Bracken poisoning and enzootic haematuria in cattle in China.

Acute bracken poisoning and enzootic haematuria are believed to have occurred in cattle in China for a long time. It is only in the past 10 years, however, that these diseases associated with the consumption of bracken ferns have been studied in detail and this paper reviews these recent studies. Based on a large scale survey, both conditions were found to be serious problems with a wide geographical distribution, especially in the mountainous regions of southwest China. Epidemiological and experimental work revealed that two species of bracken ferns, Pteridium aquilinum and Pteridium revolutum, were associated with these diseases, but the latter seems more important in China.     

Clotting profile in cattle showing chronic enzootic haematuria (CEH) and bladder neoplasms

Primary haemostasis (bleeding and blood clotting time), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), antithrombin III (ATIII), protein C, protein S, fibrinogen and D-dimer were determined in 13 cattle affected by chronic enzootic haematuria (CEH) and bladder neoplasms and 10 healthy cattle (control group). Increases in antithrombin III and protein S activities (P<0.01) and protein C and fibrinogen plasma levels (P<0.05) were observed in sick animals, while activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, and D-dimer did not show significant differences when compared to healthy animals. The clotting profile observed does not seem responsible for the chronic bleeding typical of CEH. The observed modification of some coagulation markers may derive from multiple interactions among cancer, inflammation and viral infection status typical of this syndrome.     

The enzymatic profile of urine and plasma in bovine urinary bladder cancer (enzootic bovine haematuria)

The enzymatic profile of urine and plasma in field cases of bovine bladder cancer was studied. Urinary lactate dehydrogenase activity was significantly altered along with the isoenzyme pattern. Activity of alkaline phosphatase and -glucuronidase was decreased in the affected animals. No significant changes were observed in acid phosphatase, or arylsulphatase A and B activity. In plasma, lactate dehydrogenase activity was elevated without any change in the isoenzyme pattern. No significant changes were observed in the other plasma enzymes studied or in the sialic acid concentration.     

The diagnosis of enzootic bovine leukosis

This paper reviews the clinical and virological diagnostic procedures for enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL). The clinical diagnosis must be always confirmed by a specific laboratory test for Bovine Leukaemia Virus (BLV). Many virological tests were proposed. The sensitivity of all the diagnostic methods is sufficient to do an early detection of a BLV infection on an individual base. Advantages of the highly sensitive methods like RIA and ELISA appear when the samples to be tested have naturally very low antibody titers (individual milk, bulk milk, pooled sera).     

盐酸克林霉素对猪肺炎霉形体病的疗效试验

进行了克林霉素对猪肺炎霉形体病的疗效试验,并与卡那霉素、泰乐菌素、土霉素、恩诺沙星进行了比较。结果:盐酸克林霉素组的死亡率、有效率、治愈率和相对增重率分别为0、100%、96.67%和82.5%;卡那霉素组分别为6.67%、73.33%、67.67%和79.1%;泰乐菌素组分别为10%、60%、50%和65.4%;土霉素组分别为16.67%、63.33%、53.33%和76.7%;恩诺沙星组分别为0、80%、80%、78.2%。经统计学分析,盐酸克林霉素组和恩诺沙星组的死亡率明显低于感染对照组(P<0.01),治愈率、有效率显著高于感染对照组(P<0.01)。表明盐酸克林霉素对猪肺炎霉形体病的治疗有很好的疗效,在猪肺炎霉形体病防治中有很好的应用前景。     

Eradication of enzootic bovine leukosis from Finland

Enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) was recognized among Finnish cattle in 1966. Administrative decisions specifying and refining official control measures were given in 1966, 1976, 1980, and 1993. The measures' key principle always has been 'test and slaughter'. The EBL/bovine leukosis virus (BLV) infection situation was monitored at meat inspection, and hematologically between 1970 and 1977 and serologically between 1978 and 1989. Annual surveys including all dairy herds and samples from beef animals were conducted in 1990-2001. Bulk-tank milk samples represented the dairy herds in the surveys; the beef animals were sampled individually at slaughter. The maximum positive herd-level percentage in the surveys was 0.03%. EBL/BLV infection was evenly dispersed in the southern part of the country and nonexistent in the northern part. We conclude that herd-level prevalence of EBL/BLV infection never exceeded 5%. It nevertheless took 30 years to eradicate the disease and the infection. EBL was eradicated from mainland Finland in 1996 and from the island district of Ahvenanmaa in 1999. Annual monitoring of the EBL situation continues.