Postpartum changes in the immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration and the agglutination antibody titers of swine atrophic rhinitis (AR) and swine erysipelas (SE) in whey and serum were studied in 24 sows. The whey IgG was highest (42.5mg/ml) immediately after farrowing (Day 0 ), when its concentration was 3 times that in the serum. The IgG concentration decreased to the same level as that of the serum by Day 16 and to half the serum concentration by Day 20. AR antibody and SE antibody could be detected in the whey, respectively, until Day 20 and Day 10. The latex agglutination antibody of Aujeszky's disease was studied in 38 whey samples collected from vaccinated sows and 23 samples from unvaccinated sows. Nine out of 9 samples on Day 0 from vaccinated sows were antibody positive and 2/2 samples on Day 10 were positive. ELISA confirmed that all the latex agglutination antibodies detected in the samples were vaccine antibodies. Antibody was not detected in 23 whey samples collected from unvaccinated sows. Examination of 6 antibody-positive cases observed in the field showed that the antibodies both in the whey and the serum had been induced by field infection. It was possible to detect antibodies effectively with colostrum, as with serum, and it appeared that colostrum antibody testing could become an effective means for the antibody screening of breeding sows and for maintaining them disease-free.

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Changes in the blastogenic activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes were investigated in healthy dairy cows orally administered a Bacillus subtilis preparation. Both a 5-day repeat dose at 50g/day and single dose of 250g of the B. subtilis preparation enhanced blastogenic activity, in response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) stimulation, from the start of administration to 2-3 days later. Although the activity gradually declined after that, it was still higher at 7 days than before the administration (with Con A and PWM). In cows given a 28-day repeat dose at 50g/day of the B. subtilis preparation, the activity increased for 3-4 weeks from the initial administration and became significantly higher than in the control (with Con A and PWM). The activity tended to decrease more or less to the level of the control in the 5th week (the week after completion of the administration). The results suggest that the oral administration of a B. subtilis preparation could enhance the activity of T lymphocytes by stimulation with PHA or Con A and of B lymphocytes by stimulation with PWM, and that such a preparation could be useful as an immunopotentiator in long-term repeat dosing for preventing infections such as mastitis.

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Clinical and pathological observations were made on a case of pyometra accompanied by a large encapsulated abscess in the perimetrium in a 3-year-old primiparous Holstein cow (body weight: 549kg). With no signs of estrus since calving (on August 19, 2003), rectal palpation was conducted in September 2004, and an indurated softball-sized mass was detected on the left uterine horn. A conspicuous bulge was seen at the lower left of the abdomen when the cow was examined on February 28, 2005, and rectal palpation showed that the uterus had swollen further. Blood biochemistry and bacterial tests and ultrasonography showed a poor prognosis because of the pyometra with chronic inflammation. Autopsy, performed the following day, revealed purulent inflammation of the endometrium in addition to a giant (100×70×70cm) encapsulated abscess in the perimetrium and a severely atrophied rumen. The encapsulated abscess contained a large amount of creamy to muddy pus and blood clots. Both ovaries had no functional or regressing corpus luteum, and had become atrophied. This was considered to be a case where an abscess that developed in the perimetrium became large, in the process of which causing atrophy of the ovaries and anestrus, and this encapsulated abscess, which eventually grew to a size that occu-pied most of the abdominal cavity, caused systemic symptoms such as total anorexia.

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A 30-day-old Holstein male calf suddenly became restless and showed signs of acute abdominal pain, such as repeatedly lying down and getting up and kicking its abdomen while standing. Decreased fecal output, progressive abdominal distension and splashing sounds in the abdomen on shaking were also recorded. Hematology tests showed an extremely elevated white blood cell count. Radiography of the abdomen showed gas-filled loops of the small intestine all over the abdominal cavity. Exploratory laparotomy through a right paralumbar incision also revealed gas-filled loops of the small intestine filling up the abdominal cavity. A 180° anti-clockwise torsion of the mesenteric root was palpated, and this was corrected through manual manipu-lation. The calf recovered rapidly after the surgery.

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A Japanese Black cow (5 year old and 6 months pregnant) was brought to our veterinary hospital with abdominal pain, listlessness and weakness. Ultrasound examination, performed because of the severe abdominal distention noticed atinitial examination, suggested severe ascites and neoplastic hyperplasia of the tissues. Blood and abdominal fluid examinations showed high levels of urea nitrogen and creatinine. Suspecting a tumor or bladder rupture, we conducted diagnostic laparotomy, and found severe ascites. However, abdominal endoscopy revealed no neoplastic lesion. Endoscopy of the bladder showed suspended matter in the urine and erosion of parts of the urinary bladder mucosa. From these results, we suspected that the cow had consumed some nephrotoxic plants, and developed nephrosis and uremia. The treatments of continuous drip, systemic administration of antibiotics, intravesical instillation of drugs, and draining of the abdominal fluid were ineffective in symptom remission, and the cow died 11 days after it was brought to the hospital. Hemorrhage in the renal cortex, multiple infarctions caused by thrombosis in the arcuate arteries and extensive enlargement of the renal lymph nodes were found at autopsy. From the fact that the abdominal fluid consisted mainly of urine components, we concluded that the ascites was caused by urine leakage from the infarcted areas of the kidneys. However, the original cause of the thrombosis that caused the renal infarction could not be ascertained.

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A 35-day-old Japanese Black calf with malnutrition caused by the spitting out of the feed because of difficulty in swallowing was examined endoscopically based on tumefaction of the pharynx on palpation and stridulous breathing on auscultation. Endoscopy showed 4 thumb-sized masses constricting the base of the esophagus in the dorsal pharynx. Pharyngitis was suspected, and the calf was treated by the administration of antibiotics and an adrenocorticosteroid agent, and fluid infusion. Gradually, the calf showed increased appetite and improvement in stridulous breathing. Endoscopic reexamination on the 16th day of treatment confirmed the disappearance of the masses, and the calf was discharged on the 19th day after the visit. In this case, early diagnosis of non-purulent pharyngitis through different clinical tests including endoscopy, and the treatment with antibiotics and an adrenocorticosteroid agent facilitated smooth recovery. The results suggest that endoscopy is a valuable method for diagnosing laryngopharyngeal ailments.

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