Nucleotide sequence and vaccinia expression of the nucleoprotein of a highly virulent, neurotropic strain of Newcastle disease virus.

The nucleoprotein (NP) of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) was selected to study the relative importance of an internal structural protein in the avian immune response. The NP gene of the virulent, neurotropic NDV Texas GB (TGB) strain was cloned and sequenced. Nucleotide sequence data for the NP gene allowed comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences for the NP genes of NDV-TGB and the avirulent duck isolate NDV-D26.

Effective in vivo depletion of T cell subpopulations and loss of memory cells in cattle using mouse monoclonal antibodies.

Conditions were established to obtain depletion of T lymphocyte subsets in lymphoid tissues of calves by injection of mouse monoclonal antibodies to T cell antigens. Adverse reactions were avoided by injecting small quantities of antibody, until target cells had disappeared from blood. Two different mechanisms appeared to be responsible for elimination of the target cells.

Gastric acid secretion in Basenji dogs with immunoproliferative enteropathy.

Gastric acid secretion was studied in 13 Basenji dogs with immunoproliferative enteropathy. Considerable variation in the severity of gastritis and enteritis existed among dogs. Basenji dogs were categorized into two groups on the basis of postmortem gastric and intestinal histology (group I, gastritis and enteritis; group II, only enteritis).

Elevated serum IgA associated with immunoproliferative enteropathy of Basenji dogs: lack of evidence for alpha heavy-chain disease or enhanced intestinal IgA secretion.

Immunoglobulin isotypes in serum and intestinal secretions of Basenji dogs with chronic diarrhea, asymptomatic Basenji dogs, and healthy control dogs were quantitated and their molecular sizes characterized to detect alpha-chain, gamma-chain, or mu-chain fragments. Quantitation of immunoglobulin isotypes in serum showed that affected Basenjis have significantly elevated serum IgA values as compared to asymptomatic Basenjis and normal control dogs. However, IgA concentrations in intestinal wash fluids were not significantly different for the three groups.

Nucleotide sequence of the envelope protein genes of a highly virulent, neurotropic strain of Newcastle disease virus.

The envelope glycoproteins of Newcastle disease virus (NDV), hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F) proteins, play important roles in determining the host immune response and the virulence of that particular virus strain. The complete nucleotide sequence of the HN and F genes of a highly neurovirulent strain of NDV (Texas G. B.

Gastroenteritis of basenji dogs.

Intestinal digestive and absorptive function and the gross and histologic appearance of the gastrointestinal tract were evaluated in Basenji dogs with chronic diarrhea, asymptomatic Basenji dogs, and healthy control dogs. Gastric rugal hypertrophy, lymphocytic gastritis, and gastric mucosal atrophy occurred in asymptomatic and affected Basenji dogs. All affected dogs had moderate or severe intestinal lesions characterized by villous clubbing and fusion, increased tortuosity of intestinal crypts, and diffuse infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells.

Rhinitis, pneumonia, and defective neutrophil function in the Doberman pinscher.

Eight closely related Doberman Pinschers with chronic rhinitis and pneumonia had normal or increased numbers of structurally normal leukocytes. Serum concentrations of immunoglobulins and complement were above or within normal ranges. Lymphocyte transformation indices for 3 mitogens were normal in 7 of the 8 dogs; the remaining dog had low values for all mitogens.

Monoclonal gammopathy associated with naturally occurring canine ehrlichiosis.

Clinical, hematologic, and immunologic findings for 14 dogs with Ehrlichia canis monoclonal gammopathy were studied retrospectively. Epistaxis, anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, hypergammaglobulinemia, and proteinuria were documented in the majority of these dogs. The serum protein electrophoresis pattern was characterized by a distinct narrow-base monoclonal spike, by a broad-base monoclonal spike, or by a monoclonal spike superimposed on a polyclonal gammopathy.

A method for the accurate determination of the specificity of monoclonal antibodies reactive with porcine immunoglobulins.

Monoclonal antibodies against porcine IgG were produced by fusion and characterized. The supernatants of microtiter wells containing fusion hybrids were first screened with an ELISA using semi-purified porcine IgG as antigen. Hybrids reactive in ELISA were cloned by limiting dilution.

Appearance of immunoglobulin classes and complement (C3) during Corynebacterium renale-induced experimental pyelonephritis in the rat.

The local appearance of various immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes in the urinary tract during ascending pyelonephritis was studied in rats experimentally infected with Corynebacterium renale. The indirect fluorescent antibody assay was used to detect IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE, and C3 on C renale present in the urine of the experimental animals. Corynebacterium renale coated with IgM and IgG antibodies was found beginning on the 4th day after induced infection, with IgG being the more abundant isotype.

Scanning electron microscopy of experimentally induced pyelonephritis in the rat.

Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe epithelial and inflammatory changes in kidneys of rats during Corynebacterium renale-induced experimental ascending pyelonephritis. Bacteria were not observed adhering to pelvic epithelium, although there was evidence of cell sloughing. Bacteria was observed in the interstitium of the renal medulla.

Hemolytic complement in specific-pathogen-free chickens: influence of age and sex.

Six groups of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens of various ages were tested for hemolytic complement (C) activity with a radial hemolytic diffusion technique. The chickens tested were 2, 6, 7, and 8 weeks old. Chickens 2 weeks old were found to have little hemolytic activity compared with chickens 6 to 8 weeks old.

Infectious bursal disease viral infections. I. Complement and virus-neutralizing antibody response following infection of susceptible chickens.

Complement (C) titers were decreased at 3 days postinfection, and virus-neutralizing (VN) antibody was detectable at 3 or 4 days postinfection in chickens with infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). Clotting times were prolonged in all groups tested during the acute phase of the disease. Mortality appeared to be associated with the severity of decrease in C titer.

Infectious bursal disease viral infections. II. The relationship of age, complement levels, virus-neutralizing antibody, clotting, and lesions.

Experimental infection with infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) reduced the complement (C) titer in 8-week-old chickens on days 3, 5, and 7 postinfection. Since the C titer was much lower in normal 2-week-old chickens than in normal 8-week-old chickens it could not be determined whether there was a reduction in titer during the infection process. Virus-neutralizing antibody rose rapidly following infection in both 2- and 8-week-old chickens.

Isolation of porcine secretory immunoglobulin A by affinity chromatography and determination of its component chains.

Porcine secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) was isolated in a single step from porcine milk whey by affinity chromatography, using antiporcine alpha-chain specific antibody linked to CNBr-activated agarose. The isolated SIgA contained no other proteins detectable by immunodiffusion of immunoelectrophoresis. After reduction and alkylation with dithiothreitol and iodoacetamide, the SIgA was chromatographed on gel equilibrated with 6.

Preparation of monospecific antiserums against porcine immunoglobulins, using agarose-linked immunosorbents.

Immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, and IgM were isolated from porcine serum and milk, and antiserums against the 3 immunoglobulin classes were prepared. Monospecificity of the antiserums for the gamma-, alpha-, and mu-chains was obtained by absorbing them in agarose-linked immunosorbent columns. These immunosorbents were prepared by linking IgG or IgA-IgM to CNBr-activated agarose.