[The occurrence of antibodies to the glycoprotein antigen (gp70) of the enzootic leukemia virus in a leukemic herd]. / Výskyt protilátek proti glykoproteinovému antigenu (gp70) viru enzootické leukózy skotu v leukózním stáde.

The serological examination of 175 head of cattle in a herd suffering from leucosis included the study of the occurrence of antibodies to the glycoprotein antigen (gp70) of the virus of enzootic leucosis (BLV). At the same time, these antibodies were studied, as occurring in the F1 generation of the progeneis of 51 positive and 38 negative cows. The results demonstrate two important facts: increasing age brings about a higher percentage of animals having precipitating antibodies in the leucosis-affected herd; the other important finding is that the positive reaction of a cow has no significant influence on the occurrence of the antibodies in the progeny. It was found that under the actual conditions of the mentioned herd, the horizontal transmission of enzootic leucosis was predominant and that precipitating antibodies were detected by the immunodiffusion method in animals at the age from 9 to 12 months. It is desirable from the viewpoint of diagnostics and eradication of enzootic bovine leucosis to apply with utmost consistency the serological methods of examination and individual diagnostics. There is no reason for destroying whole families of animals in which the disease occurred, because no genetically conditioned occurrence of enzootic leucosis was demonstrated in the progenies of cows suffering from the disease. These facts should be respected in amending the instructions for controlling enzootic bovine leucosis.

Effect of chronic metabolic acidosis on migration activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in sheep.

Migration activity of polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes in sheep was studied using the methods of migration and chemotaxis under agarose. The experiments were performed in healthy ewes and in those with induced chronic metabolic acidosis. The length of the track of spontaneous migration of PMN leukocytes in healthy ewes was 1.75 +/- 0.65 mm and the range of chemotaxis was 3.29 +/- 0.53 mm. Induced metabolic acidosis resulted in a significant decrease of migration activity of PMN leukocytes on days 28 and 35 of the experiment. The values of spontaneous migration and range of chemotaxis were 1.24 +/- 0.28 and 2.74 +/- 0.29 mm, respectively.

[Significance of ruminal juice examination in the diagnosis of subclinical rumen dysfunction]. / Význam vysetrení bachorove tekutiny v diagnostice subklinické bachorové dysfunkce.

The suitability of the metabolic test of rumen liquor for the diagnosis of subclinical rumen dysfunction was tested. The test for the assessment of the metabolic profile of the rumen included: the determination of pH, total titration acidity in clinical units, lactic acid in mg%, fatty acids in mmol 1-1, ammonia N in mg%, urea N in mg% and the number of infusorians in 1 ml of rumen liquor. This test enabled, on the basis of the examination of rumen liquor, to determine not only the kind and form of the disease but also its cause, with an incomplete clinical syndrome. Therapeutic measures, either direct (in the rumen liquor) or indirect (adjusted monodiet) improved the health condition and provided optimum rumen fermentation of permanent character. The resuption of rumen fermentation also enabled an increased production of fatty acids which favourably influenced the content of butterfat in milk.

[Immunoenzyme detection of enzootic bovine leukemia viruses (BLV) in cell cultures]. / Imunoenzymatický prukaz viru enzootické leukózy skotu (BLV) v bunecných kulturách.

There is a description of the method of immunoenzymic test used for detection of enzootic bovine leukosis virus (BLV) on the cells of foetal lamb spleen (FLS) permanently producing BLV and on the lymphocytes of infected animals. In both cases (in FLS cells and lymphocytes) the presence of BLV was demonstrated by the immunoperoxidase test. Using the defined serums from the animals after experimental and natural infection, BLV was detected by the above-mentioned test in FLS cells in all cases of the use of positive serums with anti-BLV antibodies. The specificity of the antibodies was also demonstrated in this way. The presence of BLV was analogically detected in the lymphocytes of the infected animals where the infection time was precisely defined. The method of immunoperoxidase test on lymphocytes is recommended in indicated cases for the demonstration of the presence of BLV in infected animals.

[First report of demodicosis in goats in the Czech Republic]. / První nálezy demodikózy koz v Ceské republice.

The first case of demodectic (Acari: Demodecidae) mange in the Czech Republic was diagnosed in a domestic White Shorthaired goat hospitalized in our clinic. A total of 128 solid protruding nodules, similar in size to lens or pea, were found on lateral parts of the neck and trunk and on proximal part sof the limbs. A pasty, creamy mass containing immature and adult mites could be pressed out of the nodules. Parasitological examinations identified the mites as Demodex caprae Railliet, 1895 (Fig. 1). Antiparasitic treatment was started with the pyrethroid deltamethrine (Butox 7.5 Pour On, Roussel Uclaf) although demodectic mange is not given in the spectrum of its applications. Ten ml of the drug were poured onto the back of the animal twice within an interval of 7 days. The next drug tested was another pyrethroid, Neostomosan sol. ad us. vet. (Sanofi Santé Animale) containing tetramethrine and transmix as the effective ingredients and recommended by the manufacturer for the treatment of canine and feline demodicosis. The animal was bathed twice within an interval of 14 days in a 1 : 400 dilution as recommended by the manufacturer. The mites survived the treatments with both drugs and their motility was not affected. The size of nine of the nodules (4.5 to 6.8 mm), measured before and after the treatments, remained unchanged. The third drug tested was amitraz (Taktic, Hoechst) known to be effective against canine demodicosis (Ectodex, Hoechst). Seven baths with 10-day intervals in the drug diluted 1 : 400 resulted in the decrease of the number of nodules to 83 (by 35.2%). The diameters of 7 of the measured nodules diminished by approx. 1.6 mm. No movements of the mites were observed on Day 56 after the treatment, but the immature stages probably survived because new nodules and allergy developed after the patient had been released from the clinic. The unsatisfactory effect of amitraz can be explained by the limited penetration of the drug into the nodules surrounded by fibrous tissue. Demodectic mange was subsequently diagnosed in one highly pregnant animal housed together with the patient. Further cases of demodicosis were detected by intentional examinations in the districts of Nový Jicín and Olomouc (three cases in the latter). It is apparent that the infection may remain undetected at current health checks, although it is world-wide spread and causes considerable losses to the hide-and-skin industry.

[Detection of enzootic bovine leukemia virus using the syncytium test]. / Prükaz viru enzootické leukózy skotu (BLV) syncytiálním testem (SyT).

BLV detection by the syncytial test was performed in 27 heifers experimentally and naturally infected by the enzootic bovine leukosis virus (BLV). The presence of BLV was demonstrated in 94.7% of the animals. The bovine foetal spleen cells (FBS) were found to be suitable for the syncytial test. Positive animals not reacting to infection by the production of anti-BLV antibodies were identified during the syncytial-test investigation. The importance of this finding for the programme of controlling enzootic bovine leukosis on farms is discussed. As suggested by the results, temporary occurrence of anti-BLV antibodies followed by their disappearance can be observed together with a negative result of the syncytial test in some circumstances. The discussion deals with the problems of the determination of anti-BLV antibodies in milk, and/or milk secretion, by the ELISA method.

[Experimental and natural infection with the enzootic leukosis virus of cattle]. / Experimentální a prirozená infekce virem enzootické leukózy skotu (BLV).

A trial was performed with heifers at the age of six to seven months. The animals were experimentally infected with the lymphocytes of a virus-productive donor. Infection was produced in all the nine cases, as demonstrated by means of the positive syncytial test. As indicated by the results of the trial, the antibodies to the enzootic bovine leucosis virus (BLV) were produced soon after experimental infection. A high sensitivity of the serum-neutralization test and the ELISA method was demonstrated in this connection: by these methods, the antibodies were identified already two to three weeks after experimental infection whereas by the immunodiffusion test they could be detected only after five weeks. Twenty-four animals were exposed to natural contact infection. Within 270 days of the trial, the disease after contact was recorded only in one heifer out of the four that were in close contact with the experimentally infected animals. In this case, as compared with experimental infection, the antibodies were produced much later--after 85 to 93 days. Leucosis was recorded in none of the remaining animals. The reasons why such a favourable result was obtained were the thorough disinfection of the stables after blood collections and the strict observance of the aseptic conditions. The results of experimental infection in three cows were identical with those obtained in young cattle. In the experimentally infected dairy cows, antibodies in milk were determined by the ELISA method. As found, in milk the antibodies to BLV appear two to three weeks later than they do in serum. The ELISA method of BLV antibody detection can be used for the identification of infected animals in herds where enzootic bovine leucosis occurs.

[Radioimmunologic detection of antibodies to bovine leukemia virus]. / Radioimunologický prukaz protilátek proti viru leukózy skotu.

The radioimmunologic assay (RIA) was elaborated for a demonstration of serum antibodies to bovine leukosis virus. The procedure makes use of the viral antigen bond to the fixed phase of a polystyrene carrier. The method was compared with the ELISA method and pseudoneutralizing and immunodiffusion tests. High congruence of the results of the RIA and ELISA methods was achieved, making 95%. The RIA method is more sensitive than the immunodiffusion test.