Characterization of the semen microbiota of healthy stud dogs using 16S RNA sequencing.

The reproductive microbiota of male dogs has never been investigated using culture-independent sequencing techniques. The purpose of the present study was to get seminal knowledge on the microbiota of the ejaculate. Specifically, factors as the fraction of the ejaculate, the sperm quality (normospermia, teratozoospermia), and the living environment were evaluated. The sperm-rich and the prostatic fractions of the ejaculate were collected from healthy stud dogs. Following the sperm analysis, samples from twenty animals (normospermic n = 10 and teratozoospermic n = 10) were stored at - 80 °C until further processing including DNA extraction and 16S rRNA sequencing. Alpha- (Shannon index) and beta- (Bray-Curtis, Unweighted UniFrac) diversities were assessed and compared (PERMANOVA) based on the group of samples (biological samples from the ejaculate and controls), the fraction of the ejaculate (sperm-rich and prostatic fractions), the animal group (normospermia and teratozoospermia), and the living environment of the animal (kennel or pet living in-house). The most abundant bacterial phyla in canine semen samples were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. Overall, the dominant bacterial family was that of Pasteurellaceae The genus Mycoplasma was never detected. No differences in terms of bacterial composition were found based on the fraction of the ejaculate and based on the animal group (P > 0.05). On the other hand, differences in alpha and beta diversities were highlighted based on the living environment (P = 0.001). Overall, the results of the present study provide preliminary insights on dog semen microbiota, opening a new chapter in the field of canine andrology. Our results suggest that the environment may play a role in influencing the reproductive microbiota of male dogs and that the prostatic fraction of the ejaculate can be used for further research as a representative of the semen microbiota.

[The effectiveness of LTF 130 Trichophyton vaccine under field conditions]. / Een onderzoek naar de werkzaamheid van het trichofytie-vaccin LTF 130 onder praktijkomstandigheden.

The preventive action of ringworm vaccine LTF 130 was studied in calves. A number of these calves were found to develop ringworm despite vaccination when they came into contact with infected animals during the build-up of immunity. The incidence of ringworm was reduced when the animals were vaccinated at an early age or when the dosage was increased on vaccination later in life.

Antigenic and biological characterisation of avian paramyxovirus type I isolates from pigeons--an international collaborative study.

During 1981-1983 a disease of pigeons (Columba livia), characterised predominantly by nervous signs, spread across Europe. In the present study 57 viruses isolated from pigeons from 15 countries (12 European, Japan, Israel and Sudan) were characterised. All were shown to be avian paramyxoviruses of the A/PMV-1 serotype. Monoclonal antibody binding tests showed 53 of the viruses to be identical. The virus from Sudan was similar to these viruses but showed distinguishable variation. One vaccinal virus from France and two virulent viruses from Czechoslovakia were unrelated to the other pigeon A/PMV-1 isolates.

Protective effects of inactivated Pasteurella vaccines in specific pathogen free rabbits.

Different inactivated P. multocida vaccines were investigated for their protective capacities against experimental infection with virulent P. multocida strains in SPF rabbits. It was found that bacterins without adjuvant and bacterins combined with the adjuvants tested provoked immunity against aerosol infection with homologous strains. However, most bacterins tested caused local tissue irritation. Further work was done with oil adjuvant vaccines because lesions were less severe with this type of vaccine. Some of the multicomponent vaccines tested gave good immunity against heterologous infection, while others did not.

Mycological and clinical observations on ringworm in cattle after treatment with natamycin.

A total of 41 calves which were naturally infected with Trichophyton verrucosum were treated with natamycin used as a total body spray. Ten other infected animals were not treated and considered as control animals. Clinical observation and mycological examination show partial improvement to complete recovery with simultaneous sterilisation of the infected skin areas. Five to six weeks after treatment, 88 per cent of the treated animals had recovered or showed a distinct improvement, 65 per cent had a negative culture. After 11 to 12 weeks these percentages were 95 and 91, respectively. All controls yielded a positive culture during the whole observation period. The method used for the detection of the presence of Trich verrucosum in skin scrapings and hairs permitted accurate diagnosis in as little as two to five days.

Kinetics of serum and local haemagglutination inhibition antibodies in chicks following vaccination and experimental infection with Newcastle disease virus and their relation with immunity.

Broiler chicks were vaccinated against Newcastle disease (ND) by nebulisation of live La Sota vaccine, or by intramuscular administration of inactivated oil emulsion vaccine. Local haemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibodies were detected in spray vaccinated chicks but not in those vaccinated intramuscularly. Initially local HI-titres in trachea, tears and saliva behaved in the same way as the serum HI-titre, but after maximum levels were reached approximately 10 days after vaccination, local HI-titres waned to levels that were no longer detectable after 4 weeks. Challenge exposure with velogenic Newcastle disease virus (NDV), showed that high post-vaccinal serum HI-titres were correlated with complete resistance to clinical disease but not to infection, as indicated by the prevention of virus multiplication in the trachea and also by the post-challenge serum HI-titres. Resistance to infection was only detected in spray vaccinated chicks. No relation was found between local HI-titres and resistance to experimental infection with velogenic NDV.

[Natamycin-S treatment of ringworm in cattle. Epidemiological aspects (author's transl)]. / De behandeling van trichophytie van het rund met natamycin-S

At a test centre for bulls the progress of a ringworm infection was studied. By treating only the affected animals with natamycin-S the progress of the disease as well as the spreading of the infection among untreated animals could be studied. By treating only the affected animals with natamycin-S the progress of the disease as well as information could be gathered on the difference of progress of the infection in both groups and also of the role of possible immunity.

Cutaneous geotrichosis in the red flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber).

In three flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber), which died showing extensive necrotic inflammation of the skin of the webs and the legs, the presence of abundant mycelium and arthrospores was shown in the altered dermis and epidermis. From all the lesions Geotrichum Candidum was isolated in pure culture. Inoculation of suspensions of the fungus into domestic chickens and mice produced granulomas or more purulent nodules with central growth of abundant mycelium. From 20 of 28 experimental animals, G. candidum was reisolated from the lesions in pure culture 2 weeks after the inoculation. It is suggested that alteration of the skin by e.g., prolonged contact with pondwater, the presence of small wounds and the advanced age of the birds, acting as predisposing factors may be necessary in establishing this disease.

Newcastle disease: effects of vaccines and vaccination techniques of hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibodies and clinical resistance.

Different vaccines (the lentogenic Hitchner-, the avirulent Ulster- and the mesogenic Beaudette strain) and different vaccination schemes (spray, dip, drinking water) were used in 1380 broiler-type chicks on the first day of life and at four weeks. In all these experiments an immunity status was induced sufficient to resist to a strong individual challenge infection, two weeks after the second vaccination. This uniform resistance showed no correlation with the very heterogeneous HI titers which were obtained two weeks after the second vaccination. The titers were, however, strongly dependent both of the vaccine strain used and on the vaccination method. The Beaudette spray-vaccinations provoked the highest titers. The highest post-challenge titers were seen after vaccinations with the lentogenic and avirulent strains and the lowest after-challenge titers were seen when the mesogenic Beaudette strain was used. Birds with high HI titers showed a marked decrease of these HI titers two weeks after challenge, while there was an increase of HI titers in birds with low post-vaccinal titers. It may be concluded that clinical resistance to NCD infection is not directly correlated with high-vaccinal HI titers. Experimental infection by natural route is essential to judge the immune status of fowls.