A radioimmunoassay method for the measurement of residues of the anabolic agent, hexoestrol, in tissues of cattle and sheep

A radioimmunoassay (RIA) method for hexoestrol using an antiserum against hexoestrol-carboxypropyl ether-BSA and H³-hexoestrol was used to measure the concentrations of residues of hexoestrol in 0.1 ml biological fluids and 1 g edible tissues of implanted cattle and sheep. A preliminary ether extraction of biological fluids was necessary before RIA. The ether extract from tissues was further purified by solvent partition and silica gel column chromatography before RIA. Conjugates of hexoestrol were measured after enzymatic hydrolysis to free hexoestrol. In untreated animals residues were either not detected or very low in all tissues except urine from sheep. The method has a lower limit of detection of approximately 0–10 pg/ml for biological fluids in cattle and 20–100 pg/g for tissues in both sheep and cattle but the lower limit of detection in sheep urine was 70–294 pg/ml urine. In two heifers implanted with 60 mg hexoestrol and slaughtered 2 and 7 days after implantation, residues of hexoestrol were detected in all tissues except muscle with highest concentrations between 2 - 17 ng/g in urine, bile and kidney. The concentration of residues in steers which had been implanted with 45 mg or 60 mg hexoestrol and slaughtered at 90 days after implantation were 0, < 50, 46–96 and 200 pg/ml or g of plasma, muscle, liver and urine, respectively. The concentrations of hexoestrol in sheep implanted with 15 ml hexoestrol and slaughtered after 60 days were 70, 0, 964, 3100 and 4074 pg/g or ml of muscle, fat, liver, kidney and urine, respectively. No hexoestrol was found in control untreated cattle and sheep. It was concluded that some residues of hexoestrol were present in the excretory fluids and tissues of cattle and sheep which had been implanted with hexoestrol at the recommended dose and slaughtered after the recommended withdrawal periods. However, the concentrations of hexoestrol in muscle and fat were extremely low or not detectable. The method could be used for the routine screening of animals for treatment with hexoestrol.     

Toxoplasma gondii in Switzerland: a serosurvey based on meat juice analysis of slaughtered pigs, wild boar, sheep and cattle

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most important zoonotic diseases worldwide and is caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. Besides vertical infection during pregnancy, humans can get infected post-natally either by peroral uptake of sporulated Toxoplasma oocysts or by ingestion of tissue cysts upon consumption of raw or undercooked meat. The aim of this study was to approximate the risk of human infection via meat consumption by estimating the seroprevalence of T. gondii in slaughtered animals in Switzerland and to compare data with prevalences assessed 10 years ago. The study included pigs, cattle, sheep and wild boar of different age groups and housing conditions whenever possible and applicable. A P-30-ELISA was used to detect T. gondii-specific antibodies and to determine seroprevalences in meat juice of slaughtered animals. A total of 270 domestic pigs (120 adults, 50 finishing, 100 free-ranging animals), 150 wild boars, 250 sheep (150 adults, 100 lambs) and 406 cattle (47 calves, 129 heifers, 100 bulls, 130 adult cows) were tested. Seropositivity increased with the age of the assessed animals. Independent of the age-group, the overall seroprevalence was lowest in wild boars (6.7%), followed by pigs (23.3%), cattle (45.6%) and sheep (61.6%), respectively. Conventional fattening pigs and free-ranging pigs surprisingly had comparable seroprevalences (14.0% and 13.0%, respectively). Unlike in other European countries, where generally a decrease in the number of seropositive animals had been observed, we found that the prevalence of seropositive animals, when compared with that of 10 years ago, had increased for most species/age groups. Conclusively, the results demonstrated a high seroprevalence of T. gondii in animals slaughtered for meat production and revealed that increasing age of the animals is a more important risk factor than housing conditions in Switzerland.     

Comparison of different control strategies for foot-and-mouth disease: a study of the epidemics in Canada in 1951/52, Hampshire in 1967 and Northumberland in 1966

The measures used to control the epidemics of foot-and-mouth disease in Canada in 1951/52 (29 outbreaks) were compared with those used in the epidemic in Hampshire in 1967 (29 outbreaks). In both epidemics the disease spread more from premises where the disease was reported late and the imposition of quarantine or restrictions on infected premises was delayed. In Hampshire, area restrictions were imposed, susceptible livestock on infected premises and on premises in direct contact were slaughtered, and contacts were traced. In Canada, the initial diagnosis was vesicular stomatitis, no area restrictions were imposed, no tracing was carried out and the animals on infected premises were allowed to recover. However, apart from the disease's spread through infected meat and by unknown or airborne routes, it did not spread from infected premises once quarantine was imposed, partly owing to the low population density of livestock in the area. The effects of the slaughter of infected premises and direct contacts in the Fareham area of Hampshire in 1967 and in the Chathill area of Northumberland in 1966 were compared with what might have happened if, in addition, culling on contiguous premises or culling on premises within 3 km or emergency vaccination had been put into effect. The slaughter of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs on premises within 3 km two days after confirmation of the first outbreak would have resulted in fewer outbreaks and a shorter period to complete slaughter, but more animals would have been slaughtered. In the Chathill area, the slaughter of sheep, goats and pigs only on premises within 3 km two days after confirmation of the first outbreak would not have resulted in fewer outbreaks and more animals would have been slaughtered. Fewer premises and animals would have been slaughtered by a contiguous cull than by a 3 km cull but more than by the slaughter of infected premises and direct contacts. Emergency vaccination within 3 km, providing protection at four days (but not to animals already infected before the development of immunity), would have resulted in the fewest animals being slaughtered and could have reduced the number of outbreaks in the Fareham area by one and in the Chathill area by two or three. All the procedures would have had a greater effect the sooner they were introduced. However, with many foci of infection, priorities for action would have had to have been established. Earlier tracing of the last outbreak in the Fareham area could have shortened the Hampshire epidemic. Surveillance of a farm identified as at risk through animal movements and by the use of an airborne-prediction model could have eliminated the source of further outbreaks in the Chathill area.     

Efficacy of ivermectin controlled-release capsules for the control and prevention of nasal bot infestations in sheep

Objective To investigate the therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy of an ivermectin controlled-release capsule against nasal bots (Oestrus ovis) in sheep.
Design Trial 1 – A pen study with controls. Trial 2 – A field study with controls.
Animals Trial 1 – Forty Merino wethers with natural infestations of nasal bot were used. Trial 2 – One hundred nasal bot-free wethers were used.
Procedure Trial 1 – Ten randomly selected animals were slaughtered and the heads split and examined to confirm bot infestation. Fifteen animals were allocated to untreated controls and 15 to treatment with a controlled-release capsule delivering ivermectin at ≥ 20 μg/kg/day for 100 days. Twenty-nine days after treatment the sheep were killed and examined for nasal bots. Trial 2 – Nasal bot-free sheep were allocated to two groups of 45 animals. One group was untreated the other sheep were treated with capsules as above. The sheep were grazed as a single group exposed to natural challenge from O ovis . Ninety days after treatment the animals were slaughtered and examined for nasal bot infestation.
Results Trial 1 – Live O ovis larvae were recovered from 60% of control sheep. No live larvae were collected from treated sheep. Trial 2 – Forty-one percent of untreated sheep harbored nasal bot infestations. No live larvae were collected from any treated animal.
Conclusion Treatment with a single ivermectin controlled-release capsule was 100% effective against existing infestations of O ovis and as a prophylactic treatment for this parasite.     

Effects of anabolic steroids on liver cell ultrastructure in sheep.

Castrated male sheep were sham inplanted or implanted with estradiol, trenbolone acetate or trenbolone acetate in combination with estradiol, and slaughtered after 56 days. Ultrastructural and morphometric examination of the livers of steroid-treated sheep showed an increase in the volume density of the cell occupied by rough endoplasmic reticulum and microbodies. In four of the eight sheep treated with trenbolone acetate, either alone or in combination with estradiol, enlarged mitochondria with crystalline inclusions were seen. The increase in hepatic rough endoplasmic reticulum may be of benefit to the sheep whereas the mitochondrial changes after anabolic steroid use indicate a cellular lesion of unknown significance for health.     

Resistance to macrocyclic lactone anthelmintics by Haemonchus contortus and Ostertagia circumcincta in sheep in New Zealand

AIM: To establish the efficacy of oral formulations of ivermectin and moxidectin against naturally acquired abomasal nematode infections on a North Island sheep farm. METHODS: Two controlled slaughter trials were undertaken. In the first, 30 sheep on pasture were randomly allocated on the basis of faecal egg count to 1 of 3 groups, comprising an untreated control group and 2 treatment groups. One treatment group was given a single oral dose of ivermectin and the other a single oral dose of moxidectin, both at the manufacturer's recommended dose rates of 0.2 mg/kg liveweight. Six days after treatment, all animals were slaughtered and their abomasa recovered for worm counting. The second trial, which involved 47 animals, was essentially the same as the first except that, as well as involving the slaughter of 30 sheep from all 3 groups, 6 days after treatment, it also included a further 8 untreated control animals and 9 moxidectin treated animals which were slaughtered 27 days after treatment. RESULTS: At 6 days after treatment, moxidectin was highly effective against all 3 of the abomasal nematodes present. While ivermectin was similarly effective against Trichostrongylus axei 6 days after treatment, it was not effective against either Ostertagia circumcinta or Haemonchus contortus, against which average efficacies of only 63.6% and 61.6%, respectively, were recorded. At 27 days after treatment, moxidectin, was also highly effective against T. axei (97.3% reduction) but not against either H. contortus (71.4% reduction) or O. circumcinta (61.0% reduction). CONCLUSIONS: These results provide the first record of macrocyclic lactone resistance in H. contortus in sheep or in any other host in New Zealand, and the first case where such resistance has been exhibited in more than one parasite species at a time. Although the therapeutic efficacy of moxidectin was high against these resistant H. contortus and O. circumcincta strains, resistance to moxidectin was indicated by its diminished prophylactic activity against them. It is suggested that this reduction in the prophylactic activity of moxidectin is also likely to reduce its apparent current high therapeutic efficacy. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: As well as providing further evidence that it can no longer be automatically assumed that macrocylic lactone anthelmintics will be effective on sheep farms in this country, these findings also present a warning that increasingly complex parasite control options may have to be faced in the future.     

放牧前后肉用羊体脂脂肪酸组成变化的研究

选用100日龄、1岁以及5岁年龄段的杂种肉用羊为实验用羊，采用冷式提取脂肪技术以及气相色谱（GC）技术测定了肉用羊不同阶段体脂脂肪酸的变化。研究结果表明，放牧前与放牧后羊体脂脂肪酸表现出显著的变化。在肌肉中，放牧前羔羊、放牧1岁羊及5岁成年羊之间在单链不饱和脂肪酸含量上有显著的差异（P＜0．05）分别为45．22％、27．46％和24．83％。羔羊和1岁羊及成年羊在多聚不饱和脂肪酸的含量上也有着显著的差异，分别为8．45％、5．78％和5．1％（P＜0．05），奇数碳脂肪酸在5岁成年羊肉中为最高，达到6．09％，其次是1岁羊，为5．74％，羔羊最低，仅为2．89％，三个年龄组之间的差异显著（P＜0．05）。肌肉中短链脂肪酸的含量以羔羊为最低，其含量为0．14％，其次是1岁羊，为0．34％，5岁成年羊的含量最高，达于0．41％。皮下脂肪酸在年龄组之间也表现出变化，三个年龄组之间比较，单链不饱和脂肪酸的含量以羔羊为最高46．35％，其次为1岁羊31．55％，最低是5岁成年羊28．45％，三个年龄组之间差异显著（P＜0．05）。多聚不饱和脂肪酸的含量，1岁羊最高为5．69％，羔羊次之5．47％，5岁成年羊最低4．86％，羔羊和1岁羊该脂肪酸的含量显著高于5岁成年羊（P＜0．0），但是，羔羊和1岁羊之间没有显著差异（P＞0．05）。三个年龄组皮下脂肪中奇数碳肪酸的含量表现出显著的差异（P＜0．05），其含量分别为5．46％、5．84％和5．99％。羔羊皮下脂肪短链脂肪酸的含量为0．1％，显著低于5岁成年羊（0．2％）。1岁羊短链脂肪酸的含量居中为0．14％，与其他两个年龄组没有显著性差异（P＞0．05）。     

中草药添加剂提高福建黄兔肉质品质的试验研究

选择福建玉华山生态养殖场断奶黄兔（60日龄）,随机分为4组,分别在日粮中添加0.1%、0.5%和1%的中草药添加剂,经60d的饲喂试验后全部屠宰,分析测定各组兔肉中脂朌及蛋白含量。结果随添加剂量的增加,兔肉中脂朌含量呈下降趋势,而蛋白含量呈上升趋势。1%添加组极显著高于对照组。（P〈0.01）。表明中草药饲料添加剂不但能够降低兔肉的脂肪,还能提高肌肉的蛋白质含量,从而为中草药添加剂开辟＂绿色,无污染,天然的兔肉＂提供了更为有力的证据。     

Clinical development and serological antibody responses in sheep and rabbits experimentally infested with Psoroptes ovis and Psoroptes cuniculi

Psoroptes ovis of sheep origin, and Psoroptes cuniculi of rabbit origin were used in experimental infestations. In experiment I, groups of four rabbits and four sheep were infested with 50-100 mites of each isolate on the skin of the back (skin infestation, SI) or in the external auditory canal (aural infestation, AI). In rabbits, SI and AI with P. cuniculi and AI with P. ovis induced in all animals typical ear lesions and pronounced antibody reactions to P. cuniculi antigens in ELISA. After SI of rabbits with P. ovis no clinical signs were detected, no mites could be reisolated and no specific antibodies were detected. In sheep, P. ovis SI induced mange whereas AI did not induce typical clinical signs and mites could not be reisolated. In both these animal groups, ELISA revealed pronounced and comparable specific antibody reactions. After SI and AI with P. cuniculi no clinical symptoms were observed and no mites could be reisolated. Nevertheless, low levels of specific antibody were detected. In experiment II, clinical progression and antibody reactions to P. ovis SI in naive sheep were compared with sheep previously exposed to P. ovis or P. cuniculi. In both pre-exposed groups of animals, clinical signs appeared within 2 days after challenge infestation and three days earlier than in primarily infested sheep. Subsequently, no obvious difference in the clinical progression was observed between the three groups of animals. The results of this study document antigenetic crossreactivity of the two morphologically and genetically distinguishable Psoroptes species but differences in their biological behaviour and virulence which both are of epidemiological and taxonomic relevance.     

A potential krimpsiekte vaccine

Krimpsiekte, a chronic form of cardiac glycoside poisoning, is an important plant-induced intoxication of small stock in South Africa. It is caused by cumulative, neurotoxic bufadienolides, such as cotyledoside. A cotyledoside-bovine serum albumin conjugate was synthesized to immunize animals. The efficacy of the cotyledoside-conjugate in inducing an immunological response was ascertained in rabbits (n = 4) and sheep (n = 4) by determining cotyledoside antibody titres with an ELISA using cotyledoside-hen ovalbumin as antigen. The formation of anticotyledoside antibodies was induced in both rabbits and sheep following immunization with the cotyledoside-protein conjugate. Protection provided by the vaccine was demonstrated by challenging sheep (n = 4) with repeated, daily doses of cotyledoside (0.015 mg/kg) administered intravenously, commencing 45 days after the initial vaccination. One control animal died on Day 3 of the challenge period and the other was severely affected after administration of the third cotyledoside dose. The immunized ewes (n = 2) remained clinically unaffected and the challenge was suspended following six daily injections. Vaccination as a means of preventing krimpsiekte seems to be quite feasible and deserves further investigation.     

Side effects of clenbuterol as a repartitioning agent

Clenbuterol, a synthetic beta-adrenergic agonist drug, can be used to increase the ratio of protein to fat in the carcase of meat animals. During the first one to three days of its administration to sheep or calves clenbuterol increased their heart rate, and in sheep it decreased blood pressure. Continued administration had no further effect on heart rate or blood pressure but in sheep dose levels above 1.5 mg/day depressed appetite for up to five days; at all dose levels clenbuterol brought about a long term increase in metabolic rate.     

The occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum as regards meat hygiene

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are phenotypically and phylogenetically closely related cyst-forming coccidia, both of which may cause abortion in livestock animals. T. gondii exhibits also zoonotic potential by causing diaplacental infections in the human fetus and harmful infections in immunosuppressed individuals. Humans get infected either by consuming inappropriately prepared cyst-containing meat or by ingesting oocysts originating from cat feces. Therefore, in order to assess infection risk we need to have knowledge on the prevalence of the parasite in consumable meat and thus slaughtered animals. So far, no data indicate any zoonotic potential for N. caninum. Due to its high economic impact in the bovine production in Switzerland, we included this parasite in the present study as well. The prevalence of both parasite species were investigated by PCR in muscle and brain samples of slaughtered bovines, sheep, pigs and horses. Comparatively, a serum sample from each animal was simultaneously tested serologically by a Toxoplasma-P30-ELISA and a Neospora-SA-ELISA. The prevalences determined by the T. gondii-PCR were the followings: adult cows 3%, young bulls 2%, young cows prior to gravidity 6%, calves 1%, sheep 6%, horses and pigs each 0%. For N. caninum, the PCR-prevalence was 2% for adult cows and 0% for all other animal groups. Conversely, the seroprevalences were much higher for both parasite species and all animal groups, with the exception of the fattening pigs. However, as T. gondii was principally detectable in bovine (cows and calves) as well as in sheep meat, the consumption of this meat harbours a potential infection risk for humans. In contrast, the lack of any parasite detectability in fattening pig and horse meat allows to consider this infection source as neglectable when compared to bovine and ovine meat.     

Slaughter value, meat quality, creatine kinase activity and cortisol levels in the blood serum of growing-finishing pigs slaughtered immediately after transport and after a rest period

The experimental materials comprised 44 hybrid [female (Polish Large White x Polish Landrace) x male Duroc] growing-finishing pigs. The animals were randomly divided into two groups: 24 pigs were slaughtered immediately after transport and 20 pigs were slaughtered after a 24-hour rest period in the lairage. The meat content of pork carcasses, carcass dressing percentage, the proximate chemical composition, physicochemical and sensory properties of meat and shear force values were determined. Serum creatine kinase activity and cortisol levels were determined in blood samples collected before transport and during carcass bleeding. Pigs slaughtered immediately after transport, compared with those slaughtered after a 24-hour rest period, were characterized by a higher meat content of the carcass and a higher carcass dressing percentage. Pre-slaughter handling had no effect on pork quality. The incidence of normal-quality meat, partially PSE (pale, soft, exudative) meat and PSE meat was similar in both groups. Chemical analysis showed that the content of dry matter, total protein, fat and minerals in meat was comparable in both groups. As regards the functional properties of the pork, samples from the carcasses of pigs that had rested before slaughter had a higher contribution of the red color component. Meat from pigs slaughtered immediately after transport had more desirable sensory properties. Pre-slaughter resting had a significant effect on those analyzed physiological parameters which were found to be good indicators of pre-slaughter stress. Serum creatine kinase activity and cortisol levels were higher in blood samples collected after transport (during carcass bleeding) than in samples collected before transport, pointing to a strong stress response of animals to pre-slaughter treatment. The decrease in serum cortisol levels in blood samples collected during bleeding from the carcasses of pigs slaughtered after a 24-hour rest period, compared with samples collected from animals slaughtered immediately after transport, suggests that rest before slaughter alleviated stress induced by pre-slaughter handling operations.     

Spineless cactus associated with Tifton hay or sugarcane bagasse may replace corn silage in sheep diets

The effect of the replacement of corn silage with spineless cactus associated with Tifton 85 hay or sugarcane bagasse was evaluated on the performance, body weight components and sheep meat quality. Twenty-one Santa Inês male sheep with initial body weight of 22.9 ± 2.9 kg were used. They were confined in individual stalls for 74 days receiving the following diets: corn silage + concentrate (CS); spineless cactus + Tifton 85 hay + concentrate (TH); spineless cactus + sugarcane bagasse + concentrate (SB). After the feedlot period, the animals were slaughtered and their body components were weighed and sampled. Data were submitted to Tukey’s test at 5% probability. The average daily gain (0.25 vs 0.14 kg), cold carcass weight (13.3 vs 13.7 kg), loin muscularity (0.6 vs 0.4 kg) and liver weight (0.7 vs. 0.5 kg) were higher (P < 0.05) for the TH diet when compared to that for the CS. The physical-chemical parameters of meat were not influenced (P > 0.05) by the treatments and presented about 20.1% of crude protein, 6.1% of crude fat and shear force of 2.0 kgf/cm². In complete diets for sheep, Tifton 85 hay associated with spineless cactus provides greater weight gain, cold carcass muscularity and organ weight when compared to those for animals fed with corn silage as exclusive roughage. Sugarcane bagasse associated with spineless cactus may replace corn silage in complete diets for sheep.     

TSE surveillance in small ruminants and pigs: a pilot study

Switzerland is controlling Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE) in cattle (BSE) and small ruminants (scrapie). Since BSE is potentially transmissible to sheep, goats or pigs through feeding of contaminated meat and bone meal, implementation of an active surveillance programme for TSE in these species is discussed. The aim of this pilot study was to obtain preliminary data on the prevalence ofTSE and other neurological disorders in these populations. For that purpose, a total of 398 perished and 825 slaughtered adult small ruminants and pigs was examined for the presence of neuropathological changes. None of these animals revealed positive for TSE. However, the investigations demonstrated that perished sheep and goats exhibited a higher prevalence of relevant neuropathological changes when compared with slaughtered animals. From these results, it is concluded that perished small ruminants are probably a risk population for TSE and should be considered as target populations for an active surveillance programme.     

The effect of large burns in ruminants on the edibility of meat]

The effect of non-contact burns was studied on a model of a slaughter ruminant. The study included the examination of the penetration of germs into the blood stream and into the meat and of the main changes characterizing the ripening of the obtained meat. The tests were conducted with two groups of animals, killed 1) at the beginning of the development of the infection process in the burn, 2) in a health state in which the prognosis was unfavourable quo ad vitam. It was found on the basis of haemocultivation, microbiological examination of the samples of organs and meat, and examination of pH values in the meat that the natural body barriers were destructed and the biochemistry of the muscular tissue was impaired. The penetration of the germs through the natural barriers of the organism was recorded also before the initiation of the development of the infection in the burn. The acidification of the meat worsened post mortem. It is possible, on the basis of the facts which were revealed, to present the following recommendations for the practical use of the results in the veterinary inspection of meat in ruminants with large burns: to take samples for microbial examination, even though the animal has been slaughtered in the earliest stage of the disease; to determine the pH in the meat obtained from the slaughtered animals and to expect worse acidification and imperfect ripening of the meat.     

微量水蒸气蒸馏法测定家兔盲肠内容物的酸度

对添加木~10和EA_(3867)两种纤维素曲酶饲喂3个月的家兔,按系统取样原则分为两个试验组和1个对照组,每组8～9只。于屠宰后立即采盲肠内容物10g,用微量水蒸气蒸馏法测定其低碳(1～5C)脂肪酸(VFA)的酸度变化。结果,木~10组和EA_(3/67)组两个试验组家兔盲肠内容物酸度均较对照组高。本法具有取样少、设备简单、操作容易的特点,也可用于测定马、牛等家畜的胃、肠内容物和血液的酸度。     

维生素E添加水平和添加时间对敖汉细毛羊肉品质的影响

将30只敖汉细毛羊公羊(5月龄)分为5个处理组,维生素E添加量分别为0、202、00、1 000、2 400IU/(只.d)。预试1个月,正试5个月后每组随机选3只进行屠宰,其余继续饲喂至12个月后屠宰。屠宰羊只取背最长肌和臀肌按常规法进行肉品质测定。结果表明:添加水平对臀肌pH有显著影响(P<0.05),维生素E添加组pH高于未添加组,但添加水平和时间对背肌pH及添加时间对臀肌pH影响均不显著(P>0.05);维生素E添加水平和时间对熟肉率影响未达到显著(P>0.05);滴水损失在不同添加水平下差异极显著(P<0.01),添加组均低于未添加组,200IU/(只.d)组最低,且添加12个月的滴水损失大于5个月的,添加时间对其影响显著(P<0.05);日粮不同维生素E水平对眼肌面积没有显著影响(P>0.05),但饲喂12个月后眼肌面积极显著高于饲喂5个月的(P<0.01)。综上,日粮添加维生素E可以降低肌肉滴水损失,改善羊肉肉品质,并以添加200 IU/(只.d)的效果较好,添加5个月的肉品质优于12个月的。     

The relation between the rabbit potency test and the response of sheep to sheep clostridial vaccines.

Six commercially available clostridial vaccines comprising one oil-emulsion, two alum-precipitated and three aluminum hydroxide adjuvanted preparations, each containing between two and seven antigenic components, were administered to groups of 10 rabbits and eight sheep in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations. Serum antitoxic values to Cl welchii beta, Cl welchii epsilon, Cl septicum, Cl oedematins and Cl tetani toxins were determined 14 days after completion of each vaccination course. The overall pattern of mean antitoxic values was found to be similar in sheep and rabbits, a vaccine eliciting a comparatively high antibody titre to any given antigen component in sheep also inducing a comparatively high titre in the corresponding group of rabbits. Similarly, comparatively poor responses in sheep were associated with poor responses in rabbits. The degree of variation in response within groups of animals was greater in sheep than in rabbits for all five antigenic components assayed. Sheep consistently developed higher titres than rabbits to Cl oedematins component but consistently lower titres to both Cl welchii beta and epsilon components irrespective of the type of vaccine used. The response of both species to Cl tetani antigen was similar in terms of serum antitoxic values. It was concluded that rabbits provide a suitable model for the assessment of potency of sheep clostridial vaccines.     

Assessment of the metabolic,protein, energy,and liver profiles of lambs finished in a feedlot and receiving diets containing groundnut cake

Forty-five crossbred Dorper × Santa Inês lambs were selected to assess the effect of replacing soybean meal by groundnut cake metabolic profile and histopathological evaluation of the kidney and liver tissues. The animals were 5 months old on average with a 24.5?±?5.3 kg initial body weight which were maintained fed in feedlot with groundnut cake (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 %) as the replacement for soybean meal. Confinement lasted 84 days, and on the last day, the animals were fasted and slaughtered. A completely randomized design with five treatments and nine repetitions was used. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of each animal to evaluate the metabolic, protein, energy, and liver profiles of lambs. No effect was observed on protein, energy, or enzymatic profiles, which remained within the normal range for sheep. A histopathological examination was performed, and no deleterious effects from groundnut cake were observed in the liver or kidney tissues. Groundnut cake as a replacement for soybean meal can be used as an alternative protein source up to 100 % because it does not affect the metabolic, protein, and energy profiles or the liver and kidney functions of the growing sheep for slaughter.