Levamisole pharmacokinetics and bioavailability in dogs

Levamisole was given intravenously and orally (with and without food) to six dogs. All dogs reacted adversely to intravenous dosage and one died. For the remaining five, intravenous data fitted a one compartment model with first order elimination and a mean half-time of elimination of 1.8 hours. In fasting dogs drug absorption from the gut was rapid and the mean fraction absorbed (F) was 0.64. When levamisole was given with food, drug bioavailability was impaired, as absorption was slowed and possibly reduced (F = 0.49). The effect of ingesta on bioavailability of levamisole could affect treatment efficacy and side effects.     

Isolation of pure Babesia equi and Babesia caballi organisms in splenectomized horses from endemic areas in South Africa

Both Babesia equi and Babesia caballi are endemic in large parts of South Africa. Attempts were made to obtain pure local isolates of both B. equi and B. caballi for the purpose of developing serological tests to study the epidemiology of equine babesiosis in this country. The indirect fluorescent antibody test was used to screen horses for B. equi and B. caballi in an endemic area. Seven horses and 3 donkeys between 3 and 36 months of age that tested negative were subsequently splenectomized. The splenectomy operation was performed through the abdominal approach. A 100% survival rate was achieved through this method, probably because it reduced the risk involved in the operation. Blood collected from naturally infected horses and passaged in fully susceptible splenectomized horses and a donkey, under laboratory conditions, produced 2 isolates of Babesia caballi and 1 of B. equi. Microscopical and serological examinations confirmed that these were pure isolates.     

Preputial foreign body in a bull

A preputial foreign body caused severe preputial swelling and depression in a 4-year-old Shorthorn bull. Disruption of the preputial epithelium by the foreign body resulted in abscess formation lateral to the prepuce. A patent urethral fistula, probably a complication of prior fibropapilloma excisional surgery, was also detected on the distal portion of the glans penis. Foreign body removal, antimicrobial administration, and warm hydrotherapy resolved the swelling and abscess. Electroejaculation was used to extend the penis and to minimize preputial adhesions. Breeding soundness examinations were used to evaluate breeding potential.     

The relationship between the microtitration serum agglutination and complement fixation tests in bovine brucellosis serology

The relationship between antibody titres in the microtitration serum agglutination test and the complement fixation test in bovine brucellosis is described. For low and high MSAT values there is good agreement between the 2 tests. This is not the case for MSAT values between 54 and 338 IU/ml. For practical reasons, results falling into this category cannot all be repeated. Repetitions are so structured that less than 4% of the tests need to be repeated. If the level of repetitions should show an increase above 4%, it is assumed that technical or human error has occurred.     

Regional limb perfusion for antibiotic treatment of experimentally induced septic arthritis.

Septic arthritis was induced in one antebrachiocarpal joint of seven horses by the intra-articular injection of 1 mL Staphylococcus aureus suspension containing a mean of 10(5) colony-forming units. Twenty-four hours after inoculation, four horses were treated by regional perfusion with 1 g of gentamicin sulfate, and three horses received 2.2 mg/kg gentamicin sulfate intravenously (IV) every 6 hours. Synovial fluid was collected for culture and cytology at regular intervals, and the synovial membranes were collected for culture and histologic examination at euthanasia 24 hours after the first treatment. Gentamicin concentration in the septic synovial fluid after three successful perfusions was 221.2 +/- 71.4 (SD) micrograms/mL; after gentamicin IV, it was 7.6 +/- 1.6 (SD) micrograms/mL. The mean leukocyte count in the inoculated joints decreased significantly by hour 24 in the successfully perfused joints. Terminal bacterial cultures of synovial fluid and synovial membranes were negative in two horses with successfully perfused joints. S. aureus was isolated from the infected joints in all three horses treated with gentamicin IV.     

Fire management on Imperata grasslands as part of agroforestry development in Indonesia

Fire is an important factor in the Imperata grassland ecosystem. It prevents or slows down the natural succession to shrubs and/or secondary forest vegetation and is a major threat to (agro)forestry options for Imperata grassland rehabilitation. Forest fires can also be a primary cause of the extension of Imperata grasslands. In this review an attempt is made to integrate biophysical and socioeconomic aspects of the causation of fires in a conceptual model. Fire effects on vegetation are examined. The management options at the level of a farmer, a village community and a national government are analyzed.     

Bioavailability of two ibuprofen oral paste formulations in fed or nonfed ponies.

The bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, was studied in healthy Shetland ponies. Ibuprofen was administered IV, as a suspension, and as a solid solution oral paste to ponies from which food was withheld. The suspension paste was also administered to ponies that received hay and water ad libitum. Both formulations had an absolute bioavailability of about 80%. Bioavailability was not influenced by feeding.     

Growth and abortion of flower buds in gynoecious cucumber plants in relation to temperature

The growth of flower buds in a gynoecious cucumber cultivar was studied at 15, 21 and 27°C. Competition between buds in the same node was measured as the ratio of the growth rates of individual buds. This competition was stronger at 21 and 27 than at 15°C. At 15°C, at least 3 buds were about equally strong; at 21°C, 2 buds developed fast and suppressed the other buds; at 27°C, the first bud which developed suppressed all other buds. When plants were transferred from one temperature to another, the growth-rate ratio between buds in older nodes was maintained. In nodes formed in the new temperature regime, the growth-rate ratio was determined by the new temperature.     

Comparison of three enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for serologic diagnosis of contagious agalactia in sheep.

Serologic diagnosis of ovine contagious agalactia (Mycoplasma agalactiae) with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) developed by Agence Fran?aise de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments (AFSSA) may produce a few false-positive (FP) and false-negative (FN) results. When the prevalence of disease is low, these erroneous results may generate problems for eradication schemes. To prevent this, 2 commercial ELISAs were compared with the AFSSA ELISA. Flocks of known status were selected and classified into 4 categories: true positive (TP), FP, true negative (TN), and FN; 20 sheep per flock were submitted for blood sampling. A flock was considered positive when at least 1 out of 20 sera was positive or 2 sera were doubtful. In the flock, the diagnostic sensitivity of the 3 kits was very good (100%), and the diagnostic specificity showed an improvement from 46% (AFSSA test) to 88% and 92% (commercial tests). Considering individual animals, very few positive ewes were detected within TN or FP flocks; the proportion of positive ewes varied greatly from one kit to another (48% to 82%) within TP flocks. The kinetics of antibody response in sheep experimentally infected with various field strains of M. agalactiae were quite similar with all 3 ELISAs. The agreement between the 3 tests, assessed using the kappa value, varied from moderate to good (respective values of 0.56, 0.61, and 0.86). The 2 commercial ELISAs showed better performances, probably because of a superior analytical sensitivity, and are a good alternative for the serodiagnosis of contagious agalactia in sheep.