Round table on infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis virus infection diagnosis and control.

The current situation of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis infection in various European countries is reviewed. Whilst some have a high serological prevalence and use live virus vaccines to control the disease, others have a low prevalence and two countries (Denmark and Switzerland) have national eradication schemes which are almost complete. Serology remains important for diagnosis although other tests such as delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity may have a role to play. New tests such as polymerase chain reaction may find increasing application where high sensitivity is required, such as the detection of virus in semen.

An avian influenza A virus killing a mammalian species--the mink. Brief report.

During October of 1984 an influenza epidemic occurred on mink farms in the coastal region of South Sweden. Six strains of an influenza A virus were isolated. All six isolates were of the H 10 subtype in combination with N4. The H 10 subtype in combination with various N subtypes was hitherto only known to occur in avian strains, the prototype being the A/chicken/Germany/N/49 (H 10N7) virus.

Complement-dependent hemolysis following hemagglutination by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae.

When fresh guinea pig serum is added to chicken red blood cells (RBC) agglutinated by E. rhusiopathiae, the RBC lyse. This indicates that the E. rhusiopathiae-RBC complex is capable of inducing an alternative pathway of complement activation.