Proposed scheme for isolation and identification of Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium perfringens-like organisms.

The properties of 220 strains of Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium perfringens-like organisms were studied. A scheme was designed for the identification of these strains. The scheme was based on the presence/or absence of lecithinase enzyme, synergestic haemolysis with Streptococcus group B toxin, their inhibition with appropriate antisera and reaction in the lactose gelatin nitrate motility test (LGNM) with the fermentation of a few sugars.     

Role of ginger against the reproductive toxicity of aluminium chloride in albino male rats

The aim of the current study was to evaluate reproductive disorders concomitant with aluminium chloride (AlCl₃) toxicity in Albino male rats. Attention was also directed to study the protective influence of ginger against this toxicity. Forty‐five mature Albino Wistar male rats were equally divided into three groups; the first group was served as control group while those of the second group (AlCl₃) were daily treated with 34 mg/kg bw. AlCl₃ orally. The third group (AlCl₃ + ginger) was treated daily with AlCl₃ as in group 2 in combination with ginger (40 mg/kg bw), which started 2 weeks prior to AlCl₃. Five animals from each group were sacrificed on days 30, 45 and 60 of treatment. AlCl₃ administration significantly decreased serum testosterone levels, increased testicular homogenate malondialdehyde and deteriorated semen picture with increased testicular DNA fragmentation. Histopathological examination revealed degenerative changes of the seminiferous tubules with focal areas of necrosed spermatogenic cells, marked degeneration and desquamation of the lining epithelial cells of epididymis as well as multiple calcified material in prostate gland following 60 days of aluminium treatment. Ginger treatment started to improve significantly all studied parameters after 60 days as compared with AlCl₃‐treated group. In the current study, it was concluded that AlCl₃ had a destructive effect on all the studied reproductive parameters. Treatment with ginger has an ameliorating effect against AlCl₃ toxicity after 60 days post‐treatment.     

Immunohistochemical Detection of Receptors for Oestrogen and Progesterone in Endometrial Glands and Stroma during the Oestrous Cycle in Nelore (Bos taurus indicus) Cows

The aim of the present study was to monitor endometrial distribution and concentrations of oestrogen receptors α (ERα) and progesterone receptors (PR) by immunohistochemistry in Nelore cows (Bos taurus indicus) during the oestrous cycle. Blood samples were collected for progesterone measurement and endometrial samples were taken from the uterine horn contra lateral to the corpus luteum in 16 cows at days 0 (ovulation), 5, 9, 13 and 19 of the oestrous cycle. Immunostaining evaluation for ERα and PR in the glandular epithelium and uterine stroma was performed by two methods: positive nuclei counting and staining intensity of the nuclei. Specific positive staining reactions for both receptors were limited to cell nuclei and they were not identified in the cytoplasm. The proportion of ERα positive nuclei had a temporal variation throughout the oestrous cycle in both cell types evaluated and was higher in uterine stroma than the glandular epithelium (p < 0.05). The greatest proportion of ERα stained nuclei was observed at oestrus and during the initial and mid luteal phase (days 5, 9 and 13) (p < 0.05) in the glandular epithelium and at days 0, 5 and 9 in the uterine stroma (p < 0.01). The proportion of PR positive nuclei remained constant throughout the entire oestrous cycle for both cell types evaluated (p > 0.05). A higher proportion of PR positive nuclei was measured in the uterine stroma compared with the glandular epithelium (p < 0.05). Intensity of staining for ERα and PR varied throughout the oestrous cycle (p < 0.01). There was a higher staining intensity at days 0 and 5 in the stroma for ERα (p < 0.01) and PR (p < 0.01) and in the glandular epithelium at days 0, 5, 9 and 13 for ERα (p < 0.01) and at days 0, 5 and 9 for PR (p < 0.01) when compared with the other evaluated days. These data demonstrate that ERα and PR expression varied throughout the oestrous cycle in Nelore cows, in general with highest concentrations at oestrus and the lowest during the luteal phase. This is similar to patterns observed in Bos taurus taurus.     

Studies on effects of lactose on experimental Trypanosoma vivax infection in Zebu cattle. 1. Plasma kinetics of intravenously administered lactose at onset of infection and pathology

Lactose in normal saline was administered intravenously to a group of Zebu cattle infected with Trypanosoma vivax to determine the blood plasma kinetics at onset of an experimental infection and its ability to protect tissues against damage as part of preliminary studies to determine its suitability for use in the treatment of trypanosomosis. Significantly (P < 0.01) higher lactose concentrations were observed in the T. vivax-infected bulls at 30 min and 1 h (P < 0.05) post-infection (p.i.) and by 4 h p.i. the plasma lactose remained above the level prior to infusion, after which it fell slightly below the pre-infusion level in the uninfected group. Calculated pharmacokinetic parameters revealed delayed excretion of lactose in the T. vivax-infected group soon after infection. The total body clearance (Cl(B)) was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced. The biological half-life (t1/2), elimination rate constant (k(el)) and apparent volume of distribution (V(d)) were relatively decreased (P > 0.05) as a result of the T. vivax infection. Retention of lactose in the plasma was attributed to decreased plasma clearance. It is suggested that the presence of trypanosomes in circulation rather than organic lesions could have been responsible for the delay observed in the excretion of lactose. At 12 weeks p.i., when the experiment was terminated, the group infected and given lactose infusion (despite higher parasitaemia) had no gross or histopathological lesions in the brain, spleen, lymph nodes, heart, kidneys, liver and testes. However, the group infected but not infused with lactose were emaciated, had pale mucosae, watery blood, general muscular atrophy, serous atrophy of coronary fat and other adipose tissue, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, swollen and oedematous lymph nodes, all of which are suggestive of trypanosomosis. Histopathological lesions included narrowing of Bowman's space and hypercellularity of glomerular tufts in the kidneys with the mean glomerular tuft nuclear indices (GTNs) in the group significantly higher (P < 0.01) than the mean GTNs of the lactose-infused and control bulls. Degenerative changes occurred in the myocardium, spleen, testes and epididymides. The tesicular and epididymal lesions are indicative of male reproductive dysfunction.     

Surgical correction of a traumatic esophageal diverticulum in a horse

A nine-year-old gelding was presented to the Auburn University Large Animal Clinic with discharge of saliva and food material from both nostrils. A diagnosis of esophageal diverticulum was made; treatment is described.     

Inhibin and reproduction. First communication: changes to inhibin level in Barki ewes after artificial infection with bluetongue virus

Bluetongue virus type 16, isolated from sheep in Egypt, was injected to 4 normally cycling Barki ewes and caused high levels of inhibin. This was assayed by a biological method, using suppression of the luteinising hormone (LH) of castrated rats. Albumin (fraction 2) was injected to normally cycling ewes. The sera of injected ewes were investigated 1 day after injection and weekly up to the 4th one injection. There was a gradual decrease of LH (4.8 +/- 0.52 I.U./ml serum) until the minimum level (1.17 +/- 0.25 I.U./ml serum) was reached, in comparison to the control serum LH which was 5.26 +/- 0.52 I.U./ml serum during the dioestrous phase.     

Novel procedure for estimating endogenous losses and measurement of apparent and true digestibility of phosphorus by growing pigs

An experiment was conducted to evaluate a novel procedure for estimating endogenous losses of P and for measuring the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and true total tract digestibility (TTTD) of P in 5 inorganic P sources fed to growing pigs. The P sources were dicalcium phosphate (DCP), monocalcium phosphate (MCP) with 50% purity (MCP50), MCP with 70% purity (MCP70), MCP with 100% purity (MCP100), and monosodium phosphate (MSP). A gelatin-based, P-free basal diet was formulated and used to estimate endogenous losses of P. Five P-containing diets were formulated by adding 0.20% total P from each of the inorganic P sources to the basal diet. A seventh diet was formulated by adding 0.16% P from MCP70 to the basal diet. All diets were fed to 7 growing pigs in a 7 x 7 Latin square design, and urine and feces were collected during 5 d of each period. The endogenous loss of P was estimated as 139 +/- 18 mg/kg of DMI. The ATTD of P in MSP was greater (P < 0.05) than in DCP, MCP50, and MCP70 (91.9 vs. 81.5, 82.6, and 81.7%, respectively). In MSP, the TTTD of P was 98.2%. This value was greater (P < 0.05) than the TTTD of P in DCP, MCP50, and MCP70 (88.4, 89.5, and 88.6%, respectively). The ATTD and the TTTD for MCP70 were similar in diets formulated to contain 0.16 and 0.20% total P. Results from the current experiment demonstrate that a P-free diet may be used to measure endogenous losses of P in pigs. By adding inorganic P sources to this diet, the ATTD of P can be directly measured and the TTTD of P may be calculated for each source of P.