Ionophores alter hepatic concentrations of intermediary carbohydrate metabolites in steers

The effects of ionophores on liver weight and function were determined in finishing steers (n = 24; avg weight 440 kg). Steers were group-fed one of three treatments (control, lasalocid or monensin at 33 mg/kg feed) for 46 d prior to slaughter. Three days prior to slaughter, blood was collected for the determination of serum Ca and Mg. At slaughter, the liver was removed, weighed, sampled, frozen in liquid nitrogen and subsequently analyzed for concentrations of carbohydrate metabolites and minerals. Liver weight (5.9 kg) was unaffected by treatment. Serum and hepatic Ca and Mg were not affected by ionophore treatment. Hepatic glycogen levels in steers fed ionophores were unaffected by treatment. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate was 21% lower (P less than .10) in hepatic tissue of steers fed ionophores, whereas dihydroxyacetone phosphate was 15 to 37% greater in hepatic tissue of steers fed monensin (P less than .20) or lasalocid (P less than .10). Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate was elevated more extensively by lasalocid than by monensin with increases of 72 (P less than .05) and 132% (P less than .001), respectively, over controls. Glycerol 3-phosphate levels were 37% (P less than .05) and 12% (NS) greater with these ionophores. Hepatic levels of pyruvate were elevated 12 (NS) to 36% (P less than .17) for monensin and lasalocid. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate levels were 25% lower (P less than .25) in hepatic tissue of steers fed ionophores than in hepatic tissue from control steers. Other metabolites of carbohydrate metabolism in hepatic tissue were not altered appreciably. Changes in levels of intermediary metabolites of carbohydrate metabolism suggest alterations in hepatic carbohydrate metabolism favoring gluconeogenesis in steers fed ionophores.     

Effects of fenbendazole administration on hematology, clinical chemistries and selected hormones in the white Pekin duck

The effects of single i.v. and p.o. doses (5 mg/kg) of fenbendazole, were evaluated on thyroxine, tri-iodothyronine, corticosterone, hematology, clinical chemistries, and serum proteins in 10 white Pekin ducks. Fenbendazole was administered i.v. (n = 5) as a 3% dimethyl sulfoxide solution and p.o. (n = 5) as a 10% commercial suspension. Serum enzyme concentrations, total protein and protein fractions, glucose, cholesterol, uric acid, sodium, and potassium were unchanged from baseline values. Serum triglycerides decreased consistently in the i.v.-treated group but remained unchanged in the p.o.-treated group. Serum chloride was consistently elevated above baseline values for both i.v.- and p.o.-treated ducks, while inorganic phosphate was consistently decreased only in the i.v.-treated group. Hemoglobin and hematocrit values generally were below baseline values. Leukocyte values varied considerably and were not significantly different from baseline values. Serum thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine values in both the i.v.- and p.o.-treated groups were not changed significantly from baseline values. Serum corticosterone values were not changed in the i.v.-treated groups but they were decreased at various times in the p.o.-treated group. Although there were some sporadic significant changes in the parameters measured versus baseline values all values remained within the physiologic limits for ducks. The safety of fenbendazole has been previously demonstrated for several species.     

Characteristics of Salmonella isolated from an outbreak of equine salmonellosis in a veterinary teaching hospital

During an outbreak of equine salmonellosis in a veterinary teaching hospital 20 Salmonella isolates were cultured from sick horses (13 isolates) or from the hospital environment (7 isolates). Three serotypes were isolated from the environment including: S. give, S. newportand S. agona. The serotypes isolated from horses included: S. give, S. newport and S. anatum. Examination of antibiotic profiles, presence of plasmids, production of bacteriocins and hemagglutination of erythrocytes implied a common origin for the equine and environmental isolates.     

The heterogenicity of Cowdria ruminantium stocks: cross-immunity and serology in sheep and pathogenicity to mice

Ten stocks of Cowdria ruminantium (Ball 3, Breed, Comoro, Germishuys, Kümm, Kwanyanga, Mali, Mara, Nonile and Welgevonden) were compared from a cross-immunity, serological and mouse pathogenicity point of view. They were found to differ in varying degrees. Except for the Ball 3, Comoro and Germishuys stocks that were similar but not identical, there was no pattern in the antigenic diversity of the 10 stocks. The Welgevonden stock emerged as the stock that elicits an immunity against most of the South African stocks. The inability of the reference Ball 3 stock to protect sheep against no fewer than 6 other stocks questions the advisability of retaining this stock as the vaccine stock. The antigenic diversity of the 10 stocks could not be correlated with the antibody levels detected with the indirect fluorescent antibody test, since the sera against all 10 stocks reacted positively to the Kümm stock antigen and the variation in titres was not stock-related.     

Clinical reference values for serum protein electrophoresis for the llama (Lama glama)

Serum protein electrophoresis was performed on 71 clinically healthy juvenile and adult llamas (6 juvenile males, 7 juvenile females, 25 adult males, 13 adult females, and 20 pregnant females) to determine normal serum protein concentrations. Values were reported for each of the 5 groups because the groups were not homogeneous in all 8 peaks. Although the values reported here may serve as reference values for adults, they represent only a guideline for the juveniles because of the limited number of animals in each of these groups.     

Ultrastructure of sarcocysts from water buffalo in India

The ultrastructure of sarcocysts of macro- and microscopic species of Sarcocystis was compared from naturally infected water buffalo from India. Grossly visible sarcocysts had walls consisting of cauliflower-like villar protrusions, typical of S. fusiformis. The sarcocyst wall of the microscopic species of Sarcocystis was 6.4 microns thick and consisted of tightly packed conical villar protrusions that were 9.6 microns long and 3.7 microns wide at the base. At approximately 3 microns above the base, the distal two-thirds of the villar protrusion became conical shaped and was bent laterally at an angle of 45 degrees to the sarcocyst surface. The granular layer beneath the villar protrusions was 0.9 microns thick. In S. levinei the granular layer was 1.9 microns thick, the villar protrusions were narrow and it had a highly undulating primary cyst wall. Whether the microscopic S. levinei-like sarcocysts of Indian and Malaysian water buffalo are distinct species of Sarcocystis will require further investigation.     

Isolation, characterization and in vitro mitogenic stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes from an American buffalo.

A rapid and reproducible method is described for the isolation and characterization of leukocytes from the peripheral blood of an American buffalo (bison). Centrifugation of the buffy coat cells on a Percoll gradient (1.079 g/mL) at 650 x g for 20 min resulted in the separation and high yields of pure viable leukocytes. The sheep erythrocyte-rosetting technique (ER) showed that 59% of the cells were ER+ (T lymphocytes). Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated peanut agglutinin and FITC-conjugated concanavalin A revealed 77% and 89% positive cells, respectively. The isolated leukocytes contained adherent accessory cells and functionally active T and B lymphocytes which proliferated in response to both T and B cell mitogens and to exogenous recombinant bovine interleukin-2 in the absence and/or presence of the thiol compound 2-mercaptoethanol.