Variations in serum sorbitol dehydrogenase, aspartate transaminase, and isoenzyme 5 of lactate dehydrogenase activities in horses given carbon tetrachloride

Seven horses were given 0.5 mg of carbon tetrachloride/kg of body weight via a nasogastric tube. Subsequent hepatocellular damage was monitored by serum enzyme determinations of sorbitol dehydrogenase, isoenzyme 5 of lactate dehydrogenase, and aspartate transaminase activities. Creatinine kinase activity was evaluated as an indicator of muscle cell damage. Sorbitol dehydrogenase, isoenzyme 5 of lactate dehydrogenase, and aspartate transaminase activities were significantly (P less than 0.05) increased by 24 hours after carbon tetrachloride administration. Isoenzyme 5 of lactate dehydrogenase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activities returned to baseline several days before aspartate transaminase activity returned to baseline. Creatine kinase activity remained unchanged.     

Effect of temperature,storage time,and sample type on sorbitol dehydrogenase activity in llama serum and plasma

Abstract: Serum and heparinized plasma samples were collected from 11 adult, clinically healthy llamas. Aliquots were assayed for sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) activity after storage at room temperature (20°C), 4°C, or −20°C for defined time intervals up to 1 week postcollection. Sorbitol dehydrogenase activity in all samples was within reference intervals for our laboratory. No difference was found between serum and plasma SDH activity when measured immediately (within 1 hour) after collection. Sorbitol dehydrogenase activity decreased to 79% of initial activity by 24 hours in serum stored at room temperature; plasma had 94% of initial SDH activity under the same conditions. Sorbitol dehydrogenase activity was stable in both plasma and serum stored for up to 1 week at 4°C or −20°C. With the exception of serum stored at 20°C for > 8 hours, in vitro stability of llama SDH was adequate for its use in diagnostic testing.     

牛羊肝片吸虫病的诊断与治疗

2006年10月甘肃省肃南县皇城镇北峰村和西城村的5户牧民饲养的甘肃高山细毛羊部分羊只胸腹出现水肿,个别母羊流产,死亡两只,经检查初步诊断为羊肝片吸虫病。     

The effect of experimental fascioliasis on the pharmacokinetics of antipyrine and sulphadimidine in desert sheep

Healthy adult male desert sheep were experimentally infected with Fasciola gigantica , to investigate the influence of experimental fasciolasis on the pharmacokinetics of antipyrine and sulphadimidine. Each animal received 500 metacercariae orally. The experimental infection was confirmed histologically, by detection of Fasciola eggs in faeces and by measuring the activities of the enzymes sorbitol dehydrogenase (SD), glutamate dehydrogenase (GD) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in plasma during the course of the disease. Changes in the pharmacokinetics of antipyrine and sulphadimidine were reported in the experimentally infected animals. Significant prolongation of antipyrine half life was observed 16 weeks after infection. The half-life of sulphadimidine was also significantly prolonged 5, 9 and 16 weeks after infection. Clearance of the sulphonamide was decreased significantly 5 and 9 weeks after infection and it regained its pre-infection value 16 weeks after infection.     

Pharmacokinetics of sulphobromophthalein, lidocaine and indocyanine green in the course of subclinical fascioliasis in sheep

The pharmacokinetics of three drugs proposed for the assessment of liver function: sulphobromophthalein (BSP), lidocaine and indocyanine green (ICG) were determined in sheep four, eight, 12, 16 and 24 weeks after their infestation by an oral administration of 150 metacercariae of Fasciola hepatica. The disposition of BSP was altered by a significant decrease in its total plasma clearance from eight weeks after infection onwards. This change could be related to the low values of the elimination rate constant consistent with a reduced liver cytosolic conjugation of the dye to glutathione. Lidocaine pharmacokinetics were unaffected by parasitism and the only effect on ICG was an increased volume of distribution consistent with the liver hypertrophy caused by the subclinical fascioliasis.     

Pharmacokinetics of ampicillin and pentobarbital in the course of subclinical fascioliasis in sheep

Pharmacokinetics of two common veterinary drugs, ampicillin and pentobarbital, were determined in sheep before and four, eight, 12, 17 and 21 weeks after infestation of animals by an oral administration of 150 metacercariae of Fasciola hepatica. The parasite infestation was ascertained by clinical observation of the animals. The pharmacokinetics of ampicillin were not significantly affected by the liver parasitism but the disposition of pentobarbital changed. A significant increase in elimination half-life (around 180 per cent), volume of distribution (130 per cent) and mean residence time (154 to 170 per cent) was observed in sheep infected by the parasite for four to 12 weeks. In these animals, duration of narcosis caused by pentobarbital was prolonged 1.8-fold. The results suggested that both reduced elimination of pentobarbital and impaired distribution of the drug would be responsible for the prolonged duration of narcosis in infected animals.     

Stability of sorbitol dehydrogenase activity in bovine and equine sera

Serum sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) activities in 10 cows and nine horses were measured using an automated clinical analyzer. The serum samples were divided into aliquots that were stored at room temperature (21 degrees C), refrigerated (0-5 degrees C), or frozen (-30 degrees C). The stability of the SDH activity was monitored at various intervals. SDH activity in bovine sera remained stable for at least 5 hours at room temperature, 24 hours refrigerated, and 72 hours frozen without any significant (p < 0.05) differences from the initial serum values. In equine sera, SDH activity remained stable for at least 5 hours at room temperature and 48 hours frozen. The activity of the refrigerated equine sera was stable for at least 5 hours but less than 24 hours. An evaluation of fresh bovine serum and heparinized plasma samples indicated that there was no significant difference (p < 0.05) between the two sampling methods and that either may be employed for automated measurement of SDH activity following the established protocol. Sample type comparison indicated that there was a small but statistically significant (p < 0.05) difference between the results obtained comparing fresh serum and heparinized plasma samples for the horse. A reference range for Holstein cows was established using sera from 71 clinically healthy cattle (mean -/+ 2 SD = 32 -/+ 26 U/L).     

The measurement of serum haemoglobin reactive protein in selected groups of cattle and its use in clinical practice

Abstract

The presence of serum haemoglobin reactive protein (HRP) as an indicator of infection has been suggested. The serum HRP levels in varying groups of cattle were measured. A reference range, established on 233 cattle, of 0–10?mol/1 (as methaemoglobin binding capacity) was used. Forty eight of 104 cows that had recently aborted had raised serum HRP levels. Of 37 cows that had recently aborted, 26 had a leucocyte picture typical of bacterial infection and 18 of these had raised serum HRP levels. Eleven cows with a normal leucocyte picture had normal serum HRP levels. Seventeen cattle, with clinical infection and leucocyte pictures typical of bacterial infection, all had raised HRP levels. Of 133 cattle in which infection was considered a possibility by the attending veterinarian, 53 had an abnormal leucocyte picture with a raised serum HRP level. The mechanisms of a raised serum HRP level are unknown but, at the clinical level, its association with pyogenic infection make it a useful test in the confirmation of pyogenic infection.     

The effects of fascioliasis on the activities of some drug-metabolizing enzymes in desert sheep liver.

Desert sheep experimentally or naturally infected with Fasciola gigantica were used to study the influence of infection on the activities of some drug-metabolizing enzymes found in the liver. The enzymes investigated were aminopyrine N-demethylase, aniline 4-hydroxylase and UDP-glucuronyltransferase. The experimental infection was confirmed histologically by detection of Fasciola eggs in faeces and by measuring the activities of sorbitol dehydrogenase (SD), glutamate dehydrogenase (GD) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in plasma during the course of the disease. Liver specimens from naturally infected sheep were obtained from the slaughter house. The activities of aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline 4-hydroxylase were significantly decreased in sheep either naturally infected or during the acute stage of experimental fascioliasis (killed 5 weeks post-infection). The activity of UDP-glucuronyltransferase was decreased in naturally infected sheep and those killed 9 or 13 weeks post-experimental infection.     

Use of anthelmintics to control fascioliasis in sheep in the Yemen Arab Republic

Summary Repeated use of modern anthelmintics gave good control of fascioliasis in sheep in a village in the inter-montane plain of the Yemen Arab Republic despite the presence on the same pasture of untreated animals. The sheep mainly acquired the infection during the drier winter season and it is probable that effective control could be achieved by regular treatment of all animals over that period.

---

Resumen El uso repetido de antihelmínticos dió buen resultado en el control de fascioliasis en ovejas, en una aldea localizada en un valle intermonta?oso de la República Arabe de Yemen, a pesar de la presencia de aimales infectados sin tratar. Las ovejas adquirieron la infección durante la estación invernal seca, siendo probable que se logre un control efectivo, mediante tratamientos regulares de todo los animales en invierno.

---

Résumé L'usage répété des anthelminthiques modernes s'est révélé un bon moyen de lutte contre la fasciolose du mouton dans un village situé dans la plaine intermontagneuse de la République Arabe du Yemen et ceci malgré la présence dans la même prairie d'animaux non-traités. Les moutons contractaient l'infection principalement pendant la saison hivernale plus séche et il est probable qu'on pourrait parvenir à une lutte efficace par un traitement régulier de tous les animaux pendant cette période.

     

The use of novel stimuli as indicators of aggressive behavior in dogs

To test the predictive value of a doll and an artificial hand, reactions of dogs (n=100) were compared to histories of behavior toward children. Each dog's reaction to the doll and the hand was categorized as normal, fearful, fearfully aggressive, or offensively aggressive. Sixty-five percent (n=37) of the dogs that had a normal or no reaction to the stimuli had a history of being good with children. Eighty-eight percent (n=34) of the dogs that had an aggressive reaction to the doll had a history of aggressive behavior toward a child. Dogs that were fearfully aggressive were significantly more likely to show fearful responses to the doll, and dogs that were either dominant or fearfully aggressive were more likely to exhibit aggression of the same type to the hand. The results of this study indicate that the doll and, to a lesser extent, the hand may be useful components in determining the aggressive tendencies of dogs. The results also point out the major limitations, because the false positives and false negatives are too frequent.