Erythrocytic lipid peroxidation, activities of some antioxidant enzymes and osmotic fragility of red blood cells was studied in adult (>1 year) crossbred cattle naturally infected with Theileria annulata. Twenty clinically healthy animals (group I) and 15 clinical cases (group II) of tropical theileriosis were selected. Cattle suffering from theileriosis had significantly higher (p<0.01) erythrocytic lipid peroxidation and osmotic fragility. Activities of antioxidant enzymes, viz. glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and glutamate peroxidase (GPx) were also significantly increased (p<0.01) in group II. However, superoxide dismutase and catalase did not show significant changes. The results indicated that infection with theileria led to increased oxidative stress to the animals, and even a significant rise in the activities of antioxidant enzymes. G6PD and GPx could not lower this oxidative stress. However, the increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes pointed towards the body's defence mechanism against lipid peroxidation during oxidative stress in theileriosis.

Two concurrent outbreaks of genital disease in goats were associated with infection by a herpesvirus that was isolated from vulval and vaginal lesions of affected does. Serum neutralising antibody to the virus was present both in goats with the clinical disease and some unaffected goats. Of 19 goat herds examined only 4 had serum neutralising antibody positive goats with low (5%) to high (60%) incidence of infection. The virus isolate was characterised as a herpesvirus on its physico-chemical and morphological features. It contained DNA and was inactivated at low pH and by treatment with lipid solvents and trypsin. The virus particles were icosahedral, consisting of a nucleocapsid surrounded by an envelope membrane and measured approximately 150 nm in diameter. The virus was serologically related to a New Zealand isolate of caprine herpesvirus (NZ-CpHV), associated with similar genital disease, and was distinct from bovine herpes virus-1 (BHV-1) showing a one way neutralisation pattern.

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Three bovine leukocyte populations – peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), mammary gland polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and macrophages (Mo) – were characterized with respect to five surface markers: surface immunoglobulin (SIg), sheep erythrocyte receptor, complement (C) receptor and Fc receptors for both IgG and IgM. The majority of PMN and Mo possessed C and Fc receptors for IgG, but lacked SIg and the erythrocyte receptor. The PMN, but not Mo, also expressed a Fc receptor for IgM. The PBL were heterogeneous with respect to their surface characteristics and evidence was presented for the following subtypes: (a) cells with the E receptor alone; (b) cells with E receptor plus the Fc(IgG) receptor; (c) cells with SIg plus the C receptor but minus the Fc(IgG) receptor; (d) lymphocytes with SIg plus the C receptor and the Fc(IgG) receptor, and (e) cells lacking E receptors and SIg but bearing Fc(IgG). It was assumed, but not proven, that some of these latter cells must also bear the C receptor. The significance of the various cell types in antiviral defense is briefly discussed.

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Enriched populations of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and macrophages obtained from the mammary gland and of granulocytes (PBG) and lymphocytes (PBL) prepared from peripheral blood of the same animal were compared for their ability to mediate antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity against antibody-sensitized infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus-infected target cells (IBR-GBK) and antibody-sensitized chicken erythrocyte targets (CRBC). The order of effectiveness was PMN > macrophages > PBG > PBL. The reason why PBG (86% PMN) were less than 50% as active as mammary PMN (99% PMN) was explored and discussed. The findings that PMN were more effective on a cell-to-cell basis, required less antiserum to sensitize for cytotoxicity, and destroyed IBR-GBK cells faster and more completely than other cell types could mean that PMN may be the cell type most important in causing early recovery from herpesvirus infections.

Caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) was isolated by explant cultures of carpal synovial membranes and lung from 7 goats in New South Wales. These goats were clinically affected with the arthritic, neurologic, and pneumonic forms of CAEV infection either singly or in combination. CAEV antibody was detected by the gel immunodiffusion precipitin (GDP) test in 5 of the 7 goats. Serum samples from 2,708 goats, from 115 herds, were examined for CAEV antibody using the GDP test. Approximately one-third of the animals and 82% of the herds tested had CAEV antibody. The infection was common in all breeds of dairy goats with an indication of a significantly lower prevalence in the Saanen breed (24.4%) compared to Nubians, British Alpines and Toggenbergs (43.8%, 38.7% and 39.1% respectively). CAEV antibody was also demonstrated in 11 of 230 Angora goats. The infection was equally common in all age groups, with slightly higher prevalence in males (83 of 230, 36%) compared to females (648 of 2,232, 29%). Among seropositive animals 85% were clinically normal. Of 280 clinically affected goats tested only 42% had detectable antibody. One of 5 sheep that had been in contact with infected goats in one herd had CAEV serum antibody.

Administration of ground-up tick tissue stabilate (0.75 tick equivalent) by the subcutaneous route to crossbred calves aged 1 week to 1 month led to the development of acute theileriosis. Haematological studies revealed significant progressive decreases in haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume and red blood cell count, whereas the total leukocyte count showed an initial non-significant leukocytosis followed by a significant leukopenia. Analysis of serum revealed significant increases in levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine kinase and gamma-glutamyltransferase, and in the concentrations of uric acid, blood urea nitrogen and bilirubin. The concentrations of total protein, albumin, glucose, cholesterol and calcium showed non-significant decreases, while phosphorus decreased significantly during the terminal stages of the disease.