Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: K. Kovařčík Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Title: The development and application of an indirect Elisa test for the detection of antibodies to bovine respiratory syncytial virus in blood serum Abstract: We developed an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of serum antibodies to bovine respiratory syncytial virus. For evaluation of the newly developed ELISA, field sera collected from 549 head of cattle in the Czech Republic were tested in parallel by a serum neutralization test. The tests showed 98.36% agreement. The specificity and sensitivity of the ELISA relative to serum neutralization test was 97.00% (226/233) and 99.37% (314/316), respectively. Tissue culture-grown viral antigen was used in the tests. The corrected optical density (COD) of each sample tested at dilution 1/100 was expressed as a percentage of the COD of a positive reference serum included on each plate, this value was the sample/positive (S/P) ratio. We determined the relationship between the S/P ratio (%) obtained at a dilution 1/100 and the end point titer calculated by serum neutralization test (r = 0.9743). The ELISA test was evaluated by testing acute and convalescent (3 wk later) serum pairs from 9 head of cattle with confirmed BRSV infection for demonstration of seroconversion. The ELISA test demonstrated a clear increase of the S/P ratio (%) between acute and convalescent serum pairs (on average 42.2 ± 13.1). Keywords: bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), respiratory tract pathogen, cattle, ELISA Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 29-34 Volume: 46 Issue: 2 Year: 2001 DOI: 10.17221/7848-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7848-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200102-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:46:y:2001:i:2:id:7848-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Z. Věžník Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: O. Matoušková Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: D. Švecová Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: A. Zajícová Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Title: The use of the computer technology for the evaluation of the strict morphological sperm analysis Abstract: A programme for evaluating the strict morphological analysis of sperm was developed. The programme was verified by conducting 552 morphological analyses of bull, stallion, boar and human ejaculates. The method was evaluated by comparing the results obtained by routinely used morphological examinations with the results received by the automatic method SASMO. The following advantages of the programme were demonstrated: it is possible to obtain information on the proportion of normal and pathological spermatozoa, to determine the frequency of the respective characteristics analysed, to express detected alterations per pathological spermatozoon (teratosperm index), to express frequency of respective alterations per total number of spermatozoa examined, to display alterations according to their frequency and differentiate between developmental and acquired alterations. It was proved that using the detailed morphological evaluation of sperm by the survival test, it is possible to get statistically significant information on the prediction of sperm survival. The programme represents an important aid for making the morphological evaluation of sperm quality more objective both in veterinary and human medicine and in all insemination stations and assisted reproduction centres. Keywords: bull, stallion, boar, human, diagnosis, spermatology, morphology, strict method Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 35-40 Volume: 46 Issue: 2 Year: 2001 DOI: 10.17221/7849-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7849-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200102-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:46:y:2001:i:2:id:7849-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: V. Tančin Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Physiology, FML TU Munich, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany Author-Name: D. Schams Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Physiology, FML TU Munich, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany Author-Name: W.-D. Kraetzl Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Physiology, FML TU Munich, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany Author-Name: J. Mačuhová Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Physiology, FML TU Munich, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany Author-Name: R.M. Bruckmaier Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Physiology, FML TU Munich, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany Title: Release of oxytocin, prolactin and cortisol in response to extraordinary suckling Abstract: The aim of this trial was to clarify whether suckling after several weeks of only machine milking can affect the release of oxytocin, cortisol and prolactin in dairy cows. In total twelve Brown Swiss cows on their first to third lactation were used. Pre-experimental period: all cows were suckled three times daily (9.00, 14.00 and 20.00) and milked twice daily (7.00 and 17.30) in tie housing during the first 5 days postpartum. Afterwards the calves were separated and moved to another building. The cows were moved to loose housing and milked in the dairy parlour within the same stable. Experimental period: after four weeks of only machine milking twice daily, cows were relocated from the herd to the same place as they were housed and milked during their postpartum period. The cows were again suckled on day 3 and 4 after relocation at the same time as above. Oxytocin, cortisol and prolactin levels were evaluated during the first suckling on day 3 (9.00) and during suckling at the same time next day (4th suckling) after relocation. Oxytocin secretion was clearly inhibited in all cows during the first five minutes of suckling with tendency of slow increase during the next minutes of suckling (suckling lasted about 10 min) except for two primiparous cows showing an increase of oxytocin release from the first minute of suckling. The release of oxytocin in response to the 4th suckling significantly increased immediately after start of suckling. Both, cortisol and prolactin significantly increased in response to all sucklings. There were significantly higher prolactin and lower cortisol values during the first suckling as compared with the fourth suckling in primiparous but not in multiparous cows. Keywords: dairy cows, suckling, oxytocin, prolactin, cortisol Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 41-45 Volume: 46 Issue: 2 Year: 2001 DOI: 10.17221/7850-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7850-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200102-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:46:y:2001:i:2:id:7850-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: P. Alexa Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Reseach Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: K. Štouračová Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Reseach Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Hamřík Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Reseach Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: I. Rychlík Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Reseach Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Gene typing of the colonisation factor K88 (F4) in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrhoeic piglets Abstract: More than 4 000 E. coli strains isolated from diarrhoeic piglets in 111 pig herds in the Czech Republic during the period 1995-2000 were examined for serogroup and virulence factors. Gene typing of the K88 marker by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for the examination of 283 enterotoxigenic strains (ETEC) which agglutinated with antisera against K88 or adhered to intestinal brush borders. The K88 gene was detected in 237 strains; among them 232 strains possesed the K88 variant. Genotype K88ab was found in two strains of the serogroup O8 from one herd and the gene K88ad was detected in three strains of the serogroup O8 originating from another herd. The results show that the type K88ac is predominant in ETEC strains with colonisation factors K88 in pig herds in the Czech Republic. Keywords: K88, F4, PCR, colonisation factor, adhesins, piglet, diarrhoea Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 46-49 Volume: 46 Issue: 2 Year: 2001 DOI: 10.17221/7851-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7851-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200102-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:46:y:2001:i:2:id:7851-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: D. Molinková Author-Workplace-Name: University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Czech Republic Title: Purification of Escherichia coli-expressed HIS-tagged Maedi-Visna p25 core antigen by Ni2+-chelate affinity chromatography Abstract: In this study, recombinant histidine tagged p25 capsid protein of Maedi-Visna virus was developed. Part of the viral genome coding p25 protein was positioned downstream and in frame with a metal binding domain in pRSET-B vector. Recombinant protein was expressed in E. coli cells and soluble fraction of the protein was subsequently purified by Ni2+-chelate affinity chromatography. Purified protein was then used as antigen in an indirect ELISA test. One hundred fifty ovine serum samples were screened for antibodies to p25 protein of the virus. Immunoblot with whole virus antigen was used as a gold standard. The total number of positive results in the ELISA was 38 (25.33%). Immunoblot failed to confirm a positive result in 2 (1.33%) of them and these results were therefore considered to be false positive. The number of true positive results in the ELISA was thus 36 (24%). All immunoblot positive samples were also positive by ELISA test. In conclusion, recombinant His-tagged capsid protein showed very high sensitivity and specificity in detecting antibodies to Maedi-Visna virus. Keywords: lentivirus, recombinant antigen, ELISA, immunoblo Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 50-54 Volume: 46 Issue: 2 Year: 2001 DOI: 10.17221/7852-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7852-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200102-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:46:y:2001:i:2:id:7852-VETMED Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Sz. Jánosi Author-Workplace-Name: Central Veterinary Institute, Budapest, Hungary Author-Name: G. Huszenicza Author-Workplace-Name: Central Veterinary Institute, Budapest, Hungary Title: The use of the dry cow therapy in the control of bovine mastitis Abstract: After introducing the dry or nonlactating period of the cows the authors give a survey about the aims of the dry cow therapy. They show the main requirements of dry cow intramammary preparations and the possible use of systemic therapy. The adverse effects of dry cow therapy and the selective dry cow therapy are discussed. In the end some practical aspects of the dry cow therapy are highlighted. Keywords: mastitis, dry cow, therapy Journal: Veterinární medicína Pages: 55-60 Volume: 46 Issue: 2 Year: 2001 DOI: 10.17221/7853-VETMED File-URL: http://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7853-VETMED.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/vet-200102-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlvet:v:46:y:2001:i:2:id:7853-VETMED