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Using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for sequences of ovine herpesvirus 2 (OHV2), this virus was shown to be significantly associated with sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF) in terminal cases of disease in 34 cattle and 53 bison. Ovine herpesvirus 2 was not detected in cattle (38) and bison (10) that succumbed to other diseases. Other persistent herpesviruses, retroviruses, and pestivirus, some of which have been previously isolated from cases of SA-MCF, were not associated with the disease. These included bovine herpesvirus 4 (BHV4), bovine lymphotrophic herpesvirus (BLHV), bovine syncytial virus (BSV, also known as bovine spumavirus), bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV), and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). A PCR survey for OHV2 in DNA from individual cow's peripheral blood lymphocytes in 4 dairies showed that the 1 dairy that was in close contact to sheep had a prevalence of OHV2 of 21.3%, whereas the 3 other dairies had no OHV2. Prevalence of the other herpesviruses and retroviruses in the dairy cows was variable, ranging from 2% to 51% for BHV4, 52% to 78.7% for BLHV, and 10% to 34% for BSV Bovine lymphotrophic herpesvirus and BSV were also found in a few (1–4 of 21 tested) cases of terminal SA-MCF, but BIV and BVDV were not found in either the dairy cows sampled, or in the cases of SA-MCF. No significant correlation was found between the presence of any 2 viruses (OHV2, BHV4, BLHV, BSV) in the dairy cows or terminal cases of SA-MCF.

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was compared with culture for the detection and diagnosis of bovine Mycoplasmaintramammary infection. The PCR test was applied to 24-hour Mycoplasmaenrichment cultures of milk from cows with suspected mastitis and from bulk tank milk. In comparison to culture, the sensitivity and specificity of the PCR method were 96.2% and 99.1% for individual cow milk and 100% and 99.8% for the bulk tank milk, respectively. However, in discrepant cases where PCR was positive and culture was negative, the PCR test was correct; subsequent PCR tests and culturing of the individual cow's milk yielded positive results. The PCR test simultaneously detected and differentiated among 11 bovine Mycoplasmaspecies.

This study analyzes all female homicide victims (912) in the State of North Carolina during the five year period 1972 through 1976. Verkko's static and dynamic laws of the relationship between sex and homicide victimization are investigated. The static law states that in places where homicide rates are high, female victimization tends to be low. The dynamic law holds that increases or decreases in the frequency of homicide primarily affects the male population. The findings do not support either of Verkko's laws. The sex ratio of homicide victims in North Carolina, a state with an above average homicide rate, is lower than that for the U.S. in general. The rate of victimization for both females and males has declined about the same percentage over the five years studied. Further analysis of individual characteristics of the victims and circumstances which surrounded the death scene itself are provided. Comparisons are made between female homicide victims and their male counterparts. Profiles of typical and atypical female homicides are drawn. The trends in homicide victimization over the five years under analysis are discussed.

This paper investigates variations in the characteristics of victims of violence in the four regions of North Carolina: the mountains, piedmont, coastal plains, and tidewater. Distinct patterns of homicide and suicide are found in each of these regions. The montains are characterized by high rates of suicide and low rates of homicide, while the coastal plains are marked by an opposite pattern, high homicide and low suicide.The two remaining regions of North Carolina, the piedmont and tidewater, have similar violence patterns. The piedmont has slightly higher rates of both homicide and suicide than the tidewater; however, both exhibit positive relationships between homicide and suicide rates.Socio-cultural dimensions of each of these regions are outlined. Those variables which differentiate areas having opposite violence patterns are isolated. Also, similarities between other regions manifesting comparable rates of homicide and suicide are cited.Within the socio-cultural context of each region, an examination of the variations in the characteristics of victims of violence is made. These characteristics include: age, sex, marital status, race, occupation, time of injury, means of death type of premise of injury and, where applicable, type of weapon used.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting Staphylococcus aureusantibody in bovine milk samples was examined for repeatability. A set of 51 bovine milk samples from 4 universities with confirmed culture results was assembled, and a panel of 30 milk samples was randomly selected. When the selected panel was tested at the collection laboratory, there was 97% agreement between the ELISA and the culture test. The panel was tested with the ELISA by the 4 university laboratories. Results were scored by both visual and optical density reader methods. When compared to reference ELISA results, the university laboratory ELISA results showed an agreement of 99.8% for negative samples, 98% for positive samples, and 99% for all samples. Additional studies on 19 milk samples that cultured positive for bacteria other than S. aureusshowed 100% specificity. Overall comparison of ELISA and culture results showed high agreement between the 2 techniques. Disagreement appeared to result from explainable differences in antibody and bacterial levels and not from errors in either of the 2 techniques.