Urinary diversion.

Urinary diversion. The patient facing cystectomy now has the opportunity to select various forms of urinary diversion. Although not all of the newer techniques have stood the test of time, preliminary results indicate that these continent diversions should be considered safe and effective. These procedures definitely alter the patient's lifestyle, resulting in a significantly better adjustment to the need for bladder removal. With experience, these procedures can be performed with morbidity rates very similar to those encountered with ileal conduit diversion. As with any procedures, however, appropriate patient selection and surgical training are imperative.


Management of advanced bladder cancer in the elderly. Patients over the age of 70 years will become an increasingly important component of uro-oncologic practice. Although few published studies have specifically addressed this population, it is clear that the elderly can expect outcomes similar to younger patients in the management of advanced bladder cancer provided care is taken in planning. Of particular importance is an understanding of the pathophysiology of aging, of the possible implications of the causative factors for bladder cancer, and of the potential impact of advanced age on the biology of urothelial malignancy. Future studies should specifically address the problems of older patients with this malignancy to ensure the optimal possible outcome and definition of the most appropriate balance of toxicity and efficacy.


Renal pelvic cancer: a review of 611 patients treated in Illinois 1975-1985. Cancer Incidence and End Results Committee. Renal pelvic transitional cell carcinoma constitutes about 7 percent of all kidney cancer. This report is a summary of 611 Illinois patients with this tumor treated between 1975 and 1985. Overall, the five-year relative survival rate was 62 percent and the observed five-year rate was 48 percent. Stage was a major determinant of survival, as expected, in these cancer patients. The Illinois experience is reviewed and compared with the accumulated literature experience with renal pelvic cancers since 1944.


Experience with schistosomiasis in renal transplantation. Schistosomiasis involving the urinary tract has only occasionally been reported in North American literature and rarely from American hospital experience. Chronic infection may result in numerous abnormalities of the urinary tract which may interfere with the function of a transplanted kidney. Our institution has performed a number of renal transplants in patients who are from countries where schistosomiasis is endemic. Six patients in our group had evidence of schistosomal disease during their pretransplant evaluation and were appropriately treated. None of these patients had postoperative complications attributable to the schistosomal disease. We recommend that all patients who are from areas where urinary schistosomiasis is endemic undergo a cystoscopic examination and bladder biopsies in addition to the routine pretransplant urologic evaluation.


Objective treatment response to endocrine therapy in metastatic prostate cancer. A ten-year review of 198 patients with Stage D2 prostate cancer identified 13 patients (6.6%) who exhibited objective responses to hormonal treatment, as indicated by regression of a positive bone scan, CT scan, or chest x-ray film. Four patients had complete responses and 9 patients achieved partial responses as judged by the National Prostatic Cancer Project criteria. Median survival for those with objective treatment response has not yet been reached (> 44 months) compared with twenty-four months for the nonresponders (p = 0.00006). Although relatively uncommon, objective treatment response in Stage D2 prostate cancer is correlated with an improved prognosis.


Anchor fixation and other modifications of endoscopic bladder neck suspension. The long-term efficacy of surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence can be improved by modifications that reduce the possibility of suspending suture detachment. Fifty-three women with stress urinary incontinence underwent consecutive endoscopic bladder neck suspensions with new modifications developed in an effort to decrease suspending suture detachment. Those modifications included: (1) technique of needle passage to capture a maximum volume of urethropelvic fascia lateral to the bladder neck and urethra while avoiding injury to the bladder, (2) pubic bone fixation of the suspending suture using a small anchor developed for orthopedic use, and (3) a simple technique to limit tension of the suspending sutures. Procedures were outpatient in 60 percent of patients (93% of the last 27 patients). Seventy percent of patients did not require intermittent catheterization beyond the day when their indwelling catheter was removed. The postoperative success rate (absence of stress urinary incontinence) at one month was 100 percent. There were 4 failures on follow-up up to fifteen months. Urgency incontinence decreased from 59 percent preoperatively to 15 percent postoperatively. The complication of osteitis pubis was not noted. Patient rating of satisfaction postoperatively was high. These modifications constitute a safe alternative to procedures that effectively suspend the bladder neck. An assessment of any change in long-term efficacy as a result of these modifications will require continued follow-up.


Penile calcification in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Penile calcification was detected in 6 of 32 patients (19%) with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) using soft tissue x-ray techniques. Having been maintained on hemodialysis for a minimum of one year, all the affected patients showed clinical evidence of secondary hyperparathyroidism and calcification in the blood vessels of some other tissues. All had erectile impotence, while in 1 patient gangrene of the penis developed. Penile calcification is probably more common in ESRD patients than realized and should be looked for as a possible cause of impotence in male patients treated with maintenance hemodialysis.


Bladder training in patients with spinal cord injury. Immediately following severe injury to the spinal cord or conus medullaris, there is a stage of flaccid paralysis of the bladder. The smooth muscle of the detrusor and rectum is affected. Drainage of the bladder is very important in the early care of such patients. From August 1989 to August 1990, 55 spinal cord injury patients were studied on admission to our department. The current bladder training method used for these patients is presented. A patient was deemed to have been successfully bladder trained when catheter-free, continent, and able to consistently maintain a residual volume of 100 mL or less with the aid of tapping and compression. On discharge 45 patients (82%) were successfully bladder trained, 8 (15%) employed a regimen of clean intermittent self-catheterization, and 2 went home/institutional care with an indwelling catheter. The material presented is applicable to any type of neurogenic bladder dysfunction.


Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy with Lithostar lithotriptor. Initial experience of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) using the Lithostar lithotriptor is reported; 193 patients underwent 248 treatments for 210 stones. A total of 139 renal calculi (126 patients) and 71 ureteral stones (67 patients) were analyzed. Treatments were performed without anesthesia in 65 calculi (27.6%), with intravenous sedation in 91 (42.5%), and under epidural anesthesia in 34 calculi (29.9%). A three-month follow-up showed a success rate of 88.0 percent for renal calculi and 95.5 percent for ureteral calculi treated in situ. Renal stone fragmentation was achieved with a mean of 4,890 shocks at 17.4 kV and ureteral calculi were fragmented with a mean number of 4,798 shocks at a mean of 18.3 kV. Auxiliary procedures after ESWL were required in 2 patients with renal stones and in 1 with ureteral calculi. A comparison between stone size and number of shock waves required to achieve stone fragmentation revealed a linear relationship. Hospitalization was not necessary in 84.4 percent of renal calculi and 89.6 percent of ureteral calculi. Retreatments were necessary in 22 (15.8%) of the renal calculi (18 had 2 sessions, 3 had 3 sessions, and 1 had 4 sessions). Of the ureteral calculi, 8 (11.3%) underwent retreatment (6 had 2 sessions, 1 had 3 sessions, and 1 had 4 sessions). The low morbidity with a large number of patients treated on an outpatient basis, minimizing the need for anesthesia, demonstrated a favorable initial successful experience with the Lithostar.


In utero detection of horseshoe kidney with unilateral multicystic dysplasia. Unilateral renal dysplasia in a horseshoe kidney is very uncommon. A case which was detected in utero is presented. The management of multicystic kidneys is reviewed.


Klinefelter's syndrome with prepenile scrotum. Two cases of Klinefelter's syndrome with prepenile scrotum were presented. They underwent the operation for prepenile scrotum according to Glenn and Anderson's method. Thereafter urethroplasty was performed in each case. The decrease in response to testosterone in the target organ was noticed in 1 patient, suggesting that some androgen resistance in this case was attributable in part to anomaly of genitalia.


Tunica vaginalis urethroplasty.

Tunica vaginalis urethroplasty. Tunica vaginalis on a vascular pedicle was tubularized and used as a urethra to repair hypospadias in three difficult cases. This is the first report of tunica vaginalis utilized for a urethral reconstruction in humans. This new surgical technique is described.


Efficacy and tolerability of norfloxacin vs. ciprofloxacin in complicated urinary tract infection. This prospective, open, randomized clinical study compared the efficacy and tolerability of norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin in adult patients with complicated urinary tract infection, defined as infection in the presence of an underlying anatomic or functional abnormality of the urinary tract. Seventy-two patients were randomized, 37 received norfloxacin (400 mg orally twice daily for 10-21 days) and 35 received ciprofloxacin (500 mg orally every 12 hours for 14-21 days). Patients were clinically assessed, and urine cultures were obtained following two to four days of therapy, and five to nine days and four to six weeks after discontinuation of therapy. Seventy-two percent of the norfloxacin group and 79 percent of the ciprofloxacin group were considered cured. This difference was not significant. One failure of norfloxacin therapy was associated with the emergence of resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Following norfloxacin therapy, in 2 patients superinfections developed with resistant organisms (Staphylococcus epidermidis [1] and Pseudomonas maltophilia [1]). Twelve patients, 6 in each group, experienced adverse reactions, which were considered related to the study drug therapy in only four instances. Our results indicated comparable efficacy and tolerability of norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infection in adults.


Arteriovenous malformation of ureter.

Arteriovenous malformation of ureter. Congenital arteriovenous malformations of the genitourinary tract are rare. We report the first case of an arteriovenous malformation of the ureter. The patient presented with recurrent hematuria and left flank pain. Evaluation included an intravenous urogram, cystoscopy, and retrograde pyelography. A pedunculated lesion thought to be a fibroepithelial polyp was seen at the time of ureteroscopy, and the lesion treated by excisional biopsy and fulguration. Pathologic examination demonstrated an arteriovenous malformation. After thirty-month follow-up, the patient remains asymptomatic and free of recurrence.


Metastatic prostate cancer presenting as obstructive jaundice. Metastatic cancer of the prostate, presenting with carcinomatous obstruction of the common bile duct as a cause of jaundice and abnormal liver function tests is very unusual. The literature suggests an association between abnormal liver function tests and poor survivability in those patients with liver parenchymal metastases. This case illustrates that patients with abnormal liver function tests on the basis of extrahepatic ductal obstruction may have a better prognosis than those with hepatic disease.


Squamous cell carcinoma of ureter extending into renal vein. Positive immunohistochemical staining for carcinoembryonic antigen. A case of squamous cell carcinoma of the ureter with extension into the renal vein is presented. Immunoperoxidase method revealed positive staining for carcinoembryonic antigen. The literature on ureteral tumors is reviewed with special reference to renal vein involvement and carcinoembryonic antigen.


New endourologic technique for catheter placement after TURP, prostatectomy, and difficult urethroscopy. Inserting a Foley catheter into a traumatized urethra with false channels or a post-transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) undermined bladder neck can be very difficult if not impossible at times. Likewise, replacing a Foley catheter that has fallen out in the early postoperative period after a radical prostatectomy can be difficult and can cause significant injury to the fresh anastomosis. We describe a technique using a Peel-Away sheath that fits over a cystoscope or a resectoscope, and facilitates accurate insertion of a Foley catheter without trauma to the urethra.


Incidence of testicular microlithiasis.

Incidence of testicular microlithiasis. In adults polytopic intratubular calcifications of the testes are rare. Known as testicular microlithiasis, they manifest themselves in a characteristic echo pattern on sonography with high-frequency transducers (5 to 10 MHz). This consists of multiple echogenic specks in an otherwise normal testicular parenchyma. In a retrospective analysis of 1,710 testicular sonograms of adults, bilateral intratesticular microliths were found in 11 cases (0.6%). In 5 of them, the microliths were associated with a testicular tumor. One patient with a tumor in the contralateral testis had undergone radiotherapy and another one presented with hypogonadism. Four patients with noncontributory histories presented with varicocele or epididymal cyst. Sonographic findings were confirmed histologically in 6 patients. Multiple intratubular calcifications were found in all of them. The pathogenesis of testicular microliths is still poorly understood. Their clinical relevance is unclear, but their incidence in adults appears to be higher than reported in the literature.


The vas after vasectomy: comparison of cauterization methods. A histologic study of the vas ends was carried out in 21 patients undergoing vasovasostomy. All had undergone prior vasectomy by the same surgeon, with a technique identical except for the type of cautery used to seal the vas ends. A superior sealing of the vas, as shown by fewer cases of vasitis nodosa and spermatic granuloma, followed use of the thermal cautery ("red-hot wire") than the electrosurgical cautery (23% vs 60.7% suboptimal sealing rate). The thermal cautery is a superior method of sealing the vas at vasectomy.


Nitric oxide mediates neurogenic relaxation induced in rabbit cavernous smooth muscle by electric field stimulation. We investigated the relaxant effect of electric field stimulation (EFS) on rabbit cavernous smooth muscle strips in vitro precontracted by phenylephrine. Effects of EFS were monitored alone, and following muscarinic receptor blockade, and inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) formation by L-N-monomethylarginine (L-NMMA) or by L-N-nitroarginine (L-NOARG). Atropine only slightly reduced the relaxant effect of EFS to 89.0 +/- 6.1 percent. Additional application of L-NMMA further reduced the relaxant effect to 37.3 +/- 15.3 percent. Substitution of L-NOARG for L-NMMA led to a more pronounced inhibition of relaxant effects to 16.2 +/- 8.7 percent. The results indicate that neurogenically induced relaxation of rabbit cavernous smooth muscle is mediated mainly by NO formation and argue against a substantial role of relaxing peptidergic neurotransmitters, such as vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and calcitonin-gene-related peptide, in penile erection.


Squamous cell carcinoma-associated antigen in uroepithelial carcinoma. We investigated the clinical significance of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen determined by radioimmunoassay on patients with uroepithelial carcinoma. Serum SCC antigen levels and the positive rates were significantly higher in uroepithelial carcinoma having an SCC component than in normal controls, benign urologic diseases, other urogenital carcinomas, or in pure transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of uroepithelial carcinomas. A substantial number of patients with pure TCC showed a positive serum level of SCC antigen. Immunohistochemical staining of SCC antigen on the uroepithelial carcinomas confirmed that some, not all, pure TCC, mostly grade 3, expressed SCC antigen in their cells. These results suggested a biologic characteristic of grade 3 TCC which is closely related to that of SCC. The serum levels of SCC antigen correlated well with the disease extensions in uroepithelial carcinoma containing SCC component. Changes in serum levels of SCC antigen following treatment reflected the clinical courses of patients, particularly in those with elevated pretreatment levels. The results of our study indicated that the determination of SCC antigen would be clinically useful for monitoring clinical courses of patients with uroepithelial carcinomas containing SCC component and of those with pure TCC whose pretreatment level was elevated.


IgM-producing renal plasmacytoma.

IgM-producing renal plasmacytoma. A seventy-six-year-old woman with plasmacytoma presenting as a renal mass died three months after diagnosis. Bone surveys disclosed no lytic lesions. Gallium-67 scan showed an avid uptake of the radionuclide in the renal mass. Histologic and immunofluorescence studies of resected specimens demonstrated that the renal parenchyma was destroyed by sheets of immature plasma cells producing IgM-lambda and by massive deposits of amorphous, eosinophilic substance stained with anti-mu and anti-lambda antisera. The literature is reviewed. We believe this case is the first one of well-documented IgM-producing renal plasmacytoma.


Patient satisfaction as an indicator of the quality of nursing care. This paper deals with the patient satisfaction, as an indicator of the quality of nursing care. The literature review and a Finnish empirical illustration, using patient interviews, are included in the article. The results indicate a high level of satisfaction. However, there is no basis to use the measurement of patient satisfaction as a sole indicator of the quality of care, because the satisfied patients expressed also reasons for dissatisfaction.


[Reopening chronic arterial occlusions]. Chronic complete occlusions still represent the major technical limitation of percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty, both in peripheral and coronary vessels. The clinical use of low speed rotational angioplasty (ROTACS) started in 1986 for the peripheral and in 1987 for the coronary vessels, and has already become part of the clinical routine in several centers. Up to now, more than 300 patients with peripheral and more than 200 patients with coronary occlusions were treated in Frankfurt. In peripheral occlusions the acute success rate was more than 80% if used as the first attempt; after failure of conventional techniques still more than 60% of the vessels could be recanalized successfully. In addition to occlusions of the arteries of the lower limbs, the indication now includes the iliac artery and several other indications are under investigation. In each of the patients with chronic coronary occlusions an attempt with conventional techniques had failed before. Following a learning curve, which was also influenced by a better understanding of morphological preconditions, the acute success rate has now reached 70%. Both in patients with peripheral and those with coronary occlusions no deaths occurred. First angiographically documented long-term results in both indications are comparable to conventional balloon angioplasty. It is concluded that the use of low speed rotational angioplasty (ROTACS) can improve the results of nonoperative invasive treatment, both in peripheral and in coronary arteries.


[Coronary vascular stent implantation--experiences with the first 100 implants]. Coronary stent implantation was performed for blocking elastin recoil, reducing acute complications and restenosis. In 89 (95%) of 91 patients successful stent implantation was possible. No stent embolization occurred. Coronary luminal diameter measured 1.05 +/- 0.57 before PTCA and 1.9 +/- 0.2 mm post PTCA. After stent implantation mean diameter of the coronary artery measured 3.05 +/- 0.2 mm, with a balloon diameter of 3.0. Thus, elastic recoil is nearly completely blocked. In 28 (31%) of 91 patients stent implantation was performed for acute symptomatic dissection in 27 patients and occlusion in one patient. Stent delivery was successful in all. There was no acute occlusion, one acute thrombosis which could be treated with urokinase, no Q-wave-infarct, 4 (14%) non-Q-wave-infarcts and 14 (20%) CK-elevations without ECG changes. Coronary bypass surgery was necessary in 2 patients on an elective base during follow-up. In 72 (90%) of 80 patients follow-up coronary angiograms after 4 to 6 months were performed. Restenosis rate measured 21% overall, 14% for single stent, 60% for multiple stent implantation, and 14% in bail-out situations. Subacute thrombosis occurred in 10 (12%) of 89 patients, 7 (70%) of 10 events after bail-out stenting. Recanalization by thrombolytic and/or PTCA was possible in 9/10 patients. By improving monitoring of anticoagulation, the subacute thrombosis rate could be reduced to 3% even in bail-out situations. Bleeding complication occurred in 10% of the patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


[Long-term results of coronary angioplasty]. Recently published studies prove a favourable long term prognosis after coronary angioplasty, especially in patients with single vessel disease. PTCA success, progression of atherosclerosis, cardiac risk factors, extent of coronary artery disease and left ventricular function are determinants of the long term outcome. A lasting PTCA success can be assumed in patients without evidence of restenosis 6 months after PTCA. These observations are helpful criteria in the assessment of insurance risks.


[Results of heart valve replacement. Prognosis--occupational and general disability--occupational rehabilitation]. The success of valve surgery has led to a marked improvement in prognosis, quality of life and exercise tolerance in patients with symptomatic valvular heart disease. The degree of subjective and objective improvement depends on multiple preoperative factors like NYHA status, left ventricular function, valve lesion and type of valve replaced as well as peri- and postoperative factors like the occurrence of a perioperative myocardial infarction, the degree of intraoperative myocardial damage, the type of valve replaced and the speed and degree of postoperative regression of left ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation. The postoperative exercise tolerance is a major determinant for postoperative vocational rehabilitation. Therefore the individual functional assessment of patients postoperatively is of major importance.


[Therapy with nitrates in the post-infarct phase]. The beneficial effects of nitrates in patients with angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction have positively influenced the prognosis of the treated patients. Studies of Jugdutt pointed out that there is a better prognosis also in the postinfarction period. Especially left ventricular over dilatation, which follows larger infarct, can be prevented by a consistent nitrate therapy.


[Diagnosis of acute coronary ischemia].

[Diagnosis of acute coronary ischemia]. In patients presenting with acute chest pain and suspected acute coronary insufficiency the diagnosis and the decision to admit such patients to a coronary care unit is based on the history, the physical findings and the first electrocardiogram. A diagnostic flow diagram can complement but not substitute clinical judgement.


[Accusation of malpractice in cardiovascular surgery]. The reproach of malpractice in cardio vascular surgery seems to be up to now quite seldom in comparison with other While in cardiac surgery the acknowledgement was found extremely seldom in vascular surgery acknowledgement of malpractice reproach must be expected in about 50%. In cardiac surgery mainly new neurological deficits are content of malpractice reproach; in vascular surgery artery injuries and surgical procedures to correct varicose veins are most often involved. In order to prevent or to minimise those malpractice reproaches an optimal communication between the surgeon and the patient, an extensive informed consent and a very strict medical indication for surgery are imperative.


[Evaluation of occupational and work capacity after myocardial infarct]. Innovations in medical technics increase in volume. In consequence the medical expert has more difficulties in judging the rank of the different tests and medical examinations. With this publication we intend to help to value the results of specific medical tests and the checkup of a patient after a myocardial infarction with regard to the "Berufs- und Erwerbsunfähigket". Furthermore there is a table, showing criterions and various results to answer the question, if a patient after a myocardial infarction is able to have furthermore an occupation and if you may expect heavy labour of someone. In this article, written by a doctor working in a hospital treating patients with diseases of the heart-circulation system, special aspects were considered, concerning the "Anschlu ss heilbehandlungsma ss nahme", which is a common practice for a patient after a myocardial infarction.


[The significance of the structural characteristics of the sphenoid sinuses in the development of sphenoiditis]. Medicolegal autopsies show a great incidence of sphenoiditides (63.3%) with a prevalent chronic atrophy (48%). Frontal and asymmetric presentation of the posterior cribrate cells about the sphenoid sinuses proved an unfavorable regional anatomic factor underlying dysfunction of the shunt drainage. Sphenoiditides are also promoted by digestions of the Vidian nerve canal producing harbours at the base of the sphenoid pterygoid process. Identification of anatomical factors of risk and characterization of the mucosal defects can be conducted at additional x-ray examination.


[The clinico-anatomical basis for sectioning the vidian nerve]. Regional anatomic study of the pterygopalatine fossa on 101 cadavers, 86 angiographies, 114 x-ray tomography pictures provided evidence in support of the advantages of the Nomure transantral subperiosteal approach to the vidian nerve. To prevent postoperative complications, the nerve destruction was carried out by laser. The power and exposure were tested on 15 white rats. Seventy surgical interventions were performed in the clinic of ENT diseases of the Leningrad Medical College. Their results were assessed with specially devised techniques. The authors thought the cut of the vidian nerve an effective procedure in chronic polypous rhinosinusitis as it brought about a persistent response and improved the condition of the nasal mucosa.


Parasitic otitis in sheep associated with psoroptes infestation: a clinical and epidemiological study. Parasitic otitis associated with psoroptes infestation was diagnosed in a small pedigree flock of sheep with aural haematomas, abscessation and cauliflower ears. Thirteen of the 15 lambs were affected but the clinical signs were mild; small, discrete, crusty lesions on the inner aspect of the ear at the junction of its anterior and posterior borders were typical. Nine of the 20 adults were affected but the lesions were more severe. Eighteen of the 64 members of the breed society who responded to a telephone survey reported sheep with similar clinical signs in their flocks. The proportion of animals affected ranged from 1 to 60 per cent with a median value of 16 per cent.


Incidence and clinical significance of sesamoid disease in rottweilers. A group of 55 rottweiler pups was studied from three to 12 months old to assess the incidence and clinical significance of disease involving the palmar metacarpal sesamoid bones. The results of physical examination were correlated with clinical signs of lameness and the results of radiographic examination of the forefeet. Twenty-one dogs became lame during the study and in 12 of them the lameness was attributable to sesamoid disease. However by 12 months of age, the incidence of sesamoid disease as assessed by radiographic changes in the sesamoid bones was 73 per cent (30 of 41 dogs). Six of the 12 dogs which were lame owing to sesamoid disease got better without specific treatment. It was concluded that sesamoid disease can result in clinical lameness in young rottweilers, but that subclinical disease is common.


A clinical trial of buparvaquone in the treatment of East Coast fever. A clinical trial was conducted to test buparvaquone (Butalex; Coopers Pitman-Moore) in the treatment of East Coast fever under field conditions in Kenya. Data from 229 cases were analysed following treatment with one (69), two (142) or three (18) doses at 2.5 mg/kg. The majority of cattle (95.2 per cent) were exotic (Bos taurus) or improved (Bos taurus cross Bos indicus) and 39.3 per cent were infected with Anaplasma marginale. There was an overall recovery rate of 85.6 per cent, with 90.1 per cent recovering following one treatment and 75.4 per cent recovering following two treatments. At a follow-up visit three to six months after completion of the trial data was obtained on 224 cases. Thirty had died, 13 of which were reported to have been from East Coast fever, nine had been sold and six slaughtered. Of the remaining 146, 86.3 per cent were in good condition, 13.7 per cent fair and 2.0 per cent in poor condition. A two dose regimen was most effective and should be recommended except in very early cases or those under direct veterinary supervision.


[The diagnosis of malignant neoplasms of the naso- and oropharynx by using computed magnetic resonance tomography in an ultralow field]. MR tomography examination of 51 patients with maxillofacial or cervical cancer provided adequate diagnostic information especially in the absence of bone involvement. The method proved efficient in differentiating tumors with inflammation, in tumor localization, evaluation of its size and spread, outline, structure, invasion. It is safe, noninvasive. For differential purposes the technique is most beneficial in impulse double echo mode with proton density and T2.


Measuring dairy herd fertility.

Measuring dairy herd fertility. The use of the calving index as a measure of herd fertility ignores the proportion of the herd that is culled, generally for failing to conceive. It is more important to consider the total cost of long calving intervals, high culling rate and even low pregnancy rates in an integrated index that reflects inefficient management, than to have to cope with balancing a number of separate physical indicators. In a study of 91 herds containing 14,524 cows a full range of physical indices was examined. The average herd calving interval was 380.3 days, with a culling rate of 23.1 per cent. Of the cows calving, 76.9 per cent recalved, a figure which when adjusted for the calving interval (CIA calving rate) became 73.8 per cent. In quartiles split on the basis of CIA calving rate, the top quartile achieved 82 per cent with a calving index of 375.2, and a culling rate of 16.7 per cent. These standards were achieved by serving 91.9 per cent of the cows after calving, at an interval to first service of 67.2 days. The submission rate for artificial insemination in the first 24 days after the earliest service date was 57.5 per cent and the overall pregnancy rate was 51.2 per cent. As a result 92.1 per cent of the cows served, and 85.3 per cent of those which calved, conceived again, with an average of 1.9 services per conception. Assessing fertility on a financial basis, with costs attributed to calving interval, culling rate and pregnancy rate to give a fertility index, the average herd was losing pounds 62/cow/year, compared with target levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Farm investigations of anaemia in lambs caused by feeding cow colostrum. The deaths on nine farms of lambs which had been fed cow colostrum as a substitute for ewe colostrum were investigated. Of 105 lambs which received cow colostrum, 65 (61.9 per cent) showed clinical signs of anaemia and 42 (40 per cent) died. The signs of anaemia usually appeared when the lambs were between eight and 12 days old. The most significant post mortem finding was the appearance of the bone marrow which was cream or grey rather than the normal bright red. The types of treatment which were given are summarised. Whey from samples of the colostrum fed to the lambs was tested for its effect on sheep red blood cells. Haemolysis or agglutination of the red cells occurred with some, though not all, of the samples which caused anaemia.


Ataxia and head tremor in an alpaca (Lama pacos). An 18-month-old alpaca developed nervous signs, including swaying of the head and neck, a wide-based stance and hind-limb ataxia. No certain diagnosis was made but the animal recovered after successive treatment with amoxycillin, vitamin B1, ivermectin and copper oxide, followed by vitamin E and selenium. The differential diagnosis rationale of treatment is described.


Respiratory mucociliary clearance in the horse in health and disease, and its pharmaceutical modification. The structure and possible functions of respiratory secretions are reviewed. In the equine, goblet (mucus producing) cells are the main source but little information is available on the volume or composition of equine respiratory secretions. Airway mucus has complex and incompletely understood physical characteristics which can be partially assessed by a wide range of in vitro and biological techniques. The complex relationship between mucus structure and its propulsion by the airway cilia are discussed, both in health and with pulmonary disease. Mucokinesis in the horse has been assessed visually, by bronchoscopically observing intratracheal markers and also by the use of radiographic and radioactive markers. All techniques indicate a tracheal mucus velocity of approximately 20 mm/min. A large number of mucokinetic agents have been claimed therapeutically to increase mucokinesis, using a range of mechanisms. These include mucus diluents, surface acting agents, mucolytics, bronchomucotropic agents, ciliary augmentors and broncho-dilators. A critical review of the literature shows that the bronchodilator clenbuterol is the most effective mucokinetic agent assessed to date in the equine.


An interlaboratory trial of a latex agglutination kit for rapid identification of Salmonella enteritidis. An interlaboratory trial was conducted of a latex agglutination kit for the rapid identification of Salmonella enteritidis, to assess the stability of the components and its performance with respect to a panel of three coded salmonellas and 243 field isolates. Two of the components of the kit deteriorated with time. All 62 isolates of S enteritidis were correctly identified by the kit; only two false positives were recorded and no false negatives.


Prevalence of anthelmintic-resistant nematodes in fibre-producing goats in Scotland. Six cashmere goat herds in Scotland were surveyed to assess the prevalence of anthelmintic resistance and the species of nematode involved. Resistance was determined in vivo by a faecal egg count reduction test and in vitro using an egg hatch assay and specific faecal egg identification techniques. Benzimidazole resistance was present in five of the herds, insufficient eggs were obtained from the other herd to draw firm conclusions. Teladorsagia (Ostertagia) species predominated in four of the five herds in which resistance was detected and Haemonchus contorus was the dominant species in the other.


Morbillivirus infection in two common porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the coasts of England and Scotland. Two common porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), one found stranded on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, and the other in the Moray Firth, Scotland, in late 1990, were examined post mortem. Lesions of diffuse bronchointerstitial pneumonia were present in both animals; they were characterised by the infiltration of alveoli with leucocytes, macrophages and multinucleate syncytia, the necrosis of bronchial and bronchiolar epithelium, focal proliferation of type II pneumocytes and occasional acidophilic cytoplasmic inclusions in alveolar macrophages and syncytia. Lymphoid depletion was apparent in the spleen, thymus and lymph nodes of both porpoises. Other changes in the Isle of Sheppey porpoise included severe dacryoadenitis. Marked pharyngitis, oesophagitis and balanoposthitis were present in the Moray Firth porpoise. Immunoperoxidase staining revealed the presence of morbillivirus antigen in a range of epithelia from both porpoises. This is the first report of morbillivirus infection in cetaceans from the coast of Great Britain.


Progress in the British hypodermosis eradication programme: the role of serological surveillance. The British warble fly eradication programme has resulted in the numbers of infested cattle falling from an estimated four million in 1978 to zero in 1991. In 1982, when about 705 herds were infested the disease was made notifiable, and serological surveillance was begun in 1988. In spring 1991, 227,000 blood samples were tested by using the ELISA technique and no warbled animals were found. In addition no clinical cases were reported during 1991.


Proliferative osteitis of the femoral greater trochanter and humeral medial epicondyle as a cause of lameness in sows. Thirteen chronically lame female breeding pigs were examined clinically and post mortem. Of the eight sows with hindleg lameness, one showed detachment of the ischial tuberosity and a second showed detachment of the ischial tuberosity on the left and a mid-shaft femoral fracture on the right. Two showed no lesions apart from a change in the positional relationship between the femoral head and the greater trochanter, resulting in a lowering of the femoral head. In the remaining four sows an apparently unreported condition was seen, which produced a proliferative osteitis of the greater trochanter. All five animals lame in the forelimb showed varying degrees of proliferative osteitis of the medial epicondyle of the humerus. Advanced cases could be palpated in the live animal. It is proposed that proliferative osteitis may be a response, at the point of attachment of the muscle masses of the major limbs, to the trauma of over exertion.


The cost of summer mastitis.

The cost of summer mastitis. The incidence of summer mastitis on 95 dairy farms in southern England was monitored in the summer of 1987. Data on the type of animal infected, the fate of the animals immediately and over the succeeding lactation, and the procedures used in treating the infections were collected for 144 cases. Twenty-five per cent of cases were attended by veterinary surgeons. Most of the animals received parenteral antibiotics and on average each received five tubes of intramammary antibiotic. The incidence of infection was highest in pregnant and calving heifers, more than 2 per cent of the animals at risk, and lowest (0.04 per cent) in calves, although more than twice as many dry cows were infected. Over half of the farms reported summer mastitis, with 36 per cent suffering more than one case. The greatest economic loss, 49 per cent of the total, was from lost milk production; and 37 per cent was from lost animal value, cull and calf losses. The average loss was 192 pounds per case. Using national incidence data from England and Wales, the cost to the UK dairy industry in 1987 was 6.22 million pounds.


A neuropathological survey of brains submitted under the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Orders in Scotland. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy was not confirmed histologically in 225 of 829 bovine brains submitted for diagnosis. Several previously described disorders of the central nervous system were observed in these brains as well as disorders not previously recognised in Britain, including bilateral vacuolation of the substantia nigra, hippocampal sclerosis with brainstem neuronal chromatolysis and necrosis, focal symmetrical encephalomalacia and meningio-angiomatosis. Severe cerebellar dysplasia consistent with pre-natal bovine viral diarrhoea--mucosal disease virus infection or mineralisation of the blood vessels of the basal ganglia were interpreted respectively as congenital changes or changes due to ageing and were considered to be of no clinical significance.


Prevalence, regional distribution and control of blowfly strike in England and Wales. The prevalence and control of blowfly strike in England and Wales was investigated by a postal survey of 2451 sheep farmers, divided into five regions, who were asked about the blowfly seasons of 1988 and 1989. These were important years for the control of blowfly strike because the number of compulsory dips for the control of sheep scab was reduced from two to one in 1989. The response rate was 74.2 per cent. A larger proportion of farmers in the south west and south east reported strike (90 per cent), than in the north of England (60 per cent). The proportion of sheep with strike showed a similar regional variation (0.7 per cent in the north of England to 2.8 per cent in the south west). Dipping was the most common method of blowfly control, followed by tail amputation, dagging, spraying and cyromazine. Twenty per cent of farmers reported reducing the frequency of dipping in 1989, and of those 20 per cent increased the frequency of spraying and 20 per cent used cyromazine.


Investigations into causes of death of endangered molluscs (Partula species). Molluscs of the genus Partula are threatened with extinction; captive populations of some species have shown a marked and unexplained decline in numbers. Histopathological, electron microscopical and bacteriological studies were carried out on normal and 'pathological' specimens of Partula species. Although tissue changes and microorganisms were detected, the findings did not suggest that infectious or non-infectious disease contributed significantly to the disease or death of the snails. Additional investigations are suggested.


Efficacy of moxidectin against gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle. Three groups of 11 naturally infected crossbred beef calves were injected subcutaneously with moxidectin 1 per cent injectable at 0.2 or 0.3 mg moxidectin/kg bodyweight or with the unmedicated vehicle. Nematode infections had been acquired during grazing from December to April. Based on the faecal egg counts and total worm counts of the control calves at necropsy (11 to 13 days after treatment) most of the calves had heavy parasitic burdens. Ostertagia ostertagi was predominant and the mean numbers of adults, developing fourth stage larvae (L4) and inhibited early L4 were 45,906, 10,061 and 68,918, respectively. Haemonchus placei and Trichostrongylus axei were also present in the abomasa. Three species of Cooperia, Oesophagostomum radiatum L4 and T colubriformis adults were found in the intestinal tract. Both dosages of moxidectin were equally effective (P < 0.05) against all the abomasal nematodes (99.9 to 100 per cent) and the intestinal tract nematodes (99.4 to 100 per cent). No adverse reactions to the moxidectin treatment were observed. Abomasal pathology characteristic of heavy O ostertagi infection was observed in the control calves, but not in the treated calves.


Idiopathic brainstem neuronal chromatolysis and hippocampal sclerosis: a novel encephalopathy in clinically suspect cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Some of the brains submitted for neurohistopathological examination under the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Orders did not show lesions of BSE. They showed neuronal chromatolysis and necrosis of the brainstem, perivascular cuffs and meningeal infiltrates of mononuclear cells and large irregularly shaped vacuoles in the neuropil. About half of them also showed loss of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus, with astrocytic gliosis. The topography of the brainstem neuronal degeneration and vacuolation was the same in all the cattle, suggesting that neuronal necrosis and chromatolysis, vacuolation and hippocampal sclerosis are part of a spectrum of changes common to a single disease. The cows affected with such changes came from most parts of Scotland with the largest number from the north east. They were of various breeds, mostly suckler cows, and were aged from six to 16 years. Some cows had had no reported access to feed supplements. Clinically, the cows showed a range of neurological signs: tremor, ataxia, apprehension and weight loss were described in more than 80 per cent of the cases. The cause of the disorder was not determined.


Observations on an outbreak of anthrax in pigs in north Wales. Nineteen pigs in a 500 sow herd died from anthrax over a period of 95 days. This paper describes some of the problems encountered and how they were dealt with, including the risks to public health, the disposal of slurry and the cleansing and disinfection of the premises after the herd was slaughtered.


Significance of the vaginal bacterial flora in the bitch: a review. The literature on the bacterial flora in the vagina of the bitch is reviewed. The bacterial flora in the vagina of healthy bitches is compared with the flora of infertile bitches and bitches with vaginitis, and the role of Brucella canis as a cause of infertility is evaluated. Several investigators have recommended that bitches with reproductive disorders be treated with antibacterial drugs, but there is very little knowledge of the effect of this therapy on the bacterial flora in the vagina.


Isolation of Mycobacterium bovis from the respiratory tracts of skin test-negative cattle. Mycobacterium bovis was isolated from the respiratory tracts of three cattle which registered negative to tuberculin testing; no tuberculous lesions were found and the culture of lymph nodes and other tissues proved negative. One animal was from a group of five calves which had been inoculated intranasally with M bovis, and the organism was recovered once only from nasal mucus sampled 100 days after inoculation. The second animal had had contact with experimentally infected cattle which were excreting M bovis and the third was from a commercial farm. The results of ELISAS for antimycobacterial antibodies and interferon-gamma, and of lymphocyte transformation assays are presented. The animals' immune responses provided evidence that each of them had been challenged.


An outbreak of tuberculosis in pigs and cattle caused by Mycobacterium africanum. An outbreak of tuberculosis in pigs and cattle caused by Mycobacterium africanum produced lesions in the pigs similar to those caused by M tuberculosis, M bovis and M avium, with caseation in the lymph nodes of the head and in the jejunal lymph nodes. Bacteriological examination of the dysgonic mycobacteria isolated showed that they were M africanum I. The intradermal tuberculin test was very reliable in pigs, differentiating between mammalian and avian reactions, and the results of the test were in accordance with the lesions found at meat inspection. No clinical signs were observed during the outbreak, and the infection was neither serious nor progressive. There were no lesions in the tuberculin-positive cattle. The source of the infection remains unknown.


Anaplastic sarcoma in the caudal thigh of a horse. A 16-year-old showjumping gelding was examined because of a non-painful, slowly progressive caudal thigh swelling, which was associated with 2/10th lameness at the trot. Radiography, real time beta-mode ultrasonography and gamma-scintigraphy of the caudal thigh for the presence of chip fractures, sequestrum formation and, or, abscessation were inconclusive. Radiographic examination of the chest revealed multifocal, nodular cannon ball-like opacities throughout the entire lung fields from which a diagnosis of a primary soft tissue tumour with metastasis to the thorax was made. An anaplastic sarcoma was diagnosed port mortem in the candal thigh. At no time did the horse show signs of respiratory embarrassment.


Prevalence of leg weakness in broiler chickens and its relationship with genotype. A method for measuring the prevalence of leg weakness by assessing the walking ability of broilers was developed. Walking ability was divided into six categories, from completely normal to immobile. The method was found to give consistent results when performed by the same people. In a survey of commercial, intensively reared broilers, 90 per cent had a detectable gait abnormality and 26 per cent suffered an abnormality of sufficient severity for their welfare to be considered compromised. The prevalence of leg weakness in free range broilers, and three commercial breeds of broilers was determined. The results indicated that genetic factors were an important cause of leg weakness in broilers and also identified a possible relationship between liveweight and leg weakness.


Time in lairage needed by pigs to recover from the stress of transport. Two experiments were carried out in which a total of 602 pigs were slaughtered after being held in lairage for periods ranging from less than one hour to 21 hours. In the first experiment the pigs were handled under ideal conditions and slaughtered at the University of Bristol slaughterhouse; in the second the pigs were killed at a commercial plant. Blood samples collected at exsanguination were analysed for indices of stress. There were no consistent effects of time in lairage on the levels of lactate and creatine phosphokinase. Plasma cortisol and beta-endorphin levels were reduced by lairage for three hours or more in the first experiment and cortisol was reduced by lairage for two hours or more in the second; beta-endorphin was not measured in the second experiment. A period of rest in lairage allowed the pigs to recover from transport and the associated handling and the recovery appeared to be complete within two to three hours.


Experimental infection of pregnant gilts with Leptospira interrogans serovar mozdok. Three pregnant gilts were experimentally infected with leptospires of the serovar mozdok, isolated from an aborted pig fetus from a Portuguese pig farm with abortion problems. All the gilts aborted dead or dying piglets on days 105 or 106 of pregnancy. Serovar mozdok was isolated from 12 of the 22 piglets in the three litters. Histological examination of the livers and kidneys of the gilts at the end of the experiment revealed evidence of disease, and leptospires were isolated from their kidneys. Their serological responses up to 42 days after inoculation were monitored by means of a microscopic agglutination test, using 21 antigens from 18 serogroups. Cross reactions to heterologous antigens belonging to the Grippotyphosa, Australis, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Cynopteri groups were observed in all of them.


Sudden death of calves by experimental infection with Strongyloides papillosus. II. Clinical observations and analysis of critical moments of the disease recorded on videotape. Four calves experimentally infected with different doses of Strongyloides papillosus were examined for changes of body temperature and other clinical parameters. Also, the critical moments of death, which were recorded on videotape, were analyzed in detail. The first clinical signs included initial accelerated respiration. In general, body temperature was almost normal; however, one calf showed a slight increase after 2 or 3 days of infection, and two calves a gradual increase 7 days after infection. Vocal noises and general spasms were observed 5-14 times during the course of death. Initial vocal noises were heard between 0:50 and 1:30 (minute:second) after the appearance of the initial clinical signs. The final spasm, preceding death, occurred between 3:05 and 3:40 after the appearance of the initial clinical signs.


Preventive treatment against toxocarosis in bovine calves. Treatment of bovine calves 10-16 days old with an anthelmintic which is effective against immature Toxocara vitulorum killed the parasites, there was no new infection and recontamination of the environment was precluded. When the management of the program was delegated to the livestock officers, approximately 3% of calves scheduled for treatment developed patent infections. The prevalences of toxocarosis on the different farms were correlated with annual rainfall, probably because the longer dry periods associated with lower rainfall killed infective eggs in the environment. The treatment schedules prevailing before the study commenced were ineffective. The prevalence of toxocarosis in the bovine calves on farms in the area with an annual rainfall of about 1000 mm was lower than that in buffalo calves studied previously in the same area.


Sex-related susceptibility of bulls to gastrointestinal parasites. The effects of sex and anabolic implants on fecal egg counts and pasture contamination were examined in 77 naturally infected yearling bulls, steers, and heifers of mixed beef breeds grazing the same contaminated pasture in southern Ohio in the spring of 1990. Fecal egg counts were compared in seven groups of 10-14 animals each, twice before anabolic implants and twice after implants. Comparisons were made between untreated bulls, steers, and heifers, between steers with and without implants, and between heifers with and without implants. Bulls had significantly (P < 0.01) higher fecal egg counts than steers, and counts from steers were not significantly different to those from heifers. There were no significant differences between counts from implanted and control steers or heifers. The results have important practical implications both for parasite control and for bovine parasite research. There is a need to pay special attention to young bulls when designing parasite control programs, and to distribute the sexes equally between groups when doing research trials with cattle of mixed sexes. Some previous studies on worm population dynamics and anthelmintic evaluation may need to be re-examined in the light of sex differences.


The development of naturally acquired cyathostome infection in ponies. Groups of animals of different ages and experience of previous parasite exposure were allowed to graze a single pasture for 5 weeks in autumn (7 October to 11 November). There was evidence that previous exposure modified cyathostome development, as acquired burdens in foals which had previously grazed were smaller and developed more slowly than those of helminth-naive animals of the same age. The burdens acquired by yearling and adult ponies were of a similar size to those of the previously grazed foals, but the incidence of arrested development was higher in the younger groups of foals and yearlings when compared with adults. Further evidence of an effect of age on cyathostome development was that the level of faecal egg output of the adult ponies was lower than in the groups of young animals.


Immunological and feeding studies on antigens derived from the biting fly, Stomoxys calcitrans. Pairs of rabbits were immunised with three antigenic preparations derived from Stomoxys calcitrans gut, abdominal section and whole flies. Immunoblotting studies demonstrated that a humoral response was mounted against eight antigens from the gut preparation and 12 each from the abdominal and whole fly preparations. In vitro feeding experiments showed higher mortality between Days 4 and 7 in the group of flies which had fed upon blood from rabbits inoculated with the gut derived antigen. This group also produced the lowest percentage of viable eggs (15.5%).


Leishmaniasis in Mediterranean countries. The epidemiology of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis is described in the Mediterranean countries where a recrudescence and a geographical spread of these zoonoses are noted. Recent findings concerning isoenzyme identification of the causative agents are given and the problems encountered in the development of vaccines to protect humans and dogs are discussed.


Cellular immune responses in the skin of sheep infected with larvae of Lucilia cuprina, the sheep blowfly. Cellular immune responses were observed in the skin of sheep after primary and secondary infection with sheep blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) larvae. Both primary and secondary infections resulted in a massive cellular infiltration within 48 h of wound initiation, with the majority of cells having the CD45 phenotype. Neutrophils comprised the major cell type at the skin surface. In the dermis, the number of CD4+ T helper, gamma delta-TCR+ cells and T19+ (CD4-, CD8-) T cells also increased significantly in skin during both primary and secondary infections compared with control sites. However, there was no significant difference in the numbers of these cells between primary and secondary infections. An increase in the expression of the CD1 antigen on Langerhans/dendritic cells was observed, along with an apparent increase in the number of these cells in secondary lesions, with the majority of the cells being concentrated in the upper dermis and epidermis. While there was no increase in mast cells, eosinophils increased significantly during infection compared with control sites. The cellular infiltration observed following primary and secondary infections suggests polyclonal activation of T cells and their selective recruitment to the lesion site.


Arthropoda as zoonoses and their implications. Some aspects of changing patterns of arthropodal infections and arthropod-borne diseases in Mediterranean areas are briefly discussed. Selected examples are given, with particular emphasis on the phenomenon of the synanthropic flea Ctenocephalides felis felis and on health problems caused by human infections with Argas reflexus, the common tick of urban pigeons in Europe. Finally, the risk of the emergence of Lyme borreliosis (Borrelia burgdorferi) is considered in relation to the increasing spread of environmental infestation with ticks, mainly Ixodes ricinus, an efficacious vector for the spirochaete.


The development of a recombinant Babesia vaccine. Crude extracts of Babesia bovis parasites were shown to induce levels of protection in susceptible cattle equivalent to that resulting from natural infection. The crude material was systematically fractionated and tested in numerous sequential vaccination/challenge experiments in adult cattle. Antigens in protective fractions were then purified by affinity chromatography with monoclonal antibodies. Three highly protective (more than 95% reduction in parasitaemias) antigens were thus identified. None of these antigens was immunodominant; a number of immunodominant antigens were identified and all were immunosuppressive and/or non-protective. The three protective antigens were cloned and expressed as either beta-galactosidase or glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins. Two of these, GST-12D3 and GST-11C5, when used in combination were almost as protective as has been previously shown for the commercially available live attenuated vaccine. A short fragment of a third antigen (21B4) has also been shown to be protective. In two of the antigens, repetitive segments have been shown to be non-protective while the third antigen (12D3) does not contain repetitive domains. Homologues of these antigens exist in other Babesia species and it is anticipated that these may be candidate antigens for protective vaccines against those species.


World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (W.A.A.V.P.) methods for the detection of anthelmintic resistance in nematodes of veterinary importance. Methods have been described to assist in the detection of anthelmintic resistance in strongylid nematodes of ruminants, horses and pigs. Two tests are recommended, an in vivo test, the faecal egg count reduction test for use in infected animals, and an in vitro test, the egg hatch test for detection of benzimidazole resistance in nematodes that hatch shortly after embryonation. Anaerobic storage for submission of faecal samples from the field for use in the in vitro test is of value and the procedure is described. The tests should enable comparable data to be obtained in surveys in all parts of the world.


Some glucose metabolic enzymes in various fractions of sarcocysts of Sarcocystis fusiformis of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). A comparative biochemical study on some enzymes of glycogenolysis, glycolysis and the hexose monophosphate shunt pathway in various fractions (cyst wall, cyst fluid and zoites) of the sarcocysts of Sarcocystis fusiformis from the oesophageal muscles of naturally infected Indian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) was carried out. The pattern and the magnitude of enzymic activity differed markedly in these fractions. Phosphorylase, hexokinase, aldolase and pyruvate kinase showed their highest levels of activity in the zoites fractions, whereas lactate dehydrogenase was the highest in cyst fluid. Alcohol dehydrogenases were non-detectable. Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase were localized in the cyst wall only. Zoites were considered to be the most active metabolic sites for glucose breakdown.


The epidemiology of tropical theileriosis (Theileria annulata infection in cattle) in an endemic area of Morocco. A longitudinal study of tropical theileriosis was performed on 12 farms in the Doukkala region of Morocco during 1990. Adult Hyalomma detritum detritum were collected between March and early October and a peak in numbers was observed at the end of June. Nineteen percent (24/127) were infected with Theileria species and, amongst these, over 50% had five or more sporoblasts in their salivary glands (range 1-151). Hyalomma d detritum larvae and nymphs were found on cattle between September and early December with the highest numbers in late October. The prevalence of T. annulata piroplasm carriers at the beginning of the year was 48.5% (47 positive out of 97) and there were 14 new infections during the disease season (March to September) of which five developed into clinical cases. The incidence rates of new infection and clinical disease were 0.156 and 0.056 per animal-season, respectively. Differences were observed between age categories of cattle in both tick and parasite infections. A significantly lower number of adult H.d. detritum were collected from calves than from adult cattle. The prevalences of piroplasm carriers before the disease season were 0%, 36% and 76%, respectively, in (a) calves which had been born since the previous disease season, (b) calves born before then and (c) adults. However, the incidence rates of infection and disease for uninfected animals in the two categories of calves were approximately the same: 0.299 and 0.378 new infections, and 0.085 and 0.126 clinical cases per animal-season for (a) and (b), respectively. The date predicted for the appearance of adult H.d. detritum, based on published tick development times and local temperature records, was within 2 weeks of the study visit when the highest number of adults were collected from cattle. However, the date predicted for the appearance of larvae was 6 weeks earlier than the observed peak populations and may indicate that H.d. detritum delays either egg laying in the summer or larval host searching in the autumn.


Frequency distribution of Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cysts in sheep populations in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Age-prevalence and age-intensity data of Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cysts in sheep populations were collected in an abattoir in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China. The frequency distribution of the larval cysts per sheep was empirically described by the negative binomial model, with parameter k being 0.5273. A mathematical model for the life cycle of E. granulosus was applied to the collected data and the results show that the infection pressure on sheep was 0.4362 (female) or 0.4119 (male) infections per year, the mean number of cysts increased linearly by 0.8824 (female) or 0.9971 (male) cysts every year and acquired immunity was too low to depress this rate of increase. According to certain definitions of steady states for taeniid populations, it was concluded that at least in some parts of Xinjiang, the life cycle of E. granulosus was and may still be in an endemic steady state. Consequently, the regular dog-dosing program would readily drive the infection from an endemic state towards extinction.


Isoenzyme analysis of Haemonchus contortus resistant or susceptible to ivermectin. Three different strains of Haemonchus contortus (susceptible to ivermectin, S-IVM; selected for resistance to ivermectin, R-IVM; a multiple resistant strain, i.e. resistant to benzimidazole and ivermectin, R-IVM/SA) were examined for isoenzyme variation by starch gel electrophoresis. Using stains for seven enzymes separated in five different buffer systems, no differences in the electrophoretic mobility could be detected between any of the strains. Results demonstrate a low level of enzyme variation in H. contortus and no differences in enzyme electrophoretic profile between IVM-sensitive and IVM-resistant parasites. Differences between the ivermectin-sensitive and both ivermectin-resistant strains were observed with the propionyl esterases and although some of the differences are probably associated with benzimidazole resistance, others are associated with resistance to ivermectin. The three strains of H. contortus are generally identical; however, differences between all strains of H. contortus and a strain of Dictyocaulus viviparus were detected.


Efficacy of the morantel sustained release trilaminate bolus against gastrointestinal nematodes and its influence on immunity in calves. An experiment was conducted in calves to investigate the efficacy of a morantel sustained release trilaminate bolus (MSRT) to control gastrointestinal parasitism and to assess the development of immunity during the use of MSRT. Two groups (M and U) of four calves each were infected three times a week with a mixed Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora infection for 12 weeks. Calves of Group M received an MSRT at the start of the experiment. Twenty weeks after the start of the experiment, all animals, including a previously uninfected control group (C), received a challenge with 100,000 Ostertagia and 100,000 Cooperia. After a further 4 weeks all calves were necropsied for worm counts. During the trial calves were weighed and faecal egg counts, larval differentiation and pepsinogen concentrations were determined. The results demonstrated the high level of efficacy of the MSRT in reducing the faecal egg output and preventing parasitic gastroenteritis under conditions of a continuous high rate of infection. Efficacy of treatment was higher for Cooperia than for Ostertagia. Post-mortem worm counts suggested a partially impaired immunity build-up in Group M, at least for Cooperia.


An ELISA for detection of antibodies against porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV) based on the specific solubility of the viral surface glycoprotein. Viral proteins of porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV) were extracted from the cytoplasm of infected Vero cells using hypotonic conditions and a non-ionic detergent. Both the pH and the NaCl concentration of the extraction buffer were varied in attempts to increase the solubility of the virion spike glycoproteins (S-protein) and of the nucleocapsid proteins (N-protein). Monoclonal antibodies, hyperimmune sera and convalescent pig sera were used to identify and monitor these proteins by immunoprecipitation and Western blots. The solubility of the S-protein was optimal at pH 4, whereas that of the N-protein was optimal at pH 9. Consequently, it was possible to enrich for either S-protein or N-protein; increases in the NaCl concentration of the buffer were of no advantage in this respect. Enriched preparations of the S-protein and N-protein were used as ELISA antigen for the S-ELISA and N-ELISA, respectively. The S-ELISA proved to be the more effective of the two immunoassays. Antibodies against S-protein remained detectable for longer periods of time than anti-N-protein antibodies in the sera of PEDV-infected pigs. Using this ELISA of increased sensitivity, it was observed that only a small number of farms in Switzerland had been infected with PEDV.


Serological characterization of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae strains isolated from pigs in Quebec. A total of 3306 isolates of A. pleuropneumoniae originating from lung tissues of pigs that died of acute pleuropneumonia and 140 isolates recovered from tonsils or nasal cavities of apparently healthy pigs from chronically infected herds were serotyped. Various serotyping methods, such as slide agglutination, tube agglutination, ring precipitation, coagglutination, immunodiffusion, indirect hemagglutination and counterimmunoelectrophoresis either alone or in combination were used. The techniques used for serotyping continued to evolve during the last 10 years depending on the problem encountered in serotyping. Antisera prepared in rabbits against formalinized whole cell suspensions of reference strains of A. pleuropneumoniae of serotypes 1 to 12 were employed for serotyping. Serotype 1 was predominant ranging from 55 to 87% from year to year during the last 10 years with an average prevalence of 68%. Serotype 5 was second in prevalence ranging from 9 to 30% with a mean of 23%. Both subtypes of serotype 5 (5a and 5b) were present in Quebec. Serotypes 3, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12 were isolated in small numbers together accounting for about 9%. Serotypes 4, 9 and 11 were not present. Cross-reactions were observed among isolates of serotypes 3, 6 and 8, and 1, 9 and 11 and were easily differentiated from each other by quantitation of type and group specific antigens by coagglutination and immunodiffusion tests. Serotypes 1, 5 and 7 were isolated most frequently from tonsils of pigs from chronically infected herds. Prevalence of different serotypes in different countries has also been reviewed.


Diphenylamine increases cloacin DF13 sensitivity in avian septicemic strains of Escherichia coli. Thirteen avian septicemic isolates of Escherichia coli were examined for the presence of the aerobactin iron transport system. All of the strains possessed a functional aerobactin system and hybridization experiments showed that the aerobactin genes were located on ColV-type plasmids in all cases. The expression of the aerobactin receptor IutA was also studied by determining the bacterial susceptibility to the bacteriocin cloacin DF13. Twelve of the 13 isolates were cloacin-resistant but became sensitive to this bacteriocin upon treatment with diphenylamine which caused a reduction in the amount of O-side chain lipopolysaccharide.


Development of a species-specific DNA probe for Mycoplasma capricolum. A specific DNA probe for the detection and identification of Mycoplasma capricolum, one of the causative agents of contagious agalactia syndrome, was selected from a genomic library. It consists of a 900bp RsaI genomic fragment of M. capricolum (reference strain), cloned into the EcoRV site of the plasmid Bluescript. By using the appropriate stringency this radiolabelled probe reacts specifically with M. capricolum when tested by dot blot hybridization against various mycoplasmal DNAs. The current level of sensitivity of the 32P-labelled 900bp RsaI probe is 500 pg of homologous DNA, corresponding to 5 x 10(4) mycoplasmas. A non radioactive labelling method, using the digoxigenin-11-dUTP, was also tested. The specificity of the digoxigenin-labelled probe was equivalent to that obtained with the radioactive probe. However the sensitivity of detection decreased to 1 ng of homologous DNA detected, corresponding to 1 x 10(5) mycoplasmas. Tests performed with milk samples have demonstrated that the radioactive 900 bp RsaI probe indeed detected M. capricolum contained in milk. A positive signal was obtained when 10(5) M. capricolum were present in the spot.


[Potentialities of x-ray diagnosis in improving the diagnosis of oncologic diseases in outpatient clinics]. The authors analyze the possibilities of improving the prehospital diagnosis of the most prevalent oncologic diseases (tumors of the lungs, stomach, large intestine, mammary gland) that may be effectively detected by modified methods of x-ray and x-ray fluorographic examinations. The x-ray diagnostic service of health centers is regarded as a most important component in the system of prehospital diagnosis. A program of reorganization of this service is suggested, that will help reorient its activities to purposeful screening examinations that will altogether improve the detection of a number of oncologic diseases.


[X-ray and ultrasonic diagnosis of noninflammatory benign diseases of the gallbladder]. The author analyzes the results of x-ray (cholecystography) and ultrasonic examinations carried out in patients with noninflammatory benign diseases of the gallbladder (71 with cholesterosis and 28 with adenomyomatosis). X-ray and ultrasonic symptoms of these conditions are presented and the diagnostic potentialities of both methods in the detection of such diseases assessed. The author considers ultrasonic scanning the method of choice for the diagnosis of any forms of gallbladder cholesterosis, whereas an x-ray examination appears to be informative only in a polypous form of the disease. X-ray contrast examination is preferable for the recognition of gallbladder adenomyomatosis, for it presents a clear-cut pattern characteristic of each form of this condition, whereas ultrasonic symptoms of such involvement are nonspecific.


[Use of DIL-type cava filters for the prevention of thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery]. New type cava filters were employed to prevent pulmonary artery thromboembolism in 12 cases. DIL cava filter was used, that represents a string made of a special alloy that can 'memorize' its shape. The design of this filter is in principle different from all the known filters, for it functions as an intraluminal filter and at the same time stretches the vena cava inferior, enlarging its diameter in the frontal plane. The DIL cava filter proved to be effective in the majority of cases, but if the walls of vena cava inferior were too rigid, for example, if a tumor grew into them, it was difficult to place the filter properly. On the whole this filter is characterized by a number of advantages: it can be easily implanted via 7 F catheter without injuring the vena cava inferior walls. No cases of dislocation of cava filters in relation to bone markers were noted in 9 patients over 60 +/- 17 days.


[A standardized x-ray examination in the diagnosis of tumors of the large intestine]. High morbidity and mortality rates because of large intestinal carcinoma and a clear-cut tendency to the growth of these rates have prompted the authors to undertake this study. When new methods of radiodiagnosis appeared, traditional and highly informative methods, Ba enema among them, seemed to be forgotten. The authors suggest a program of standard examinations of the large intestine, based on simultaneous double-contrast technique, that permits an essential improvement of the diagnostic and economic efficacy of this one of the most prevalent methods of x-ray examinations. The suggested technique was used in examinations of 4120 patients with suspected tumors of the large intestine.


[A complex x-ray endoscopic study in complicated cholelithiasis]. Recurrent or residual choledocholithiasis was diagnosed in 202 patients with a history of cholecystectomy, in 148 cases this condition was combined with papillostenosis. Transfistula extraction of the concrements and endoscopic papillosphyncterotomy helped achieve cure of 186 (92%) patients without relaparotomy. The authors discuss the role of roentgenology in such combined x-ray and endoscopic diapedetic examinations and emphasize its role in identification of the diagnostic details that are so important for the choice of the optimal treatment strategy. They come to a conclusion that the results of treatment of complicated cholelithiasis by 'minor surgery' means depend not only on the manipulations and skills of the surgeon endoscopist, but on the full-value employment of roentgenology as well.


[Radiodiagnosis of kidney diseases in a municipal hospital]. Ultrasonic (US) examinations of the urinary tract of 2384 patients have revealed pathologic shifts in 725 cases; x-ray examinations had to be carried out in 632 of these to specify the diagnosis. X-Ray and US-based radiodiagnosis of a wide spectrum of renal diseases, carried out at a common municipal hospital, promotes a better diagnosis. Employment of US examinations as a screening method helps recognize renal hypoplasia, cystic diseases, and an acute inflammatory process, renal carbuncle, fairly well. The diagnosis of other renal abnormalities, urolithiasis, hydronephrotic transformations, tumors and injuries still has to be specified by routine x-ray methods.


[Ultrasonic diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma]. Analyzes the results of ultrasonic examinations of 111 patients with various forms of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Reviews ultrasonic semeiotics of non-Hodgkin's lymphadenopathy of the abdominal cavity and retroperitoneal space and of extranodal variants of lymphoma course (with involvement of the spleen and stomach). Suggests the most safe method for precision diagnostic aspiration biopsy of the spleen monitored by ultrasound. The author considers ultrasonic examination to be a valuable method for the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas; it is economic, rapid, safe, permits a simultaneous assessment of the status of many organs and systems. The results of ultrasonic examinations should be assessed in complex with the results of other diagnostic methods. Ultrasonic examination should be considered as a method of choice for monitoring patients with diagnosed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.


[Computed tomography in the diagnosis of stomach cancer and the assessment of its spread]. CAT was carried out in 110 patients with gastric carcinoma and its findings compared with the intraoperative findings. CAT involved a polypositional scanning (depending on the tumor site) against the background of oral contrast label of the stomach and intestine. CAT potentialities in the diagnosis of gastric carcinoma, assessment of the tumor size and involvement of the adjacent organs and structures, detection of the metastases were studied. Use of CAT in complex with other methods will help choose the optimal treatment strategy and determine the volume of supposed surgical intervention.


The potential of molecular biology for the production of monoclonal antibodies derived from outbred veterinary animals. The protein structure of immunoglobulins and the genetics on the regulation of immunoglobulin expression are reviewed. This basic knowledge has led to the development of systems to produce monoclonal antibodies in eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells. The potential and limitations of molecular biology for the understanding of immunoglobulin regulation and for the production of monoclonal antibodies derived from animals of veterinary importance are discussed.


[Radiologic methods in the diagnosis of diseases of the spleen]. Ultrasonic and computer-aided tomographic examinations of 2457 patients with suspected diseases of the abdominal cavity organs have revealed splenic involvement in 48. The sensitivity of ultrasonic technique for the detection of splenic diseases has made up 70.8%, that of computer-aided tomography--95.8%. Invasive interventions monitored by these two methods were carried out in 26 patients; in 10 of these transcutaneous puncture drainage was carried out for cysts (2), hematoma (1), and abscesses of the spleen (7). In one patient with multiple abscesses of the spleen the drainage was found insufficient for complete cure and he had to be subjected to splenectomy, in the rest cases surgery did not have to be resorted to. Therefore, ultrasonic and computer-aided tomographic examinations of the spleen, used together with various invasive interventions, result not only in correct diagnosis and differential diagnosis of this organ's disease, but permit various therapeutic measures and help achieve cure without laparotomy.


[The role of x-ray computed tomography in the topical diagnosis of insulinomas of the pancreatic gland]. Pancreatic insulinomas were intraoperatively revealed in 15 patients. X-ray computed tomography (CAT) revealed the tumor in only 6 (40 %) patients. The mean size of detectable insulinomas was 2.4 cm, that of undetectable ones 1.2 cm. X-ray CAT diagnosis is facilitated in case of a superficial localization of the tumor on the body or tail of the gland .


Bovine major histocompatibility complex class I specific monoclonal antibodies characterized by flow cytometry, one- and two-dimensional electrophoresis, western blot and inhibition of cytotoxic T lymphocyte function. To identify and characterize the bovine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, a panel of 11 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were analyzed. The mAbs reacted with bovine MHC class I antigens, as assessed by flow cytometry and immunoprecipitation followed by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Analysis by flow cytometry revealed that class I molecules were expressed less on a class I mutant B-lymphoblastoid cell line than on the parent cell line. The relative molecular weights of the proteins identified by these mAbs were similar to those reported previously for cattle and humans. Nonequilibrium pH gradient two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed that RH16C recognized four different class I gene products, indicating this mAb reacts with a conserved epitope present on different class I molecules. These mAbs effectively blocked cytotoxic T lymphocyte killing of allogeneic lymphoblasts, suggesting the functional importance of beta-2m in this process. These mAbs should be useful reagents for studying bovine MHC class I molecules.


Sheep macrophages express at least two distinct receptors for IgG which have similar affinity for homologous IgG1 and IgG2. Ovine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) may express several IgG receptor (Fc gamma receptor; FcR) subsets. To study this, model particles (opsonized erythrocytes; EA), which are selectively handled by certain FcR subsets of human macrophages were used in cross-inhibition studies and found to react in a similar manner with FcR subsets of sheep macrophages. In experiments with monoclonal antibodies against subsets of human FcR, human erythrocytes (E) treated with human anti-D-IgG (anti-D-EAhu) and sheep E treated with bovine IgG1 (Bo1-EAs) were handled selectively by human macrophage FcRI and FcRII, respectively. Rabbit-IgG-coated sheep E (Rb-EAs) were recognized by FcRI, FcRII and possibly also by FcRIII of human macrophages. Anti-D-EAhu, Bo1-EAs and Rb-EAs were also ingested by sheep BMM. Competitive inhibition tests, using various homologous and heterologous IgG isotypes as fluid phase inhibitors and the particles used as FcR-specific tools in man (anti-D-EAhu and Bo1-EAs), revealed a heterogeneity of FcR also in sheep BMM. Thus, ingestion of anti-D-EAhu by ovine BMM was inhibited by low concentrations of competitor IgG from rabbit or man in the fluid phase, but not at all by bovine IgG1, whereas ingestion of Bo1-EAs was inhibited by bovine IgG1. This suggested that anti-D-EAhu were recognized by a FcR subset distinct from that recognizing bovine-IgG1. It was concluded that sheep BMM express functional analogs of human macrophage FcRI and FcRII and that Bo1-EAs and anti-D-EAhu are handled by distinct subsets of BMM FcR. All EAhu tested (EAhu treated with anti-D, sheep IgG1 or sheep IgG2) were ingested to a lower degree than EAs. This inefficient phagocytosis could be enhanced by treatment of EAhu with antiglobulin from the rabbit, suggesting that it is caused by a low degree of activity of opsonizing antibodies rather than special properties of the erythrocytes themselves. Several lines of evidence suggested that both FcR subsets of ovine BMM recognize both ovine IgG1 and IgG2. In contrast, bovine IgG1 reacts with one FcR subset and bovine IgG2 interacts inefficiently with all FcR of ovine BMM.


[The frequency of recurrences and metastases of bladder cancer following a radical course of radiotherapy]. The authors compare the incidence of bladder carcinoma recurrences and dissemination after long-distance gamma-beam therapy, carried out according to a traditional method, and in an accelerated hyperfractionation mode combined with metronidazole therapy. The recurrences were most frequently detected at the site of the primary tumor (62-67% of cases) in 6 to 18 months after the treatment. They come to a conclusion that accelerated hyperfractionation and local metronidazole radio-modification were conducive to a reduction of the incidence of recurrences from 45 to 28% as against the traditional split radiotherapy course in the classical fractionation mode.


Development and persistence of Cowdria ruminantium specific antibodies following experimental infection of cattle, as detected by the indirect fluorescent antibody test. Different breeds of cattle were experimentally infected with Palm River, a Zimbabwean isolate, or Ball-3, a South African isolate of Cowdria ruminantium, derived from tissue culture or tick or blood stabilates. C. ruminantium specific antibody responses were detected by an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) using C. ruminantium-infected bovine aortic endothelial (BAE) cell cultures as antigen. The first detection of antibodies to C. ruminantium generally coincided with the peak of the febrile reaction and the antibodies remained detectable for a period of 8-30 weeks in the Palm River infected group and 18-30 weeks in the Ball-3 infected group. Peak reciprocal antibody titres in both groups ranged from 64 to 2048 between 3 and 6 weeks post-infection. No apparent serological differences were observed among the various C. ruminantium isolates when tested in homologous and heterologous IFATs. Post-infection sera to Anaplasma marginale, Theileria parva parva, Babesia bigemina and Rickettsia conorii did not exhibit reactivity with the C. ruminantium antigen. These results indicate the possible use of C. ruminantium-infected cultures as antigen in IFATs to detect similar C. ruminantium-specific antibody responses in the field in clinically sick, recovered and carrier animals.


Bovine haptoglobin: single radial immunodiffusion assay of its polymeric forms and dramatic rise in acute-phase sera. Using purified bovine haptoglobin (Hp) and specific antisera, a single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) assay method has been developed to measure the serum Hp level in cattle. Bovine Hp is a highly polymerized protein showing heterogeneous molecular forms in serum. After treatment with cysteine or glutathione, Hp was partially reduced to a homogeneous form, suitable for SRID assay. This method gives values comparable to those obtained by hemoglobin-binding capacity assay, and has the advantage of being simple and convenient. Although serum Hp was not detectable in healthy cattle, it was found more than 50-fold after invasive surgery, indicating that Hp is a characteristic acute-phase protein in cattle.


[Cancer of the stomach--new and "old" problems of diagnosis]. The author discusses present-day potentialities of radiodiagnosis of gastric carcinoma. Analysis of more than 2000 case histories brings him to a conclusion that the problem of the detection of this condition is particularly intricate for two reasons: the absence of active screening for gastric carcinoma in high-risk groups and inadequate attention to its endophytic forms. The author's data evidence that intramural growth of gastric carcinoma is responsible for up to 75% of all its anatomic forms. So high an incidence of endophytic carcinomas of the stomach necessitates a combination of the x-ray and endoscopic methods in gastro-oncology. Making use of the total scope of present-day diagnostic methods, including routine techniques, double-contrast examination, and, in recent years, x-ray computer-aided tomography and ultrasonic examinations, the author gives recommendations that will help solve quite a number of problems in radiodiagnosis of gastric carcinoma.


Autoimmune haemolysis in the dog: relationship between anaemia and the levels of red blood cell bound immunoglobulins and complement measured by an enzyme-linked antiglobulin test. A direct enzyme-linked antiglobulin test (DELAT) was used to measure the levels of red blood cell (RBC) bound IgG, IgM, IgA and C3 in dogs with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA). At presentation, one or more DELAT parameters was raised in each AIHA case, and the RBC were typically coated with immunoglobulin of more than one class, together with C3. There was no relationship between the levels of RBC-bound IgG, IgM or IgA and the severity of the anaemia, although a significant negative correlation (rs = -0.66, P < 0.02) was found between bound C3 and blood haemoglobin concentration. These results indicate that the level of sensitisation of erythrocytes with IgG alone is not a reliable predictor of the severity of haemolysis in different cases, and that the pathogenesis of AIHA can be complex, involving multiple immunoglobulin classes and complement in the destruction of RBC. A significant relationship (rs = 0.63, P < 0.02) was found between serum IgG concentration and haemoglobin levels, and it is suggested that this may be due to free IgG inhibiting the interaction of IgG-sensitised RBC with macrophages. Serial measurements from individual AIHA cases during treatment revealed that the levels of RBC-bound immunoglobulins fell simultaneously with improvements in anaemia. In one dog, a relapse was associated with increases in bound IgG and IgM. Transient relative reticulocytopenia at presentation was common, but was not related to the severity of the anaemia. However, in other cases there was a persistent failure to increase RBC production, which was associated with slower recovery.


Identification and characterization of rat intestinal lamina propria cells: consequences of microbial colonization. Germ-free (GF) animals exhibit an abnormally diminished, cell-mediated immune response which can be rapidly normalized by bacterial colonization of the intestine. This conventionalization suggests that the development and/or regulation of the immune system is dependent upon intestinal bacteria or their products. Here we consider the ontogeny of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) immunocytes by isolating and characterizing the intestinal lamina propria cells (LPC) of GF rats responding to bacterial colonization or an irrelevant protein antigen, and compared to LPC of specific pathogen-free (SPF) rats which were conventionalized (CV) from birth. Isolation of cells was accomplished by successive EDTA washings of small intestine to remove the epithelium, and enzymatic digestion of the tissue generating single-cell suspensions. Resulting cell suspensions were characterized by monoclonal antibodies directed against leukocyte epitopes using flow cytometry. Functional characterization was measured by the tritiated thymidine proliferation assay with concanavalin A (Con A) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as co-stimulators. Germ-free and SPF rats had fewer total LPC than CV rats. Antibody staining revealed that GF rats had fewer total leukocytes than CV and SPF rats, and that CV rats had a greater percentage of T-cells and cells positive for the C3 receptor than GF rats. Co-stimulation of LPC with mitogens only increased proliferation of cells from CV rats compared to GF and SPF rats. In addition, spleen cells from CV rats demonstrated significantly enhanced proliferative responses compared to spleen cells from GF rat and were more analogous to spleen cells from SPF rats in their ability to proliferate in vitro, with and without mitogens. We conclude that T-cells and CD35-positive (C3BR+) cells are recruited and/or proliferate in response to intestinal bacteria and/or their products, and that this results in the induction of immune competency.


Detection of IgM rheumatoid factor in canine serum using a standardized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. An ELISA measuring IgM rheumatoid factor (RF) in dog serum is presented. Dog sera and a human IgM RF standard, calibrated against the international World Health Organisation (WHO) standard, are compared. It is concluded that the human IgM RF standard may be used as reference serum in the canine assay, which makes it possible to compare results from different veterinary laboratories.


Effect of aflatoxin B1 on in vitro production of interleukin-1 by bovine mononuclear phagocytes. In this study we examined the effects of preincubation with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on the ability of bovine monocytes to produce the immunological mediator interleukin-1 (IL-1). Monocytes preincubated for 6-24 h with 10 micrograms ml-1 AFB1 demonstrated a diminished capacity to release IL-1 activity in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Preincubation for less time, or with lower concentrations of AFB1, did not affect IL-1 release. Pretreatment of monocytes with AFB1 also resulted in diminished release of IL-1 activity in response to in vitro infection with Listeria monocytogenes. Incubation with AFB1 reduced the amount of IL-1 beta mRNA in LPS-stimulated bovine monocytes; however, this was observed only at high concentrations of AFB1 that non-specifically reduced steady-state transcription of actin mRNA. We therefore concluded that AFB1 does not specifically suppress monocyte release of IL-1, other than through its general inhibition of mRNA transcription.


Immunological parameters in meat-type chicken lines divergently selected by antibody response to Escherichia coli vaccination. Our group has established two lines of meat-type chickens divergently selected for early (HC line) and late (LC line) antibody responsiveness at 10 days of age to immunization with inactivated pathogenic Escherichia coli bacteria. The question addressed in the study presented here is whether this selection has changed other immunological responses, increasing the overall 'early' immunocompetence. Broilers of the third and fourth generations (S3 and S4) of the selected lines (HC and LC) and a control, unselected line (CT) were vaccinated at 10 days of age with E. coli vaccine, Newcastle virus vaccine (NDV), sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) or bovine serum albumin (BSA). Line-HC chicks exhibited higher antibody titers to E. coli, NDV and SRBC than CT or LC chicks. At 20 days of age HC chicks demonstrated a higher total protein and a higher beta- and gamma-globulin levels in their serum. At 21 days of age, HC chicks cleared carbon particles faster than LC chicks. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from HC chicks vaccinated with E. coli vaccine, proliferated in vitro more actively in the presence of the stimulating antigen than the PBL of LC chicks. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) obtained from HC-line chicks exhibited a higher proliferative response to concanavalin A (Con A)-, phytohemagglutinin (PHA)- or pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-stimulation than LC PBL. These results demonstrate that the selection for high or low antibody response to E. coli at a young age resulted also in a significant change in the response of other parameters of the immune system. The high response to E. coli was found to be associated with a high antibody response to other antigens (NDV and SRBC), increased phagocytic activity and increased proliferative response to antigen or mitogens. The selection most probably affected early immunocompetence.


C3 fixed in vivo to cornea from horses inoculated with Leptospira interrogans. C3 was detected bound in vivo to the opaque cornea of horses inoculated with killed Leptospira interrogans. Employing epithelial corneal cells isolated from a monolayer in tissue culture, we proved that C3 is fixed in vitro to the intact cell surface after incubation with a fresh equine anti-Leptospira serum. These findings, in addition to the infiltration of cornea with neutrophils and lymphocytes, may explain the mechanisms of tissue damage in recurrent uveitis of horses with leptospirosis.


Bovine respiratory syncytial virus-specific immune responses in cattle following immunization with modified-live and inactivated vaccines. Analysis of proliferation and secretion of lymphokines by leukocytes in vitro. Cattle were immunized with vaccines containing modified-live or inactivated bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and lymphocyte proliferative responses and cytokine secretion were monitored sequentially. Compared to pre-inoculated values, significant increases in proliferative responses to modified-live BRSV were detectable by Day 7 after the primary immunization with the vaccine containing inactivated BRSV, and by 7 days after the second immunization with modified-live virus. After a third immunization with the respective vaccines, proliferative responses to live BRSV were significantly higher in the group that received modified-live vaccine compared to the group that received inactivated vaccine. Proliferative responses to live BRSV corresponded with the presence of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the supernatants from BRSV-stimulated leukocyte cultures and there were significantly higher levels of IL-2 in cultures from the group that received modified-live BRSV. An interferon species with the characteristics of interferon-alpha was also present in the supernatants from leukocyte cultures and there were no significant differences between the groups of vaccines. The predominant phenotype of proliferating cells in BRSV-stimulated leukocyte cultures derived from both groups of bovine vaccines was a BoCD4+ T-lymphocyte. These in vitro data suggest that both types of vaccines are capable of stimulating cell-mediated immune responses to BRSV in cattle.