Control of paratuberculosis: who, why and how. A review of 48 countries.

Paratuberculosis, a chronic disease affecting ruminant livestock, is caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). It has direct and indirect economic costs, impacts animal welfare and arouses public health concerns.

Comparison of cortisol and thyroid hormones between tuberculosis-suspect and healthy elephants of Nepal.

We compared cortisol and thyroid hormone (T3 and T4) concentrations between tuberculosis (TB)-suspected (n=10) and healthy (n=10) elephants of Nepal. Whole blood was collected from captive elephants throughout Nepal, and TB testing was performed using the ElephantTB STAT-PAK and DPP VetTB serological assays that detect antibodies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. bovis in elephant serum.

An endothelium-derived factor modulates purinergic neurotransmission to mesenteric arterial smooth muscle of hamster.

The interaction between the endothelium and purinergic perivascular nerves was investigated by measuring the changes in amplitude of excitatory junction potential (EJP) of smooth muscle cells in hamster mesenteric arteries (100-350 microm). Uridin-5'-triphosphate (UTP) (100 microM) applied to endothelium-intact preparations evoked a hyperpolarization of 17.0 +/- 0.

Reversible impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation in golden hamster carotid arteries during hibernation.

The effects of hibernation on endothelium-dependent vasodilatation were investigated in the golden hamster carotid artery, paying special attention to hibernating body temperature (10 degrees C). To record mechanical and electrical membrane responses, we applied pharmacological (organ bath) and electrophysiological (microelectrode) techniques, using acetylcholine (ACh; 0.001-100 microM) and ATP (0.

Multiple regulation by external ATP of nifedipine-insensitive, high voltage-activated Ca(2+) current in guinea-pig mesenteric terminal arteriole.

We investigated the receptor-mediated regulation of nifedipine-insensitive, high voltage-activated Ca(2+) currents in guinea-pig terminal mesenteric arterioles (I(mVDCC)) using the whole-cell clamp technique. Screening of various vasoactive substances revealed that ATP, histamine and substance P exert modulatory effects on I(mVDCC). The effects of ATP on I(mVDCC) after complete P2X receptor desensitization exhibited a complex concentration dependence.