Human-parathormone assay for use in dogs: validation, sample handling studies, and parathyroid function testing

Ten commercially available parathormone (PTH) assays were competitively validated, using dilutional parallelism, intra-assay and interassay coefficients of variation, and sensitivity and measured responses of 2 dogs to calcium and EDTA infusions. A 2-site immunoradiometric assay for intact human-PTH was superior to the others for estimating canine-PTH, met the criteria for validity, and was further investigated. A series of sample-handling studies was performed. Serum and plasma samples stored at 24 C lost 15% (n = 5; P less than 0.05) of PTH between 2 and 24 hours. This did not occur at 6 C. The mean PTH concentration of sera from blood samples clotted at 24 C was 6% (P less than 0.05) higher than equivalent EDTA samples. Serum samples stored at 6 and 37 C deteriorated 35% and 100% (n = 5; P less than 0.05), respectively, after 1 week, whereas samples stored at -20 and -70 C for 4 weeks did not deteriorate. There was no significant deterioration of PTH in samples frozen (-40 C) and thawed up to 7 times (n = 5). Parathyroid function testing was investigated by use of 2-hour infusions of disodium EDTA (25 mg/kg/h), 10-minute infusions of calcium gluconate (3 mg of elemental calcium/kg/10 min), and physiologic saline controls (n = 8). Renal function was monitored before and after EDTA infusion by exogenous creatinine clearance. Infusion of disodium EDTA increased mean PTH concentration from 67 (time 0) to 317 and 235 pg/ml at 90 and 180 minutes, respectively (P less than 0.001). Infusion of calcium gluconate decreased mean PTH concentration from 84 (time 0) to 14 and 12 pg/ml at 15 and 60 minutes, respectively (P less than 0.005). There were no observable side effects of the infusions in normal conscious dogs and no differences in exogenous creatinine clearance after EDTA infusion.     

Immunohistochemical localisation of alpha-1-protease inhibitor in the horse

Using a peroxidase anti-peroxidase technique alpha-1-protease inhibitor (alpha-1-PI) was identified in normal equine hepatocytes in formalin-fixed liver sections, and in airway secretions and macrophages in formalin-fixed lung sections of horses with chronic small airway disease and chronic bronchointerstitial pneumonia. In addition, it was identified occasionally in macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage samples from clinically healthy horses and from horses with chronic small airway disease. Equine peripheral blood leucocytes and formalin-fixed lung sections with normal histology were negative for alpha-1-PI.     

Observations on the treatment of necrobacillosis in wallabies

Clinical experience of 73 cases of necrobacillosis in red-necked wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) over a 6-year period is reviewed. Diagnostic methods and the medical and surgical treatment options are detailed. It is suggested that survival curves are necessary to assess the outcome of treatment.     

The relationship of insulin-like growth factor-I with postweaning performance in Angus beef cattle

This study was designed to evaluate the ontogeny of serum IGF-I (SI) concentrations and its relationship to animal performance in a 140-d postweaning feeding trial. Ninety-eight progeny representing six sires (three high and three low feed conversion) and two sexes (43 bulls and 55 heifers) with ad libitum access to feed were allocated by sire and sex to monitor individual weights and pen feed consumption. Blood serum samples were obtained at the beginning of test (average age of 230 d) and every 28 d thereafter until each animal reached a fat thickness (estimated by sonoray) of 8.9 mm. Individual serum samples were acid-ethanol extracted and measured for IGF-I peptide by heterologous RIA. Serum IGF-I concentrations differed (P less than .10) between high (H) and low (L) feed conversion progeny groups at the end of the first 28-d period (125.12 vs 89.52 ng/ml) and tended to differ at the conclusion of the second 28-d period (P less than .15). Weight gains of H and L groups tended to differ in the second and third 28-d periods (P = .11 and .10, respectively). Serum IGF-I concentrations differed (P less than .05) between bulls and heifers for the first through fourth 28-d periods (P less than .01, P less than .05, P less than .10 and P less than .01, respectively). Phenotypic correlations indicated that pens with higher mean SI concentrations at the beginning of the test consumed less feed and had lower cumulative feed:gain ratios.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A selective procedure for the field isolation of pathogenic Streptococcus spp. of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

A procedure established for the selective isolation of the species of Streptococcus responsible for rainbow trout streptococcosis in South Africa, consisted of the inoculation of samples into nutrient broth which had been supplemented with 100 micrograms/ml of nalidixic acid, 160 micrograms/ml of oxolinic acid or 200 micrograms/ml of sodium azide. After incubation, the sample was plated onto tetrazolium agar on which the rainbow trout pathogenic Streptococcus species grew as a red colony. The colonies were isolated from the tetrazolium agar and identified as rainbow trout pathogenic isolates by biochemical and serological tests. In the laboratory the selective procedure is capable of detecting about 2 bacteria per ml. This procedure was used in the field and biochemically identical Streptococcus species were found in the mud and a freshwater crab from the water source of a site with a history of streptococcosis.     

Effect of colostrum intake on plasma glucose, non-esterified fatty acid and glucoregulatory hormone patterns in the neonatal pig

The effect of colostrum on endocrine and metabolic factors affecting glucose homeostasis was evaluated in 60 neonatal pigs that were fasted, fed (nursed ad libitum) or limit-fed colostrum (25% ad libitum, 4-hr interval feeding). Plasma acquired at birth (t0), and after 10, 20 and 30 hr (t10, t20 and t30, respectively) was analyzed for glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and the glucoregulatory hormones--insulin, glucagon, cortisol, growth hormone and catecholamines. The concentration of glucose and NEFA was similar among treatment groups at birth and increased in proportion to the quantity of colostrum consumed. Pigs fed ad libitum achieved and maintained a higher (greater than or equal to 40%; P less than .01) glucose concentration when compared to fasted neonates. Limit-fed counterparts also achieved and maintained higher levels, with glucose concentration being approximately 20% higher throughout (P less than .05). Fed pigs maintained NEFA concentrations which were approximately 2.5-fold to 4-fold greater than that of fasted pigs (P less than .05). Likewise, limit-fed pigs tended (P = .19) to have elevated NEFA concentrations and a lower (P less than .05) insulin:glucagon molar ratio. An inverse relationship was observed between colostrum intake and plasma concentrations of cortisol and growth hormone. Concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine tended (P greater than .10) to be elevated in fed pigs, relative to those of fasted counterparts. Provision of even limited quantities of colostrum is therefore beneficial to the glucoregulatory response in newborn pigs.     

Subcutaneously implanted tissue chambers — a pharmacokinetic study

The purpose of this study was to characterize the pharmacokinetics of a subcutaneously implanted tissue-chamber model. Thermoplastic tissue chambers were implanted in the paralumbar fossae of six steers. Starting 30 days after implantation, the distribution of intravenously administered antipyrine and phenylbutazone into the tissue chambers was studied. These pharmacokinetic experiments were repeated 10 days later to determine the effect of time after implantation on tissue-chamber distribution. Fifty days after implantation, tissue chambers were drained of transudate, refilled with sterile saline and the rate of influx of endogenous urea, creatinine and albumin was measured. Delayed diffusion of antipyrine and phenylbutazone into tissue chambers was well described using a compartmental model in which tissue-chamber fluid represented the third of three compartments arranged in series. The distribution of antipyrine into tissue chambers was greater than that of phenylbutazone; an observation which is well correlated with the high degree of protein binding of phenylbutazone. There was no effect of time on the penetration of the two agents. Rapid diffusion of urea and creatinine and extremely slow influx of albumin into chambers showed that these chambers formed true interstitial compartments.     

Influence of level and source of dietary fat on its comparative feeding value in finishing diets for feedlot steers: metabolism

Six crossbred steers (315 kg) with cannulas in the rumen, proximal duodenum and distal ileum were used to study the influence of level and source of dietary fat on characteristics of digestion. Dietary treatments consisted of a steam-rolled barley-based finishing diet containing 1) no supplemental fat; 2) 4% yellow grease (YG); 3) 4% blended animal-vegetable fat (BVF); 4)8% YG; 5) 8% BVF or 6) 6% BVF and 2% crude lecithin. Increasing level of fat supplementation resulted in linear decreases (P less than .01) in ruminal and total tract digestion of OM and ADF and intestinal digestion of fat (P less than .05). At the 4 and 8% levels of supplementation, intestinal true digestibility of fat averaged 80.1 and 69.3%, respectively. Ruminal molar proportions of acetate decreased, and propionate molar proportion, as well as DE and ME values of the diet, increased linearly (P less than .01) with level of fat supplementation. The DE and ME values for fat were 8.17 and 9.76 at the 4% level and 7.35 and 8.72 Mcal/kg at the 8% level of supplementation, respectively. Yellow grease supplementation resulted in greater (P less than .05) ruminal fiber digestion and greater ruminal molar proportions of propionate than BVF. Intestinal fat digestion was similar (P greater than .10) for YG and BVF. Adding 25% lecithin to BVF resulted in greater ruminal fiber digestion and greater ruminal molar proportions of acetate; however, lecithin tended (P less than .10) to have a lower ME value than BVF.