CHEMOTHERAPY OF EXPERIMENTAL LEPTOSPIRAL INFECTION IN MICE

A strain of Leptospira zanoni was used to produce chronic renal infections in young white mice. A variant of this strain produced an acute disease with over 50% mortality. The responses of both forms of disease to chemotherapy were studied. When treatment of the acute disease was initiated before jaundice occurred, suitable single doses of streptomycin, chlortetracycline, tetracycline, erythromycin, oxytetracycline and oxytetracycline (in oil) prevented death and chronic renal infection in a high percentage of mice. Bicillin, a long‐acting penicillin preparation, was more effective than other penicillins, but it prevented the development of chronic renal infection in only half the treated mice. Streptomycin was the only antibiotic of which a single administration regularly cured the chronic renal infections: chlortetracycline, tetracycline and oxytetracycline (in oil) were partially effective. Oxytetracycline, chloramphenicol, Bicillin, fortified penicillin, procaine penicillin and potassium penicillin had no permanent action. The suitability of mice as laboratory animals in the study of experimental leptospirosis and the need for complete cure of carriers of chronic renal infection are emphasized. The above findings indicate that streptomycin is the drug of choice for the treatment of leptospirosis in animals, and that it is worthy of further trial in man. 1963 British Pharmacological Societ

Tumour-associated antigens in bovine ocular squamous cell carcinoma: Studies with sera from tumour-bearing animals

Sera from 21 cattle (10 bovine ocular squamous cell carcinoma (BOSCC) bearing and 11 controls) were tested for antibody reactivity against various cultured cells (BOSCC, normal skin and tumours other than BOSCC), by an indirect immunofluorescence technique. Most of the BOSCC sera reacted with autologous and allogeneic BOSCC cells and did not show any significant reactivity with normal skin cells (autologous or allogeneic). These sera when further tested on 7 different allogeneic or xenogeneic tumour cell types (other than BOSCC), showed significant reactivity only with cultured equine sarcoid and cutaneous papilloma cells. Three of the BOSCC sera did not react with autologous BOSCC cells but reacted indiscriminately with all other allogeneic BOSCC, normal cells and other tumour cells. Most of the control sera did not show any significant reactivity against BOSCC cells except sera from one cow bearing ocular papilloma and 2 healthy normals that were in contact with BOSCC bearing animals. This study suggests that BOSCC cells possess tumour associated antigens that are common to most (if not all) BOSCC cells

The pathogenesis of bovine ephemeral fever virus infection of adult mice

Infection of adult mice with small doses of neuro-virulent bovine ephemeral fever virus caused a rapidly fatal encephalitis, the course of which was largely unaffected by treatment with either cyclophosphamide or anti-lymphocyte serum. Athymic mice died earlier than their thymic littermates. Mice could be protected by treatment with defective virus before infection or by passive administration of antibody if given less than 48 h after infection. Taken together these results emphasize the important protective role of antibody present at the time of infection. Viral isolation and immuno-fluorescent studies showed that the virus is confined to the central nervous system. Regular infection of suckling and adult mice by extra-cerebral routes was not possible

STUDIES ON THE PATHOGENESIS OF BOVINE EPHEMERAL FEVER

A study of the pathogenesis of bovine ephemeral fever confirmed that the major clinical signs were fever lasting no more than 2 days, with increased respiratory rate, dyspnoea and some degree of lameness. Haematological observations revealed a neutro‐philia with a left shift and a lymphopaenia at the time of peak clinical reaction. The net result was a slight leucopaenla on the day after this reaction. The most prominent pathological changes involved the lungs and synovial joints. Pulmonary emphysema and alveolar collapse with bronchiolitis, degenerative changes in synovial membranes and increased synovial fluid were observed. Specific fluorescence indicating the presence of BEF viral antigen could be detected at the time of peak clinical response in individual cells in the lungs, spleen and lymph nodes as well as neutrophils. Before and after the peak fever some fluorescence was seen in cells which appeared to be reticular cells in the lymph nodes. Viral isolation in mice could be made from blood, lungs, spleen and lymph nodes over a period of no more than 3 days. It is postulated that viral growth takes place mainly in the reticuloendothelial cells in the lungs, spleen and lymph nodes and not in vascular endothelium or lymphoid cells. The authors wish to acknowledge Professors J. Francis and B. W. Manktelow for helpful advice and the Australian Meat Research Council for financing the project. Copyrigh