Distribution of Corynebacterium renale among healthy bulls with special reference to inhabitation of type III in the prepuce.

Distribution of Corynebacterium renale among apparently healthy bulls reared in Hokkaido was investigated. The organism was detected from 46 (39.3%) of 117 specimens of preputial cavity washing and from 60 (51.7%) of 116 specimens of semen. The isolates studied in this survey belonged to type III, except a few which belonged to type II. No type I strain was isolated from any bull. C. renale type III was isolated from the prepuce in six of seven bulls slaughtered and from urethra in three, but not at all from any other organ. In the seven bulls, no macroscopic changes were seen, but a slight infiltration of lymphocytes and formation of lymph nodules were noticed in the prepuce. No other microscopical changes could be demonstrated in any other organ. No serum antibody response was detected. To ascertain the virulence of C. renale isolated from the bulls, a strain of type II was inoculated into the urinary bladder of a healthy cow. The cow exhibited fever and hematuria on and after the 10th day. Typical cystitis was proved when the cow was necropsied on the 14th day after inoculation. From these result it is conceived that C. renale type II organisms inhabit the prepuce of apparently healthy bulls at a high rate, without inducing any disturbance.     

The prevalence of chlamydiae of bulls from six bull studs in Germany

Although there are indications for venereal transmission of chlamydiae in cattle, epidemiological data on the presence of these bacteria in bulls and bull semen in particular is still incomplete. We investigated semen (n=120), preputial washing samples (n=121) and faeces (n=122) of bulls from six bull studs located within five Federal States of Germany for the presence of chlamydiae using omp1-PCR and partial omp1 sequencing. Blood serum was examined for chlamydial antibodies using an indirect ELISA (n=122). Chlamydiae were found in 11 (9.2%), 13 (10.7%) and 22 (18.0%) of the semen, preputial washing and faecal samples, respectively. Among individual chlamydial species identified, Chlamydophila (Cp.) psittaci predominated in semen and preputial washing samples, and Cp. pecorum in faeces. Cp. abortus was the third frequently observed species. Chlamydial antibodies were detected in a total of 62 (50.8%) bulls. Bull studs differed in regard to the number of bulls found chlamydia-positive in faeces and serologically positive. No correlation was observed between serological data and PCR of semen, preputial washing samples or faeces. Standard ejaculate parameters did not differ between bulls that were chlamydia-positive and -negative in semen. In conclusion, detection of chlamydiae in semen of bulls suggests a potential for venereal transmission. Chlamydiae appear to be widespread within the bull population in Germany. Serological testing failed to identify bulls shedding chlamydiae in their semen.     

Characterization of infertility and bovine leukemia virus infection in beef bulls on southwestern Louisiana coastal range

One hundred and twenty-six beef bulls on southwestern Louisiana coastal range were evaluated for breeding soundness. Samples were taken to determine the incidence of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection, and the prepuce was cultured for potential pathogens. A high incidence (47.6%) of questionable and unsatisfactory potential breeders resulted mainly from 37.0% of the bulls exhibiting high numbers of abnormal sperm cells in the semen. Only bulls in the 4-to 5-yr age group exhibited the expected incidence of normal spermiograms. Genital campylobacteriosis was not diagnosed but there was genital trichomoniasis in three of the seven herds. Hemophilus somnus , mycoplasma and ureaplasma were isolated from the prepuce of 13.3, 48.8 and 36.7% of the bulls, respectively. Isolation of these organisms from the prepuce did not appear to be associated with abnormal spermiograms. Of the bulls studied, 34.4% had positive AGID reactions for BLV. Bulls seropositive to BLV had an increased incidence of leukocyte counts that were above the normal range. There was no apparent relationship between BLV infection and abnormal spermiograms.     

大熊猫精液和包皮菌群组成及潜在致病菌调查

[目的] 大熊猫是我国国家一级保护动物,其种群面临着传染病和栖息地破碎化等持续威胁,其中生殖系统的细菌感染和菌群失衡会影响大熊猫生殖健康,严重者可导致流产,是引起大熊猫繁殖障碍的原因之一。本研究对精液与包皮分泌物样本的菌群组成情况及分离培养潜在致病菌开展研究。[方法] 通过采集13份大熊猫包皮分泌物和12份精液样本,采用16S rRNA扩增子测序技术、细菌培养及PCR鉴定的方法,确定样本中的细菌种类。[结果] 菌群组成分析结果显示,在门水平上,厚壁菌门（Firmicutes）的细菌丰度在大熊猫包皮与精液中均为最高;在属水平上,不同时期的雄性大熊猫包皮的菌群可能会发生改变,棒状杆菌属（Corynebacterium）和Dolosicoccus是Ⅰ期包皮样本中最丰富的微生物菌群,相对丰度分别为15.45%和12.40%;链球菌属（Streptococcus）和埃希氏菌属（Escherichia）是Ⅱ期包皮样本中最丰富的微生物菌群,相对分度分别为37.94%和9.68%;拟杆菌属（Bacteroides）和普雷沃氏菌属（Prevotella）是精液样本中最丰富的微生物菌群,相对丰度分别为14.40%和12.88%。菌群多样性分析结果显示,精液样品高于Ⅰ期包皮样品和Ⅱ期包皮样品,Ⅰ期包皮样品和Ⅱ期包皮样品之间无显著差异。通过细菌分离培养得到肺炎克雷伯菌（Klebsiella pneumonia）在内的多种潜在性致病菌。[结论] 本研究分析了大熊猫精液和不同时期包皮分泌物的菌群组成,其优势菌属存在差异,大熊猫包皮与精液中存在潜在性致病菌,这可能对大熊猫的生殖系统健康带来威胁,其致病性有待进一步研究。     

Serologic survey for bovine pathogens in free-ranging European bison from Poland

From 1980 to 1983, blood was taken from 60 selected European bison (Bison bonasus) in Poland. Serum samples were tested for the presence of antibodies against Brucella abortus, 14 serovars of Leptospira interrogans, Chlamydia spp., Coxiella burnetti; foot and and mouth disease virus, bovine leukemia virus and bovine herpes virus-1. In addition, an attempt was made to isolate bovine herpes virus-1 from the prepuce of selected bulls. Serological tests suggested chlamydial infection in 28 bison, subclinical Q-fever of a 2-yr-old heifer, subclinical bovine leukemia virus infection in a 12-yr-old bull and bovine herpes virus-1 infection in five bulls and three cows. Attempts to isolate bovine herpes virus-1 were not successful. These results suggest the possibility of cross transmission of several of these bovine pathogens between free-ranging bison and domestic cattle in Poland.     

Effects of hormone-induced superovulation on latent infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus in cattle

Twelve nulliparous, sexually mature heifers free of antibodies to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus were exposed intranasally to Colorado strain IBR virus. After 3 mos, when the postexposure antibody titers had stabilized, the heifers were divided into three groups. Individuals in each group were treated with either saline, dexamethasone or follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) for five consecutive days. Blood samples were taken at predetermined intervals for isolation of virus, and for determination of serum cortisol levels. No changes occurred in the saline-treated group, except that one heifer had a slightly elevated serum neutralizing antibody titer. Recrudescense of typical clinical lesions was observed in the dexamethasone-treated group, and the IBR virus was isolated from nasal swab samples taken from all heifers. In the FSH-treated group, no changes occurred, with the exception of slightly reduced serum cortisol levels. Results indicate that FSH-induced superovulation does not cause reactivation of IBR virus in heifers previously infected by the intranasal route, and has no effect on serum neutralizing anti-IBR virus antibody titers.     

Excretion of lumpy skin disease virus in bull semen

This work was done to establish the incidence and duration of excretion of lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) in semen of experimentally infected susceptible bulls. Six serologically negative bulls 11-20 months of age were experimentally infected with a virulent field isolate (strain V248/93) of LSDV. Animals were observed for the development of clinical signs, blood was collected until day 90 after infection, and semen was collected every second day until day 18, then twice a week till day 63 and twice a month until three consecutive samples were negative when tested for LSDV by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). An aliquot of each sample which tested positive using PCR was inoculated onto cell monolayers for the recovery of virus. Two bulls developed severe lumpy skin disease (LSD), two bulls showed mild signs and two bulls showed a transient fever only. Multiple samples were positive on PCR from both of the severely affected bulls and one of the mildly affected bulls; between days 10 and 159, days 8 and 132, and days 10 and 21 respectively. Only one sample from each of the other three bulls was positive on PCR. Virus was only isolated from two samples from one of the severely affected bulls and from five semen samples from the other. This study confirmed the excretion of LSDV in bovine semen for prolonged periods, even when obvious clinical signs of the disease were no longer apparent.     

Growth characteristics of bovine herpesvirus 1 (infectious bovine rhinotracheitis) in human diploid cell strain WI-38.

IBR virus was found to replicate in WI-38 cells. At a high input multiplicity the virus yield was comparable to that obtained in bovine cells, but comparable degree of CPE took longer to achieve. At a low input multiplicity of IBR virus, such as may be encountered in virus contaminated bovine serum, virus yield was only about 1% of that in bovine cells, with 50% of the cells showing CPE, followed by cell regrowth. Infectious virus was not recoverable from the regrown cells by 5 weeks after initial infection, and these regrown cells were susceptible to reinfection with IBR virus. Aging of WI-38 cells in cultures for as little as 1 week reduced IBR virus yield to 90% less than the yield from the same lot of cells inoculated 7 days earlier.     

Experimental Infection of African Green Monkeys and Cynomolgus Monkeys With a SIVAGM Strain Isolated From a Healthy African Green Monkey

An infection occurred in all African green monkeys and cynomolgus monkeys experimentally inoculated with SIV_AGM [TYO-1], as demonstrated by the appearance of an antibody to SIV_AGM [TYO-1] and the isolation of the virus. No monkey exhibited overt clinical disorders throughout the experimental period of 42 weeks. Thus, SIV_AGM was not pathogenic to its original host or to macaques, This system is proposed as a model for HIV infection manifesting no overt disease.     

Antibody from Patients with Acute Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection Inhibits Primary Strains of HIV Type 1 in the Presence of Natural-Killer Effector Cells

The partial control of viremia during acute human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is accompanied by an HIV-1-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response and an absent or infrequent neutralizing antibody response. The control of HIV-1 viremia has thus been attributed primarily, if not exclusively, to CTL activity. In this study, the role of antibody in controlling viremia was investigated by measuring the ability of plasma or immunoglobulin G from acutely infected patients to inhibit primary strains of HIV-1 in the presence of natural-killer (NK) effector cells. Antibody that inhibits virus when combined with effector cells was present in the majority of patients within days or weeks after onset of symptoms of acute infection. Furthermore, the magnitude of this effector cell-mediated antiviral antibody response was inversely associated with plasma viremia level, and both autologous and heterologous HIV-1 strains were inhibited. Finally, antibody from acutely infected patients likely reduced HIV-1 yield in vitro both by mediating effector cell lysis of target cells expressing HIV-1 glycoproteins and by augmenting the release of beta-chemokines from NK cells. HIV-1-specific antibody may be an important contributor to the early control of HIV viremia.     

Serologic survey for selected microbial agents in mammals from Alberta, 1976

Blood samples were taken from humans and several species of free-ranging wild mammals from five different geographic areas of Alberta, Canada. Sera were tested for antibody to eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus, western equine encephalitis (WEE) virus, St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus, Powassan (POW) virus, the snowshoe hare (SSH) strain of the California group (CAL) of viruses, Northway (NOR) virus, Klamath (KLA) virus, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus, and two bacteria, Brucella abortus and Francisella tularensis. CAL antibody was found in 63% of 11 snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus), 33% of 167 black bears (Ursus americanus), and 19% of 55 humans (Homo sapiens). NOR antibody was found in 0.4% of 258 hares, 11% of 9 bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), 20% of 44 moose (Alces alces), 4% of 56 bears, 14% of 22 woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus), and 2% of 50 humans. IBR antibody was detected in 14% of 14 moose. B. abortus antibody was found in 1% of 283 bears. F. tularensis antibody was detected in 2% of 52 humans. These findings represent extension of: (1) the natural host range of IBR, CAL, and NOR; (2) the geographical distribution of NOR infection in North America; and (3) the geographical distribution of CAL infection within Alberta.     

Influenza C Virus Infection in Rats

Four-week-old rats (WKA/Hkm strain) were infected intranasally with the Ann Arbor/1/50 strain of influenza C virus and examined for clinical symptoms, virus replication, and serum antibody response. Although the animals showed no definite signs of illness, the virus replicated in the nose, and the hemagglutination-inhibiting (HI) and neutralizing antibodies were produced in their sera. When the inoculum sizes of 10^6.2 and 10^3.2 PFU were used, virus was recovered from nasal homogenates between days 1 and 10, and serum HI antibody became detectable by 10 days after infection. The rats infected with 10^1.2 PFU of the virus continued to shed virus until as late as day 20 without producing serum HI antibody. The amount of virus recovered from the nose was not affected significantly by either sex. age, or strain of the rat except that a slower virus growth was seen in the LE strain. It was also observed that the rats, previously inoculated with 10^3.2 PFU of the virus, showed no virus shedding when reinfected 7 weeks later but produced virus though in low titers when reinfected 50 to 55 weeks later. Virus was also recovered from rats once inoculated with 10^1.2 PFU of the virus when challenged 7 weeks later. Thus repeated infections characteristic of human influenza C can be produced in rats under the restricted conditions.     

Infection of Mice,Ferrets, and Rhesus Macaques with a Clinical Mumps Virus Isolate

In recent years, many mumps outbreaks have occurred in vaccinated populations worldwide. The reasons for these outbreaks are not clear. Animal models are needed to investigate the causes of outbreaks and to understand the pathogenesis of mumps virus (MuV). In this study, we have examined the infection of three animal models with an isolate of mumps virus from a recent outbreak (MuV-IA). We have found that while both ferrets and mice generated humoral and cellular immune responses to MuV-IA infection, no obvious signs of illness were observed in these animals; rhesus macaques were the most susceptible to MuV-IA infection. Infection of rhesus macaques via both intranasal and intratracheal routes with MuV-IA led to the typical clinical signs of mumps 2 weeks to 4 weeks postinfection. However, none of the infected macaques showed any fever or neurologic signs during the experimental period. Mumps viral antigen was detected in parotid glands by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Rhesus macaques represent the best animal model for the study of mumps virus pathogenesis.     

Epidemiology of Tritrichomonas foetus in beef bull populations in Florida

The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of herd and individual bull infection with Tritrichomonas foetus in a survey of beef bulls in the state of Florida and to perform an epidemiological investigation of risk factors for the disease. Bulls were tested for T. foetus colonization by a single preputial scraping and culture. Bull infection prevalence within herds was calculated and relationships with bull, herd factors, and production measurements were determined. The survey included 1984 beef bulls in 59 herds throughout Florida; nine bulls in three small herds (<100 cows) were later excluded from the models. An overall prevalence for T. foetus-infected bulls was 6.0% (within-herd prevalence ranged from 0 to 27%). The herd prevalence was 30.4% (i.e. at least one infected bull); infected bulls were found in 11.1 and 39.5% of herds sampled in North and South Florida, respectively. The likelihood of disease was greatest in larger herds in more extensive management settings (> or = 500 cows, 53.9% prevalence; medium-sized herds of 100-499 cows, 10.0% prevalence). Tritrichomonas foetus infection was associated with several bull factors, including age, breed, herd, and herd management practices (bull-to-cow ratio, bulls per breeding group). Tritrichomonas foetus infection continues to be prevalent in beef herds in Florida that use natural service.     

Persistent infection of chimpanzees with human T-lymphotropic virus type III/lymphadenopathy-associated virus: a potential model for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

The lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV) prototype strain of human T-lymphotropic virus type III/LAV was transmitted to juvenile chimpanzees with no prior immunostimulation by (i) intravenous injection of autologous cells infected in vitro, (ii) intravenous injection of cell-free virus, and (iii) transfusion from a previously infected chimpanzee. All five animals that received more than one 50% tissue culture infective dose were persistently infected with LAV or chimpanzee-passaged LAV for up to 18 months. During this time they developed no illnesses, but they exhibited various degrees of inguinal and axillary lymphadenopathy and significant reductions in rates of weight gain. Detailed blood chemistry and hematologic evaluations revealed no consistent abnormalities, with the exception of immunoglobulin G (IgG) hypergammaglobulinemia, which became apparent in one animal 6 months postinfection and continued at more than 1 year postinfection. Transient depressions followed by increases in the numbers of T4 cells to levels greater than normal were observed in all animals after virus inoculation. However, the number of LAV-infected peripheral blood cells decreased with time after infection. Results of enzyme immunoassays showed that all infected animals seroconverted to IgG anti-LAV within 1 month postinfection and that antibody titers remained high throughout the period of observation. In contrast, only three of the five LAV-infected chimpanzees had detectable IgM antibody responses, and these preceded IgG-specific serum antibodies by 1 to 2 weeks. Virus morphologically and serologically identical to LAV was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of all infected animals at all times tested and from bone marrow cells taken from one animal 8 months after infection. One chimpanzee that was exposed to LAV only by sharing a cage with an infected chimpanzee developed lymphadenopathy and an IgM response to LAV, both of which were transient; however, no persistent IgG antibody response to LAV developed, and no virus was recovered from peripheral blood cells during a year of follow-up. Thus, LAV readily infected chimpanzees following intravenous inoculation and persisted for extended periods despite the presence of high titers of antiviral antibodies. However, the virus was not easily transmitted from infected to uninfected chimpanzees during daily cage contact.     

Testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and prolactin response to unilateral castration in prepubertal Holstein bulls

Hemicastration of Holstein bulls at 3 months of age resulted in increased (P<0.005) testicular weitht and testis sperm cell content at 330 days after treatment, but did not alter sperm cell concentration in the remaining hypertrophied testis. Radioimmuroassay of blood hormones at 1, 6, 12, and 24 weeks after treatment revealed that unilateral castration did not alter (P>0.1) basal levels or GnRH response profiles of either LH or testosterone compared to intact bulls. Hemicastration caused FSH to be elevated (P<0.01) compared to intact bulls at all sampling periods in both unstimulated and GnRH stimulated bulls. Prolactin varied with season and was greater (P<0.001) in hemicastrated bulls than in intact bulls at 1 and 6 weeks after treatment. Results indicate that unilateral castration at 3 months of age caused testicular hypertrophy of both steroidogenic and gametogenic function and this phenomena may be triggered by increased FSH or prolactin secretion, or both. Further, results indicate different testicular regulation mechanisms exist for pituitary LH and FSH release in bulls.     

Intestinal Resistance in the Experimental Enteric Infection of Mice with a Mouse Adenovirus

The influence of cyclophosphamide (Cy) on the establishment and duration of the intestinal resistance against enteric infection with a mouse adenovirus, strain K87, was examined in inbred mice, strain DK1. When Cy (40 mg/kg/day) was administered to mice for 17 days from the time of virus challenge, a clear prolongation of viral growth and a delayed appearance of neutralizing (NT) antibody in the intestinal wall as well as in the serum were observed. When Cy (40 mg/kg/day, for 14 days) was administered after cessation of viral growth (4 to 6 weeks after virus challenge) and part of the mice were rechallenged with the virus, titers of NT antibody and immunoglobulins became significantly lower than those in control mice not treated with Cy, and regrowth of the virus was observed in eight out of twenty-five Cy-treated mice, regardless of the presence or absence of re-challenge. In this experiment, antibody titers in the intestinal contents of eight virus-positive mice were significantly lower than those of the remaining seventeen virus-negative mice. The time when the decrease of intestinal NT antibody was maximum coincided with the time of the maximal frequency of viral regrowth. It was discussed that these facts might present an evidence to support the idea that the intestinal resistance was acquired through local NT antibody belonging to IgA in the intestinal tract.     

Protective Effects of Specific Immunity to Viral Neuraminidase on Influenza Virus Infection of Mice

Antibody specific for viral neuraminidase can be demonstrated in mice following (i) pulmonary infection with influenza virus, (ii) immunization with ultraviolet-in-activated influenza virus, (iii) immunization with isolated neuraminidase of influenza A(2) virus, and (iv) passive immunization with sera of rabbits immunized with isolated A(2) neuraminidase. Neuraminidase antibody produced by any of these methods exerts a profound inhibiting effect on virus replication in the lungs of mice challenged with strains of virus having homologous neuraminidase protein, even in the absence of hemagglutinating inhibiting antibody to the challenge virus, and results in markedly decreased pulmonary virus titers and diminished lung lesions. These observations suggest that antineuraminidase immunity may play a significant role in the protection against influenza virus challenge observed in mice after infection or artificial immunization.     

Pathogenesis of mouse hepatitis virus infection. The role of nasal epithelial cells as a primary target of low-virulence virus, MHV-S.

The pathogenesis of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV-S) infection in suckling and weanling mice was comparatively studied after intranasal inoculation. In sucklings, infectious virus as well as specific antigen was first detected in the nasal mucosa at 12 hr, then in the nerve cells of the olfactory bulbs. At this stage viral particles were demonstrated both in the supporting cells and olfactory cells of the nasal mucosa. In the posterior part of the brain and spinal cord, virus was detected on days 3 to 4 postinoculation when viral growth was clearly demonstrable in the liver, spleen and intestines. In weanlings too, infection was first established in the nasal mucosa, shedding infectious virus in the nasal washing until day 6 postinoculation, and later infection spread to the brain and spinal cord. In weanling mice, however, neither infectious virus nor viral antigen was detected in the liver or other visceral organs, while serum neutralizing antibody became detectable on day 5 postinoculation, increasing in titer thereafter. Histopathologically degenerative and necrotic changes were observed in the nasal mucosa and central nervous system of both age groups of animals coincidentally with the presence of viral specific antigen, while inflammatory response was much less prominent in sucklings. In the liver, spleen and intestines, however, some lesions were observed only in sucklings.     

The effect of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis vaccine on reproductive efficiency in cattle vaccinated during estrus

Nineteen nulliparous, sexually mature heifers free of antibody to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus were given two 35 mg intramuscular injections of Lutalyse 10 days apart to synchronize estrus and randomly divided into control and vaccinated groups. On the day of the last Lutalyse injection, modified live IBR virus vaccine was administered intramuscularly to each animal in the vaccinated group and each group was placed with a proven sire for 35 days. After the vaccination, samples were taken for isolation of virus and for determination of serum neutralizing antibody titers. No virus shedding occurred after intramuscular vaccination. However, the conception rate was markedly lower in the vaccinated group than in the control group. These results suggest that the intramuscular inoculation of modified live IBR virus vaccines into cattle during estrus is contraindicated.