Studies on an outbreak of intestinal coccidiosis in the dog

An outbreak of intestinal coccidiosis in the dog due to Isospora canis characterized by mild severe haemorrhagic diarrhoea of sudden onset, acute abdominal pain, anorexia, dehydration and relative polycythaemia is described. Although clinical recovery followed sulphonamide therapy, reinfection was common within 10 days of treatment.     

Metabolism of cisanilide (cis-2,5-dimethyl-1-pyrrolidinecarboxanilide) by excised leaves and cell suspension cultures of carrot and cotton

Major methanol-soluble metabolites of cisanilide (cis-2,5-dimethyl-1-pyrrolidinecarboxanilide) were isolated from excised, pulse-treated carrot and cotton leaves. They were identified as O-glucoside conjugates of primary aryl and alkyl oxidation products, 2,5-dimethyl-1-pyrrolidine-4-hydroxycarboxanilide and 2,5-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-1-pyrrolidinecarboxanilide. Comparative studies with carrot and cotton cell cultures showed similar initial pathways of cisanilide metabolism. Time-course studies with [¹⁴C-pyrrolidine]- and [¹⁴C-phenyl]cisanilide showed little, if any, cleavage of the herbicide molecule in either excised leaves or cell cultures. Quantitative differences in the metabolism of cisanilide by cell cultures and excised leaves included; a reduced capacity of cell cultures to form secondary glycoside conjugates and an increased ability of cell cultures to form methanol-insoluble residues.     

SHORT CONTRIBUTION: The latest endangered species in Australia: A tobacco-smoking veterinarian

The results of a tobacco smoking survey conducted among veterinarians in Queensland, Australia, during 2007 are presented. Of the 567 participants only 3% reported being current smokers, 24% were ex-smokers and 73% had never smoked. The prevalence of smoking was similar among males and females, and the highest smoking rate was reported among veterinarians aged 31–40 years. However, the rate of never-smokers was strongly and negatively correlated with age, and the proportion of ex-smokers increased with age. Encouragingly, the results from this study suggest that tobacco use has all but disappeared from the Australian veterinary profession in recent years.     

Acifluorfen metabolism in soybean: Diphenylether bond cleavage and the formation of homoglutathione, cysteine, and glucose conjugates

Metabolism of the substituted diphenylether herbicide, acifluorfen [sodium 5-(2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-2-nitrobenzoate], was studied in excised leaf tissues of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Evans’]. Studies with [chlorophenyl-¹⁴C]- and [nitrophenyl-¹⁴C]acifluorfen showed that the diphenylether bond was rapidly cleaved. From 85 to 95% of the absorbed [¹⁴C]acifluorfen was metabolized in less than 24 hr. Major polar metabolites were isolated and purified by solvent partitioning, adsorption, thin layer, and high-performance liquid chromatography. The major [chlorophenyl-¹⁴C]-labeled metabolite was identified as a malonyl-β- -glucoside (I) of 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenol. Major [nitrophenyl-¹⁴C]-labeled metabolites were identified as a homoglutathione conjugate [S-(3-carboxy-4-nitrophenyl) γ-glutamyl-cysteinyl-β-alanine] (II), and a cysteine conjugate [S-(3-carboxy-4-nitrophenyl)cysteine] (III).     

Microsomal N-demethylation, by a cotton leaf oxidase system, of 3-(4'-chloropENYL)-1, 1-dimethylurea (monuron)

A cotton leaf microsomal oxidase system that N-demethylates 3-(4'-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (monuron) to 3-(4'-chlorophenyl)-1-methylurea has been partially characterized. The enzyme system is associated with a microsomal fraction separated by differential centrifugation and requires molecular oxygen as well as either the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate or the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide as cofactors.     

Metabolism of substituted diphenylether herbicides in plants. II. Identification of a new fluorodifen metabolite, S-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-glutathione in peanut

The herbicide, 2,4′-dinitro-4-trifluoromethyl diphenylether (fluorodifen), is eleaved in peanut to give the metabolite, S-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-glutathione. A comparison of the glutathione conjugate isolated from treated peanut leaves and from in vitro pea epicotyl glutathione S-transferase reaction showed that both metabolites were identical. Other polar metabolites were also isolated, but not identified. The structure of the glutathione conjugate was confirmed by amino acid analysis and by mass, NMR, and infrared spectroscopy. The p-nitrophenyl moiety is also conjugated to natural products and is released as the free p-nitrophenol upon acid hydrolysis.