Consensus recommendations on calf- and herd-level passive immunity in dairy calves in the United States.

Passive immunity in calves is evaluated or quantified by measuring serum or plasma IgG or serum total protein within the first 7 d of age. While these measurements inform about circulating concentrations of this important protein, they are also a proxy for evaluating all of the additional benefits of colostral ingestion. The current individual calf standard for categorizing dairy calves with successful passive transfer or failure of passive transfer of immunity are based on serum IgG concentrations of ≥10 and <10 g/L, respectively. This cutoff was based on higher mortality rates in calves with serum IgG <10 g/L. Mortality rates have decreased since 1991, but the percentage of calves with morbidity events has not changed over the same time period. Almost 90% of calves sampled in the USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System's Dairy 2014 study had successful passive immunity based on the dichotomous standard. Based on these observations, a group of calf experts were assembled to evaluate current data and determine if changes to the passive immunity standards were necessary to reduce morbidity and possibly mortality. In addition to the USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System's Dairy 2014 study, other peer-reviewed publications and personal experience were used to identify and evaluate potential standards. Four options were evaluated based on the observed statistical differences between categories. The proposed standard includes 4 serum IgG categories: excellent, good, fair, and poor with serum IgG levels of ≥25.0, 18.0-24.9, 10.0-17.9, and <10 g/L, respectively. At the herd level, we propose an achievable standard of >40, 30, 20, and <10% of calves in the excellent, good, fair, and poor categories, respectively. Because serum IgG concentrations are not practical for on-farm implementation, we provide corresponding serum total protein and %Brix values for use on farm. With one-third of heifer calves in 2014 already meeting the goal of ≥25 g/L serum IgG at 24 h of life, this achievable standard will require more refinement of colostrum management programs on many dairy farms. Implementation of the proposed standard should further reduce the risk of both mortality and morbidity in preweaned dairy calves, improving overall calf health and welfare.

Proposed dairy calf birth certificate data and death loss categorization scheme.

The majority of dairy heifer calves in the United States are destined to be dairy replacements. However, many dairy heifer and bull calves die before 6 mo of age. Of these calves, about 6% (more than 500,000 calves) die at birth or shortly after (i.e., currently termed "stillbirth"). An additional 6% of dairy heifers die during the preweaning period. Death loss in dairy calves is primarily due to stillbirths, failure to adapt to extrauterine life, and infectious disease processes. The reasons for preweaning heifer calf deaths caused by infectious diseases are generally categorized based on easily recognizable clinical signs such as digestive disease/scours or respiratory disease. Most causes of calf death can be mitigated by appropriate preventive care or well-tailored treatments, meaning that the typical death loss percentage could be decreased with better management. Producers could gather information on the circumstances near birth and at death if they had appropriate guidance on what details to record and monitor. This paper provides recommendations on data to collect at the time of birth (i.e., calf birth certificate data). The recording of these critical pieces of information is valuable in evaluating trends over time in morbidity and mortality events in dairy calves. Ideally, necropsy examination would substantially improve the identification of cause of death, but even without necropsy, attribution of cause of death can be improved by more carefully defining death loss categories in on-farm record systems. We propose a death loss categorization scheme that more clearly delineates causes of death. Recommendations are provided for additional data to be collected at the time of death. Recording and analyzing birth certificate and death loss data will allow producers and veterinarians to better evaluate associations between calf risk factors and death, with the goal of reducing dairy calf mortality.

Prevalence of and factors associated with frailty and disability in older adults from China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa.

BACKGROUND: The severe burden imposed by frailty and disability in old age is a major challenge for healthcare systems in low- and middle-income countries alike. The current study aimed to provide estimates of the prevalence of frailty and disability in older adult populations and to examine their relationship with socioeconomic factors in six countries. METHODS: Focusing on adults aged 50+ years, a frailty index was constructed as the proportion of deficits in 40 variables, and disability was assessed using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0), as part of the Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Wave 1 in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa. RESULTS: This study included a total of 34,123 respondents. China had the lowest percentages of older adults with frailty (13.1%) and with disability (69.6%), whereas India had the highest percentages (55.5% and 93.3%, respectively). Both frailty and disability increased with age for all countries, and were more frequent in women, although the sex gap varied across countries. Lower levels of both frailty and disability were observed at higher levels of education and wealth. Both education and income were protective factors for frailty and disability in China, India and Russia, whereas only income was protective in Mexico, and only education in South Africa. CONCLUSIONS: Age-related frailty and disability are increasing concerns for older adult populations in low- and middle-income countries. The results indicate that lower levels of frailty and disability can be achieved for older people, and the study highlights the need for targeted preventive approaches and support programs.

Molecular evidence for deep phylogenetic divergence in Mandrillus sphinx.

Mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) are forest primates indigenous to western central Africa. Phylogenetic analysis of 267 base pairs (bp) of the cytochrome b gene from 53 mandrills of known and 17 of unknown provenance revealed two phylogeographical groups, with haplotypes differentiated by 2.6% comprising seven synonymous transitions. The distribution of the haplotypes suggests that the Ogooué River, Gabon, which bisects their range, separates mandrill populations in Cameroon and northern Gabon from those in southern Gabon. The haplotype distribution is also concordant with that of two known mandrill simian immunodeficiency viruses, suggesting that these two mandrill phylogroups have followed different evolutionary trajectories since separation.

U937 cells can utilize plasminogen activator to regulate human interferon-gamma.

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) converts the proenzyme plasminogen to plasmin and thereby contributes to processes like cell migration, tissue remodeling, and cytokine processing. We report here that uPA produced by the human U937 promonocytic cell line also initiated the inactivation of recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) by plasmin-mediated proteolysis. When cultured serum-free with plasminogen, U937 promonocytic cells generated measurable levels of plasmin activity and destroyed the antiviral activity of exogenously added rIFN-gamma. This effect was not seen in the absence of plasminogen, was prevented by inhibitors of uPA and plasmin, and was accompanied by changes in the electrophoretic mobility of rIFN-gamma on polyacrylamide gels, consistent with limited proteolysis of the lymphokine. Culturing U937 cells or blood monocytes for 48 h led to an elevated expression of their surface uPA and an increase in their capacity to produce plasmin and inactivate rIFN-gamma. The ability of rIFN-gamma to induce Fc receptors on U937 cells could also be prevented by providing the cells with a source of exogenous plasminogen, indicating that U937 cells could control their own activation in vitro through the action of uPA. The results of these studies support the conclusion that mononuclear phagocytes have the capacity to use uPA to regulate cytokine activity in vitro.

The pasteurized milk ordinance. The practicing veterinarian's role in residue avoidance.

Regulatory laws increasingly affect the decision-making process of modern dairy practitioners and their clients. The purpose of this article is to explain the labyrinthine U.S. milk regulatory policies and to attempt to clarify those procedures a practitioner should follow to avoid regulatory concerns for both their clients and themselves.

Video-based training of respite care providers: an interactional analysis of presentation format.

We conducted two studies to evaluate a video-based instructional package for training respite care providers and the role of presentation format (viewing the videotapes alone, with a partner, and with structured group training) as a contextual variable. In Study 1, the results of a within-subjects Latin square design nested within a multiple baseline showed that performance during simulated (role-played) respite care situations improved in five of the six skill areas for the 12 trainees following presentation of the videotape, with no differences between presentation formats. Correct responding generalized to respite care situations involving a developmentally disabled child, and in most cases, acquired skills were maintained for up to 6 months. In Study 2, we conducted a clinical replication of Study 1 under conditions more closely approximating those in which the training program would be implemented by respite care agencies. Results of the between-groups analysis were consistent with the findings of Study 1.

Type 6 and 19 pneumococcal polysaccharides coupled to erythrocytes elicit pneumococcal cell wall-specific primary IgM responses and capsular polysaccharide-specific secondary IgG responses.

Previous results have shown that the primary murine antibody responses to vaccine preparations of type 6 (S6; Danish type 6A) or type 19 (S19; Danish type 19F) pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides consist entirely of IgM antipneumococcal cell wall carbohydrate (PnC)-specific antibodies. No capsular polysaccharide-specific IgM antibodies were detectable by plaque-forming cell or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. In this report, antibodies specific for S6 and S19 capsular polysaccharides were induced in secondary responses to chicken erythrocyte (CRBC) conjugates of S6 and S19. Essentially all detectable IgG produced in the secondary response was capsular polysaccharide specific and included all subclasses of IgG. In contrast, all detectable IgM produced in the primary response to S6-CRBC and S19-CRBC, and the IgM produced in the secondary response to S6-CRBC was not capsular polysaccharide specific since it reacted with PnC. Thus, there is a major change in the specificity of the primary IgM response compared to the secondary IgG response of mice immunized with S6-CRBC or S19-CRBC. Injection of PnC or any PnC-containing polysaccharide prior to immunization with S6-CRBC or S19-CRBC resulted in suppression of the primary IgM response. In contrast, only the capsular polysaccharide used in the immunizing polysaccharide-erythrocyte conjugate suppressed induction of the capsular polysaccharide-specific secondary IgG response. These results suggest that S6 and S19 capsular polysaccharide-specific IgG-producing memory B cells derive from capsular polysaccharide-specific precursors which do not produce detectable antibody after primary immunization.

The practitioner's role and responsibility in residue avoidance.

Increased concern and more sophisticated testing methods make residues in dairy products or cull animals a major concern for dairy practitioners. Confusing and ever-changing regulations make compliance more difficult. This article reviews information and procedures that the author has found to be helpful.

Primary murine immunoglobulin M responses to certain pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides consist primarily of anti-pneumococcal cell wall carbohydrate antibodies.

The antibody induced in mice immunized with a vaccine preparation of type 6 (Danish type 6A) pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (S6) reacted with several chemically disparate pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides. Equivalent numbers of plaque-forming cells were observed when sheep erythrocytes coated with either S6, type 19 pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (S19), or the pneumococcal cell wall carbohydrate (PnC) were used to detect the response to S6 or to S19. The addition of exogenous PnC to the plaquing mixtures of spleen cells from S6-, S19-, or PnC-immunized mice inhibited the appearance of most (greater than or equal to 85%) of the plaque-forming cells. Furthermore, the addition of monoclonal antibody specific for the dominant (TEPC 15) idiotype of anti-phosphorylcholine (a component of PnC) antibodies also inhibited the appearance of most of the plaque-forming cells. A suppressed S19 response was induced by priming mice with a low dose of S19 or PnC 3 days before immunization with an optimal dose of S19 (low-dose paralysis). These results demonstrated that most, if not all, of the antibody stimulated by these preparations of S6 and S19 was actually induced by and was specific for PnC.