Serum enzyme changes in newborn calves fed colostrum

In 10 newborn Holstein calves, which were initially bottle-fed on pooled colostrum, there were transient increases in several serum enzymes. Within a few hours, the mean serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (gammaGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities increased 62.5, 2.4, 2.0, 1.8 and 1.3 fold, respectively. In two other calves given initial feeds of enzyme-free pasteurized milk, there were similar increases in serum enzymes, except serum gammaGT. Correct interpretation of serum enzyme activities in newborn calves must take into account the normal increases which occur after feeding colostrum. Serum gammaGT was the only enzyme to increase markedly as a result of its absorption from colostrum. The other serum enzymes are presumably released from the tissues of the calf. The increased activities of serum CK observed in some newborn calves probably resulted from trauma during birth or increased muscular activity after birth.     

Attaching and effacing Escherichia coli infections in calves, pigs, lambs, and dogs

Attaching and effacing Escherichia coli (AEEC) adhere to mucosal epithelium in both small and large intestine and induce a distinctive lesion characterized by an irregular scalloped appearance of the epithelial layer. Infection with attaching and effacing E. coli was detected in 14 calves, 7 pigs, 2 lambs, and 3 dogs. Affected animals were from farms and kennels in South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Ages of affected animals were calves, 2 days to 4 months; pigs, 1-6 weeks; lambs, 1 week; and dogs, 7-8 weeks. Clinical signs included diarrhea in all animals, but other nonenteric disease problems were present in some animals. Concurrent infection with other enteropathogens was detected in 9 calves and 5 pigs. Infection with AEEC appeared to be the sole cause of illness and death in some animals. There was evidence of intestinal hemorrhage in 5 of the calves and in all 3 dogs. Attaching and effacing lesions varied from small scattered foci to widespread involvement of large areas of intestinal mucosa. Verotoxin was produced by E. coli strains isolated from 9 calves, but not by strains from pigs, lambs, or dogs.     

A simple device for respiratory resuscitation of newborn calves and lambs

The neonatal death of calves and lambs is responsible for a heavy financial loss to the farming industry; respiratory failure accounts for 6 per cent of the post parturient deaths in lambs. A simple method of pulmonary resuscitation with expired air is described employing a device portable and simple enough for emergency use by herdsmen and shepherds. The rationale of the use of the equipment is explained.     

Serum opsonic activity and neutrophil phagocytic capacity of newborn lambs before and 24-36 h after colostrum uptake

Neutrophil (PMN) counts, immune complex (IC) uptake by PMN, and serum opsonising activity for promoting yeast uptake were used to evaluate infection clearing capacity in 16 lambs prior to colostrum feeding (two lambs fed bovine colostrum, 14 suckled lambs) and at 2 days of age. At 2 days of age lambs had more circulating PMN than they had prior to colostrum uptake (P less than 0.01). Colostrum feeding caused a significant increase in the percent of lamb PMN phagocytosing IC, although at Day 2 the percent phagocytosis was significantly lower (32.2%) than for adult controls (90%). Yeast opsonophagocytosis was greater when 24-36 h post-feeding serum was the source of opsonin than when pre-feeding serum was used (P less than 0.001). When adult serum was the opsonin, yeast opsonophagocytosis was approximately twice the phagocytosis mediated by 24-36 h post-feeding serum. The peripheral neutrocytosis and the enhancement of opsonophagocytosis generated by absorption of either ovine or bovine colostrum did not differ. The results of this study suggest that the parameters evaluated may be used for indicating the presence (or absence) of passively acquired protective immunity.     

Retention of selenium in tissues of calves, lambs, and pigs after parenteral injection of a selenium-vitamin E preparation.

Four each healthy weaned calves, lambs, and pigs raised in Indiana without selenium supplementation were killed, and their tissues were fluorometrically analyzed to establish base line selenium concentrations. The following mean selenium content (in ppm, wet weight) was found in calves, lambs, and pigs, respectively: liver, 0.12, 0.16, and 0.19; renal cortex, 0.63, 0.89, and 0.70; muscle, 0.05, 0.05, and 0.06. Eight each additional healthy weaned calves, lambs, and pigs were injected with a commercial selenium-vitamin E preparation at dose levels of 0.0825, 0.055, or 0.06 mg of Se (as selenite) per kilogram of body weight, respectively. Selenium content of tissues was measured in animals killed at 1, 7, 14, and 23 days after injection. In calves, concentrations in liver and kidney rapidly increased to moderate values and then slowly decreased, with mean concentrations after 23 days still somewhat greater than base line values. Concentrations for injection site tissue also rapidly increased to moderate values, but had decreased to base line values by 23 days after injection. In lambs, selenium content of liver was moderately increased after injection, but had decreased to base line values after 14 days; kidney and injection site did not have increased selenium content after injection. In pigs, liver and kidney had moderate initial increases in concentration of selenium, but these were at base line values after 14 days, and increase did not occur at injection sites.     

Comparison of direct electron microscopy and enzyme immunoassay for the detection of rotaviruses in calves, lambs, piglets and foals

Direct electron microscopy (EM) and enzyme-immunoassay (rotazyme) results for the detection of rotaviruses in 346 enteric specimens from calves, lambs, piglets and foals were compared. The rotazyme test was at least 3 times more sensitive than direct EM in diagnosing infection. Rotavirus antigen was demonstrated by rotazyme in 22% of 280 scour samples and in 27% of 66 samples from non-scouring animals. There was an association between diarrhoea and higher amounts of rotavirus antigen. This prevalence of rotaviruses detected in animals with diarrhoea highlights the significant involvement of other pathogens identified in the study including Eimeria, Cryptosporidia, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, and other viruses.     

Serum haptoglobin concentration and liver enzyme activity as indicators of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and survival of sick calves

BackgroundIncreased concentration of haptoglobin (Hp) in serum is associated with survival of critically ill humans and horses. High serum activity of liver‐derived enzyme is associated with sepsis in children and foals.Hypothesis/ObjectivesInvestigate whether admission serum Hp and glutamic dehydrogenase (GLDH) are associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and survival of sick calves.AnimalsOne hundred two calves.MethodsRetrospective cross‐sectional study. Electronic medical records from all calves <30 days of age admitted to a teaching hospital for 8 years were reviewed. The signalment, clinicopathological findings, the presence of SIRS, final diagnosis, hospitalization time and outcome were recorded. A Cox proportional hazard ratio (HzR) were calculated to assess the association between clinicopathological variables and survival to discharge.ResultsSerum Hp concentrations were similar between SIRS (0.29 g/L; range, 0.05‐3.6) and non‐SIRS calves (0.22 g/L; range, 0‐4.2; P = .62). GLDH activity was similar between SIRS (12 U/L; range, 1‐1025) and non‐SIRS calves (9 U/L; range, 2‐137; P = .2). Absent suckle reflex (HzR: 6.44, 95% CI: 1.44‐28.86), heart rate (HR) < 100 beats per minute (bpm; HzR: 12.2; 95% CI: 2.54‐58.62), HR > 140 bpm (HzR: 3.59, 95% CI: 1.05‐12.33), neutrophil count <1.7 × 10⁹/L (HzR: 7.36; 95% CI: 2.03‐26.66) and increased gamma‐glutamyl transferase activity (every 50‐unit, HzR: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.03‐1.21) were predictive of nonsurvival.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe use of Hp and GLDH for prediction of survival in sick calves cannot be recommended at this time.     

Serum enzyme changes in lambs with experimentally induced acute muscular dystrophy

An experiment was performed to study some serum enzyme changes taking place in artificially fed lambs made dystrophic on a skim milk ration supplemented with α-tocopherolextracted cod liver oil. In the course of two to three weeks the lambs showed highly increased serum values of aspartate- and alanine aminotransferase (AspAT = GOT and A1AT = GPT), total lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine phosphokinase (GPK). The latter enzyme proved to be the most sensitive test of myopathies, with serum values above 1000 times the normal level. A high-grade hyaline skeletal muscle degeneration was confirmed by histology. Myocardial changes were also present.Contrary to expectations, electrophoretic separation of LDH isoenzymes in the serum of the dystrophic lambs did not reflect any increase of the prevalent muscular cathodic thermolabile fraction LDH₅. The use of a so-called LDH heat stability test as an aid in clinical diagnostic work, as previously suggested, therefore does not seem to be valid in this disease. The results are discussed.     

Serum total amylase activity and its isoenzyme fractions in newborn pigs with relation to growth and iron dextran-treatment.

Serum amylase activity was analyzed chromogenically (blue starch method) and its isoenzyme was separated by cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis in newborn pigs comparing with those in adult pigs. Serum amylase activity in newborn pigs was about one half of adults' and increased with age. Serum amylase isoenzymes were separated into 4 fractions from the cathode. The isoenzymes were also classified in 5 types on the basis of the combination of these 4 fractions. Incidences of the fractions and the types were not significantly different between adults and newborns. After the iron dextran treatment, serum amylase activity as well as levels of erythrocytes, hemoglobin and packed cell volume increased. The rates of increase in hemoglobin and packed cell volume were more significant in the double treatment group than in the single treatment group, while serum amylase activity increased similarly in these 2 groups. The increase in serum amylase activity seemed to indicate that the development of amylase-producing organs was reinforced by the iron compound treatment. It is thought that serum amylase activity may be an indicator of healthy growth in newborn pigs.     

犊牛羔羊早期培育的特种饲料对策

犊牛、羔羊幼龄阶段的生长发育与成年后的生产性能有直接的关系,幼畜的早期培育是现代养殖业的成功技术对策。该文综述了我国犊牛、羔羊早期断奶所使用的代乳品的研究进展,主要从代乳品原料的特殊加工工艺、代乳品中营养参数的研究、特种饲料应用效果等方面的研究结果进行论述。代乳品可以使羔羊10日龄断奶,犊牛出生后5d断奶。     

Serum glutathione peroxidase activity and blood selenium in pigs

Blood serum glutathione peroxidase activity and blood selenium concentration were measured in blood samples from pigs subjected to experimentally induced selenium deficiency and dietary selenium supplementation on graded levels. A highly significant correlation between blood selenium and serum GSH-Px activity in pigs, especially in selenium deficient pigs, was demonstrated. There was also a strong relationship between blood selenium concentration and serum GSH-Px activity in pigs receiving dietary selenium at graded levels. Serum GSH-Px activity exhibited an excellent close-response relationship to dietary selenium. Linear regression analysis showed that the increased serum GSH-Px activity was a function of the dietary selenium concentration. The fitness of serum in monitoring slight changes of the selenium status of pigs with help of the estimation of GSH-Px activity was discussed. The measurement of serum GSH-Px activity seems to provide a useful and rapid means for defining selenium requirements and for identifying selenium deficiency in growing pigs.     

Enteric campylobacter infection in gnotobiotic calves and lambs

Gnotobiotic calves and lambs were infected orally with Campylobacter jejuni, C coli or C hyointestinalis to assess pathogenicity. All animals were successfully colonised and excreted mucoid faeces but showed no other clinical signs. Campylobacters colonised the large intestine better than the small intestine, in which bacterial numbers decreased with time after infection. Campylobacters were found occasionally in the lumen of crypts in close proximity to epithelial cells and included in a mucus-like material. Lesions were mostly in the large intestine in calves whereas in lambs they were present in the ileum. In animals inoculated with C jejuni or C coli scattered crypt abscesses, focal inflammatory infiltrates in the lamina propria and goblet cell discharge were found. In lambs inoculated with C hyointestinalis only minor changes were found in the small intestine. Serum antibody response was either absent or present at a low level only from the 19th day after infection.     

Serum alkaline phosphatase activity in relation to liveweight of lambs.

Groups of lambs were fed four levels of a diet based upon oaten grain. Two groups gained weight rapidly, one less rapidly and the other lost liveweight over a 32-day period. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity was found to be closely correlated to liveweight, in a positive linear manner, in those lambs gaining weight rapidly. This relationship was similar in lambs of R or r blood group. Supplementation of the diet with limestone and or sodium chloride did not influence the relationship. This relationship is considered to reflect the influence of the dietary treatments upon the rate of skeletal metabolism.     

Campylobacter infections in calves, piglets, lambs and kids in Trinidad.

Faeces or rectal swabs from 689 diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic animals were cultured for thermophilic campylobacters and their antibiograms were determined. Three hundred and fifteen (45.7%) samples were positive for Campylobacter. Piglets had the highest prevalence, 79.3% (233/294) and lambs, the lowest with 17.9% (15/84) being positive. The difference was statistically significant (P < or = 0.01; chi 2). In calves, 20.5% (60/293) and in kids 38.9% (7/18) were positive for campylobacters. The prevalence of infection was not significantly (P > or = 0.05; chi 2) different between diarrhoeic (46.1%) and non-diarrhoeic (45.1%) animals nor between male (47.5%) and female (43.8%). The frequency of isolation of campylobacters harvested from semi-intensively managed animals (75.4%) was, however, significantly higher (P < or = 0.001; chi 2) than from intensively or extensively managed animals. Overall, C. coli strains (32.8%) were more frequently isolated than C. jejuni strains (12.9%) and the difference was significant (P < or = 0.001; chi 2). Biotype I accounted for 67.3% (152/226) of C. coli and 64.0% (57/89) of C. jejuni strains isolated. A total of 245 (77.8%) strains of Campylobacter exhibited resistance to one or more antibiotics and was highest to streptomycin (76.5%), kanamycin (28.6%) and neomycin (26.7%). It was concluded that Campylobacter infections were widespread in livestock in Trinidad, particularly C. coli in piglets.