Serological analysis of Chlamydophila abortus in Australian sheep and implications for the rejection of breeder sheep for export.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the incidence of positive results in a complement fixation test (CFT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Chlamydophila abortus in Australian sheep and how this incidence differs with state of origin, age, sex, breed and property. To examine the consequences in relation to rejection of breeder sheep for export. DESIGN: Collection of blood samples from 891 sheep on 109 properties in southern Australia. All samples had a unique, coded property identification. PROCEDURE: The samples were tested using the Institut Pourquier Chlamydophila abortus antibody ELISA (rELISA) and a CFT. Residual maximum likelihood analyses of the sample to positive ratio of the corrected optical density for the rELISA and generalised linear mixed model analyses of the CFT outcomes were carried out. RESULTS: The sample to positive ratio of the corrected optical density values of the rELISA did not differ between sex, age, breed or state of origin, but differed greatly between properties. The CFT outcome did not differ between age, breed or state of origin, but differed greatly between properties and was more often positive with rams than with ewes. CONCLUSION: Positive outcomes to C. abortus antibody tests are very common in Australia. Rams have a particularly high incidence of positive results with the CFT. Rejection of sheep and property consignments is likely to be very common with all tests and situations examined except for the CFT (at 1:32 dilution) in ewes.

Lythrum hyssopifolia (lesser loosestrife) poisoning of sheep in Victoria.

OBJECTIVE: To document an ovine disease attributed to the consumption of Lythrum hyssopifolia (lesser loosestrife). PROCEDURES: Historical and histological review of field and experimental cases. RESULTS: 1-20% mortality occurred in sheep flocks grazing paddocks where L. hyssopifolia was the predominant green vegetation. Well-documented disease outbreaks occurred in summer on nine farms across Victoria between 1974 and 2002. Liver damage occurred in all nine outbreaks, with kidney damage in at least eight. Hepatocyte necrosis was usually zonal to midzonal (zone 2) in the liver samples from four farms and periacinar (zone 3) in those from three farms, but some livers showed only single-cell necrosis. Multinucleate hepatocytes near necrotic areas were a feature in six cases. Proximal tubular epithelium appeared to be the primary renal target and brown granules were often present in renal tubules. Biochemical and histological evidence of liver and kidney damage was obtained from two sheep experimentally pen-fed harvested L. hyssopifolia. CONCLUSION: Chemicals in L. hyssopifolia are toxic to ovine hepatocytes and renal tubular epithelial cells.

Comparison of ELISA and CFT assays for Chlamydophila abortus antibodies in ovine sera.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of Chlamydophila abortus antibody assays, to find a suitable serological assay for testing sheep for export. DESIGN: Comparison of results from known positive and negative sheep populations. PROCEDURE: Fifty-five positive and fifty negative sera were analysed by four enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), three using recombinant antigens based on the chlamydial polymorphic outer membrane proteins (POMP90-3, POMP90-4, POMP80-90) and one using a synthetic peptide based on chlamydial major outer membrane proteins (MOMP-P). They were also analysed by complement fixation tests (CFT) using crude antigens from chlamydia isolated from an Australian sheep, a Californian parakeet and a Texan turkey. Assay sensitivity and specificity were expressed as point estimates and 95% confidence intervals. Results were compared using McNemar's test for paired samples. RESULTS: ELISA sensitivity ranged from 70 to 98% and complement fixation test sensitivity from 60 to 96%; with POMP90-3 > POMP90-4 > CFT (parakeet) > CFT (turkey) > POMP80-90 > MOMP-P > CFT (sheep). There was no significant difference from POMP90-3 to POMP80-90 (P > 0.05). ELISA specificity ranged from 88 to 100% and CFT specificity was 100% for all three antigens; with CFT and POMP90-4 > MOMP-P > POMP80-90 > POMP90-3. There was no significant difference from CFT to POMP80-90 (P > 0.05). Changing the CFT cut-off from 1:32 to 1:4 substantially reduced the specificity with little improvement in sensitivity. CONCLUSION: Assays using POMP90-4, POMP80-90, CFT (parakeet) and CFT (turkey) had equivalent sensitivity and specificity; none of the ELISAs were more specific than any CFT. The POMP80-90 ELISA is recommended as an alternative to CFT (parakeet) but as its specificity is not ideal the search for a more specific assay should continue.

The focusing of surface acoustic waves launched from a slanted chirped transducer. II. Anisotropic substrate.

For pt.I see ibid., vol.UFFC-36, p.565-73 (1989). A characteristic feature of a slanted chirp transducer (SCT) with fingers only a few wavelengths long is that waves launched from it tend to a focus. Analytical expressions for key features of the radiation field are obtained for a linear chirp SCT on an anisotropic substrate and validated by comparison with experimental results obtained on Y-cut lithium niobate. It is found that anisotropy of velocity introduces cusps into the radiation field, giving the focal region properties comparable to those at the focus of a simple lens. Selection of the cuspoidal region combined with choice of finger length is shown to form the basis of a method of apodization.

The focusing of surface-acoustic-waves launched from a slanted chirped transducer. I. Isotropic substrate.

The focusing behavior of surface acoustic waves launched from a slanted chirped transducer (SCT) is explored using both a continuum model and a discrete model for sources associated with a linear FM chirp transducer on a substrate with isotropic properties. The continuum model leads to the prediction of an understanding of effects that would arise in the radiation field of an SCT on an isotropic substrate. It is based on a representation of the transducer as a continuum of sources, with the radiation field determined by applying the stationary phase method, and is presented for infinitesimally short fingers. It is compared with a more direct and exact but less revealing method of determining the field based on a discrete array of sources. The effects of increasing finger lengths are considered. The results are related to the focusing of radiation by a lens.