Parathion poisoning in cattle (author's transl)]

In a herd of dairy cattle half of the cows showed symptoms of acute poisoning. Blood- and hair samples were taken from seven of the cows, of which two did not show any clinical symptoms. The cholinesterase activities were in all the blood samples decreased to about 10 per cent of normal and parathion was found in all hair samples. The cholinesterase activities rose gradually during a 31/2 month period to the lower part of the normal range. Parathion was found in samples from the inner walls of the cowstable, and it was concluded that the poisoning was probably due to parathion spraying in the stable, while a suspicion of winddrift as a source of poisoning was rejected as less probable.     

Actinobacillus infections in swine (author's transl)]

Actinobacilli infections in pigs are relatively rare. Most cases were septicaemic in the first week of life. With increasing age manifestations after generalized infections were characteristic, such as arthritis, polyarthritis, endocarditis, nephritis, osteomyelitis and embolic pneumonia. Of 34 porcine strains 33 were identified as A. equuli and only one was identical with A. suis. The justification of retaining this species is discussed.     

Repeated freezing of bull semen (author's transl)]

Repeated freeze-thaw cycles have been used as a mean to predict the viability and fertility of bull semen. In order to investigate the level of fertility of bull semen that has been frozen, thawed and refrozen again, two split sample field trials were performed. 25 bulls were used in the trial, and inseminations were performed by 30 technicians. The semen was diluted to 27 million spermatozoas per dose in a skimmilk-fructose extender, and filled in the french mini-straw. The straws were coded by use of a batch number system. The one half of the straws was fixed to the freezing rampes. After freezing and transfering of the rampes to liquid nitrogen, the rampes were placed in a water-bath at + 35 degree C in 7 seconds. Immediately after thawing the straws they were transferred to a refrigidaire room at + 5 degree C, dried, remounted on the rampes and frozen again in the ordinary way. The other half of the straws were frozen according to the normal routine. The semen from the two treatments were distributed in equal numbers to the technicians who were not informed of the trial. The motility after refreezing had decreased and the percentage of intravital eosin spermatozoas after refreezing increased by 23, as an average. Fertility results were estimated as 60 days non returns after 1st inseminations. Single frozen semen: 1488 1st ins. 493 ret. 66,86 N.r.-% Refrozen semen: 1511 1st ins. 500 ret. 65,30 N.R.-% The trials indicate that further investigation should be performed to see if semen might be frozen concentrated, rediluted after thawing and refrozen for distribution to the technicians.     

Pesticide residues in feed-stuffs in Sweden (author's transl)]

The occurrence of pesticide residues was studied in samples of feed-stuffs produced in Sweden or imported to Sweden during the years 1972--1976. In all, 278 samples representing 37 types of feed-stuffs (components, as well as finished feeds) and 18 countries were analyzed. Residues of chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides and PCBs were looked for in 224 samples, mostly feed components. The analytical method used involved solvent extraction, florisil-column clean-up, thinlayer chromatographic separation and gas-chromatographic determination. Chlorinated hydrocarbons were found in several samples. DDT and its transformation products were detected in 66 samples (29.5%), lindane in 44 (19.5%), PCBs in 25 (11.2%), alpha-BHC in 22 (9.8%), beta-BHC in 11 (4.9%) and dieldrin in 9 (4.0%). The levels were usually low (Table I). The chloropesticides occurred most frequently and at the highest levels in feed-stuffs of animal origin and in imported oil-feeds. In 25 of the samples the contents of sigmaDDT exceeded the maximum limit accepted by the National (Swedish) Food Administration for grain and bran intended for human consumption (0.05 mg/kg, Talbe IV). The highest residue level of sigmaDDT (0.66 mg/kg) was encountered in a sample of fish meal. The PCB levels found did not exceed the temporary tolerance established by FDA (1973) for finished animal feeds (0.2 mg/kg). One hundred and seven samples were analyzed for phenoxy acid residues using a thin-layer chromatographic and gas-chromatographic technique. Phenoxy acids were detected in only 2 of 62 randomly selected feed samples (0.05 and 0.2 mg/kg, respectively). The residue limit established by the National Food Administration for 2,4-D and MCPA in grain and bran intended for human consumption is 0.1 mg/kg. Fortyfour samples of feeds were submitted because of suspected phenoxy acid contamination. In 12 of the samples phenoxy acid residues were found. The highest level (3.5 mg/kg, MCPA) was observed in a sample of accidentally contaminated molasses. Considering the apparently low level of contamination of Swedish grain with chloropesticides, PCBs and phenoxy acids and the dilution on compounding feed-stuffs of animal origin and oil-feeds, only very low pesticide residue levels can be expected in Swedish finished animal feeds.     

Intussusception following renal transplantation in dogs (author's transl)]

In a consecutive and non-selected study of 54 kidney transplanted dogs, 12 cases of intussusception of the small intestine developed in 8 dogs. The patogenesis is still unknown. It has been postulated that the time of the operation (4--7 hours) and the segmental termination of the post-operative atony in the intestine are essential factors in this fatal complication. The last 16 dogs in this material were peroperatively treated with antikolinergics (Mestinon NFN), which was continued until normal function of the intestine. In these dogs there were no evidence of intussusception. The value of this profylaxis is open to discussion and it is essential to solve the problem of intussusception through a "blind" and controlled trial.     

On human pasteurellosis by inoculation (author's transl)]

Animal pasteurelloses are most frequent and can occur accidentally on humans. Peculiar variety so-called by inoculation is here described, recognised by J. Reilly and P. Tournier in 1952. It follows animal's bite, cat's bite most often, and can be acute like phlegmon or subacute like an algodystrophic syndrome invalidating during long time. Intradermic injection of P. multocida cultivation straining allows both diagnosis and treatment of a disease very resisting to other therapeutics