The pharmacokinetic behavior of recombinant feline interferon produced in silkworm infected with recombinant baculovirus harboring cDNA coding for feline interferon was studied in vivo in cats. The decreasing profile of the serum interferon level after intravenous administration was fitted to a two-compartment model. The half-times of the first phase (distribution phase) and second phase (metabolic phase) were 5.0 ± 0.5 min and 31 ± 5 min, respectively. In the whole body autoradiogram, at 15 min after the administration, the highest radioactivity was observed in urine in the bladder, and predominant radioactivity in the kidneys, liver, thyroid gland and spleen. Almost no radioactivity was detected in the brain or fat. Three hr after administration, the highest radioactivity was recorded in the thyroid gland, urine in the bladder, intestinal contents, and gastric mucous membrane. The data obtained in this study suggest that recombinant feline interferon has similar pharmacokinetic properties to human interferons and that it is distributed primarily in the liver and kidneys, is catabolized rapidly mainly in the kidneys, and is excreted in the urine without residual accumulation in the body. It was confirmed that 2', 5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity was increased by the interferon in vivo for 3 days after an intravenous bolus injection in cats.

View full abstract

Twenty-seven cases of endometriosis were found in 94 female cynomolgus monkeys retired from breeding. The ages of the affected monkeys (28.7% of all the monkeys) ranged from 11 years to 23 years of age with an average of 15.3 years. There was no significant difference in the incidence of endometriosis between groups which had or had not undergone a cesarean section. Time after the last pregnancy was significantly longer in the affected monkeys than in the non-affected ones. These cases were histopathologically classified into four types; 1) pelvic endometriosis with formation of endometrial cysts (51.8 % of the affected monkeys), 2) pelvic endometriosis invading other organs without formation of endometrial cysts (3.7%), 3) uterine adenomyosis (22.2%), 4) combined pelvic endometriosis and uterine adenomyosis (22.2%).

View full abstract

LEC strain rats, which have been known to develop hereditarily spontaneous fulminant hepatitis 4 to 5 months after birth, were highly sensitive to whole-body X ray-irradiation as compared to WKAH strain rats. Radiation-induced acute bone-marrow death occurred at doses higher than 2.0 Gy in LEC rats, and at doses higher than 7.4 Gy in WKAH rats, respectively. By probit analysis of survival data, it was shown that the LD _50/30 value for LEC rats was 3.0 Gy which was significantly lower than that (7.8 Gy) of WKAH rats. Histopathological examinations of the bone marrows from both strains after irradiation at a dose of 4.0 Gy revealed that a number of hemopoietic cells were recovered in WKAH rats on day 8 after irradiation, but not in LEC rats. These results suggested the hypersensitivity of LEC rats to ionizing radiation in connection with acute bone-marrow death.

View full abstract

A new, automated turbidimetric-kinetic (ATK) assay was used to quantitate bacterial endotoxin in rumen fluid or in serum of Holstein steers. The ATK method used Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) reagent with added beta-glucan (LAL-ES) which improved specific sensitivity to endotoxin. Design of the feeding trial permitted comparison of endotoxin levels found during consumption of a basal ration with those higher levels detected at various times following the introduction of increasing percentages of rolled barley to that basal ration. Both serum and ruminal endotoxin levels were significantly higher in steers on the higher concentrate rations. Peak endotoxin levels were detected 20 days following the change to the highest concentrate ration which contained 60% barley. Endotoxin levels from both sources subsequently decreased. Ruminal endotoxin stabilized at about 10 times the level, and serum endotoxin stabilized at 2 to 4 times the level, of that previously found during feeding of the basal ration. Test protocol included sample dilution and heating in order to avoid the effects of endotoxin inhibitors. Recovery rates for added endotoxin to either serum or rumen fluid supernates ranged from 120 to 136%. Coefficient of variation for endotoxin concentration in serum was lower than 10%, and in rumen fluid only slightly higher. There was significant correlation between ruminal concentration as measured by the ATK method and an alternative chromogenic substrate assay procedure. Changes in endotoxin level in experimental steers were those predictable from experience with naturally occurring incidents of grain engorgement. The ATK assay appears to be an accurate and rather simple technique which will prove useful for experimental and clinical studies in the future.

View full abstract

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of canine serum protein has revealed that the administration of anthelmintics elicits an increase in a certain serum protein. This protein, named PT60, was partially purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and preparative electrophoresis. The purified PT60 gave a single band with the molecular size of 53 kDa in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under non-reducing conditions. After reduction with 2-mercaptoethanol, two bands appeared at 35 kDa and 17 kDa, indicating that PT60 consists of two subunits which are linked with each other by disulfide bonds. PT60 had the capacity to bind to hemoglobin. In an immunodiffusion test, an antiserum against PT60 cross-reacted with canine haptoglobin (Hp). N-terminal amino acid sequences of two PT60 subunits were identical to those of α and β subunits of canine Hp, respectively. Thus, PT60 was identified as Hp.

View full abstract

A total of 305 horse sera collected in the Hidaka district of Hokkaido in the years 1988-90 were tested for the presence of hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibodies to A/equine/Newmarket/1/77 (H7N7), A/equine/Tokyo/2/71 (H3N8) and A/equine/Kentucky/1/81 (H3N8, Kentucky) strains of equine influenza (EI) Virus. Antibodies to the 3 strains were detected in hardly of the 45 sera from 2-years-old horses which were collected before vaccination. Many of the 51 horses, after vaccination with inactivated EI virus, had HI antibodies to the 3 strains in 37 to 88 per cent. However, the number of positive reactors among the horses aged 3 to 23 years gradually decreased with the advance in age. In particular, no antibody response was found in the 60 horses over 9 years of age, except for 3 cases with HI antibody of low titer, with the Kentucky strain which has recently been prevalent among the horse populations in many countries. In a complement-fixing test, antibodies to the soluble antigen of type A influenza virus were detected in the sera collected from the horses which were exposed to an outbreak of EI virus infection, but not in the sera from the vaccinated horses examined.

View full abstract

Epidural EEG of 20 El mice is recorded under ketamine and xylazine anesthesia with epoxy coated silver balls as exploring electrodes. A stainless steel needle is placed subcutaneously near the nose as a reference electrode. Reproducibility of recording is remarkable. Multiple spike complex synchronizing on both frontal lobes is observed in 8 mice. Among them, small spikes preceding the multiple spike complex are also observed on the left frontal lead in 7 mice and on the right in 1 mouse. These spikes do not spread to occipital recordings. The discriminative ability of the recording is due to the coated electrode commonly employed with much larger animals and to suitable placement of the reference electrode. This simple and well known method permits the analysis of not yet satisfactorily explored the EEG of El mouse.

View full abstract

The effects of horse serum on the immunoassay of horse ferritin were investigated using two sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems. In System A, affinity-purified antibody to horse spleen ferritin and its conjugate with alkaline phosphatase were used as the first and second antibodies, respectively. In System B, whole antiserum and its conjugate with the enzyme were used. The recoveries of horse spleen ferritin added to horse sera were very low in either system (50-71% in System A; 42-79% in System B). However, heat treatment of the sera at 75°C for 15 min improved the recoveries (90-96%) in System A, whereas the recoveries in System B were not sufficiently improved by the same treatment (75-83%). The apparent concentrations of ferritin in adult and newborn horse sera increased after heat treatment of the samples. From these results, it is concluded that horse serum contains the heat-unstable substance(s) which inhibits the immunoassay of horse ferritin.

View full abstract

Erythropoietin (EPO) production in dogs was studied by reducing red blood cells with phlebotomy. In this study, the hemoglobin reduction rate (Δ%Hb) was newly taken into account as the regulating factor for EPO production, and its usefulness to estimate the stimulating intensity to EPO production was examined. As the result, plasma EPO was highly correlated with Δ %Hb showing the importance related to regulation of EPO production, in the increasing plasma EPO by different degrees of phlebotomy, in the change of plasma EPO through the anemia progress and recovery period after severe phlebotomy, and in the initial variation of plasma EPO induced by chronic mild phlebotomy. On the other hand, increasing EPO production appeared at least within 6 hr after acute severe phlebotomy, which revealed significantly higher plasma level compared with the mild chronic phlebotomy, suggesting the effect of time leading to red blood cell reduction on EPO production response. Simultaneously, considering an in vivo EPO half life of 8.4 hr calculated from plasma EPO disappearance after bilateral nephrectomy, endogenous plasma EPO accumulation should be taken into consideration in rapidly increasing of Δ%Hb.

View full abstract

The distributions of T cell subsets in chicken lymphoid tissues were investigated immunohistochemically using monoclonal antibodies (Lc-6, Lc-4) with specificity for chicken CD4 and CD8, respectively. In thymic tissues, CD8⁺ cells were found only in the cortex, while CD4⁺ cells were detected not only in the cortex but also in the medulla. The cortex just below the capsule demonstrated no immunoreactivity to either antibody. In the cecal tonsile, CD8⁺ cells were found restrictly in the subepithelial lamina propria. It was noted that the germinal centers were clearly surrounded with many CD4⁺ cells in the mid and deep portions of the lamina propria. In the spleen, clusters of CD8^⁺ cells were observed only in the red pulp. Most lymphocytes in the periarteriolar lymphatic tissue and perivenous lymphatic tissue showed a CD4^- positive reaction. No lymphocyte in the germinal centers reacted with these two monoclonal antibodies. No immunoreactivity for either CD8 or CD4 was detected anywhere else in the bone marrow or bursa of Fabricius. In the case of exposure to the protein antigen (alum-precipitated bovine serum albumin), CD4⁺ cells were demonstrated in some germinal centers, which were increased in size, while the areas expressing CD8 in the red pulp were decreased in size. These results suggest that the preferential distributions of T cell subsets are inherent in chicken lymphoid tissues.

View full abstract

Three head of cattle persistently infected with noncytopathic bovine viral diarrhea-mucosal disease virus (ncBVD-MDV) were superinfected naturally or experimentally with cytopathic bovine viral diarrhea-mucosal disease virus (cBVD-MDV). In the naturally superinfected case, one animal manifested pyrexia and severe diarrhea, and died without developing antibodies to cBVD-MDV. However, another animal survived with only continual slight anorexia and pyrexia, and developed strong resistance to the superinfected strain. In the experimental cases, induction of MD was unsuccessful in two persistently infected cattle when superinfected with cBVD-MDV antigenically heterologous for persistently infected ncBVD-MDV. They also developed antibodies to the cBVD-MDV strain with which they had been infected. After 6 months, these cattle were infected again with a cBVD-MDV strain different from that used in the previous experiment. One animal infected with this strain, which was antigenically homologous to the persistently infected strain, died after developing MD symptoms without developing antibodies to the infecting strain. It is suggested that the antigenic relationship between the persistent ncBVD-MDV and the superinfected cBVD-MDV was an important factor in developing MD.

View full abstract

This study was conducted to clarify the effects of surgical orthodontic treatment for malalignment caused by the prolonged retention of deciduous canines in young dogs. Fifty-five dogs with malocclusion or pre-malocclusion were divided into two groups. Group 1 received surgical orthodontic treatment (32 dogs) using modification of Ross [9] and Yamane's [14] method of treating for malalignment due to prolonged retention of deciduotis canine teeth; Group 2 received no treatment (23 dogs). Occurrence of malocclusion 1-3 weeks after treatment of the group receiving surgery was only 3.8%. However, malocclusion was seen in 73.4% of the non-treatment group approximately 2 years after the first examination. Surgical orthodontic treatment was very useful in treating malalignment due to prolonged retention of deciduous canines in young dogs.

View full abstract

Pharmacokinetics of sulfadimethoxine (SDMX) in skin of broiler chicken after intravenous and in-drinking-water administrations were investigated to examine the reason for a longer residue of SDMX in the skin which was observed in the residue study after administration via drinking water at a concentration of 1, 000 ppm. The decay curve of SDMX in the skin after single intravenous injection of 200 mg/kg, the highest dose, was fitted to the two compartment model with T_1/2 of 4.4 hrs in the first elimination phase and 173 hrs in the second one. The extrapolated concentrations in the skin at 24 hrs after the injection were calculated to be 69.0 μg/g for the 1st phase and 0.11 μg/g for the 2nd phase. The decay curves in the skin after single injection of 30 and 100 mg/kg were fitted to the one compartment model with T₆lt;1/2> of 3.2 and 5.7 hrs, respectively. Dividing a high dose into 3 to 5 doses and injecting sequentially with intervals of the previously measured T_1/2, SDMX concentrations in the skin were about half of those in the plasma and ran parallel. The plasma concentration-time curves after single intravenous injection of SDMX more than 100 mg/kg showed nonlinear kinetics with concentrations over 100 μg/ml for 12-30 hrs after the injection. By administration of SDMX via drinking water, a sustained residue curve of SDMX in the skin at 1, 000 ppm reported previously was not observed at 500 ppm. These results suggest that existence of two compartments for SDMX in the skin, i.e. the concentration in the first compartment ran parallel with that in plasma and only a slight portion of plasma SDMX was uptaken by the second compartment to be eliminated extremely slowly.

View full abstract

Accuracy assessment was undertaken under varying hemodynamic conditions for a lung water volume measurement device which is based on the principle of a double indicator dilution method using heat and sodium ions. Changes in extravascular thermal volume were investigated in dogs with endotoxin-induced shock. The isoproterenol- or propranolol-induced changes in hemodynamics had no effect on the measurement. This confirmed the high accuracy of this measuring method. The measurement revealed a tendency for the extravascular thermal volume to gradually increase (p<0.05) during endotoxin shock. This confirmed the gradual progression of pulmonary edema during endotoxin shock.

View full abstract

The composition of rumen ciliate protozoa was surveyed in 13 Ezo deer, Cervus nippon yesoensis, inhabiting Hokkaido, Japan. As a result, two species of the genus Entodinium, E. simplex and E. dubardi, were detected. Each Ezo deer had only a single species of protozoa, E. simplex or E. dubardi. Since E. simplex in Ezo deer had a wide variation in body size and shape, its measurements were compared with those of E. simplex, E. nanellum and E. exiguum obtained from Holstein-Friesian cattle feeding in the same area. The ciliate density ranged widely from 3.1 to 5882.4×10³ with an average of 567.4×10³ per 1 ml of rumen fluid.

View full abstract

The protective effects of vaccines made from the viral materials of LK₁₅ cell line (LK₁₅ vaccine) or bat lung cell line (Bat₂cl₁; Bat vaccine) infected with bovine leukemia virus (BLV) were examined in cattle. Twelve cattle were vaccinated twice at 4-week interval then challenged 4 weeks after the second inoculation. Nine cattle vaccinated with the LK₁₅ vaccine produced antibody to BLV-specific glycoprotein (gp), and the titers ranged from 1:16 to 1:64 by the agar gel immunodiffusion test. Four cattle challenged with 100 μl (70 to 100 syncytia) of cow blood persistently infected with BLV were protected from infection. However, of the remaining 5 cattle challenged with 500 μl of infected blood, only 2 were protected. Of the three cattle vaccinated with the Bat vaccine, gp antibody titers ranged from 1:8 to 1:64. Two of them were protected against the challenge with 100 μl of infected blood. Two cattle protected against the challenge were rechallenged 32 weeks after the first vaccination and not protected. On the other hand, 2 animals protected against the challenge were revaccinated with the LK₁₅ vaccine 32 weeks after the first vaccination. They protected against rechallenge. The results show that all cattle which had gp antibody titers of 1:16 or above were protective against challenge with 100 μl of the infected blood.

View full abstract

Fine structures of the septal olfactory organ of Masera (MO) and its associated gland, a kind of olfactory glands, were examined in the golden hamster in comparison with those of the olfactory epithelium (OE) and vomeronasal organ (VNO) and their associated olfactory glands. Bipolar neurons of the MO were divided into two types according to their apical morphology, one similar to the receptors of the OE and the other to those of the vomeronasal sensory epithelium (VSE). The former was dominant and interpreted as main receptors of the MO. The other was less in number, but also regarded as a kind of olfactory receptors. The ultrastructural features of supporting cells of the MO were similar to those of the OE rather than to those of the VSE, while those of basal cells were almost in common in the OE, VSE and MO. The associated gland of the MO was positive to both PAS and alcian blue as the Bowman's gland of the OE. The fine structure of the associated gland of the MO was also similar to that of Bowman's gland. The present findings on the fine structure of the MO and its associated gland strongly suggest that the MO fulfills an olfactory function similar to that of the OE.

View full abstract

A total of 1502 pig sera collected between 1990 and 1991 at 65 farms in 22 prefectures were subjected to neutralization test to encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus. Of them, three hundred eighty seven pigs (25.8%) from the 55 farms (84.6%) had antibody against EMC virus. The positive rates were rather high in Ehime (53.1%), Tottori (49.1%), Shimane (44.4%) and Nagasaki (38.7%). The positive rate and geometric mean titer of antibody tended to increase with the age. These serological results suggest that the EMC viral infection have been occured among pigs in Japan.

View full abstract

When the HH1 strain of equid herpesvirus 1 was intranasally inoculated to mice, the virus propagated in mouse lungs and the animals showed clinical signs such as ruffled fur, hunched posture, depression and body weight loss. Mice recovered from these signs by day 12 and cleared the virus from their lungs and produced antibody by 7th day after infection. These convalescent mice did not allow growth of the rechallenged virus. Athymic nude mice, however, failed to clear the virus from their lungs. Most of field isolates from aborted fetuses were propagated in murine lungs but attenuated strains originated from the HH1 were not.

View full abstract

ELISA was applied to the detection of Trichinella spiralis larvae in infected rat muscles. Anti-muscle larva serum was prepared by inoculating crude extract of muscle larvae to rabbits. Limb muscles of infected rats were emulsified with carbonate buffer and the supernatant was used for ELISA. ELISA values of positive muscular samples were clearly higher than those of negative ones to prove that ELISA can be applied to the detection of muscle larvae. The present method showed positive values to muscles infected with 10 or more larvae per gram of muscle (LPGM)

View full abstract

To isolate the major carbohydrate-binding proteins in pooled normal chicken sera, affinity chromatographies on different affinity gels were carried out. From the results obtained, normal chicken sera were found to contain serum proteins which were Ca²⁺-dependently and -independently reactive with mannose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, L-fucose, melibiose, lactose, unsubstituted Sepharose 4B, and SeaKem HE agarose. They were electrophoretically and antigenically found to be mainly IgM and IgG.

View full abstract

The electrophoretic mobility of alkaline proteinase produced by four isolates from a penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) was same in all of them and was consistent with that of Aspergillus (A.) flavus NRRL 1957 used as a reference strain, but not consistent with that of A. parasiticus NRRL 2999. Therefore, four isolates were confirmed as A. flavus.

View full abstract

The effects on superovulation in beef heifers of two kinds of porcine FSH preparations with different LH content, FSH-P and FSH-R, were compared. Forty-two heifers of the Japanese Black Breed received a total dose of 28AU of FSH-P containing 6.5% LH of FSH-R containing 0.58% LH intramusculary, in a descending manner for four days. The mean numbers (±SD) of obtained ova(embryos and transferable embryos were 4.9±2.3, 1.5±0.9 and 11.2±2.4, 4.8±1.4, respectively. FSH-R treatment yielded a significantly greater number of ova/embryos and transferable embryos than FSH-P treatment (P<0.05).

View full abstract

S. Enteritidis HY-1 isolated during quarantine from chicks imported from England was used. Laying hens at the age of 34 weeks were inoculated orally with 10¹⁰ organisms (10 birds), intramuscularly with 10⁹ (5 birds), and intravenously with 10⁹ (5 birds). Egg production did not change in hens infected orally, although it was reduced in hens infected intramuscularly for 2-3 weeks post inoculation. For one month, internally infected eggs of which the shells were not contaminated were found: one out of 65 eggs in hens infected orally and three out of 36 eggs in hens infected intramuscularly. This experiment demonstrated the ability of S. Enteritidis isolated from chicks imported from England to cause transovarian infection.

View full abstract

Twenty-nine strains of infectious bursal disease virus could be classified into three groups by the agar gel precipitin line patterns using two representative base antigens of F539 and G691 strains. The precipitin line of the first group (16 strains including F539) did not fuse with that of G691 base antigen and spur was seen. The line of the second group (2 strains) did not fuse with those of both base antigens. The line of the third group (11 strains including G691) did not fuse with that of F539 base antigen. Every strain of the first group was highly pathogenic for chickens showing a mortality of 40% or more.

View full abstract

A 16-days-old calf exhibited pyrexia, difficulty to stand and walk, cloudiness of the ocular aqueous humor, and swelling of the shoulder joints. The primary pathological lesion was fibrinopurulent meningitis with Gram-negative small bacilli, and which was concurrently accompanied with endophthalmitis, polyarthritis, and purulent inflammation in several visceral organs. Klebsiella oxytoca was isolated from the brain and spinal cord. These results suggest that this is a rare case of meningitis with septicemic K. oxytoca infection in neonatal calf.

View full abstract

Two calves (5 and 9 months old) affected with pneumonia and gingivitis were also diagnosed as having bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD). The gene of leukocyte adhesion molecule CD18 in these BLAD calves and their dams (carrier) were examined by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and digestion of restriction endonuclease. The splicing in mRNA coded CD18 reported in human LAD was not recognized in BLAD on the basis of the results of PCR amplification. The region including the portion of point mutation, which corresponded to the region reported in the human patient, was amplified by PCR, and the PCR product was then digested with TaqI. An obvious difference was recognized in the pattern of digestion among healthy calves, BLAD calves and their dams. In BLAD, therefore, the point mutation reported in human patients was strongly suggested. Moreover it may be a method able to be used in detecting the carrier.

View full abstract

An LH-RH-analogue (LH-RH-A) was administered to 5 cryptorchid (CR) and 6 normal beagles before and after sexual maturation and peripheral plasma LH and testosterone levels were measured. The response patterns of plasma LH levels for LH-RH-A in the CR dogs were similar to those in the normal dogs before and after sexual maturation. It was therefore demonstrated there is little difference in pituitary response to LH-RH-A in the CR and normal dogs. However, the maximum levels of testosterone in the CR dogs were generally lower than those in the normal dogs.

View full abstract

The effects by the leptospiral antibody are described at several serological tests for the detection of the antibody to B. burgdorferi in dogs. The titers at ELISA used with the ultrasonicated bacterial antigen (US-ELISA) were related with IFA. But cross reaction with the leptospiral antibody were shown in an agglutination test. Non-specific and cross reactions were observed in ELISA used with formalin-killed bacterial antigen. This indicates that US-ELISA is a reliable serodiagnosis method for Lyme disease in dogs in eliminating the cross reaction with leptospiral antibody.

View full abstract

During the period January 1989 through February 1991, 327 freshwater fish of 3 different species (Carassius cuvieri, Cobitis anguillicaudatus and Hypomesus transpacficus) purchased from 7 fish dealers in Tottori City were investigated for the metacercarial infection of Clinostomum complanatum. Among them, 20.5% (16/78) of C. cuvieri were infected with this fluke. Each infected fish harbored 1 to 30 metacercariae. The sites and rates of parasitization of metacercariae in the infected fish were 42.4% in the body muscles, 30.3% in the muscles at the pectoral fin, 21.2% in the tissues around the gills and 6.1% in the cheek muscles.

View full abstract

Five non-cyclic postweaning sows were given intramuscularly 1, 000 IU of hCG on day 2 (4 sows) and day 36 (1 sow) after weaning. Single or multiple follicular cysts were developed in ovaries in all cases. Plasma E₂ fluctuated at low levels in 4 of 5 sows resulting in silent heat. The sows which exhibited neither estrus nor ovulation after hCG administration did not display any preovulatory LH surge, and plasma progesterone levels remained low (≤ 1 ng/ml). These results suggest that abnormal follicular growth or impairment of the ovulation process as a consequence of unsatisfactory LH release after hCG treatment in swine with ovarian inactivity may promote the formation of ovarian cysts.

View full abstract

Thyroids of 15-day rat fetuses prior to culture had no follicles. After 2 days in culture, regardless of added TSH in the medium, thyroids had small, colloid-storing follicles. In the follicular cells, the rER and Golgi apparatus were somewhat well developed as compared with the thyroids prior to culture. Thyroids of 17-day fetuses prior to culture were first inlaid with follicles. With TSH, 2-day cultures of 17-day thyroids showed a more marked dilation of rER and a further development of Golgi apparatus than those without TSH. These results indicate electron microscopically that TSH has no effect on the first formation of follicles as well as on the initial development of follicular cells, but that TSH can promote the further development of follicular cells themselves of once-developed follicles.

View full abstract

Three female Holstein calves having cyanosis of the visible mucous membrane, exercise intolerance and systolic murmur were examined. Extreme Tetralogy of Fallot with ventricular septal defect was confirmed at autopsy. All of the intrapericardial pulmonary arteries were completely absent in two cases. In the other case, the atretic pulmonary trunk, with a bicuspid valve, rose from a very small chamber which was located on the blind-ending muscular infundibulum. There was no connection between the atretic pulmonary trunk and the right ventricle.

View full abstract

Severe gangrenous mastitis due to Staphylococcus aureus infection was diagnosed in a 7 year-old intact female beagle which was presented with swelling of mammary glands after dystocia. Leukocytosis (25, 200-48, 600/μl), decreased platelets (107, 000-179, 000/μl), and abnormal platelet pattern continued during the critical condition. Consistent with platelet pattern, large platelets were observed in the blood smear. The number of leukocytes and platelets rapidly returned to normal during treatment, and the platelet pattern was also restored. The number and pattern of platelet may provide a clue for the evaluation of the clinical condition and/or severity of the lesions in the dog with mastitis.

View full abstract

A hemolytic recombinant clone on Escherichia coli was obtained from a genomic library of Actinobacillus pleuropneumo-niae. The clone possessed a recombinant plasmid, pHLY1, carrying an insert DNA of 1 kilobases. A 21 kilodaltons protein, which is assumed to be a fusion protein with a tetracycline resistant protein of pBR322, was encoded by pHLY1. The nucleotide sequence and its deduced amino acid sequence were different from those of the previously reported hemolysin genes of A. pleuropneurnoniae. Furthermore, the amino acid sequence did not show a significant homology with other published sequences in the SWISS-PROT Protein Sequence Data Bank.

View full abstract

An epidemic that propagates through a population results in a contagious spatial pattern. The incidence per farm of bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) outbreaks in the 22 areas of Fukuoka Prefecture in 1988 was well explained by the negative binomial distribution, which is generally considered, as the clustering of the outbreaks. Furthermore, the clustering was analyzed with three categories of vaccination rate (No. 1-40%, and 40-80%). As a result, the no vaccination and high vaccination rate (41-80%) groups tended to shift to similarly the Poisson distribution. It may be speculated that an insufficient vaccination control of the BEF was influenced with the clustering.

View full abstract

Pathomorphological analysis was performed on fractured bones of 470 race horses. The most common fracture site was the limb (98% of cases), and the majority of fractures were intra-articular. Focal osteochondral lesions consisting of osteochondrosis, osteonecrosis and osteosclcrosis were observed frequently in fractured and non-fractured bones. In the fractured bones, the lesions frequently appeared in the vicinity of the fractured site. Under the influence of antecedent osteochondrosis from the young stage, osteosclerotic and osteonecrotic lesions may have been induced by immoderate excercise and localized ischemia. These morbid conditions may be important as local predisposing factors for bone fracture because the osteosclerotic and osteonecrotic lesions may contribute to diminished resistance to torsion and shearing forces.

View full abstract

Cutaneous hemangioma in two laying hens was examined by light and electron microscopy. In close association with capillary and cavernous hemangioma there was a solid cell mass. Ultrastructurally, the cell mass consisted of undifferentiated mesenchymal cells and had an alveolar structure. There were transitional cell types from the alveolar structure to the capillary and cavernous hemangiomas. Hemangiomatous structure may develop from the undifferentiated mesenchymal cells in the solid cell mass.

View full abstract

Mice experimentally infected with Babesia rodhaini were immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC), and the splenic plaque forming cell (PFC) response to SRBC was investigated. Suppressed splenic antibody response to SRBC accompanied with the elevated parasitemia was recognized. This evidence suggests that an immunosuppression in B. rodhaini infection may be involved in the multiplication of parasites contributing to high mortality of mice infected with B. rodhaini.

View full abstract