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H D Danforth

Publications and source records attributed to H D Danforth.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Sporozoites of rodent and simian malaria, purified by anion exchangers, retain their immunogenicity and infectivity.

Sporozoites of rodent malaria, Plasmodium berghei, and simian malaria, Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium cynomolgi, were partially separated from mosquito debris and microbial contaminants by passage of Anopheles material through a DEAE-cellulose column. In addition to eliminating most of the contaminants (80-90%), this simple technic has made it possible to recover rapidly large numbers of viable sporozoites (55-75% yield), which have retained their infectivity, immunogenicity, and capacity to react with known antisera. Mice injected with varying doses of column-purified sporozoites (CS) of P. berghei produced infections which paralleled those seen in the controls. Total protection against challenge with a potentially lethal dose of viable sporozoites was acquired by mice inoculated twice with irradiated CS of P. berghei CS of P. berghei and P. cynomolgi gave positive circumsporozoite precipitation (CSP) reactions, upon inoculation with the respective immune sera. The preservation of the surface antigens of CS was documented by immunofluorescence. It was shown that differences in elution behavior exist among sporozoites of certain species of Plasmodium as well as among sporozoiters of the same species derived from different organs of the mosquito. These results may be attributed to differences in the surface charge of the sporozoites or conditions in sample media. Purified sporozoites obtained by the method described in this report provide an adequate source of parasites for a variety of in vitro studies.

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Anticoccidial activity of salinomycin in battery raised broiler chickens.

Infections with single species of Eimeria acervulina, E. mivati, E. maxima, E. tenella, E. necatrix, and E. brunetti, and the six species mixed, were utilized in three separate battery experiments to evaluate the anticoccidial efficacy of various levels of salinomycin (AHR-3096), a fermentation product of a strain of Streptomyces albus. At the 60 to 100 p.p.m. treatment levels, this compound showed significant anticoccidial activity for all parameters studied (mortality, weight gain, feed conversion, dropping scores, and lesion scores). The mortality due to coccidiosis was reduced to 0.1% in the medicated infected birds. Some activity, as measured by weight gain, was seen in the lower levels of salinomycin medication (12.5 to 50 p.p.m.), but other parameters, including mortality and lesion scores, indicated less activity than that seen with the higher treatment levels. At 100 p.p.m., there was no apparent effect on the compound on bird performance in uninfected control birds. Salinomycin at the 100 p.p.m. treatment level was statistically as effective as 121 p.p.m. monensin (reference anticoccidial) in controlling coccidiosis.

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Anticoccidial activity of salinomycin in floor-pen experiments with broilers.

The anticoccidial agent salinomycin (AHR-3096) was compared at various treatment levels (60 to 100 p.p.m.) in two experiments against unmedicated and either 100 or 121 p.p.m. monensin-medicated groups to evaluate its performance under floor-pen conditions. Various methods for the initial rearing of birds and coccidial exposure were employed to test the efficacy of salinomycin against severe, moderate, and mild coccidiosis. Salinomycin at all treatment levels showed definite anticoccidial activity resulting in improved weights, feed conversion ratios, lesion scores, and mortality compared with unmedicated controls. In pens with severe coccidiosis, this compound demonstrated a significant improvement in all parameters when compared with the corresponding unmedicated controls. Salinomycin-treated pens exposed to light coccidiosis usually had a numerical increase in the parameters over the unmedicated control groups. Statistical analysis of overall main effects on mortality, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio showed no significant differences between the activity of any level of salinomycin and monensin.

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Fine-structural aspects of microgametogenesis of Eimeria magna in rabbits and in kidney cell cultures.

The fine-structural aspects of development of microgamonts of Eimeria magna were studied in kidney cell cultures and in experimentally infected rabbits. Spheroidal masses of gamont-like cytoplasm containing ribosomes, polyribosomes, and amylopectin granules were found within the parasitophorus vacuole; these bodies were apparently pinched off the surface of the gamont. Nucleoli were present in the early stages of nuclear division but disappeared as development proceeded.

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Identification of an apically-located antigen that is conserved in sporozoan parasites.

Sporozoan parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa all possess common apical structures. The current study used a monoclonal antibody (mAb-E12) to identify a conserved antigen in the apical region of merozoites of seven species of Plasmodium (including rodent, primate and human pathogens), tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii, bradyzoites of Sarcocystis bovis, and sporozoites and merozoites of Eimeria tenella and E. acervulina. The antigen was also present in sporozoites of haemosporinid parasites. Immunofluorescence studies showed that the antigen was restricted to the apical 3rd of these invasive stages. Using immunoelectron microscopy, labeling was demonstrated in the region of the polar ring, below the paired inner membranes of the parasite pellicle, and near the subpellicular microtubules radiating from the polar ring of merozoites and sporozoites of E. tenella. The majority of the antigen could be extracted with 1% Triton-X 100, but a portion remained associated with the cytoskeletal elements. The molecule has a relative rate of migration (Mr) of 47,000 in Plasmodium spp. and 43-46,000 in coccidian species. Since the epitope recognized by mAb-E12 is highly conserved, restricted to motile stages, and appears to be associated with microtubules, this antigen could be involved in cellular motility and cellular invasion.

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Development of a protective index to rank effectiveness of multiple treatments within an experiment: application to a cross-protection study of several strains of Eimeria maxima and a live vaccine.

Vaccination of chickens with live oocysts has become a more widely used method for controlling avian coccidiosis as resistance to anticoccidial medication increases. However, some coccidia strains are not useful in multispecies vaccines because antigenic variation has made them generally less protective. In order to experimentally test a number of strains for the best cross protection, we have devised an evaluation method using four independently measured variables: weight gain, lesion score, plasma carotenoids, and plasma NO2- + NO3-. These values, when measured at 6 days postchallenge, tend to be significantly correlated. A protective index (PX) is calculated for each chicken using the following algorithm: PX = (Ngain + Ncarotenoids) - (Nsqrls + N[NO2- + NO3-]), where the prefix N indicates values for a variable normalized against a mean of that variable from a control group. Nsqrls values are normalized values of the square roots of lesion scores. The PX can then be treated as a dependent variable. In this study, mean PX values of unchallenged groups cluster around 0. Mean PX values of protected chickens are statistically close to those from unchallenged groups, whereas unprotected chickens have highly negative mean PX values.

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Influence of betaine and salinomycin on intestinal absorption of methionine and glucose and on the ultrastructure of intestinal cells and parasite developmental stages in chicks infected with Eimeria acervulina.

The effect of betaine and salinomycin on absorption of methionine and glucose in tissue from the duodenal loops of Eimeria acervulina-infected chicks was determined. Differences in the ultrastructure of the intestinal cells and parasite developmental stages were also examined. With a drug-resistant isolate of E. acervulina, methionine absorption was significantly higher in chicks fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.15% betaine as compared with absorption in chicks fed the unsupplemented basal diet. Addition of 66 ppm salinomycin to the diet containing betaine did not further enhance absorption. Conversely, with a drug-sensitive isolate, methionine absorption was significantly higher in chicks fed a diet supplemented with both betaine and salinomycin than in chicks fed the unsupplemented basal diet. Tissue from chicks fed any of the supplemented diets was usually significantly heavier than that from chicks fed the unsupplemented diet, even when weight gains of the birds were similar. Glucose absorption was similar in all diet groups. Epithelial cells in coccidia-infected and uninfected chicks fed diets supplemented with betaine or betaine plus salinomycin were less electron dense than cells from chicks fed diets that were not supplemented with betaine. Merozoites of E. acervulina in chicks fed diets supplemented with salinomycin had extensive membrane disruption and vacuolization, but the damage was prevented when betaine was added to the diet. Numerous merozoites and intact schizonts were seen in the intestinal lumen of chicks fed the diet containing betaine plus salinomycin.

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Efficacy evaluation of lasalocid plus roxarsone combination medication with different geographic field strains of Eimeria acervulina.

Performance of broiler chickens medicated with lasalocid alone (at 125 ppm) or in combination with roxarsone (at 50 ppm) was evaluated in battery and floorpen trials after challenge with geographically different field strains of coccidia containing predominately the upper intestinal species Eimeria acervulina. No significant difference in bird performance measured at 6 days postinfection (PI) was observed between lasalocid plus roxarsone-medicated (L+RM) or lasalocid-medicated (LM) birds challenged in separate battery trials with mixed-species inocula from Alabama or Georgia containing 92% or 88% E. acervulina, respectively. In contrast, L+RM birds challenged in another battery trial with a Louisiana mixed-species inoculum containing 92% E. acervulina showed significant reduction in average weight gain at 6 days PI compared with LM-challenged birds. A floorpen trial done with the same Louisiana inoculum showed significant reduction in average bird weight gain at 27 and 35 days of age (6 and 14 days PI) for L+RM-challenged birds compared with both unmedicated-nonchallenged (UMNC) control and LM-challenged birds. The LM+R groups were significantly lower in average bird weight at 27 days of age than the unmedicated-challenged controls. Feed conversions (FCs) for L+RM birds were significantly higher than those for the UMNC control birds during time of challenge (21-27 days of age) and for the 1-to-27-day-of-age time period. No significant difference in FC was seen between the UMNC and LM groups. Results of this study showed that performance of broiler birds medicated with lasalocid plus roxarsone could vary for geographically different mixed-species challenge inocula that contained predominately E. acervulina.

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Scanning electron microscopy of the cecal mucosa in Eimeria-tenella-infected and uninfected chickens.

Four major types of surface conformation were observed in the ceca of uninoculated control chickens. Spatulate villi were found in the cecal neck region, low ridges in the region where the neck expands, protruding collarlike structures in the mid cecal pouch, and flattened collars in the distal portion. In ceca infected with Eimeria tenella, there was some erosion and sloughing of the mucosal cells. These lesions were slight in the neck region, more severe in the dilated portion, most severe in the midregion, and moderate in the distal area. Oocysts were observed in the mucosal tissue of the cecal pouch.

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Development of protective immunity against Eimeria tenella and E. acervulina in White Leghorn chickens inoculated repeatedly with high doses of turkey coccidia.

Repeated inoculation (immunization) of 2-week-old white leghorn chickens with 10(6) oocysts of the turkey coccidia Eimeria adenoeides or E. meleagrimitis partially protected chickens against moderate challenge with E. tenella or E. acervulina oocysts, but not with E. necatrix oocysts. After challenge, mean weight gains of the immunized chickens and the unchallenged controls did not differ significantly, but weight gains of unimmunized chickens were significantly lower. The mean feed-conversion ratio of the immunized challenged chickens was 3.14, as compared with 4.42 for unimmunized challenged control chickens. In general, immunization did not markedly reduce intestinal lesions. Repeated inoculation of chickens with the turkey coccidium E. gallopavonis failed to produce statistically significant protection against challenge with E. tenella, E. acervulina, or E. necatrix, as determined by weight gain, feed-conversion efficiency, and lesion scores. Antibody profiles of individual chickens did not correlate with protection.

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Avian eimeria: invasion in foreign host birds and generation of partial immunity against coccidiosis.

Four species of avian Eimeria invaded the intestine of foreign host birds in the same areas in which they invaded the natural host. Repeated inoculation (immunization) of chickens with the turkey coccidian, Eimeria adenoeides, partially protected the chickens against a subsequent challenge with 5.8 x 10(4) E. tenella oocysts. At 6 days post-challenge, the weight gain and feed conversion efficiency of the immunized chickens was significantly better than those of the chickens that were not immunized with E. adenoeides. Lesion scores and cellular invasion by the sporozoites were significantly lower in the immunized birds than in the unimmunized group. Electrophoresis and Western blot analysis identified changes in the serum antibody profiles of the chickens that appeared to be associated with the immunization and challenge programs. An antibody or antibodies recognizing a 60,000-molecular-weight antigen of E. tenella sporozoites disappeared when chickens immunized with E. adenoeides were challenged with E. tenella; an antibody or antibodies recognizing a 23,000-molecular-weight sporozoite antigen appeared within 6 days of challenge. Reciprocal studies, in which turkeys were immunized with E. tenella and challenged with E. adenoeides, showed little evidence of protection.

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