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Biomedical subjects

J M Booth

Publications and source records attributed to J M Booth.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Use of a conductivity meter for the detection of subclinical mastitis.

The conductivity of milk from 164 cows in four herds was measured. There were significant differences between the normal and the mastitic quarters in each of the four herds. However, there was a marked difference in conductivity levels between the herds, the mean conductivity of the normal quarters in one herd being higher than that of the mastitic quarters in another herd. In a trial using a hand-held mastitis detector on 123 cows from three herds, 91 per cent of the 106 mastitic quarters were detected. However, 33 per cent of the 315 normal quarters also gave a positive reading.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an Australian teaching hospital.

A survey was undertaken of all isolations of methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at a large Australian teaching hospital over a 12 month period. All methicillin-resistant isolations obtained from the Casualty and Outpatient clinics were from staff members or patients with recent hospital contact. Twenty per cent of all methicillin-resistant isolations from in-patients were from specimens taken within 2 days of the patient's admission. Each of these patients had had hospital contact within the previous 4 months and it is assumed that the majority of them reintroduced the organism into the hospital. Such patients may provide an important means by which infection control procedures are bypassed. Patients who were relatively more likely to become infected or colonized with methicillin-resistant than with methicillin-sensitive strains included the elderly and those with postoperative wound infections (especially after orthopaedic or vascular surgery), spinal injuries, peripheral vascular disease, chronic skin ulcers or chronic diseases of the respiratory or urinary tracts. Eleven per cent of MRSA wound isolates and 15 per cent of sputum isolates were associated with serious infections requiring specific treatment, emphasizing the ability of these strains to produce serious illness. A small proportion of staff and asymptomatic patients were found to harbour MRSA and the importance of these individuals in facilitating cross-infection requires further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Pregnancy diagnosis in dairy herds in England and Wales.

A survey of 1692 dairy farmers in England and Wales in 1979 revealed that 14.2 per cent had veterinary pregnancy diagnoses carried out on more than half their cows, 43.8 per cent on less than half and 42.0 per cent had none. The results showed a considerable increase in the use of pregnancy diagnosis since a survey in 1969. Farmers with larger herds tended to make more use of pregnancy diagnosis and there were also some regional differences. In 64.6 per cent of herds pregnancy diagnosis was carried out during the third and fourth months of pregnancy; 93.3 per cent of herds in which more than half the cows were diagnosed were examined before the fourth month. Owners of pedigree herds used pregnancy diagnosis more than commercial herd owners. The milk progesterone assay pregnancy test was used by 4.3 per cent of farmers on more than half their cows, and by a further 1.9 per cent of farmers on some cows. More than 75 per cent of farmers using the milk progesterone test also used veterinary pregnancy diagnosis in their herds.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Monitoring pre-service reproductive status in dairy cows.

Combinations of oestrus detection, ovarian palpation and milk progesterone assays were used to monitor pre-service reproductive status of cows in two dairy herds over two successive years. Non-cyclical cows were identified as having no luteal tissue in their ovaries on two occasions 10 days apart. Absence of luteal tissue was determined by the presence of basal mild progesterone initially followed either by a repeat of this result or by failure to palpate a corpus luteum per rectum. In the period 32 to 56 days post partum the number of non-cyclical cows on farm A years 1 and 2 was eight out of 31 (25 . 5 per cent), and 10 out of 62 (16 . 1 per cent) and on farm B years 1 and 2 was 10 out of 68 (14 . 7 per cent) and 11 out of 85 (12 . 9 per cent) respectively. The farm A herd was high yielding, (average lactation 6380 litres), whereas the farm B herd was of average yield (4717 litres). In both herds 60 day milk yield was not related to cyclical status of pre-service cows. There was however a trend toward a greater proportion of young cows being non-cyclical. With the exception of a prolonged calving to conception interval for farm A in year 1, whether a pre-service cow was cyclical or not had no effect on when the cow was first served or on when the animal conceived. The routine incorporation of pre-service monitoring to herd fertility control programmers may however be of value in recognising the incidence of non-cyclical cows and giving an early indication of oestrus detection efficiency.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

A rapid direct radioimmunoassay for the measurement of oestrone sulphate in the milk of dairy cows and its use in pregnancy diagnosis.

A radioimmunoassay for oestrone sulphate in unextracted samples of milk has been developed. The assay was validated by comparison with a method involving hydrolysis and extraction. The direct assay was used to measure oestrone sulphate in milk samples taken at weekly intervals throughout pregnancy in a commercial dairy herd. Concentrations of oestrone sulphate increased approximately 100 days after insemination and were maintained throughout the remainder of pregnancy in the range of 1.85-3.70 nmol/l.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Immune conservation: a possible consequence of the mechanism of interferon-induced antibody suppression.

The effect of interferon preparations on the development of single clones of antibody-forming cells generated against sheep red blood cells in mouse spleen cell cultures has been studied. It was found that the presence of interferon had no effect on either the number or the size of clones which developed early in the in vitro antibody response. At the peak of the response (day 3), a decrease in the number but not in the size of clones was observed in interferon-treated compared to control cultures, while by day 4 both the size and number of clones were significantly decreased. These findings indicate that interferon appears to affect only nonactivated B cell precursors by preventing them from becoming activated and commencing clonal expansion. Early responding precursors, which are in cell cycle, presumably having been previously activated in vivo, are refractory to interferon-induced suppression in vitro. The way in which this immunosuppressive activity of interferon might be of great advantage to an animal as a means of "immune conservation" during viral infections is discussed.

Animals↗