BACKGROUND: Annexins (including annexin A1 and annexin A2) are important proteins which have some roles in organisms such as intracellular signal conduction, membrane cellular skeletal connection, cellular proliferation and differentiation, especially inhibitory function in inflammation processing. Pasteurella multocida is the most common bacterial pathogen and has high prevalence in pneumonia. Objectives: This study was aimed to determine experimentally annexin A1 and annexin A2 in the serum of calves affected by Pasteurella multocida pneumonia. Methods: In this research, 10 male calves (2 - 4 months) were allocated to two equal groups, one group as the case: 300 ml in dilution 2×109 CFU Pasteurella multocida bacteria and the other as control group: 300 ml normal saline inoculated by special lavage catheter through oral to trachea. Clinical scores were recorded based on available tables. In treatment group, about 18 to 24 hours after inoculation and synchronous with observation clinical signs changes, bronchoalveolar lavage for cytology and bacteriology examination were done of fluids results from washing. Blood sampling was taken from calves jugular vein in both groups then blood serums were examined by using ELISA kits. Results: The rates of annexin A1 and annexin A2  in blood serum of treatment group showed significant increase (using independent t test) compared to control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: It seems these annexins (annexin A1 and annexin A2) can be used as important biomarkers in blood serum to diagnose inflammation processes such as pneumonia.

To reduce swine production costs, a slaughter check system has been developed in countries with an advanced swine industry. Evaluation of lung lesions in carcasses is a critical part of the slaughter check system. This study was performed to collect background information for use in developing a slaughter check system in Korea. Lung tissues and their gross images were collected from slaughterhouses in Gyeonggi-do, Korea. Scoring of the gross lung lesions was performed on the lung images. Histopathologic examination was conducted to classify the pulmonary lesions as bronchopneumonia or interstitial pneumonia. Scores of the gross lung lesions were significantly different between bronchopneumonia and interstitial pneumonia groups (p less than 0.001). A 90% confidence interval of gross lung lesion scores was established for the bronchopneumonia group, and the lesion scoring had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 77.3%. The gross lung lesion scoring test was subjected to a diagnostic distinction evaluation by examining the receiver operating characteristic curve and was appraised as having good discrimination for bronchopneumonia. Establishment of a gross lung lesion scoring test for the diagnosis of bronchopneumonia could be valuable as a screening test of macroscopic bronchopneumonia in swine slaughter check system.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of bilateral ventriculocordectomy via ventral laryngotomy on laryngeal airway resistance (LAR) in canine cadaver larynges. SAMPLE 6 clinically normal canine cadaver larynges. PROCEDURES LAR was determined for each specimen before (baseline) and after bilateral ventriculocordectomy with the epiglottis open and closed. After ventral laryngotomy was performed, the vocal cords were sharply excised, and the incised mucosal edges were apposed with 4-0 glycomer 631 suture in a simple continuous pattern. The thyroid cartilage was apposed with 3-0 polypropylene suture in a simple continuous pattern. RESULTS With the epiglottis closed, baseline median LAR was 27.6 cm H2O/L/s (range, 21.2 to 30.6 cm H2O/L/s), which did not differ significantly from the median LAR after bilateral ventriculocordectomy (24.7 cm H2O/L/s [range, 20.6 to 27.7 cm H2O/L/s]). With the epiglottis open, baseline median LAR was 7.3 cm H2O/L/s (range, 5.4 to 7.8 cm H2O/L/s), which did not differ significantly from the median LAR after bilateral ventriculocordectomy (7.2 cm H2O/L/s [range, 6.6 to 7.6 cm H2O/L/s]). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Bilateral ventriculocordectomy did not affect LAR with an open epiglottis in canine cadaver larynges. Therefore, it may not be an effective treatment for laryngeal paralysis. It also did not affect LAR with a closed epiglottis, which may indicate protection against aspiration pneumonia.

The objective of this study was to evaluate a new recombinant chimeric vaccine against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). The subunit vaccine, PRRSFREE, from Reber Genetics, Taiwan, Republic of China, is based on a plasmid containing a detoxified Pseudomonas exotoxin carrying open reading frame (ORF) 7, 1b, and 5 and 6 chimeric subunits of types 1 and 2 PRRSV. Pigs were injected intramuscularly with 2.0 mL of the vaccine at 21 and 42 d of age, according to the manufacturer's recommendation. At the age of 63 d the pigs were inoculated intranasally with either type 1 or type 2 PRRSV. Regardless of the genotype of the challenging PRRSV, the vaccinated challenged pigs had significantly lower (P < 0.05) mean rectal temperature, respiratory score, lung lesion score, and amount of PRRSV antigen within areas of interstitial pneumonia, along with overall lower levels of viremia due to type 1 or type 2 PRRSV compared with the unvaccinated challenged pigs. The vaccinated challenged pigs also had significantly higher (P < 0.05) numbers of interferon-γ secreting cells compared with the unvaccinated challenged pigs. This study demonstrated that the new vaccine provides protection against respiratory disease from heterologous types 1 and 2 PRRSV challenge in growing pigs.