High sensitivity polymerase chain reaction assay for active and latent feline herpesvirus-1 infections in domestic cats.

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed and used to detect feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) in conjunctival and oropharyngeal swabs, and in latently infected tissues (trigeminal ganglia, optic nerves, optic chiasma, olfactory bulbs and corneas) collected from 10 experimentally infected cats. There was good agreement between parallel tests of the swab specimens by PCR and virus isolation assay during the phase of acute, latent and recurrent disease episodes (kappa = 0.63, P < 0.001). The PCR reliably detected < or = 240 copies of FHV-1 template DNA, significantly improving upon previously published PCR assays for the agent.

Physiological response of 5/1 intermittent aerobic exercise and its relationship to 5 km endurance performance.

A great number of specialists and coaches believe that conventional laboratory measurements lack specificity and that more practical testing should be instituted. The majority of studies have addressed this issue by looking at the relationship between physiological variables and time trials (TT). However, few have examined the pertinence of standardized aerobic interval training (AIT) programs to a simulated race performance or time trial. We studied 23 athletes (runners and multi-sport) to determine if their performance on the track during regular strenuous intermittent workouts would be associated with the 5000 m TT. The 3 interval track workouts each totalling 4800 m with a work to rest ratio of about 5 to 1, consisted of either 12 x 400 m (15 s rest), 6 x 800 m (30 s rest) or 3 x 1600 m (60 s rest) and performed at maximal cruising speed (maxCS). Correlation coefficients between the 400, 800, 1600 m workouts and 5000 m TT were not significantly higher (0.90, 0.95, 0.93) than those for VO2max (0.84) or maximal aerobic speed (0.85). When considering only the work interval, the mean %HRmax for the AIT and TT were accomplished respectively at 97.5 and 97.3 for the runners and 95.9 and 95.7 for the multi-sport athletes. In conclusion, our results indicate that the AIT programs performed with brief rest periods during normal training periods are as capable of predicting 5000 m race performance as are laboratory measurements. Also, within the limit of this study, the 6 x 800 m (30 s rest) AIT workout seems to be a very efficient and specific manner to simulate a competitive endurance performance.

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction assay for molecular epidemiologic investigation of Pasteurella pneumotropica in laboratory rodent colonies.

After an episode of clinical Pasteurella pneumotropica infection was diagnosed in a C57BL/6N mouse, a randomly amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction assay (RAPD-PCR) was developed and used to genetically characterize and differentiate 52 field isolates and laboratory reference strains of P. pneumotropica and related bacteria. A survey of rodents in the facility recovered 36 isolates of P. pneumotropica from 30 mice, six isolates from hamsters, and three isolates from rats during the follow-up investigation. Antibiograms and routine bacteriologic evaluations for morphologic and biochemical characteristics on selective media did not substantively aid in the differentiation of these isolates, but the RAPD-PCR revealed four strains of P. pneumotropica in the colony, two of which were confined to rats and hamsters. The RAPD-PCR unambiguously differentiated Heyl and Jawetz biotypes of P. pneumotropica recovered from mice, identified two additional genetic groups for rat and hamster isolates, and clearly distinguished P. pneumotropica from related bacteria. Most field isolates were genetically consistent with the Jawetz biotype of P. pneumotropica. The RAPD-PCR is a fast, sensitive, and efficient method for identifying genetic differences between strains of the P. pneumotropica complex and can contribute substantially in addressing the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and taxonomic classification of this common opportunistic pathogen.

Alterations in lipoprotein profiles in dogs with lymphoma.

After a 12-hour fast, blood samples were obtained from 31 dogs with previously untreated lymphoma. Blood samples were also collected from 16 of these dogs after up to 5 treatments with doxorubicin (30 mg/m2 intravenously every 3 weeks). All 16 dogs underwent complete remission. Five dogs were re-evaluated after relapse and after overt signs of cancer cachexia had become clinically apparent. Samples were assayed for 8 quantitative parameters: total cholesterol (T-CH) and total triglyceride (T-TG) concentrations, and the concentration of cholesterol and triglyceride in each of the three major lipoprotein fractions, very-low-density lipoprotein (LDL-CH and LDL-TG), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-CH and HDL-TG). The results were compared with those from 20 healthy control dogs of similar weight and age before and 3 weeks after being given one dose of doxorubicin (30 mg/m2 intravenously). The administration of doxorubicin to control dogs resulted in a significant (P < .05) decrease in T-CH, LDL-CH, and HDL-CH, as well as a significant increase in VLDL-TG and HDL-TG. When compared with untreated controls, untreated dogs with lymphoma had significantly higher concentrations of VLDL-CH, T-TG, VLDL-TG, LDL-TG, and HDL-TG, and significantly lower concentrations of HDL-CH. HDL-TG and VLDL-TG concentrations from dogs with lymphoma were significantly increased above pretreatment values after relapse and development of overt signs of cancer cachexia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of dietary protein source on Basenjis with immunoproliferative enteropathy.

The effects of 3 experimental diets that varied only in the source of dietary protein (ie, poultry, cereal, red meat) were compared in Basenjis (n = 8) with immunoproliferative enteropathy and healthy Beagles (n = 8). Significant differences in fecal character, serum IgA concentration, and intestinal digestive and absorptive function were not induced by the different sources of dietary protein. The results of this study do not support a causal role for dietary protein source in the pathogenesis of immunoproliferative enteropathy of Basenjis.

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). Pentagastrin-induced gastric acid secretory capacity was increased (P less than 0.002) in group II dogs as compared to healthy Beagle controls. Gastric acid secretory capacity of Basenji dogs with gastritis and enteritis (group I) was not different from that observed in control dogs. Basal serum gastrin concentrations and secretin-stimulated serum gastrin concentrations of either group of Basenji dogs did not differ from controls. On the basis of symptomatology, Basenji dogs with diarrhea had significantly increased basal and postsecretin stimulation gastrin concentrations (P = 0.01) when compared with asymptomatic Basenji or healthy control dogs. These findings support a potential role for altered gastric acid secretory capacity in the pathogenesis of immunoproliferative enteropathy of Basenji dogs. Results of the secretin stimulation studies support previous pathologic studies that failed to detect gastrin-secreting tumors. Incorporated into this investigation was a trial to determine whether the combination of oxymorphone and acepromazine could be used for acid secretory studies. Compared to pentobarbital, which has been frequently used for acid secretory studies in a research setting, the drug combination resulted in increased gastric fluid volumes, a comparative increase in acid secretion, and a rapid uneventful recovery. We conclude that the combination of oxymorphone and acepromazine provides an acceptable means of restraint in dogs undergoing acid secretory studies.

Kinetics of IgM and IgG responses to experimental and naturally acquired Rickettsia rickettsii infection in dogs.

The kinetics of specific IgM and IgG antibody response was characterized in four 9-month-old Beagles after inoculation of 2 x 10(2) plaque-forming units (PFU) of Sheila Smith strain of Rickettsia rickettsii. Immunoglobulin M antibodies were first detected by indirect immunofluorescence on postinoculation (PI) day 9, peaked by PI day 20, and were no longer detectable by PI day 80. Immunoglobulin G antibodies became detectable between PI days 22 and 28, peaked by PI day 42, and decreased gradually through PI day 130. Subsequent challenges with R rickettsii on PI days 216 (2 x 10(2) PFU/dog) and 1,029 (5 x 10(4) tissue culture infective dose [TCID50]/dog) resulted in slightly different serologic responses. The initial challenge exposure failed to increase the concentration of IgG antibodies and induced only low concentrations of IgM antibodies. After the second challenge inoculation, IgM antibodies were not detectable and the concentration IgG antibodies increased slightly. Clinical abnormalities and seroconversion were documented in control dogs following each challenge exposure. Examination of acute and convalescent serum samples from 55 dogs in which Rocky Mountain spotted fever was suspected clinically suggested that sole evaluation of IgM antibodies in acute-phase serum would result in inaccurate diagnoses because of false-positive and -negative results. Use of a composite conjugate that detects IgM and IgG antibodies to R rickettsii appears to be satisfactory for diagnostic purposes; however, concurrent quantitation of IgM antibodies may facilitate serodiagnosis in a select group of dogs in which a four-fold increase in convalescent antibody titer is not detected by use of the composite conjugate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evaluation of citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine as a storage medium for packed canine erythrocytes.

Packed canine red blood cells (RBCs) stored in the anticoagulant-preservative solution citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine (CPDA-1) were studied at 1, 10, 20, 30, and 40 days. The extracellular concentrations of potassium and sodium, erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume, and osmotic fragility increased during storage (P less than 0.05). There was a decrease in the pH, plasma concentration of glucose, and erythrocyte concentrations of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) and adenosine-5'-triphosphate (P less than 0.05). Erythrocyte 2,3-DPG concentration decreased by 54% within the first 24 hours of storage (P less than 0.001). Posttransfusion viability (PTV) decreased from 90% on day 1 to 46% on day 40 (P less than 0.05). The PTV of the RBCs stored for 10 and 20 days complied with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standard. Although there are marked biochemical and hematologic changes in stored packed red blood cells (pRBCs), 20-day-old units may be expected to be of acceptable quality. The sharp decrease in 2,3-DPG concentration suggests a reduction in oxygen carrying capacity in erythrocytes stored as pRBCs. Hyperkalemia occurs during storage of pRBCs and does not appear to be associated with high intraerythrocytic potassium concentrations.