The efficacy of praziquantel against cestodes in cats, dogs and sheep

Praziquantel is a new type of acylated isoquinoline-pyrazine. A single, low oral or subcutaneous dose of the compound is reliably effective against all tested juvenile and adult cestodes in cats, dogs and sheep. Praziquantel is the first cestodicide which is also effective on bile duct cestodes. In cats and dogs, 5 mg praziquantel per kg is completely effective on all stages of Taenia hydatigena, T pisiformis, T ovis, T taeniaeformis, Dipylidium caninum, Mesocestoides corti, Echinococcus multilocularis and E granulosus. Because of its very wide therapeutic index praziquantel is thus particularly suited for eradication programmes, eg, echinococcosis.     

Effect of iodine, copper and zinc supplements to rations with a high quota of rapeseed extract meal on the growth and thyroid function of fattening swine. 3. The effect on weight and the histomorphometric findings in the thyroid and on the serum T3 and T4 concentrations

Studies were made with a total of 272 fattening pigs. Iodine deficiency both in rations of soya bean meal and rape seed meal increased the weight of the thyroid gland and the height of the epithelium cells and significantly reduced the T4 and T3 level in the serum. Iodine supplements to the rape seed meal rations distinctly diminished the goitrogenic effect, did not, however, cancel it out. Stage of goiter and depression of consumption were--different shown by the T3 and T4 level in the serum. Highly significant relations were calculated between live weight gain, weight and the height of the epithelium cells on the one hand and the T4 level in the serum on the other. Iodine supplementations of rations without thyrostatic components should amount to greater than or equal to 0.1 mg/kg. Iodine supplementations of 0.5 mg/kg feed are at present recommended to rations with rape seed meal quotas of less than 8%.     

Biological variation in random and leukotriene B4-directed migration of canine neutrophils

Seasonal, sexual, parental and age-related effects on peripheral blood neutrophil migration were studied in 25 dogs. Random and chemotactic movements were estimated by measuring migration towards buffer and leukotriene B4, respectively. Significant effects were seen only in the comparison between the two sexes. Neutrophils from bitches exhibited 19% greater random migration but 10% smaller chemotactic responsiveness than neutrophils from male dogs. A progesterone-mediated suppression of chemotaxis is hypothesized in metoestral bitches. It is concluded that the observed differences are probably too subtle to play any role in combatting bacterial infections, but may constitute a source of bias in the evaluation of isolated cases of disease-associated defective chemotaxis.