Pathological analysis of batch safety testing of veterinary vaccines using small laboratory animals

Batch safety tests (BSTs) of veterinary vaccines are conducted using small laboratory animals to assure the safety of vaccines according to several criteria, including clinical signs and change in body weight. Although the latter is used as an evaluation index in BSTs, there have been no reports on the internal changes that affect body weight during the test period. Therefore, we analyzed BST via pathological examination of the tested animals. Here, BSTs were performed for 176 batches using mice and 126 batches using of guinea pigs. Most of the gross findings could be classified into four lesion types (nodules, adhesions, ascites, no apparent signs), with only one vaccine inducing lesions that could not be classified into any of these four types. Histopathological examination revealed that the reactions caused by BST were pyogenic and/or granulomatous inflammation. Nodular or adhesive lesions comprised more severe pyogenic granulomatous inflammation than ascites or cases with no apparent gross lesions. These nodular or adhesive lesions were more frequently induced by vaccines that contained an adjuvant than by vaccines that did not contain an adjuvant. The cases with “exceptional” gross findings histologically presented severe necrosis of the hematopoietic system. Additional testing showed that these “exceptional” lesions were induced when a specific type of light liquid paraffin was injected along with other vaccine additives. Our results show that body weight loss and/or lesions during BST were induced by proinflammatory properties of the tested vaccines and that BST is a sensitive method for detecting unexpected effects of vaccine components.     

恩诺沙星与磺胺二甲嘧啶联合毒性探究

本研究旨在探究恩诺沙星与磺胺二甲嘧啶的联合毒性。选取SD大鼠为试验对象,将其分成6组,每组12只,分别为高剂量联合用药组（500 mg/kg体重）、中剂量联合用药组（250 mg/kg体重）、低剂量联合用药组（50 mg/kg体重）、恩诺沙星单药组（250 mg/kg体重）、磺胺二甲嘧啶单药组（250 mg/kg体重）及对照组（等量0.5%羧甲基纤维素钠溶液）,配制相应的药物进行灌胃,最后一次给药1 d后对大鼠进行称重、麻醉、心脏采血并剖检取肝脏组织,然后对大鼠增重率、血常规指标、血清生化指标及肝脏病理学变化几个方面进行分析,并利用SPSS 22.0软件评估2种药物的联合作用效果。结果显示,在雌性大鼠中,高、中剂量联合用药组使大鼠增重率显著下降（P<0.05）,雄性大鼠增重率无显著变化（P>0.05）;雄性大鼠给药组白细胞数量均显著增加（P<0.05）,高剂量联合用药组中性粒细胞和淋巴细胞占比分别表现为显著升高及下降（P<0.05）;高、中剂量联合用药组大鼠外周血中谷草转氨酶含量显著增加（P<0.05）,且高、中剂量联合用药组肝脏病理切片视野可见不同程度的炎性细胞浸润,并伴有不同程度的损伤。本研究结果表明,恩诺沙星和磺胺二甲嘧啶联用可使毒性增加,对大鼠的免疫系统状态有一定的影响,且能造成一定程度的肝脏损伤,剂量越高影响越大。本研究为恩诺沙星和磺胺二甲嘧啶联合用药机制的研究提供数据支持,并为二者的临床应用提供参考,提示新的食品安全评估应考虑药物联合暴露带来的影响。     

芩术安胎散的毒性和临床安全性试验研究

试验通过对芩术安胎散的急性毒性、亚慢性毒性和临床安全性进行研究,为芩术安胎散对家猫先兆性流产的预防与治疗提供参考。急性毒性试验：制备芩术安胎散药液,取6周龄健康昆明小白鼠60只,随机分为5组,每组12只,第1~4组的给药剂量分别为6 000、4 800、3 840和3 072 mg/kg,对照组给予等量纯净水,10 d内观察有无中毒和死亡,计算半数致死量（LD₅₀）;另取6周龄健康昆明小白鼠20只,随机分为2组：试验组给予2.0 g/mL芩术安胎散药液,18 h内灌服3次,每次0.8 mL,对照组给予等量纯净水,给药后饲养7 d,计算最大耐受量（MTD）。亚慢性毒性试验：24只7周龄SD雌性大鼠随机均分为高、中、低剂量组和对照组,在30 d内,每日分别给予4 800、2 400和1 200 mg/kg芩术安胎散,对照组以等量纯净水进行灌胃,每日观察和记录各组大鼠的精神状态、有无中毒症状和死亡;第31天对各组大鼠称重、采血,进行血液学检测,剖检各组大鼠,观察主要脏器有无病变并制作病理切片。临床安全性试验：选取2~5岁健康雌性家猫20只,适应性饲养10 d,随机分组,每组5只,分别为低剂量组（1倍临床推荐剂量：1.15 g/kg）、中剂量组（3倍临床推荐剂量：3.45 g/kg）、高剂量组（5倍临床推荐剂量：5.75 g/kg）及空白对照组,将药物置于胶囊内,口服给药,空白对照组给予空胶囊,每日1次,连续给药7 d,每日观察各组家猫食欲、精神状态及排便情况,于第8天对各组家猫进行静脉采血,检测血常规和血液生化指标。结果显示,急性毒性试验无小鼠死亡,LD₅₀>6 000 mg/kg;小鼠对芩术安胎散的最大耐受量为240 g/kg,表明该受试药物无明显毒性。在亚慢性毒性试验中,各组大鼠的生长发育情况、血常规指标、脏器系数与对照组相比均无显著差异（P>0.05）;高、中剂量组与低剂量组、对照组相比血清总胆固醇含量显著下调（P<0.05）,除此之外的生化指标均无显著差异（P>0.05）。病理剖检和组织切片观察结果显示,高剂量组大鼠主要组织器官与对照组相比无明显异常。在临床安全性试验中,不同剂量组家猫精神状态、被毛光泽度、粪便情况均正常,血液学指标与对照组相比差异均不显著（P>0.05）。本试验结果表明,中药芩术安胎散无明显毒性,家猫按临床推荐剂量使用是安全的。     

Acute and Sub-chronic Toxicity Test on Rats of a New Kind of Antidiarrheal Chinese Herbal Medicine Compound Preparation for Livestock

In order to understand the security of a new kind of antidiarrheal Chinese herbal medicine compound preparation for livestock,acute and sub-chronic toxicity test were conducted.Acute toxicity test used the largest drug dose method,20 Wistar rats were orally treated with the Chinese medicine compound preparation.In the sub-chronic toxicity test,80 rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 20 rats in each group and orally given a dose of 3 000,1 500,750 and 0 mg/(kg·BW）of Chinese medicine compound preparation once a day for 30 days.The general clinical status was observed,rats weight were measured and the dose was adjusted every week during the test,after the test measured blood routine index,biochemistry index,and preceded the gross anatomy observation,weighing each major organs and calculated the viscera coefficient,and proceded main viscera histopathological observation between the high dose group and the control group.The acute toxicity results showed that every rat would be alive gavaged with the lethal dose（LD₅₀）of compound preparation larger 5 g/(kg·BW).The sub-chronic toxicity autopsy showed that except heart,lung,and testicles in individual rats appeared mild bleeding in the high dose group,the other dose group organs found no abnormal change.The haematological index showed except mononuclear cell rate（P<0.05),and hematocrit declined significantly（P<0.05）in the high dose group,all the indexes of the other groups were in the normal range,there was no significant difference from the control group.The test suggested the Chinese medicine compound preparation was no toxicity under the condition of this test according to acute toxicity classification standard of exogenous chemicals by WTO,there was no effect on the growth and development of rats in the sub-chronic toxicity test,and there was no chronic toxicity at least 1 500 mg/kg feeding conditions in short-term repeated application.     

Suspected levamisole intoxication in calves

CASE HISTORY: A group of 32 Friesian and four Hereford calves, 3–4 months old with body weights between 100–120?kg, were purchased from a weaner sale. On arrival at the property the Hereford calves were treated with a combination anthelmintic containing 2?g/L abamectin and 80?g/L levamisole hydrochloride. Shortly afterwards they developed tremors and frothing from the mouth, and two died overnight. The Friesian calves were treated with the same anthelmintic on the following day, when some showed hypersalivation and frothing from the mouth.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: Examination of the three most severely affected Friesian calves revealed severe nicotinic-type symptoms including hypersalivation, frothing from the mouth, muscle tremors, recumbency, rapid respiration, hyperaesthesia, and central nervous system depression. Other calves showed mild to moderate signs of intoxication including restlessness, tail switching, salivation, tremors, frequent defaecation, mild colic and jaw chomping. Two calves died shortly afterwards. An adverse drug event investigation revealed that the formulation and quality of the anthelmintic was within the correct specification, and that the drench gun was functioning correctly.

DIAGNOSIS: Suspected levamisole intoxication due to a combination of possible overdosing, dehydration, and stress caused by transportation and prolonged yarding.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Susceptibility to levamisole toxicity in New Zealand calves can be increased if factors like dehydration or stress are present. Levamisole has a narrow margin of safety, and overdosing in calves can easily occur if the dose rate is not based on their actual weight or health status.     

Marked hyperphosphatasemia associated with an acute leukemia in a Great Dane

This is the report of a 5‐year‐old male neutered Great Dane with an extreme leukocytosis (544.9 × 10⁹ cells/L; RI 5.2–13.9 × 10⁹ cells/L) characterized by highly atypical round cells. Cellular morphologic features such as cytoplasmic membrane blebs, a high nuclear‐to‐cytoplasmic ratio, and nuclear indentations and irregularities and large nucleoli, as well as immunocytochemistry for CD3 and CD79, myeloperoxidase cytochemistry, and clonality testing were not conclusive for myeloid or lymphoid origin. Marked alkaline hyperphosphatasemia was present at the first visit (2783.0 U/L; RI 6–80.0 U/L), followed by a 5‐fold increase (14,000 U/L) a week later, identified as being mostly contributed by the bone‐ALP isoform (11,062 U/L; RI 0–30 U/L). In addition, the atypical leukocytes were strongly positive for cytoplasmic ALP activity. In vitro lysis of a heparin blood sample resulted in a 1.7‐fold increase of ALP activity, supporting the origin of the hyperphosphatasemia at least in part from the leukemic cell population. To the authors’ knowledge, this is a unique case of alkaline hyperphosphatasemia, due at least to a leukemic cell population producing a bone‐ALP isoform, regardless of the exact nature of the leukemia.     

Serum C-reactive protein concentration as an indicator of remission status in dogs with multicentric lymphoma

BACKGROUND: The acute-phase protein C-reactive protein (CRP) is used as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in humans with various neoplasias, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if CRP could be used to detect different remission states in dogs with lymphoma. ANIMALS: Twenty-two dogs with untreated multicentric lymphoma. METHODS: Prospective observational study. Blood samples were collected at the time of diagnosis, before each chemotherapy session, and at follow-up visits, resulting in 287 serum samples. RESULTS: Before therapy, a statistically significant majority of the dogs (P = .0019) had CRP concentrations above the reference range (68%, 15/22). After achieving complete remission 90% (18/20) of the dogs had CRP concentrations within the reference range, and the difference in values before and after treatment was statistically significant (P < .001). CRP concentrations of dogs in complete remission (median, 1.91; range, 0.2-103) were significantly different (P = .031) from those of dogs with partial remission (median, 2.48; range, 0-89), stable disease (median, 1.77; range, 1.03-42.65), or progressive disease (median, 8.7; range, 0-82.5). There was profound variation of CRP measurements within each dog. CONCLUSIONS: CRP is useful in determining complete remission status after treatment with cytotoxic drugs. However, the individual variation between dogs means CRP concentration is not sufficiently different in other remission states to permit its use in monitoring progression of the disease. Greater reliability in determining remission status might be achieved by combining CRP concentration with other serum markers.     

氟吡呋喃酮与8种杀虫剂复配对温室白粉虱的联合毒力

为了筛选出对温室白粉虱高效的农药复配组合,本试验选择9种杀虫单剂对田间采集的温室白粉虱进行了毒力测定,并利用共毒因子和共毒系数对氟吡呋喃酮与8种杀虫剂复配组合的联合毒力进行评价,同时对筛选出的药剂进行田间药效试验。结果表明：杀虫单剂毒力测定中,LC₅₀最低的为鱼藤酮,最高的为螺虫乙酯,48 h LC₅₀分别为0.43μg/mL和78.59μg/mL;毒力大小顺序为鱼藤酮>氟啶虫胺腈>除虫菊素>苦参·印楝素>d-柠檬烯>氟吡呋喃酮>啶虫脒>高效氯氰菊酯>螺虫乙酯。共毒系数大于120的复配组合为氟吡呋喃酮与d-柠檬烯5∶1、氟吡呋喃酮与苦参·印楝素1∶2和1∶5,共毒系数分别为268.31、247.80和241.46,LC₅₀分别为5.76、4.51μg/mL和4.34μg/mL。氟吡呋喃酮与d-柠檬烯5∶1复配增效作用明显,为最佳配比。田间药效试验表明,10 d后,17%氟吡呋喃酮可溶液剂与1%苦参·印楝素乳油、5%d-柠檬烯可溶液剂复配对温室白粉虱的防效达到83.5%～83...