain conditions, may exacerbate the actions of endotoxin.

Epidemiologic modeling of the likely herd-to-herd transmission of pseudorabies virus (PRV) was developed to assess the progress and potential for the PRV-eradication program in the United States. The herd-to-herd transmission of PRV over a 20-year period (1993 to 2012) in the United States was simulated under various scenarios, which included variable program-funding levels and variable prevalences. A transition model (Markov process model) was used to predict yearly changes in herd prevalence of PRV infection. Five mutually exclusive states of nature for herds were assumed: uninfected and not vaccinated; uninfected and vaccinated; known to be infected and not vaccinated; known to be infected and vaccinated; and infected, but not known to be infected. Three prevalences for states in the United States were assumed: higher prevalence, moderate prevalence, and lower prevalence. Three funding levels were assumed: no eradication program, continued funding at the current level, and increased funding of 25%. Estimates made by an expert panel for determining probabilities in the state-transition matrices were used. A model also was developed, and was considered to be the most optimistic scenario likely under increased funding of 25%. The most optimistic estimates of the probabilities that still lay within the range of estimates made by the expert panel were used for this model. Only the optimistic transmission matrices allowed for total eradication of PRV. Using the optimistic matrices, all states in the United States of America had moved into the moderate- or low-level risk status by the year 2000. The longest time taken to achieve eradication was for the state of Iowa, where eradication was not achieved until 2012.

Results of testing of 19,731 samples from a serologic survey of cattle with bluetongue virus (BTV) infections in Australia were analyzed for association between age, species, or sex and test result. Bivariate analysis indicated that all 3 host factors were associated with test result. After adjusting for confounding caused by the location of each animal in the study (high, moderate, and low BTV prevalence regions), cattle greater than or equal to 4 years old had an odds ratio of 4.33 (95% confidence interval, 3.99, 4.71) for a positive test result, compared with that for cattle < 2 years old. Cattle 2 to 4 years had an odds ratio of 2.28 (2.14, 2.54), compared with cattle < 2 years old. Bos taurus cattle had an odds ratio of 1.76 (1.63, 2.05) of a positive test result, compared with crossbred cattle, and B indicus cattle had an odds ratio of 1.20 (1.09, 1.33), compared with crossbred cattle. Sexually intact (+) male cattle were found to have an odds ratio of 3.13 (2.66, 3.49) for a positive test result, compared with castrated male (-) cattle, and female cattle were found to have an odds ratio of 1.38 (1.29, 1.48), compared with male (-) cattle. Multivariate analysis of BTV testing results was performed, using stepwise logistic regression. The most parsimonious model selected included age, species, and sex factors, and first-order interaction terms between these factors. This model was only able to be fit to data from cattle restricted to the high (> 25%) BTV prevalence region. Odds ratios were found to increase with age for male (-) cattle of all species. Odds ratios were found to be greatest at 2 to 4 years of age for female cattle of all species and for B taurus and crossbred male (+) cattle.

Arterial blood samples were collected from 19 anesthetized pigs before and after hemorrhage was induced. Blood gas tensions and concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, lactate, and total protein were measured. Results indicated that hydrogen ion (H+) concentration calculated from a specific formula was a biased and imprecise estimate of measured H+ concentration. The bias was 5.45 nEq/L, with limits of agreement from -7.92 to 18.83 nEq/L. Because albumin is the fraction of plasma protein most important in acid-base balance, the agreement between predicted and measured H+ concentration was reevaluated, using an albumin charge estimate and a reference swine albumin-to-globulin ratio. This improved the ability of the formula to predict H+ concentration; the bias decreased to 1.33 nEq/L with limits of agreement from -12.16 to 9.49 nEq/L. The formula and a simplified approach for clinical application were biased and unacceptably imprecise estimators of lactate (L-) concentration. The formula approach underestimated L- concentration by 2.8 (-12.4, 6.7) mEq/L, whereas the simplified method overestimated L- concentration by 5.0 (-3.8, 13.9) mEq/L.