Molecular characterization of the equine herpesvirus 1 strains RacL11 and Kentucky D

The pathogenicities of RacL11 and Kentucky D strains of equine herpesvirus 1 in the hamster infection model are different from those of Ab4p and the Japanese isolates. Virus genome restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and sequence comparison of an intergenic region, glycoproteins and tegument genes showed higher conservation but with some strain-specific differences. These results indicate that point nucleotide differences in RacL11 and Kentucky D might be responsible for their pathogenicity in rodent models.     

鸡传染性鼻炎流行病学调查（Ⅱ）

利用鸡传染性鼻炎PCR试剂盒和阻断ELISA试剂盒，对29份菌株、136份临床样品和1019份血清进行了检验和分析，结果PCR阳性率为36.4%，A型阳性率为10.3%，C型阳性率为6.4%。     

Infarctive purpura hemorrhagica in five horses

Five horses were examined because of signs of muscle stiffness, colic, or both. All 5 had been exposed to Streptococcus equi within 3 weeks prior to examination or had high serum titers of antibodies against the M protein of S equi. Horses had signs of unrelenting colic-like pain and focal areas of muscle swelling. Four horses were euthanatized. The fifth responded to treatment with penicillin and dexamethasone; after 3 weeks of treatment with dexamethasone, prednisolone was administered for an additional 10 weeks. Common hematologic and serum biochemical abnormalities included neutrophilia with a left shift and toxic changes, hyperproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, and high serum creatine kinase and aspartate transferase activities. Necropsy revealed extensive infarction of the skeletal musculature, skin, gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, and lungs. Histologic lesions included leukocytoclastic vasculitis in numerous tissues and acute coagulative necrosis resembling infarction. These horses appeared to have a severe form of purpura hemorrhagica resembling Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura in humans and characterized by infarction of skeletal muscles. Early recognition of focal muscle swelling, abdominal discomfort, neutrophilia, hypoalbuminemia, and high serum creatine kinase activity combined with antimicrobial and corticosteroid treatment may enhance the likelihood of a successful outcome.     

Factor XI mutation in a Holstein cow with repeat breeding in Japan

Factor XI deficiency is an autosomal recessive coagulopathy in Holstein cattle. Affected cows have a tendency to show repeat breeding. Forty repeat breeding Holstein Friesian cows were selected and tested for the Factor XI mutation. Genomic DNA was isolated from the blood of the cows (n=40). Exon 12 of the Factor XI gene of the cows was amplified by PCR. One repeat breeding cow was heterozygous to the Factor XI mutation as indicated by the presence of two DNA fragments of 320 bp and 244 bp. The insertion of the 76 bp in the heterozygous cow was confirmed by DNA sequencing. The heterozygous cow was in her fourth lactation. She gave birth to male twins at the last calving. She was inseminated artificially four times after the last calving. Factor XI deficiency in cattle has been reported in different countries. However, no case was reported in Japan. This might be the first to report Factor XI mutation in Holstein cattle in Japan.     

DNA extraction from bovine mummified fetuses and detection of factor XI gene deficiency in the mummies

Genomic DNA extracted from bovine mummified tissue is valuable material for detection of some genes that may contribute to fetal abnormalities. In this study bovine genomic DNA was extracted from the hardened tissue samples of ten bovine mummified fetuses. The amount of genomic DNA extracted from 2 g of the mummified tissues by the phenol/chloroform-ethanol method was low (less than 4 microg/ml) for all samples. The extracted DNA was then amplified by the GenomiPhi DNA amplification system. After amplification, the amount of DNA was increased to more than 100 microg/ml for all samples. This amplification system was shown to be a good tool for amplifying the genomic DNA of the mummified fetuses. The amplified genomic DNA was used for testing the mummies for Factor XI gene deficiency, an autosomal recessive deficiency involved in the early stages of the intrinsic blood coagulation pathway. Exon 12 of the Factor XI gene of the mummies was amplified by PCR. Two of the ten mummified fetuses were heterozygous for the Factor XI gene as indicated by the presence of two amplified DNA fragments of 320 bp and 244 bp. Factor XI deficiency has already been described in Holstein cattle. However, no report is available for bovine fetus. In this study, DNA was extracted and amplified from the bovine mummified fetuses, and the samples were successfully tested for Factor XI gene deficiency in the mummies.     

Neospora caninum and complex vertebral malformation as possible causes of bovine fetal mummification

Bovine neosporosis, caused by Neospora caninum is a leading cause of abortion in cattle. We postulated that neosporosis could lead to fetal death and mummification. Fifteen mummified fetuses were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the mutation in the bovine SLC35A3 gene that causes complex vertebral malformation (CVM) and the pNC-5 gene which identifies N. caninum infection. DNA was extracted from the mummified fetuses and the sex of the mummies was determined by PCR. The CVM mutation was not detected in the mummified fetuses, but 4 fetuses were positive for N. caninum infection. The ages of the mummies with N. caninum infection were 100, 113, 123, and 131 days. Twelve of the 15 mummified fetuses were male. To our knowledge, this is the first detection of N. caninum as a possible cause of bovine fetal mummification.     

Comparative therapeutic effect of toltrazuril, sulphadimidine and amprolium on Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii given at different times following infection in buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis)

We compared the therapeutic effect of three anticoccidial drugs (toltrazuril, sulphadimidine and amprolium) in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves experimentally infected with Eimeria bovis (E. bovis) and E. zuernii oocysts (3 x 104oocyst/calf). Buffalo calves (1.5-4 month old, 70-kg body weight) were randomly allocated into 3 groups (9 calves each). Group T was experimentally infected with oocysts and treated with toltrazuril (20 mg/kg BW twice orally at a 1-week interval). Group S was experimentally infected with oocysts and treated with sulphadimidine (125 mg/kg injected IM followed by half dose for 4 successive days). Group A was experimentally infected with oocysts and treated with amprolium (50 mg/kg orally for 7 successive days). Each group had three subgroups (three calves/subgroup) to represent timing of the drug administration: 1st day of coccidia infection (FD), onset of clinical signs of coccidiosis (CC), and onset of oocyst shedding into the faeces (OS). Clinical signs, body-weight gain (BWG) and number of oocysts per gram feces (OPG) were monitored daily for 35 days post-infection (DPI). The OPG were reduced (but the BWG was not different) in the T calves compared to S and A calves. Within the same group, treatment from the 1st day of infection reduced the OPG and increased the BWG compared to the later treatment timings.     

Milk Progesterone Profile at and after Artificial Insemination in Repeat-Breeding Cows: Effects on Conception Rate and Embryonic Death

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the skim milk progesterone concentrations at artificial insemination (AI) and day of rise of post-ovulatory progesterone concentration thereafter affect the conception and embryonic death rates in repeat-breeding cows. Milk samples were obtained from 96 repeat-breeding cows that failed to conceive to three or more AIs. The samples were taken from the cows at the day of AI and three times/week until day 45 post-AI. Skim milk was obtained after centrifugation and used for progesterone assay. The cows with a progesterone concentration more than 0.5 ng/ml at AI showed a significantly higher incidence of late embryonic death than those having a progesterone concentration<0.5 ng/ml at AI (p<0.01). As the progesterone level at insemination rose, conception rate declined. A negative correlation was shown between conception rate and skim milk progesterone level at AI. Of 56 cows showing a rise of progesterone to 1 ng/ml or more within 6 days after AI, 28 cows (50%) conceived. On the contrary, only eight of 39 cows (20.5%) conceived when the progesterone rose up to 1 ng/ml after day 6 post-AI. We concluded that increased progesterone concentration at the time of AI and delayed rise of progesterone post-AI might lead to decrease in fertility in repeat-breeding cows.     

狐狸巴氏杆菌病病原的分离与鉴定

巴氏杆菌病又叫出血性败血症，简称出败，主要是由多杀性巴氏杆菌所引起的各种畜禽和野生动物感染的一种传染病。临床特征急性病例主要表现为败血症和炎性出血，慢性特征表现为皮下组织、关节、各脏器的局灶性化脓性炎症。该病常在畜禽中发生，而在狐狸等经济动物方面报道相对较少。2006年秋，吉林左家某狐场的狐狸突然发病并陆续死亡，经流行病学调查、病理剖检和实验室检验，确诊为多杀性巴氏杆菌感染所致。