The prevalence of Leptospirosis was surveyed by PCR and microscopic agglutination test (MAT) in 73 premature and stillborn fetuses obtained from 55 sows in 17 farms with reproductive failure during the period from 2002 to 2004 in Japan. Leptospira was positive using PCR on fetal kidneys in 26 out of 73 aborted fetuses (35.6%), in 23 out of 55 sows (41.8%) and in 12 out of 17 farms (70.6%). Antibodies against Leptospira were detected by MAT using thoracic and/or peritoneal fluid in 17 out of 53 fetuses (32.1%). The serovars detected were L. Pomona, L. Icterohaemorrhagiae, L. Bratislava, L. Australis and L. Autumnalis. These results suggest that swine Leptospirosis is prevailing and is associated with the premature birth or stillbirth of swine in Japan.

View full abstract

Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reductivity of peripheral blood neutrophils and blastogenic activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes were investigated in cows administered with a single oral dose of active egg white product (AEWP; 500mg/kg). NBT reductivity of neutrophils increased and reached a maximum level at one to three days after administration. Administration of AEWP enhanced the blastogenic activities of lymphocytes for phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A). Stimulation index (SI) values for PHA and Con A increased and reached a maximum level at two to three days after administration. These results suggested that a single oral dose of AEWP (500mg/kg) might enhance the bovine peripheral blood neutrophil and lymphocyte function.

View full abstract

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is an economically significant swine disease. Therefore, many studies focus on enhancing the immune response in young pigs. In this study, we investigated the effect of an herbal polysaccharide supplement, S-UP, in post-weaning piglets at a farm chronically infected with PRRSV. S-UP, made from five herbal ingredients that are known to stimulate interferon production was administered in feed at 0.2% for 90 days post-weaning. The growth of the pigs, clinical symptoms and the phagocytic activity of isolated alveolar and peritoneal macrophages were examined. As a result, significant improvements in the growth rate and suppression of respiratory symptoms were observed in pigs fed with S-UP compared to the control, untreated pigs. The mean number of latex beads phagocytizedin vitroby a single macrophage was similar in both the pigs administered S-UP and the control pigs. Macrophages isolated from pigs administered S-UP, however, could internalize a multiple number of beads/cell at higher rates after 30 days (peritoneal) and 60 days (alveolar) of S-UP administration compared to those from the control group. Together, our results suggest that S-UP is effective in promoting the health and macrophage activity in growing piglets exposed to PRRSV.

View full abstract

Haptoglobin(Hp)has been used to evaluate conditions of inflammatory diseases as one of serum acute phase proteins. In this study, serum Hp concentrations in dogs with different types of inflammation were measured with single radial immunodiffusion using a commercial kit, and compared with serum α₁-acid glycoprotein(α₁-AG)concentrations. Concentrations of serum Hp in acute inflammatory diseases such as respiratory and digestive system diseases and traumas were significantly higher than those in healthy dogs, and a positive correlation was found between serum Hp and serum α₁-AG. Moreover, The differences of Hp concentrations between healthy and diseased dogs were larger than those ofα₁-AG. It was therefore concluded that measurement of serum Hp concentration with single radial immunodiffusion could be a useful tool in clinical practice, equal to or better than measurement of α₁-AG, for diagnosing or monitoring inflammation in a variety of disease conditions in dogs.

View full abstract

An eight-year-old male Chihuahua was presented for evaluation of coughing and dyspnea at rest. The dog was diagnosed with severe cervical and thoracic tracheal collapse and bilateral atrioventricular valve regurta-tion. Medical management was initiated to alleviate respiratory distress, and ten days after the first admission, the collapsed cervical trachea was surgically dilated using extratracheal parallel loop line prostheses (PLLP). Cli nical signs such as dyspnea and coughing improved markedly after operation, although a mild cough persisted. The result obtained in this case suggests that severe tracheal collapse may be successfully treated by surgical intervention using PLLP even in middle-to old-aged dogs, if the collapse exists primarily in the cervical portion.

View full abstract