The role of porcine parvovirus (PPV) in inducing reproductive failure in swine has been extensively documented. However, information is not available as to the risk of ppv transmission by embryo transfer. Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, PPV-specific DNA was detected in association with 4-day-old porcine embryos incubated in vitro in the presence of NADL-8 strain of PPV, despite attempts to rid the embryos of virus by either washing or treatment with pronase or trypsin. The presence of PPV in embryos collected from acutely infected swine was not detected by PCR, although PPV DNA was detected in the proximal portion of the reproductive tract during the early stages of infection. Viral-specific nucleic acid was not detected in embryos transferred from infected donors to seronegative recipients and retrieved and assayed on the 15th and 32nd days of gestation. Results of the use of PCR to detect PPV associated with swine female reproductive tract and embryos ascribe minimal risk to the transmission of PPV to seronegative recipients through embryo transfer.

The mydriatic effect of 3 curare-like neuromuscular blocking agents was tested in European kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) after topical application. Alcuronium chloride (5 mg/ml) was found to be effective at a dose of 1 drop (20 drops = 1 ml) administered twice at a 15-minute interval. Mydriasis was achieved at t = 26 +/- 11 minutes, maximal effect was reached at t = 60 +/- 39 minutes, and sufficient mydriasis ended at t = 364 +/- 134 minutes. Nevertheless, side effects, including temporary full paralysis in 1 bird, indicated that this drug should not be used. Pancuronium bromide (2 mg/ml) had an inconsistent effect on each bird at a dose of 2 drops administered twice at 15-minute intervals, and total mydriasis was not reached in 5 of 8 birds. Mydriasis was achieved at t = 34 +/- 11 minutes, maximal effect was reduced and reached at t = 43 +/- 13 minutes, and sufficient mydriasis ended at t = 90 +/- 39 minutes. Vecuronium bromide (4 mg/ml) was administered at a dose of 2 drops, 3 times, at 15-minute intervals. Mydriasis was achieved at t = 23 +/- 8 minutes, maximal effect was reached at t = 65 +/- 12 minutes, and sufficient mydriasis ended at t = 253 +/- 65 minutes. Side effects were not detected. Vecuronium bromide should be used in raptorial birds whenever retinal examination requires fundoscopy.

High serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity is considered a sensitive marker of cholestasis in most mammalian species, including dogs. Induction of high serum ALP activity in association with cholestasis is dependent on high hepatic bile acids concentrations. Treatment of dogs with glucocorticoids also results in high serum ALP activity. The possible causal relation between serum ALP activity and bile acids concentration was investigated in dogs treated with glucocorticoids. The relation of glucocorticoid treatment to changes in the activity of individual ALP isoenzymes, alanine transaminase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) also was investigated. Eight conditioned dogs were given 4 mg of prednisone/kg of body weight, IM, daily for 10 days. Blood samples were taken prior to treatment and on treatment days 3, 5, 7, and 10. Liver tissue was then taken from each dog. Serum total ALP activity was significantly (P < 0.05) high at day 3 in prednisone-treated dogs. Isoenzyme analysis indicated that this increase was attributable to an increase in the liver ALP isoenzyme (LALP). Significant increases in serum corticosteroid-induced ALP (CALP) and bone ALP were first observed on days 7 and 10, respectively. Serum ALT and GGT activities were significantly increased by day 5. Increased serum or hepatic tissue bile acids concentrations were not observed in prednisone-treated dogs, compared with values in 8 clinically normal (control) dogs, but were high in 3 dogs with complete bile duct ligation. Hepatic activities of LALP, CALP, and GGT were higher in prednisone-treated dogs than values in controls, indicating probable increased hepatic synthesis of these enzymes. Hepatic ALT activity was not increased. The ratio of serum to tissue LALP activity was increased in prednisone-treated dogs, compared with values in controls, indicating that LALP may have been preferentially released into serum. There was no difference in the ratio of serum to liver GGT activity between prednisone-treated dogs and controls. The LALP and GGT ratios were increased in bile duct-obstruction dogs. It was concluded that, although LALP is the principal ALP isoenzyme in serum during the first 10 days of prednisone treatment, hepatic bile acid concentrations are not increased and, therefore, are not likely to be responsible for induction and release of ALP into serum. Prednisone may, therefore, be directly responsible for induction of ALP activity in dogs treated thusly.

Parenchymal cells were isolated from the liver of male calves, and monolayer cultures formed were treated with glucocorticoids to examine whether haptoglobin, appearance of which is associated with hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver) in cattle, is induced by steroid hormones. Without addition of dexamethasone, only trace amounts of haptoglobin were detected in culture medium. With addition of dexamethasone (10(-12) to 10(-4)M), considerable amounts of haptoglobin were released into the medium. Maximal release was observed at concentrations of 10(-8) to 10(-6)M dexamethasone. Haptoglobin release was similarly induced by cortisol, although the effect was less potent than that of dexamethasone. Actinomycin D (a known protein synthesis inhibitor) dose-dependently reduced amounts of haptoglobin released in response to 10(-8)M dexamethasone. Dexamethazone also induced annexin I, which is known to be synthesized in response to glucocorticoids. Dexamethasone treatment resulted in reduced protein kinase C activity in the cell cytosol, which has been shown to be an early event in dexamethasone-treated cells. Other than glucocorticoids, estradiol induced haptoglobin release, whereas progesterone was less effective. The association of haptoglobin with hepatic lipidosis can be reasonably explained by the fact that haptoglobin production by the liver is induced by glucocorticoids and estradiol, and these steroid hormones are triggers for development of hepatic lipidosis in cattle.

A former secondary lead smelter was in operation in Granite City, Ill, until the early 1980s. As a result, the surrounding area is heavily contaminated with lead. Soil concentrations as high as 5,000 ppm have been measured in prior studies. Because of growing concerns about health defects associated with low levels of lead exposure in human beings, a major study has been conducted on people living in the area. The study reported here was a corollary to the human exposure study. Lead concentration was determined in 84 dogs and 26 cats in the town and ranged between < 5 and 28 microgram/dl. None of the dogs had clinical signs of lead poisoning. The CBC and serum biochemical values did not indicate many significant differences between dogs with a high (larger than or equal to 10 microgram/dl) or low blood lead concentration (BLC). Hemoglobin concentrations were lower, and WBC counts were higher in dogs and cats with higher BLC, but they were still within reference ranges. Free erythrocyte protoporphyrin concentration was determined. Normal values appeared to be similar for dogs and cats. Only animals with BLC larger than or equal to 20 microgram/dl were found to have somewhat increased concentration of free erythrocyte protoporphyrin. Delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity was measured and found to be negatively correlated with BLC. The relation was strong, even at low BLC (5 to 10 microgram/dl) in both species. Age or sex difference was not observed. Therefore, biological changes associated with low BLC were limited to BLC in the 10- to 30-microgram/dl range.

Effects of isoflurane on the CBC in ferrets were studied. There was rapid decrease in all hematologic variables after induction of anesthesia. Percentage reductions in indices of the erythron (hematocrit, RBC count, hemoglobin concentration) exceeded those of plasma protein concentration and WBC count at the first postinduction time point. There was little additional decrease in these variables for the duration of anesthesia. The values had partially recovered to preanesthetic baseline at 45 minutes after anesthesia. Although these alterations appear to be well tolerated in healthy ferrets, care should be exercised when subjecting anemic, geriatric, or debilitated ferrets to isoflurane-induced anesthesia.

Analogues of a melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) have been documented to be effective in inducing integumental melanogenesis in several species. These melanotropin analogues are more potent than the natural hormone and have prolonged biological activity, without apparent teratogenic or other toxic effects, at least in rodents. In a pilot study, a cyclic alpha-MSH analogue, Ac-[Nle4, Asp5 D-Phe7, Lys10] alpha-MSH4-10-NH2, was administered SC to a dog at a dose of 1 mg of analogue in 1 ml of 0.9% NaCl for 3 weeks, without noticeable adverse effects. There was gradual and extensive darkening of the coat, which originally was predominantly tan, with tips of black. Initially, the darkening involved face and extremities, then gradually expanded to include the trunk and tail hair. Visual pigmentation peaked approximately 2 months after injections were completed. As new hair growth continued subsequent to the injections, the original tan color appeared at the proximal end of the hair shaft, leaving a dark terminal band on all affected hairs. These observations clearly indicated that follicular melanogenesis can be induced in dogs by treatment with a melanotropic peptide.

Liposomes and immunostimulating complexes (ISCOM) are adjuvants that have been known to potentiate the immune response to membrane proteins. Adjuvanted outer membrane proteins (OMP) from Salmonella enteritidis were evaluated for their protective efficacy against S enteritidis infection in turkeys. The adjuvanted vaccines prepared for evaluation were: positive or negatively charged liposomes, lipid-conjugated ISCOM, and mineral oil vaccines. These preparations were compared with that of a whole cell bacterin and protein alone. After vaccination, turkeys were challenge-exposed with a nalidixic acid-resistant strain of S enteritidis. They were monitored for clinical signs of disease, antibody response, bacterial shedding pattern, and clearance of the challenge S enteritidis from internal organs. Results indicated a significantly (P < 0.05) higher antibody response to the positively charged liposomal OMP vaccine, compared with the whole cell bacterin. The antibody response to positively charged liposomal OMP vaccine was greater when a booster dose of this preparation was given. Shedding of S enteritidis was decreased in all vaccinated and challenge-exposed turkeys (P < 0.001). The tissues from a high percentage (90 to 100%) of birds that received a booster vaccination of the liposomal (+ or -) and ISCOM vaccine were culture-negative for S enteritidis.

Effect of estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4) on uterine antibacterial activity and immunoglobulin concentrations in mares was studied. In 2 in vitro experiments, 6 mixed-breed mares were ovariectomized, and uterine fluid and blood serum were analyzed. Antibacterial assay methods were used to determine inhibitory effects on Streptococcus zooepidemicus of uterine fluid samples collected on days 3, 5, and 8, and serum obtained on day 8 of treatment. Single radial immunodiffusion methods were used to quantify amounts of IgA and IgG in uterine fluid and serum on days 3, 5, 8, and 14 of treatment. Neither E2 nor P4 increased activity of serum and uterine fluid against S zooepidemicus. Numbers of colony-forming units per milliliter of bacteria were significantly (P < 0.01) lower in control Hanks' balanced salt solution with 1.0% gelatin (HBSSG) than in uterine fluids. Bacterial numbers were significantly (50%) greater in uterine fluids and serum than in HBSSG controls for both treatments. Both fluids, especially serum, supported significantly (P < 0.01) more growth of S zooepidemicus than did HBSSG when incubated for 0, 2, and 4 hours. These findings are in contrast to previous reports of antibacterial activity in the uterus of sexually intact mares undergoing an estrous cycle: great reduction of bacterial count in uterine fluid from mares in diestrus, and significant increases in bacterial numbers in uterine fluid or serum from mares in estrus. Treatment comparisons between serum and uterine fluid IgA and IgG concentrations were not significantly different, although overall IgA concentration in the uterus was higher than concentration in serum. The IgG concentration in uterine fluid was higher in P4- than E2-treated mares. However, IgG concentration was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in uterine fluid on day 8 in P4-treated mares than on day 3 or 5. Results of this study indicate that neither immunoglobulin concentration nor hormone treatment has a direct effect on streptocidal activity.

Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration was measured, using an automated immunoturbidimetric assay, in 44 clinically normal dogs and 67 dogs with band neutrophil count greater than or equal to 10(9) cells/L, and values were found to be significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) different. Correlation of serum CRP concentration and band neutrophil count in the 67 dogs with greater than or equal to 10(9) band neutrophils/L resulted in a statistically significant P less than or equal to 0.05), but low correlation coefficient of 0.34. Serum CRP concentration and CBC values were determined for 6 clinically normal dogs undergoing anesthesia (controls) and 6 clinically normal dogs undergoing anesthesia and ovariohysterectomy. Significant alterations in CBC results and serum CRP concentration, compared with baseline values, were lacking in dogs of the control group. Serum CRP concentration was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) increased above baseline values in dogs undergoing surgery and was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) increased, compared with values in control dogs by 12 hours after surgery. In dogs undergoing surgery, serum CRP concentration was also significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) different from values in control dogs at 28 and 36 hours, but not at the 76- and 124-hour sample collection times. Alterations in CBC values compatible with possible or convincing inflammation were detected in 83% of the dogs undergoing surgery at the 8- and 12-hour postsurgery sample collection times, 100% of dogs at 16, 22, 28, and 36 hours after surgery, 83% of dogs at 52 and 76 hours after surgery, 67% of dogs at 100 hours after surgery, and 0% of dogs at 124 hours after surgery. It was concluded that significant increases in CRP, concentration in dogs with surgical trauma were not detected earlier than CBC alterations compatible with possible or convincing inflammation.