Pyrethroid toxicology in the frog

Adult Rana pipiens pipiens (Shreber) are highly sensitive to insecticidal α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl esters administered subcutaneously, i.e., LD₅₀ 0.13–0.35 mg/kg for deltamethrin and the most potent isomer of each of cis-cypermethrin, fenpropathrin, and fenvalerate and 0.65 mg/kg for (1R,αS)-trans-cypermethrin. Pyrethroids lacking the α-cyano substituent [pyrethrins, S-bioallethrin, kadethrin, and the Cis- and trans-isomers of (1R)-tetramethrin, (1RS)-resmethrin, (1R)-phenothrin, and (1R)-permethrin] vary greatly in their toxicity (LD₅₀ 0.14 to > 60 mg/kg) and the trans isomers are much less toxic than the corresponding cis isomers. The trans/cis specificity is due in large part to relative detoxification rates based on synergism studies with the resmethrin and permèthrin isomers and liver pyrethroid esterase assays with the permethrin and cypermethrin isomers. Poisoning by the noncyano compounds involves hyperactivity and tremors whereas by the cyanophenoxybenzyl esters involves tonic seizures and choreoathetosis, i.e., types I and II syndromes, respectively. Picrotoxinin, t-butylbicyclophosphate, and five other small cage compounds give a third type of syndrome with clonic seizures. Diazepam and its 2′-fluoro-4-methyl-4,5-dihydro analog (RO 5-3636) are more effective than 23 other compounds tested in protecting against deltamethrin toxicity. Diazepam is most effective in alleviating the Type II syndrome, intermediate with the type I syndrome, and is not active with picrotoxinin.     

A live Pasteurella haemolytica vaccine efficacy trial

A live Pasteurella haemolytica serotype 1 vaccine was used in an efficacy trial conducted on 100 lightweight feeder calves purchased from a Florida ranch. Forty-one calves were inoculated with the vaccine intradermally in the neck. Fifty-nine calves served as nonvaccinated controls. Fourteen days later, the calves were shipped to an order buyer in eastern Tennessee, where the calves were mixed with 60 local calves in a community sale barn for 72 hours. After 3 additional days, the calves were shipped to a research feedlot in Bushland, Tex. They remained in the feedlot for 56 days, and the test was concluded 76 days after vaccination. The P haemolytica vaccine had no significant effect on performance, morbidity, or mortality. There was no significant difference between the vaccinated and nonvaccinated calves in the number of times Pasteurella was isolated. The calves became seropositive to bovine viral diarrhea virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus during the 76-day experiment. All calves initially were seropositive to parainfluenza-3 virus. A virulent outbreak of IBR occurred 30 days after the calves arrived at the feedlot. Before the onset of IBR, the isolation of P haemolytica serotype 1 from nasal turbinates was rare (2 of 500 nasal swabs). After the IBR outbreak, P haemolytica serotype 1 was isolated from 40 of 92 calves.     

Histologic lesions in broiler chicks given cyclopiazonic acid orally

Cyclopiazonic acid dissolved in corn oil was administered by gavage to broiler chicks (n = 80) daily, from the day of hatching for 23 days. Chicks were assigned to 3 groups (1, 2, or 4 mg of cyclopiazonic acid/kg of body weight); a control group was given corn oil. Each group was composed of 10 male and 10 female chicks. Surviving chicks were euthanatized and necropsied on day 24. Histologic examination revealed that the most common lesions consisted of necrosis and hemorrhage or hyperplasia of the mucosa of the proventriculus and hepatocellular vacuolation. Skeletal muscle degeneration, characterized by myofiber swelling or fragmentation accompanied by an infiltrate of macrophages and heterophils, was detected in the group given 4 mg/kg. This degeneration was associated with an increase of plasma creatine kinase activity. Focal hepatocellular and splenic necrosis also developed in the groups given 4 mg/kg.     

The toxicity of cyclopiazonic acid in weaned pigs

Five- to six-week-old crossbred pigs weighing 5 to 14 kg were given purified cyclopiazonic acid at dosages of 10, 1.0, 0.1, and 0.01 mg/kg body weight orally for 14 days. Clinical signs observed by day 7 in pigs given 10 mg/kg body weight were weakness, inactivity, anorexia, rough hair coats, and reduced body weights. These pigs also developed diarrhea during week 2 of the experiment. The pigs given 1.0 mg/kg body weight had rough hair coats and were moderately inactive during the second week of the experiment. At necropsy, lesions were observed only in pigs given 10 and 1.0 mg/kg body weight of cyclopiazonic acid. Lesions were gastric ulcers, mucosal hyperemia, and hemorrhage throughout the small and large intestine in pigs given 10 mg/kg body weight of cyclopiazonic acid. The pigs also had yellow, fibrononecrotic material in the lumen of the small intestine and pale livers. One pig given 1.0 mg/kg body weight had gastric ulceration. Microscopic lesions in pigs given 10 mg/kg body weight were necrotizing gastroenteritis, focal hepatocellular necrosis, hepatic peripheral lobular fatty change, and focal renal tubular nephrosis with focal suppurative tubulointerstitial nephritis. Pigs given 1.0 mg/kg body weight of cyclopiazonic acid had necrotizing gastritis and villous blunting in the jejunum and ileum.     

Comparison of bacterial organisms and their susceptibility patterns from otic exudate and ear tissue from the vertical ear canal of dogs undergoing a total ear canal ablation

The purpose of this prospective study was to compare bacterial organisms and their susceptibility patterns from otic exudate and ear tissue from the vertical ear canal of six dogs with end-stage otitis undergoing a total ear canal ablation. Twenty-six organisms, 13 from the exudate and 13 from the tissue, were morphologically and biochemically similar, and their susceptibility patterns were compared. There were discrepancies for only 5 antibiotics for 4 organisms from 3 dogs. Culture of otic exudate from the vertical ear canal of dogs with chronic end-stage otitis externa provides an accurate reflection of the bacterial species present and the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of these infections.