Field cases of aflatoxicosis in pigs

SUMMARY Five cases of aflatoxicosis in pigs in southern Queensland are described. One peracute case where aflatoxin concentrations of up to 5000μg aflatoxin B₁/kg were demonstrated in stomach contents was presumed to be caused by consumption of mouldy bread. High levels of toxins were also present in the livers. Two cases of acute toxicity were caused by feeding mouldy peanut screenings containing 22000μg aflatoxin B₁/kg. One case of subacute and one of chronic toxicity were caused by sorghum grain based rations with lower aflatoxin levels (4640 and 255 μg/kg). Peracute toxicity caused collapse and deaths within several hours, acute toxicity caused deaths within 12 h and with subacute toxicity deaths occured after 3 weeks on a toxic ration. Anorexia and ill thrift affecting only growing animals were seen with chronic toxicity. Extensive centrilobular liver necrosis and haemorrhage occured with peracute toxicity and in cases of acute poisoning there was hepatic centrilobular cellular infiltration, hepatocyte swelling and bile stasis. With subacute toxicity hepatocyte vacuolation together with bile stasis and bile ductule hyperplasia were seen.     

Clams As recorders of ocean ridge volcanism and hydrothermal vent field activity

The clam Calyptogena magnifica lives at abyssal depths in association with hydrothermal venting on midocean ridges. Analysis of strontium/calcium ratios in C. magnifica shells provides a temperature proxy with submonthly time resolution. A 21-year strontium/calcium record of two clams from 9 degrees50'N on the East Pacific Rise captures the known 1991 and 1992 eruptive events, documents several additional events between 1992 and 1996, and demonstrates the absence of major hydrothermal episodes during the period 1974 to 1991. These clam archives can increase our understanding of the thermal and chemical history of midocean ridge hydrothermal and volcanic activity on decadal time scales.     

Excretion of loline alkaloids in urine and faeces of sheep dosed with meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) seed containing high concentrations of loline alkaloids

Abstract

AIM: To determine the effect of oral dosing of sheep with loline alkaloids on their excretion in urine and faeces, and to monitor for any toxic effects.

METHODS: In Experiment 1, six 9-month-old ewe lambs were given a single oral dose of loline alkaloids (52 mg/kg bodyweight (BW); acute exposure) as a suspension of ground meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) seed in water. In Experiment 2, on six consecutive days, six ewe lambs were given three doses of loline (68 mg/kg BW/day; chronic exposure). Blood was collected at variable intervals up to 72 h in Experiment 1, and up to 8 days in Experiment 2, for haematology and measurement of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransaminase, creatine kinase and γ-glutamyl transferase in plasma. Urine and faecal samples were collected at similar times for measurement of creatinine in urine and loline alkaloid analysis. A post mortem with histopathology was carried out on two animals at the end of each experiment.

RESULTS: The loline alkaloids, N-acetyl norloline, N-formyl loline, N-acetyl loline, N-methyl loline and loline base were detected in urine within 15 minutes after the single dosing. N-formyl loline and loline base were the predominant metabolites in urine in both experiments. The total quantity of lolines excreted in both urine and faeces was 10% and 4% of the amount dosed in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. In both experiments, the clinical chemistry parameters in blood and urine were within normal ranges. Post-mortem and histopathological examination did not show any abnormalities.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of loline alkaloid profiles in both urine and faeces of sheep. The appearance of loline alkaloids and the loline base in urine within 15 minutes suggests rapid uptake, metabolism and excretion. Loline alkaloids were non-toxic to sheep at the concentrations they are exposed to under New Zealand grazing conditions. The low recovery of loline alkaloids in urine and faeces in the absence of toxicity signs suggests lolines are extensively metabolised; probably to forms other than N-formyl loline, N-methyl loline, N-acetyl loline, N-acetyl norloline, and loline base in the digestive tract of sheep prior to absorption, and/or in the liver or other tissues following absorption.     

Meniscal Release in Cruciate Ligament Intact Stifles Causes Lameness and Medial Compartment Cartilage Pathology in Dogs 12 Weeks Postoperatively

Objective— To evaluate after 12 weeks the effects of caudal medial meniscal release (MR) in the cranial cruciate ligament-intact canine stifle.
Study Design— Blinded, prospective in vivo study.
Animals— Purpose-bred hound dogs (n=10).
Methods— Either MR (n=5) or a sham (SH) surgery (n=5) was performed via arthroscopy. Orthopedic examination and subjective lameness evaluation were performed in each dog preoperatively and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery. Twelve weeks postoperatively, ultrasonographic, radiographic, and arthroscopic examinations were performed on the operated stifles. Gross pathology of the articular cartilage, cruciate ligaments, and menisci was assessed. India ink staining of the femoral and tibial articular surfaces was performed to determine the percent area of articular cartilage damage.
Results— At 8 and 12 weeks after surgery, MR dogs were lamer than SH dogs. At 12 weeks, the degree of radiographic OA was significantly higher in MR stifles than in SH stifles. Gross and sonographic meniscal pathology was more severe in MR stifles compared with SH stifles. MR stifles had significantly more severe articular cartilage pathology compared with SH stifles 12 weeks after surgery; pathology was most severe in the medial compartment.
Conclusions— MR alone is associated with articular cartilage loss, further meniscal pathology, degenerative joint disease, and lameness.
Clinical Relevance— Subsequent osteoarthritis and dysfunction of the stifle joint should be considered when making clinical decisions regarding MR in dogs.     

miRNA and piRNA expression profiles of breeder cock testes detected by next‐generation sequencing

miRNAs are small non‐coding regulatory RNAs that play key roles in diverse biological processes. In this study, we used the Solexa sequencing technique to profile miRNAs in breeder cock testes to illustrate their functions. A total of 663 co‐expressed miRNAs and 3,180 co‐expressed piRNAs were detected in three libraries. Based on Mir‐X^? miRNA qRT‐PCR, three miRNAs representing low, medium and high expression levels according to the sequencing results were selected randomly to validate the miRNAs' expression profiles. Results suggested that the miRNA expression profiles data could represent actual miRNA expression levels. Moreover, target genes prediction of the co‐expressed miRNAs and further Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses were performed, which revealed that some candidate miRNAs were involved in the regulation of the spermatogenesis process, spermatozoa function and testicular metabolism. In conclusion, we provided a useful resource for further elucidation of the miRNAs' regulatory role in spermatogenesis, contributing to a preliminary database for functional and molecular mechanistic studies in testicular metabolism, spermatogenesis and other testes functions.