Are mycotoxins in food a health hazard?

The effects of mycotoxins are well known since antiquity. Modern trace analysis show the wide prevalence of mycotoxins in the food chain. Aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2), trichothecenes (deoxynivalenol, T-2 Toxin, HT-2 Toxin), zearalenone, fumonisins (FB1, FB2) and ochratoxin A are the most important mycotoxins world wide. Foods of plant origin are normally contaminated more frequently and in higher concentrations than food of animal origin. The mean concentrations of mycotoxins analysed in European foods can be assed as low. This may be one reason why acute poisonings are rare incidences and why the limits of the tolerable daily intake (TDI) levels are exceeded only very seldom; however the population group "infant" exceed the preliminary TDI-level for trichothecenes. The consequences of a chronic intake of low amounts of mykotoxins is hardly to assess. A participation of the aflatoxins in the pathogenesis of primary liver cancer is considered as certain. Other coherence between the dietary intake of mycotoxins and specific clinical symptoms of man are not convincingly shown till now.     

Diet modulates proteinuria in heterozygous female dogs with X-linked hereditary nephropathy

Young adult heterozygous (carrier) female dogs with X-linked hereditary nephropathy (XLHN) have glomerular proteinuria but are otherwise healthy. Because data regarding dietary influences on the magnitude of proteinuria in dogs with spontaneous glomerular disease are not available, 12 such dogs were studied in a double crossover experiment intended to determine effects of altering dietary protein intake for up to 6 weeks. Dogs were blocked by urine protein : creatinine ratio (UPC) and randomly assigned to receive 2 diets: high protein (34.6% dry matter [DM], HP) or low protein (14.1% DM, LP) fed in HP-LP-HP or LP-HP-LP sequence. Food intake was measured daily, body weight (BW) was measured twice weekly, and UPC, plasma creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, phosphorus, albumin, and protein concentrations were measured at 2-week intervals. Nutrient digestibility was measured during the third treatment period. Diet had a significant effect (P < .0001) on all measured variables except plasma phosphorus (P > .5), but unintended differences in digestibility of protein and energy (P < or = .01) prevented assignment of the diet effect exclusively to protein. Proteinuria was greater (UPC 4.7 +/- 2.2 versus 1.8 +/- 1.1, P < .0001) when the HP diet was fed, but the LP diet did not maintain starting BW or plasma albumin concentration within the normal reference range. Diet greatly affects the magnitude of proteinuria in XLHN carrier females. Dietary protein restriction can reduce proteinuria in dogs with glomerular disease, but BW and blood protein concentrations may not be maintained if the restriction is too severe.     

Effects of testicular biopsy in clinically normal bulls

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether testicular needle biopsy is detrimental to testicular function in clinically normal bulls. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 6 mixed-breed mature bulls. PROCEDURE: A randomly selected testicle from each bull was biopsied with a 14-gauge needle biopsy instrument. Bulls were then evaluated over a 90-day period for changes in scrotal temperature and thermal patterns, ultrasonographic appearance, and quality of spermatozoa. At the end of the 90-day study, bulls were castrated, and testicles were examined grossly and histologically. RESULTS: Changes were detected in scrotal temperatures and thermal patterns and in the breeding soundness examination results during the first 2 weeks of the study. However, there were no long-term changes in semen quality over the course of the experiment. Hyperechoic areas were detected on ultrasonographic examination and corresponded to the areas of penetration by the biopsy instrument. Microscopic lesions that were indicative of testicular dysfunction were not found. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicate that testicular biopsy is a safe procedure in bulls. Testicular biopsy could possibly be used to further examine bulls that have less than satisfactory results for breeding soundness examinations.     

Comparison of cardiac output determined by arterial pulse pressure waveform analysis method (FloTrac/Vigileo) versus lithium dilution method in anesthetized dogs

Objective – To compare the determination of cardiac output (CO) via arterial pulse pressure waveform analysis (FloTrac/Vigileo) versus lithium dilution method. Design – Prospective study. Setting – University teaching hospital. Animals – Six adult dogs. Interventions – Dogs were instrumented for CO determinations using lithium dilution (LiDCO) and FloTrac/Vigileo methods. Direct blood pressure, heart rate, arterial blood gases, and end‐tidal isoflurane (ETIso) and CO₂ concentrations were measured throughout the study while CO was manipulated with different depth of anesthesia and rapid administration of isotonic crystalloids at 60 mL/kg/h. Measurements and Main Results – Baseline CO measurements were obtained at 1.3% ETIso and were lowered by 3% ETIso. Measurements were obtained in duplicate or triplicate with LiDCO and averaged for comparison with corresponding values measured continuously with the FloTrac/Vigileo method. For 30 comparisons between methods, a mean bias of ?100 mL/kg/min and 95% limits of agreement between ?311 and +112 mL/kg/min (212 mL/kg/min) was determined. The mean (mL/kg/min) of the differences of LiDCO?Vigileo=62.0402+?0.8383 × Vigileo, and the correlation coefficient (r) between the 2 methods 0.70 for all CO determinations. The repeatability coefficients for the individual LiDCO and FloTrac/Vigileo methods were 187 and 400 mL/kg/min, respectively. Mean LiDCO and FloTrac/Vigileo values from all measurements were 145 ± 68 mL/kg/min (range, 64–354) and 244 ± 144 mL/kg/min (range, 89–624), respectively. The overall mean relative error was 48 ± 14%. Conclusion – The FloTrac/Vigileo overestimated CO values compared with LiDCO and the relative error was high, which makes this method unreliable for use in dogs.     

Risk factors associated with faecal shedding of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 in eight known-infected Danish dairy herds

A risk-factor study was performed in eight dairy herds found to excrete verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157 in a former prevalence study. Associations between excretion of VTEC O157 and management factors such as housing and feeding were analysed in a generalised linear mixed model. The animals were stratified in three age groups and sampled four times during 1 year. The risk of excreting VTEC O157 was higher among weaned calves than non-weaned calves. Among the calves aged 1–4 months, the risk was reduced if the calf had suckled colostrum from the mother or if the calf had stayed >2 days with the mother after calving. Calves aged 5–24 months that had been moved within the last 2 weeks had a higher risk, but risk was reduced if fed barley silage. Cows fed grain or molasses had a higher risk of excreting VTEC O157.