Effects of organic matter in aquacultural waste on the ammonium exchange capacity of clinoptilolite

Clinoptilolite, an ammonium-selective ion exchanger, is being used to control ammonia accumulation in recirculating culture systems. Studies were conducted to establish a correlation among the ammonium exchange capacity of clinoptilolite, level of organic matter in aquacultural wastewater, and regenerant solution type. A recirculating culture system of 2300-I capacity provided wastewater with a represantative organic matrix. Treatment of the wastewater led to a decrease in the performance of clinoptilolite under non-equilibrium (packed-column) and equilibrium operating conditions. The extent of the effects increased with an increase in organic level of the treatment solution. In packed-column tests, the maximum observed reductions in mean removal efficiency (3.5%), volume of wastewater treated prior to reaching breakthrough (14.9%), and operating exchange capacity (19.7%), occurred in columns regenerated with a brine of pH 7.0. Columns regenerated with a brine of pH 10.5 showed little response. Treatment of aquacultural wastewater produced a brown discoloration of the packing which was removed by treatment with 1 bed volume of a hypochlorite restorant solution (0.5% Cl₂).     

Quantification,Morphology and Ultrastructure of Preantral Follicles of Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Foetuses

The objective of this study was to determine the number, morphology and ultrastructure of preantral ovarian follicles of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) foetuses at different ages. Quantification revealed number of primordial, primary and secondary follicles of 48 857 ± 17 506, 26 000 ± 20 452, 18 428 ± 10 875 and 18 375 ± 19 690, 225 ± 349, 326 ± 288 at 12–34 cm and 35–60 cm crown rump length (CRL), respectively. Follicular diameter values were 28.9 (±3.4), 34.7 (±5.9) and 59.4 (±12.6) μm; oocyte diameters were 21.7 (±2.8), 24.3 (±3.4) and 33.0 (±7.7) μm, and the numbers of follicular cells in the follicle equatorial section were 7.1 (±1.4), 12.0 (±2.4) and 13.8 (±2.4) for primordial, primary and secondary follicles, respectively. The primordial follicle consisted of an oocyte surrounded by a layer of flattened follicular cells with a normally eccentric oocyte nucleus. Dispersed Golgi complex, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, rounded mitochondria and several lipid vesicles were observed in the cytoplasm and cell junctions between the follicle cell membranes and the oocyte. This work describes the number, morphometry and ultrastructure of preantral follicles of buffalo foetuses, concluding that folliculogenesis is established between 8 and 34 cm CRL and that follicle number varies individually and according to age and that further studies are needed in this species.     

Adverse reactions to antimicrobial agents in the horse

The small number of adverse reactions to antimicrobial agents in the horse, recorded to date, reflects either a low level of reaction in the species or a failure to observe and report them, perhaps the latter. Reactions that have been observed could be due to toxic effects, e.g. discomfort after the intramuscular injection of chloramphenicol succinate; to hypersensitivity, e.g. the excitation or anaphylaxis observed after benzylpenicillins; and to biological or metabolic effects, e.g. changes in gut flora with oxytetracycline. A documentation of all reactions observed would both expand knowledge and protect horses known to have reacted.     

Bone marrow hypoplasia in a cat treated with griseofulvin

Three weeks after initiation of griseofulvin treatment for dermatophytosis (40 mg/kg of body weight, q 12 h), an 8-yr-old domestic shorthair cat developed depression, vomiting, and pyrexia. Abnormalities found during physical examination included bilateral mydriasis, visual impairment, grade-II/V systolic murmur and multiple areas of alopecia. The cat was pancytopenic; serum biochemical abnormalities included hyperbilirubinemia, hyperglycemia, hyponatremia, and hypokalemia, and urinalysis revealed proteinuria, glycosuria, and bilirubinuria. Examination of a bone marrow aspirate revealed profound hypoplasia of all precursors. Griseofulvin toxicosis was diagnosed on the basis of the temporal relationship of drug administration with onset of clinical, hematologic, and biochemical abnormalities and failure to identify an infective or neoplastic cause for the bone marrow hypoplasia. The condition was refractory to treatment and the cat was euthanatized. Pathologic changes in the bone marrow were consistent with severe hypoplasia of all bone marrow precursors.