Questioning the utility of pooling samples in microarray experiments with cell lines.

We describe a microarray experiment using the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line in two different experimental conditions for which the same number of independent pools as the number of individual samples was hybridized on Affymetrix GeneChips. Unexpectedly, when using individual samples, the number of probe sets found to be differentially expressed between treated and untreated cells was about three times greater than that found using pools. These findings indicate that pooling samples in microarray experiments where the biological variability is expected to be small might not be helpful and could even decrease one's ability to identify differentially expressed genes.

RGB calibration for color image analysis in machine vision.

A color calibration method for correcting the variations in RGB color values caused by vision system components was developed and tested in this study. The calibration scheme concentrated on comprehensively estimating and removing the RGB errors without specifying error sources and their effects. The algorithm for color calibration was based upon the use of a standardized color chart and developed as a preprocessing tool for color image analysis. According to the theory of image formation, RGB errors in color images were categorized into multiplicative and additive errors. Multiplicative and additive errors contained various error sources-gray-level shift, a variation in amplification and quantization in camera electronics or frame grabber, the change of color temperature of illumination with time, and related factors. The RGB errors of arbitrary colors in an image were estimated from the RGB errors of standard colors contained in the image. The color calibration method also contained an algorithm for correcting the nonuniformity of illumination in the scene. The algorithm was tested under two different conditions-uniform and nonuniform illumination in the scene. The RGB errors of arbitrary colors in test images were almost completely removed after color calibration. The maximum residual error was seven gray levels under uniform illumination and 12 gray levels under nonuniform illumination. Most residual RGB errors were caused by residual nonuniformity of illumination in images, The test results showed that the developed method was effective in correcting the variations in RGB color values caused by vision system components.

Efficacy of an in-feed formulation of ivermectin against adult worms and somatic larvae of Strongyloides ransomi.

The efficacy of an in-feed formulation (IVOMEC premix) containing 0.6% ivermectin was tested against Strongyloides ransomi in swine. The efficacy of ivermectin against patent infections of S. ransomi when given via the feed at 2 ppm for 7 days (Days 0-7) to provide 100 mcg ivermectin kg-1 body weight day-1 was evaluated in a study with 16 3-month-old male castrated piglets. Seven days prior to treatment each piglet was infected subcutaneously with 2500 infective larvae of S. ransomi. Fecal egg counts were carried out on Days -7, 0, 7 and 14, and worm counts on Day 14. Efficacy was 100% in all treated piglets. Two trials involving 40 pregnant gilts were carried out to evaluate the efficacy of ivermectin against the somatic larval stages of S. ransomi when given at a daily dose of 100 mcg kg-1 body weight for 7 days starting on Days 66, 78, 92 or 103 of pregnancy. The gilts were each experimentally infected with three subcutaneous injections of 250,000 infective larvae, with the last infection given between 12 and 30 days prior to commencement of treatment. Gilts were confirmed free of pre-existing intestinal stages of S. ransomi prior to ivermectin treatment. Fecal nematode egg counts were carried out in gilts/sows and piglets subsequently born. The Strongyloides larvae present in sow milk 1, 2 and 7 days post partum were counted. Fourteen days post natum, worm counts were performed in four randomly selected piglets for each litter. IVOMEC premix given to pregnant gilts prevented shedding of larvae in sow milk, egg output in feces and the establishment of S. ransomi in piglets.

Efficacy of oxfendazole against Nematodirus battus and inhibited stages of sheep nematodes.

Oxfendazole administered at a dose rate of 5 mg/kg was 100 per cent effective against artificially acquired seven-day-old and 23-day-old infections of Nematodirus battus in lambs. At the same dose rate it was 100 per cent effective against naturally acquired infections of adult Trichostrongylus spp, adult and arrested early fourth stage larvae of Haemonchus contortus and Nematodirus spp. Efficacy against Ostertagia spp was 99 to 100 per cent against adults and 100 per cent against inhibited larvae, the predominant species of this genus being O circumcincta.

Seasonal variations in the gastro-intestinal nematode populations of Scottish hil sheep.

In each of two consecutive years, groups of breeding ewes were removed from a hill farm in the west of Scotland on four occasions, namely late pregnancy, early lactation, autumn and early winter. At slaughter the major nematode genus present in the alimentary tract was Ostertagia, with O circumcincta the predominant species but three species previously found in Scottish hill sheep, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, Strongyloides papillosis and Chabertia ovina were absent. An absolute increase in total nematode burden and faecal egg count was apparent in the ewes commencing in late pregnancy, reaching a maximum during lactation and falling again in autumn and early winter. This peri-parturient increase in the nematode population could not be solely attributed to the maturation of previously inhibited larval stages but was primarily the result of the development of recently ingested infection; the latter situation thought to be due to a temporary relaxation of immunological response by the ewe at parturition or early lactation. Serum pepsinogen values in ewes remained elevated throughout the grazing season and were always higher than those of their lambs, suggesting that the ewe, although allowing few parasites to become established, was under considerable challenge in the autumn. The worm burdens of the lambs were always low in autumn and early winter with Ostertagia spp being the major genus present during the autumn and Trichostrongylus spp being the predominant genus during the early winter.

Oxfendazole efficacy in calves: a comparison of oral and intraruminal route of administration.

Twenty-seven calves of the Dutch Friesian breed were housed after their first grazing season and divided into 3 groups, each of 9 animals. Two of the groups were treated with oxfendazole 9.06 per cent suspension administered either orally or intraruminally, whilst the third group was retained as an untreated control. No differences in efficacy were observed between the two treated groups and oxfendazole administered by either route was 100 per cent effective in removing adult populations of the major strongylids and trichostrongylids present.

The efficacy of oxfendazole administered as a bolus compared with a drench formulation.

In a flock of 40 ewe lambs of the Texel breed the anthelmintic oxfendazole was tested in two different formulations, a 2.265 per cent suspension and a 4 gram bolus containing 151 mg active ingredient. All treatments were based on a dose rate of 5 mg/kg body weight. Faecal examinations and larval differentiations were carried out on the day of treatment and two and seven days later. No differences in efficacy were apparent between the two treated groups. Oxfendazole in either formulation was 100 per cent effective in removing the major strongylids and trichostrongylids. A lower activity was seen against Strongyloides papillosus.

The common diarrhoeas of sheep in Britain.

As every sheep farmer knows, diarrhoea is of common occurrence in animals of all ages in his flock. In lambs it can result in sigificant mortality while in older animals growth rates are reduced and weight loss can occur. Although diarrhoea can be an incidental finding in many sheep diseases, particularly in their terminal stages, only on those conditions are commented on in which diarrhoea is the predominant feature of the clinical syndrome. The subject is discussed below on both an age and seasonal basis and, if an initial assumption is made that lambing takes place at the traditional March/April period, animals will be increasing in age as the seasons progress. Thus the sequence commences in the spring with the young lamb and concludes the following winter with the adult.

Anthelmintic activity of paste and drench formulations of oxfendazole in horses.

Oxfendazole was administered in paste or drench formulations to groups of five horses carrying naturally acquired worm burdens. At a dose rate of 10 mg/kg the efficacy of either formulation appeared similar. One hundred per cent of the adult populations of the following genera was removed: Parascaris, Oxyuris, Strongylus (S edentatus, S vulgaris), Triodontophorus and Trichostrongylus axei. Efficacy against adult small strongyles, adult Habronema microstoma and immature Oxyuris equi was in the region of 96 to 99 per cent. The level of efficacy against immature small strongyles was at least 74 to 75 per cent, against fourth stage larvae of S vulgaris in the mesenteric arteries between 83 and 88 per cent and against fourth stage S edentatus in flank lesions between 97 and 99 per cent. Early fifth stage sheathed S vulgaris larvae in arteries were less susceptible. The drug failed to remove very young parascaris and habronema and had no effect against Anoplocephala perfoliata and various instars of Gasterophilus intestinalis and G nasalis. Hatching tests on strongyle eggs passed in the faeces indicated that 24 hours must elapse before all become sterile.

An economic appraisal of helminth parasites in sheep.

The economic effects of the common helminth parasites of sheep are described and the current methods of prophylaxis adopted by sheep farmers in the United Kingdom reviewed. More efficient prophylactic programmes are outlined and the economic benefit accruing from two programmes designed to control fascioliasis and parasitic gastroenteritis are presented in detail.

An evaluation of the efficacy of oxfendazole against the common nematode parasites of the horse.

In a controlled trial in naturally-infected young ponies, oxfendazole administered orally at dose-rates of 10 mg per kg and 50 mg per kg resulted in complete elimination of Trichostrongylus axei, Parascaris equorum, Oxyuris equi and adult Strongylus vulgaris. Also, all migrating Strongylus edentatus larvae recovered from the subperitoneal tissues of the flank were found to be dead. Minimum efficiencies of 99.8 per cent and 99.1 per cent were obtained against adult small strongyles (Trichonema spp) and 97.6 per cent and 100 per cent of developing small strongyle larvae at dose-rates of 10 mg per kg and 50 mg per kg respectively. Although the arterial lesions caused by migrating S vulgaris larvae were less severe in the treated compared with the untreated animals, reductions in mean larval numbers over controls were only in the region of 49 to 59 per cent.

A modified refractometer method as a practical aid to the epidemiological investigation of disease in the neonatal ruminant.

A refractometer method for use on the farm, by the practising veterinary surgeon, to allow estimation of immunoglobulin levels of neonatal calf and lamb plasma is described. The results show that a good correlation exists between values obtained by this method and those obtained by the standard zinc sulphate turbidity method.

Anthelmintic activity of oxfendazole in pigs.

Eighty-five pigs were artificially infected with Hyostrongylus rubidus, Oesophagostomum species and Ascaris suum. On days 2, 10, 20 or 51 after infection groups of six were treated with oxfendazole premix in food at various dose rates. Subsequently the pigs were slaughtered for comparative worm counts to be made in treated and control animals. The efficacy of treatment against hyostrongylus worms of increasing age was 68, 57, 99.8 and 100 per cent after a 3 mg per kg dose, 75, 75, 99.8 and 100 per cent after a 4.5 mg per kg dose and 81, 83, 99.8 and 100 per cent after a 6 mg per kg dose. In the case of Oesophagostomum species the corresponding figures were 78, 100, 100 and 100 per cent efficacy after a 3 mg dose, 93, 100, 100 and 100 per cent after a 4.5 mg per kg dose and 91, 99, 100 and 100 per cent after a 6 mg per kg dose. Ascaris infestation established too poorly for significant results to be obtained. It is concluded that a dose rate of 4.5 mg oxfendazole per kg body-weight should give practical control of Hyostrongylus and Oesophagostomum species in pigs.

Type II ostertagiasis in adult cattle.

During the spring of 1975 outbreaks of ostertagiasis affecting adult cattle were recorded from several beef herds. Two of these outbreaks, one involving an autumn calving herd and the other spring calving, were investigated in detail. The clinical, biochemical, haematological, parasitological and pathological findings are described and were similar to those characteristic of type II ostertagiasis in immature cattle.

Induction of parturition in swine with the prostaglandin analogue fenprostalene.

Ninety-one to 100 per cent of pregnant sows injected with 0.25, 0.5 or 1 mg of fenprostalene on days 112, 113 or 114 of gestation began to farrow within 30 hours of treatment, the majority during working hours on the day after injection. Induction of farrowing had no significant effect on the piglets' viability, the litter weight or the subsequent sow or litter performance. Treatment of sows with fenprostalene and oxytocin on day 114 of pregnancy resulted in a reduction in duration of farrowing compared with fenprostalene alone.