Prevention and control of coccidiosis in goats with decoquinate

Decoquinate was evaluated as a coccidiostat in domestic goats. Fifty goats less than 4 months of age were assigned to 5 groups (pens) of 10 goats each and were treated for 87 days with 0 (control), 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, or 4.0 mg of decoquinate in feed/kg of body weight. Goats were inoculated orally weight. Goats were inoculated orally with 30,000 oocysts, mainly Eimeria christenseni (74%) and E ninakohlyakimovae (20%) on day 19. Nontreated goats developed profuse watery diarrhea and tenesmus and gained weight poorly; 2 died. Treated goats did not develop clinical coccidiosis and gained significantly more weight (P less than 0.05), regardless of the dose used. Treated goats also had significantly fewer (P less than 0.05) oocysts in feces than did nontreated controls. Oocyst numbers were inversely related to dose; a more rapid decrease in oocyst numbers occurred as the dose was increased. At the doses used, decoquinate was safe in goats and was an effective drug for the prevention of clinical coccidiosis.     

Effect of emu oil on auricular inflammation induced with croton oil in mice

OBJECTIVE: To determine the acute anti-inflammatory effects of topically applied emu oil. ANIMALS: 96 male CD-1 mice assigned randomly to 4 groups, each comprising 24 mice. PROCEDURE: To induce auricular inflammation, 50 microl of a solution comprising 10 microl of croton oil dissolved in 1 ml of acetone was applied to the inner surface of the left auricle (pinna). One hour later, 3 or 5 microl of emu oil (low- and high-dose groups, respectively) or 5 microl of porcine oil (oil-control) was applied to the left pinna. Control mice remained untreated. Six mice per group were euthanatized 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours after induction of inflammation. Specimens of auricular tissue (ear plugs) were obtained, using a 6-mm biopsy punch. Magnitude of swelling was calculated as the weight difference between left (inflamed) and right (noninflamed) ear plugs; degree of edema was determined as the difference between wet and dry weights of the left ear plug. RESULTS: Magnitude of swelling was significantly reduced at 6 and 12 hours in mice treated with emu or porcine oil, compared with controls. The greatest reduction in swelling was detected in the high-dose emu group at 6 hours. Compared with controls, degree of edema was significantly reduced at 6 hours only in the high-dose group, whereas by 12 hours, all groups treated with oils had significantly less edema than controls. At 24 hours, magnitude of swelling and degree of edema did not differ among groups. CONCLUSION: Topically applied emu oil significantly reduced severity of acute auricular inflammation induced by croton oil in mice.     

Response of Trypanosoma congolense in goats to single and double treatment with diminazene aceturate.

Diminazene aceturate is one of a limited number of compounds currently marketed for treatment of trypanosomiasis in cattle, sheep and goats. The pharmacokinetics of the compound in goats suggest that double treatment with diminazene aceturate might enhance the compound's therapeutic activity. A study was therefore conducted in goats using two clones of Trypanosoma congolense, IL 3274 and IL 1180, which were previously shown to be resistant and sensitive, respectively, to single treatment with diminazene aceturate. The results indicated that, as compared to single treatment, double treatment with diminazene aceturate at a dose of 7.2 mg kg-1 bodyweight, at either eight or 24 hour intervals, did not greatly enhance the therapeutic activity of the drug. Furthermore, treatment with the same drug dose eliminated infections with T congolense IL 3274 when treatment was administered 24 hours after infected Glossina morsitans centralis had fed, but failed to do so if treatment was delayed until after goats were detected to be parasitaemic. This suggests that failure of T congolense IL 3274 to respond to treatment with diminazene may not be due to drug resistance per se.     

Effects of aerosolized class C fly ash in weanling goats

OBJECTIVE: To determine effects of repeated aerosol exposures to fly ash dust on respiratory tracts of tent-confined goats. ANIMALS: 12 weanling Boer-Spanish crossbred goats. PROCEDURE: Goats were randomly assigned to 2 groups: fly ash treatment group (principal goats, n = 6) or control group (control goats, 6). Aerosolized fly ash dust was provided during a 4-hour period for each of 6 applications given over 3 months and one 2-hour application prior to necropsy. Fly ash particle diameters ranged from 0.1 to 130 microm and averaged 17.8 microm, with 1.5% of fly ash particles in the 0.1- to 5-microm-diameter range. A mean +/- SD of 748 +/- 152 g/treatment was delivered inside a tent containing principal goats; control goats were placed inside a similar tent for 4-hour treatments without dust. Following treatment, rectal temperatures were taken at 0, 4, 6, 8, 24, and 72 hours; Hcts were recorded at 0, 24, and 72 hours. RESULTS: Rectal temperatures were significantly increased at 4, 6, and 8 hours and decreased at 72 hours, compared with 0 hours. Mean +/- SEM Hct values were significantly increased for principal goats (3747 +/- 0.39%), compared with control goats (36.17 +/- 0.42%). A significant increase in the mean area of gross atelectatic lung lesions (1,410 mm2) was found in principal goats (n = 6), compared with control goats (440 mm2; 5). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: An increase in atelectatic lung lesions was observed in principal goats, compared with control goats; however, overall, fly ash dust effects were nontoxic.     

Short-term transportation in a small vehicle affects the physiological state and subsequent water consumption in goats

We investigated the physiological effects on goats of transportation for one hour in a small truck. We also investigated food and water consumption after transportation. Eight adult goats (four castrated males and four ovariectomized females) were used. Plasma levels of cortisol, glucose and free fatty acids increased significantly within 15 min of the start of transportation, and these higher levels were maintained throughout transportation. These results indicate that transportation in a small truck activates the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system in goats. Despite activation of the sympathetic nervous system, heart rate (HR) in subjected animals during transportation did not differ from during the control animals, which were housed in their usual pen. However, after the transportation had ended and the goats started to eat fodder, HR increased significantly. There was no difference in the amount of food consumption between the control and transported goats. Water consumption in the first three hours after transportation was significantly lower in the transported goats than in the controls for the equivalent period. In the subsequent three hours, however, the transported goats consumed more water than the controls. Consequently, the total water consumption of the transported goats did not differ from that of the controls during the six hours after transportation. In conclusion, short-term transportation with a small vehicle activated the HPA axis and the sympathetic nervous system in goats. HR was not increased during transportation, but after the transportation had ended HR in transported goats was higher than that in control goats. After transportation, goats had consumed the same amount of food as control goats, but water consumption during three hours after the transportation was lower than that of control goats.     

Effects of dexamethasone, levamisole, and dexamethasone-levamisole combination on neutrophil function in female goats

Effects of dexamethasone, levamisole, or combined dexamethasone-levamisole administration on polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) function in healthy, adult female goats were studied. Goats were assigned to treated (n = 6) and control (n = 6) groups. In experiment 1, treated goats were given levamisole (6 mg/kg of body weight, IM). In experiment 2, treated goats were given 0.1 mg of dexamethasone/kg, IV, for 3 consecutive days, 1 mg of dexamethasone/kg, IV, for 6 consecutive days, and 6 mg of levamisole/kg, IM, with a 4th injection of 1 mg of dexamethasone/kg. All injections were administered 12 hours before blood collection. The PMN were evaluated for random migration and chemotaxis under agarose, ingestion of Staphylococcus aureus, cytochrome C reduction, iodination, and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Levamisole alone did not alter the function of caprine PMN. Both doses of dexamethasone caused increased random migration and decreased cytochrome C reduction and iodination. Dexamethasone resulted in no changes in chemotaxis, S aureus ingestion, and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Random migration and cytochrome C reduction returned toward base line in cells from dexamethasone and levamisole-treated goats. Although iodination activity in cells from dexamethasone-treated goats remained significantly (P less than 0.05) lower than those of controls after levamisole administration, a rebound toward base-line activity occurred.     

Hepatic effects of halothane and isoflurane anesthesia in goats

OBJECTIVE: To determine hepatic effects of halothane and isoflurane anesthesia in young healthy goats. DESIGN: Randomized prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS: 24 healthy 9-month-old female goats. PROCEDURE: Goats were sedated with xylazine hydrochloride and ketamine hydrochloride and anesthetized with halothane (n = 12) or isoflurane (12) while undergoing tendon surgery. End-tidal halothane and isoflurane concentrations were maintained at 0.9 and 1.2 times the minimal alveolar concentrations, respectively, and ventilation was controlled. Venous blood samples were collected approximately 15 minutes after xylazine was administered and 24 and 48 hours after anesthesia, and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activities and bilirubin concentration were measured. Goats were euthanatized 25 or 62 days after anesthesia, and postmortem liver specimens were submitted for histologic examination. RESULTS: All goats recovered from anesthesia and survived until euthanasia. Serum SDH, GGT, and ALP activities and bilirubin concentration did not increase after anesthesia, but serum AST activity was significantly increased. However, serum hepatic enzyme activities were within reference limits at all times in all except 1 goat in which serum AST activity was high 24 and 48 hours after anesthesia. This goat had been anesthetized with halothane and had the longest duration of anesthesia. No clinically important abnormalities were seen on histologic examination of liver specimens. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that use of halothane or isoflurane for anesthesia in young healthy goats is unlikely to cause hepatic injury.     

Disposition of oxfendazole in goats and efficacy compared with sheep

The disposition of intraruminally administered oxfendazole (OFZ) in goats was studied at 5, 10 and 20 mg kg-1. The area under the plasma concentration with time curve (AUC) increased with increasing dose but at a declining rate. AUC was lower after intra-abomasal compared with intraruminal administration. OFZ was less effective against drug resistant Trichostrongylus colubriformis in goats than in sheep but was of similar efficacy against drug resistant Haemonchus contortus in both host species. In the same experiment peak plasma levels of OFZ in goats were about half those in sheep given the same dose. Of 70 goats tested in the field, total rumen bypass occurred in 12 per cent and partial bypass in 67 per cent. Lower systemic availability due to bypass would be expected to reduce further anthelmintic efficacy in goats. From the results of these experiments a dose rate of 10 mg kg-1 is recommended for goats. When given at this rate as a divided dose at 12 hourly intervals over 24 hours, OFZ was significantly more effective than a single dose in reducing egg counts.     

Toxicity and tissue residue depletion of levamisole hydrochloride in young goats

Toxicity and tissue residue depletion studies were conducted in young goats, using an oral drench formulation of levamisole hydrochloride. In the target animal toxicity study, 3 groups of 5 goats each were given levamisole orally to provide approximately 11.88, 23.76, or 35.64 mg of levamisole HCl/kg/d for 3 consecutive days; a fourth group of 5 goats served as untreated controls. Blood samples were taken for analysis of levamisole 1 day prior to dosing and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 days following the third dose. At the 35.64-mg/kg dose, 2 of 5 goats responded with typical cholinergic signs of toxicosis on each of the 3 days of dosing. The times for the onset of clinical signs of toxicosis ranged from 18 to 63 minutes, with an average duration of 32 minutes. Administration of 23.76 mg of levamisole HCl/kg resulted in hyperactive behavior in 1 of 5 goats only on the first day of dosing; no abnormal behavior was observed in any of the 5 goats following the second or third dose of levamisole HCl at 23.76 mg/kg. Untoward effects were not seen in the 5 goats dosed at 11.88 mg of levamisole HCl/kg or in the controls during the 3-day dosing period or in the following 7-day observation period. Overall, the observed signs of toxicosis did not become more severe, affect more goats, or persist for a longer period on subsequent dosing days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Evaluation of cardiac rhythm in dogs treated with levamisole hydrochloride using 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography

The objective of this study was to evaluate the electrocardiographic alterations in the cardiac rhythm in dogs treated with levamisole hydrochloride over a period of 24 hours. Thirty-six mixed-breed dogs, both male and female, all clinically healthy, were used in the experiment. The dogs were divided into 6 groups with 6 dogs in each group, according to dosage and route of administration. The Holter test was initiated immediately after the treatment, and was maintained for 24 hours. In the group treated with 10 mg/kg by way of subcutaneous injection, one of them showed ventricular premature complexes, sometimes isolated and other times in pairs, and ventricular tachycardia, concentrated mainly in the first hour after administration of the drug. In the group of 6 animals treated subcutaneously with 25mg/kg, four showed isolated ventricular premature complexes, ventricular bigeminy and trigeminy, mainly during the first 2 hours after administration of the drug. All the animals in the other groups showed sinus arrhythmia followed by sinus arrest. The disturbances in the cardiac rhythm observed in clinically healthy animals treated with levamisole hydrochloride, indicate that it is preferable to avoid subcutaneous administration of levamisole hydrochloride and that the oral administration of the drug should be done with caution.     

The immunosuppressive effects of experimental T. congolense infections in goats

The agglutinin response of four groups of goats inoculated with Brucella melitensis vaccine 0, 1, 2 and 4 weeks following experimental infection with Trypanosoma congolense was compared with that in non-infected controls. Four weeks after vaccination the goats were treated with a trypanocidal drug and the recovery of the immune response observed. The results indicated that the majority of animals had a significantly but not completely suppressed antibody response. This was most marked in the group vaccinated 2 weeks post-infection, which corresponded with the onset of parasitaemia. Although the mortality rate in the infected goats was high the titre in those remaining animals that were treated with the trypanocidal drug increased immediately after treatment. The possible implications of trypanosome induced immunosuppression for vaccination programmes in goats are discussed briefly.     

Effects of inhaled fine dust on lung tissue changes and antibody response induced by spores of opportunistic fungi in goats

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of sterile fine dust aerosol inhalation on antibody responses and lung tissue changes induced by Mucor ramosissimus or Trichoderma viride spores following intratracheal inoculation in goats. ANIMALS: 36 weanling Boer-Spanish goats. PROCEDURES: 6 goats were allocated to each of 2 M ramosissimus-inoculated groups, 2 T viride-inoculated groups, and 2 control (tent or pen) groups. One of each pair of sporetreated groups and the tent control group were exposed 7 times to sterilized fine feedyard dust (mean+/-SD particle diameter, <7.72+/-0.69 microm) for 4 hours in a specially constructed tent. Goats in the 4 fungal treatment groups were inoculated intratracheally 5 times with a fungal spore preparation (30 mL), whereas tent control goats were intratracheally inoculated with physiologic saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (30 mL). Pen control goats were not inoculated or exposed to dust. Goats received an IV challenge with equine RBCs to assess antibody responses to foreign antigens. Postmortem examinations were performed at study completion (day 68) to evaluate lung tissue lesions. RESULTS: 5 of 7 deaths occurred between days 18 and 45 and were attributed to fine dust exposures prior to fungal treatments. Fine dust inhalation induced similar lung lesions and precipitating antibodies among spore-treated goats. Following spore inoculations, dust-exposed goats had significantly more spores per gram of consolidated lung tissue than did their nonexposed counterparts. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Fine dust inhalation appeared to decrease the ability of goats to successfully clear fungal spores from the lungs following intratracheal inoculation.     

Drug residues in milk after intrauterine injection of oxytetracycline, lincomycin-spectinomycin, and povidone-iodine in cows with metritis

A study was conducted to document the maximum retention times of antimicrobial residues in milk after their use in intrauterine treatment of metritis in lactating cows and to evaluate several risk factors hypothesized to influence the retention time of these drugs. Oxytetracycline (3 g), lincomycin-spectinomycin (2 g of one-third lincomycin and two-thirds spectinomycin), or povidone-iodine (6 g) were given to cows with metritis by intrauterine route. The Bacillus stearothermophilus var calidolactis disk assay was performed on each milk sample. Of the 61 cows treated with oxytetracycline, 30 had residues in their postinjection milk for variable periods (range, 12.5 to 44.0 hours; mean, 26.6 +/- 10.3). Of the 47 cows treated with lincomycin-spectinomycin, 17 had residues in their postinjection milk for various periods (range, 14.5 to 24 hours; mean, 19.5 +/- 8.9). Povidone-iodine was not detected in milk. Because a high number of cows (n = 61) were treated with oxytetracycline, only data from these cows were used in testing the influence of 3 factors (severity of metritis, time after parturition when cows with metritis were treated, and parity) on maximum retention of the drug in milk. Severity of metritis did not have a significant influence (P greater than or equal to 0.1) on the maximum retention time of the drug. The retention time decreased linearly with the increase of time after parturition when the cow with metritis was treated. First lactation cows had a significantly (P less than or equal to 0.01) shorter retention time than did older cows.     

Role of mixed-function oxidase in 3-methylindole-induced acute pulmonary edema in goats

The relationship between the pulmonary toxicity of 3- methylindole (3MI, skatole) and the mixed-function oxidase (MFO) system was investigated. Nine goats assigned to three groups were given a jugular infusion of [14C]3MI (0.02 to 0.03 g of 3MI/kg of body weight containing 0.5 muCi/kg of body weight) for 1.5 hours to induce acute pulmonary edema. Two groups of three goats each were treated with phenobarbital (PB) or piperonyl butoxide (BT) prior to 3MI infusion to induce or to inhibit the MFO system. Three goats were used as 3MI controls. During a 72-hour test period, blood was collected for determination of plasma 3MI concentration and radioactivity. Urine was collected and was fractionated by column chromatography. The severity of pulmonary lesions was evaluated by gross and microscopic examination. Pretreatment with BT prevented the onset of acute pulmonary edema. Goats pretreated with PB had more severe lung lesions than did 3MI controls. Plasma of goats pretreated with BT had a longer half-life (2.1 hours) of radioactivity, whereas plasma of goats pretreated with PB had a shorter half-life (1.0 hour) when compared with plasma of 3MI control goats (1.5 hours) given the same dosage of [14C]3MI (P less than 0.025). The plasma half-life of 3MI was longer (P less than 0.025) in BT-pretreated goats (0.45 hour) than that in PB-pretreated goats (0.26 hour). At 72 hours, 70% to 98% of the infused radioactivity had been excreted in the urine. The pattern of urinary metabolites of 3MI was altered in BT-pretreated goats compared with patterns in control and PB-pretreated goats. Results indicate that the MFO system is one of the pathways involved in the metabolism of 3MI and that pulmonary toxicosis results from metabolism of 3MI by this enzyme system.     

Fertility of the West African dwarf goat in its native environment following prostaglandin F2-alpha induced estrus

The fertility of ten West African Dwarf goats in which oestrus was induced with PGF2 alpha was comparable to that of the five West African Dwarf goats in the control group. Performance indices as determined by duration of oestrus and length of gestation were not affected. Similarly the birth weight of kids was not significantly influenced. However, treated goats were superior to controls when the interval from commencement of experiment to oestrus is considered, although there was no difference between the two treated groups of goats (5 mg vs 10 mg PGF2 alpha). Results showed that PGF2 alpha could be an important tool in oestrus synchronization and thus in controls of the reproductive performance of the West African Dwarf goats under humid lowland tropical environmental conditions.     

Effect of flunixin meglumine and cimetidine hydrochloride on the pH in the third compartment of the stomach of llamas.

A Tigon fistula was surgically implanted into the third compartment of the stomach of 5 llamas to allow measurement of gastric pH. The llamas were allotted into 2 groups and given flunixin meglumine or cimetidine hydrochloride for 3 days. After 4 days without treatment, the drugs given to each group were reversed. Measurements of gastric pH were taken every 30 minutes for 6 hours, using an automated pH meter. The pH measurements after drug administration were compared with measurements obtained during a pretreatment control period. Gastric pH during pretreatment control periods had a mean of 1.43 +/- 0.063 (mean +/- SE). The use of flunixin did not significantly decrease gastric pH, compared with pretreatment controls. Gastric pH was significantly higher within the first 30 minutes after administering cimetidine, compared with pretreatment controls, but this difference disappeared at all later times.     

Physiological roles of inhibin in regulation of FSH secretion and follicular development during early pregnancy in goats

The aim of the current study was to clarify the physiological role of inhibin in controlling FSH secretion and follicular development during the early pregnancy in goats. Eight goats investigated sonographically on Days 19-21 (Day 0=day of mating) for pregnancy were assigned into control (n=3) and treated (n=5) groups. The ovaries of all animals were daily scanned with ultrasound for follicles 2mm or more in diameter from 1 day before to 5 days after treatment. On Day 25 postbreeding; animals received either 10 ml, of normal goat serum or antiserum against [Tyr (30)]-inhibin alpha (1-30). Jugular blood samples were collected every 6 h starting 24 h before and until 120 h after treatment. The plasma concentration of FSH increased at 6 h and remained at significantly high levels until 120 h in treated vs. control group. The plasma concentrations of estradiol showed a marked increased at 66 h, with peak levels at 120 h after treatment of antiserum. The basal concentrations of LH and the pattern of plasma concentrations of progesterone were not significantly different between the two groups. The number of medium size (3.5-5.0 mm) follicles increased considerably from Day 2, whereas small (3.5 mm or less) and large (5 mm or more) follicles increased noticeably from Day 3, as compared with pre-treatment and controls. These results clearly indicated that inhibin is a key hormone in regulation of follicular development through regulation of endogenous FSH secretion during early pregnancy in goats.     

Effects of naloxone on endotoxin-induced changes in ponies

The value of naloxone (1 mg/kg of body weight/hr for 4 hrs), a beta-endorphin antagonist, was assessed in the management of endotoxin-induced shock in ponies. Three groups of 5 ponies each were used: controls, ponies given Escherichia coli endotoxin put untreated, and ponies given endotoxin and then treated with naloxone. Endotoxin-induced changes in hemodynamics, blood chemical values, regional blood flow, plasma enzymes, and energy supplies were measured at selected times during the first 6 hours after endotoxin was given. There was no evidence that beta-endorphins released during shock were responsible for the hemodynamic changes, blood flow changes, plasma enzyme changes, or energy deficits, because naloxone, at this dosage level, did not prevent these endotoxin-induced changes.