Distribution and management of cattle in relation to climatic zones within North America

The United States has a diversity of climates, as noted earlier. Although one can describe, as was done here, a grid of zones based on average temperature, rainfall, and terrain, the complexity of climates within these zones based on elevation, rainfall, and temperature requires much closer evaluation. The practicing veterinarian or animal husbandman must evaluate the specific climatic conditions prevailing on the farm or ranch in question and integrate the components of that climate into the management or health practices to be recommended. There is no substitute for careful observation.     

The effects of benzimidazole anthelmintics on P4501A in rat hepatocytes and HepG2 cells

Benzimidazole anthelmintics including albendazole, fenbendazole, and mebendazole are widely used in veterinary medicine. The effects of these benzimidazoles on cytochrome P4501A were investigated in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes and in the HepG2 cell line. After incubation of rat hepatocytes and HepG2 for 24-, 48-, and 72-h cells with drugs at various concentrations (0.1-50 microM), the enzyme activities associated with P4501A1/2 (7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation and 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation) were measured. The P4501A1/2 protein levels in both model systems were determined by Western blotting. Although all benzimidazoles provoked a significant increase of P4501A1/2 protein levels and P4501A activities, large differences in the induction response were found which was dependent on drug structure, concentration, and model system used. Based on the results, relationships between induction potency and structure of drug were demonstrated, as well as differences between the in vitro systems used. Therefore, pharmacological and toxicological consequences of cytochrome P4501A induction by benzimidazole drugs should be taken into account in veterinary therapy.     

Comparison of electrophoretograms of normal canine serum and plasma and of serum and plasma of hemolyzed specimens.

Comparison of the electrophoretograms of normal canine plasma and serum revealed a greater concentration of the beta3-fraction in plasma due to the presence of fibrinogen. When serum or plasma of hemolyzed canine blood was analyzed electrophoretically, there were slurring of the beta-globulin peaks due to the presence of free hemoglobin and increases in alpha2-globulins due to the formation of the haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex.     

Comparative anatomy of the meniscofemoral ligament in humans and some domestic mammals

The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence, position and relative sizes of the meniscofemoral ligaments (MFL) in three quadrupeds and humans and relate these to the caudal slope of the lateral tibial plateau. Canine, ovine and equine stifles and human knees were dissected to identify the presence of MFLs, their obliquity in relation to the caudal cruciate ligaments (CCL), the relative size and shape of the MFLs compared with the CCL, the points of femoral attachment of the MFLs and CCL, and the distance between the MFLs and CCL at their midpoints. The lateral tibial condyle was divided sagittally with a handsaw and the caudal slope was measured. An MFL was present in all quadrupeds. It was caudal to the CCL, being analogous to the human posterior MFL. There was no structure analogous to the human anterior MFL, a structure that has a different femoral attachment from the human posterior MFL and MFLs in other species examined. The meniscotibial attachments were of varying sizes. The size ratio between the MFL and CCL was greater in all three quadrupeds than it was in the human knee. The MFL lies more obliquely than the CCL in all species examined. The caudal tibial slope was steeper in the quadrupeds. In the stifle joints of quadrupeds, the MFL is a substantial structure and appears to be related to the caudal tibial slope. It is known to resist caudal translation of the tibia in conjunction with the lateral meniscus. This must be borne in mind when considering its function in the human knee.     

Gelation of Waxy Barley Starch Hydrolysates

Thealpha-amylolysis of gelatinized waxy barley starch and the gelation of the hydrolysates was studied. The progress of the hydrolysis was monitored with gel permeation and ion exchange chromatography. Initial attack occurred mainly between the clusters, without significant hydrolysis of the external chains. The stiffness of 20% gels prepared from the polymeric products decreased with increasing hydrolysis of the amylopectin. A linear relationship between the shear modulus and the original high-molecular weight amylopectin content was observed. Although the branched degradation products of amylopectin (average DP <6×10⁴) were not involved in network formation, they retained their ability to recrystallize as analysed by differential scanning colorimetry. For more extensively hydrolysed products (average DP <5000) no recrystallization or gel formation was observed under the conditions tested. Information on the gel structure was obtained with acid hydrolysis and ion exchange chromatography. The structure of the acid-resistant gel residues was complicated, showing a five-peak distribution when analysed with ion exchange chromatography. No differences between the original and hydrolysate gels was observed. The gel residues were resistant to isoamylase.     

Antibody responses in protein-energy restricted beef cows and their cold stressed progeny.

Antibody titers were measured in serum and colostral whey of pregnant beef cows immunized with tetanus toxoid and chicken red blood cells while being fed diets either restricted or nonrestricted in protein and/or metabolizable energy during the last 150 days of gestation. Serum antibody titers were also measured in the colostrum-fed, cold and noncold stressed progeny that were actively immunized with dinitrophenol conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. In general, there were no major or sustained differences in humoral immune responses to injection of tetanus toxoid or chicken red blood cells between cows fed diets that were adequate or restricted in protein or metabolizable energy. In the few cases where serum antibody titers to tetanus toxoid or chicken red blood cells differed (P less than 0.05) between adequately fed or restricted cows, the differences were no greater than twofold. Anti-chicken red blood cell titers were uniformly low (P less than 0.05) by a magnitude of two to threefold in colostral whey of cows restricted in protein and/or metabolizable energy when compared to titers in cows fed adequate amounts of protein and metabolizable energy. With one exception, neither maternal dietary restriction nor cold exposure had a major effect on the ability of the calves to absorb antitetanus toxoid and chicken red blood cell antibodies from colostrum. The humoral immune responses of all calves to injection of keyhole limpet hemocyanin and dinitrophenol were similar in magnitude.     

Anthracnose of capsicum in Papua New Guinea; varietal reaction and associated fungi

Abstract

Twenty‐three varieties of Capsicum annuum (L.) were assessed for levels of natural anthracnose infection. Infection rates ranged from 0.0 to 17.2% with sweet bell varieties being generally more susceptible than long pungent varieties. The primary pathogen appears to be Colletotrichum capsici (Syd.) Butler & Bisby but Curvularia Iunata (Wakker) Boedjin was also frequently associated with the disease.