Detection of antigenemia by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in horses with experimental Ehrlichia risticii infection.

Four horses were inoculated with Ehrlichia risticii contained in either infected murine P388 D1 cells or heparinized blood from an infected horse. All 4 horses produced serum antibody, plasma antigen, and clinical signs of the disease. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect antibody in the serum and was also used in conjunction with an anti-E. risticii monoclonal antibody to detect antigenemia. These laboratory and clinical findings were correlated to determine the efficiency of the antigen detection method for discerning E. risticii infection.

Detection of humoral antigen and antibody by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in horses with experimentally induced Ehrlichia equi infection.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect antigen in plasma and antibody in serum of 3 horses inoculated with Ehrlichia equi. Clinical signs, including rectal temperature, were correlated with the antigen and antibody detection. ELISA was very efficient in detection of serum antibody. Antigen detection using monoclonal antibodies to E. equi and ELISA should be considered as a diagnostic method.

A comparative study of interval and conventional training in thoroughbred racehorses.

Eight horses with previous racing experience were used in a comparative study of training methods for Thoroughbred racehorses. They were randomly assigned to two groups of four horses each. One group was trained using an interval training method (IT) and the other using conventional training (CT) methods. Peak heart rates, heart rate recovery curves, peak plasma lactate levels, plasma lactate clearance rates and run times were used to evaluate differences in the training methods. Peak heart rates, heart rate recovery curves, and run times were not significantly different between the groups. However, higher lactate production and increased plasma lactate clearance by the IT group demonstrated an increased anaerobic capacity.

High concentration of serum gastrin immunoreactivity and abomasal mucosal hyperplasia in calves infected with Ostertagia ostertagi and/or Trichostrongylus axei.

Parasite-free, 4-month-old-calves were inoculated with Ostertagia ostertagi and/or Trichostrongylus axei, followed 6 weeks later by inoculation with increasing doses of O ostertagi for 8 weeks in the 2 groups (n = 4) of calves that had been given O ostertagi. Gastrin immunoreactivity concentration in serum was measured before and after infection and was correlated with changes in mucosal thickness. Gastrin immunoreactivity concentration in preinoculation control sera ranged from 95.2 to 287.1 pg/ml, and increased values were measured in all parasitized calves after 15 weeks. Significantly (P less than 0.05) increased serum gastrin immunoreactivity concentration compared with the preinfection value, was found in calves infected with O ostertagi or T axei, and highly significant (P less than 0.01) values were observed in calves infected with both parasites. Abomasal mucosal hyperplasia was observed in all parasitized calves; increased mucosal thickness and mucosal cross-sectional area were most prominent in calves infected with O ostertagi and T axei.

Immunosuppression of lymphocyte blastogenesis in cattle infected with Ostertagia ostertagi and/or Trichostrongylus axei.

Twenty 4-month-old calves were infected with O ostertagi and/or T axei and the responses to phytolectins were evaluated. Whole blood cultures were incubated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM). The blastogenic response was determined by tritiated thymidine uptake with results presented as counts per minute (cpm), stimulation indices (SI) and a mononuclear cell responsive index determined by dividing the phytomitogen induced cpm by the absolute mononuclear cell number per ul. The control group results were adjusted to 100 percent and changes in the percentage difference by the parasitized calves was determined. There was a decline in lymphocyte responsiveness to PHA beginning at the time of infection. Significant depression of responses to PHA was observed in all parasitized calves 8 weeks after infection although clinical signs of parasitism did not occur. Lymphocyte responses to PW, were not different in infected calves from the control, although the O ostertagi group had significantly higher PWM mean upon than the calves infected with T. axei. A slight depression in response to Con A was also observed at 8 weeks after infection followed by a significant increase after 10 weeks. The immunosuppression appeared to be a feature of gastrointestinal parasitism and related to infections with O. ostertagi and/or T. axei.

Synergistic influence of Ostertagia ostertagi and Trichostrongylus axei on Ostertagia ostertagi larval inhibition and abomasal lesions in cattle.

Parasite-free 4-month-old calves were inoculated with Ostertagia ostertagi and/or Trichostrongylus axei followed 6 weeks later by increasing doses of O ostertagi for 8 weeks. Clinical signs of parasitism, fecal egg counts, and plasma pepsinogen concentrations were monitored, and gross lesions and parasite burdens were determined postmortem. Clinical signs of parasitism were not observed and weight gains were not affected in experimentally infected calves. In calves infected with O ostertagi, mean plasma pepsinogen concentrations were greater than for control calves and were diagnostically significant 4 weeks after inoculation and during the last 4 weeks of serial inoculations with O ostertagi. In calves that were given O ostertagi and T axei, abomasal pH was significantly increased, and abomasal lesions were more pronounced than in control calves or in calves inoculated with only O ostertagi or T axei. Abomasal lymph nodes were enlarged in all parasitized calves; other lymph nodes in the calves inoculated with both O ostertagi and T axei were usually smaller than in calves inoculated with only O ostertagi or T axei. Numbers of O ostertagi-inhibited larvae were small in all inoculated calves, but the percentage inhibition was significantly greater in calves inoculated with both O ostertagi and T axei. The percentage inhibition was 3.53% for the O ostertagi-inoculated calves and 7.07% for calves inoculated with both O ostertagi and T axei. These percentages indicated a synergistic effect of concurrent abomasal parasitism, whereas a synergistic effect on T axei worm burden was not observed. The low percentage of larval inhibition indicated that factors other than host resistance are involved in naturally occurring pretype II ostertagiosis.

A survey of adverse effects associated with ivermectin use in Louisiana horses.

In a survey of 13 Louisiana equine practices, it was determined that 366 of 3,316 horses developed adverse reactions following use of ivermectin, with 3 of the horses having more than 1 reaction. Almost all of the reactions were of minor to moderate concern; however, 1 death was reported. Three hundred and thirty-two (91% of all reactions) were reported as ventral midline pruritus or edema (10% of all doses). Fifteen (0.45%) were transient injection site swelling and/or stiffness. Eleven horses (0.33%) developed limb edema. Eyelid edema was reported in 4 horses (0.12%). Two horses (0.06%) had fever. Rate and depth of respiration was increased in 1 horse (0.03%). One horse (0.03%) became disoriented. Three horses (0.09%) developed signs of colic. One horse (0.03%) died a few minutes after injection, and 1 horse (0.03%) became depressed. The survey covered the period from March to August of 1983.