Effect of maternal immunity on the immune response to oral vaccination against rabies in young foxes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine effect of maternal antibodies on immune response to oral vaccination against rabies in young foxes. ANIMALS: 250 cubs from 48 vixens. PROCEDURE: Sera were obtained from cubs of 36 vaccinated (maternally vaccinated [MV+]) and 12 nonvaccinated (MV-) vixens between 23 and 71 days of age and tested for neutralizing antibodies. Seventy-one MV+ cubs and 33 MV-cubs were vaccinated orally with modified-live virus vaccine SAD B19. Geometric mean titer (GMT) was determined in these cubs approximately 21, 39, and 57 days after vaccination. In a subsequent experiment, 10 vaccinated MV+ cubs, 6 vaccinated MV- cubs, and 6 control cubs were challenge inoculated with virulent rabies virus approximately 100 days after vaccination. RESULTS: Serum GMT of nonvaccinated MV cubs (0.23 U/ml) was significantly greater than that of non-vaccinated MV- cubs (0.15 U/ml). The GMT of vaccinated MV+ cubs 21, 39, and 57 days after vaccination were 2.85, 2.11, and 0.79 U/ml, respectively, and were significantly less than those of vaccinated MV- cubs (12.19, 6.76, and 4.02 U/ml, respectively). All challenge-inoculated cubs with GMT < 0.5 U/ml succumbed to rabies. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Partially impaired immune response in cubs < 8 weeks old from vaccinated vixens causes insufficient protection against rabies. Inhibition of the immune response persists longer than the period during which maternal antibodies are detectable. Thus, oral vaccination campaigns for young foxes in areas where vaccination has been performed need to be reconsidered.

Testicular mitosis, meiosis and apoptosis in mink (Mustela vison) during breeding and non-breeding seasons.

Testes of mink were compared between the breeding (March) and non-breeding seasons with the start (November) and cessation (May) of spermatogenic activity. Testicular mass and spermatozoa per gram testis were assessed. Percentages of haploid (1C), diploid (2C) and tetraploid (4C) cells were monitored using DNA flow cytometry and the proportions of somatic and spermatogenetic cells were determined after selective labelling of somatic cells with a vimentin antibody. Apoptosis was examined by cell death detection ELISA, and testosterone concentrations were measured with an enzyme-immunoassay. The significantly higher testis mass during the breeding period coincided with higher numbers of testicular spermatozoa per gram testis and peak of testicular testosterone concentration in comparison with non-breeding periods. The proportions of 1C, 2C and 4C cells showed corresponding strong differences between these periods with the maximum of 1C cells during breeding. The proportions of testicular cells in G2-M phase of mitosis were very low during the period of peak spermatogenesis; they were markedly increased in the time of autumnal resumption in November but were even higher during testis involution in May. However. the meiotic transformation (1C:4C ratio) is maximal in March. The total as well as the relative proportions of spermatogenic and somatic cells differed significantly not only between breeding and non-breeding periods but also between the periods at the start and at the end of active spermatogenesis. The intensity of apoptosis was also seasonally dependent. The highest level in March indicates a stimulated apoptosis even during the breeding period. In conclusion, the production of spermatozoa in mink is intensified by enlargement of gonads as well as enhanced efficiency of spermatogenesis during breeding. In this time, the testosterone concentration and the meiotic transformation show high levels, but the mitotic activity of spermatogenic cells is already significantly diminished and an intensified apoptosis seems to precede the forthcoming testis involution after breeding. The results suggest that the regulation of seasonal testicular activity is characterised by co-ordinated shifts in the relationships between mitosis, meiosis, apoptosis and testosterone production.

[Morphology and biochemistry of blood of various mustelids. 4. Determination of various metabolites in the arterial plasma of mink--principles of the preparation of standard values for laboratory diagnosis in farm mink (Mustela vison Schreber, 1777)]. / Beiträge zur Morphologie und Biochemie des Blutes einiger Musteliden. 4. Mitteilung: Zur Bestimmung einiger Stoffwechselprodukte im arteriellen Nerzplasma--Grundlagen zur Erstellung labordiagnostischer Arbeitswerte für den Farmnerz (Mustela vison Schreber, 1777).

An account is first given of latest knowledge on how to determine clinico-diagnostic applicability of certain metabolites in mink plasma and serum. Then, statistically treated results obtained from analysis of levels of total protein, albumin, creatinine, urea, total cholesterin, triglyceride, and total bilirubin are tabulated and discussed, with due consideration being given to sexual dimorphism, following determination of those values from arterial plasma of 118 male and 124 female minks, aged between six and seven months and kept under anaesthesia. The following preliminary findings are somewhat worth mentioning: (a) Total cholesterin concentrations in plasma of females were found to be higher than those recorded from the males tested. However, no sex-related differences were established for any of the other parameters. (b) Creatinine, urea, and total cholesterin followed simple normal distribution. However, plasma protein concentrations exhibited no Gaussian distribution until all individual data had been logarithmically transformed. (c) In a complementary model experiment, in which the above plasma data were determined from nine male ferrets, aged between six and seven months, evidence was produced to differentiated effects of neuroleptanalgesia on metabolite concentrations.

[Morphology and biochemistry of blood of various mustelids. 3. Enzymographic studies of arterial plasma of mink (Mustela vison Schreber, 1777)]. / Beiträge zur Morphologie und Biochemie des Blutes einiger Musteliden. 3. Mitteilung: Untersuchungen zum Enzymogramm im arteriellen Plasma des Farmnerzes (Mustela vison Schreber, 1777).

Twelve different enzyme activities, which are listed and explained in greater detail in Table 2, were determined statistically secured, and discussed, following a three-year study into arterial plasma of 118 female and 124 male minks, aged between six and seven months and kept under anaesthesia. Simply normally distributed or logarithmically distributed plasma enzyme activities were found to differ primarily by sex, with other experimental conditions being identical and regular. The enzyme activities of ICDH, active CPK, and total LDH (the latter only with females) were normally distributed, whereas all the other enzymes activities tested, except for gamma-GT and SDH, were of Gaussian distribution only after logarithmic transformation of the individual values. The plasma enzyme activities of GPT, LAP, ChE, LDH1, MDH, and AP differed from those of GOT, gamma-GT, SDH, total LDH and active CPK, in that they usually exhibited highly significant sex-related differences. All minks were tranquilised and kept under general anaesthesia, using neuroleptanalgesia, but all their enzyme activities were found to vary just as widely as those reported elsewhere in literature, in the context of minks without anaesthesia. The latter result was experimentally confirmed by means of a model experiment in which enzyme activities were recorded from nine male ferrets, prior to, during, and after neuroleptanalgesia.

[Morphology and biochemistry of various Mustelidae. 2. Effect of different blood collection technics on various plasma enzyme activities in Mink (Mustela vision Schreber, 1777)]. / Beiträge zur Morphologie und Biochemie des Blutes einiger Musteliden. 2. Mitteliung: Einfluss verschiedener Blutentnahmetechniken auf einige Plasmaenzymaktivitäten vom Nerz (Mustela vison Schreber, 1777).

Blood sampling by catheterisation of the abdominal aorta to test plasma haemoglobin and various plasma enzyme activities was compared with two other blood sampling techniques and their application to farm-kept minks under general anaesthesia, cardiac puncture and tail-tip amputation. The plasma haemoglobin values in plasma obtained from the abdominal aorta were significantly lower than those recorded from the two other blood sampling techniques, which applied to plasma enzyme activities, as well. Those findings were equal for males and females. The plasma enzyme activities tested were glutamate oxalo-acetate transaminase, glutamate-pyruvate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, and malic dehydrogenase. Some plasma enzyme actvities were tested from a random sample of 164 animals for sex-dependence (88 males and 76 non-pregnant unserved females), with no consideration being given to blood sampling techniques. The standards or physiological indices derived from those tests are reported.

[Contribution to the morphology and biochemistry of mustelide blood. 1. Blood specimen collection in various mustelides with special reference to the use of the tissue adhesive "Fimomed"]. / Beiträge zur Morphologie und Biochemie des Blutes einiger Musteliden. 1. Mitteilung: Blutentnahmetechniken bei einigen Musteliden unter Berücksichtigung des Einsatzes des Gewebeklebstoffes "Fimomed".

An account is given of various techniques of blood sampling in the context of certain mustelids, including cardiopuncture, amputation of tail tip, talon cutting, incision of the ear vein, puncture of the jugular or femoral vein, and catheterisation of the abdominal aorta. Reference is made to details of use of all techniques, characteristics, advantages and potential setbacks, and preferable use of some of the tested methods to collect blood from mustela and martes species. Blood collection from the abdominal aorta may be helpful in obtaining no-haemolysis and no-additive plasma for biochemical multi-screening. Biochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological follow-up checks may be feasible under certain conditions following surgical exposure of the external jugular vein. The use of "Fimomed" (n-butylcyano-acrylate), a tissue adhesive, may help to reduce effort in terms of time and material and consequently, rationalise veterinary hygiene action as a whole, provided that the conditions for its application are observed. The skin adhesive is properly applicable to skin lesions of mustelids. A combination of suturing with adhesive should be used to close laparotomy wounds for better mechanical strength of the abdominal wall. Possible applications of "Fimomed" should be tested with other species as well.