Membrane associated proteins from 8 untypeable Pasteurella haemolytica strains were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and compared with those of P haemolytica serotypes 1 and 2. Cattle antisera obtained from P haemolytica serotype 1 vaccine trials were used in immunoblotting assays to compare the membrane proteins from the 8 untypeable strains with those from P haemolytica serotypes 1 and 2. Densitometry was used to identify bands, and using linear regression analyses, the peak area optical densities (measuring antibody response) were correlated to lesion scores from the vaccinated calves. Significant antibody responses to proteins of 99, 69, 60, 55, 47, 45, 39, 33, 30, 16, and 14.5 kDa were detected for 4 or more of the 8 P haemolytica untypeable strains. Serotypes 1 and 2 of P haemolytica contained a comigrating 30-kDa protein. Antibody responses to proteins of 39, 33, and 32.5 kDa were significant for 3 of the untypeable strains and had significant correlation to lesion scores. Antibody responses to various other proteins were significant for 2 untypeable strains each.

Equine alpha1-acid glycoprotein (alpha-1AG) was isolated from equine serum by successive ammonium precipitation, anion- and cation-exchange chromatographies, and gel filtration. Purified equine alpha-1AG had a molecular weight of 46,000 +/- 1,000, and contained 31.4% carbohydrate. Gel isoelectric focusing revealed an isoelectric point range of 2.8 to 3.7. With immunoelectrophoresis, it was found that alpha-1AG migrated to the alpha-1-globulin region. Single radial immunodiffusion was used for quantitative measurement of alpha-1AG in equine serum. In clinically normal foals, serum alpha-1AG was undetectable (less than or equal to 20 micrograms/ml) in less than or equal to 7-day-old foals, but was detected by 14 days. The alpha-1AG concentration (mean +/- SD) increased to reach mean adult values of 99.23 +/- 26.90 micrograms/ml by 1 year of age. The alpha-1AG concentration in pregnant mares decreased at 2 to 3 months before parturition, then gradually increased until 1 day after parturition, when a brief decrease was observed. The concentration increased again at 2 weeks after foaling, then a decrease was observed, after which the alpha-1AG concentration increased again by 2 to 4 months after parturition. The concentration of serum alpha-1AG quickly rose to peak values 2 to 3 days after castration and jejunojejunostomy in adult horses, returning to baseline values by 14 to 28 clays after surgery. The alpha-1AG was concluded to be an acutephase reactive protein in horses.

The aerobic bacterial flora of the genital tract was characterized in 59 bitches in an 18-month study. The bitches represented 4 breeds and were from 3 kennels. Collection of vaginal swab specimens for bacterial culturing was performed every month, except during estrus when specimens were collected every week (n = 826). The capsule of the swab containing transport media was broken before specimen collection to moisten the tip, which helped to reduce the number of negative cultures. All bitches whelped at least once during the study and, thus, had known reproductive functions. Pregnancy rates, litter sizes, and pup mortality were within normal limits. Pasteurella multocida, beta-hemolytic streptococci group G, and Escherichia coli were the most common bacteria isolated. Although these species generally were isolated from mixed cultures, pure cultures were obtained from 18% of the specimens. There was a tendency for the various breeds to differ in their vaginal bacterial flora. The flora also varied during the reproductive cycle. Pasteurella multocida was isolated significantly more often during proestrus, estrus, metestrus, and pregnancy, than during anestrus and the postpartum period, and beta-hemolytic streptococci were isolated significantly more often during proestrus than during estrus, pregnancy, or the postpartum period. Staphylococcus intermedius was almost exclusively found after parturition. Culture results were negative for only 5.2% of specimens cultured. On the basis of our findings, bacterial culturing of vaginal swab specimens from bitches without signs of genital disease is of little value.

Sixteen nonsibling sheep, approximately 12 months old, that were raised in a helminth-free environment, were used for 2 protection studies 6 months apart. Sheep were vaccinated weekly for 5 weeks by IM injection of fibrinogen-degrading proteins derived from the intestinal tract of adult Haemonchus contortus. Ten days after the last vaccination, sheep were given 2,500 infective H contortus larvae by intraruminal injection. Vaccinated sheep produced specific antibodies, and were protected from the worm challenge. Significant differences in mean fecal worm egg counts for 56 days after worm challenge, in mean numbers of H contortus worms, and female fecundity ratios at necropsy were detected in vaccinated sheep, compared with those in control sheep. These data suggest that the fibrinogen-degrading proteins have a protective role in vaccination of sheep against H contortus.

Red blood cell populations separated by density centrifugation were compared in a dynamic assay of osmotic stress. Red blood cells from Beagles genotypically normal and nonanemic (nonaffected), Beagles with inherited hemolytic anemia (anemic), and Beagles presumed to be carriers of the anemia trait (trait carriers) were examined for rate and extent of swelling after exposure to the ionophore A23187 in a medium containing calcium and potassium chloride. Comparisons were made between RBC populations separated on the basis of density. Significant differences were observed in the rates of cell swelling in Rbc populations separated by density between nonaffected and anemic Beagles. The response of RBC from Beagles presumed to carry the anemia trait was similar to that of RBC from nonaffected dogs. One phenotypic expression of this inherited abnormality of Rbc in Beagles was an accelerated rate of RBC swelling under osmotic stress, and this swelling response diminished with increasing RBC density.

Eight trials were conducted in dogs to document the efficacy of ivermectin (6 micrograms/kg of body weight) and pyrantel pamoate (5 mg of active pyrantel/kg) in a beef-based chewable formulation against Dirofilaria immitis, Ancylostoma caninum, Uncinaria stenocephala, Toxocara canis, and Toxacaris leonina. Three studies involved induced infection with D immitis, and 5 studies involved induced or natural infection with hookworms and ascarids. In 3 intestinal parasite trials, the efficacy of the combination chewable tablet was compared with each of its components. Results indicated that 1 component did not interfere with the activity of the other. In 1 heartworm and 2 intestinal parasite trials, the efficacy of pyrantel, ivermectin/pyrantel combination, or ivermectin with pyrantel dosage of 10 mg/kg was evaluated. The ivermectin/pyrantel combination was 100% effective in preventing development of D immitis larvae. Efficacy of the combined product against T canis, Toxascaris leonina, A caninum, and U stenocephala was 90.1, 99.2, 98.5, and 98.7%, respectively. In the intestinal parasite trials, each individual component was found not to interfere with the anthelmintic action of the other. Increasing the dosage of pyrantel to 10 mg/kg (2 X that in the combination) did not interfere with the efficacy of ivermectin against heartworm or increase the activity of pyrantel against intestinal parasites.

Two test specimens of skin were cut from the lateral aspect of each hind limb of 9 rats. Specimens were contiguous, thereby providing matched pairs. One specimen was immediately placed in liquid nitrogen for 5 minutes, then stored at -70 C and tested within 3 to 4 weeks. Within 5 minutes of harvest, the second specimen was used for immediate material testing. Basic engineering material tests were used to measure strength, loading response, and elastic and viscous properties. Each matched pair of tissues was used for the same procedure. Quasistatic uniaxial tensile tests were used to apply deformations to the test specimens, and resulting loads were recorded. Stress and strain were calculated from the recorded data, providing information on yield strength, ultimate strength, fracture strength, and loading response. Each matched pair of specimens represented 1 repetition; 6 repetitions were made of each observation. Statistical analysis indicated that tissue freezing significantly (P<0.05) increased fracture strength, but did not affect strength, ultimate strength, or loading response. Dynamic vibration response tests were used to find mechanical mobility of the specimens, thereby providing information on elastic and viscous behaviors, which were quantified by calculation of spring and damping coefficients, respectively. As before, 6 repetitions were used. Statistical analysis indicated that tissue freezing did not affect these coefficients.

The anthelmintic efficacy of ivermectin (IVM) delivered from a sustained-release (SR) bolus was evaluated against natural infections with gastrointestinal tract nematodes in 12 crossbred beef heifers in spring. The 12 calves were randomly allotted to 2 groups of 6 calves each. Group-1 calves were treated with an SR bolus designed to deliver 8 mg of ivermectin/d. Group-2 calves were nontreated controls. Cattle groups were kept in separate concrete-floored pens (grass hay nutrition) and slaughter was performed at 35 days after treatment. Fecal egg counts for group-1 calves remained zero after treatment, except for detection of < 1 egg/g of feces in 1 calf at the time of slaughter; counts in nontreated calves increased. Mean and range of Ostertagia ostertagi inhibited larvae in nontreated calves were 27,093 and 10,622 to 56,368, respectively. Efficacy of the IVM SR bolus was 100% against O ostertagi developing fourth-stage larvae (L4) and inhibited early L4, Haemonchus placei adults, Cooperia punctata and C spatulata adult males, Cooperia spp adult females, Cooperia spp L4, Trichostrongylus colubriformis adults, Bunostomum phlebotomum adults, and Oesophagostomum radiatum adults. Efficacy for O ostertagi and T axei adults was 99.9%. Numbers of nontreated calves infected with C pectinata adult males and Oes radiatum L4 were too low to evaluate efficacy. Calves treated with the IVM bolus gained 10.2 kg, whereas nontreated calves lost 1.8 kg. Abomasal lesions were dearly greater in nontreated calves on the basis of index comparisons of abomasal weight and total live weight and gross pathologic features.

Pigs were inoculated with various strains of transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) or with porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV), and antigenic site-specific antibody responses were compared. A blocking-ELSIA was used to study to what extent antibodies in convalescent sera interfered with the binding of monoclonal antibodies (MAB) 57.16 or 57.110 to the attenuated TGEV/Purdue virus. Monoclonal antibody 57.16 is directed against the A site on the peplomer, neutralizes virus, and recognizes TGEV and PRCV. Monoclonal antibody 57.110 is directed against the X site on the peplomer, but does not neutralize virus, and recognizes only TGEV. Antibodies directed against TGEV and PRCV could be detected in a blocking ELISA, using MAB 57.16 as a conjugate. Antibodies directed against both viruses were detectable as early as 1 week after inoculation. Antibody titers correlated well with those in a virus-neutralization test. Antibodies against TGEV could be detected in a blocking ELISA, using MAB 57.110 as a conjugate. Such antibodies were not induced by a PRCV infection. In the blocking ELISA, using MAB 57.110 as a conjugate, antibodies were detectable as early as 2 weeks after inoculation. There was a significant difference between antibody titers reached after infection with various TGEV strains, however. This difference is ascribed to a variation of the antigenic site defined by MAB 57.110 in TGEV strains. Conditions for a differential test for TGE serodiagnosis, and for serologic discrimination between TGEV- and PRCV-infected pigs, are discussed. It is concluded that by using a blocking ELISA with MAB 57.110, no definite distinction can be made between antibodies directed against TGEV and PRCV, because low antibody titers develop after infection with some TGEV strains, and because antibodies directed against antigenic sites that PRCV has in common with TGEV may interfere with the binding of MAB 57.110 to TGEV.

The purpose of the study reported here was to get detailed information about the normal size and texture of the liver in sheep by means of ultrasonographic examinations. Structure, location, and shape of the liver, gallbladder, portal vein, and caudal vena cava were examined ultrasonographically in 100 sheep. Furthermore, 10 sheep were scanned 10 times within 2 weeks to determine reproducibility of findings. Examinations were performed on the right side of the abdomen in the seventh through twelfth intercostal spaces. In each intercostal space, the dimensions of the liver, and, if visible, the location and diameter of the caudal vena cava and portal vein were determined. The angle of the liver, and location and size of the gallbladder also were determined. Ultrasonographic measurements of liver size and location in healthy sheep can be used as references for changes in liver size attributable to illness.