A Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin-B induced type 1 immediate hypersensitivity reaction in a goat.

A Nigerian dwarf goat intended for the production of antibodies to staphylococcal enterotoxin-B exhibited classical signs of a type 1 anaphylactic reaction 2 to 3 min after parenteral introduction of this antigen. The exquisite sensitivity demonstrated in concert with the pathognomonic signs appeared to make the breed and species an excellent model for the further study and interpretation of this syndrome in domestic food animals.

Flavonoids protect against T-2 mycotoxins both in vitro and in vivo.

Quercetin was able to reduce the cytotoxic effect of T-2 mycotoxin on cultured murine thymocytes. When given to mice immediately before challenge with T-2 mycotoxins, quercetin significantly reduced mortality.

Cross reactions among serogroup B meningococci assayed by kinetic complement fixation assay.

The surface antigens of five prototype serogroup B strains were investigated by a rapid turbido-haemolytic complement fixation assay. Several cross-reactions among the serotypes were detected. It is suggested that antigenic determinants accessible for antigen-antibody interaction need not be immunogenic.

Rapid rate-kinetic turbidometric assay for quantitation of viral complement-fixing antibodies.

A rapid rate-kinetic turbidometric assay for the quantitation of viral complement fixing antibodies has been developed, using adenovirus as a model. The procedure is based on the turbidometric quantitation of intact sheep erythrocytes and measures the rate of hemolysis (change in absorbance at 640 nm/min/), at maximum velocity, occurring in the presence of residual complement not fixed by the antigen-antibody reaction. Reagents were standardized and assays performed using a microprocessor-controlled spectrophotometer with kinetic assay capability and a thermoregulated cell compartment.

In vitro toxicity of T-2 mycotoxin in mouse lymphoid cells.

The in vitro toxicity of T-2 toxin towards mouse lymphoid cells prepared from spleen, thymus, peritoneal lavage and bone marrow cells was studied. Bone marrow cells were more resistant to damage by T-2 toxin than thymus, spleen and peritoneal cell preparations.