Canine distemper virus in coyotes: a serologic survey

Serum samples from 228 coyotes were selected randomly from a serum bank assembled from Texas from 1975 to 1984 and were evaluated serologically for neutralizing antibodies against canine distemper virus (CDV). One hundred and twenty-eight (56%) of the 228 coyotes had antibody titers of greater than or equal to 1:5 against CDV (seropositive). The serologic prevalence (seroprevalence) of antibodies against CDV infection was higher in the spring (62%) than in the fall (40%). The seroprevalence of CDV in various age groups was different; 25 of 101 coyotes (25%) were seropositive at less than 1 year of age, 35 of 52 (67%) were positive between 1 and 2 years of age, and 68 of 75 (91%) were positive at greater than or equal to 2 years of age. The results indicated that CDV was enzootic in coyote populations of southern Texas, with an increasing number of seropositive coyotes noted annually. The sex of the coyote did not appear to be related to the seroprevalence against CDV.

Synthesis of methyl O-(3-deoxy-3-fluoro-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----6)-O-beta-D- galactopyranosyl-(1----6)-3-deoxy-3-fluoro-beta-D-galactopyranoside and related N.M.R. studies

Sequential tritylation, benzoylation, and detritylation of methyl 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-beta-D-galactopyranoside gave crystalline methyl 2,4-di-O-benzoyl-3-deoxy-3-fluoro-beta-D-galactopyranoside (9), which was used as the initial nucleophile in the synthesis of the target oligosaccharide (16). Treatment of 9 with 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-6-O-bromoacetyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl bromide gave the corresponding disaccharide derivative 13, having a selectively removable blocking group at O-6'. Debromoacetylation of 13 afforded the disaccharide nucleophile 14 which, when treated with 2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-3-deoxy-3-fluoro-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl bromide, gave the fully protected trisaccharide 15. Debenzoylation of 15 gave the title glycoside 16. Condensation reactions were performed with silver trifluoromethane-sulfonate as a promoter in the presence of sym-collidine under base-deficient conditions, and gave excellent yields of the desired beta(trans)-products. Analyses of the 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. spectra, as well as determination of the JCF and JHF coupling constants, were made by using various one- and two-dimensional n.m.r. techniques.