Detection and distribution of bovine biral diarrhea virus(BVDV) was studied in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from two naturally infected cattle by in situ hybridization with a non-radioactive biotinylated probe. A 600 base pair cDNA probe from BVDV B-25 strain ws used for probe. The whole procedure of ISH to diagnose was carried out within 1~2 hours in MicroprobeTM capillary action system. The biotin-labelled probe was demonstrated after hybridization under standard conditions by the application of streptoavidin and biotinylated alkaline phosphatase. Alkaline phosphatase was visualized using a fast red TR/naphthol phosphatase and the sections were counterstained with hematoxylin. We have obtained the result of positive reactions in digestive tract(sm1.all intestine and colon) and epidermis of tongue in the state of the intract tissues. The result suggested that in situ hybridization method can be considered as a useful diagnostic technique for detection of specific nucleic acid sequences of BVDV.

This study was performed to evaluate anesthetic and cardiovascular effects of xylazine/fentanyl/azaperone and medetomidine/midazolam as preanesthetics and their combinations with antagonists in halothane-anesthetized dogs. Eight clinically healthy dogs(4.54+_2.16kg) were used at the interval of more than 14 days between experiments in turn for propionyl promazine(PP 0.3mg/kg, IM), xylazine/fentanyl/azaperone(XFA 2mg/kg, 0.0137mg/kg, 0.11mg/kg, IM), medetomidine/midazolam(MM 0.02mg/kg, 0.3mg/kg, IM), combination of XFA and their antagonists (yohimbine 0.05mg/kg, naloxon 0.0005 mg/kg, IV) and combination of MM and their antagonist(atipamezole 0.08mg/kg IM). The sedation induction times in XFA(2.56+_1.01 min) and MM(5.44+_2.07 min) groups were sighificantly better than that of PP group(10.75+_2.38 min)(p0.05). The thiopental sodium dose required for tracheal intubation in XFA(2.38+_3.38mg/kg) and MM(3.91+_3.47mg/kg)groups were significantly less than that of PP group(12.57+_2.13mg/kg)(p0.05). All time indices expressing the recovery(pedal refles recurrence time, extubation time, arousal time, standing time and walking time) were significantly shorter in the combination groups of XFA or MM with their antagonistis than in PP, XFA and MM groups(p0.05). The suppressions of cardiovascular function of XFA and MM were more than that of PP. Heart rate and cardiac output were recovered by the antagonists of XFA and MM, but mean arterial pressure were not recovered by the antagonists.

This study was undertaken to detemine the normal appearance of the postpartum uterine involution. Postpartum changes in uterine shape, architecture, echogenicity and diameter were monitored with ultrasonography in 11 Korea Jin-do dogs. Serial ultrasonographic examination was done daily during the first week, 3 days interval from 8 to 30 days, and weekly from 31 to 100 days postpartum, respectively. Of 11 postpartum bitches, 10 bitches(90.9%) had normal involution and 1 bitch (9.1%) had subinvolution of the placental sites (SIPS) by gross findings, vaginal discharges, and by ultrasographic findings, uterine shape and echogenicity. The excretory period of vaginal discharges in 10 normal bitches of uterine involution was finished completely at 20.2+_4.6 days(Mean+_SD) postpartum, but in 1 SIPS at 50 days postpartum. The short axis shape of the uterus was initially often flaccid-appearing. It varied from circular to crescent shaped to polygonal.This lasted until 16.5+_3.7 days postpartum, during which time the short axis uterine shape gradually changed to circular. Also, the long axis shape of the uterus was created a beaded appearance of the horns until 29.9+_3.2 days postpartum. After 30 days, it was appeared as tubular shape without distinguished between placental and interplacental sites. The ultrasonographic image of the postpartum uterus consisted of four echogenicity distinct layers. Ulterine wall was represented the very hyperechoic serosa, hypoechoic mycomtrium, hyperechoic endometrium and anechoic structures of fluid in the uterine cavity until 7 days postpartum. The individual uterine layers were most prominent during the first weeek postpartum,and they became progressively less distinct throughout the course of uterine involution. Anechoic structrues of fluid inthe uterinecavity was detected until 25.0+_6.4 days prostpartum, after which time it was not reliably detected. The uterine diameter was decreased not only in the placental sites from 24.1+_2.5mm at 1 day to 15.4+_1.4mm at 7 days postpartum, but also in the interplacental sites 14.9+_1.5mm at 1 day, 10.6+_0.8mm at 7 days postpartum. There was a general trend of decresing uterine diameter, whichoccurred more rapidly at the placental sites. At 31 days postpartum, these diameter reached almost same size, after that time, they could be not distinguished between placental and interplacental sites. At 87 days postpartum, the uterine diameter was 5.6+_0.6mm both placental and interplacental sites, and the uterine horns were uniform hypoechoic, tubular structures without enlargement. Therefore, complete involution of the uterus occurred at that time. It was concluded that normal postpartum uterine involution in Korea Jin-do bitches appeared to be completed around 87 days postpartum by gross findings such as vaginal discharges, and by ultrasonographic findings, uterine shape and echogenicity. Also ultrasonographic characteristics of the postpartum uterine involution were described. Therefore, these result suggest that ultrasonographic assessment is a reliable method for diagnosing the SIPS and uterine dysfunction, such as pyometra in bitch.

Magnesium (Mg2+) plays an important role in the regulation of a range of intracellular processes. Regulation of extracellular Mg2+ contents was studied in the anesthetized Sprague-Dwley (SD) rats. Animals were injected intraperitoneally with sodium nitrite (NaNO2), and circulating Mg2+([Mg2+]c) was observed in animals injected with NaNO2 at a dose of 10mg/kg or higher. Pretreatment with methylene blue preventd the NaNO2-induced increse in [Mg2+]c.[Mg2+]c displayed an inverse linear correlation with hemoglobin and exponential correlation during NaNO2 injection. Injection of KCN or rotenone also induced an increase in [Mg2+]c. An increase in [Mg2+]c was observed when respiration rate was reduced from 100/min (140ml/min) to 10/min (14ml/min) during 30 min. These results indicate that changes in [Mg2_]c inversely reflect alteration of ATP in a model of metabolic inhibition

There are few copies of Borna disease virus (BDV) genome in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and no reliable standard reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method for the detection of BDV RNA, which is both highly sensitive and free of contamination. Single-step RT-PCR, in which both reverse transcription and amplification by Taq DNA polymerase work efficiently in a single buffer, was applied to detect the p24 region of BDV RNA in vitro and in vivo. Using in vitro synthesized RNA, it was demonstrated that at least 100 copies of BDV RNA could be detected and the sensitivity and specificity were nearly equal to those obtained by RT-nested PCR. We could detect BDV RNA from more than 1 pg of cellular RNA obtained from BDV-persistently infected MDCK cells. Furthermore, this method was successfully performed on brain specimens obtained from a BDV-infected rat at 11 weeks post-inoculation. This single-step RT-PCR method will be convenient for detecting limited amounts of BDV RNA in various cells and tissue samples

The proteolytic activities present in midguts of both fed and unfed Haemaphysalis longicornis were assessed by using the gelatin-substrate gel electrophoresis and inhibitor sensitivity analyses. Three predominant (116, 48 and 40 kDa) and two weak (55 and 60 kDa) proteinase bands were commonly expressed in both unfed and fed ticks, while a weak 80 kDa band was only present in fed ticks. Consistent with observations on other tick species, proteolytic activity against the gelatin substrate was observed only under acidic conditions. Inhibition studies against the gelatin substrate using a panel of inhibitors showed that the predominant proteolytic enzymes of 40 and 48 kDa molecular mass are cysteine proteinases. These results are discussed in the context of host vaccination as an alternative tick control method to the current use of chemical acaricides

The validity of a coproantigen ELISA for Echinococcus multilocularis was evaluated by comparison of three diagnostic methods; autopsy, egg examination and the ELISA. Of 71 foxes, 39 were found to be infected with the cestode at autopsy. The overall mean of worm burdens was 3,451, but the number varied (1-34,522). The ELISA could detect 94.9% (37/39) of the worm positives and there were no false-positives. Two false-negatives were infected with 1 and 4 cestodes, whereas 3 cases with similar worm burdens (2, 4 and 6 worms) were diagnosed as positives. This indicates the detection limit of the assay may be equivalent to less than 10 (in the worm burden). On the other hand, egg examination showed low sensitivity (43.6%, 17/39). These results suggest the ELISA has a potential to replace for the conventional methods

The hemagglutinin (HA) of six H5 influenza virus strains isolated from ducks in Japan and China in 1976 to 1996 were analyzed antigenically and genetically. Antigenic analysis using a panel of monoclonal antibodies revealed that the HA of H5 influenza viruses isolated from ducks are antigenically closely related to each other. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the isolates from ducks in Hokkaido were derived from an ancestor common with the highly pathogenic isolates from chickens and human

Intranasal administration of plasmid DNA encoding glycoprotein B of pseudorabies virus into mice induced both serum and secretory antibody responses. These mice resisted intranasal challenge with lethal dose of the virus, but did not intraperitoneal challenge. On the other hand, intramuscular injection of the plasmid induced less secretory and higher serum antibody responses than those of intranasally vaccinated mice. None of them was protected from virus challenge. The present results suggest that administration of plasmid DNA encoding glycoprotein B by respiratory mucosal route generates local secretory antibodies which serve to protect animals from pseudorabies virus infection

To investigate the effect of the environmental pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), on retinoic acid-induced teratogenesis, all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) dissolved in corn oil (120 mg/kg) was administered orally to pregnant rats at the 11th day of gestation with and without the prior intraperitoneal treatment with 10 mg/kg 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) for 3 days. Dams were killed on the 20th day of pregnancy. The examinations of fetuses revealed that 3-MC barely enough to cause induction of P-450 in pregnant dams had profound embryo-toxic effects: the fetal resorption amounted to - 60% of total number of implantations. The fetuses survived weighed less than the control fetuses. All of RA-treated mothers had fetuses with abnormalities, and the main malformations were absence of tail (100%), caudal and sacral malformations (100%), and cleft palate (42%). Pregnant dams received both 3-MC and RA had a reduced severeness of tail anomaly (33%), while the rest, 67%, had short vestigial tail. Caudal and sacral malformations were detected but at a milder degree. We did not observe cleft palate in this group. The concurrent treatment of dams with 3-MC and RA led to an increased inducibility of cytochrome P-450 and subsequently, CYP1A1 dependent enzyme activity higher than those observed after the injection of 3-MC alone. UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity was also markedly induced in concurrent 3-MC and RA group higher than that in 3-MC alone. We suggest that the induction of P-450 and alteration of metabolic enzyme activities may play an important role in reducing the teratogenic potency of RA. However, RA-treatment did not retard the embryo-toxic effect of 3-MC but rather potentiated