Epidemiology of prolonged testicular infections with bovine viral diarrhea virus.

Previously, bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) had been found in prolonged testicular infections following acute infection of immunocompetent bulls. The primary purpose of this research was to evaluate the production and maintenance of prolonged testicular infections after exposure to BVDV of seronegative bulls in varying circumstances. The secondary objective was to initiate assessment of the potential for transmission of BVDV via semen of bulls exhibiting a prolonged testicular infection.

Comparison of tests for detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus in diagnostic samples.

Currently, a variety of tests are used to detect bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in persistently infected (PI) cattle. These tests include immunohistochemical staining (IHC), antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ACE), virus isolation (VI), and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). However, a lack of methods standardization could compromise the ability to consistently identify animals infected with BVDV.

Use of three-dimensional computed tomography for diagnosis and treatment planning for open-mouth jaw locking in a cat.

Case Description: A 2.5-year-old spayed female Persian cat was evaluated for acute inability to close its mouth.

Clinical Findings: A wry-mouth malocclusion was evident, and the right side of the mandible was longer than the left side.

Use of a modified-live vaccine to prevent persistent testicular infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus.

A commercial vaccine containing modified-live bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV; types 1 and 2) was administered to one group of 22 peripubertal bulls 28 days before intranasal inoculation with a type 1 strain of BVDV. A second group of 23 peripubertal bulls did not receive the modified-live BVDV vaccine before intranasal inoculation. Ten of 23 unvaccinated bulls--but none of the vaccinated bulls--developed a persistent testicular infection as determined by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction.

Noncytopathic bovine viral diarrhea virus can persist in testicular tissue after vaccination of peri-pubertal bulls but prevents subsequent infection.

The objectives of this research were to evaluate the risk of prolonged testicular infection as a consequence of vaccination of peri-pubertal bulls with a modified-live, noncytopathic strain of BVDV and to assess vaccine efficacy in preventing prolonged testicular infections after a subsequent acute infection. Seronegative, peri-pubertal bulls were vaccinated subcutaneously with an approximate minimum immunizing dose or a 10x standard dose of modified-live, noncytopathic BVDV or were maintained as unvaccinated controls. Forty-nine days after vaccination, all bulls were intranasally inoculated with a noncytopathic field strain of BVDV.

Seroconversion of calves following intravenous injection with embryos exposed to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in vitro.

Two recent studies demonstrated that a high-affinity isolate of BVDV (SD-1), remained associated with a small percentage of in vivo-derived bovine embryos following artificial exposure to the virus and either washing or trypsin treatment. Further, the embryo-associated virus was infective in an in vitro environment. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if the quantity of a high-affinity isolate of BVDV associated with single-washed or trypsin-treated embryos could cause infection in vivo.

Infectivity of bovine viral diarrhea virus associated with in vivo-derived bovine embryos.

Early research indicated that bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) would not adhere to zona pellucida-intact (ZP-I), in vivo-derived bovine embryos. However, in a recent study, viral association of BVDV and in vivo-derived embryos was demonstrated. These findings raised questions regarding the infectivity of the embryo-associated virus.

Different strains of noncytopathic bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) vary in their affinity for in vivo-derived bovine embryos.

Washing procedures (without trypsin treatment) recommended by the International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS) for use on in vivo-derived embryos effectively removed a cytopathic strain (NADL) of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) after artificial exposure. However, these washing procedures have not been evaluated using other isolates of BVDV, including representative non-cytopathic strains. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the IETS procedures following artificial exposure of in vivo-derived bovine embryos to two different strains and biotypes of BVDV.

Detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus in semen obtained after inoculation of seronegative postpubertal bulls.

Objective: To evaluate persistence of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in semen after inoculation of postpubertal bulls.

Animals: Three 2-year-old bulls and five 6-month-old calves.

Procedure: 3 seronegative 2-year-old bulls were inoculated intranasally with BVDV.

Effects of testicular biopsy in clinically normal bulls.

Objective: To determine whether testicular needle biopsy is detrimental to testicular function in clinically normal bulls.

Design: Prospective study.

Animals: 6 mixed-breed mature bulls.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Trichospirura leptostoma Infection in Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus).

Trichospirura leptostoma is a spirurid nematode that inhabits the pancreatic ducts of the common marmoset, Callithrix jacchus, and other New World primates. This parasite was diagnosed in members of this species at the Marmoset Research Center in Oak Ridge, Tennessee colony after their importation from multiple colonies outside the United States. Animals with few parasites in the pancreas had few tissue changes, whereas those with many parasites had moderate to severe fibrosis replacing exocrine tissue.

Use of ultrasound to monitor prenatal growth and development in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus).

The increasing use of non-human primates to study fetal development and neonatal management has necessitated the availability of fetuses of known gestational history. In this study, prenatal development and growth were investigated in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) using ultrasound. The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine the accuracy of ultrasound for monitoring prenatal growth and development in common marmosets, (2) to determine if litter size influences prenatal growth trajectories, and (3) to assess growth discordancy among litter mates.

Infant-care behavior of mothers and fathers in a communal-care primate, the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus).

Infant care behavior was examined for 35 litters of 23 different groups of captive cotton-top tamarins. The behavior of mothers and fathers was compared to determine the effects of infant number and helper presence on each parent and to determine whether parents differed in responsiveness to infants. For young infants (1-4 weeks), the contribution of fathers to infant carrying was negatively correlated with helpers' contribution; as helpers carried more, fathers carried less.

Comparison of infant care in family groups of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) and the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus).

The involvement of parents and siblings in infant care in similarly composed groups of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) and cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) was compared during the infants' first 8 weeks of life. The results indicate an earlier infant independence in C. jacchus than in S.

Breeding performance of captive-born cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) females: Proposed explanations for colony differences.

Successful breeding by captive-born Saguinus oedipus females has now been reported from several colonies, but a marked parity effect (ie, differences in infant survival with the number of litters produced) is usually observed; survival of infants of primiparous females is extremely low but increases with subsequent litters. This parity effect was not observed in the captive-born breeding females in the Oak Ridge Associated Universities colony, with survival of offspring of primiparous females at 58.6%.

Effects of sibling-rearing experience on future reproductive success in two species of callitrichidae.

The survival rate for offspring of mothers who either had or did not have previous experience rearing younger siblings was compared in two callitrichid species, Callithrix jacchus and Saguinus oedipus. Offspring of mothers with sibling-rearing experience had a higher survival percentage than offspring of inexperienced mothers in both species. While 50-60% of offspring of inexperienced C.