Evaluation of the efficacy of an epsiprantel/pyrantel combination against gastrointestinal helminths of dogs

Trials were conducted to evaluate the anthelmintic effect of a combination of epsiprantel at a dose rate of 5-5 mg/kg bodyweight and pyrantel pamoate at 5 mg pyrantel base/kg against Toxocara canis in prenatally infected unweaned greyhound pups, Toxascaris leonina, Uncinaria stenocephala, Trichuris vulpis and Dipylidium caninum in naturally infected adolescent greyhounds and Ancylostoma caninum, U stenocephala. Taenia hydatigena and Taenia pisiformis in artificially infected laboratory beagles. The product was well accepted and produced no obvious side effects. Percentage efficacy values based on post mortem worm counts were: T hydatigena 100; T pisiformis 100; D caninum 100; adult T canis 84-0; adult T leonina 96-5; immature T leonina 99-8; U stenocephala 99-0 and 87-7; A caninum 92-7; and T vulpis 43-3.     

Effects of evisceration and storage temperature on changes in meat quality of traditional farm‐fresh Turkeys

1. Conditions affecting the keeping quality of traditional farm‐fresh turkeys were investigated.

2. Storage of uneviscerated Wrolstad turkeys at 4 °C for 10 days caused no statistically significant changes in meat flavour or texture.

3. During further storage at —2 °C, however, there was a slight but significant change in flavour, which became more marked with time in birds which had been eviscerated after the initial period at 4 °C.

4. Both eviscerated and uneviscerated birds became slightly tougher during storage.

5. Initial holding at 4 °C increased the numbers of psychrotrophic bacteria on the skin by about 10³ but subsequent changes at — 2 °C were slight for uneviscerated birds.

6. Eviscerated carcases had higher counts than uneviscerated birds after storage at — 2 °C and, although ‘off’ odours were not detected, spoilage appeared to be imminent at the end of the 20‐d period.     

Season of the year influences testosterone secretion in bulls administered luteinizing honrmone

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the secretion of testosterone (T) in bulls in response to the administration of varying doses of bovine LH (bLH) during the four seasons of the year. Five adult bulls (4 yr of age) were treated with an amount of bLH that was estimated to induce a 5 ng/mL amplitude pulse of LH in blood serum on five consecutive days around the spring equinox, summer solstice, fall equinox, and winter solstice. Five hours after this dose, bulls were treated with bLH in amounts that were estimated to induce a 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 ng/mL amplitude LH pulse in blood serum in a Latin square design. Blood samples were collected for 5 h after administration of a dose of bLH that was estimated to induce the 5-ng amplitude LH pulse, and for 3 h after administration of the variable doses of bLH, and were then assayed for concentrations of T. Average concentrations and amplitude of T release after doses of bLH that were estimated to induce the 5-ng amplitude LH pulses were greater during the spring and summer than during the winter (P < 0.05). The area under the release curve (AUC) was greater during the spring than during the winter (P < 0.05). During the 3 h after treatment with the variable doses of bLH, T response was affected by dose (P < 0.001) and season (P < 0.001), but there was no dose x season interaction. Testosterone response increased in a dose-dependent fashion for all variables studied. The greatest average concentrations of T and AUC were observed in the spring compared with the fall and winter (P < 0.05). These data support our working hypothesis that testes of bulls are more responsive in releasing T in response to bLH stimulation in the spring and summer compared with the winter; however, there were no changes in sensitivity of the testes to LH during different seasons of the year as indicated by the lack of a dose of bLH x season interaction.     

Feline Leukaemia Virus Testing

Sir, — Cat owners, cat breeders and veterinarians are now well aware that feline leukaemia virus (Felv) is a cause of serious disease in cats and also that Felv is involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases other than lymphosarcoma⁽⁸⁾. Epidemiological studies using a variety of techniques to detect virus and antibodies have defined populations of cats that are at risk from the effects of the virus and methods of control have been suggested^(2)(3)(4). All methods of control are based on separation cf Felv-infected cats from susceptible animals. To do this, viraemic cats need to be identified either by the demonstration of Felv-specific antigen in the cytoplasm of circulating leucocytes or platelets (by immunofluorescence on blood smears), demonstration of viral antigen in serum or plasma, or by isolation of virus from the plasma in feline cell cultures.     

A survey for torovirus in New Zealand cats with protruding nictitating membranes

Faecal samples from 51 cats were examined by negative stain electron microscopy to investigate a possible association between the syndrome of bilateral protrusion of the nictitating membranes and torovirus infection. Although toroviruses were not observed in any sample, other viruses or virus-like particles were observed in faeces from one of 15 cats with the syndrome, six of 21 cats which had experienced prior episodes of the syndrome and four of 15 healthy control cats. The findings of this study do not support the hypothesis that the syndrome is associated with torovirus infection.