Adherence of Streptococcus dysgalactiae isolates from cattle and S equi isolates from horses to their respective host epithelial cells was compared with the adherence of S pyogenes to human epithelial cells. The adherence was quantitatively determined by use of fluorescein-labeled streptococci. All 3 streptococcal species adhered selectively to their respective host cells. The mechanism of adherence was evaluated by binding studies with adhesive plasma protein, fibronectin. Although all 3 streptococcal species bound fibronectin, S dysgalactiae and S equi interacted preferentially with a 210-kilodalton (kD) C-terminal fragment of fibronectin, whereas S pyogenes bound only a 29-kD N-terminal fragment. A synthetic peptide Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser, representing the host cell attachment site of fibronectin, partially inhibited the binding of fibronectin and of its 210 kD fragment to S dysgalactiae, but not to S equi. The binding of fibronectin and its 29-kD fragment to S pyogenes was not inhibited by Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser. These differences in binding activities corresponded to the ability of fibronectin to mediate the adherence of the streptococci to the epithelial cells: fibronectin strongly inhibited the adherence of S pyogenes and S equi to the epithelial cells, but only weakly inhibited that of S dysgalactiae.

Using isolated autoperfused intestinal segments, the effects of flunixin meglumine administration on systemic arterial blood pressure, jejunal blood flow, vascular resistance, motility, arteriovenous oxygen difference, and oxygen consumption were determined in 10 anesthetized ponies ventilated with a mixture of halothane and oxygen. Saline solution or flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg of body weight) was infused as a single bolus into the left jugular vein. By 10 minutes, flunixin meglumine increased systemic aterial blood pressure and increased intestinal vascular resistance. The jejunal blood flow, however, was not significantly decreased until 1 hour after flunixin meglumine administration. Intestinal motility, arteriovenous oxygen difference, and oxygen consumption were unchanged. Results indicated that acute administration of flunixin meglumine increases systemic arterial pressure and intestinal vascular resistance, but the resulting intestinal vasoconstriction does not lead to compromise of intestinal viability.

Effects of age and season on type and occurrence of sperm abnormalities were examined in semen samples collected from 3 groups of Nubian bucks at ages of 4 to 9 months, 10 to 21 months, and 39 to 50 months. The average total percentage of sperm abnormalities at the onset of puberty (141 +/- 4 days) was 64.6 +/- 14.8% (head, 19.5 +/- 13.6%; middle piece, 17.2 +/- 9.3%; and proximal protoplasmic droplets, 14.6 +/- 10.5%), but this improved rapidly and was reduced to 12.5 +/- 7.5% by 8 months of age (head, 1.9 +/- 4.5%; middle piece, 4.6 +/- 2.8%). Further increase in age, at least up to 4 years, did not reveal a significant effect (P less than 0.05) on the type of percentage of total abnormalities. Similar to age, a comparison of data among seasons did not reveal a significant effect on the type or occurrence of sperm abnormalities in 10- to 21-month-old or 39- to 50-month-old bucks. Seemingly, Nubian bucks started producing good quality semen at 8 months of age, and season did not influence sperm abnormalities.

In 25 adult dogs of various breeds, recurrent laryngeal nerve fibers were electrically stimulated at 2 points along their extralaryngeal course. Evoked compound muscle action potentials were recorded in this ipsilateral intrinsic laryngeal muscles, using a percutaneous needle electrode. Latencies, amplitudes, and durations were measured. Latencies were correlated with neck length (r = 0.88 on left and 0.82 on right). Five of the dogs were euthanatized, and the nerve length between the 2 stimulating needle electrodes was measured; calculated conduction velocities (mean +/- SD) were 55 +/- 6 m/s (left) and 57 +/- 6 m/s (right). In 38 additional canine cadavers, the lengths of the exposed left and right recurrent laryngeal nerves were correlated with neck length (r = 0.44 on left and 0.56 on right). A linear regression model is proposed for predicting normal latencies, despite variations in neck length among different breeds of dogs.

Loads on the suspensory ligament, deep digital flexor tendon, superficial digital flexor tendon, and long digital extensor tendon of the equine hind limb were determined in ponies by use of implanted strain gauges consisting of silicone rubber tubes filled with mercury. Recordings were made simultaneously with force plate measurements and high-speed film recordings while the ponies were walking. The relationship between strain gauge signals and tendon loads was obtained from tension-strain tests performed after death of the ponies. The suspensory ligament and the 2 digital flexor tendons were loaded during the stance phase, and the extensor tendon was loaded mainly during the swing phase. The loading pattern of the suspensory ligament, with peak loads of 4.6 N/kg of body weight, correlated well with the vertical component of the ground reaction force. Maximal loading of the deep digital flexor tendon was observed during the second half of the stance phase, with peak values of 6.7 N/kg. The superficial digital flexor tendon was loaded maximally at the beginning of the stance phase, with a peak load of 4.1 N/kg, and the long digital extensor tendon was loaded maximally during the swing phase, with a peak load of 0.3 N/kg. Recordings made from this procedure for calibration of the strain gauge signals to tendon load and tendon strain, in combination with the force plate measurements, enabled verification of the results by torque analysis of the lower portion of the hind limb, using the vector of the ground reaction force, limb conformation, and limb geometric configuration. Torque analysis of the lower extremity indicated that the determined tendon loads were in agreement with the recorded ground reaction forces.

A study was undertaken to investigate the combined effects of fasting and different diets on interferon (IFN) production and virus replication measured in nasal secretions of calves inoculated with a vaccine strain of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus. Four groups of calves were inoculated intranasally with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus. Two groups were inoculated 24 hours after onset of a 3-day fast; upon refeeding, 1 group was fed a maintenance diet (M diet) of hay, and the other was fed a higher energy diet (HE diet) of hay and concentrate. Nonfasted control groups were fed the M diet or the HE diet. Overall IFN production was highest (P less than 0.01) in nonfasted calves fed the M diet throughtout the study and lowest in nonfasted calves fed the HE diet. Fasted calves refed the HE diet produced consistently and significantly more IFN than did nonfasted calves fed this diet. Fasted calves refed the M diet, however, produced significantly less IFN, compared with control calves fed the M diet throughout the study. Overall mean virus excretion was similar in all groups; therefore, the amount of virus replication per se did not account for the differences in IFN production, nor did greater IFN production result in less virus excretion. Serum cortisol concentrations and immune responses were not significantly affected by fasting or diet.

Amendments to the Animal Welfare Act (PL 99-198) require that an exercise program for dogs be established by the attending veterinarian. A 6-week study was conducted to determine the effects of a moderate exercise program in purpose-bred Beagles. Sixteen male Beagles (4/group) were maintained as follows: (1) standard cage without exercise; (2) standard cage with individual exercise periods (35 minutes, 3 times/week); (3) large cage without exercise; and (4) standard cage with group-release exercise periods. Blood samples were collected for CBC, serum biochemical analysis including determination of serum cortisol concentration, and immune function (lymphocyte transformation assay). Group-released dogs interacted with each other during most of the exercise time. Fighting in these dogs occurred only during the third week. Dogs had little inclination to exercise when released along into the exercise area. Regardless of the size of the cage, dogs did not exercise unless human beings were present in the room. There were no significant differences in laboratory findings among dogs in the 4 groups. This moderate exercise program had no demonstrable effects. Similarly, continuous cage housing, without a formal exercise program, could not be determined to be detrimental to the physiologic or health status of dogs.

Neuromuscular and cardiovascular effects of atracurium, a nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent, were evaluated in 10 halothane-anesthetized adult horses. Hind limb digital extensor tension (hoof twitch) was measured with a strain gauge to quantitate the muscle relaxant effects of atracurium. Response of facial muscles was compared with hoof twitch. Five injections of atracurium were given. Initial mean (+/- SEM) dosage of 0.07 +/- 0.01 mg of atracurium/kg of body weight caused 98.6 +/- 0.8% reduction of the preinjection hoof twitch. Subsequent dosages of 0.04 +/- 0.003 mg/kg induced a degree of relaxation similar to that induced by the initial dose. Duration of paralysis from maximal effect to 10% recovery of twitch was 12.2 +/- 1.5 minutes for the first injection. This was significantly (P less than 0.05) different from subsequent paralysis periods, which lasted approximately 7 miutes. The 10% to 75% recovery time after all injections was similar--approximately 16 minutes. The facial muscles were less affected objectively by atracurium than was the hind limb. Atracurium did not cause cardiovascular changes. When the hoof twitch had recovered to 95% of its tension before atracurium administation, 0.5 mg of edrophonium/kg, was given to antagonize neuromuscular blockage. Within 5 minutes of edrophonium administration, twitch tension exceeded that measured before atracurium administrations. Within 2 minutes of edrophonium administration blood pressure began to increase and continued to increase approximately 10 mm of Hg above the value measured before edrophonium administration. Heart rate was not affected by edrophonium. Other muscarinic side effects of edrophonium were not observed. Of the 10 horses, 9 had good, unremarkable recovery to standing position. One horse had a violent recovery period.

Microvascular permeability characteristics were evaluated in digits of 7 adult horses. After capillaries were isolated and an extracorpeal perfusion circuit for the digit was established, a lymphatic vessel draining the distal portion of the phalangeal region was cannulated at the level of the coronary band. Venous pressure was increased in a stepwise manner, and lymph flow, lymph protein concentration (Cl), and plasma protein concentration (Cp) were determined after measured variables were allowed to reach steady state. Lymph-to-plasma protein concentration ratios (Cl/Cp) and lymph and plasma oncotic pressures were determined from samples collected during steady state. The osmotic reflection coefficient was determined after Cl/Cp became constant, regardless of increasing lymph flow, and was expressed as 1 - Cl/Cp. The osmotic reflection coefficient for the digit was 0.67. Seemingly, the microvasculature bed of the digit was relatively permeable and could maintain only 67% of the endogenous macromolecules within the vasculature.

Kinetics of large-scale production of naturally derived bovine leukocyte interferon (IFN) was investigated using Sendai virus, Newcastle disease virus, and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus inducers. Cultures were tested for IFN production every 6 hours for 66 hours. The effect of varying the priming dose of Sendai virus from 0 to 50% of total virus dose and the effect of varying the priming time from 0 to 4 hours before induction also were investigated. Other factors explored were effects of varying the fetal bovine serum concentration (from 0 to 8%) and individual cow donors on bovine IFN titers. Highest bovine leukocyte IFN titers (15,314 U/ml) were obtained using Sendai virus (priming dose, 60 hemagglutinating units/ml;inducing dose, 240 hemagglutinating units/ml) and incubating for 12 hours. Up to 24 L (over 360 million U) of naturally derived leukocyte IFN were produced at one time.