The cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is one of the most harmful parasites affecting bovines. Similarly to other hematophagous ectoparasites, R. microplus saliva contains a collection of bioactive compounds that inhibit host defenses against tick feeding activity. Thus, the study of tick salivary components offers opportunities for the development of immunological based tick control methods and medicinal applications. So far, only a few proteins have been identified in cattle tick saliva. The aim of this work was to identify proteins present in R. microplus female tick saliva at different feeding stages. Proteomic analysis of R. microplus saliva allowed identifying peptides corresponding to 187 and 68 tick and bovine proteins, respectively. Our data confirm that (i) R. microplus saliva is complex, and (ii) that there are remarkable differences in saliva composition between partially engorged and fully engorged female ticks. R. microplus saliva is rich mainly in (i) hemelipoproteins and other transporter proteins, (ii) secreted cross-tick species conserved proteins, (iii) lipocalins, (iv) peptidase inhibitors, (v) antimicrobial peptides, (vii) glycine-rich proteins, (viii) housekeeping proteins and (ix) host proteins. This investigation represents the first proteomic study about R. microplus saliva, and reports the most comprehensive Ixodidae tick saliva proteome published to date. Our results improve the understanding of tick salivary modulators of host defense to tick feeding, and provide novel information on the tick-host relationship.

In light of the complexity of wound tissue, proteomic analysis may not clearly reveal the nature of the wound or the processes involved in healing. However, exudate associated with wounds may provide a "window" on cellular events leading to the development of the wound and/or its healing. In this investigation we performed proteomic analysis on wound exudates from muscular wounds in mice caused by two very different types of snake venom toxins: BaP1, a snake venom metalloproteinase and Mtx-I, a snake venom phospholipase A2. Proteomic analysis of the exudates associated with these wounds clearly differentiated them and offered new perspectives on functional mechanisms by which these toxins cause tissue damage. In the case of wounds caused by the metalloproteinase, there was evidence of degradation of nonfibrillar collagens whereas the phospholipase wound exudate was noted by the presence of fibrillar collagen type I, apolipoproteins A-I, A-IV, and E, and fibronectin. These results suggest that the hemorrhage caused by snake venom metalloproteinases may be associated with the degradation of specific extracellular matrix proteins which play a role in matrix/capillary stabilization and that release of apolipoproteins from their complexes may be involved with the dysfunctional hemostasis observed following snake envenoming.

Four hundred twenty-seven of 441 adult Holstein dairy cattle from a 1,200-cow dairy died over a 1-week period during early spring 1998. Affected animals were from 4 late lactation pens, one of which included the bull string. Signs included weakness, recumbency, watery diarrhea, and death. Eighty animals from the 4 pens were dead approximately 8 hours after the first ill cows were noted. Affected cows would collapse on stimulation and extend all 4 limbs with moderate rigidity. Several lacked lingual tonus and had abdominal breathing patterns. The animals had been fed a load of total mixed ration that included a rotten bale of oat hay containing a dead cat. No common toxicants were identified, and pathologic examination revealed no consistent lesions. Testing of tissue from the cat carcass found in the feed sample using mouse protection bioassay identified the presence of type C botulinum toxin. Samples of feed, tissue from affected animals, cat tissue from feed, milk, and serum were also tested using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) specific for type C botulinum. Two samples of rumen contents were tested and found to be positive for botulism by ELISA, and 1 of 3 liver samples had a weak positive finding. No botulinum toxin was found in milk or sera using the ELISA.