Detection of African swine fever virus by a biotinylated DNA probe: assay on cell cultures and field samples.

African swine fever virus was detected in various samples using a molecular hybridization technique. A fragment located in a constant area of the viral genome was biotin-labelled. This probe, when present at a concentration of 100 ng/ml of the hybridization solution, could detect 10 pg of target DNA immobilized on nitrocellulose with cellular DNA and RNA. The virus was evidenced after being passaged on monkey kidney cells, either 8 h post-inoculation (pi) if the multiplicity of infection (MOI) was at least 1 hemadsorbing unit (HAd) per cell, or 24 h later if the inoculum was diluted up to 10(-3) HAd per cell. When passaged on pig leukocytes with a MOI of 0.1 HAd per cell, the virus was evidenced 12 h pi, or 24 h pi with a MOI of 10(-2) HAd per cell. The probe did not hybridize with another DNA virus passaged on cells, neither did it react with non-infected blood or ham, but did so if African swine fever virus was resuspended with the samples. The spleen from uninfected pig and the lymph nodes from a pig which had died from hog cholera were found to be negative, whereas the spleen from a pig which had died of African swine fever was positive. These samples were also tested with a 32P-labelled probe whose sensitivity was 10-fold higher. A non-radioactive probe could be used both for the sensitive and specific diagnosis of African swine fever and the detection of the virus in an epidemiological survey.

Effects of treatment with smectite on gastric and intestinal glycoproteins in the rat: a histochemical study.

A histochemical study was carried out to evaluate the changes that occur in the glycoproteins of the rat digestive tract following short term treatment with a clay smectite. Staining with the usual methods for detecting complex carbohydrates and with lectin conjugates (Con A, LTA, PNA, SBA and WGA) showed that the stomach was the susceptible organ. Increased staining with LTA and SBA, together with a decrease in the abundance of sulphate groups in the upper mucous neck cells, was observed after the clay treatment. Such treatment induced only slight changes in jejunal and colonic glycoproteins while no modification was observed in the colon. These data suggest that the content of mucus-producing cells could be affected by smectite, even following short-term treatment.

Histochemical characterization of glycoproteins present in jejunal and colonic goblet cells of pigs on different diets. A biopsy study using chemical methods and peroxidase-labelled lectins.

We examined the glycoprotein composition of intestinal goblet cells in jejunal and colonic biopsies obtained from pigs on different diets. Paraffin sections were stained both chemically and with the following horseradish-peroxidase conjugated lectins: Canavalia ensiformis (Con-A), Limulus polyphemus (LPA), Lotus tetragonolobus (LTA), Arachis hypogaea (PNA), Ricinus communis (RCA1), Glycine max (SBA) and Triticum vulgaris (WGA). Using chemical staining procedures, only small quantitative differences were noted between the two organs. With respect to lectin staining, the mucus of the jejunum was characterized by the absence of Con-A binding sites, and colonic mucus consistently exhibited an absence of SBA affinity. After dietary modifications, O-acetyl sialic acid reactivity was lowered in the jejunum but was enhanced in the colon. In the jejunum, the glycoproteins became neuraminidase susceptible, whereas the colon became characterized by the absence of neutral mucins. The affinity for the tested lectins after the different diets was variable, but the most striking effects were observed after the fibreless diet (milk alone). Our data suggest the existence of marked regional variations in goblet-cell mucus and indicate significant differences between the glycoprotein components of the jejunal and colonic mucosa. Furthermore, the biosynthesis of mucins in both regions was altered by even only short-term feeding modifications.

Secretory glycoproteins of major vestibular glands (Bartholin's glands) in female calves. Studies with usual histochemical methods and with lectin-horseradish peroxidase conjugates in normal animals and in animals implanted with anabolic drugs.

The nature of mucins synthetized by the major vestibular glands of normal female calves and animals treated by anabolic drugs was investigated by usual histochemical methods and by lectin conjugate methods: Canavalia ensiformis (Con A), Limulus polyphemus (LPA), Lotus tetragonolobus (LTA), Arachis hypogaea (PNA), Ricinus communis (RCA I), Glycine max (SBA) and Triticum vulgaris (WGA). Two main secretory cell types, i.e. acinar and tubular cells, could be distinguished. The former produced sialomucins, whereas the latter produced neutral mucins. WGA and PNA showed strong binding to all secretory cells while LTA, RCA I and SBA exhibited a weaker affinity. Treatment with anabolic drugs enhanced O-acetyl sialic acid synthesis and we noted de novo synthesis of sulfomucins. However, the staining intensity of LTA was stronger than in control calves. Tubular secretory cells of treated animals revealed an intense secretion of neutral mucins but, in contrast, all tested lectins were less intensively bound. The present study provides additional histochemical information on Bartholin's glands. A shortened procedure is proposed to detect animals treated with anabolic drugs when morphological changes are lacking.

[New antigenic factors, O (O23) and H (H26), of Serratia marcescens]. / Nouveaux facteurs antigéniques O (O23) et H (H26) de Serratia marcescens.

A new O factor (O23) found in a Serratia marcescens strain of formula O23:H19, and a new H factor (H26) found in 8 strains of formula O18:H26 are described.

Effect of nosiheptide as a feed additive in chicks on the quantity, duration, prevalence of excretion, and resistance to antibacterial agents of Salmonella typhimurium; on the proportion of Escherichia coli and other coliforms resistant to antibacterial agents; and on their degree and spectrum of resistance.

In the first experiment two groups (B and D) each of ten, 15-day-old chicks were fed for 33 days a diet supplemented with nosiheptide (20 g/t) and 2 groups (A and C) of 10 each a diet without medication. Groups A and B were inoculated with Salmonella typhimurium, var. copenhagen (variant resistant to nalidixic acid of the strain DVR 101) 5 days after treatment was started. At intervals of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 21, and 28 days postinoculation the following data were collected: the number of salmonella excreted per gram of feces, their duration and prevalence of excretion, and the proportion of salmonella resistant to 9 antibacterial agents commonly used in human and veterinary medicine, as well as their degree and spectrum of resistance. In the second experiment two groups of 10 chicks each were fed either a basal diet (control group) or a diet supplemented with nosiheptide at 20 g/t (treated group). Immediately before and at the end of treatment, the proportions of fecal coliforms, particularly E. coli, which were resistant to 11 commonly used antibacterial agents, and their degree and spectrum of resistance were determined in the 2 groups of chicks. All the strains isolated before treatment started were E. coli sensitive to the 11 antibacterial agents. The strains isolated at the end of treatment were coliforms otherthan E. coli (40% in the control group, 32% in the treated group) and E. coli (60 and 68%, respectively). Coliforms other than E. coli were, as is usual, resistant to ampicillin and sensitive to the other antibacterial agents. The E. coli strains were either sensitive to all the antibacterial agents or resistant to tetracycline and furazolidone (51.8% in the control group, 34.1% in the treated group), or resistant to furazolidone alone (3.7% in the control group, 5.8% in the treated group). In both experiments these determinations showed no appreciable differences between treated and untreated chicks.

Nosiheptide, a sulfur-containing peptide antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces actuosus 40037.

Nosiheptide (9671 R.P.) isolated from Streptomyces actuosus 40037 (NRRL 2954) is a sulfur-containing polypeptidic antibiotic, quite different from all the other members of this family. Very active in vitro against gram-positive bacteria, it is inactive in vivo in experimentally infected mice. Not toxic, even at high dose, it may be used as a feed additive for chickens and pigs and it shows a favourable effect on the growth and conversion index.

[Amoebecide and trichomonacide activities of secnidazole in the laboratory]. / Activités antiamibienne et trichomonacide su secnidazole au laboratoire

A study of the experimental chemotherapeutic activity of secnidazole as compared to metronidazole is presented, including a summary of toxicity, metabolism, pharmacokinetic studies and preliminary results from clinical trials. Secnidazole is about twice as active as metronidazole against experimental amebiasis, equiactive against trichomoniasis, and possesses low toxicity. After oral administration to man, active concentrations in the blood persist much longer than in the case of metronidazole and notably longer than for tinidazole. In the clinic, its therapeutic activity against hepatic amebiasis seems to be at least equal to that of metronidazole; it appears also to be more active against acute intestinal amebiasis, and specially more effective against E. minuta and cyst carriers. Against vaginal trichomoniasis it was as effective as metronidazole after repeated administration for several days, and the percentage recovery rate was as high after one single dose as after daily administration. The digestive tolerance seems to be very satisfactory. In view of these findings, the advantages which secnidazole might possess over other 5-nitroimidazoles already in use for the treatment of amebiasis and trichomoniasis are discussed.

Emericid, a new polyether antibiotic from Streptomyces hygroscopicus (DS 24 367).

Emericid is a new polyether polycyclic ionophore antibiotic excreted by Streptomyces hygroscopicus (DS 24 367). Active in vitro against Gram-positive bacteria, it is ineffective in vivo. At a 0.006-0.02% level in the diet it protects chickens and rabbits against coccidiosis.