Distribution of chloramphenicol in the genital tract of postpartum cows

Chloramphenicol was administered by constant IV infusion to 7 healthy postpartum cows at rates predicted to approach a steady-state plasma concentration of 5 micrograms/ml. After 8 hours of constant IV infusion, uterine tissues were removed surgically and were assayed for chloramphenicol concentrations. Mean plasma-to-tissue ratios of chloramphenicol concentrations were 3.05, 3.63 (6 cows only), and 3.22 for caruncles, endometrium, and uterine wall, respectively. Plasma-to-tissue ratios of the 3 tissues were not significantly different (P greater than 0.10). Intrauterine (IU) injections of chloramphenicol (20 mg/kg of body weight) were administered to 3 healthy post-partum cows. The mean value of the fraction of the drug absorbed from the uteri of these cows was 0.40. Mean concentrations of chloramphenicol were 43.8 micrograms/g in caruncles, 34.6 micrograms/g in endometrium, 2.8 micrograms/g in uterine wall, and 2.9 micrograms/ml in plasma 8 hours after IU injections. Chloramphenicol has now been banned for use in food-producing animals in the United States because of its potential for causing toxicosis in human beings. It is illegal to use chloramphenicol in food-producing animals in the United States and in some other countries as well. This includes use by the IU route of administration because chloramphenicol and most drugs are absorbed from the uterus into the bloodstream and are distributed to milk and tissues.     

Use of an ELISA for detection of antibody responses in Argentine boa constrictors (Boa constrictor occidentalis)

OBJECTIVE: To develop mouse monoclonal and rabbit polyclonal antibodies against immunoglobulin of Argentine boa constrictors and to demonstrate the ability of these reagents to detect antibody responses in boa constrictors by use of an ELISA and western blot analysis. ANIMALS: Two 3-year-old Argentine boa constrictors. Procedure-Boa constrictors were immunized with 2,4-dinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin (DNP-BSA). Each snake received biweekly inoculations of 250 microg of DNP-BSA (half SC, half IP) for a total of 6 inoculations followed by monthly inoculations for 3 months. Preimmune blood samples were collected. Subsequently, blood was collected immediately prior to each booster inoculation. Anti-DNP antibodies were isolated from immune plasma samples by affinity chromatography. Affinity-purified boa anti-DNP immunoglobulin was used for production of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. An ELISA and western blot analysis were used to monitor immune responses, for purification of boa anti-DNP immunoglobulin, and for assessment of polyclonal and monoclonal antibody specificity. RESULTS: A 6-fold increase in optical density (OD405) of immune boa plasma, compared with preimmune plasma, was detected by the polyclonal antibody, and a 12- and 15-fold increase was detected by monoclonal antibodies HL1787 and HL1785, respectively, between weeks 4 and 8. Results of western blot analysis confirmed anti-DNP antibody activity in immunized boa plasma and in affinity column eluates. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies detected specific anti-DNP antibody responses in immunized boas. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies recognized boa constrictor immunoglobulin. These antibodies may be useful in serologic tests to determine exposure of snakes to pathogens.     

Controlled trials of fenbendazole and febantel in ponies with parascaris equorum infections

The activity of fenbendazole and febantel was evaluated in 12 pony foals whichwere inoculated with 2600 P. equorum eggs. The foals were not maintained free of parasites before or after inoculation. Once patent for P. equorum, the foals were randomly assigned to groups and treated one time intraorally with either 0.5 ml corn syrup/kg of body weight (controls; n=4), 10 mg fenbendazole/kg (n=4), or 6 mg febantel/kg (n=4). Foals were necropsied and examined for parasites 10 days after treatment. Fenbendazole and febantel were highly effective against adult and immature P. equorum. Grosslesions attributed to P. equorum were evident in all foals. P. equorum were not foundin any of the fenbendazole-or febantel-treated foals. The mean number of adult and immature P. equorum found in the controls was 66.8 (15–166) and 65.0 (21–147), respectively. Strongyle infections were insufficient for efficacy evaluations to be done. Neither anthelmintic was effective against mature Drasehia megastoma, mature Habronema majus, immature H. muscae, Gasterophilus intestinalis or late 4th-stage larvae of Strongylus vulgaris. Adverse side effects due to treatment were not observed.     

Leaf-level and whole-plant gas exchange characteristics of shortleaf pine exposed to ozone and simulated acid rain

Field-grown shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) seedlings were exposed to ozone (O(3)) and simulated acid rain (SAR) in open-top chambers over three growing seasons. Ranges of O(3) and SAR spanned ambient levels found in the southern USA. Effects of O(3) on leaf-level and whole-plant gas exchange were characterized for a single measurement period immediately before the third summer of exposure. Decreased photosynthesis rates were attributed to O(3), but not SAR. Stomatal conductance decreased in response to O(3) exposure, and either increased or was unaffected by SAR. Increased internal CO(2) concentration (c(i)) in response to O(3) treatment indicated a greater effect of O(3) on photosynthetic capacity than stomatal conductance. Whole-seedling gas exchange characteristics indicated that whole-seedling carbon assimilation was more severely affected by O(3) than was evident from leaf-level gas exchange characteristics. Seedlings exposed to O(3) retained fewer flushes than seedlings grown in charcoal-filtered air.     

Differential hatching of the potato cyst nematodes Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida in root diffusates and water of differing ionic composition

The hatching differences ofGlobodera rostochiensis andG. pallida were assessed in potato root diffusate (PRD) of cv. Bintje, cv. Elkana and clone ZB35-29.G. pallida hatched better in the PRDs thanG. rostochiensis. It was shown that the experimental test conditions strongly influenced the hatching results. The water type used in the hatching tests had a significant discriminating effect on the species;G. rostochiensis reached hatch percentages of 60 to 90% in demineralized and tap water, whereasG. pallida never exceeded the 15%. These differences were independent of the various batches that were used or the different years the tests were carried out. Silver sand percolate had a inhibiting effect on the hatching of both nematode species. Boron and a high electrical conductivity may be responsible for this. The results are discussed from an ecological point of view as well as for research consequences.     

An evaluation of the haemostatic suture in hysterotomy closure in the mare.

This study was designed to evaluate the haemostatic suture as a means of preventing haemorrhage from the hysterotomy in mares after caesarean section. At 2 university hospitals 1982-1994, 48 mares had caesarean section for dystocia, 10 as an elective, and 8 mares concurrently with colic surgery. The haemostatic suture was used in 31 of 66 mares (47%) and surgery period was significantly (P<0.05) shorter when it was not applied. Anaemia (PCV<30%) was recorded in 13 (22%) of 58 mares, excluding the colic group, and the haemostatic suture did not after this proportion of mares that had anaemia. Anaemia was 5 times more probable following caesarean section than vaginal delivery, evidence that bleeding from the hysterotomy is a serious and common complication of caesarean section in mares. Severe uterine haemorrhage was recorded in 3 mares that had an haemostatic suture (10%) and in 2 mares that did not (6%). The latter two mares died of haemorrhage. The suture, therefore did not eliminate post operative anaemia and severe uterine haemorrhage. If omitted, the hysterotomy should be closed with a full thickness pattern that is sufficiently tight to compress vessels in the uterine wall.     

Trace Gas Emissions from a North Wales Fen - Role of Hydrochemistry and Soil Enzyme Activity

Fluxes of methane and nitrous oxide from a wetland were compared to hydrochemistry (NO₃ ^- and SO₄ ^2-) and soil enzyme activities (β-glucosidase) in an attempt to predict gas fluxes using chemical and enzymatic activities in north Wales, UK. In a one-year survey, the enzyme activities ranged from 0.028 to 0.065 µmol g^-1 min^-1, while NO₃ ^- and SO₄ ^2- concentrations ranged between 0-0.78 and 5-200 mg L^-1, respectively. Methane and nitrous oxide emissions varied between 0.32-240 and 0.28-5.48 mg m^-1 da^-1, respectively. The field survey was followed by laboratory-based manipulation experiments, from which pilot mathematical models were constructed, and related to the field data. The variation of methane emission was attributed to changes in SO₄ ^2- concentration and temperature at the site. In contrast, NO₃ ^- concentration, water table height, and β-glucosidase activity were major controlling factors for nitrous oxide emission. The models explained more than 80 % of the variation observed in the field study.     

A global synthesis reveals more response sensitivity of soil carbon flux than pool to warming

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Climate change continues to garner attention in the public sphere. Most recognize its potential to affect global carbon (C) dynamics in the biosphere. Many posit...     

Impact of smolt production strategy on vertebral growth and mineralisation during smoltification and the early seawater phase in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, L.)

This study investigates the effect of different smolt production strategies on vertebral morphology (radiology), composition (mineral content) and mechanical strength (load-deformation testing) in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Rapid-growing underyearling (0+) smolt were compared with slower-growing yearling (1+) smolt and a reference group of wild smolt (w). The underyearling and yearling smolt were transferred to seawater in October 2002 and May 2003, respectively. The underyearling smolt were reared under continuous light and the yearling smolt under natural light during the first twelve weeks in seawater, at ambient temperatures. Thus, the underyearling smolt hit seawater at 13 °C and were reared at 10-13 °C during the early seawater phase, whereas the yearling smolt hit seawater at 7 °C and were reared at 7-10 °C during the early seawater phase. All groups displayed increased longitudinal growth (up to 9% increase in relative length) of the caudal vertebrae during parr-smolt transformation. However, at transfer to seawater, the underyearling smolt had significantly lower vertebral mineral content (0+ 44%, 1+ 47%, w 50%) and higher incidence of deformed vertebrae (0+ 1.5%, 1+ 0%, w 0%), and at twelve weeks after transfer to seawater significantly lower vertebral mineral content (0+ 36%, 1+ 41%, w 43%), yield-load (0+ 6492 g, 1+ 8797 g, w 9150 g) and stiffness (0+ 7578 g/mm, 1+ 15,161 g/mm, w 20,523 g/mm), and significantly higher incidence of deformed vertebrae (0+ 2.5%, 1+ 0.3%, w 0%). There was a significant correlation between the mineral content and mechanical properties of the vertebrae. The underyearling smolt had significantly elevated plasma concentrations of total Ca, and P and Ca²⁺ during the parr-smolt transformation and in the early seawater phase.The results show that underyearling smolt may have an increased risk of developing vertebral deformities. It is possible that this risk can be reduced by postponing the start of the short-day treatment. This will reduce the temperature during smoltification, the temperature and daylength during the early seawater phase, and increase the age at smoltification.     

Antimicrobial and free radical scavenging activity of Gentianella nitida

The antimicrobial and free radical scavenging activity of the ethanol extract and fractions of Gentianella nitida have been assessed. The most susceptible microorganisms were Candida albicans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum gypseum. The antifungal activity was concentrated in the 90% methanol and nonsoluble fractions, while the radical scavenging activity was stronger in the ethyl acetate and nonsoluble fractions.