Evaluation of the renal effects of experimental feeding of melamine and cyanuric acid to fish and pigs

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether renal crystals can be experimentally induced in animals fed melamine or the related triazine compound cyanuric acid, separately or in combination, and to compare experimentally induced crystals with those from a cat with triazine-related renal failure. ANIMALS: 75 fish (21 tilapia, 24 rainbow trout, 15 channel catfish, and 15 Atlantic salmon), 4 pigs, and 1 cat that was euthanatized because of renal failure. PROCEDURES: Fish and pigs were fed a target dosage of melamine (400 mg/kg), cyanuric acid (400 mg/kg), or melamine and cyanuric acid (400 mg of each compound/kg) daily for 3 days and were euthanatized 1, 3, 6, 10, or 14 days after administration ceased. Fresh, frozen, and formalin-fixed kidneys were examined for crystals. Edible tissues were collected for residue analysis. Crystals were examined for composition via Raman spectroscopy and hydrophilic-interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: All animals fed the combination of melamine and cyanuric acid developed goldbrown renal crystals arranged in radial spheres (spherulites), similar to those detected in the cat. Spectral analyses of crystals from the cat, pigs, and fish were consistent with melamine-cyanurate complex crystals. Melamine and cyanuric acid residues were identified in edible tissues of fish. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although melamine and cyanuric acid appeared to have low toxicity when administered separately, they induced extensive renal crystal formation when administered together. The subsequent renal failure may be similar to acute uric acid nephropathy in humans, in which crystal spherulites obstruct renal tubules.     

Serological diagnosis of brucellosis

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As the incidence of brucellosis is being reduced in many countries throughout the world, import requirements are becoming more stringent. Pressure is being applied in certain countries to establish regulations that will permit the import of cattle and meat products from brucellosis-free areas only. Countries such as New Zealand that have an important export trade in meat should be ready to comply with these import regulations when they come into effect. It is with this in mind that the New Zealand Department of Agriculture is undertaking a more extensive brucellosis control programme in the near future.     

Changes in faecal bacteria and metabolic parameters in foals during the first six weeks of life

Many foals develop diarrhoea within the first two weeks of life which has been suggested to coincide with postpartum oestrus in their dams. To analyse the pathogenesis of this diarrhoea we have determined faecal bacteria in foals and their dams (n=30 each), and serum IGF-1 and γ-globulins for 6 weeks after birth. In addition, effects of β-carotene supplementation to mares (group 1: 1000 mg/day, n=15, group 2: control, n=15) on diarrhoea in foals were studied. Diarrhoea occurred in 92 and 79% of foals in groups 1 and 2, respectively, but was not correlated with oestrus in mares. Beta-carotene supplementation was without effect on foal diarrhoea. In mares, bacterial flora remained stable. The percentage of foals with cultures positive for E. coli was low at birth but increased within one day, the percentage positive for Enterococcus sp. was low for 10 days and for Streptococcus sp. and Staphylococcus sp. was low for 2-4 weeks. By 4 weeks of age, bacterial flora in foals resembled an adult pattern. Concentration of serum IGF-1 was low at birth (group 1: 149 ± 11, group 2: 166 ± 17ng/ml), increased after day 1 (day 7 group 1: 384 ± 30, group 2: 372 ± 36) but at no time differed between groups. Serum γ-globulin concentration in foals was low before colostrum intake and highest on day 1 (p<0.001 over time). In conclusion, neonatal diarrhoea in foals does not coincide with postpartum oestrus in their dams but with changes in intestinal bacteria and is not influenced by β-carotene supplementation given to mares.     

Molecular characterisation of chlamydial isolates from birds

Fifty-one chlamydial isolates from birds collected in Switzerland were classified by amplification and restriction analysis of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region as Chlamydophila psittaci. The aim was to characterise a broad panel of chlamydial strains from birds and to apply and verify the methods of classification and differentiation described for chlamydial organisms. Two of the six known avian chlamydial serovars (A and B) were found by serotyping with monoclonal antibodies. One isolate was not typable. Digestion of ompA-PCR amplicons by AluI generated four distinct restriction patterns (genotypes A, B, F and G). Genotypes A and B correlated in most cases to serovars A and B, respectively. One serovar A isolate was verified as genotype B instead of A and one serovar B isolate belonged to genotype A. The non-serotypable isolate was of genotype F and one serovar A generated genotype G. OmpA sequences of one strain of each genotype were determined and compared to data bank entries. Amino acid sequences of genotype A and B strains corresponded well, showing more than 98.0% homology. The homologies of genotypes F and G sequences to genotype A strain were 82.0 and 83.0% respectively.