During a 1-year period, specimens were obtained monthly from 5 hair coat and 7 mucous membrane sites of 11 healthy dogs. Among 804 isolates of staphyloccocci, 13 species were identified. Staphylococcus intermedius was the most frequently isolated (40.2% of total isolates) coagulase-positive species, and S xylosus was the most frequently isolated (17.3%) coagulase-negative species. Moreover, S intermedius was the most frequently isolated species from the 12 sites evaluated and was isolated persistently from 8 of the 9 dogs that completed the 1-year study. On the basis of a commerical identification system, 14 profile numbers were identified for isolates of S intermedius. However, 2 profile numbers accounted for a majority (70.9%) of the isolates. Specific S intermedius biotypes identified on the basis of hemolysis, coagulase production, beta-lactamase activity, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were found repeatedly in 3 dogs. Seemingly, S intermedius was a resident of the normal bacterial microflora of these dogs; however, the inability to isolate S intermedius from 1 dog during the study year indicated that not all dogs habor S intermedius as a resident microorganism.

The immunoglobulins (IgG1, IgG2, IgM, and IgA) of the Brucella-specific antibody response of 69 crossbred beef heifers were studied after Brucella abortus strain 19 vaccination and strain 2308 challenge exposure. The immunoglobulin isotype responses in serum and vaginal mucus were measured by use of fluorescent immunoassay. Serum antibody responses were detected also by 3 standard serologic tests (complement fixation [CF], Rivanol precipitation, and the CARD test) and 2 primary binding assays that detect IgG antibodies. One month after vaccination, mean antibody titers for all immunoglobulin isotypes were higher for vaccinated cattle (n = 46) than for nonvaccinated controls (n = 23). After vaccination, IgA antibody responses in vaccinated cattle were only 2-fold higher than those for controls, whereas IgG1, IgG2, and IgM antibody responses were 3- to 90-fold greater than those for controls. Measurement of IgA antibody responses classified 21 of 39 vaccinates as seropositive after vaccination, whereas the other isotypes classified 28 or 34 cattle as seropositive. Three months after challenge exposure, the mean antibody responses for each isotype were higher in cattle that aborted or were culutre positive than in cattle that did not abort and were culture negative. Although IgG1, IgG2, and IgM antibody titers were each of benefit in identifying B abortus- infected cattle, it did not appear that the magnitude of the antibody responses provided sufficient discrimination between S19-vaccinated cattle and S2308 challenged-exposed cattle, Serum IgA antibody responses were 10-fold higher after challenge exposure than after vaccination and may be a response to mucosal infection with the virulent organism. Of the isotypes studied, serum IgA antibody responses most mimicked the CF and CARD test results in identifying seropositive cattle after challenge exposure. Serum IgG2 identified the most false-positive reactions. Vaginal mucus antibody respones were measured 3 to 4 months after abortion or normal calving. The mean vaginal mucus IgG1, IgG2, and IgA antibody responses were higher in challenge-exposed cattle than in controls. Brucella-specific antibodies were highest in the vaginal mucus of cultur e-positive cattle that aborted.

This study was performed to investigate the effect of gestation on the histological and histochemical changes of the uterine cervix of the native Korean cattle. A total of 110 cows obtained from the chonbuk abattoir were divided into six groups. The 1st group was of 9 non-pregnant cows and 101 singleton pregnant cows were grouped into 5 groups from pregnant I to pregnant V according to gestation periods by means of crown rump length measures. For light microscopy the tissues were fixed in 10% neutral formalin and processed routinely for paraffin sections. The 6um sections were taken and stained with H-E, Alcian blue pH 1.0, Alcian blue pH 2.5, Alcian blue pH 2.5/PAS, PAS reaction, toluidin blue, and trichrome. The cervical lengths and widths were increased in relation to advancing gestation. The cervical mucosubstance was composed of mixed mucopolysaccharides; the acid mucus was increased from the early pregnant state but the neutral mucus was found after pregnant IV, and the mucus was stained deeply in each staining in the fold cavity in according to gestation state.