A clinical episode demonstrating variable characteristics of pseudorabies infection in cattle

An outbreak of pseudorabies (PR) with CNS signs and acute death losses in feeder cattle was investigated. The cattle were in direct contact with swine. Although pruritus was not a predominant sign, PR virus was isolated from brain, thoracic spinal cord and lung specimens of affected cattle. Histopathologic findings were characteristic of a herpes virus infection.     

Survey of vomitoxin-contaminated feed grains in midwestern United States, and associated health problems in swine

During the 1981 corn harvest season in Illinois and surrounding states, cold wet weather enhanced the growth of Fusarium graminearum, with resulting contamination by vomitoxin and, to a lesser extent, zearalenone. Of 342 feed samples analyzed, 274 contained vomitoxin at a concentration ranging from 0.1 to 41.6 ppm (mean, 3.1 ppm) and 40 samples contained zearalenone at a concentration ranging from 0.1 to 8 ppm (mean, 0.66 ppm). Animal health problems and reduced growth performance were observed mainly in swine fed vomitoxin-contaminated rations. The predominant clinical complaints, in decreasing frequency were: reproductive problems (50%), feed refusal (43%), reduced weight gain (25%), diarrhea (17%), death (14%), and emesis (11%).     

Pharmacokinetics of diacetoxyscirpenol in cattle and swine: effects of halothane

In swine and cattle given 0, 0.1, or 0.5 and 0, 0.5 mg of diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS)/kg of body weight, IV, respectively; DAS had a large volume of distribution and total body clearance. The shortness of the interval between halothane and DAS exposures significantly (P greater than 0.05) decreased DAS biotransformation. Urinary excretion of DAS as a parent compound was not an important route of elimination. In swine and cattle, DAS was transformed by sequential deacetylation to monoacetoxyscirpenol and scirpentriol.     

Protection of laying hens against Salmonella Enteritidis by immunization with type 1 fimbriae

Eighteen chickens were immunized subcutaneously with purified type 1 fimbriae from Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis at 18 and 21 weeks of age. Evidence of IgG and IgA responses was found in the eggs and in the sera of the immunized hens. Three weeks later, immunized and non-immunized chickens (n=18) were challenged intravenously with 2x10(7) live Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis. There was no significant difference in the numbers of eggs laid by immunized and non-immunized birds. The percentage of Salmonella contaminated eggs was significantly higher in the non-immunized group than in the immunized group due to a higher percentage of contamination of the externally disinfected egg shells. There were no statistical differences in the percentages of contaminated yolks and egg whites between control and immunized birds. No differences in the number of colonizing bacteria could be found in the spleen nor in the liver between the immunized and the control groups throughout the experiment. Salmonella was cleared from the ovary of the immunized birds in the second week p.i., in contrast to the control birds where Salmonella was isolated till the third week after infection. Oviducts were significantly more infected in the control group than in the immunized group. Salmonella was cleared from the oviducts at 3 weeks p.i. in the immunized hens but not in the control hens. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the immunization of laying hens with type 1 fimbriae reduced the number of contaminated eggs and reduced the colonization of the reproductive organs.     

Combinations of Fungicides with Phylloplane Yeasts for Improved Control of Botrytis cinerea on Geranium Seedlings

ABSTRACT Control of Botrytis cinerea on geranium seedlings was evaluated in treatments with phylloplane yeasts in combination with 10 fungicides used to manage Botrytis blight of ornamental plants. Rhodotorula glutinis PM4 significantly reduced the development of lesions caused by B. cinerea on geranium cotyledons; however, yeast biocontrol efficacy was highly variable between trials. Treatment with the yeast in combination with azoxystrobin or trifloxystrobin at one tenth the labeled rate (7.5 mug a.i. ml(-1)) or the full labeled rate (7.5 mug a.i. ml(-1)) reduced lesion development, compared to treatment with the yeast or the fungicide alone. Vinclozolin at half the labeled rate or the full labeled rate (250 or 500 mug a.i. ml(-1)), in combination with R. glutinis PM4, significantly reduced the development of lesions caused by an isolate of B. cinerea resistant to vinclozolin. Copper hydroxide and iprodione at one-tenth the labeled rates, with or without yeast, were highly effective in limiting lesion development. Mancozeb did not increase the biocontrol efficacy of the yeast, and thiophanate-methyl negatively affected the yeast efficacy. Improved disease control was observed in treatments with vinclozolin at the labeled rate and R. glutinis PM4 at cell densities of 5 x 10(5) and 1 x 10(6) cells ml(-1), but not 1 x 10(5) cells ml(-1), on seedlings co-inoculated with B. cinerea in a suspension containing 1 x 10(5) conidia ml(-1). Disease control improved in treatments with combinations of vinclozolin and eight other isolates of R. glutinis, two isolates of R. graminis, and two isolates of R. mucilaginosa. Biocontrol was not observed in treatments with two isolates of R. minuta. The combination of yeast and vinclozolin significantly reduced the germination of conidia of B. cinerea and the growth of R. glutinis PM4 in vitro. All combinations of R. glutinis PM4 with azoxystrobin, trifloxystrobin, or vinclozolin provided highly effective and consistent disease control not observed in treatments with the fungicides alone or the yeast alone.