No abstract

To determine the epidemiologic and clinical features of a 2008 outbreak of Hendra virus infection in a veterinary clinic in Australia, we investigated the equine case-series. Four of 5 infected horses died, as did 1 of 2 infected staff members. Clinical manifestation in horses was predominantly neurologic. Preclinical transmission appears likely.

No abstract

The optimum gel filtration fraction from lysate of Babesia bovis infected erythrocytes was determined for use as an antigen in an ELISA to diagnose B. bovis infection in cattle. Of four enzyme labels tested, horseradish peroxidase was the most suitable. The assay is both sensitive and specific in detecting antibody for 2-4 years after a single infection. False positive reactions were obtained only with some sera from some Anaplasma marginale infected cattle.

Three distinct monoclonal antibody-producing hybridomas have been produced against a partly purified protective fraction of Babesia bovis. All three stain the parasite or infected erythrocytes or both in precise and different manners when fluorescent-antibody techniques are used. The relevant antigens for each monoclonal antibody were isolated by immunoadsorption, their native molecular weights being 1.3 X 10(6), 180 X 10(3), and 44 X 10(3). Each antigen reacted in serological assays with homologous and heterologous bovine antisera to B. bovis. Susceptible splenectomized calves were immunized twice, 4 weeks apart, with the respective antigens and were challenged with virulent homologous organisms 2 weeks later. Strong protective immunity was induced by the antigen with a molecular weight of 44 X 10(3), but no significant protection was induced by either of the other two antigens.