An outbreak of sarcocystosis in a cattle herd

In a cattle herd, 3 steers had anorexia and variable emaciation; 1 showed additional muscle stiffness, pyrexia, became recumbent and was killed in extremis. Gross changes in tissue specimens from this steer included grey-white foci in the skeletal muscle and a thickened, fibrous pleura. By histology interstitial pneumonia, myocarditis and necrotizing myositis were seen. There were wide-spread vascular lesions with endothelial damage, thrombosis and periarterial infiltrations. Sarcocystis-like schizonts were found in several organs, and different stages of thin-walled sarcocysts were seen in the myocardium. Examination of organs of 6 other steers in the same herd slaughtered 2 months later showed myocarditis, myositis, interstitial pneumonia and occasional vascular occlusions. There were a few schizonts in the spleen and lungs, and thin-walled sarcocysts were seen in the myocardium and skeletal muscle. It is concluded that development of vascular lesions probably represents an important step in the pathogenesis of sarcocystosis.

Isozyme characterization of cattle (Bos taurus) and American buffalo (Bison bison) cell cultures

Four Bovidae cell lines (BEK-1, MDBK, Bu and EBTr) were characterized by means of enzymatic biochemical markers. Out of 15 enzymatic systems, 3--adenosine deaminase (Ada), phosphoglucomutase (Pgm) and nucleoside phosphorylase (Np)--were found to be polymorphic and quite suitable for biochemical identification of each cell line. The Bu cell line has shown a Np phenotypic pattern which could be distinctive of the Bison bison species.

Bone mineral determination in coccygeal vertebrae by dichromatic photon absorptiometry

A bone scanning device for determination of the bone mineral content in coccygeal vertebrae of cattle is described. The equipment has two gamma radiation sources, consisting of ¹²⁵I and ²⁴¹Am with energies of 27 and 60 keV, respectively. Absorption is measured by a scintillator photomultiplier detector. The precision of the method has been tested in vivo and found satisfactory (1.5%). It is therefore well suited for measuring bone mineral content in coccygeal vertebrae, and thereby the changes which take place in mineral content can be followed.

Plasma progesterone assays in superovulated cattle

Plasma progesterone was measured in 14 normally cycling heifers and cows subjected to non-surgical recoveries of embryos. A radioimmunoassay (RIA) method was used for progesterone determination. The average progesterone concentration increased from 7.5 to 11.6 ng/ml in 8 of the animals following treatment with PMSG on day 8–12. Six animals had a decrease from 5.0 ± 2.1 to 3.9 ± 2.5 ng/ml. The overall increase was from 6.4 ± 2.7 ng/ml to 8.3 ± 4.8 ng/ ml. Prostaglandin F2a-analogue (cloprostenol) treatment resulted in a sharp decrease in plasma progesterone followed by a rapid increase to an average of 46.8 ng/ml on day 16. A high degree of variability in this peak value was observed, and it was not correlated with the number of corpora lutea. The superovulatory cycle was generally prolonged. The heat following the superovulatory treatment was silent, and a typical ovarian resting period was observed during which the progesterone concentration remained low and the ovaries small.

Bone mineral changes in growing, pregnant and lactating cattle

Bone mineral content (BMC) was determined in one or two coccygeal vertebrae by dichromatic photon absorptiometry in two sets of cattle: A. This set consisted of six fattening bulls. Their increases of BMC and weights were closely correlated. However, BMC increased slightly more than weight. B. There were 28 cows in this set. BMC was measured during lactation and pregnancy. It was found that BMC increased during the dry period and decreased during early lactation. There were great individual variations in BMC, and the skeletal turnover seemed to be great.

Bone mineral changes in dairy cows. The effect of low and high calcium feeding during the high yielding period

Bone mineral content in two coccygeal vertebrae of 14 cows of Swedish Red and White Breed were investigated using the dichromatic photon absorptiometry. The investigation started at parturition and continued for 120 days. Each animal received a controlled amount of hay, ensilage and concentrate, and the milk yield was measured and registered. Seven cows (group L) received Ca and P close to the ARC standard. The other seven cows (group H) received a 30 % higher amount of Ca and P (15–20 % above Swedish standard) than the ones in group L. The bone mineral content in group L decreased by 10 % up to 90 days postpartum, and thereafter increased. In group H, the mean bone mineral content increased.

Bone mineral changes in dairy cows. The effect of low and high calcium feeding during late pregnancy and at parturition

The bone mineral content in two coccygeal vertebrae of 16 cows of Swedish Red and White Breed was measured with dichromatic photon absorptiometry during the period nine weeks prepartum to one week postpartum. For eight weeks before calving eight cows received 37 g Ca and 50 g P/day and the other eight, 76 g Ca and 50 g P/day. The mean bone mineral changes of the cows on the low Ca ration did not change. The cows on the high Ca ration had a slight increase (4 %) in bone mineral content to some days before calving. The postpartum bone mineral changes were, however, lower than the one prepartum. There was no significant difference between the mean bone mineral changes of the two groups.

Studies of transferrin polymorphism in Swedish cattle using agarose gel electrophoresis

The polymorphic transferrin picture in the sera from 894 Swedish cattle was investigated with an agarose gel electrophoresis technique. The serum transferrin bands in the electrophoresis pattern were first identified by labelling with ⁵⁹Fe. Six existing phenotypes based on the alleles Tf^A, Tf^D and Tf^E could be detected. The frequencies of transferrin types and transferrin alleles are presented, and it is concluded that there are great differences in the frequencies between the Swedish Red and White and the Swedish Friesian.

Factors affecting the hypocalcaemic response to protamine

The hypocalcaemic response to protamine, as a measure of bone resorption rate, was studied in cattle and sheep. Three groups of calves were studied (1–3 days, 2–3 weeks and 4 months old). The oldest calves showed the greatest response, indicating a more rapid skeletal turnover in these animals, probably related to a higher growing rate. A group of cows was tested at 2 occasions, near parturition and 2–3 weeks after parturition. The decrease in plasma calcium was small near parturition, while a profound drop was obtained 2–3 weeks post partum, which supports earlier findings that bone resorption is more or less blocked in parturient cows. Young pregnant ewes showed the same degree of hypocalcaemia as adult pregnant ewes but the recovery was more rapid in the young animals. Young rams were given protamine before and after diethylstilboestrol treatment. No differences in calcium response were obtained. Varying plasma phosphate responses were obtained. A pronounced hyperphosphataemia was found in the adult pregnant ewes. Diethylstilboestrol caused hypermagnesaemia in the rams.

The value of the glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde tests in evaluation of the globulin level in bovine blood

So-called liability reactions are based on the gelification of blood globulins when reacting with, i.e., glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde. Solidifying time is inversely proportional to the globulin concentration of the blood. In the present investigation glutaraldehyde and formaline-gelification tests were compared concerning their diagnostic and prognostic value in dairy cows with internal diseases.

The investigation confirmed earlier results. The correlation between globulin concentration and gelification time was significant, and both tests give very good possibilities to reveal hyper-γ-globulinaemias.

The 2 tests were relatively equal as regards the reliability. Even though the formol-gel reaction allows a somewhat better safety and semi-quantitative differentiation than the glutaraldehyde test, the latter has obvious practical advantages. It can be done on whole blood and with a short observation time. Thus, the blood globulin status can be evaluated during the visit on the farm.

A study of outbreaks of Aujeszky's disease in cattle. II. Further investigations on the routes of infection

The probable routes of infection in 29 outbreaks of Aujeszky’s disease in cattle are discussed in the light of virological and epidemiological data, given in a preceding paper, and of histories of the individual outbreaks given in the present paper. The view was substantiated that anterior pruritus is mostly associated with infection by the respiratory route. In outbreaks with posterior pruritus the route of infection appeared to be a question of a more complex nature. With reference to cases examined later, it is concluded that perineal pruritus is often associated with vaginal infection. In a few cases there was evidence of virus transmission by man. Three cases with pruritus on a hind leg were suggestive of an alimentary infection. In many outbreaks with posterior pruritus, the route of infection remained obscure.

Agarose gel electrophoretic separation of blood serum proteins in cattle

The agarose gel electrophoresis described by Johansson (1972) was modified so that a buffer of pH 7.9 was used in the gel, whereas the buffer in the electrode vessels had a pH of 8.6.

The cattle blood serum protein picture is described in detail. The β₁-globulin zone shows a very distinct picture of the genetically polymorphic bovine transferrins. The region between the α- and β-globulins shows a number of faint and often very distinct bands. A faint background staining over the whole electrophoretogram may partly be caused by a rather strong lipoprotein in the α₁-region, lipids thus having migrated all over the electrophoretogram.

The modified method described is well suited as a “screen electrophoresis” for cattle serum and is also useful e.g. in studying bovine transferrin polymorphism.

A study of outbreaks of Aujeszky's disease in cattle. I. Virological and epidemiological findings

Twenty-nine outbreaks of Aujeszky’s disease in cattle, involving 54 animals, were studied virologically and epidemiologically. The outbreaks could be divided into two distinct groups, viz., such with pruritus on the anterior (Group I) and such with pruritus on the posterior part of the body (Group II). Though low, the average number of affected animals per outbreak was twice as high in Group I as in Group II. Besides in the tissue of the central nervous system, virus was demonstrated in the oral, pharyngeal, and nasal mucous membranes of eight out of 12 animals from Group I outbreaks, which was thought to be indicative of respiratory infection, and in the vagina of the three animals with perineal pruritus from which such material was examined. It is concluded that the site of pruritus need not be identical with the site of virus entry. The probable routes of infection in the outbreaks examined will be discussed in detail in a subsequent paper.

A study of outbreaks of Aujeszky's disease in cattle. III. Selected outbreaks of a special interest regarding epidemiology

Five selected outbreaks of Aujeszky’s disease in cattle from 1974 and 1975 are described. In an outbreak with anterior pruritus, Aujeszky virus was demonstrated in lung tissue of one animal and in nasal secretions of another, which has further substantiated the view that cattle may get infected with Aujeszky virus by the respiratory route. In two of three outbreaks, which were found to be interrelated, and in a fourth outbreak, all with one affected animal showing posterior pruritus, circumstantial evidence was found of a transmission of the infection by man.

Selenium and zinc concentrations in kidney, liver and muscle of cattle from different parts of Norway

Cattle slaughtered in four different parts of Norway have been examined with respect to selenium and zinc content in kidney, liver and muscle. Highest selenium concentrations were found in kidney and lowest in muscle. In spite of extensive use of standardized concentrates, geographic differences were detected with regard to selenium tissue levels, animals from the southeastern inland region having the lowest levels. According to other workers, this region has low-selenium humus soils, and selenium responsive diseases among young ruminants have been of considerable importance, especially when concentrates had not been given during winter feeding. The recorded tissue selenium levels are compared to other workers’ proposals for normal values. All animals examined in this study seem to be well within healthy limits. Kidney, liver and muscle from cattle are good sources of selenium with respect to human nutrition.

As far as zinc concentrations are concerned, muscle has the highest and kidney the lowest levels. Geographic differences were found, and individuals from the midland and northern coastal regions have the highest zinc tissue levels. Cattle from the northern coastal region seems to have especially high zinc concentrations in the organs.

Serum-gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GT) and aspartate-aminotransferase (AspAT) activities in adult cattle with chronic Fasciola hepatica infection

Sera from adult cattle with fluke-infected and normal livers were analyzed for γ-GT and AspAT activities. The analyses revealed no significant increases in either γ-GT or AspAT values of the animals with fascioliasis as compared with the non-infected animals. The advanced chronic stage of the infection characterized by hepatic fibrosis, limited injury of parenchyma and low fluke burdens may explain the lack of enzymatic increase.

The formol-gel reaction in cattle

The correlation between the formol-gel reaction and the concentration of different serum proteins was investigated in 289 cattle with chiefly chronic diseases.

A close correlation, though not linear, was found between the quantity of globulin and the time of gelification. A positive formol-gel reaction within 24 hrs. indicated an elevated globulin level in serum. Increasingly marked rises of globulin were observed with shorter gelification times. A negative formol-gel reaction after 24 hrs. showed that the globulin concentration was at normal level.

The results are discussed in the light of the relevant literature.

It is concluded that the formol-gel reaction is of diagnostic and prognostic value for clinical work within bovine medicine.

On the ultrastructure of epithelial cells in bile ducts of cattle chronically infected with fasciola hepatica

This paper describes briefly the normal ultrastructure of bile-duct epithelial cells in cattle and the main ultrastructural alterations produced in them by chronic infection with Fasciola hepatica. The studies showed only inconsiderable abnormalities in the ultrastructure of the epithelium in infections of a low degree as also during the recovery phase of the disease. On the other hand, in heavily infected livers pronounced ultrastructural alterations were seen in the surface epithelium of the main intrahepatic bile ducts invaded by the flukes. In such areas the intercellular spaces were filled with dense homogeneous material, and intact desmosomes and junctional complexes were not regularly seen, which indicates that foreign material may leak into the bile. The extracellular material was probably composed of albumin, and the significance of the present results regarding the etiology of hypoalbuminaemia during chronic fascioliasis is discussed.

On the ultrastructure of mast cells and globule leucocytes in the common bile duct of cattle chronically infected with fasciola hepatica

Mast cells and globule leucocytes in the walls of the common bile ducts of seven uninfected slaughtered cows and of five cows chronically infected with Fasciola hepatica were studied by electron microscopy. The mast cells displayed numerous small intracytoplasmic granules, the matrixes of which were either strongly electron-opaque and homogeneous or less dense with a fine-granular ultrastructure. Unattached ribosomes were abundant in the cytoplasm of the cells. Many mast cells in the walls of chronically infected bile ducts were normal-looking while the cells in the subepithelial tissues often showed striking irregularities in the ultrastructure of the granules. Globule leucocytes were most numerous in the surface epithelium and were not connected by desmosomes to the epithelial cells. The nuclei of the globule leucocytes were similar to those in the mast cells except that indentations caused by the globules were more usually seen. The globules were considerably larger than the mast cell granules but bounded by similar agranular capsules. The matrix of most globules was dense and homogeneous while the other globules showed dense reticulate or lamellate structures. The relationship between the mast cell and globule leucocyte in the liver is briefly discussed with reference to recent reports on these cells in the intestinal wall.

Kappa-casein in milk. An immunochemical investigation of the kappa-casein content in milk from Danish cattle breeds

The ϰ-casein content in milk from the Danish cattle breeds SDM, RDM and Jersey was investigated by means of immunoquantitation in antibody containing agarose gels. The method, which determines the total ϰ-casein complex, is suitable for routine work. The reproducibility of the method was found to be ± 4.1 %.

The ϰ-casein concentration, expressed as percentage of the total protein content in milk, was significantly lower in milk from SDM (21.5%) and RDM (21.3%) than in Jersey (23.9%). The investigation showed that the ϰ-casein constitutes a greater part of the protein in milk than previously assumed.

The amount of ϰ-casein was positively correlated with the protein content in milk, but there was no relation between the relative ϰ-casein content and the percentage of fat, milk yield and the time after calving.