Pharmacokinetics of Enrofloxacin and Its Metabolite Ciprofloxacin after Intramuscular Administration of Enrofloxacin in Goats

The pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin and its active metabolite ciprofloxacin were investigated in goats after a single intramuscular administration of enrofloxacin at 2.5 mg/kg body weight. The plasma concentrations of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were determined simultaneously by a HPLC method. The peak concentrations (C _max) of enrofloxacin (1.13 g/ml) and ciprofloxacin (0.24 g/ml) were observed at 0.8 and 1.2 h, respectively. The elimination half-life (t _1/2), volume of distribution (V _d(area)), total body clearance (Cl_B) and mean residence time (MRT) of enrofloxacin were 0.74 h, 1.42 L/kg, 1329 ml/h per kg and 1.54 h, respectively. The t _1/2, area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) and the MRT of ciprofloxacin were 1.38 h, 0.74 g h/ml and 2.73 h, respectively. The metabolic conversion of enrofloxacin to ciprofloxacin was appreciable (36%) and the sum of the plasma concentrations of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin was maintained at or above 0.1 g/ml for up to 4 h. Enrofloxacin appears to be useful for the treatment of goat diseases associated with pathogens sensitive to this drug.     

Growth-inhibiting activity of azadirachtin onCorcyra cephalonica

The growth-inhibiting properties of azadirachtin, a bioeffective triterpenoid compound isolated from neem (Azadirachia indica A. Juss) seeds, was evaluated on the rice moth,Corcyra cephalonica Staint., a serious pest of stored products. By topical application of various azadirachtin doses (0.5 to 10 μg/larva) in methanol to last-instar spinning stage larvae, development was inhibited. The effect was dose-dependent; at higher doses, many of the insects remained in the larval stage (55% with 10 μg/larva). Disturbance of both larval-pupal and pupal-adult molting is discussed and interpreted as interference with the morphogenetic hormone pool size.     

Molecular breeding for virus resistant potato plants

To engineer resistance against potato virus X (PVX), the viral coat protein (CP) gene has been introduced into two potato cultivars. Stable expression of the gene in transgenic clones throughout the growing season has been obtained and resulted in considerably increased virus resistance. With varying frequencies depending on the original cultivar used, true-to-type PVX resistant transgenic clones have been obtained. Since deviant light sprout characteristics were invariably associated with aberrations in plant phenotype, they can be used in procedures to early screen for deviations. Furthermore, it has been possible to unequivocally discriminate between the original untransformed and independent transgenic cultivars. Although no relation has been found between the presence, if any, of the CP of potato virus Y (PVY) or potato leafroll virus (PLRV) in CP gene transgenic potato, appreciable levels of resistance to these viruses has been obtained. This suggests that the mechanism by which a viral CP gene in the potato genome evokes resistance, differs amongst various viruses.     

Genetics of soybean-Heterodera glycines system

Genetics of resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines Ichinohe is very complex. Crosses involving PI 437654, which is resistant to all races of cyst nematodes with other sources of resistance (Peking, PI 88788, and PI 90763) indicated that resistance to race 3 was controlled by four genes, two of which were dominant resistance genes and the other two were recessive resistance genes. For race 5, a four gene model with two recessive and two dominant resistance genes in epistasis has been proposed. For race 14, the results suggested a three gene model with one dominant and two recessive alleles. Several other plant introductions have been isolated which have different genes conditioning resistance. Most of the currently grown soybean varieties derived resistance from Peking and/or PI 88788. Resistance to SCN in these soybean varieties has broken down because of the emergence of several new races and populations of SCN. The use of PI 437654 or Hartwig and other plant introductions with different genes for resistance will broaden genetic diversity and stabilize yield.     

The effects of bovine respiratory syncytial on normal ovine lymphocyte responses to mitogens or antigens in vitro

In the present study peripheral blod mononuclear cells (MNC) obtained from normal uninfected lambs were used to study the possible effects of bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) on lymphocyte responses to the mitogens, phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) in vitro. Live BRSV had a depressive effect on the proliferative responses of normal MNC to PHA, Con A and PWM. Inactivated BRSV and a commercial preparation of prostaglandin E2 were also found to depress the proliferative responses of normal ovine MNC to PHA but recombinant tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) had no such effect. Serum samples obtained from BRSV-infected lambs contained substances inhibitory to PHA-driven lymphocyte blastogenesis. Memory blastogenic responses to border disease virus (BDV) of lymyphocytes obtained from lambs previously primed with BDV were significantly reduced when lymphocytes were exposed to infectious BRSV.     

Comparative pathogenesis of serotype 1 and variant serotype 1 isolates of infectious bursal disease virus and their effect on humoral and cellular immune competence of specific-pathogen-free chickens

Specific-pathogen-free chickens inoculated with isolate VA (variant A) or isolate IM of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) were examined for mitogenic response to T-cell mitogens, primary and secondary antibody response to sheep erythrocytes and Brucella abortus, and gross and histologic lesions in thymus and bursa. Both isolates induced comparable depression in the mitogenic and antibody response, and both caused extensive gross and histologic lesions in the bursa of Fabricius. However, bursal necrosis induced by the IM isolate was accompanied by an inflammatory response, whereas the inflammatory component was lacking in the lesion induced by the VA isolate. Furthermore, the IM isolate induced extensive lesions in the thymus, but the VA isolate did not.     

Evaluation of Cytotoxic Responses Caused by Selected Organophosphorus Esters in Chick Sympathetic Ganglia Cultures

Ten day old chick sympathetic ganglia cultured in a microslide assembly were treated with a selected group of organophosphate pesticides to evaluate their cytotoxicity ranges, and the usefulness of such a model for screening pesticides. Examination by phase contrast and light microscopy for chemically-induced morphological alteration of nerve fibers, glial cells and neurons provided the criteria for quantitation and assessment of the toxic effects. Concentrations that produced half-maximal effects ranged from 1 × 10^-6M (severely toxic) for methylparathian, diazinon, paraoxon, mevinphos, diisopropylfluorophosphate, tri-o-tolyl phosphate and its mixed isomers to a 1 × 10^-3M (intermediate) for malathion, leptophos, coumaphos, mono- and dicrotophos. Some or no effects were evident at 1 × 10^2-M for O'ethyl-O-p-nitrophenyl phenyl phosphonothioate, tri-m-tolylphosphate, chlorpyriphos and triphenyl phosphate. In all instances, nerve fibers were more sensitive than neurons or glial cells to insecticides. All cellular growth was inhibited at 1 × 10^-2M (except triphenyl phosphate). Below 1 x 10^-7M, no inhibitory effects were evident. The secondary abnormalities included decreased cellular migration, diffuse cellular growth pattern, increased vacuolization, nerve fiber swelling and cellular degeneration. The cytotoxic effects of these chemicals do not appear to be related to in vivo toxicity or cholinesterase inhibition potential.