Comparative Grouping of Mastitis Streptococci by Means of Co-Agglutination and Precipitation

Two hundred bovine mastitis streptococcal strains belonging to groups B, C, E, G and L were tested comparatively by means of the co-agglutination and precipitation technique. Identical results were obtained with the two tests in 191, or 95.5 %, of the strains. Six strains, which could not be grouped by co-agglutination, proved to belong to group B when grouped by precipitation. On the other hand, one strain which proved to belong to group G and two strains to group L when grouped by co-agglutination, could not be grouped by precipitation. Some cross-reactivity was observed between groups A and C, B and G, B and L. Only a few L strains showed marked cross-reactivity which was not easily distinguished from specific reactions. However, the cross-reactivity ought to be eliminated by dilution or adsorption. Using the precipitation test as a supplementary method, the easy and rapid co-agglutination test was found to be a suitable procedure for routine grouping of mastitis streptococci.     

Wild Animal Mycobacterial Isolates

Thirteen strains of mycobacteria isolated from deer and various species of wild birds were analysed by gas chromatography (GG) for cellular fatty acids and by thin-layer chromatography (TLG) for polar lipids. These strains were compared to reference strains of Mycobacterium avium, M. para tuberculosis and M. mal-moense. All the examined strains exhibited a generally similar fatty acid pattern characterized by relatively large amounts of hexadenca-noate (16:0), octadecenoate (18:1), octadecanoate (18:0) and 10-me-thyl-octadecanoate (tuberculostearic acid, 10-Me-18:0). Several additional acids were also generally present but in smaller amounts. By means of small but distinct differences in fatty acid composition, the wild animal isolates could be distinguished from both M. paratuber-culosis and M. malmoense but not from M. avium. The TLG polar lipid patterns on the other hand separated the wild animal isolates into 2 distinct groups of complex and simple polar lipid composition which corresponded to the morphologically smooth and rough types, respectively. The complex patterns of the smooth strains were comparable to those of the M. avium serovars whereas both the rough wild animal isolates and all the M. paratuber-culosis strains showed a simple pattern of polar lipids. Both fatty acid profiles and TLG polar lipid patterns support allocation of the wild animal isolates to the MAIS complex. Moreover, the 2 chemical techniques, particularly the GC procedure, are very useful for a more rapid and precise identification of the slow-growing wild animal mycobacterial isolates which have hitherto been characterized on basis of vague criteria.     

Isolation of Bovine Adenovirus Type 1 from a Calf with Pneumo-Enteritis

During the last decade, an increasing number of bovine adenoviruses have been isolated from calves suffering from more, or less, well-defined syndromes. These have consisted of respiratory disorders of varying severity, enteritis, or a combination of both, which in typical cases has been termed “pneumo-enteritis”. These investigations have been reviewed by Darbyshire (1968). Wilcox (1969) isolated adenoviruses from kerato-conjunctivitis (KC) in cattle. Furthermore, strains have been isolated from apparently healthy animals (Darbyshire 1968), and from tissue cultures prepared from various organs from calves such as kidneys (Scho- pov et al. 1968), and testes (Rondhuis 1968, Bartha & Csontos 1969). At the present time 9 serotypes of bovine adenoviruses exist, as determined by neutralization tests, and these have recently been reviewed by Guenov et al. (1970). However, several strains, some from cases of pneumonia (Cole 1970, Lupini et al. 1970) and others from KC (Wilcox 1969) remain to be typed and compared with the known prototypes, thereby enabling possible new serotypes to be identified. So far, serotypes 1 and 2 (Darbyshire et al. 1969), serotype 3 (Darbyshire et al. 1966) and serotypes 4 and 5 (Aldasy et al. 1965) have been shown to cause pneumo-enteritis, and serotype 6 (Rondhuis 1970) a mild respiratory disease in experimentally infected calves. Similarly, KC has been produced experimentally by Wilcox (1970), while the pathogenicity for experimental animals of the other typed and untyped strains remains to be investigated.     

Induction of Swine Dysentery with a Pure Culture of Treponema Hyodysenteriae in Vitamin E and Selenium Deficient Pigs

Several successful attempts have been made to induce swine dysentery in pigs using pure cultures of Treponema hyodysen-teriae (Taylor & Alexander 1971, Harris et al. 1972, Akkermans & Pomper 1973, Hughes et al. 1975). In these studies, either conventional or specific-pathogen-free pigs were used. In the present study, 2 approximately 8 weeks old conventional pigs (Nos. 1 and 2) were purchased and fed the same basic ration as used by Teige et al. (1977). In addition, 10 % cod liver oil was incorporated in the diet at each feeding. After a feeding period of 25 days rectal swabs were applied and examined for the presence of spirochaetes. The pigs were then fed a 3 days old primary and pure culture of T. hyodysenteriae on TSA-S400 medium (Songer et al. 1976). The culture originated from the colon of a pig with swine dysentery (Pig No. 4, Teige et al. 1977). Each pig received the agar contents of 5 petri dishes which were mixed with the food.     

Identity and stereochemistry of allopurpurin and Tedaniaxanthin

The identity of the carotenoids tedaniaxanthin and allopurpurin from marine sponges has been demonstrated by a direct quantitative comparison of their I₂-catalysed stereomutation mixtures (HPLC and visible spectra). Studies on the geometrical isomerism are reported. The 2R-configuration is assigned on the basis of a CD-correlation of the HPLC-purified all-trans isomer and (3R,3′R)-aloxanthin.     

Isolation and Identification of Hepatitis Contagiosa Canis Virus (Hcc Virus) from an Enzootic Outbreak in a Dog Kennel

Using a continuous cell line of canine kidney (MDCK-cell line) cells, HCC virus was isolated from 4 of 6 puppies affected in an outbreak of the disease in a dog kennel. The virus was most easily, and rapidly, isolated in primary cultures from the liver samples, but also from other organs such as the spleen and lung, although isolation from these organs could require 1 or 2 passages in addition to the primary culture. Attention is therefore drawn to the necessity of using a sufficient number of passages when organs other than the liver are available. Among the bacteria identified in addition to the virus infection, were Staphylococcus aureus, Bordetella bronchiseptica and β-hemolytic streptococci. Emphasis is made on the significance of isolation and identification of the virus in pure culture, thus enabling its various properties to be studied in detail, and possible new serotypes to be recognized.