Acute pancreatitis in two dogs given azathioprine and prednisone

Acute pancreatitis was diagnosed in 2 dogs given azathioprine and prednisone. Prednisone and azathioprine had been given as immunosuppressive therapy for pemphigus foliaceus in dog 1 and for polymyositis in dog 2. Azathioprine was discontinued in both dogs. In dog 1, prednisone was reinstituted on day 6 of hospitalization. Prednisone was continued throughout the period of hospitalization in dog 2. Both dogs recovered without complication. Glucocorticoid therapy has been associated with the development of pancreatitis. In human beings, a common side effect of azathioprine is the development of drug-induced pancreatitis. Definitive identification of azathioprine as the cause of pancreatitis in these dogs was not possible; the owners refused to permit retreatment with the drug. Therefore, the synergistic action between these 2 drugs could not be ruled out as the cause of pancreatitis.     

Changes in selected biochemical indicators in blood serum in anestrous gilts

The biochemical profile [levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, chlorides and iron, the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and the concentrations of total protein, albumin, cholesterol, urea, glucose, and vitamins A and E] was studied in the blood serum of 40 anoestrous and 40 control inseminated animals in a production herd with an increased occurrence of anoestrus in gilts. The anoestrous gilts showed significantly lower levels of albumin (P less than 0.01) and glucose (P less than 0.01) and ALP activity (P less than 0.05), and significantly higher concentrations of urea (P less than 0.01), vitamin A (P less than 0.01) and vitamin E (P less than 0.05) and ALT activity (P less than 0.05), as compared with the inseminated controls. An extended enzymatological examination consisting of the evaluation of the activities of ALP, AST, ALT and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GMT) was performed in another set of 22 anoestrous and 20 mated gilts. The anoestrous gilts showed a statistically significant increase in the activities of AST (P less than 0.01), GMT (P less than 0.01) and ALT (P less than 0.05) and an insignificant increase in the activity of ALP in comparison with the control animals. The comparison of the obtained values of the studied biochemical criteria with literary data indicated a lower concentration of magnesium and a higher ALP and ALT activities in the anoestrous and inseminated gilts in both groups under study. A high acidity of fat and a medium to high fungus infestation (Mucor sp., Aspergillus sp.) were found by chemical and mycological examination of the administered feed mixtures. The histological examination of the ovaries of anoestrous animals showed cystically degenerative changes, proliferations of fibrous elements, and partial atrophy of ovarial cortex. It has been inferred from the observations that mycotoxins may be involved in the increase in the occurrence of anoestrus, either by a direct effect on sexual organs or by impairing the function of liver which, secondarily contributes to the rise of ovarial dysfunctions.     

Metabolism of benomyl in carrot,strawberry and apple

The metabolism of benomyl was studied in carrots treated with high rates of benomyl, and in strawberries and apples treated at normal rates. The same metabolites were observed in both cases though, at normal rates, their concentrations were low but significant. Detected by means of gas-liquid chromatography they were: carbendazim, 2-aminobenzimidazole (2-AB), benzimidazole, 2-aminobenzonitrile, o-phenylene-diamine and the conjugates of carbendazim and 2-AB. o-Phenylenediamine has not hitherto been reported as a metabolite of benomyl. Two unidentified compounds were also observed by gas-liquid chromatography; their mass spectra were obtained by means of combined gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.