The sensitivity of an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for bovine IgG serum antibody to Pasteurella haemolytica was compared with that of an indirect hemagglutination (IHA) test. Pasteurella haemolytica serotypes were grown in a chemically defined cell culture medium, and soluble antigens released into the growth medium were used in the ELISA and IHA test. An ELISA with serotype-1 antigen consistently detected antibody in sera that were positive by IHA test (correlation, 99%). Sera reacting with serotype-1 ELISA antigens also reacted with ELISA antigens prepared from other serotypes. Although ELISA titers determined by the 2 methods were approximately linear. Titer increases detected in paired serum samples by either test were similar. The ELISA was more sensitive than was the IHA in detecting colostral IgG antibody in serum of newborn calves. The ELISA uses a simple, stable antigen preparation and detects antibody to P haemolytica serotypes that commonly infect cattle.

A survey on the prevalence and distribution of antibodies to BLV was performed by the agar-gel immunodiffusion test over a period from 1983 to 1985. More than 2,407 serum samples were collected from Holstein cattle raised in the eastern part of Saitama prefecture where suburban dairy farm is operated. The average positive rate of this period was 4.9 %. The rates of reactive samples varied from 2.6 to 9.8 % among the age groups of cattle from younger than one year to 14 years of age. The positive rate increased gradually with age. The positive rates also varied widely from 0 to 21 % among areas surveyed. Furthermore, there were large differences in this rate among farms even in the same area. The results were interpreted and discussed in connection with the enzootic feature of BLV infection.

The effects of sodium bicarbonate (0.5 mEq/kg of body weight, 1.0 mEq/kg, 2.0 mEq/kg, and 4.0 mEq/kg) on ionized and total calcium concentrations were determined in clinically normal cats. Also, serum pH, whole blood pH, and serum albumin, serum total protein, and serum phosphorus concentrations were measured. Intravenous administration of sodium bicarbonate to awake cats decreased serum ionized calcium and serum total calcium concentrations. All dosages of sodium bicarbonate were associated with significant decreases of serum ionized calcium concentration. This effect lasted for greater than 180 minutes when cats were given 2.0 mEq/kg or 4.0 mEq/kg. When cats were given 4 mEq of sodium bicarbonate/kg, serum ionized calcium concentration was significantly decreased, compared with that when cats were given lower doses, but only at 10 minutes after infusion. After sodium bicarbonate infusion, serum total calcium concentration, measured by ion-specific electrode and colorimetry, was lower than baseline values at most of the times evaluated. Decreases in serum ionized calcium and serum total calcium concentrations can be attributed only in part to an increase in serum or whole blood pH and to a decrease in serum protein concentration. Serum total calcium concentrations measured by ion-specific electrode and by colorimetry were positively correlated, but the variability was high. Only 44% of the varibility in serum ionized calcium concentration could be predicted when serum total calcium, albumin, total protein, phosphorus, and bicarbonate concentrations and pH were considered.

Serum vitamin E and blood glutathione peroxidase values were determined in 40 horses with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of degenerative myeloencephalopathy and in 49 age-matched control horses with normal neurologic function. Significant differences were not detected in serum vitamin E or blood glutathione peroxidase values between horses affected with degenerative myeloencephalopathy and control horses. These findings fail to support a reported role of vitamin E deficiency as a cause of equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy.

Serum trypsinogen concentration was studied in 6 adult mixed-breed dogs randomly fed diets containing 6.8, 31.4, or 39.7% protein (dry weight) for 3 weeks each. Blood was collected on days 20, 21, and 22 of each feeding period, and serum trypsinogen concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay of trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI). Mean serum TLI concentrations for each dog fed each diet were compared. A significant (P < 0.05) positive linear relationship (P < 0.02) was determined between serum TLI concentrations and the percentage of dietary protein. Mean serum TLI concentrations for each dog fed all diets ranged from 5.7 to 20.2 microgram/L.

Serum immunoglobulins of the IgG isotype recognizing common gram-negative cell core epitopes were serially measured by use of a direct ELISA on blood obtained from 10 neonatal swine. An R-mutant Escherichia coli (strain J5) was used as a plate antigen. Total serum IgG was measured by use of radial immunodiffusion. Half-lives of core antigen-specific IgG (6.81 days) and total serum IgG (14.85 days) were dramatically different (P less than 0.01).

The concentrations of serum amyloid A (SAA) in 4 cows given Escherichia coli endotoxin as an acute-phase stimulant were quantitatively evaluated by use of an indirect micro-ELISA method and compared with other clinical hematologic values. Serum amyloid A concentration changed minimally after intradermal infection of endotoxin. The concentration of SAA was increased 5 hours after IV injection of endotoxin, with maximal concentration after 17 to 20 hours. The increase in SAA concentration coincided with decreasing serum Zn and Fe concentrations; however, Zn and Fe concentrations appeared to be restored when SAA concentration was still maximal. It was concluded that the SAA response of cattle is comparable with that of other species and can be used for monitoring the activity of clinical inflammation and tissue injury.

Norfloxacin, a 4-quinolone antibiotic, was administered orally to 4 healthy dogs at dosages of 11 and 22 mg/kg of body weight, every 12 hours for 4 days, with a 4-week interval between dosing regimens. Serum and tissue cage fluid (TCF) norfloxacin concentrations were measured at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, and 12 hours after the first and seventh dose of each dosing regimen. When administered at a dosage of 11 mg/kg, the mean peak serum concentration (Cmax) was 1.0 micrograms/ml at 1 hour, the time of mean peak concentration (Tmax) after the first dose. After the seventh dose, the Cmax was 1.4 micrograms/ml at Tmax of 1.5 hours. The Tmax for the TCF concentration was 5 hours, with Cmax of 0.3 micrograms/ml and 0.7 micrograms/ml after the first and seventh dose, respectively. When administered at a dosage of 22 mg/kg, the serum Tmax was 2 hours after the first dose, with Cmax of 2.8 micrograms/ml. After the seventh dose, the serum Tmax was 1.5 hours, with Cmax of 2.8 micrograms/ml. The Tmax for the TCF concentration was 5 hours after the first and seventh doses, with Cmax of 1.2 micrograms/ml and 1.6 micrograms/ml, respectively. After the seventh dose, the serum elimination half-life was 6.3 hours for a dosage of 11 mg/kg and was 6.7 hours for a dosage of 22 mg/kg. For serum concentration, the area under the curve from 0 to 12 hours (AUC0 leads to 12) was 8.77 micrograms.h/ml and 18.27 micrograms.h/ml for dosages of 11 mg/kg and 22 mg/kg, respectively. The corresponding AUC0 leads to 12 for the TCF concentration was 6.20 micrograms.h/ml and 16.42 micrograms.h/ml. The percentage of TCF penetration (AUC(TCF)/AUCserum) was 71% at a dosage of 11 mg/kg and 90% at a dosage of 22 mg/kg.

Serum concentrations of iodine were determined after cattle were given ethylenediamine dihydriodide (EDDI) orally at dosages ranging from 0.0 (placebo) to 0.77 mg/kg of body weight/day. The serum iodine concentration was correlated with the dosage of EDDI. A rate of 0.11 mg EDDI/kg/day was correlated with serum iodine concentrations (20 to 80 micrograms/dl) previously found to be effective in preventing foot rot in cattle. A linear dose-response curve that was generated could be helpful in predicting dosage of EDDI if the serum iodine concentration is known.