Protein profiles of whole homogenates of anconeus (slow twitch) and biceps femoris (fast twitch) muscles of clinically normal dogs and of Labrador Retrievers with hereditary myopathy (HM) were resolved on flat bed polyacrylamide isoelectric-focusing gels. Three methods of sample solubilization were performed. The solubilization buffer, with high concentrations of urea, precipitated the zwitterionic detergent, but use of the buffer containing 3% NP-40, 9.2M urea, and 0.1M arginine resulted in better resolution and stability of pH gradient. Gels of anconeus muscle from clinically normal dogs contained 2 protein bands specific to anconeus muscle, whereas gels of biceps femoris muscle from clinically normal dogs contained 3 protein bands amplified in biceps femoris muscle that were barely detectable in anconeus muscle. The staining intensity of protein bands in biceps femoris muscles from Labrador Retrievers with HM was decreased, relative to controls. The quantitative analysis of peak height ratios of biceps femoris muscle revealed significant (P less than 0.05) differences between profiles of clinically normal dogs and Labrador Retrievers with HM.

This paper dealt wih the distribution of Shigella spp. on 5 piggeries in Taegu and Kyongbuk during the period from August to October 1987. Isolated Shigella were examined for serogrouping, antimicrobial drug resistance and detection of R plasmid. Genetic properties of R plasmid in Shigella were examined for fertility inhibition (F1) and gel electrophoresis was performed for the isolation of plasmid DNA. Of total 2,978 samples from 5 piggeries, 82 strains (2.8 %) of Shigella spp. were isolated from 82 samples. The isolated strains were identified as S. dysenteriae (60 strains), S. flexneri (20 strains) and S. sonnei (2 strains). Of the 82 strains examined 67 (95.1 %) were resistant to one or more antibiotics, such as ampicillin (Am), chloramphenicol (Cm), kanamycin (Km), nalidixic acid (Na), rifampicin (Rf), streptomycin (Sm), sulfademethoxine (Su), and tetracycline (Tc) and higher resistance to Su (90.2 %), Sm (63.4 %) and Tc (63.4 %). Of the 78 resistant Shigella strains 26 (33.3 %) harbored conjugative R plasmids and the transfer frequency of Sm (50.0 %), Cm (33.3 %) resistance was much higher than that of the other drug resistance. The most common resistant patterns were SmSuTc, Su and AmSmSuTc. Out of the 26 Shigella R plasmids examined for Fi, 14 (53.8 % were Fi + and the remainder were Fi-. The plasmid DNA profiles in Shigella spp. (9 strains) isolated from pigs were confirmed as being 2 to 9 fragments by the gel electrophoresis. Their molecular size ranged 2.17 to 87.62 kilobase (Kb). All strains of Shigella spp. consisted in 15.4 Kb plasmids.

This paper deals with the genetic properties of R plasmids in Salmonella originated from pigs and cattle. The plasmid DNA was examined for incompatibility, stability and fertility inhibition (F1), and gel electrophoresis was performed for isolation of plasmid DNA. Among the 66 conjugative R plasmids from 44 pigs and 22 cattle, 61 R plasmids (92.4 %) were Fi-, whereas the remainder were Fi+. The Inc groups of 66 R plasmids were determined with 7 standard plasmids. Twenty-six R plasmids were classified into Inc group Ialpha, H1, H2 or F1, 40 R plasmids being not classified with standard plasmids used, and the Inc group Ialpha (57.7 %) was most frequent. 3. Inc groups Ialpha H1, and F1 were identified in strains from swine, Inc groups H2 and F1 from cattle. The plasmid DNA profiles in 16 Salmonella isolated from pigs and cattle were confirmed as being 1 to 10 fragments by the gel eletrophoresis. Their molecular weight ranged 1.0 to 90 megadalton. The molecular weight of conjugative plasmids ranged 1.0 to 80 megadalton in 4 Salmonella (P-4, P-5, P-7 and P-8) isolated from pigs.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) fractions were obtained from smooth cultures of Brucella abortus strains 2308 and S-19 by butanol extraction procedures. The LPS from the initial butanol extraction contained 10 to 15% protein and was reduced to less than 1% protein by treatment with proteinase K. The LPS fractions were identified and characterized on the basis of the chemical analysis, sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis, cesium chloride gradients, electron microscopy, and gel immunodiffusion. Results indicated that the butanol procedure is a reliable method in the extraction of LPS from Brucella abortus cells. Proteinase K-treated LPS containing less than 1% protein from strain 2308 was used to vaccinate BALB/cByJ mice. Immune and protective criteria for vaccinated and nonvaccinated mice were increased immunoglobulin (IgG and IgM) titers in sera of prechallenge-exposed mice, reduced colony-forming units/spleen, and splenomegaly in post-challenge-exposed mice. Results indicated that proteinase K-treated LPS was immunuogenic as well as protective for mice.

Serum protein electrophoresis was performed on 71 clinically healthy juvenile and adult llamas (6 juvenile males, 7 juvenile females 25 adult males, 13 adult females, and 20 pregnant females) to determine normal serum protein concentrations. Values were reported for each of the 5 groups because the groups were not homogeneous in all 8 peaks. Although the values reported here may serve as reference values for adults, they represent only a guideline for the juveniles because of the limited number of animals in each of these groups.

Outer membrane protein (OMP)-enriched extracts of avian strains of Pasteurella multocida were examined by use of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Culture medium did not have a significant effect on the OMP profiles of strains of P multocida examined; however, in vivo propagation had an appreciable effect on the OMP profile composition of the reference strain P-1059. Such bacteria, expressed several additional OMP in the 27-kD, 48-kD, 56-kD, 60-kD, 80-kD, and 94-kD molecular mass regions. These OMP were not detected in the electrophorogram of strain P-1059 grown in vitro. The OMP profiles of reference strains of the 16 serotypes of P multocida did not identify any serotype-specific protein markers. Field strains of serotype A:3 had variation in OMP profiles and did not express OMP that all were identical to that expressed by the reference strain P-1059. The live attenuated CU and M9 bacterial vaccine strains expressed strain-specific OMP markers of 48-kD and 45-kD molecular masses, respectively. These strain-specific OMP markers may be used to differentiate these strains from virulent field strains that are of the same serotype and isolated from turkeys that have succumbed to pasteurellosis as a result of vaccine-related reactions or breakdown in immunity.

A bacteriophage for Corynebacterium glutamicum strain LP-6 was isolated from swine waste. It belongs to the Siphoviridae family or Bradley morphologic group B, has a narrow host range, and is sensitive to chloroform and resistant to carbon tetrachloride. The phage is unstable (96% inactivation) in swine waste stored for 4 months at 22 C. The DNA has a molecular weight of approximately 20 Md, cohesive ends, and numerous restriction endonuclease sites. The phage differs from other known C glutamicum phages.

Three independent 1-year studies were conducted during 3 consecutive years to better define the prevalence of bluetongue virus (BTV) infection in Mexico. Serologic data were obtained by use of agar-gel immunodiffusion for identification of BTV group-reactive antibodies, and virologic data were obtained by virus isolation. Samples were obtained from sheep in 6 states over a 1-year period, with 9% seropositive; samples were obtained from cattle in 11 states during the same 1-year period, with 35% seropositive. Two years later, samples were obtained from cattle in 4 additional states, with 69% seropositive. Virus isolation was conducted on pooled blood samples obtained from cattle in 7 states. Six virus isolates were recovered and included 2 isolates each of BTV serotypes 11 and 13 and 1 isolated each of serotypes 10 and 17. All virus isolates were partially characterized by electrophoretic analysis of genomic RNA migration profiles (electropherotypes) in polyacrylamide gels. All Mexican isolates of BTV differed considerably in electropherotype profile, as compared with their respective US prototype strain of the same serotype. Such differences appeared to be much more extensive than those described to exist between numerous California isolates of the same serotype.

Analysis of protein and antigen profiles of Tritrichomonas foetus isolates from cattle from 5 western states was accomplished sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, immunoblot, immunoprecipitation, and fluorography techniques. Total protein profiles of all isolates were compared by Coomassie brilliant blue staining of T foetus protein samples prepared by 4 protein-extraction methods. Antigenic tritrichomonas proteins were identified by immunoblot assay with polyclonal bovine or rabbit anti-T foetus serum. Additionally, [14C]glucosamine-labeled T foetus was used for total and antigenic glycoprotein analyses. Detectable differences in the composition of total proteins or antigenic tritrichomonal proteins were not observed among all isolates. However, intensity differences in some antigenic protein bands were apparent. Bovine and rabbit sera from immunized animals possessed antibodies to the same antigenic tritrichomonal proteins. Each T foetus isolate contained 4 to 7 molecular weight size classes of glycoprotein, which were labeled by [14C]glucosamine; however, only 3 to 4 glycoproteins were identified as antigens by bovine or rabbit antiserum.

Restriction endonuclease digestions were performed on plasmids purified from Moraxella bovis isolates GRS, Newport, and IBH64. It was determined from single and double digestions of plasmid DNA that GRS and Newport isolates carried 3 large plasmids having molecular sizes of 43.8, 41.3, and 32.8 kilobases (kb). Digestion of the 3 large plasmids and restriction endonucleases Hae III, HindIII, Nde I, and Ava I strongly indicated that these isolates shared structurally identical large plasmids. Timed single digestions with Ava I revealed that the IBH64 isolate carried 2 large plasmids having molecular sizes of 45 and 32.8 kb. The 32.8-kb plasmid was the only large plasmid that appeared to be shared by all 3 M bovis isolates. Two isolates, Newport and IBH64, carried small plasmids in addition to the large plasmids. Restriction maps were constructed for the 43.8-, 41.3-, and 32.8-kb plasmids.