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Results for “Germ-Free Life”

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At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

[Influence of intestinal microflora on the amino acid composition of lamb feces].

6 conventional and 5 germfree male lambs were fed ad libitum a UHT sterilized cow milk. Body weight and food intake were recorded. Whole feces were collected for 5 consecutive days. Growth rate reached 259 g/d for the germfree. Daily fecal excretion of dry matter and nitrogenous compounds are not found different in the two groups of animals. The influence of intestinal microflora appears on the biochemical composition of the feces. As compared to the conventional fecal proteins from germfree lambs are very high in threonine and serine and low in lysine. Moreover the difference of amino acid composition between these two groups come not only from the histidine alanine and arginine composition of bacteries; it also involves the high levels of threonine serine cystine and tyrosine of the endogenous digestive proteins.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1977

Application of immunofluorescence to the establishment of an Encephalitozoon cuniculi-free rabbit colony.

Serologic screening of a rabbit breeding colony over a 9-month period showed that all 9-week-old rabbits with Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection were born of E cuniculi-infected does. This observation, obtained from studies on 395 young rabbits, suggested that transmission of infection is either transplacental or the result of close contact soon after birth. On this basis, 16 young healthy rabbits, seronegative to E cuniculi, were isolated and tested at 2-week intervals for antibodies to E cuniculi. In the first 2 months, seven rabbits showed indications of developing antibodies to E cuniculi and were immediately removed from the colony. The remaining rabbits along with their 52 offspring were tested for serum antibodies for a further 16 months and no rabbit became seropositive. Eight months after establishment of the colony, three does, one buck and six 12-week-old rabbits were killed. Macroscopic and extensive histologic and immunofluorescence examinations failed to reveal any evidence of infection with E cuniculi. These results showed that serological screening for E cuniculi infection by immunofluorescence is a simple yet adequate procedure for establishing a rabbit colony free of encephalitozoonosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Thiamine deficiency encephalopathy in a specific-pathogen-free cat colony.

Thiamine deficiency encephalopathy occurred in a specific-pathogen-free cat colony where the diet consisted exclusively of commercially canned diet. This product was described by the manufacturer as a complete diet for cats. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by the demonstration of bilaterally symmetrical hemorrhage and microvascular fibrinoid necrosis in the brain and low erythrocyte transketolase levels. Treatment of clinically ill cats with vitamin B complex was followed by recovery within 24 hours.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

The eradication of Encephalitozoon cuniculi from a specific pathogen-free rabbit colony.

Encephalitozoan cuniculi was discovered in a large specific pathogen-free rabbit colony during routine quality assurance testing. By using a modified India-ink immunoreaction test we were able to test the entire colony for antibodies to Encephalitozoon cuniculi. The prevalence of the disease was approximately 5%. All seropositive animals were culled, and another test of the entire colony, carried out 4 weeks later, revealed one seropositive rabbit which was also culled. Two subsequent screenings of the whole colony have shown no further seropositive animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Gnotobiotic pigs-derivation and rearing.

The procurement, rearing, nutrition and microbiological monitoring of gnotobiotic pigs and a method for conditioning of primary, colostrum-deprived, specific pathogen free pigs is described. As compared to the established hysterectomy and closed hysterotomy methods for the derivation of gnotobiotic piglets an alternative approach, open caesarian section with the sow maintained under general halothane-nitrous oxide anaesthesia and the introduction of each fetus into the sterile isolator via a liquid germicidal trap, was found to be more efficient and equally successful in providing viable and microbiologically sterile piglets. Two sterile commercially available milk diets, a special formula for orphan animals and condensed cow's milk, when the latter was supplemented with injectable vitamin E, selenium and iron, proved adequate for satisfactory health of the animals. Two types of pelleted starter rations, sterilized by 4.5 megarads of gamma irradiation, provided adequately for the nutritional needs of older gnotobiotic pigs. Results of microbiological monitoring indicated that the surgical and rearing methods employed were capable of preventing contamination of the animals with bacteria, mycoplasma, yeasts, molds, protozoa and helminths but probably could not exclude occasional vertically transmitted viral infections. Exposure of the animals for four weeks to selected strains of lactobacilli, fecal streptococci and Escherichia coli did not result in visible disease while they were maintained in isolators and conditioned them for transfer into a conventional microbial environment.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1978

Elimination of contamination without caesarian derivation--success or failure?

Unfortunately, only successes tend to be published, so we are denied knowledge of partial successes and failures regarding SPF unit breakdowns. If more workers were prepared to be open about their partial successes, a combination of various techniques are appropriate to the case, could prove to be most successful. Each SPF colony is different and must be considered on its merits, nature of contamination, species and strains of animals and so on, but it would seem that caesarian derivation is not now always the only course of action.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

The breeding and use of specific pathogen-free (SPF) rats.

Bronchiectasis is common in older rats and is a serious complication when the lungs are repuired for research purposes. SPF rats do not develop this complication, but special isolated accommodation must be provided and care of the animals must avoid introduction of outside micro-organisms. Animals removed from the isolated accommodation for experimental work are not returned, but can be kept in the general animal house provided there are no conventionally-bred rats.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1979

Presence of natural killer cells in specific-pathogen-free chickens.

Spleen cells of normal specific-pathogen-free N, P, and 15 X 7 chickens were cytotoxic in vitro for target cells of Marek's disease lymphoma line MSB-1. The natural killer (NK) cell activity, best expressed in chickens over 7 weeks old, varied among several genetic lines of chickens tested. The NK cells were thermolabile, and incubation of the cells at 37 degrees C for 30--60 minutes resulted in substantial loss of cytotoxicity. The specificity of NK effector cells was directed against common antigen(s) on tumor cell lines of diverse origin but not on normal adult or embryonic cells.

Animals↗